Cyndrome

Posts Tagged ‘syndrome’

I would like to begin by explaining in simple terms what the Phantom Limb Syndrome (PLS) methods and then correlated with the commitments of storytelling and constraints on civil society in Kashmir. PLS is a family disease that affects a hand or foot amputee for medical reasons. Patient complained of excruciating pain in the arm or leg, which is not his body anymore. You hear the movement of the fingers, the arm is long buried. This illusion is due to the mind tricks any body part. It ‘hard to improve the condition and takes a long time to form the mechanisms involved in neurophysiology and effective artificial replacement prostheses win ordeal.

I drew a parallel between the civil societies PLS and Kashmir, who begged forgiveness from respected members of these NGOs and the best researchers of culture in our society and welfare dereference the excellent work they are doing to fight for improved living conditions and environment. There are also pressure groups that have a thematic issue at a time and try to continue vigorously until their objectives are achieved. Question arises to what extent these interventions are recognized as an opportunity or a remote socket.

In Kashmir this amphitheatre presents a different appearance.  For example views are expressed that in rebuilding Kashmir, Civil Society can play a role (GK May 2 p7) while politicians are engaged in national higher problems and cloistered behind security cordons.  There are those who claim that plagued by apathy people must take a stock of their lives (GK May 3 p9) again the whole emphasis is on the society that is at the receiving end of physical and mental atrocities and submerged in a high grade repressive rule.  I thought it would be simple enough to recognize this phenomenon by just living a day in normal circumstances anywhere in the State but especially in the valley.  Let us exemplify this thesis by taking stock of a few problems menacing the lives of people.   A million tons of waste can be expected to be shifted from kitchens to recycling plants or landfill sites.  Some Civil Societies in Kashmir put dust bins at places and Print Media have been screaming about the consequences of rubbish on the roads.  These operations are the basic tenets of governance and only possible at that level.  Nowhere in the world is a Civil Society capable or involved in these functions.

One other problem highlighted in GK columns is the worsening state of traffic and condition of roads.  You need good quality life insurance and a fortified strong truck to be a part of the stream of traffic on the roads.   You also need multiple eyes at the sides and back of your head to drive effectively.  Civil Society can only save their own lives by keeping their distance from the chaos.  All measures taken by the administration are peremptory and violence against the society.  The punishments imposed include toeing away parked vehicles and shouting warning over loud speakers, extolling bribe from buses so that they can pick up passengers anywhere they wish to stop.   What stands out in traffic management is total absence of lanes, lights, footpaths, crossings and signs displaying traffic codes.  There are thousands of uniformed men blowing whistles with ineffectual control of traffic.  All steps for apparent good will no doubt will end up with a lucrative handshake and reinstallation of the illegal activity.

It is a far-fetched idea that any Civil Society can even attempt to put remedial measures in place to correct these problems.   There is a gulf of political tumult that separates the ranks of government and representative civil society.  A civil society that has any credence with authority is appointed from civil servants in service and in dreaded fear of repercussions if they make statements challenging and provocative.

A non-governmental organization cannot cope with multitudes of punitive constraints in daily lives of people that sum up to make their living very onerous.   Every individual who comes in contact with administration will tell you a story of arm twisting tactics and extraction of bribe.   They also tell you if there is a property involved then the case will never get solved because each official will sell the client to his successor and money will flow for generations.  How could a Civil Society cure the menace of corruption if the total infrastructure of administration was built on this raw material?  Some say this evil matter stems from the ballot box and permeates through.

The arrogance of such a system is passing over the ghost of all parts of the citizenship and the Phantom Limb Syndrome reflects the victory of authoritarian rule. They tend to punish the country to show that if you are not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem. Some of the companies with semi-autonomy. Only survive if it relies on sponsors to operate effectively. So I intend to release the civil society organizations, the responsibility can not be used for joint action against the evils of society, because their mandate is limited, and their limited voting rights. I dare say that hope can shine if the political parties law to make common cause with the civil society and give life to the abandoned part of the population through their pain and to make drastic changes to revise the entire environment in which people must live.

Although most patients with restless legs syndrome resulting from dysfunction of the central nervous system, secondary causes such as varicose veins contribute to symptoms. In these cases, the disease underlying venous help patients find relief in restless legs.

It is characterized by throbbing or other unpleasant sensations in the legs that result in an irresistible urge to move, restless legs syndrome can significantly affect quality of life of patients and difficult to sleep or rest. You can acquire knowledge about the relationship between restless legs syndrome and varicose veins, some patients experienced relief of their symptoms.

“While it would be inaccurate to say that all cases of restless leg syndrome result from venous disease or the presence of varicose veins, they are certainly secondary causes of the disease,” says Primepares G. Pal, M.D., RPVI, Medical Director of the Minnesota Vein Center. “I have seen a number of patients diagnosed with restless leg syndrome who have experienced relief after treatment for venous disease.”

Because of the correlation between restless leg syndrome and venous disease, Dr. Pal recommends referral for patients who have been diagnosed with restless leg syndrome and also present with other symptoms related to venous insufficiency, such as leg and ankle swelling or the presence of varicose veins.

“I do not believe referral should occur in all restless leg cases,” says 
Dr. Pal. “However, evaluation for venous insufficiency is beneficial if other clinical indications are present.”

Leading-Edge Technology

At the Minnesota Vein Center, 
Dr. Pal provides patients with a minimally invasive treatment option through use of endovenous thermal ablation. This procedure allows patients 
to benefit from an outpatient option that is performed through the use of local anesthesia and requires little to no downtime.

During the procedure, a catheter is inserted into a vein that has been determined to have valvular reflux. Once the catheter is correctly positioned within the vein, thermal energy in the form of a laser or radiofrequency is used to heat and seal the vein, allowing for the return of normal blood flow. Ideal candidates for endovenous thermal ablation have superficial venous disease that is primarily in the saphenous vein system.

“Previous techniques for the treatment of venous disease, such as extraction, lengthy procedures were performed under general anesthesia in the operating room and often require long recovery periods,” said Dr. Pal. “Through the use of endovenous thermal ablation, the recovery time is significantly reduced, and patients are encouraged to return to their daily activities after surgery.” For patients with venous disease increased number of treatment options, including ambulatory phlebectomy and ultrasound-guided chemical ablation are available through the Minnesota Center vein.

Did you know that one in every one hundred people is affected by what is known as carpal tunnel syndrome at some point in their life?  While commonly found in women in the thirty to fifty-year age range, carpal tunnel syndrome can affect nearly anyone, from assembly line workers, to surgeons and dentists, to secretaries and computer data entry personnel, to even those who play musical instruments or video games.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a very painful and progressive condition that occurs in the wrist, caused by compression to the median nerve.  The median nerve runs into the hand starting from the forearm, and when it is squeezed or pressed at the wrist, the message carrying and receiving from the brain is inhibited.

The name carpal tunnel syndrome, however, comes from the eight bones in our wrists that are known as carpals.  They form a tunnel-like structure, hence the term “carpal tunnel syndrome.”

Compression of the tunnel walls is the most basic of causes of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Other factors, such as congential predispostion and even trauma based injury can also be to blame.  Carpal tunnel syndrome can develop quickly, especially if the wrist has been fractured or injured or rheumatoid arthritis has set in.  In many cases, repetitve stress induced carpal tunnel strain can cause the syndrome, especially in those who spend a great deal of time typing.

Symptoms of carpal tunnel can include tingling, numbness, and burning in the fingers, as well as the inability to make a fist or grip things.  A person eventually loses the ability to squeeze things and may even find it hard to tie their shoes.  In the most extreme cases of carpal tunnel syndrome, the patients are unable to determine hot or cold by touch.

Treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome is available.  Most physicians will advise against repetitive and exhaustive activities related to hand movement.  Stretching exercises and medicines like corticosteroids can help in relieving the syndrome.  However, if the condition worsens, surgery may be the only available course of treatment.

If you feel as though you may be suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome, you should consult your physician immediately to discuss symptoms and treatment options.

What is the Metabolic Syndrome?

The metabolic syndrome is a collection of high-risk symptoms including elevated lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides), hypertension and a proinflammatory state.  Having the metabolic syndrome places the individual at high-risk for heart disease and diabetes.  Men are more prone to developing the metabolic syndrome due to their natural tendency to deposit excess fat as visceral adipose tissue (VAT) also called intra-abdominal fat.  Postmenopausal women are also at risk due to lower estrogen to androgen ratios.  The shift from a pear shape to an apple shape displays this hormonal shift.  In fact, the apple shape is primarily caused by  as opposed to subcutaneous (fat under the skin) fat.

The American Heart Association has established standards for diagnosing the metabolic syndrome.  The patient must have 3 of the following conditions:

1. Waist circumference greater than 40 inches for men, 35 inches for women.

2. Triglycerides greater than 150 mg/dL.

3. HDL Cholesterol less than 40 mg/d for men, less than 50 mg/dl for women.

4. Blood pressure greater than 130/85 mm Hg.

5. Fasting glucose greater than 100 mg/dL.

What causes the Metabolic Syndrome?

The metabolic syndrome appears to be caused by insulin resistance and the associated accumulation of VAT.  VAT releases inflammatory adipocytokines, which contribute to the proinflammatory state.  Fatty liver is also strongly correlated with VAT [1], and is a likely cause of the elevated lipids.

VAT accumulation correlates with fasting insulin, total whole-body glucose disposal, glucose oxidation and nonoxidative whole-body glucose disposal [2]. Also, factors associated with insulin resistance are also correlated with VAT accumulation, including triglycerides [3], hepatic lipase [4] and HL/LPL ratio [5]. Likewise, factors inversely associated with insulin resistance are also inversely correlated with VAT accumulation including HDL [3].

How can the Metabolic Syndrome be reversed?

Improving insulin sensitivity is of primary importance.  This requires an improved diet along with exercise.

1. Lose weight.  Weight loss greatly improves insulin sensitivity.

2. Upgrade your fat intake.  Saturated fat significantly worsens insulin resistance, while monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids (especially omega-3) improve it [6].

3. Exercise.  Even something as simple as daily walking reduces visceral adipose tissue areas and improves insulin resistance [7].

4. Minimize stress.  Cortisol appears to be involved in VAT accumulation and insulin resistance.

5. Eat more fiber.  Fiber improves insulin sensitivity and is associated with lower amounts of VAT [9].  Pectin appears to be an especially effective fiber for reducing VAT [10].

6. Take supplements. Pantethine [11], taurine [12], calcium [13] and tea [14] all improve insulin sensitivity and reduce VAT.

David Spelts

[1] Kelley DE, McKolanis TM, Hegazi RA, Kuller LH, Kalhan SC. : Fatty liver in type 2 diabetes mellitus: relation to regional adiposity, fatty acids, and insulin resistance. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 10/2003.

[2] Laakso, Markku: Insulin resistance, body fat distribution, and sex hormones in men. Diabetes, 2/1/1994.

[3] R. B. Terry, P. D. Wood, W. L. Haskell, M. L. Stefanick and R. M. Krauss: Regional adiposity patterns in relation to lipids, lipoprotein cholesterol, and lipoprotein subfraction mass in men. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 1989.

[4] C. E. Tan; L. Forster; M. J. Caslake; D. Bedford; T. D. G. Watson; M. McConnell; C. J. Packard; J. Shepherd: Relations Between Plasma Lipids and Postheparin Plasma Lipases and VLDL and LDL Subfraction Patterns in Normolipemic Men and Women. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, 1995.

[5] Despres JP, Couillard C, Gagnon J, Bergeron J, Leon AS, Rao DC, Skinner JS, Wilmore JH, Bouchard C: Race, visceral adipose tissue, plasma lipids, and lipoprotein lipase activity in men and women: the Health, Risk Factors, Exercise Training, and Genetics (HERITAGE) family study. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, 2000.

[6] Riccardi G, Giacco R, Rivellese AA.: Dietary fat, insulin sensitivity and the metabolic syndrome. Clin Nutr. 8/2004.

[7]  Miyatake N, Nishikawa H, Morishita A, Kunitomi M, Wada J, Suzuki H, Takahashi K, Makino H, Kira S, Fujii M.: Daily walking reduces visceral adipose tissue areas and improves insulin resistance in Japanese obese subjects. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 11/2002.

[8] Gluck ME, Geliebter A, Lorence M.; Cortisol stress response is positively correlated with central obesity in obese women with binge eating disorder (BED) before and after cognitive-behavioral treatment. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 12/2004.

[9] DS Ludwig et al: Dietary fiber, weight gain, and cardiovascular disease risk factors in young adults. Journal of the American Medical Association 1999.

[10] Hendricks KM et al. High-fiber diet in HIV-positive men is associated with lower risk of developing fat deposition. Am J Clin Nutr 78: 790-5, 2003.

[11] Osono Y, Hirose N, Nakajima K, Hata Y: The effects of pantethine on fatty liver and fat distribution. J Atheroscler Thromb, 2000.

[12] Nakaya Y, Minami A, Harada N, Sakamoto S, Niwa Y, Ohnaka M: Taurine improves insulin sensitivity in the Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty rat, a model of spontaneous type 2 diabetes. Am J Clin Nutr, Jan 2000.

[13] Soares MJ, Binns C, Lester L: Higher intakes of calcium are associated with lower BMI and waist circumference in Australian adults: an examination of the 1995 National Nutrition Survey. Asia Pac J Clin Nutrition, 2004.

[14] C. Wu, et al: Relationship among Habitual Tea Consumption, Percent Body Fat, and Body Fat Distribution. Obesity Research, September, 2003.