Health Info

Somatization Disorder

Somatization DisorderA person with somatization disorder is a chronic concern for their “somatic” symptoms over the years. However, no psychiatric diagnosis fails to explain the symptoms as a whole. These symptoms cause distress or incapacitate a person to function normally.

The person does not “pretend.” Somatization disorder is a medical problem. However, this disorder is probably related to brain function and emotional regulation and not the body area that has become the center of patient care. The symptoms are real and the person has no conscious control of the same. Read the rest of this entry »

Treatment of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency

treatment of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency

Treatment

No smoking is very important to prevent lung damage.

Specific therapy is available, consisting of intravenous infusion of the protein deficit. Damage does not recover the set, but can avoid the progressive deterioration of lung function. Its benefits on liver disease are less clear. No currently available gene therapy.

New treatments are being tested, ranging from the use of sprays to deposit the deficient protein in the lungs, to try gene therapy to introduce the gene deficit. Unfortunately, to date, are more a hope than a clinical reality

The treatment of lung or liver disease is similar to that used in diseases due to other causes. This will relieve the symptoms, increases survival and improves quality of life, but does not stop the progression of the disease. Read the rest of this entry »

Advice for Deficiency of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin

advice for deficiency of alpha-1 antitrypsinHow can the doctor help?

It is unlikely that the doctor involved in the diagnosis, given the rarity of the disease.

Liver disease in children are rare, so that the patient is likely to be referred to the pediatrician. Hospitalization is often needed to make a thorough study. Sometimes it may be necessary to enter or query in a specialized center for childhood liver diseases in general only exists in large cities (university hospitals).

Once diagnosed the disease, the physician may collaborate actively in the management of the disease, but under the supervision of specialist. Read the rest of this entry »

Diagnosis of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency

diagnosis of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiencyHow is it diagnosed the deficiency of alpha-1 AT?

As with all rare diseases, one of the most important factors is that the physician considers the diagnosis. Thus, liver disease are rare in children, so that this possibility is considered fast. But in adults is easier than going unnoticed because there are other common causes of liver disease. It is thought that many cases go unnoticed, and only a minority are diagnosed.

Faced with a rapidly progressive pulmonary emphysema or occurs at an early age should always be suspected.

Once considered a possible diagnosis, confirmation is easy with a blood test measuring levels of alpha-1 AT. Sometimes it is a chance finding, as seen in the serum protein (analysis of blood proteins) absence of the band of alpha-1-globulins. Read the rest of this entry »

Symptoms of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency

symptoms of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiencyRespiratory disease

The deficiency of alpha-1 AT predisposes to progressive damage of lung tissue by the protease activity especially when added contributing factors such as smoking. Cigarette smoke is a potent stimulator of protease activity, accelerating the damage that occurs in the lungs.

The deficiency of alpha-1 AT causes emphysema, a chronic lung disease characterized by destruction of alveolar walls and permanent abnormal enlargement of respiratory bronchioles and alveolar sacs. In this disease, emphysema, these areas are often located at the bases of the lungs but is usually diffuse emphysema.

Affected people, especially smokers, complain of exertional dyspnea, progressive. Read the rest of this entry »

The Course of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency

the course of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiencyWhat is the course of the disease?

The course of the disease depends largely on the genotype that determines the deficit and, therefore, the amount and quality of alpha-1 AT produced. But even people with the same genotype exhibit highly variable expression of the enfermedad.Como already mentioned, the deficiency of alpha-1 AT primarily affects the lungs and liver.

- In the lungs, the disease strongly predisposes to developing emphysema, a chronic and progressive disease of the lungs. This type of emphysema is usually detected at 30-40 years in smokers and in patients 50-65 years old non-smokers. This emphysema often worsen over the years, leading to respiratory failure and premature death in the next 15-20 years. Read the rest of this entry »

Deficiency of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin: Genetic Alteration

deficiency of alpha-1 antitrypsin: genetic alteration

What is the genetic alteration that affects the disease?

The deficiency of alpha-1 AT is an inherited disease due to the presence of a defective gene on chromosome 14. A gene is that portion of the DNA of the chromosomes located in the nucleus of cells that encodes a particular protein synthesis.

Have been described about 70 different variants of alpha-1 AT. In laboratory tests, a normal variant of alpha-1 AT is given the name of variant M. The two major abnormal variants are called S and Z variants These variants S and Z correspond to molecules of alpha-1 AT low quality, low-antiprotease activity, determining a functional deficit of alpha-1 AT. Each person receives two chromosomes 14 (one father and one from the mother), a normal person is qualified Pimm. Pi means protease inhibitor (protease inhibitor). Read the rest of this entry »

Deficiency of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin

deficiency of alpha-1 antitrypsinWhat is the deficiency of alpha-1 antitrypsin?

It is the reduction in the production of the enzyme alpha-1 antitrypsin (alpha-1 AT). Sometimes the production is normal but the enzyme is impaired and not functioning properly. In both situations, the loss of function of this enzyme may cause diseases arising from excessive poteasas activity.

Under normal conditions, blood and body tissues is a potent enzymes known as proteases (facilitate rupture of proteins) that play important roles in the defense against infections and inflammatory processes. These proteases must be carefully regulated because too much activity can cause the destruction of self proteins, causing damage to various organs. To control, blood and other tissues have enzymes with protease inhibitory activity, which prevent excessive action of themselves and their potentially harmful effects. The main protease inhibitor in the blood is alpha-1 antitrypsin and its main function is to protect tissues from excessive activity of proteases. Read the rest of this entry »

Goiter

goiterA goiter is an enlargement of the thyroid gland, diffuse or nodular, occurring in about 2-3% of the population. Usually you can maintain normal thyroid function, however, sometimes associated with hormonal overproduction – hyperthyroidism, or a deficiency of hormones, hypothyroidism.

Endemic goitre was prevalent some years ago in the interior due to lack of iodine, which would cause the compensatory increase in the growth of thyroid tissue. Today is rare due to the use of iodized salt. . Simple goiter is a diffuse increase in the thyroid has no clinical significance. When a diffuse goiter is associated with clinical symptoms of overactive thyroid (weight loss, diarrhea, excessive sweating, nervousness, palpitations …) is the Graves’ disease, which can present with ocular involvement and appearance of “eyes bulging. ” Read the rest of this entry »

Good Food and Tonic for Liver

good food and tonic for liverGood Food for Liver

The best vegetables for the liver include carrots and beets because they contain antioxidants including beta carotene, other carotenoids and flavonoids that give color healing to these plants. These vegetables antioxidants have a cleansing effect and healing to the liver. The most beneficial are:

- Radishes
- Strawberries and grapes
- Endive
- Cabbage, broccoli and Brussels sprouts
- Lecithin helps the liver metabolize fats and reduces cholesterol.
- Alfalfa and barley leaves give the liver an injection of chlorophyll which acts both as a tonic, as a liver cleanser. Read the rest of this entry »