Fat Loss Factor and Diet Tips: What to Eat After a Run

Fat Loss Factor and Diet Tips: What to Eat After a Run: Importance of the Post-Run Snack Whether you're training for a race or just running for fitness and fun, it's important that you...

Can Turning into a Pescatarian be Beneficial to Your Health?

TIP
When following a pescatarian diet, make sure you have no more than 12 ounces of low mercury fish every week.

A pescatarian diet focuses on eating fish, along with a variety of vegetables. It is essentially a vegan diet, plus seafood. The diet excludes all meat products, including poultry and red meat. Turning pescatarian from a vegetarian is always beneficial, as a vegan diet lacks vitamin B12, which one can get from fish. However, are there any other advantages of becoming a pescatarian? Plenty! Here are all the benefits of turning into a pescatarian.

Low in Saturated Fats

With meat cut off from the diet, you don't have to worry about sources of unhealthy fats that carry cardiovascular risks with them. To put it simply, this type of diet is very low in saturated fats, as it does not contain pork, beef, lamb, and poultry foods. All these meat products contain too much of saturated fats, which can be detrimental to health, particularly to the heart. Saturated fats increase the triglyceride levels in the blood, a potential risk factor for artery-clogging. So, following a diet that is essentially low in saturated fats can certainly help one stay healthy.

Heart-friendly

One of the most important benefits of this diet is that it provides ample amounts of omega-3s, healthy fats that slash LDL (bad) cholesterol and help maintain good cholesterol, in turn reducing the risk of heart diseases. That is why regular consumption of fish is considered to be good for the heart.

Provides an Anti-inflammatory Effect

Omega-3s act as a natural anti-inflammatory agent, which works to alleviate inflammation in the entire body. In fact, omega-3s could be a natural substitute for over-the-counter NSAIDs like ibuprofen. So, the pescatarian diet that essentially provides an anti-inflammatory effect can also help treat and even prevent joint inflammation associated with chronic ailments like rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

Assists in Weight Loss

A pescatarian diet that is high in omega-3s can also assist in an endeavor to lose weight. As we know, insulin spikes cause an increase in fat storage. Omega-3s lowers insulin levels, crucial for burning those fat reserves. So, getting adequate omega-3s allows the body to easily access fat stores for energy. Thus, more fat is used everyday, which works to lose extra pounds.

Healthy Source of Proteins

Although red meat such as beef are good sources of protein, protein intake from sea-food and plant-based sources is a better choice from a health standpoint. Red meat consumption has been linked to an increased risk of mortality from cancer and other diseases. So, replacing red meat with healthy sources of protein such as seafood and plant-based food would obviously be a sensible decision.

Improves Insulin Resistance

This diet also benefits in regulating blood sugar levels. High intake of omega-3s has shown to make the cells more sensitive to actions of insulin. This effect of reducing insulin resistance can help achieve better control over blood sugar levels, which is particularly beneficial for diabetic patients.

Disadvantages

As fish is the primary constituent of a pescatarian diet, following it regularly may increase health risks associated with excessive mercury exposure. Mercury, a highly toxic organic compound, is present in fish due to pollution of water bodies. This compound can negatively affect the brain and the nervous system, and cause symptoms like infertility, high blood pressure, memory loss, vision problems, and tremors.

The risk of mercury poisoning always exists when eating fish that contain high amounts of mercury. As such, avoid eating swordfish, shark, king mackerel, tuna, and tilefish. Instead, go for salmon, sardines, scallops, trout, shrimp, and tilapia, as they contain the lowest levels of mercury.

On the whole, following a pescatarian diet is healthy, provided you have fish in moderation. Keep in mind that vegetables are also an integral part of this diet. So just don't stick to eating fish, and include a variety of vegetables and fruits into your diet.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is solely for educating the reader. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a medical expert.
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/can-turning-into-a-pescatarian-be-beneficial-to-your-health.html

What to Eat When on a Rastafarian Diet

Did You Know?
Although the Rastafarian diet has not been formulated for weight loss, it can certainly assist in losing extra pounds and maintaining weight.

The Rastafarian diet has been designed for the followers of Rastafari ideology, a spiritual movement that started in Jamaica and Ethiopia in the 1930s. The spiritual ideology is considered to be a way of life that denounces materialistic comforts and sensual pleasures. The Rastafarian diet too revolves around foods that help promote spiritual upliftment. Foods that hinder spiritual progress are forbidden in this form of diet. The diet revolves around eating pure, and clean non-meat sources of food.

The foods that are included in this diet are considered to be sacred by the Rastafarian people, and often tagged as Ital food. The word 'Ital' comes from the English word 'vital'. Followers of this diet firmly believe that these vital foods boost the livity, or the life energy, the life force that is said to reside within us.

Foods to Eat

Natural Foods
The Rastafarian diet focuses more on eating earth-grown foods. Vegetables and fruits that are cultivated without the use of any synthetic chemicals form an integral part of this diet. Foods that are processed and involve the use of artificial preservatives and sweeteners are against the ethics of the Rastafarian diet.

Coconuts as well as its extracts are an integral part of the Rastafarian or Ital cuisine. No wonder, quite a few Rastafarian recipes contain coconut and coconut milk as their primary ingredient. Other foods that can be eaten when leading a Rastafarian way of life are legumes, whole grains, and beans.

Fish
Although meat products are not allowed in the Rastafarian diet, one can include fish in it. However, it excludes shellfish from the diet, as they regard it as an impure food. Crayfish and shrimp primarily eat dead stuff and prey on other fish, which is not pure. In fact, large fish prey on smaller ones for survival. So, when it comes to including fish in the Rastafarian diet , the size of the fish matters. Therefore, fish with a length more than 12 inches are prohibited. However, strict followers of this diet mostly prefer to completely drop fish from the diet.

Herbal Tea
The diet encourages the use of herbal tea, because they contain natural ingredients with minimal processing (if any). Anything that is herbal and does not contain unnatural ingredients can be included in this diet.

Foods to Avoid 

Meat
Being labeled as a vegetarian diet, meat products have no place in a Rastafarian diet. Rastafarians are against eating meat, as it is believed to lower the livity, or the life energy. They believe that handling meat is like touching a dead body; hence, they abstain from eating flesh.

However, those who aren't very rigid in following the diet may prefer to include meat that comes from clean sources. So, meat from cows, goats, and sheep can be included, as they graze on pastures. However, as pigs scavenge on rotten stuff, pork is excluded from the diet. Birds, camel, horse, and even rabbit meat is also forbidden for the same reason.

Dairy and Eggs
People following this diet are also advised to desist from eating animal-based products, such as dairy (milk, butter, cheese) and eggs.

Salt
Adding salt in any dish is also prohibited. That is why canned foods that are laced with high amounts of salt are forbidden in this diet. The rejection is due to the fact that salt contains additives like iodine, and undergoes a lot of processing. However, some followers prefer to use pure sea salt.

Alcohol
Leading a Rastafarian lifestyle means staying away from alcohol and cigarettes. Drinking alcohol or smoking cigarettes only gives sensual pleasures, and moreover, is spiritually detrimental. Hence, alcohol consumption or smoking is against their beliefs. Followers of the Rastafarian diet also abstain from drinking caffeinated beverages, as they are processed and chemically altered to enhance their taste. That is why, coffee, sodas, and carbonated drinks are opposed by their followers.

The Rastafarian diet also gives importance to the type of material used in making cookware and other utensils. Followers of this diet are not allowed to use utensils other than clay or wood. Using metal utensils for cooking purposes is considered as a violation of the diet. On the whole, eating foods that are as close to their natural state, forms the basis of a Rastafarian diet. It is essentially a vegan diet that does not contain any salt or processed condiments.

Source>
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/what-to-eat-when-on-a-rastafarian-diet.html

What to Eat After a Run

Importance of the Post-Run Snack

Whether you're training for a race or just running for fitness and fun, it's important that you always remember to eat properly and at the right times in order to avoid injury and burnout and to feel at your best on each running day. Even if you are only running a few miles per week, eating soon after your run is important. The reason post-run snacks are so important is that, when you exercise, your body uses the available carbohydrate energy to keep you going. Serious runners even try to train their bodies to continue burning stored energy after the ready carbohydrate supply has run out. After a run, your body will need to recover from the exertion, and recovery requires energy, too. Replacing the carbohydrates you used during the run will help you recover faster and feel better during your next run.

Carbs and Protein

A common misconception about post-run eating is that only carbohydrate replacement is necessary. Many people invest in carbohydrate gels and other sports nutrition products meant to give a carbo boost. These things have their place, but after a run you should be aiming for a good mix of carbohydrates and protein. Protein is crucial for muscle development and long-term energy storage, so consuming some protein after a run can mean the difference between simply recovering and improving. If you run many miles at a time, you may need to replace your energy stores in the middle of the run. That's when carbohydrate gels can come in handy. One rule of thumb states that if you are running for 90 minutes or longer, you should eat something once per hour, even if you don't feel hungry.

Protein Bars
After the run, treat yourself to something a little more balanced than carbohydrate gel. To repeat, it's important to get both carbs and protein. Sooner is better when it comes to post-run snacks, and ideally you should eat something within 15 minutes after your run. If you're on the go, something like a protein bar or other easy snack is a good choice. Protein bars have a large amount of protein and also have a good deal of carbohydrate. Often, these bars also contain important electrolytes and other nutrients that you may have expended during a particularly tough run. Remember to drink lots of water with the bar to aid digestion!

Peanut Butter and Jelly

Protein bars aren't for everyone, and snacks specifically designed for athletes can often be prohibitively expensive. There are plenty of other good options, however, and in many cases more natural snacks with fewer ingredients can be better for you in the long run. Many runners swear by peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, for example. This is a great choice because the bread and jelly work as carbohydrate replacements, and peanut butter is full of protein. Apple slices and peanut butter is also a favorite. These can take some time to prepare, so if you're going off on a long run, make sure to fix yourself a snack ahead of time to make sure you have something ready when you get back.

Chocolate Milk
Chocolate milk can be great for after a run. Milk is high in protein, and the added sugar works to replace those lost carbs. If you choose chocolate milk, make sure not to skimp on the amount of water that you drink after a run. Although milk is somewhat hydrating, sugar is dehydrating, so it's still important to get plenty of pure H2O. Also, look for chocolate milk that's sweetened with natural sugar or another sweetener, rather than with corn syrup or high fructose corn syrup. This is especially important for those monitoring their caloric intake, because corn syrup may not make you feel full.

Eat What You Like

When it comes to post-run refueling, the sky is the limit. The suggestions here are good choices for a speedy recovery and improved endurance, but any balanced snack can give you the nutrition you need. As always, avoid junk foods and try to stick to healthy, natural options. The post-run snack should be something that you look forward to at the end of a training session, and this little reward will help you improve no matter what your running goals.
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/what-to-eat-after-a-run.html

Understanding the Sadistic Personality Disorder

The word sadism or sadistic is derived from the French aristocrat, Marquis de Sade. He was a French philosopher and writer, who wrote a lot of erotica. He included a lot of violence in his writing and believed in unrestrained sexual freedom. He tortured many men and women, was subsequently arrested, and eventually declared insane.

Just seeing a person, for that matter even an animal, in pain makes us feel bad. That's because of the sensitivity all humans have. But there is a personality disorder that affects one's behavior in such a way, that he starts deriving happiness from seeing others suffer. He may display violent and abusive behavior. This disorder is known as the sadistic personality disorder.

It was included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III-R), but was removed in the later editions. The main reason for excluding it was its potential misuse. It also overlapped a little with existing disorders. Plus, this disorder is not very common and is mostly seen in males. But sexual sadism disorder is included in the current version, DSM-5, of the American Psychiatric Association. It is characterized by sexual arousal by inflicting pain on others.

Sadistic people appear brutal, are unpredictable, and often seen to go to any length to achieve what they want.

Causes

● The disorder is uncommon, and hence specific causes cannot be determined. Unresolved childhood issues, or severe abuse as a child could be a major factor, but there can be biological causes as well.

● Deep-seated feelings of insecurity can be another reason. If a person who is very close to a child is constantly abusing or torturing him, it may have a huge impact on his psych. The child may either become a sadist or a masochist (gets pleasure on receiving pain).

● However, it is also seen that children with a good upbringing and those who come from good families may also develop this disorder.


Symptoms

● The most prominent feature is their cruel and ruthless behavior. They derive pleasure by inflicting pain on those who they think are weaker or inferior.

● Seeing someone writhing in pain seems to amuse them. They will go to any extent to cause agony to people or even animals.

● They blatantly lie, deceive people, and commit crimes to make others suffer. They behave this way even with their loved ones.

● Violence, weapons, murders, and torture methods seem to fascinate them.

● They love to dominate people and impose restrictions on others. They tend to humiliate others.

● They have a strong urge to control people. They will purposely shout at their subordinates, or family members to intimidate them.

● They derive joy out of the psychological or physical pain of other people.

● Sexual sadists indulge in ruthless sexual acts and torture their partner for pleasure. They may even cheat or have multiple partners.


What do sadists believe?
● They always want to be in power. They may become violent and aggressive if things do not go their way.

● Be it at home or work, they like to establish strict rules, and ensure that everyone follows them.

● The need to dominate others comes from their intolerance and hatred towards those they consider weak.

● They believe they can validate their own importance by bringing others down or making others feel small.


Treatment

● Treatment is very extensive and may take years. Group therapy, family therapy, and counseling may be effective. Involvement of friends and family is very important.

● Most sadists don't really feel the need to get professional help, and this in turn makes it hard to help them.


It is important to understand that psychopaths and sadists do show some similar traits, but there is a major difference between the two. Most psychopaths don't realize that their actions or words are hurting someone, whereas sadists are aware of the pain they are inflicting.

Those with a sadistic personality disorder should be given professional help. Staying away from them out of fright, or staying in their good books to be safe from their anger, is not the real solution. Their disorder needs to be treated.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is solely for educating the reader. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of an expert on the subject.

Source>
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/understanding-the-sadistic-personality-disorder.html

Can You Die of Laughter?

Did You Know?
Nitric oxide, better known as laughing gas is known to give a temporary feeling of euphoria. However, inhaling it in excess amounts can cause unconsciousness and even death.

Laugh your way to good health. This is one piece of advice that often works in improving overall well-being. A good hearty laugh can work wonders in relieving stress. There is no better feeling than being with someone who makes you laugh. However, it appears that laughing too hard continuously may not be as good as it seems.

The British Medical Journal in its recent report highlights the ill-effects of excessive laughing in people suffering from various medical conditions. The research was carried out by University of Birmingham's R. E. Ferner and Oxford University's J. K. Aronson.

• A normal laugh where there is no excessive sound is indeed good for the cardiovascular system. However, excessive laughter causes the blood pressure to increase substantially, putting too much pressure on the heart. A defective heart due to medical conditions like coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure (CHF) may not be able to handle such excessive pressure.
• Intense laughter also increases the heart rate considerably, which patients with heart conditions are unlikely to tolerate for long. To put it simply, a faulty heart might not be able to sustain the increased heart rate associated with hard laughter.
• Excessive laughter can also be fatal to people affected with cerebral aneurysm. Laughing out vigorously can considerably increase intracranial pressure (ICP refers to pressure inside the skull). This can cause the aneurysm to burst, which may lead to stroke. Even people with other neurological disorders are advised to avoid uncontrollable laughter to keep complications at bay.

Laughter-induced Asthma

• People suffering from asthma should also stay away from laughing too hard. In one study, patients noticed that their symptoms (chest pain and coughing) worsened due to excessive laughing. However, it was observed that laughter-induced asthma wasn't a case of medical emergency.
• Also, the patients reported that when they can manage their asthma well, symptoms do not flare up when laughing for a longer duration. This means that exacerbation of symptoms due to laughter indicates that asthma is not being managed properly. Nevertheless, intense laughter may trigger asthma attacks. Hence, patients ought to take a cautionary approach when it comes to laughing loudly.
• Laughing too hard also puts excessive strain on the chest muscles. Hence, people affected with respiratory conditions such as collapsed lung are often advised to avoid laughing loudly.

Laughter-induced Syncope

• It is observed that intense laughter increases the breathing rate and when this continues for a longer duration, say for 10 to 15 minutes, it can be risky even to healthy individuals.
• People have experienced shortness of breath during fits of laughter. There also have been reports of people losing their consciousness temporarily (for around 3 to 5 minutes); some have blacked out for a few seconds due to unrestrained laughter. Experts warn that excessive laughter tends to cause hyperventilation, which carries health risk but is unlikely to result in death.

A fit of hysterical laughter can also cause hernia to bulge out. Jaw trauma such as a dislocated jaw can also be one of the side effects of laughing too much. Excessive laughter is also responsible for triggering cataplexy, a condition that is marked by sudden temporary loss of muscle function.

Dr. Martin Samuels, professor of neurology at Harvard Medical, opines that extreme strong feelings related to sorrow or happiness stimulate an area of the brain corresponding to fight or flight response. During a fight or flight response, chemicals like adrenaline are released into the body. Too much of adrenaline can be detrimental to health, particularly the heart. So handling emotions (good or bad) in a better way is necessary to manage overall health.

Death from Laughter

• There also have been confirmed reports of people laughing their way to death. In one instance, in 1989, Ole Bentzen, a Danish audiologist while watching a heist-comedy film A Fish Called Wanda went into uncontrollable fits of laughter. He began laughing so intensely that his heart started beating very fast and the heart rate was found to be fluctuating between 250 to 500 heartbeats per minute. This eventually caused cardiac arrest.
• In another instance, in 1975, Alex Mitchell from England had uncontrollable fits of laughter while watching a television episode of Goodies, a popular British comedy series telecasted during the 1970s. He laughed hard non-stop for 25 minutes, which left him breathless due to severe heart failure. Later, it was found that Alex was a patient of long QT syndrome, a rare congenital heart disorder. This heart ailment may also have contributed to his death.

On the whole, experts say that contributory factors such as an underlying medical condition are likely to have played a role in causing deaths due to laughter. However, the fact remains that laughing too hard for long, although not fatal, can cause breathlessness.

Keep in mind that continuous fits of laughter can be risky but that doesn't mean you should avoid laughing altogether. A good hearty laugh on a daily basis is in fact considered an elixir of life but make sure that the laughter-inducing moments do not leave you out of breath.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is solely for educating the reader. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a medical expert.

Source>>
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/can-you-die-of-laughter.html

How does Men's Brain Differ from Women's Brain?

There are structural and neural processing differences between the brains of a man and a woman. The male brain has more gray matter (involved in processing), while the female brain has more white matter (involved in transmitting information).
Fact about men's and women's brain

Did You Know?
Studies have shown that daily meditation has a positive impact on brain function and tends to reduce age-related decline of gray and white matter in the brain.

It is not just physical attributes that separate a man from a woman. Their brains too are not identical. Their brains have unique characteristics. They differ in structure, function, and ways of processing information. Men and women use their brains differently, owing to the difference in the amount of gray and white matter. The difference in male and female brains is discussed below.

Size
The brain of a male is approximately 10% bigger than a female brain. The average brain volume of men is found to be around 1260 cm3, while women show an average brain volume of 1130 cm3. As far as weight is concerned, an average adult brain of men weighs around 1,345 g, while the weight of an average female brain is approximately 1,222 g. However, a larger brain does not necessarily indicate higher intelligence.

Gray Matter
Gray matter, the outer covering of the brain (also referred to as the cortex) is essentially involved in processing information. The gray matter in a male brain is 6.5 to 7 times as much as in a female brain. The gray matter that contains the nerve cell bodies, deals with processing visual inputs and other sensory perception skills such as hearing. The motor neurons present in gray matter also help in the movement of muscles.

White Matter
Female brains tend to have 9.5 to 10 times greater white matter than male brains. The white matter contains bundles of nerve fibers that carry information from one processing center to another. It essentially connects different gray matter regions within the brain. More white matter means greater brain connectivity.

Thinking
Due to the higher percentage of white matter, one study suggests that women might be using more of white matter to think, while men might be utilizing more gray matter for the same purpose. In short, men and women think in a different way.

Neural Processing

• The male brain favors localized processing, which means men are likely to be superior in activities that need more localized processing. To put it simply, men might be better at mathematical and analytical processing. No wonder, it is often said that men should be assigned the task of making and checking bills.
• The female brain favors integrating and assimilating information; the processing is distributed and involves gathering information from various regions of the brain. As a result, women tend to be better at language skills. They may be better at handling social events. Be it maintaining relationships or arranging social gatherings, women can use their superior language skills to their advantage.

 

Language Processing
Broca's and Wernicke's area, the language processing centers of the brain tend to be larger in women than in men. In these areas, the female brain shows greater neuron density than the male brain. Moreover, MRI scans also showed that women use both left and right hemispheres to process language, whereas men only use the left hemisphere.

Memory
Hippocampus is the region of the brain involved in memory formation and storage. Compared to males, this human memory center is found to be bigger in females. This could be one of the reasons why women tend to be better at remembering things. When it comes to social skills and memory, the female brain appears to be more competent than the male brain.

Head Injury
Frontal brain injuries can cause more damage in females than in males. This is because 84% of gray matter is present in a female's frontal lobes. Whereas a male frontal lobe houses only 45% of gray matter. On the other hand, 86% of white matter lies in the frontal lobe of female brains. A man's frontal lobe does not contain any white matter. So one can say that the gray matter area is more spread out in males than in females. This indicates that a head injury may lead to a greater decline of cognitive performance in women than in men.

Aggression
Amygdala is associated with processing of emotions like fear, anger, and pleasure. It makes us aware of impending danger and the processing of negative emotions in this region is often responsible for aggression. Male brains have a larger amygdala than female brains. This means men have an edge over women when it comes to being aggressive. That could be the reason why males tend to be better and more competent in physical battles than their female counterparts.

Despite the notable differences in male and female brains, studies have shown that this does not have a substantial impact on their cognitive processing. Both men and women have done exceedingly well in different tests involving cognitive assessment.

Source>
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/how-does-mens-brain-differ-from-womens-brain.html

The Mechanism of Receptor-mediated Endocytosis Explained

Receptor-mediated endocytosis is a process in which receptors are used for importing material from extra-cellular matrix into the cells. The following article elaborates more on this cellular process critical for the growth and development of cells.
Receptor-mediated endocytosis mechanism

Did You Know?
If endocytosis, an important cellular process is not taking place properly, it may cause chronic ailments like leukemia and Alzheimer's disease.

Endocytosis is an important process used by body cells for their survival. It is essentially a cellular process in which cells ingest nutrients in the molecular form. This is how cells eat for their survival. It is a mechanism of nutrient absorption, which is critical for cellular growth.

In most cases, the material that needs to be absorbed by cells is available in the form of large molecules that are simply unable to penetrate the cell membrane. This is where endocytosis comes into picture, wherein the cell simply swallows the substance (molecule) and enters the cytoplasm. Thus, it is through endocytosis that the substances can move inside the cell.

Depending upon how endocytosis is carried out, it is classified into 3 main types, viz. phagocytosis, pinocytosis, and receptor-mediated. Here we will be discussing receptor-mediated endocytosis.

Cardiac Sphincter
Receptor-mediated Endocytosis


Receptor-mediated Endocytosis (RME)

This type of endocytosis makes use of receptors (attached to the cell membrane) to engulf molecules. It is also referred to as clathrin-dependent endocytosis, since clathrin (a type of protein) is crucial for the proper execution of this cellular process. In this technique, specific molecules that get bound to the receptors can only be engulfed by the cell.

• Whenever a receptor (molecule) that is embedded within the plasma membrane, detects a molecule (that it can bind to) outside the cell, it immediately hooks onto it. The molecule (ligand) attached to the receptor then travels all the way to the clathrin-coated pit.
• A clathrin-coated pit is a special area located on the plasma membrane that initiates the uptake of molecules present in the extracellular region. The pit shows a distinct polygonal lattice of clathrin chains on its inner surface. When the receptor-molecule reaches the clathrin-coated pit, it is observed that the pit folds inwards and then that part of the membrane detaches itself to form a closed coated vesicle.
• These vesicles act as tools to move molecules inside the cells. Simply put, they transport molecules within the cells. If the receptor-bound molecule is a pathogen, opsonization mechanism is activated, meaning the molecule is tagged as a pathogen for subsequent destruction. After opsonization, the protein coat of clathrin is shaken off to allow the vesicle to merge with an early endosome.
• An early endosome is an organelle, a sorting compartment that helps separate the molecule from its receptor. Once the vesicle fuses with the endosome, multiple compartments are formed within the endosome and at the same time the molecule detaches itself from the receptor.
• Chemical changes occur within the endosome to form a late endosome. The late endosome splits into two, in which one endosome contains the molecule, while the other contains the receptor.
• The molecule-containing endosome then combines with a lysosome, which is essentially a membrane-bound cell organelle that stores digestive enzymes. The main job of the lysosome (also referred as the stomach of the cell) is to promote breakdown of the molecule, which can either be a protein or fat. The lysosome can also ingest pathogens including bacteria and viruses, in turn helping to clear cellular debris.
• The lysosome is essentially involved in digesting the material present in the endosome. The receptor in the other endosome is then recycled and sent back to the cell surface.

Body cells use the mechanism of receptor-mediated endocytosis to absorb cholesterol, growth factor EGF, and the iron transport protein transferrin from the bloodstream.

Source>>>
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/the-mechanism-of-receptor-mediated-endocytosis-explained.html

Understanding the Significance of Therapeutic Index

Did You Know?
Also referred to as narrow therapeutic range (NTR) drugs or critical-dose drugs, the drugs with a narrow therapeutic index (NTI) must be used with caution. These are drugs with small differences between therapeutic and toxic doses. The larger the therapeutic index, the safer the drug is.

The term 'pharmacotherapy' refers to the use of drugs for treating diseases, whereas 'pharmacology' is the study of drug action on living systems. It is the interaction of the drug molecules and drug receptors that brings about a therapeutic effect. However, it is extremely essential to administer the drug in the right dose to achieve such an effect. If taken in large doses, certain drugs could cause adverse effects. Thus, in order to reap the benefits, it is essential to assess the right dose.

Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) becomes essential to determine the dose at which a drug will be safe and effective, especially with those with a narrow therapeutic index. Also, monitoring might be required when the patient is affected by a medical condition that has an adverse effect on the clearance of NTI drugs. There's no denying the fact that drug metabolism could vary from person to person. Thus, the key to avoid drug-related problems is to consider the drug's therapeutic index and other relevant factors for ensuring safety.

Definition of Therapeutic Index

Therapeutic index (TI) refers to any of the several indices that are used for measuring a drug's safety. The most common TI is the ratio of the median lethal dose to the median effective dose of a drug. The formula for TI is:

TI = LD50 / ED50

LD50 stands for median lethal dose, and ED50 stands for median effective dose. LD50 refers to the dose that would produce a lethal effect in 50% of the population, whereas ED50 refers to the dose that will produce the desired therapeutic effect in 50% of the population.

TI can also be expressed as the ratio of the median toxic dose and the median effective dose (therapeutic dose) of a drug. This index is commonly used to measure a drug's safety. The therapeutic index formula is:

TI = TD50 / ED50

TD50 stands for the median toxic dose, whereas ED50 stands for the median effective dose. TD50 refers to the minimum drug dose that would produce a toxic effect in 50% of the population, whereas ED50 refers to the minimum drug dose that will produce the desired therapeutic effect in 50% of the population.

Another related concept is that of therapeutic range (TR). TR is the range of doses/concentrations at which a therapeutic agent or drug produces a therapeutic response without causing any significant adverse effect in patients. It can be measured by:

TR = MEC / MTC

MEC stands for minimum effective concentration, whereas MTC stands for minimum toxic concentration. MEC is the minimum concentration of the drug that is required for achieving the therapeutic effect, whereas MTC is the minimum concentration at which toxicity occurs. Basically, if at a particular dosage, a drug is above MTC, it would cause adverse effects. Similarly, a drug below MEC will not produce the desired therapeutic response.

Significance

While prescribing drugs, healthcare providers rely on their clinical experience and the results of drug trials that determine the TI of a drug. The larger value of TI indicates that there is a wide margin between the toxic and effective dose, whereas a smaller value indicates that there is a narrow margin between the effective and toxic dose. In case of drugs that have a low TI, even a small increase in the dosage can produce toxic effects. Additional care must be taken while prescribing a drug with a narrow TI. Therefore, the pharmaceutical industry has been making efforts to replace NTI drugs (drugs that could be toxic at relatively low levels) with drugs with higher TIs.

Healthcare providers mostly prescribe drugs that have a wide margin of safety. However, they might sometimes prescribe NTI drugs when the medical condition is of a serious nature, and other safer options are not available. In such cases, monitoring the effects of the drug becomes essential.

Limitations

Initially, the ratio of the LD50 and ED50 was determined through animal studies. It must be noted that the ratio measured by animal studies might not be very accurate when it comes to humans. Also, human subjects cannot be used for determining a median lethal dose, for obvious reasons. To add to that, using animals for determining a lethal dose raises ethical issues.

While this ratio might not give an accurate estimate of toxicity in humans, even defining an effective dose might not be a simple task. Also, median values for animals or healthy individuals might not be right for individuals of different age groups or those affected by diseases.

Drugs with a Narrow Therapeutic Index

According to the Food and Drug Administration of the United States (FDA), narrow therapeutic range (NTR) drug products are those 'containing certain drug substances subject to therapeutic drug concentration or pharmacodynamic monitoring, and/or where product labeling indicates a narrow therapeutic range designation'. According to the Therapeutic Products Directorate of Health, Canada, an NTR drug is that wherein the ratio of the lowest concentration at which clinical toxicity occurs to the median concentration providing a therapeutic effect is less than or equal to two. Some drugs that have a narrow therapeutic index are:

➠ Warfarin
➠ Lithium
➠ Digoxin
➠ Phenytoin
➠ Gentamicin
➠ Amphotericin B
➠ 5-fluorouracil
➠ AZT (Zidovudine)

Care must be taken to determine the right dose for the aforementioned drugs in individual cases, as administration of large doses could cause adverse effects.

On a concluding note, the concept of therapeutic index has some limitations, but it is clinically significant, as it lays stress on the importance of the margin of safety of a drug. Drugs that have a narrow or relatively narrow TI are still used when safer alternatives are not available. Under such circumstances, therapeutic drug monitoring becomes extremely important. In such cases, the plasma levels of the drug should be monitored regularly.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is solely for educating the reader. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a medical expert.

Source>>>
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/understanding-the-significance-of-therapeutic-index.html

Is Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity Real or Fake?

Did You Know?
According to surveys and findings, depending on the location and subject to the variable definitions of it, electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) is estimated to be prevalent anywhere from a few cases per million to five percent of the population.

EHS is a condition wherein a sufferer when exposed to electromagnetic radiations of any kind, tends to develop health problems and other physical issues. Some of the common symptoms of electromagnetic hypersensitivity reported by people who suffer from EHS include the following:

• sleep disturbance
• lethargy
• depression
• headaches
• restlessness
• irritability
• concentration problems
• forgetfulness
• learning difficulties
• susceptibility to infections
• blood pressure abnormalities
• limb and joint pains
• numbness or tingling sensations
• hearing loss
• impaired balance
• giddiness and eye problems

Rarely some people have even reported to have developed serious cardiovascular issues owing to exposure to electromagnetic radiation. Many of these symptoms of EHS seem to coincide with those of multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS). The reason behind this, it is believed, is that the susceptible members of the population tend to develop these symptoms in the presence of both radiations and chemicals in their environment.

Medical Opinion

Most members of the medical fraternity view EHS skeptically. The main reason being that almost everyone of us is bombarded with a variety of radiation from innumerable sources all day long. Apart from the artificial ones, these sources also include natural ones such as light from the Sun, and even the Earth's own magnetic field. These should have similar effects on the sufferers as the artificial ones which, in essence, are nothing more than pulsed versions of them. And yet, we don't find the majority complaining about EHS-related health problems.

A more plausible explanation to why some people suffer from EHS is that they may be allergic to certain frequencies of electromagnetic radiation. There are several examples of similar conditions such as photosensitive epilepsy―a rare condition, wherein a visual stimulus by certain frequencies of light, sends the patient into an epileptic seizure. People suffering from photosensitive epilepsy, usually, are normal when exposed to natural/normal light, but experience a seizure, typically when exposed to intense flashes of light at frequencies between 16-25 MHz. This condition has been reported only in modern times when technology has developed devices such as TV displays and computer monitors, which are capable of producing light frequencies that can trigger epileptic fits.

Sources of Electromagnetic Radiation

As noted above, there are a vast number of potential sources of EMF radiation around us. However, the following sources are cited by many sufferers to be the main culprits responsible for triggering EHS in them.

Power-frequency Emfs
Power-frequency emfs is a term used to describe electric and magnetic fields that are produced by power lines, electricity distribution substations, faults, motorized electrical alliances, high-power wiring, cars, trains etc. Several people have attributed their symptoms and health problems to living/working in proximity to such devices for a prolonged duration.

Milder EHS symptoms have been reported by exposure to common appliances such as TV and computers. Some sufferers state that the different types of artificial lighting, especially the fluorescent ones, trigger and aggravate their EHS symptoms. Cars, trams, planes, trains etc., too are known to comprise machinery that emit a significant amount of EMF radiations, which hyper-sensitive individuals might find difficult to cope with.

In a few cases, people living near power lines and/or working in proximity of power grids have reportedly accused daily exposure to radiations for the development of cancer and tumors in their bodies.

Radio-frequency Emfs
In the early 20th century, man-made radio frequencies were first used by the military in radars and weapons. The general public, by and large, however, was not affected by its use.

In the later half of the 20th century, the use of RF was already noticeable in a few everyday devices and gadgets, but it was in the 1990s that, with the advent of the mobile phones, there was an exponential growth in the exposure of civilians to RF.

Today, we live in an RF environment much different than what existed a few decades ago. There are countless gadgets including mobiles, tablets, gaming consoles, cordless telephones etc., which fill the world around us with a near infinite number of radio waves.

While the level of exposure to these waves is surely monitored and kept in check by guidelines put forth by various authorities, the fact remains that in terms of human evolution, never has our species been more exposed to such elements than now.

Therefore, there does lie a possibility that at least a few of us might not be able to tolerate this extreme amount of exposure.

Supportive Research

In 2006, a neurobiologist Hugo Schooneveld, who himself suffers from EHS, demonstrated the effects of different frequencies of radiations on different people, before the Dutch working group on EHS.

He verified that not every sufferer experiences the symptoms with the same intensity, and that in many individuals, symptoms may develop only after a particular duration of time and also exposure. He also showed how, in some people, exposure to the very low and very high amounts of radiation may not have any effect, while in-between exposures may trigger EHS symptoms.

Finally, based on his substantial clinical experience, he also concluded that albeit EMF radiations might cause only minuscule effects on the cellular level, these effects multiply leading to the development of a major issue on the organ level.

Provocation Studies
Provocation studies involve exposing the participants to both real and fake sources of EMF, and studying their reaction to both, while making sure that at no time are they aware which one is which. The basic aim of these studies is to get to the root of what causes EHS.

Several provocative studies on the effects of radiation on people have shown that there is a significant psychological factor at play. It was observed that several participants developed the same symptoms in response to both real and fake radiations. Scientists call this the 'placebo' effect.

The placebo effect shows that if an individual has a genuine fear of something (radiation in this case), that alone is sufficient for them to develop actual physical effects in response to exposure. It further explains that if a subset of the general population, with the help of media coverage or some other means, is led to believe that radiations can affect their health, they might actually start developing symptoms in response.

Treatment

Since a majority of the medical community doesn't recognize EHS as a valid disorder, there isn't a direct line of treatment available for it. Also, the non-uniformity of the symptoms seen among sufferers further adds to the complication of finding an effective cure, but they are a rare minority.

Is Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity Real or Fake?

The World Health Organization has reached the following conclusion with regards to EHS:

EHS is characterized by a variety of non-specific symptoms that differ from individual to individual. The symptoms are certainly real and can vary widely in their severity. Whatever its cause, EHS can be a disabling problem for the affected individual. EHS has no clear diagnostic criteria and there is no scientific basis to link EHS symptoms to EMF exposure. Further, EHS is not a medical diagnosis, nor is it clear that it represents a single medical problem.

To simply call EHS a fake condition would be apathetic. There might be evidence against it, but we simply cannot turn a deaf ear to the growing hue and cry of the sufferers. Whether psychological or otherwise, it is necessary that EHS be recognized as a legitimate condition, and appropriate measures be taken to treat the ones who suffer from it. At the same time, scientists, governments, and other major health organizations should all come together and pool their resources while trying to get to the bottom of this 'disease' of modern times.

Source>>
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/is-electromagnetic-hypersensitivity-real-or-fake.html