ROBERTSONIAN TRANSLOCATION:A special type of translocation in which long arms of two acrocentric chromosomes form a metacentric chromosome; also called centric fusion.

Reference; CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY BY E.D.P De ROBERTIS,MD & E.M.F.De ROBERTIS ,IR,M.D.,Ph.D (EIGHTH EDITION)

health benefits of pumpkins

Pumpkin whether it is a pulp or seed act as a store house of various vitamin, mineral and other healthy nutrients

HIGH CAROTENOID

Its prevents from premature aging.

Beta carotene present in pumpkin seeds and flesh have antioxidant and ant inflammatory properties. Prevents from joint pain and arthritis.

Cardiovascular diseases

LUTEIN AND ZEAXANTHINE

Protect eyes from the free radical damage

Prevents from cataracts formation

Prevents degeneration of eye tissue

Pumpkin seeds or pepitas are the  rich source of protein.one ounce of seed gives approx. 7 gram of protein.

PHYTOSTEROLS or the oil of seeds can reduce blood cholesterol level.

Lower the risk of prostate cancer

ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS

Reduce risk of cardiovascularr diseases,Arthritis,Cancer

Improve brain power

VITAMIN A

Promotes eye health

Booste immune system

VITAMIN C

Protection against various cancer

MAGNESIUM

Present in pulp and seed helps in maintenance of bones and teeth

POTASSIUM AND ZINC:

Potassium is necessary for CVS diseases and prevents onset of hypertension

Zinc is necessary for bone density in osteoporosis,booste immune system and promote health of reproductive system.

FIBER:

Pumpkin is low in calories and high in fiber that helps in treating various GIT diseases such as constipation,indigestion etc

Helps in reducing blood cholesterol level and regulating blood sugar.

Vitamin A,E,C as well zinc helps in increasing glow of skin.

L-trptophan present in pumpkin flesh helps in reducing depression

Act as natural diuretic

Used to treat various parasites such as tapeworm and other parasites

Helps in prevention of kidney stones.

Just one chocolate bar

JUST ONE CHOCOLATE BAR

CHOCOLATE:

Whenever we are going to eat Chocolate we are worry about its harmful effects. As everyone knows

“Excess of everything is bad”

Even when you eat healthy food in excess its still associated with lot of harmful effects. Same here in the case with chocolate .whenever you are going to eat a lot of chocolate it will surely be associated harmful effects  but when we are talking about a single chocolate bar once a day,it will be a healthy food. Chocolate contains such constituents associated with number of benefits .

CONSTITUENTS OF CHOCOLATE:

Caffeine:

·         Increases energy by stimulating the central nervous system.

·         Side effects include anxiety, irratibiltiy ,insomnia and agitation. High dosage required for  toxicity.consuming 600mg of caffeine is associated with headache,lethargy,irritability.

Theobromine:

 Affects The Heart.

The problems are that this is the chemical that small children may be unable to process. It is the substance which is so harmful to dogs.

 Serotonin: Induces feelings of temporary happiness.

Chocolate affects the part of The Brain which produces these feelings.

Opioids: These contribute to the feelings of relaxation and happiness experienced when chocolate is eaten.

 Phenyletylamine: Produces feelings similar to: falling in love.

The Brain releases endorphins which induce feelings of pleasure.

Cannabinoid Mimics: Chocolate stimulates the same brain receptors as cannabis.

Anandamide: Stimulates brain pathways which enable the happiness messages to be transmitted.

This helps to maintain the experience of feeling good.

Sugar: Most people can identify with feeling tired at times. Sugar aids The Body in the release of a short burst of energy.

BENEFITS OF CHOCOLATE:

Cocoa or dark chocolate may positively affect the circulatory system. Other possible effects under basic research include anticancer, brain stimulator, cough preventor and antidiarrhoeal activities.

A HEALTHEIR HEART:

Studies have shown heart benefits from increased blood flow, less platelet stickiness and clotting, and improved bad cholesterol.These benefits are the result of cocoa's antioxidant chemicals known as flavonoids, which seem to prevent both cell damage and inflammation.

It also prevents from heart diseases  such as heart attack and stroke.the mechanism lying behind this is inhibition  of LDL oxidation (the oxidation of which results in waxy substances that stick to arterial walls).The inhibiting substance  present in chocolate is polyphenols.

BLOOD PRESSURE MANAGEMENT:

It helps in B.P management.hypertensive people who ate 3.5 ounces of dark chocolate per day for two weeks saw their blood pressure drop significantly, according to an article in the journal Hypertension. Their bad cholesterol dropped, too.

ENERGY PROVIDER:

Chocolate milk may help you recover after a hard workout. 

SKIN HEALTH:

German researchers gave 24 women a half-cup of special extra-flavonoid-enriched cocoa every day. After three months, the women's skin was moister, smoother, and less scaly and red when exposed to ultraviolet light. The researchers think the flavonoids, which absorb UV light, help protect and increase blood flow to the skin, improving its appearance.

BRAIN:

chocolate may boost your memory, attention span, reaction time, and problem-solving skills by increasing blood flow to the brain. Chocolate companies found comparable gains in similar research on healthy young women and on elderly people.

Neuroscientists have investigated the effects which chocolate has on The Brain. Chocolate contains around 380 different chemicals. Eating this popular treat is well known to produce feelings of contentment and happiness.

Scientists became interested in finding out more about; the chemicals contained in chocolate to help people suffering from obesity and eating disorders.

·        The women who ate chocolate were all younger than the ones who didn't; it was age .

·        A BBC report indicated that melting chocolate in one's mouth produced an increase in brain activity and heart rate that was more intense than that associated with passionate kissing, and also lasted four times as long after the activity had ended

warning signs and symptoms of diabetes

What a simple ROSE WATER can do for you?

What a simple ROSE WATER can do for you?

ROSE WATER:

Steam distillation of crushed petals of roses gives mixtures of volatile essential oils called as attar of roses or rose oil. This process was developed in Persia and Bulgaria. Rose water is the byproduct of that process.

 Roses itself brings freshness and coolness to your mind. In the past it’s used for number of reason. Some civilization used it as part of religious ceremony.cleopatra used rose oil as an aphrodisiac some 3000 years ago. Old civilization used rose water in medicine. Ancient Rome used it for antibacterial and antiseptic properties.

COMPOSITION:

Composition of rose water depends upon its origin and type of manufacturing method.Rose water obtained from sepals and petals of Rosa damascene through steam distillation in central Iran containing following monoterpenoid and alkanes identified with GC-MS; citronellol, nonadecane, geraniol and phenyl ethyl alcohol, and also henicosane, 9- nonadecen, eicosane, linalool, citronellyl acetate, methyleugenol, heptadecane, pentadecane, docosane, nerol, disiloxane, octadecane, and pentacosane.phenyl alcohol is responsible for the typical odour.

BENEFITS OF ROSE WATER:
For skin:

It gives refreshing feeling to skin. It helps in reducing redness from irritated and overheated skin. Act as cleanser for the skin. Remove dirt and oil from skin. Prevent acne and pimples.

For hair:

It is used as conditioner and moisturizer. It gives strength and shine to hair. A mixture of rose water and glycerin in equal quantities acts as effective moisture and conditioner. It is useful in treating mild scalp inflammation. It is used as antidandruff. It makes hair strand stronger and minimize hair fall.

For stress:

It improves mood in condition of stress and depression. It also produces relaxing effect and relieves fatigue. Acts as powerful mood enhancer.

Headache:

A cold compress of rose water can reduce headache.

For eyes:

It reduces redness of eyes. It gives relaxing and cooling effect to eyes.

For teeth:

Dentist used it to treat paradontosis.A cotton swab soaked in rose water used to treat inflamed gums. It helps in strengthening of loose teeth and removes bad odor from mouth.

By: Amna Hafeez

SYRINGOMYELIA: Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment

SYRINGOMYELIA:

Syringomyelia is the formation of fluid filled cavity or cyst (syrinx) within the spinal cord that may enlarge with time causing damage to the spinal cord along with pain, stiffness and weakness in shoulder, neck, back and legs.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS:

Other symptoms include loss of the ability feeling to extremes hot and cold especially in hand, headache, facial pain and numbness, spinal curvature and bowel and bladder function problem. Signs and symptoms may develop with time with, although sudden onset may occur with coughing and straining followed by weakness, progressive loss in sensation and weakness in arms and legs.

COMPLICATIONS:

Complications include scoliosis, motor movements, chronic pain and Horner syndrome. If condition not treated in time it may result in injury to spinal cord.

CAUSES:

·         Chiari formation (congenital abnormality of the brain, in which part of brain tissue may protrude into the Spinal cord).

·         Spinal cord tumor

·         Spinal cord injuries

·         Inflammation surrounding spinal cord

·         Meningitis

·         Arachnoiditis

·         Tethered spinal cord syndrome

·         Spinal scar tissue

DIAGNOSIS:

Syringomyelia is diagnosed by number of ways.

·         Magnetic resonance imaging of spine and spinal cord ( help in beginning stage diagnosis).

·         Electromyography that measures the muscle weakness

·         Cerebrospinal fluid pressure level and analysis of cerebrospinal fluid by performing lumbar puncture

·         Computed axial  tomography that scan patient head to detect any tumor and hydrocephalus

·         Myelogarm

TREATMENT:

Surgery is the only treatment for syrigomyelia.The main purpose of surgery is to provide more space for the cerebellum at the base of skull and cervical spine to treat Chiari formation. Sometimes additional operations are necessary for successful eradication of syringomyelia.

Congenital syringomyelia may require piece of cervical vertebrae at the site of cavity formation to be removed.

If syringomyelia is due to tumor, that result in obstruction then removal of tumor is necessary.

Drainage of cavity (drainage just stop progression, have no concern with the elimination of symptoms associated with syringomyelia) using drainage tubes, catheter and valve .This system is also called shunt.

Physical therapy management depends upon severity and impact of the disease. Neurological examination clears that at which level the syrinx occur. Physical therapy techniques include following:

  I.            RoM (range of motion) stretching and mobilization of neck and upper limb.

II.            Muscle strength

III.            Neck stability

IV.            Balance

V.            Copying

VI.            Occupational therapy

MEDICATION:

·          To alleviate the pain during syringomyelia single or combination of medicines are used; but is not concerned with the removal of syringomyelia.

·         Analgesics are the best ever option to treat syringomyelia. In one pain management plan, an around-the-clock opiate such as fentanyl patches or Oxycontin are used in conjunction with a fast-acting opiate.

·         For classical back pain weak or strong opioids are used such as Tramdol along with medications that relives neuropathic pain symptoms shooting and stabbing pain (neurontin).

·         Cortisteroids, such as prednisolone, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may relieve the symptoms but not the deterioration. Long term use of these drugs is not advised.

·         Anticonvulsants, such as gabapentin have been successful in some more severe cases, but they may be very expensive.  Pregabalin, amitriptyline and oral opioids (pethidine or methadone) are alternatives.  Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is recommended by some veterinary neurologists as a dietary supplement.

·         Drugs which reduce the production of cerebrospinal fluid, including proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole, and the diuretic, furosemide (Lasix), and spironolactone, may be useful,but clinical data on their use and effectiveness is lacking.  Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, such as acetazolamide also serve to decrease the flow of cerebrospinal fluid, but their adverse side effects of abdominal pain, lethargy, and weakness limit long term use.

LIFE STYLE CHANGES:

Avoid such activities that may worse the symptoms of syringomyelia such as

·         Playing high impact sports such as football.

·         Straining during bowel movement

·         Excessive coughing

·         Sky diving

CHINESE ART OF HEALING

Qigong is a traditional form of Chinese energy excise and healing art for the body and mind. Qigong is ideal for re-establishing balance between body and mind and for helping to heal people who are struggling with chronic degenerative conditions such as paralysis, diabetes, and syringomyelia.

 REFERENCES:

                                                                                                                          

·         http://www.physio-pedia.com/Syringomyelia

·         http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/syringomyelia/DS01127/DSECTION=lifestyle-and-home-remedies

·         http://www.taoiststudy.com/content/syringomyelia-treatment

·         http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syringomyelia

·         http://www.cavalierhealth.org/syringomyelia.htm

          

                                                                                                                                

By: Amna Hafeez