Scientists are reporting development of a fast, simple, inexpensive method for determining whether chemicals in consumer products and workplaces may cause skin allergies in people -- a method that does not involve use of animals.
Their study appears in ACS' Chemical Research in Toxicology, a monthly journal.
Itai Chipinda and his colleagues note the existence of public sentiment against the use of animals to determine whether ingredients in consumer soaps, shampoos and other consumer products, and workplace chemicals, may cause skin sensitization and contact dermatitis. Chemicals cause dermatitis by bonding to proteins in the skin, and then aggravating the immune system so that redness, irritation, itching, and other symptoms occur.
Existing chemical tests use substances like glutathione that mimic skin proteins and bond to allergy-causing ingredients. None, however, are suitable for use in detecting the critical early stages of skin sensitization, the scientists say.
Instead of glutathione, Chipinda and his team developed a test with nitrobenzenethiol as the skin protein surrogate. When used on 20 different chemicals known to cause skin irritation, the test produced positive results. It produced negative results when used to test substances that usually do not produce skin sensitization.
"This simple, rapid and inexpensive absorbance-based method has great potential for use as a preliminary screening tool for skin allergens," the report states. source:sciencedaily
Monday, 7 June 2010
Saturday, 2 January 2010
Home remedies for Swine Flu - Swine Influenza (Swine flu)
What symtoms define swine flu?
Swine Influenza(Swine flu) is highly contagious respiratory disease caused by one of many types of swine influenza A viruses that results in outbreaks in pigs and at times infects humans.
Home remedies for Swine Flu
1. Home remedies for Swine Flu: Take Vitamin C to boost immune system and increase the number of white blood cells
2. Home remedies for Swine Flu: Mix two tablespoons of vinegar, one tablespoon
of honey, and one cup of warm water each morning. This may prevent and kill microbes
3. Home remedies for Swine Flu: Take Zinc lozenges, it boosts the immune system as soon the symptoms develop.
Swine Influenza(Swine flu) is highly contagious respiratory disease caused by one of many types of swine influenza A viruses that results in outbreaks in pigs and at times infects humans.
Home remedies for Swine Flu
1. Home remedies for Swine Flu: Take Vitamin C to boost immune system and increase the number of white blood cells
2. Home remedies for Swine Flu: Mix two tablespoons of vinegar, one tablespoon
of honey, and one cup of warm water each morning. This may prevent and kill microbes
3. Home remedies for Swine Flu: Take Zinc lozenges, it boosts the immune system as soon the symptoms develop.
Friday, 1 January 2010
What are the signs of swine flu
What are the signs of swine flu
The swine flu virus can be spread in exactly the exact same way as the ordinary cold and flu viruses.
Nevertheless, since few people, if any, carry good resistance to the new strain, they're much more likely to become infected once they come into connection with with the virus.
Signs or symptoms of swine flu is similar to those of seasonal flu. Only a medium number of people have had much more serious symptoms.
In the event you or a member of your family has a fever or high temperature(over 38°C/100. 4°F) and a few of the following symptoms, its possible you have swine flu:
* unusual fatigue,
* headache,
* runny nose,
* a sore throat,
* lack of breath or cough,
* loss of appetite,
* muscle aches,
* diarrhoea or vomiting.
Nevertheless, since few people, if any, carry good resistance to the new strain, they're much more likely to become infected once they come into connection with with the virus.
What are the symptoms of swine flu?
Signs or symptoms of swine flu is similar to those of seasonal flu. Only a medium number of people have had much more serious symptoms.
In the event you or a member of your family has a fever or high temperature(over 38°C/100. 4°F) and a few of the following symptoms, its possible you have swine flu:
* unusual fatigue,
* headache,
* runny nose,
* a sore throat,
* lack of breath or cough,
* loss of appetite,
* muscle aches,
* diarrhoea or vomiting.
Sunday, 27 December 2009
Your Child's Whooping Cough At Night
Coughs are one of the most common symptoms of childhood illness. Although a cough can sound awful, it's not usually a sign of a serious condition. In fact, coughing is a healthy and important reflex that helps protect the airways in the throat and chest.
But sometimes, your child's cough will warrant a trip to the doctor. Understanding what different types of cough could mean will help you know how to take care of them and when to go to the doctor.
"Barky" Cough
Barky coughs are usually caused by a swelling in the upper part of the airway. Most of the time, a barky cough comes from croup, a swelling of the larynx (voice box) and trachea (windpipe).
Croup usually is the result of a virus, but it can also come from allergies or a change in temperature at night. Younger children have smaller airways that, if swollen, can make it hard to breathe. Kids younger than 3 years old are at the most risk for croup because their windpipes are so narrow.
A cough from croup can start suddenly and in the middle of the night. Often a kid with croup will also have stridor, a noisy, harsh breathing (some doctors describe it as a coarse, musical sound) that occurs when a child breathes in.
Whooping Cough
Whooping cough is another name for the pertussis, an infection of the airways caused by the bacteria bordetella pertussis. Kids with pertussis will have spells of back to back coughs without breathing in between. At the end of the coughing, the kids will take a deep breath in that makes a "whooping" sound. Other symptoms of pertussis are a runny nose, sneezing, mild cough, and a low fever.
Although pertussis can happen at any age, it's most severe in infants under 1 year old who did not get the pertussis vaccine. Your child should get the pertussis shot at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 months, and 4-6 years of age. This shot is given as part of the DTaP vaccine (diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis).
Pertussis is very contagious. The bacteria can spread from person to person through tiny drops of fluid in the air coming from the nose or mouth when people sneeze, cough, or laugh. Others can become infected by inhaling the drops or getting the drops on their hands and then touching their mouths or noses.
Cough With Wheezing
If your child makes a wheezing (whistling) sound when breathing out, this could mean that the lower airways are swollen. This can happen with asthma or with a viral infection (bronchiolitis). Also, wheezing sometimes can happen if the lower airway is blocked by a foreign object.
Nighttime Cough
Lots of coughs get worse at night. When your child has a cold, the mucus from the nose and sinuses can drain down the throat and trigger a cough during sleep. This is only a problem if the cough won't let your child sleep.
Asthma also can trigger nighttime coughs because the airways tend to be more sensitive and irritable at night.
Daytime Cough
Cold air or activity can make coughs worse during the daytime. Try to make sure that nothing in your house — like air freshener, pets, or smoke (especially tobacco smoke) — is making your child cough.
Cough With a Fever
A child who has a cough, mild fever, and runny nose probably has a common cold. But coughs with a fever of 102° Fahrenheit (39° Celsius) or higher can sometimes mean pneumonia, especially if a child is weak and breathing fast. In this case, call your doctor immediately.
Cough With Vomiting
Kids often cough so much that it triggers their gag reflex, making them throw up. Also, a child who has a cough with a cold or an asthma flare-up may throw up if lots of mucus drains into the stomach and causes nausea. Usually, this is not cause for alarm unless the vomiting doesn't stop.
Persistent Cough
Coughs caused by colds can last weeks, especially if your child has one cold right after another. Asthma, allergies, or a chronic infection in the sinuses or airways might also cause persistent coughs. If the cough lasts for 3 weeks, call your doctor.
Because most coughs are caused by viruses, doctors usually do not give antibiotics for a cough. If the cough is caused by a virus, it just needs to run its course. A viral infection can last for as long as 2 weeks.
Unless a cough won't let your child sleep, cough medicines are not needed. Cough medicines sometimes help a child stop coughing, but they do not treat the cause of the cough. If you do choose to use an over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicine, call the doctor to be sure of the correct dose.
Do not use OTC combination medicines like "Tylenol Cold" — they have more than one medicine in them, and kids can have more side effects and are more likely to get an overdose of the medicine. Cough medicines are not recommended for children under age 4.
Home Treatment
Here are some ways to help your child feel better:
source: kidshealth
But sometimes, your child's cough will warrant a trip to the doctor. Understanding what different types of cough could mean will help you know how to take care of them and when to go to the doctor.
"Barky" Cough
Barky coughs are usually caused by a swelling in the upper part of the airway. Most of the time, a barky cough comes from croup, a swelling of the larynx (voice box) and trachea (windpipe).
Croup usually is the result of a virus, but it can also come from allergies or a change in temperature at night. Younger children have smaller airways that, if swollen, can make it hard to breathe. Kids younger than 3 years old are at the most risk for croup because their windpipes are so narrow.
A cough from croup can start suddenly and in the middle of the night. Often a kid with croup will also have stridor, a noisy, harsh breathing (some doctors describe it as a coarse, musical sound) that occurs when a child breathes in.
Whooping Cough
Whooping cough is another name for the pertussis, an infection of the airways caused by the bacteria bordetella pertussis. Kids with pertussis will have spells of back to back coughs without breathing in between. At the end of the coughing, the kids will take a deep breath in that makes a "whooping" sound. Other symptoms of pertussis are a runny nose, sneezing, mild cough, and a low fever.
Although pertussis can happen at any age, it's most severe in infants under 1 year old who did not get the pertussis vaccine. Your child should get the pertussis shot at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 months, and 4-6 years of age. This shot is given as part of the DTaP vaccine (diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis).
Pertussis is very contagious. The bacteria can spread from person to person through tiny drops of fluid in the air coming from the nose or mouth when people sneeze, cough, or laugh. Others can become infected by inhaling the drops or getting the drops on their hands and then touching their mouths or noses.
Cough With Wheezing
If your child makes a wheezing (whistling) sound when breathing out, this could mean that the lower airways are swollen. This can happen with asthma or with a viral infection (bronchiolitis). Also, wheezing sometimes can happen if the lower airway is blocked by a foreign object.
Nighttime Cough
Lots of coughs get worse at night. When your child has a cold, the mucus from the nose and sinuses can drain down the throat and trigger a cough during sleep. This is only a problem if the cough won't let your child sleep.
Asthma also can trigger nighttime coughs because the airways tend to be more sensitive and irritable at night.
Daytime Cough
Cold air or activity can make coughs worse during the daytime. Try to make sure that nothing in your house — like air freshener, pets, or smoke (especially tobacco smoke) — is making your child cough.
Cough With a Fever
A child who has a cough, mild fever, and runny nose probably has a common cold. But coughs with a fever of 102° Fahrenheit (39° Celsius) or higher can sometimes mean pneumonia, especially if a child is weak and breathing fast. In this case, call your doctor immediately.
Cough With Vomiting
Kids often cough so much that it triggers their gag reflex, making them throw up. Also, a child who has a cough with a cold or an asthma flare-up may throw up if lots of mucus drains into the stomach and causes nausea. Usually, this is not cause for alarm unless the vomiting doesn't stop.
Persistent Cough
Coughs caused by colds can last weeks, especially if your child has one cold right after another. Asthma, allergies, or a chronic infection in the sinuses or airways might also cause persistent coughs. If the cough lasts for 3 weeks, call your doctor.
When to Call the Doctor
Most childhood coughs are nothing to be worried about. However, call your doctor if your child:- has trouble breathing or is working hard to breathe
- is breathing more quickly than usual
- has a blue or dusky color to the lips, face, or tongue
- has a high fever (especially if your child is coughing but does NOT have a runny or stuffy nose)
- has any fever and is less than 3 months old
- is an infant (3 months old or younger) who has been coughing for more than a few hours
- makes a "whooping" sound when breathing in after coughing
- is coughing up blood
- has stridor (a noisy or musical sound) when breathing in
- has wheezing when breathing out (unless you already have a home asthma care plan from your doctor)
- is weak or cranky
What Your Doctor Will Do
One of the best ways to diagnose a cough is by listening. Knowing what the cough sounds like will help your doctor decide how to treat your child.Because most coughs are caused by viruses, doctors usually do not give antibiotics for a cough. If the cough is caused by a virus, it just needs to run its course. A viral infection can last for as long as 2 weeks.
Unless a cough won't let your child sleep, cough medicines are not needed. Cough medicines sometimes help a child stop coughing, but they do not treat the cause of the cough. If you do choose to use an over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicine, call the doctor to be sure of the correct dose.
Do not use OTC combination medicines like "Tylenol Cold" — they have more than one medicine in them, and kids can have more side effects and are more likely to get an overdose of the medicine. Cough medicines are not recommended for children under age 4.
Home Treatment
Here are some ways to help your child feel better:
- If your child has asthma, make sure you have an asthma care plan from your doctor. The plan should help you choose the right asthma medicines to give.
- For a "barky" or "croupy" cough, turn on the hot water in the shower in your bathroom and close the door so the room will steam up. Then, sit in the bathroom with your child for about 20 minutes. The steam should help your child breathe more easily. Try reading a book together to pass the time.
- A cool-mist humidifier in your child's bedroom might help with sleep.
- Cool beverages like juice can be soothing. But do not give soda or orange juice, as these can hurt a throat that is sore from coughing.
- You should not give your child (especially a baby or toddler) OTC cough medicine without first checking with your doctor.
- Cough drops are OK for older kids, but kids younger than 3 years old can choke on them. It's better to avoid cough drops unless your doctor says that they're safe for your child.
source: kidshealth
Thursday, 10 December 2009
Homemade Hair Mask- How to Prepare Homemade Hair Mask
How to Prepare Homemade Hair Mask
The easiest of these is the application of raw egg on your hair. You can break a raw egg in a bowl and beat it well. Add a few drops of lemon juice to this and then apply on the hair and scalp. This will dry in a short while and can then be washed off with warm water. You can also use plain water instead of the lemon juice and then apply on your hair and scalp. You can use coconut cream, softening it in your hands and then applying to the hair and scalp.
Dip a towel in warm water and wrap this around your hair. You can leave it on for at least an hour for best results and then wash your hair with a good quality shampoo. Use a ripe banana and mash it well. To this you can add three tablespoons of honey, three tablespoons of milk and five tablespoons of olive oil. Mix it well and then apply on your hair.
This can be left on for about half an hour and then washed off. You can also use a ripe avocado to achieve healthy shiny hair. Remove the flesh from the ripe avocado and mash it well. To this add two tablespoons of olive oil. Mix it well, till it looks creamy. This can then be applied to your hair and left on for twenty minutes.
The easiest of these is the application of raw egg on your hair. You can break a raw egg in a bowl and beat it well. Add a few drops of lemon juice to this and then apply on the hair and scalp. This will dry in a short while and can then be washed off with warm water. You can also use plain water instead of the lemon juice and then apply on your hair and scalp. You can use coconut cream, softening it in your hands and then applying to the hair and scalp.
Dip a towel in warm water and wrap this around your hair. You can leave it on for at least an hour for best results and then wash your hair with a good quality shampoo. Use a ripe banana and mash it well. To this you can add three tablespoons of honey, three tablespoons of milk and five tablespoons of olive oil. Mix it well and then apply on your hair.
This can be left on for about half an hour and then washed off. You can also use a ripe avocado to achieve healthy shiny hair. Remove the flesh from the ripe avocado and mash it well. To this add two tablespoons of olive oil. Mix it well, till it looks creamy. This can then be applied to your hair and left on for twenty minutes.
Tuesday, 1 December 2009
About Passing Kidney Stones
Passing Kidney Stones If you have a kidney stone, you may already know how painful it can be. Most kidney stones pass out of the body without help from a doctor. But sometimes a stone will not pass. It may even get larger. Your doctor can help.
You should call a doctor if you have any of the following signs:
- extreme pain in your back or side that will not go away
- blood in your urine
- fever and chills
- vomiting
- urine that smells bad or looks cloudy
- a burning feeling when you urinate
What do my kidneys do?
Your kidneys are bean-shaped organs, each about the size of your fist. They are located near the middle of your back, just below the rib cage, one on each side of the spine. The kidneys are sophisticated trash collectors. Every day, your kidneys process about 200 quarts of blood to sift out about 2 quarts of waste products and extra water. The wastes and extra water become urine, which flows to your bladder through tubes called ureters. Your bladder stores urine until you go to the bathroom.Read More on Dissolve Kidney Stones
Saturday, 28 November 2009
The Common Fever Cause Information
Common Fever
Fever is an important signal that there's something wrong in the body. Treatment of fever should be based primarily on lowering the setpoint, but facilitating heat loss may also contribute. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen Motrin or Advil. If you child has an infection, using a fever reducer will not help your child to get better any faster.
Drugs to lower fever antipyretics can be given if a patient (particularly a child) is uncomfortable. These include aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol), and ibuprofin (Advil). Aspirin, however, should not be given to a child or adolescent with a fever since this drug has been linked to an increased risk of Reye's syndrome. Bathing a patient in cool water can also help alleviate a high fever. Wet cloth or pads are also used for treatment, and applied to the forehead.
Heat loss may be an effect of possibly a combination of heat conduction, convection, radiation or evaporation (sweating, perspiration). There are several things you to help bring the temperature down and make the person more comfortable.
Read More On Common Fever
Fever is an important signal that there's something wrong in the body. Treatment of fever should be based primarily on lowering the setpoint, but facilitating heat loss may also contribute. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen Motrin or Advil. If you child has an infection, using a fever reducer will not help your child to get better any faster.
Drugs to lower fever antipyretics can be given if a patient (particularly a child) is uncomfortable. These include aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol), and ibuprofin (Advil). Aspirin, however, should not be given to a child or adolescent with a fever since this drug has been linked to an increased risk of Reye's syndrome. Bathing a patient in cool water can also help alleviate a high fever. Wet cloth or pads are also used for treatment, and applied to the forehead.
Heat loss may be an effect of possibly a combination of heat conduction, convection, radiation or evaporation (sweating, perspiration). There are several things you to help bring the temperature down and make the person more comfortable.
Read More On Common Fever
Thursday, 26 November 2009
Arthritis Causes, Symptoms and Arthitis Diet
What causes arthritis?What causes arthritis? If you’ve ever experienced the painful swelling of your joints or vertebrae in your spine, you’ve surely asked this question. Arthritis is an uncomfortable swelling of the joints or vertebrae that can be accompanied by a stiffening and decrease in range of motion of a joint or multiple joints. Arthritis is a common, irritating medical condition that can seriously hamper your mobility or lifestyle if left untreated.
Arthritis Causes:
The pain of arthritis might come from different sources. These might include inflammation of the synovial membrane (tissue that lines the joints), tendons, or ligaments; muscle strain; and fatigue. A combination of these factors contributes to the intensity of the pain. The pain of arthritis varies greatly from person to person. Variables that contribute to the pain include swelling within the joint and damage that has occurred within the joint.
>>Click Here To Read More On Rheumatoid Arthritis Diets<<
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
Sunburn Causes, Symptoms, Sunburn Home Remedies Cure
Sunburn is a red, painful skin that feels hot to the touch. Sunburn usually appears within a few hours after sun exposure and may take from several days to several weeks to fade.
Causes of Sunburn:
Sunburn results when the amount of exposure to the sun or other ultraviolet light source exceeds the ability of the body's protective pigment, melanin, to protect the skin. Sunburn in a very light-skinned person may occur in less than 15 minutes of midday sun exposure, while a dark-skinned person may tolerate the same exposure for hours.
If you do get a sunburn:
>>Click Here To Read More On Sunburn Home Remedies Treatment<<
Causes of Sunburn:
Sunburn results when the amount of exposure to the sun or other ultraviolet light source exceeds the ability of the body's protective pigment, melanin, to protect the skin. Sunburn in a very light-skinned person may occur in less than 15 minutes of midday sun exposure, while a dark-skinned person may tolerate the same exposure for hours.
If you do get a sunburn:
- Try taking a cool shower or bath or placing wet, cold wash rags on the burn.
- Avoid products that contain benzocaine, lidocaine, or petroleum (like Vaseline).
- If blisters are present, dry bandages may help prevent infection.
- If your skin is not blistering, moisturizing cream may be applied to relieve discomfort.
- Over the counter medications, like ibuprofen, may help to relieve pain from sunburn. DO NOT give aspirin to children.
>>Click Here To Read More On Sunburn Home Remedies Treatment<<
Tuesday, 24 November 2009
Heartburn Indigestion Causes, Treatment & Cures
Heartburn or pyrosis is a painful and burning sensation in the esophagus, just behind the breastbone mostly associated with regurgitation of gastric acid (gastric reflux). The pain often rises in the chest and may radiate to the neck, throat, or angle of the jaw. Heartburn is a major symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease; acid reflux is also identified as one of the causes of chronic cough, and may even mimic asthma.Despite its name, heartburn in reality has nothing to do with the heart; it is so called because of a burning sensation next to to where the heart is located although several heart problems may give rise to a related burning sensation. Compounding the confusion is the actuality that hydrochloric acid from the stomach comes back up the esophagus because of a problem with the cardiac sphincter, a valve which misleadingly contains the word "cardiac," referring to the cardia as part of the stomach and not, as might be thought, to the heart.
>>Click Here To Read More On Heartburn Treatment<<
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