MS - Multiple sclerosis II

Multiple sclerosis:Two new trials show,the cancer drug alemtuzumab (Campath) reduces the risk of disease relapse in people with multiple sclerosis.British researchers led by Alastair Compston of the University of Cambridge compared alemtuzumab with interferon beta 1a, the most common drug used to treat MS.In both trials, alemtuzumab appeared to increase the risk of certain autoimmune disorders, particularly those affecting the thyroid.Disability rates were 13 percent among those in the alemtuzumab group and 20 percent of those in the interferon beta 1a group. The first trial found no significant difference in disability rates between the two groups of patients.
...MS occurs when the body's immune system starts to attack the coating of nerve fibers. 

Alemtuzumab, which is used to treat leukemia and other cancers of the immune system, works by altering the number, proportions and functions of certain types of lymphocytes, which are white blood cells that play a major role in the functioning of the immune system.There is no cure for MS, and existing drugs only aim to reduce the symptoms of the disease.

tags:the cancer,MS,immune system

Liver detox I

These are three examples of herbal remedies or natural remedies for fatty liver disease:
  barberry
ginseng root
Dandelion.

Other causes of fatty liver disease include type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, high blood pressure, protein malnutrition, metabolic syndrome, and the long term treatment of certain drugs such as tamoxifen and hydrocortisone.

tags:liver, herbal,

Vitamin B3

We need about 10 to 20 milligrams per day (1 milligram = 0.001 gram) of nicotinic acid.In the intestinal tract, the amino acid tryptophan can be converted to niacin by bacterial action and thus can serve as a source for part of the niacin we need.Some doctors recommend inositol hexaniacinate for people who need large amounts of niacin because it has not been linked with any of the usual niacin toxicity in scientific research.

Vitamin B3 is essential for normal growth and for healthy skinWhen used as therapy for a specific disease, niacin, niacinamide, and inositol hexaniacinate are taken in dosages much higher than nutritional needs, about 1 to 4 g daily.
Because of the risk of liver inflammation at these doses, medical supervision is essential.

Tags:hepatitis,vitamin B3,essential,

Hepatitis B vaccine

There's now a hepatitis B vaccine.About 5,000 people a year die from hepatitis B, and if you survive it, you're at risk for liver cancer years later.There are more than 300,000 cases of the various forms of hepatitis each year in the United States.It is spread like AIDS, sexually and by blood-to-blood contact.
Silymarin, which is found in milk thistle, helps protect the liver from many industrial toxins, such as carbon tetrachloride.
Ginger ( Zingiber officinale ). According to research by yours truly, along with molecular biologist Stephen Beckstrom-Sternberg, Ph.D., ginger contains eight liver-protecting compounds.
Turmeric ( Curcuma longa ). This spice, often included in curries, contains several related compounds that protect the liver.
Carrot ( Daucus carota ). Scientists in India have discovered that carrots afford significant protection for the liver, at least experimentally in laboratory animals.......


tag:Carrot ,Silymarin,liver-protecting compounds.,hepatitis B vaccine

Hepatitis - forums?

Living with hepatitis forum:

hepatitis I

hepatitis II forum

hepatitis-liver forum III

forum on hepatitis

hepatitis forums

 One of the safest dietary practices for someone with a diseased liver is to avoid additional toxins such as alcohol, alternative remedies that are unknown to science and all recreational drugs

 Some forms of hepatitis will develop into a chronic disease, usually when the infection has been longer than 6 months.

tag:liver,hepatitis ABCD,virus,

Hepatitis and cirrhosis

The liver is the largest organ in the body, weighing up to 2.5 percent of total lean body mass.
 Located in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen, the liver varies in size and shape, depending on each person’s anatomy. 
Its main function is to metabolize substances in the blood in preparation for excretion, although it has many other important functions, including synthesis of most essential proteins, production of bile, and regulation of nutrients such as glucose, cholesterol, and amino acids.
The main kind of liver cell is called a hepatocyte. These cells comprise about two thirds of the liver’s mass. 
The liver’s blood supply comes from the hepatic artery, which supplies oxygen-rich blood. The liver also receives blood from the portal vein, which filters blood from the stomach, intestines, pancreas, and spleen.
The most common liver function tests are enzyme, bilirubin, albumin, and prothrombin time tests. The liver contains thousands of enzymes, only a few of which are routinely measured as indicators of liver function. These enzymes include the following:
Alkaline phosphatase. Abnormal levels may indicate bile obstruction, liver injury, or some forms of cancer.
Alanine transaminase. Abnormal levels may indicate hepatitis or other liver cell injury.
Aspartate transaminase. Abnormal levels may indicate injury to liver, heart, muscle, or brain.
Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase. Abnormal levels may indicate organ damage, drug toxicity, alcohol abuse, or pancreatic disease.
Lactic dehydrogenase. Abnormal levels may indicate damage to liver, heart, or lung, and excessive breakdown of red blood cells.
5'-nucleotidase. Abnormal levels may indicate impaired bile flow.
The other major liver tests include the serum bilirubin test, which measures bile excretion, and the albumin test, which can indicate liver damage. Finally, the prothrombin time test measures the time needed for blood to clot. Because most blood clotting factors are produced in the liver, and they have rapid turnover, this test can help measure the liver’s ability to synthesize cells. 
Prothrombin may be elevated in hepatitis and cirrhosis as well as in disorders related to vitamin K deficiency.
Taken together, these tests provide physicians with a relatively complete picture of liver function and can help diagnose liver disease.

Cirrhosis Symptoms

Many people with cirrhosis have no symptoms during the early phases of the disease. Symptoms are caused by either of 2 problems:

1.Gradual failure of the liver to carry out its natural functions

2.Distortion of the liver's usual shape and size because of scarring

The symptoms of cirrhosis of the liver can vary greatly from patient to patient.


tags:Cirrhosis,Cirrhosis Symptoms,The symptoms of cirrhosis of the liver,hepatitis B and C,chirosis,