80 MILLION BACTERIA SEALED WITH A KISS

As  many as 80 million bacteria are transferred during a 10 second kiss, according to research published in the open access journalMicrobiome. The study also found that partners who kiss each other at least nine times a day share similar communities of oral bacteria

The ecosystem of more than 100 trillion microorganisms that live in our bodies -- the microbiome -- is essential for the digestion of food, synthesizing nutrients, and preventing disease. It is shaped by genetics, diet, and age, but also the individuals with whom we interact. With the mouth playing host to more than 700 varieties of bacteria, the oral microbiota also appear to be influenced by those closest to us.

Researchers from Micropia and TNO in the Netherlands studied 21 couples, asking them to fill out questionnaires on their kissing behaviour including their average intimate kiss frequency. They then took swab samples to investigate the composition of their oral microbiota on the tongue and in their saliva.

The results showed that when couples intimately kiss at relatively high frequencies their salivary microbiota become similar. On average it was found that at least nine intimate kisses per day led to couples having significantly shared salivary microbiota.

Lead author Remco Kort, from TNO's Microbiology and Systems Biology department and adviser to the Micropia museum of microbes, said: "Intimate kissing involving full tongue contact and saliva exchange appears to be a courtship behavior unique to humans and is common in over 90% of known cultures. Interestingly, the current explanations for the function of intimate kissing in humans include an important role for the microbiota present in the oral cavity, although to our knowledge, the exact effects of intimate kissing on the oral microbiota have never been studied. We wanted to find out the extent to which partners share their oral microbiota, and it turns out, the more a couple kiss, the more similar they are."

In a controlled kissing experiment to quantify the transfer of bacteria, a member of each of the couples had a probiotic drink containing specific varieties of bacteria including Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria. After an intimate kiss, the researchers found that the quantity of probiotic bacteria in the receiver's saliva rose threefold, and calculated that in total 80 million bacteria would have been transferred during a 10 second kiss.

The study also suggests an important role for other mechanisms that select oral microbiota, resulting from a shared lifestyle, dietary and personal care habits, and this is especially the case for microbiota on the tongue. The researchers found that while tongue microbiota were more similar among partners than unrelated individuals, their similarity did not change with more frequent kissing, in contrast to the findings on the saliva microbiota.

Commenting on the kissing questionnaire results, the researchers say that an interesting but separate finding was that 74% of the men reported higher intimate kiss frequencies than the women of the same couple. This resulted in a reported average of ten kisses per day from the males, twice that of the female reported average of five per day.

To calculate the number of bacteria transferred in a kiss, the authors relied on average transfer values and a number of assumptions related to bacterial transfer, the kiss contact surface, and the value for average saliva volume.

A Life With HIV

 Today's very personal post comes from wenatcheeworld.com (see link below) and is one man's view of his life living with HIV and including neuropathy as one of the by-products. It shows that for many people, it's not just a question of taking a number of pills every day and living nomally but sometimes a real struggle to deal with both the side effects of the medication and the diseases that HIV can bring on. His final sentence shows a strength of mind that is an example to us all.


HIV-infected Wenatchee man stays optimistic despite many obstacles
By Dee Riggs World staff writer Saturday, November 19, 2011

WENATCHEE — HIV disease and its life-saving medications have taken a toll on Dan.

The 51-year-old Wenatchee man is gaunt in the face and is constantly scratching his arms and upper body. The itching is a side effect of one of the antiretroviral medications he takes to keep HIV at bay.

The medication also makes him extremely tired and gives him daily diarrhea. He also has memory problems, peripheral neuropathy and bipolar disorder. He thinks the latter is the result of either the HIV or the many medications he’s on, not only for the disease itself but to combat side effects of the HIV medications.

Adding to his troubles: He’s suffered bouts of pneumonia and sinus infections that are too numerous to count.

“With HIV, you can age real quick,” said Dan.

Dan is one of the 120 people in Chelan, Douglas, Okanogan and Grant counties being treated by Dr. Brent Barber, who handles infectious diseases at the Wenatchee Valley Medical Center.

The first case of HIV was reported in Washington state in 1982, and the first cases in Wenatchee were about the same time.

Dan was diagnosed in 1985, while living in St. Paul, Minn. He said doctors there determined that he was probably infected in 1981 or 1982.

The sigma of the disease, he said, has lessened, but hasn’t gone away. That’s why he didn’t want his last name used.

“There are people out there with radical views and I’m not going to wave a flag to them,” he said. “I have no desire to be a martyr.”

Dan, who moved to Wenatchee in 1989, said he learned that lesson in 1991. Shortly after he told a few acquaintances that he had the disease, he was assaulted by three men while walking across the Columbia River pedestrian bridge. The assault sent him to the hospital with head injuries.

Before his HIV diagnosis, Dan said, he was a certified medical assistant. He was a healthy guy, he said, and he was “driving a gold Cadillac Coupe de Ville and living in St. Paul in a nice place.”

Today, Dan lives in a small rental home in South Wenatchee with his two pitbull terriers, Mya and Apollo. He survives on Social Security disability and Medicaid.

He spends his days, he said, “close to the restroom” with diarrhea and, sometimes, vomiting. He also must nap to recover his strength. When he’s feeling up to it, he walks his dogs.

Dan calls himself bisexual and said doctors traced his disease to a time in his life when he was having multiple sex partners. “I was very promiscuous in my youth,” he said.

Dan called the ‘80s “a rough time. .... I went to five funerals in seven years.” Those were funerals of friends who died from HIV disease.

Dan thinks he didn’t die because he has a strong constitution and, before he got sick, he was very athletic.

In St. Paul, because of its proximity to the Mayo Clinic, Dan said he got excellent medical care, and did not experience prejudice among health-care workers. He also did not suffer ostracism from his family.

“My parents were very open and loving,” he said. “I got this disease from homosexual sex. I had fought being gay for several years, then my parents sat me down and said, ‘We love you and it’s OK with us.”

Ostracism came, however, from others in the gay community.

“I went from being a fun figure in the community to being an outcast,” he said.

He attributes the ostracism to fear from others of contracting the disease. He said that ostracism has lessened over the years as people have realized the importance of using protection during sex.

He said he has experienced some discrimination from people in the straight community, mostly from older people who did not grow up with the disease in their midst. He notes that radicals in church communities have been the most hurtful while caring church communities have been the most helpful.

“Churches have been some of the best people behind me,” he said. “They put me up in motel rooms those times when I was too sick to live in my car.”

After his diagnosis, Dan said, he tried to continue working but frequent illnesses kept him out of the workforce and burned up his savings. He came to Wenatchee to work as a picker in the orchards.

Dan said he has strong feelings for people who call HIV-infected people sinners.

“AIDS is not an abomination sent to kill faggots,” he said. “Otherwise, we wouldn’t have 20 million children dying of it in Africa. People should stop hating people with AIDS because you’re hating children too.”

Dan said he feels fairly safe in Wenatchee today, compared with the early days in St. Paul.

“I remember when I would walk up one-way streets, just to make sure no one was following me,” he said. “I was living with fear and paranoia. I don’t have that kind of fear anymore; people are much more accepting. AIDS is an everyday word today — it’s in everybody’s language.”

His biggest fears are medical. “I worry about my lungs, getting pneumonia; that, and losing my ability to think and to reason.”

Still, he battles on. Dan, who calls himself an optimist, said he’s currently on five to six of medications and, despite the side effects, feels fortunate to have the drugs because they are keeping him alive.

He offers this advice for others suffering from HIV disease: “Don’t ever give up. When they tell you you’re going to die, don’t roll over and die; just fight that much harder, and love life every day.”

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/nov/19/hiv-infected-wenatchee-man-stays-optimistic/

One Older Mans Life With Neuropathy

Today's post from painhq.org (see link below) is a personal story of an older man living with severe neuropathy. It's truthful, painful to read and recognisable to anyone living with neuropathy for any length of time and also inspiring in that this man doesn't give up but tries to find the best way to live with nerve damage that he can. He admits he's no saint but for once this is a no-bullshit story of what it's like to go through the years with neuropathy. There are no miracle cures (he found some benefit from gabapentin but this doesn't apply to everybody) and no clichéd answers to the problems neuropathy brings but you won't be bored reading his tale.
 

Life with neuropathy: 'Old Fart' William's Story

I am 72 years old and live alone in a single family bungalow in Peterborough. I eat too much, drink too much, and get too little exercise. I am a retired teacher and have lived alone since my wife died in 2000. I am a fat old fart who lives a fairly circumscribed life - only partly due to my neuropathy. Right now my sciatica is flaring up and is far more debilitating.

My peripheral neuropathy likely dates back to the early to mid ‘90s. I suffered from falling arches, and for some time I ascribed my foot and leg discomfort solely to that issue. It was only in 1997, when the numbness, burning, and occasional stabbing pain was keeping me awake, that I took the problem to my GP.

It is so long ago that I have little or no recollection of the original process of diagnosis. The story is complicated in my mind by my wife suffering a massive brain injury at that time. She was in an automobile accident in Ottawa, in the summer of 1996. She was in an Ottawa hospital until the spring of 1997, and again for several more visits during the next couple of years. She lived at home until her death in January, 2000. Naturally, at the time, my minor problem was peripheral to hers. It was while she was in the hospital (1996 – ’97) that the burning and tingling got so bad that I went to see my GP. He referred me to a local neurologist who ran some tests and diagnosed peripheral neuropathy. By that time (1998 – ’99) the loss of feeling extended almost to my knees.

The neurologist had no answer as to the origin of the condition. I had been drinking heavily earlier in my life, but had been totally dry for ten years when the condition struck. My GP (at the time) in 1997-9 was convinced that I had diabetes. My blood sugar levels were consistently close to the threshold levels, so he took that leap and declared me diabetic; controlling it with diet and exercise. It wasn’t until my present GP had me do a glucose test (in 2009) that the diabetes diagnosis was ruled out.

At the beginning I had “pins and needles”, burning on the soles of my feet, numbness or loss of feeling in my feet and lower legs, aching feet and legs (perhaps partly due to the falling arches) and occasional shooting pains or a feeling like a weak electric shock. I do not remember the specifics, but I am sure that the discomfort started in one foot at a time before it came to affect both feet and legs. I have a vague memory of it migrating from one foot to the other over the months.

Finding relief, also known as, gabapentin

Back in 1997 or ‘98 my GP prescribed a common medication used off-licence to treat nerve pain. I have no recollection of which one it was. I just remember him saying that no medication worked for any large percentage of the sufferers, but that particular one was the most efficacious. It might have been an anti-depressant, but the specifics escape me. I just remember that I got every side-effect listed on the fact sheet (dry mouth is one I remember), but it did nothing to ease my nerve pain.

The second medication he prescribed was gabapentin. It was a miracle cure. Within a few days the worst of the symptoms had eased, and after trying different dosages we settled on just 300mg per day. Over the years, I have had to increase the dosage as the pains and discomfort returned. I have never been free of the feeling that something in my feet and legs isn’t right. There is the constant numbness, the decrease in flexibility, and the fairly common occasional tingling sensation. It isn’t pain! For many years, the discomfort was almost forgettable as I went through my daily chores. I loaded my gabapentin into the evening to reduce any chance of pains that would get in the way of my sleep. I don’t think that I ever expected to avoid all of the discomfort of numbness and a bit of tingling. I was happy as long as I could get to sleep every night. I have never suffered from any side-effects related to the gabapentin; or none that I identified.

Currently, I am taking 1500mg of gabapentin daily. It has been my only medication since the late ‘90s, and the only change has been a gradual increase in the dosage over the past 15 or 16 years. I am told that I could probably take and tolerate higher doses and that some patients do take more than my dose.

Life with numbness

From the 1990s, I recognized that I was losing my sense of balance. I avoid ladders. I am far more sedentary than I was in middle age. I rarely travel and, if so, prefer to use my car. At present, I avoid activities which require much walking and standing. I do my own housework (such as it is), but hire people to look after the outside chores. At home, I spend far too much time sitting at the computer – as I am now! I assume that some of the inactivity and lethargy is a result of becoming a fat old fart. I stopped mowing my own lawn over 10 years ago lest I stumble on the uneven surface. For exercise, I walk on a treadmill rather than the sidewalk, as I fear tripping on the uneven surface. For a couple of years before I got a treadmill, I used to walk at 4:00 or 5:00 AM so that I could walk on the residential street which was smoother than the sidewalk.

As some of my foot muscles become dominant and others atrophy, walking becomes more problematic. I drag my heels and walk flat-footed. My feet are no longer flexible, so I describe the sensation as akin to walking with snowshoes. My feet and legs feel “heavy”. It is very tiring. I can’t walk nearly as fast, or as far as I used to. Much beyond a mile is getting to be a trial: not impossible, but not comfortable. My legs ache after any decent walk on my treadmill. Hiking or walking off road is almost impossible. An extended shopping trip can be problematic. Luckily, I detest shopping.

I can feel movement on my skin if a finger is rubbed across my foot or leg, but if touched gently without disturbing the hairs, I often can’t tell if my foot or leg is being touched at all. If I am poked I get no different sensation from a finger than from a needle. Some nerves seem to still work as occasionally I get a sharp pain from stubbing a toe, but most times my only clue that I have stubbed it is the blood welling out from under the nail.

For the past 2 or 3 years I have been noticing a gradual loss of sensation in my fingers. It is just the same numbness and tingling that affects my feet, but less severe as yet. As I do all my own cooking it presents the constant threat of burned fingers. I cook most of my food from fresh ingredients, so I find that my legs often get tired and achy from standing too long in the kitchen preparing vegetables or batch-cooking for my freezer. Perhaps it is the muscle changes in my feet and legs which cause me the most problem; not the occasional bout of neuropathy pain.

My physiotherapist comments that I have retained strength in my arms and legs, but I notice a lack of strength in my hands and a sensitivity in the skin which keeps me from opening jars or bottles. It can hurt to try to grasp an object too tightly. Accidentally hitting my hand on a piece of furniture or door jamb is often remarkably painful; far more so than used to be the case. I am more likely to drop a light object as I no longer sense, say, a sheet of paper in my hand. Simple tasks, such as doing up small buttons, becomes nearly impossible. My wardrobe reflects that new reality; few shirts with buttons and no tight collars. I struggled mightily to rewire a lamp the other day. My fingers were like useless - and senseless - lumps of clay. It is hard to manipulate thin wire with no sense of touch. Picking up small objects is a trial.

My days entail reading the newspaper, normal ablutions, essentials of housework (dusting is avoided at all costs), email contact with a couple of dozen people, internet surfing, walking on my treadmill or doing stretching exercises, watching videos from my PVR or streamed to my TV through my computer, football and occasional soccer matches watched live, daily food preparation, grocery shopping 2 or 3 times a week, occasional appointments and lunches with friends, usually weekly contests over a friend’s snooker table, weekly visits by a female friend. I drive to see my children and grandchildren every few weeks. I have pretty well ceased attending plays and concerts except for the occasional MET in HD performance. That is more due to the lack of a companion rather than the effects of my neuropathy. I have ceased travelling because of my inertia, and mostly the lack of a suitable travel companion. Neuropathy wouldn’t keep me at home were I really keen to take a particular trip. It would just affect the type of trip and the day’s activities – as it does at home. My inertia is only partly the result of my neuropathy.

What pain is like now

I have used gabapentin alone for over 15 years. I have never tried any other medication. I asked my GP about newer and better medications a year or so ago. He said I should stay with what is working rather than weaning me off it and then going through the process of trying to find something better. I was somewhat relieved.

All in all, I view myself as being rather lucky. I found gabapentin pretty early in the process and under normal conditions I can say that I am pain-free. I have discomfort, and my life is circumscribed, but I do not have the constant level of pain common to some sufferers.

My advice for anyone newly diagnosed with neuropathic pain? 

Seek out whatever medication will render the nerve pain bearable. Once you can limit the pain, everything else is reduced to the level of a really annoying nuisance. 

Forget vanity and wear sensible shoes with proper orthotic support to keep you mobile. Work with a physiotherapist to develop a regimen of stretching exercises to help keep you as flexible as possible. 

Understand that you will have a constant struggle to maintain as much of your lifestyle as possible, to work around your new limitations, and to seek out any treatments or devices which will make life a bit easier. 

It isn’t a death sentence so much as a constant set of hurdles which will make life a bit more difficult, but still enjoyable. It’s no walk in the park, but look around at your peers and all of a sudden neuropathy isn’t so bad. There are lots worse conditions to have to cope with. 

https://www.painhq.org/connect/personal-stories/detail/life-with-neuropathy

Day To Day Living With Neuropathy

 Today's post comes from footpaincenter.com (see link below) and gives some advice as to how cope with neuropathy on a daily basis. Some people may grind their teeth at the idea of yet another self-help, or positive-thinking article:- positive thinking and neuropathy aren't always a good match. However, there is nothing wrong with the advice given here and many points may well be useful to you. It's sometimes difficult to be optimistic about neuropathic symptoms but maybe we have to at least keep trying!

Living with Neuropathy-Some Helpful Suggestions
Posted on September 13, 2012 by admin

Neuropathy ranks highly as one of the most frustrating medical conditions. The symptoms can be vague and difficult to articulate to your physician. Many of my patients present with contradictory symptoms-often stating that they have both pain and numbness; and in most cases there are few if any physical signs and symptoms. That is to say no matter how bad symptoms manifest (usually in burning, tingling or pins and needles sensation), in most instances there are no physical changes such as swelling, or discoloration.

It’s especially frustrating when family, friends, and even your doctor tell you that you should be feeling better, you’re not trying hard enough, or that you’re just a complainer. You’re exhausted and hurting—you just want to feel better.

Here are some simple guidelines on how to live and cope with neuropathy:

Make yourself your #1 priority-it’s like the admonition that hear airplane flights: In an emergency first secure your own safety and then you can tend to others./

Many people “feel guilty” doing this, but it’s selfish not to. The better you feel, the better you are able to be with those around you. So ask yourself, what makes me feel better, happier and more content with my life? Then make sure to schedule time for what you need every day. Quiet time is a must—meditation, prayer, taking a walk, or reading. Think of activities you might be able to manage, even on your worst days. Is it a bubble bath, looking at magazines, getting a massage? Take care of your emotional needs, too. Surround yourself with positive, supportive people as much as possible.

Accept where you are right now and whatever feelings you may have. Do not fight against your situation or your feelings. Accepting things as they are can bring a feeling of peace. Identify where you are in this moment and how it feels. Just as someone on a diet needs to know his or her starting point, it’s important to pay attention to your starting point each day.

Set reachable, realistic goals. Focus on what you can do now and celebrate every small accomplishment.

Pace yourself! Resist the temptation to overdo on a good day. That can start a downward cycle. By pacing yourself, you will gradually increase your good days and begin to feel “more normal.” You’ll start to develop stability.

Use positive self-talk frequently throughout your day. Tell yourself what a good job you are doing. Don’t hold back. Your emotional well-being and state-of-mind have a profound impact on your energy and pain. Lift yourself up.Think through what is really important. Focus on what makes you feel better. If you are involved in activities or situations that make you feel worse, try to avoid them. If you can’t stop right away, work to limit your involvement, and make a plan to stop. You are your own best advocate.

Be empowered. This is your life. Talk to someone who understands about your goals. Write out questions and get information. Keep a file on yourself. Ask for help from others when needed. Join organizations to advocate with others. Face your fears. Stay open to all possibilities, but trust your own judgment. Do what you feel is best for you.

Decide what is right and good for you. Replenish before giving. Take responsibility for meeting your own needs, emotionally, physically and spiritually. Do not feel guilty for needing help, or taking time for yoga, massage, or gentle stretching. What may seem like pampering may be what is needed to feel your best. If others don’t understand, that is their issue, not yours.

Just implementing one or two of these steps consistently can have a positive, profound effect.

Believe your pain, health, and your life can be better. It doesn’t happen overnight—take good care of YOU and practice these positive steps. It will make a difference. Your emotional pain is as real any other kind of pain. How you live with it is something you have control over. Start small. Don’t worry about your progress or speed; just keep moving in the right direction. It starts with one step, and you are not alone.

http://www.footpaincenter.com/blog/?p=195

 

DISEASES OF SKIN WITH HOMOEOPATHIC MANAGEMENT

DISEASES OF SKIN WITH HOMOEOPATHIC MANAGEMENT

Author- Dr. K. S Gopi

Professor ( Rtd. )

Govt. Homoeopathic Medical College

Kozhikode , Kerala

INDIA

Salient features

• A practical guide for practitioners and students
• Color photographs for proper identification of disease condition
• Easy selection of homoeopathic remedy

This book is a practical guide for practitioners and medical students. It includes detailed description of all common dermatological and cosmetological conditions with photographs and homoeopathic management.  The special arrangement of therapeutic section will helps in the easy selection of remedy including most suitable potency in various skin complaints.

Separate chapters on

1.    Homoeopathic approach in dermatological disorders

2.    Structure and functions of skin

3.    Case taking, history and examinations in skin disorders 

Division of each chapter

• Definition
• Causes
• Symptoms
• Medical Advice
• Homoeopathic Treatment with potency
• Biochemic medicies  and external applications

Price : Rs . 450/- $ 30

AIY Publications

Beypore P. O

Kozhikode- 673015

Kerala, India

Email- plantmedicines@yahoo.com

Mob. 9388829808

SCIENTISTS CREATE NEW PROTEIN BASED MATERIAL WITH SOME NERVE

Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, have taken proteins from nerve cells and used them to create a "smart" material that is extremely sensitive to its environment. This marriage of materials science and biology could give birth to a flexible, sensitive coating that is easy and cheap to manufacture in large quantities.

The work, to be published Oct. 14, in the journal Nature Communications, could lead to new types of biological sensors, flow valves and controlled drug release systems, the researchers said. Biomedical applications include microfluidic devices that can handle and process very small volumes of liquid, such as samples of saliva or blood, for diagnostics.

"This work represents a unique convergence of the fields of biomimetic materials, biomolecular engineering and synthetic biology," said principal investigator Dr. Sanjay Kumar, UC Berkeley associate professor of bioengineering. "We created a new class of smart, protein-based materials whose structural principles are inspired by networks found in living cells."

Kumar's research team set out to create a biological version of a synthetic coating used in everyday liquid products, such as paint and liquid cosmetics, to keep small particles from clumping together. The synthetic coatings are often called polymer brushes because of their bristle-like appearance when attached to the particle surface.

To create the biological equivalent of a polymer brush, the researchers turned to neurofilaments, pipe cleaner-shaped proteins found in nerve cells. By acting as tiny, cylindrical polymer brushes, neurofilaments collectively assemble into a structural network that helps keep one end of the nerve cell propped open so that it can conduct electrical signals.

"We co-opted this protein and turned it into a polymer brush by cloning a portion of a gene that encodes one of the neurofilament bristles, re-engineering it such that we could attach the resulting protein to surfaces in a precise and oriented way, and then expressing the gene in bacteria to produce the protein in large, pure quantities," said Kumar. "We showed that our 'protein brush' had all the key properties of synthetic brushes, plus a number of advantages."

Kumar noted that neurofilaments are good candidates for protein brushes because they are intrinsically disordered proteins, so named because they don't have a fixed 3-D shape. The size and chemical sequence of these hair-like proteins are far easier to control when compared with their synthetic counterparts.

"In biology, precision is critical," said Kumar. "Proteins are generally synthesized with the exact same sequence every time; the length and biochemical order of the protein sequence affects all of its properties, including structure and the ability to bind to other molecules and catalyze biochemical reactions. This kind of sequence precision is difficult if not impossible to achieve in the laboratory using the tools of chemical synthesis. By harnessing the precision of biology and letting the bacterial cell do all the work for us, we were able to control the exact length and sequence of the bristles of our protein brush."

The researchers showed that the protein brushes could be grafted onto surfaces, and that they dramatically expand and collapse in reaction to changes in acidity and salinity. Materials that are environmentally sensitive in this way are often referred to as "smart" materials because of their ability to adaptively respond to specific stimuli.

MANIPULATING MEMORY WITH LIGHT

Just look into the light: not quite, but researchers at the UC Davis Center for Neuroscience and Department of Psychology have used light to erase specific memories in mice, and proved a basic theory of how different parts of the brain work together to retrieve episodic memories

Optogenetics, pioneered by Karl Diesseroth at Stanford University, is a new technique for manipulating and studying nerve cells using light. The techniques of optogenetics are rapidly becoming the standard method for investigating brain function.

Kazumasa Tanaka, Brian Wiltgen and colleagues at UC Davis applied the technique to test a long-standing idea about memory retrieval. For about 40 years, Wiltgen said, neuroscientists have theorized that retrieving episodic memories -- memories about specific places and events -- involves coordinated activity between the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus, a small structure deep in the brain.

"The theory is that learning involves processing in the cortex, and the hippocampus reproduces this pattern of activity during retrieval, allowing you to re-experience the event," Wiltgen said. If the hippocampus is damaged, patients can lose decades of memories.

But this model has been difficult to test directly, until the arrival of optogenetics.

Wiltgen and Tanaka used mice genetically modified so that when nerve cells are activated, they both fluoresce green and express a protein that allows the cells to be switched off by light. They were therefore able both to follow exactly which nerve cells in the cortex and hippocampus were activated in learning and memory retrieval, and switch them off with light directed through a fiber-optic cable.

They trained the mice by placing them in a cage where they got a mild electric shock. Normally, mice placed in a new environment will nose around and explore. But when placed in a cage where they have previously received a shock, they freeze in place in a "fear response."

Tanaka and Wiltgen first showed that they could label the cells involved in learning and demonstrate that they were reactivated during memory recall. Then they were able to switch off the specific nerve cells in the hippocampus, and show that the mice lost their memories of the unpleasant event. They were also able to show that turning off other cells in the hippocampus did not affect retrieval of that memory, and to follow fibers from the hippocampus to specific cells in the cortex.

"The cortex can't do it alone, it needs input from the hippocampus," Wiltgen said. "This has been a fundamental assumption in our field for a long time and Kazu’s data provides the first direct evidence that it is true."

They could also see how the specific cells in the cortex were connected to the amygdala, a structure in the brain that is involved in emotion and in generating the freezing response.

Co-authors are Aleksandr Pevzner, Anahita B. Hamidi, Yuki Nakazawa and Jalina Graham, all at the Center for Neuroscience. The work was funded by grants from the Whitehall Foundation, McKnight Foundation, Nakajima Foundation and the National Science Foundation.

LAB GROWN PENISES FOR PEOPLE WITH CONGENITAL ABNORMALITIES

A new research has revealed that lab-grown penises for people with congenital abnormalities are ready to be tested on men.

Researchers at the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, who are assessing engineered penises for safety, function and durability, hope to receive approval from the US Food and Drug Administration and to move to human testing within five years, the Guardian reported.

Anthony Atala, director of the institute, said that the rabbit studies were very encouraging, but to get approval for humans they need all the safety and quality assurance data, they need to show that the materials aren't toxic and have to spell out the manufacturing process, step by step.

The penises would be grown using a patient's own cells to avoid the high risk of immunological rejection after organ transplantation from another individual and cells taken from the remainder of the patient's penis would be grown in culture for four to six weeks.

Atala added that their target is to get the organs into patients with injuries or congenital abnormalities.

Researcher Asif Muneer said that the technology, if successful, would offer a huge advance over current treatment strategies for men with penile cancer and traumatic injuries and at present, men can have a penis reconstructed using a flap from their forearm or thigh, with a penile prosthetic implanted to simulate an erection.

He added that his concern is that they might struggle to recreate a natural erection, which is a coordinated neurophysiological process starting in the brain, so it will be their challenge if they can reproduce that function or whether this is just an aesthetic improvement.

Life with Diabetic Neuropathy From A Different Angle

Today's video appears on a long-running personal blog from diabetes-and-neuropathy.blogspot.nl (see link below) and is about Lee Nevitt and his life with diabetes and severe autonomic neuropathy. He has no connection to HIV but always tells the truth, warts and all, about his own personal experiences and difficulties. Many things in the clip will be recognisable to many people with neuropathy and for that reason alone it's well worth a watch. He's certainly doing his bit in widening knowledge of the disease and has to be commended for his honesty and courage in telling the world his story.






http://diabetes-and-neuropathy.blogspot.nl/2010_08_15_archive.html

How Other People With Neuropathy Feel

Today's post from nhs.uk (see link below) is a series of responses to a very good and inclusive general article about neuropathy on the same page (worth a read). The names have been removed here but if anyone objects to anything published, let me know and I'll remove it directly. The responses show the range of feelings and experiences other people have regarding neuropathy and I'm sure many readers will recognise themselves in some of the comments. Sometimes, you can feel better purely from knowing that you're not alone dealing with a disease and that is the aim of this post.

Patient Comments about Neuropathy

t said on 01 July 2013

Just logged in and found this site - can't believe there are so many people feeling the same as me! Have been in pain for at least 3 years with my feet and feel I must add to these comments. It seems that GPs and podiatrists in some areas do not believe there is any help to be given for neuropathy - ie there is nothing we can do but don't get depressed about the pain! To try and explain the pain is like trying to explain what it would be like to win the lottery (big time). I've been diagnosed with diabetes for approx. 10 years and wasn't treated correctly so have not only changed hospitals, but also districts for my treatment. Today I have been told that there are treatments that can help relieve some of the pain. Hurray!!

c said on 24 April 2013

I am at my wits end with tingling, burning and pins and needles in my feet. I have had this on and off for six years but it seems now I have it all the time.
I have lumbar spinal problems namely spondylolthesis, stenosis, disc protrusion, and facet joint arthritis. As if thats not enough pain I now get the feet bothering me too.
I cant walk very far and going round the supermarket is awful as all I feel is the pins and needles in my feet.
I waited six months to see the neurosurgeon and am now waiting on an up to date MRI ( been waiting forever ). He has suggested a spinal op but would be a waste of time if itnever took the foot problem away. I am on gabapentin, Amitriptyline, co-codomol, diclofenic, 3 blood pressure tabs and surely rattling . GP is no good as doest know what wrong with my feet.
Thinking of going to see podiatrist privately but dont know if it would help. Who knows. Im only 58 and it seems a bit young to have all this. Fed up as every painful day the same.
Any help would be appreciated

C

KG said on 22 March 2013

I was diagnosed with PN this year I am 68 and I am not diabetic, when I was told I had this problem I was offered no treatment at all I was not even told how to deal with it I had to write to the neurologist and ask what I should do and how it would affect me long term and all I got back was "take these 2 pills and see if they help and you may have some Muscle loss and that was it so please do not tell me we have an all caring NHS.
The tingling I get in my hands ,legs, feet is awful I try to keep very active but when walking down the High Street all I want to do is stop and scratch.
I would welcome any good advice.
Thanks

ms s said on 01 February 2013

Hi guys, so sorry to hear of all your pain(s)
Much like a lot of you, My father-in-law is suffering with severe pain due to Diabetes type 2 and also seems to be suffering with Peripheral neuropathy in his big toe! He has got to the point where he cannot sleep due to the horrific pain worsening at night time. He has been prescribed Gabapentin along with pain killers etc..
We have been looking into different thing that may help i.e Tens machine and now have been recommended 'Revitive V3 Circulation Booster' does anyone here have any experience and/or advice? I worry about using anything electrical when it comes to Nerve damage, the reason I ask this question is because I have also suffered nerve damage due to a Viruis called 'Ramsay Hunt Syndrome' I also took Gabapentin, various people suggested I try the Tens machine and other stimulants to help repair the damaged nerves but then later I was advised this would actually do more damage to the nerves
Sorry for essay!!! but I would apprecicate any knowledge and advice any of you may have!

I wish all of you some sort of relief from your suffering

Many Thanks
S

T said on 11 September 2012

I am coming up to two years suffering from Small Fibre Polyneuropathy. Tried all the antidepressant & anti-epileptic medication for pain to no avail. I am managing on 50% pain relief with opiates & tramadol. Alas, I am awaiting medical retirement from my job as it has mainly affected my hands. I wear gloves most of the time as a barrier to the sensitivity and a speech recognition programme for the computer.

Sleeping is the worst, isn't it? I'm currently trying things like camomile tea and fresh cut lavender from the garden by my bedside for that. But I (as are probably yourselves) well acquainted with 1am and 3am when the tramadol wears off!

The stiffness has become more lately, sometimes I walk like a cyberman or feel that my legs have turned to concrete overnight! I am Diabetic, but before all this I was very fit, a friend of the gym and a passionate cyclist. Ate well kept sugar levels nice and low. But the doctors believe the damage was probably done by undiagnosed diabetes years ago :(Life has changed, but now I am trying to work with it rather than fight it. Anyone who wants to stay in touch please fee free :)
I wish you all well

sl said on 15 February 2012

Hi, I have a bit of peripheral neuropathy following kidney failure. I haven't tried the following cream yet, but Google:

capsaicin cream

I think you can only get it on prescription. It might work for some.

am said on 24 January 2012

I recently found out that I was also suffering from peripheral neuropathy, something i did not even know before.... the pain is excruciating especially at night is the worse time. My mobility has gone from bad to worse now. I am 39 years old, but feel like I am much older! I am currently being given gabapentin to ease the pain... I have undergone all sorts of tests during my week in the hospital but the doctors were amazed by my condition.... I would not wish this pain to my worse enemy! It depresses me now to see myself slowly becoming less able. I refuse to walk with a stick which was given to me on my discharge at the hospital. All i can do is just make sure my legs are well covered as they get very cold and painful when they are cold.

L said on 18 November 2011

By chance I discovered that an alkaline diet improved things - much less pain. Also avoiding smoked meats and preserved meats is worth trying

B said on 05 July 2011

I have had PN in my feet for over 12 years. I am now 60. The cause is unknown although I do suffer with degenerative spine disease. In the earlier, poorly controlled stages, I suffered a lot with burning, tingling and shooting pains, which were almost unbearable. Parts of my feet are now numb and the muscles in my legs ache. Over the years, I have tried everything from gels, foot baths, various zombie producing drugs . . . the list goes on.
In recent years the pain has been controlled with a neuropathic painkiller. Three years ago I was referred to a pain clinic and was given epidurals, which helped for a few weeks. Eventually the pain clinic suggested I take a homeopathic dose of Methadone (4.5ml a day). I have been on this for over two years and combined with the neuropathic painkiller, it makes a huge difference to the quality of my life. It makes you feel a bit tired but you get a really good nights sleep - the latter a real benefit at 60 !

c said on 18 March 2011

Hi I'm a podiatrist and some of my patients who experience hot and tingly feet at night often report some relief using a deep cooling gel. Another tip is to stand up and try walking on a cold surface like the kitchen floor for a couple of minutes. Hope this helps.

g said on 11 March 2011

I have Type 2 diabetes and have had neuropathy for 18 months - worse at night. A cradle to keep bedclothes off feet is helpful. I had NHS acupuncture and laser treatment with no relief. Specialist said it's successful in two-thirds of cases. I get good sleep after taking sugar-free Amitriptyline prescribed by GP but next day I'm left feeling like a zombie.

bl123 said on 11 January 2011

I am 45 years old and have had peripheral neuropathy for almost 3 years. I have type 1 diabetes, which was diagnosed sixteen years ago. By my own admission my diabetes was not well controlled in the early years, but for the past 3 years has been well controlled. I suffer very badly all the time, the only time I ever get any relief from it is when I finally manage to drop off to sleep from sheer exhaustion. I can't remember the last time I had a good nights sleep. I too have been on Tramadol, Duloxetine, Meptazinol, Pregabalin and Gabapentine. I have also been treated with creams, TENS machines and last month I also had injections in my spine, which I had high hopes for but unfortunately only lasted for the day I had it. I am at my wits end with pain and everyday is just another day of suffering, which is making me extremely depressed. If anybody has any ideas or suggestions, I would love to hear from them.

dm said on 21 December 2010

I have Common Variable Immune Deficiency (CVID) 22 years, and 6 years ago was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Like 123dI have suffered with diabetic neuropathy for over 12 months, and similarly have great difficulty getting a decent nights sleep. My GP has prescribed all manor of pain killers including Tramadol but nothing works. I also suffer from lower back pain and pain in some of my joints but that has been attributed to the CVID. I try to maintain good diabetic control but frequently have high sugars. I find that the pain in my legs and feet is worse at night, even an evening in front of the TV can be uncomfortable and sleep is almost impossible. I would give anything for some relief from this and I hope that I will gain some information through this site.

123d said on 28 September 2010

I have had diabetic neuropathy for over 12 months,i have been diabetic type 1 for 25 years ,recently i have been having a very lot of pain in my feet and cannot get more than 2 hours sleep a night and no pain killers that my doc has prescribed works,also my diabetes is well controlled but i am starting to sweat a very lot during night,could this be a new problem,i also suffer from a lot of back pain and pain in my shoulders could you please help

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Peripheral-neuropathy/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Neurological Problems With HIV Vid

Today's post is an amateur video of a talk given about the Neurologic Complications of HIV, at Durban North, South Africa, Riverside Conference Centre on 16 November 2007. It's long (almost an hour) and sometimes difficult to understand because of the sound quality but because we deserve to hear everything about our condition and may be able to understand it a bit better by hearing different views on the subject, it's worth posting here. A cup of coffee and no distractions may be necessary for the serious viewer wanting to know more about the neurological complications associated with HIV.




Neurologic Complications of HIV - Prof. Nagagopal Venna from Harvard University CFAR on Vimeo.

Ten Tips For Living With Chronic Illness

 Today's article from www.rheumatoidarthritisguy.com (see link below) continues with the loose theme of the last few posts of finding ways to cope with neuropathy pain. It comes from a rheumatoid arthritis site and there is no connection with HIV but the ideas and tips given, apply to all those who are suffering from chronic symptoms, pain or otherwise. Definitely worth a read - this person knows what it's like to exist in a world that often doesn't understand.

 

 
10 Things I’ve Learned From Living With Chronic Illness
Adventures of RA Guy | November 5, 2011

1. Getting all of the rest that I need does not make me lazy. Even when I’m not moving, my body is expending a huge amount of energy on powering its overactive immune system, and on defending itself from the subsequent pain and inflammation. So while many times it might look like I’m not doing much, I’m still probably doing more than most others.

2. No matter how much it hurts, I still have to find a way to move. (Of course, I’m not advocating for movement that results in injury/harm.) During one of my first major bouts, I thought that the best thing to do was to move as little as possible. This really didn’t lower the pain, but it did eventually result in atrophied muscles, months of daily physical therapy, and having to learn how to walk again.

3. If I’m going to be in pain, I might as well be doing something that I enjoy. I may not be able to do certain things like I once used to be able to, but chances are I can still do more than what I thought possible. Learning this lesson, firsthand, is priceless for my mind, body, and soul.

4. And for those moments when it’s just not possible to do something, cancelling at the last minute is perfectly acceptable. I’ll be honest, and I’ll tell you the exact reasons why I’m not able to participate. Please don’t take it personally…I’m just as disappointed, if not more, than you are.

5. If you are a doctor or healthcare professional, you must earn my respect. I, the patient, will work just as hard to earn your respect. I will ask lots of questions, and I will listen to what you have to say. When it comes to treatment options, though, I will be the final decision maker. (After all, no one knows my body better than I do.)

6. Achieving acceptance is hard. (I used to think that doing so meant “giving up.”) Just when it feels like I’ve accepted everything there is about my illness, something pops up, and I want to deny everything, all over again. With chronic illness, I don’t think there is such a thing as “complete” acceptance…there’s just a continuous journey, back and forth, between denial, acceptance, and so many other emotions.

7. No matter how bad I’m feeling, no matter how much pain I’m in, it’s *not* okay to take out my anger and frustrations on other people, especially those who are close to me. Yes, it’s fine–sometimes even healthy–to feel angry and frustrated…but I have to know how to release this energy in a way that doesn’t harm myself, or those around me.

8. Never, ever, compare my pain and illness to those of others. My illness is mine, and mine alone. I’m completely entitled to feel everything–emotions, symptoms, and otherwise–that results from living with my illness. (I’m entitled to feel everything, that is, except shame.)

9. While a positive attitude isn’t going to “cure” me of my illness, it’s certainly going to make it easier to overcome the challenges that I encounter on a daily basis. Yes, I do have occasional periods of doom and gloom…but I make a point to pass through them as quickly as possible. The mind is a powerful tool, and I must use it to my advantage.

10. Just when it feels like my world is going to fall apart, the best thing for me to do is to sit down, and take a deep breath. And another one. And another one…until I realize that everything is indeed okay.

http://www.rheumatoidarthritisguy.com/2011/11/10-things-ive-learned-from-living-with-chronic-illness/

Living With Neuropathy And HIV And More

Today's post from healthygaylifestyles.com (see link below) is the second part of a three part series about living with HIV and its side  effects. Part One can be seen here and Part Three, here and have already been featured here on the blog. They are all powerful personal accounts of what it is like for one man to live with HIV and other HIV health-related problems that often happen to older people with the virus. Not easy reading by any means but certainly material that makes you think. Neuropathy is just one element of his life but it's an important one none the less. Worth reading for people with or without HIV who have an interest in how neuropathy can play a huge role in the quality of life for people. 
 

Anatomy of An Illness – Part 2
by Roger Goodman M. Mus., M. Div August 23rd 2013

Because I am living with a progressive disease that is going to get worse and worse as time goes by, I have decided that my first post entitled “Anatomy of an Illness” is to be the first in a series of postings documenting my journey with AIDS with all its implications-physical, emotional, spiritual– for someone who has been living with HIV for thirty years and with full-blown AIDS for seventeen. The journal will consist of everything that is happening in my life around the disease–the excruciating pain, the boundless joy, and utter triumph that I feel so often, sometimes separately and sometimes simultaneously. I am doing this for at least two reasons (I’m sure that more will surface down the road). The first is that I am called to debunk the idea that AIDS is over because of the current medications available to control the amount of virus in the system and to keep the T-cells as high as possible, assuming that by doing those two things there will be no illness, just the intellectual fact that one is HIV+ and must take daily medications to keep the opportunistic infections at bay. Right now my viral load is undetectable and my T-calls are nicely high. That doesn’t mean, however, that I am well. Rather, I would call myself someone who is among the “walking ill”. The second reason is that I am relatively rare as an aging person with AIDS and the medical community really doesn’t know what to do with those of us who have survived death in the first wave of the holocaust.

Just as what happens to many of us who have been living with the disease for thirty years and are still alive to talk about it, I have infection after infection in various parts of my body (I have a chronic eye infection in my right eye about every other month that requires antibiotic/steroid eye drops, but that’s the least of it) and, although I’m only 67 years young, I am dealing with geriatric issues, such as advanced arthritis, that an 80-year-old man might expect to develop. I am also dealing with AIDS-related Parkinsonism, something that develops many years after severe brain trauma, which I experienced when I went into a ten-day coma in 1995 from Herpes Simplex Encephalopathy, a coma in which I legally died, but from which I miraculously came back to life. Every millimeter of my brain was covered with Herpes lesions, killing many of my neuro-pathways and atrophying part of my brain. This was my AIDS-defining infection. The Parkinsonism is escalating now and I am becoming more and more physically and psychologically challenged. My life with AIDS and all that is related to it is only going to get worse and, because I am a fighter and not one who easily ac cepts adversity, I believe that my writing will help me to accept what is and find peace and serenity in it. I thought I had both of those things from working my 12-Step program, but, in fact, I have lost that which centered my life because I have been so ill for the past number of years. I hope that writing this journal of my current HIV/AIDS journey will be great therapy for me. It is certainly cheaper than psychotherapy sessions.

In 2010 I spent six of the twelve months in the hospital with various types of pneumonia and bronchial infections always requiring hospitalization. This happened every other month for twelve months. Sometimes the hospital stays were so extensive, lasting as long as four weeks, I would need rehab in order to have enough strength in my legs to walk. If you read my book, Thoughts of a Tribal Elder: One Queerman’s Journey from the Ashes Risen, you will know that I am in recovery from drug and sex addiction and work an exciting and life-giving 12-Step program called Crystal Meth Anonymous (CMA). I worked a Sexual Compulsives Anonymous (SCA) program for many years, and feel quite sober in my sexual expression. I also feel quite sober in my drug program, but I have realized only recently that, indeed, I could go right back “out there” and use again. Addiction is an insidious disease, always ready, just under the surface, to spring into action. Given enough adversity to drive me slightly crazy, I could use drugs again in a heartbeat. I can honestly say that I won’t do that, but I cannot get that arrogant or my program will fail.

My last drug use (clean since February 4, 2005) had much to do with my illness. It was also an emotional release from the pain of a toxic, abusive relationship of thirteen years. When one is abused on all fronts as a child and on into adolescence, one easily believes that such is the way of all relationships and therefore repeats the abuse cycle over and over again. I am happy to report that I no longer seek those out because of my recovery program and years of psychotherapy, which has taught me that I deserve every ounce of love there is to be given, that I am worthy of a good life, most of all that I am worthy of a healthy, life-giving, loving, sexual relationship, which is what I have with my beloved. When I suffered with a deadly onset of Sepsis a number of months ago, hospitalized and in the ICU for a week, I wanted so badly to use crystal to ease my fear and anxiety after I was well enough to leave the hospital and come home to my spouse, Jerry (I will speak of him and our relationship within the context of this journal, probably throughout the journal entries).

I am blessed beyond the beyond to have a loving, compassionate, extremely brilliant, and quite beautiful HIV doctor who speaks to me of acceptance and “seeing the tulips in the gardens rather than the dog turds on the sidewalks.” He loves me dearly and I love him. I am so fortunate that our paths to my wellness crossed fifteen years ago. He knows me intimately, i.e. what I feel, what I think about, how I view the world, my theology, my spirituality, my relational life with others and especially with Jerry, and he knows about my need to not be afraid so he reassures me on a regular basis that all will be well no matter what happens. He has seen me through some death-dealing illnesses. We have talked about my death, and how I refuse life-support measures. He agrees that he will not impose such torture and humiliation on me and that when I am ready to die, he will let that happen with peace and humility and not try to play God with a philosophy of “life at all costs”, which is a philosophy that most doctors hold onto with a vengeance. My neurologist, my ophthalmologists, my psychiatrist who prescribes my psych meds, my dentist, my urologist, and my podiatrist who treats my Charcot Foot and any problems I have with my feet (I have severe peripheral neuropathy in my feet and lower legs and cannot feel a thing on the surface, although the deep pain feels like 1000 wasps stinging me all at the same time or that red, hot coals have been sewn into the bottoms of my feet), all support me completely in my walk with HIV/AIDS and are so caring and compassionate that sometimes I can’t be grateful enough to God/dess for giving me such gifts as I have been given in this disease.

It is important for me to say that this will not be a journal of pain and angst, but a journal of what is going on in my life with each entry. There will be posts of joy and triumph over the disease, peace and serenity with Jerry and my meetings, excitement over my spiritual life, the beauty and hilarity of my two cats, etc. This is not going to be a dark blog, although there will no doubt be times of darkness, because I do fall into them not infrequently. I will write about my relationship, which is absolutely the best I have ever known. I will speak about everything that is going on around my illness, both glorious and desperate, and I will write about my frustration and rage at society at large for continuing the stigma of people living with HIV/AIDS.

I am excited that I have the energy to do this project which I hope will illuminate my life for people who will learn about what life with HIV/AIDS over a thirty year period of time is like. I am relatively rare in the HIV world, because I was in the first wave of the holocaust, and the medical world has no experience with aging people living with HIV/AiDS. My prayer is that my blog will help them in their work.

Be well, be blessed, be a blessing to others.

___________________________________________

Roger Goodman, M. Mus., M. Div. attended Oberlin College during the tumultuous 1960s during the Civil Rights Movement and protests over the War in Vietnam. He was present at the watershed Stonewall Rebellion in NYC in June, 1969. He had an international career as a concert harpsichordist, teacher, and recording artist. He was on the faculty of The New School for Social Research in New York City, the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago, and the School of Music at DePaul University as Director of the Baroque Program, a post he held for 23 years. In 2009, Roger left the world of music to become a filmmaker. He is Executive Director of his 501(c)(3) corporation Tribal Elder Productions, NFP which he formed in 2010 and is the screen writer, and director for his documentary film “From the Ashes Risen ” for which he is currently seeking funding through grants and the private sector. His new book is entitled, Thoughts of a Tribal Elder: One Queerman’s Journey From the Ashes Risen. Roger has been HIV+ since the early 1980′s and was diagnosed with full-blown AIDS in 1995 when he died during a lengthy coma, but, miraculously. he came back from death. He says the reason he came back was because he had important transformational work to do in the world for Queer people everywhere. His speaking and workshops on college and university campuses, his teaching/performing, his film, and his book are the fruits of that extraordinary journey with the Death Crone. A sex and drug addict in 12-Step Recovery, he has been clean from all drugs and sexual acting out for 8 years, since 2005. He is thoroughly grateful to his Higher Power that his life was given back to him so that he could do the work he has been given to do with enthusiasm, humility, and unending joy. Websites: www.queerwitness.com and www.tribalelderproductions.org.

http://healthygaylifestyles.com/anatomy-of-an-illness-part-2/

COPD PATIENTS BREATHE EASIER WITH LUNG FLUTE

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) report improved symptoms and health status when they use a hand-held respiratory device called the Lung Flute®, according to a new study by the University at Buffalo. Usually caused by smoking, COPD, which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, is the third leading cause of death in the U.S.

The Lung Flute, manufactured by Medical Acoustics, (Buffalo), uses sound waves to break up mucus in the lungs. The device allows patients to clear lung mucus simply by blowing into the hand-held respiratory device, which produces a low frequency acoustic wave.

Published on Sept. 23 in Clinical and Translational Medicine, the 26-week study demonstrates that patients using the Lung Flute experience less difficulty breathing and less coughing and sputum production than a control group, which saw no change in COPD symptoms.

"This study confirms that the Lung Flute improves symptoms and health status in COPD patients, decreasing the impact of the disease on patients and improving their quality of life," says Sanjay Sethi, MD, principal author of the study and professor and chief, division of pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine in the Department of Medicine, UB School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

The device is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat COPD and other lung diseases characterized by retained secretions and congestion. It also is approved by FDA to obtain deep lung sputum samples for "laboratory analysis and pathologic examination."

Colleagues of Sethi's in the UB medical school are now studying the Lung Flute for use in improving symptoms in asthma. The device is also being investigated for diagnostic use in tuberculosis and lung cancer.

The study followed 69 patients with COPD for six months; it was conducted at the Veterans Affairs Western New York Healthcare System (Buffalo VA) by researchers at the UB medical school.

"This study confirms and extends the results of a previous, 8-week study of 40 patients that was conducted in 2010 to obtain FDA approval for the Lung Flute," says Sethi, whose clinical practice is at the Buffalo VA.

He has led a series of clinical trials demonstrating the safety and efficacy of the Lung Flute, including those that played a key role in the FDA's approval of the device for diagnostic and therapeutic uses.

Improvement in the current study was demonstrated by responses reported by patients on the Chronic COPD Questionnaire, which assesses changes in COPD symptoms and the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire, which measures quality of life. On both questionnaires, patients using the Lung Flute reported significant improvements.

In addition, the Body-Mass Index, Airflow Obstruction, Dyspnea and Exercise Capacity (BODE) score was measured repeatedly in the study. "The BODE index provides a more comprehensive assessment of COPD patients," explains Sethi. "As the disease worsens, the BODE index goes up as it did in the control group. But for patients using the Lung Flute, the BODE index stayed flat."

Sethi adds that the study points to a potential decrease in exacerbations, flare-ups of respiratory symptoms, as a result of using the Lung Flute. Researchers are planning longer-term studies that will focus specifically on how the device affects exacerbations, a key part of what makes COPD patients sicker and leads to health care utilization.

Sethi notes that while similar devices have been developed for cystic fibrosis, the Lung Flute is the only one that has undergone extensive testing specifically for COPD patients. In a previous study comparing a device developed for cystic fibrosis with the Lung Flute, the Lung Flute was superior for COPD patients.

"All therapeutic studies on using the Lung Flute for COPD have been done here in Buffalo," says Sethi. "We have the biggest database by far on using the device in COPD. The Lung Flute is the only one that has been tested and been clearly shown to benefit COPD patients."

The research is the result of a partnership between UB and Medical Acoustics.

"Medical Acoustics has worked closely with UB's medical school since the company's founding in 2002," says Frank Codella, chief executive officer at Medical Acoustics. "We are very fortunate to have had access to UB's vast resources, including medical researchers of the caliber of Sanjay Sethi and his team, to lead many of the Lung Flute's clinical trials.

"Dr. Sethi is recognized as one of the leading COPD research professionals in the United States," Codella continues. "His research has resulted in the Lung Flute receiving FDA clearances for both obtaining deep lung sputum samples for diagnostic use and for airway clearance therapy as well as a series of Phase IV studies such as the one being reported this week."

Adds Sethi: "The people at Medical Acoustics are open-minded and I was willing to help because I saw an unmet medical need. Our relationship satisfies my goal of getting therapies to patients, while it helps the company succeed, satisfying their goals of creating a viable business. That's the way academia and industry partnerships should work."

A Child With Neuropathy Can Face An Uncaring World

Today's post from nationalpainreport.com (see link below) doesn't mention neuropathy specifically but there is no doubt that neuropathy among children is a growing problem and as the article rightly points out, chronic pain in kids is often underestimated and badly treated. If you're living with neuropathy yourself, you can imagine how confusing those same symptoms must be for a child. Adults find it difficult enough to understand what's happening to them so unless a child has a very sympathetic doctor and understanding parents and friends, having nerve damage symptoms if you're under 15 can make for a very lonely life. It's very important for a child that the right diagnosis is made. After that, it's more than just medicinal treatment alone that's needed - a child needs counselling, understanding and support, to be able to make sense of confusing pains in a world that isn't necessarily prepared to be supportive. Other kids can be cruel so if anything, more attention needs to be given to the child with neuropathy than the adult. This article helps us understand why.

Chronic Pain and Children – the Story’s Not Much Better
Posted on March 8, 2016 By Ed Coghlan

Children suffer from pain, and generally medicine does not do a good job of treating them.

That’s the assessment Dr. Pradeep Chopra, who is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at the Brown Medical School and a nationally known pain management specialist.

It’s estimated that as many as 40% of children and adolescents complain of pain that occurs at least once weekly, and chronic pain affects at least 15%–20% of children. Just as chronic pain is more prevalent in women than men, girls report more pain than boys.

“Children deserve to be treated at least as well adults, and they generally are not,” Dr. Chopra told the National Pain Report recently. “Rather they are often blamed for their condition. It’s really a pretty sad state of affairs.”

The nation’s largest pain advocacy group has targeted pediatric pain as an issue.

“One of the major issues we see with pediatric pain is that it is undertreated and misdiagnosed,” said Paul Gileno who is Founder and President of the US Pain Foundation which will sponsor a pediatric pain camp in July and is planning a Take Control of Your Pain Event for later in the year.

When a child is complaining of pain, Dr. Chopra believes that treating physicians are not always listening the way they should to the patient.

“Oftentimes, they are told just do physical therapy and psychological treatment and you’ll get better, and then when they don’t get better they are blamed for their condition,” said Dr. Chopra

Chopra, who is Chairman of the Medical Advisory Board for the Coalition Against Pediatric Pain, says chronic pain can be so disabling that it can prevent a child from participating in normal age-appropriate activities, such as school, social events, and sports. It also can lead to isolation and depression as the child withdraws from friends and family. And, when a child suffers, the whole family suffers.

“If they don’t get better, the blame is often put on the kids which makes them sound like liars which is the worst thing you can do to a child,” said Dr. Chopra.

For doctors, Dr. Chopra’s prescription is simple: “when you see the child, and they tell you something, believe them.”

There are many, many sources of pain for children including cancer pain, complex regional pain syndrome, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, juvenile arthritis and mitochondrial disease just to name a few.

“They are deserving of better treatment than they get,” said Chopra. “And it’s getting worse.”

The US Pain Foundation is recruiting more of what they call “pediatric pain warriors” who can share their stories to better educate young people, their parent and their doctors about the issue of pediatric pain.

http://nationalpainreport.com/chronic-pain-and-children-the-storys-not-much-better-8829755.html

Acetyl L Carnitine an Amino Acid with Balls

Following on from yesterday's post, today's article comes from webmd.com (see link below)and looks at the supposed benefits of Acetyl L-Carnitine, which is frequently suggested as a useful supplement (in combination with Alpha Lipoic Acid) for people with neuropathy. The article is unbiased; says nothing that is not found everywhere else on the net and is very useful when deciding whether to begin supplementing your diet. However, when you read what is claimed for this particular amino acid, you wonder why it's not obligatory for everyone on the planet - who wouldn't love something that could do all this!
The problem is that for neuropathy sufferers at least, it's very hit an miss as to whether it's of any benefit at all. Some people swear by it and others can't see what all the fuss is about. Apart from that, at the recommended doses, you're going to need a second mortgage to pay for it because cheap it ain't!
Many people take reduced doses a) because that's all they can afford and b) with the idea that although they don't notice much difference, some must be better than none. It is to be hoped that that's true and that we're not just wasting our hard-earned cash out of desperation! That said, it is recommended by many neurologists and other specialists, so it's definitely not a quack supplement. It's probably something to be discussed and researched as much as possible before making a financial commitment.

ACETYL - L - CARNITINE

Overview Information

Acetyl-L-carnitine is an amino acid (a building block for proteins) that is naturally produced in the body. It helps the body produce energy.

Acetyl-L-carnitine is used for a variety of mental disorders including Alzheimer's disease, age-related memory loss, late-life depression, thinking problems related to alcoholism, and thinking problems related to Lyme disease. It is also used for Down syndrome, poor circulation in the brain, cataracts, nerve pain due to diabetes, nerve pain due to drugs used in the treatment of AIDS, and facial paralysis.

Some men use acetyl-L-carnitine for infertility, symptoms of “male menopause” (low testosterone levels due to aging), and a disease of the penis called Peyronie’s disease.

The body can convert L-carnitine to acetyl-L-carnitine and vice versa. But, no one knows whether the effects of acetyl-L-carnitine are from the chemical itself, from the L-carnitine it can make, or from some other chemical made along the way. For now, don’t substitute one form of carnitine for another.

How does it work?

Acetyl-L-carnitine helps the body produce energy. It is important for heart and brain function, muscle movement, and many other body processes.

ACETYL-L-CARNITINE Uses & Effectiveness

Possibly Effective for:

Improving memory problems in elderly people.

Improving memory in people who use alcohol excessively. Taking acetyl-L-carnitine seems to improve memory in 30-60 year-old people whose use of alcohol has produced long-term thinking problems.

Reducing nerve pain (neuropathy) caused by diabetes. Acetyl-L-carnitine reduces pain best in people who have not had diabetes for a long time or who have poorly controlled type 2 diabetes.

Treating Peyronie’s disease, a connective tissue disease in men. Acetyl-L-carnitine seems to be more effective than a drug called tamoxifen for reducing pain and slowing worsening of the condition.

Treating male infertility caused by inflammation of some reproductive organs and tissues (prostate, seminal vesicles, and epididymis). Taking acetyl-L-carnitine by mouth, along with L-carnitine for 6 months, seems to increase sperm count and sperm movement. The carnitines are used following 2 months of treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin.

Treating symptoms of age-related testosterone deficiency (“male menopause”). Taking acetyl-L-carnitine by mouth along with propionyl-L-carnitine seems to help symptoms related to declining male hormone levels. This combination taken for 6 months seems to improve sexual dysfunction, depression, and fatigue in much the same way the male hormone testosterone does.

Improving blood flow to the brain. Administering a single dose of acetyl-L-carnitine intravenously (by IV) seems to produce short-term improvements in blood flow in the brains of people who have poor blood circulation in the brain.

Treating Alzheimer’s disease. Acetyl-L-carnitine is more likely to help those with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease who are less than 66 years of age and have a faster rate of disease progression and mental decline.

Insufficient Evidence for:

Depression. Some research suggests acetyl-L-carnitine might improve mood and decrease depression in elderly people.

Muscle weakness caused by medications taken for HIV disease. Some research suggests acetyl-L-carnitine might help relieve muscle weakness caused by some HIV treatments.

Down syndrome.

Thinking problems related to Lyme disease.

Cataracts.

Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of acetyl-L-carnitine for these uses.

ACETYL-L-CARNITINE Side Effects & Safety

Acetyl-L-carnitine is LIKELY SAFE for most adults. It can cause some side effects including stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, and restlessness. It can cause a "fishy" odor of the urine, breath, and sweat.

Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of acetyl-L-carnitine during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Under-active thyroid (hypothyroidism): There is some concern that acetyl-L-carnitine might interfere with thyroid hormone. Don’t use acetyl-L-carnitine if you have an under-active thyroid.

Seizures: An increase in the number or seriousness of seizures has been reported in people with a history of seizures who have used L-carnitine by mouth or by IV (intravenously). Since L-carnitine is related to acetyl-L-carnitine, there is a concern that this might also occur with acetyl-L-carnitine. If you have ever had a seizure, don’t take acetyl-L-carnitine.

ACETYL-L-CARNITINE Interactions

Major Interaction Do not take this combination

Acenocoumarol (Sintrom) interacts with ACETYL-L-CARNITINE

Acenocoumarol (Sintrom) is used to slow blood clotting. Acetyl-L-carnitine might increase the effectiveness of acenocoumarol (Sintrom). Increasing the effectiveness of acenocoumarol (Sintrom) might slow blood clotting too much. The dose of your acenocoumarol (Sintrom) might need to be changed.

Moderate Interaction Be cautious with this combination

Warfarin (Coumadin) interacts with ACETYL-L-CARNITINE

Warfarin (Coumadin) is used to slow blood clotting. Acetyl-L-carnitine might increase the effects of warfarin (Coumadin) and increase the chances of bruising and bleeding. Be sure to have your blood checked regularly. The dose of your warfarin (Coumadin) might need to be changed.

ACETYL-L-CARNITINE Dosing

The following doses have been studied in scientific research:

BY MOUTH:
For Alzheimer’s disease: 1500-4000 mg daily, usually divided into two or three doses during the day.

For peripheral neuropathy: 1500 to 3000 mg per day in divided doses.

In age-related memory loss: 1500-2000 mg daily.

For depression in the elderly: 1500-3000 mg daily in divided doses.

For male infertility:
1 gram of acetyl-L-carnitine plus 2 grams of L-carnitine daily.
4000 mg daily has been used to improve sperm function.
For male infertility secondary to abacterial prostatovesiculoepididymitis: acetyl-L-carnitine 500 mg plus carnitine 1 gram every 12 hours has been used following 2 months of treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

For Peyronie’s disease: 1 gram twice daily for 3 months.

For symptoms of age-related testosterone deficiency: 2 grams of acetyl-L-carnitine plus 2 grams of propionyl-L-carnitine daily.

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-834-ACETYL-L-CARNITINE.aspx?activeIngredientId=834&activeIngredientName=ACETYL-L-CARNITINE