Head and neck cancers usually refer to the neoplasms arising from below skull base to the region of thoracic inlet. Structures of the head and neck are responsible for various important functions like vision, hearing, smell, taste, deglutition and breathing. Any neoplasm arising from head and neck jeopardize these functions. The other important aspect is the cosmetic disturbance which affects the individual psychologically and physically.
Head and neck cancers constitute 5% of all cancers worldwide. It is more prevalent in countries like South East Asia, parts of Africa and South America and has low prevalence in U.S.A and Western Europe. In India head and neck cancer is the most common cancer seen in males in the O.P.D. The most common head and neck cancer is of oral cavity and pharynx. The age adjusted incidence in Indian males range from 10.8 to 38.8 per 1 lakh males and in Indian females from 6.4 to 14.9 per 1 lakh females. Overall male and female ratio being 4:1.Mouth and pharynx cancers stand as the third most common cancer in males and fourth most common cancer in females. They are usually seen in the fifth decade and above but salivary gland and nasopharynx tumor are seen at younger age groups.
Radiotherapy is a treatment modality largely used for head and neck malignancies. However high doses of radiation in large areas, including the oral cavity, maxilla, mandible and salivary glands may result in several undesired effects. Mucositis, candidiasis, dysgeusia, radiation caries, osteoradionecrosis, soft tissue necrosis and xerostomia are common radiation sequelae when higher doses are used. But with the advent of Linear Accelerators and using the technique of IMRT the incidence of these accompaniments can be drastically reduced.
Adverse effects of radiotherapy depend upon the volume and area being irradiated, on the total dose, on the fraction size, on the age, on the patient’s clinical conditions and on associated treatments. A small increase in the tumor doses is enough for a significant increase on the complication incidence. Acute reactions happen during the treatment and most of the time, they are reversible. Late complications are normally irreversible, leading to permanent incapability and to a worsening of quality of life and they vary on intensity, being normally classified into mild, moderate and severe.
Many head and neck cancer patients are submitted to high doses of radiotherapy on large areas of radiation including the oral cavity, maxilla, mandible and salivary glands. Thus, anti-cancer therapy is associated with several adverse reactions. These reactions can occur in an acute stage (during or at the weeks right afer treatment) or in a chronic stage (months or years after radiotherapy). The severity of acute oral complications will depend on the inclusion degree of these structures on the radiated area.
Mucositis
Mucositis is defined as mucosal irritation. It starts developing after 3rd week of treatment in most of the patients but patients who are heavy smokers, diabetics or hypertensive it may start as early as 1st week. It is painful and leads to significant morbidity. It is usually controlled by pain killers and anti-inflammatory agents. Mucositis also leads to difficulty in swallowing which indirectly leads to improper food intake and weight loss.
Candidiasis
Radiation patients are more prone to develops oral infections caused by fungi and bacteria. These patients have higher no. of microbial species esp. Lactobacillus species, Streptococcus aureus and Candida albicans. Oral candidiasis is a common infection in patients being treated for upper airways and digestive tract malignancies. Colonization of oral mucosa can be found in as many as 93% of these patients, whereas Candida infection can be found in 17-29% of patients submitted to radiotherapy. The possible explanation for such high incidence is decrease in salivary flow and reduced phagocytic activity of salivary granulocytes against these micro-organisms. Clinically, candidiasis can be seen both in its pseudomembranous and erythematous forms.
Dysgeusia
Dysgeusia affects patients from the second or third week of radiotherapy, and may last for several weeks or even months. It occurs because the taste buds are radiosensitive, with the degeneration of their normal histological architecture. The increase of salivary flow viscosity and the saliva biochemical alteration creates a mechanical barrier of saliva which makes it difficult the physical contact between the tongue and foodstuff. It recovers around 3-6 months after the end of radiation. Studies show that dysgeusia is a complaint by approximately 70% of patients submitted to radiotherapy, also implying in the loss of appetite and weight, being the most uncomfortable complication for most radiated patients.
Radiation Caries
Even patients, who had not experienced tooth decay for some time, may develop radiation caries when submitted to radiotherapy. The main factor for the development of such injuries is the decrease of saliva amount and its qualitative alterations. Besides, radiation has a direct effect on teeth, making them more susceptible to decalcification.
Osteoradionecrosis
Osteoradionecrosis is a bone ischemic necrosis caused by radiation, being one of the most serious consequences of radiotherapy, causing pain as well as possible substantial loss of bone structure. In most of the cases osteoradionecrosis is associated with soft tissue necrosis also. This is aggravated by trauma such as tooth extraction after radiotherapy. Mandibles are more affected than maxillas.
Soft Tissue Necrosis
It is defined as ulcer located in radiated tissue, without the presence of residual malignancy. The occurrence of soft tissue necrosis is related to dose, time and volume of the radiated gland, when the brachytherapy is used, the risk is higher. Soft tissue necrosis is a normally painful condition and good oral hygiene together with the use of painkillers and often times, antibiotics, are necessary to manage the condition.
Xerostomia
Xerostomia or dry mouth is the most long lasting morbidity of head & Neck radiation. It is usually caused by irradiation of both parotids. It causes several complications such as recurrent infections, inability to swallow solid foods, dental decay, taste loss, change in voice and speech and needs treatment with oral artificial saliva, taste stimulants and systemic agents such as pilocarpine or Bethanechol.
Prevention Of Oral Sequaelae : Using Technique Of Imrt
IMRT assigns non uniform intensities to tiny subdivisions of beams called rays or beamlets. These improved dose distributions lead to improved tumor control and less normal tissue toxicity. As IMRT requires the setting of relative intensities of tens of thousands of rays which cannot be done manually, it requires the use of specialized computer aided optimization methods. The biggest advantage of IMRT is in parotid sparing and spinal cord sparing.
Worldwide data in past 10 years has suggested IMRT to be the treatment of choice from Radiotherapy point of view. It spares the parotid glands and hence maintains salivary functions in majority of patients. It also leads to fewer doses to spinal cord and hence patient does not have radiation myelitis. Since it a localised treatment much of the soft tissues and bone can be kept out of the field leading to fewer or negligible incidence of soft tissue or osteoradionecrosis.
Posts tagged ‘Their’
Fiber is a special type of carbohydrates that passes through the human digestive system unchanged, that is, without being broken into nutrients. It has a positive influence on the digestion process from start to finish. It is only found in foods that come from plants, including all-natural cereals, whole-grain breads, beans, fruits, vegetables and nuts.
Fiber foods can help in keeping weight under control and also in preventing certain diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, diverticular disease, gall stones and kidney stones. It also prevents constipation and hemorrhoids. Studies have also indicated that ingesting the right matrix of fiber, mostly containing soluble fiber, can help in balancing blood sugar levels and improving cholesterol.
Foods that contain soluble fiber can have a positive influence on cholesterol, triglycerides and other particles in the blood that affect the development of heart disease.
It is believed that when fiber is eaten and the passage of food is speeded up, it may prevent harmful substances in some foods from affecting the colon and thus preventing colon cancer. Other types of cancer that may be prevented with fiber-rich diets are ovarian cancer, breast cancer and uterine cancer.
Adding fiber to diets helps regulate blood sugar levels, thus preventing diabetes.
Diverticular disease is a condition in which small pouches develop in the wall of the colon. These pouches can become inflamed or infected. It can cause pain, diarrhea, constipation, etc. Fiber foods can help to prevent this.
Rapid digestion can lead to a rapid release of glucose into the bloodstream. To cope, the body has to release large amounts of insulin into the bloodstream and this makes a person more likely to develop gall stones and kidney stones.
Herbal weight loss supplements not only help to lose weight, but can also improve our overall health. This is because the right weight helps in reducing certain diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and cholesterol among others.
Several herbs found in these supplements, when used together, can enhance effectiveness and synergistic actions. They also help in reducing toxicity in our bodies. Weight loss pills have the highest concentration of herbs, even more than teas and syrups. When used correctly, they are safer than medication. However, it is always recommended that a doctor be consulted before taking any herbal weight loss supplements.
Breast cancer is a type of cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules which supply the ducts with milk. Breast cancer is a common type of non-skin cancer in women and the 5th most common cause of death from cancer. It is about 100 times more common in women than in men. Severe breast cancer can lead to the death. Breast cancer is usually treated with surgery and then probably with chemotherapy or radiation, or both. Hormone positive cancer is cured with long term hormone blocking therapy. Breast cancer treatments are offered with increasing aggressiveness according to the prognosis & risk of recurrence. Prevention is the key for breast cancer treatment. Breast feeding to your baby, less alcohol, a good life style can assist you in escaping from breast cancer.
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most of prostate cancers are slow developing. However, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may spread from the prostate to other parts of the body, mainly the bones & lymph nodes. Prostate cancer may cause difficulty in urinating, pain, problems during sexual intercourse, or erectile dysfunction. There are many options available for prostate cancer treatment. Prostate cancer treatments include surgery, radiation therapy, proton therapy, hormonal therapy, chemotherapy, cryosurgery, and high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU)
Skin cancer, known as skin neoplasia, is the most common form of human cancer. It is expected that over 1 million new cases take place yearly. The yearly rates of all forms of skin cancer are rising every year, representing a growing public concern. The warning of skin cancer is a change in the appearance of the skin, like a new growth or a sore that will not heal. Skin cancer can catch to any person of any age. Prevention is the key for escaping from skin cancer. You must use preventive techniques. Skin cancer treatment may include curettage and desiccation, surgical excision, cryosurgery, Mohs micrographic surgery, radiation therapy, medical therapy using creams etc.
Heart disease is the medical term used for a variety of different diseases affecting the human heart. There are several causes of heart diseases. The most common cause of heart disease is the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart itself, narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries. Smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, family history, peripheral artery disease, insufficient exercises, stress, obesity are the causes of heart diseases. The heart diseases are usually treated in a multi-step approach depending upon a patient’s symptoms of heart diseases. The patient & healthcare service provider need to work together to return the patient to a normal lifestyle. Medication and advices are applied to treat the heart patients. Surgery & heart transplant are also done in severe condition for heart diseases treatment.
Antibody suppliers provide a wide range of reagents for use in cancer research. One of the most common areas of study is apoptosis, or programmed cell death, a complicated cascade involving many individual proteins and pathways. We at Novus Biologicals have an extensive apoptosis antibody catalogue, with over 8000 proteins products. Proteins targeted include Apaf-1; Bcl-2; Bax; FAS and the caspases.
Apoptosis is essential to normal development and maintenance of the organism. Cells have a finite life span, and there is a constant program of cellular replacement and removal which is very finely controlled. Apoptosis also deals with cells considered a threat to the organism, such as those infected by viruses, those which have fulfilled an immune system function and those with DNA mutations or which identify themselves as cancer cells. Apoptosis is an important part of cancer research, since resistance to programmed cell death is known to be a key element in the survival of tumour cells.
Malignancies develop in response to delayed or inhibited apoptosis. Cells will then live longer, and often grow faster, than normal cells, allowing tumours to develop. This is often due to defects in the cell signalling pathways, which can also make tumour cells more resistant to chemotherapy drugs. Thus a large amount of research is done in overcoming resistance to apoptosis, or in stimulating apoptotic pathways to encourage programmed cell death of cancer cells.
The caspases belong to the cysteine protease enzyme family, and play an essential role in apoptosis. They form three groups: initiator, effector and cytokine processor caspases, which when activated initiate a complex enzyme cascade. Disruption of this mechanism is a key factor in many cancers.
Recently, we announced an exciting new development to our antibody database, becoming the sole distributor for the SDIX Genome Antibody Technology range. A revolutionary new method of producing highly targeted immunoglobulins, it includes a wide range of apoptosis reagents, including BCL-2, BAX and caspase antibodies
Considering the general mechanical parts, people usually think of different components like shafts, flanges, moldings and other various products. There is one more common component is called gasket. They are widely used in various places in your daily life routine to protect the leakage. The best example would be your daily conveyance car, bike or public transport. Gaskets are used in all these and often required when there is a problem. Gaskets are widely used to cover the space between two joined surfaces, usually to prevent the leakage from joined objects when they are under heavy compression. The common example would be, the gaskets are put in to the two sealing faces of flanges. It is also used to cover the irregularities between two mating surfaces on machine parts and different objects. It is most commonly used in industrial applications and also used in automotive engines. It can hold up to high compression load and protects the liquids from mixing.
Most of the time in industrial applications the exerting compression is in 14MPa (2000 psi) or maybe higher. Gaskets are manufactured from different sheet materials like paper, rubber, silicone, metal, cork, felt, copper, neoprene, fiberglass and plastic polymer. There are some made from asbestos, but these have serious health concerns. However, if there is specific requirements are needed; they can be made from asbestos.
Few times, the sealant is directly employed to the gasket surface to function properly. There are different types and designs available for industrial usage according to the budget, chemical contact, and physical requirements. Each gasket is manufactured according to the specifications required for the material.
Some of the most common types are Sheet gasket: It is commonly available, easy to apply and cheap gasket. The material used in this type of gasket is sheet of material, which is mainly used to compress asbestos, but now the material is fibrous such as graphite.
The main disadvantage of this type of industrial process is that they do not have good tolerance to temperature and compression. The another type is solid material gasket. This type used metals which cannot be pulled out of sheets. This is much better than sheet gaskets as they can bear heavy compressions and high temperature levels providing more quality control for the machines or materials. However, it also have some disadvantages too. It requires high compression to perform at best level. If they compression is not sufficient, then it might not work as per requirements. Also, the compression must not be too much or it will destroy or damage the attached objects. It requires soft metal usage such as Aluminum.
Another disadvantage is that the source and choice for the metal are limited. There is new advancement, a constant seating stress gasket. It has unique gasket design and is more capable of different conditions. It is mainly made from a solid carrier ring of a suitable material and sealing elements of compressible material installed inside two opposing surfaces. It is called a revolution for the carrier ring as it can be adjusted to enable the gasket seating stress to be equal across the whole sealing area.
This type of gasket is out standing with creep relaxation, high system vibration and system thermal cycles makes it more reliable. Due to the latest advancement in technology, good manufactures are changing the quality according to the demands. These are manufactured with set standards of the industry.
When you are choosing the gasket for your machine or any other requirement, make sure they are supplied by reliable manufacturers and suppliers.
NamaSTAY Yoga Towelsare an exceptional innovation made possible by the ingenuity of their creator Cherie Greenwald. She developed these skidless yoga towels while practicing her favorite fitness sport, hot yoga. She realized that other yoga towels slip during movement which as anyone who practices Bikram’s Yoga would agree, can not only be distracting but dangerous. Watch the creator as she demonstrates yoga poses on her own slip free yoga towels
There are many colors to choose from: Chaturanga Charcoal, Prana Purple, Honeysuckle Pink, and Oceanic Blue.
Follow NamaSTAY Yoga Towels on Facebook
The benefits of hot yoga are numerous. Toxin removal from the body happens always because of the 105 degree environment. Not only are toxins being removed but terrific muscle tone and weight loss are also transpiring. Studies have shown how hot yoga slows the onset of osteoporosis, and mesothelioma.
There is also a tremendous benefit to being a part of something bigger than yourself. There are few moments westerners put themselves in that really test their ability to cope and transform. People who have engaged in sports know this feeling. It is as though everything that someone stands for has been laid before them and looking back is akin to giving up. When people dedicate themselves to something with both feet forward, there is nothing that can stop you. Hot yoga is just like this. It is as hard as learning to play the piano at first, but, over time, your body and mind get accustomed to it and somehow you feel larger for your effort. When you are sweating away the years of toxins and evidence of a western lifestyle, the proper hot yoga towels are essential to keeping your focus as you strive to be the best you can be.
Transform your yoga practice with non-slip, spa-like yoga towels that attach to yoga mats and always stay FLAT, providing a luxurious and SAFE surface to practice yoga.
