Jun

30

When asked what the largest organ in the human body is, many people guess the liver, the brain, the intestines or even the lungs. But the truth is that the largest organ you have is actually your skin. Your skin protects your internal organs from injury, regulates body temperature and contains nerve cells that create the sense of touch.

In order to better understand skin conditions, you should understand the structure of the skin itself. There are three layers that make up the skin, the epidermis, the dermis and the subcutis.

The epidermis is the outer layer of skin and is, itself, made up of three layers; the basal layer, the keritinocytes and the stratum corneum. The stratum corneum is the very outermost layer of skin and is made up of dead cells that have been shed from the underlying keritinocytes and basal layers. The keritinocytes produce what the skin needs to protect the body. The basal layer forms new keritinocytes. The epidermis also contains melanocytes, which produce skin pigment (melanin).

Epidermis

The dermis is the middle layer of skin. It contains hair follicles, sweat glands, blood and lymph vessels and receptors for pain and touch. The dermis also contains collagen, which gives the skin strength and resilience.

The subcutis contains a combination of collagen and fat. The subcutis acts as an insulating layer and stores nutrients.
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Jun

30

Homeopathy Awareness Week focuses on helping those who suffer from allergies including hay fever, allergic asthma and eczema, and it couldn’t come at a better time. Homeopathy is an effective treatment for allergies. European researchers have found that homeopathy is as good as conventional medicine (which often produces unwanted side-effects) in the treatment of eczema in children.1

The number of hay fever sufferers in Britain has almost doubled in the past 20 years and allergies are increasing at a rate of 5% per year. Approximately one in four of the population of the UK will suffer from an allergy at some point in their lives.2 Allergies are a heightened response of the immune system to external substances or ‘allergens’, including house dust mite, pollen from flowers, trees and grasses, animal hair and a range of foods.

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Jun

30

Ten thousand applicants tried for a spot on Extreme Makeover’s second season.  The popular T.V. show is one in a line of many other reality programs and primetime dramas that take a look at the world of cosmetic surgery.  On Extreme Makeover, participants are away from their families for several weeks, during which time they undergo a number of different cosmetic procedures, and meet with personal trainers and fashion consultants who teach them how to uphold their improved look.  A good portion of the weeks away is spent recovering from surgery and working with makeover specialists.

The show emphasizes the willingness of the participants to stick to a regimented exercise and diet plan.  Also, because the surgeons used for the show are given final veto power over the participants, they have realistic expectations of what will happen after surgery and are willing to do whatever it takes.
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Jun

30

Topic Overview
What is non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma?

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) is cancer of the cells of the lymphatic system. In non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, cells in the lymphatic system either divide and grow without order or control, or old cells do not die as cells normally do. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma can start almost anywhere in the body. It may occur in a single lymph node, a group of lymph nodes, or an organ such as the spleen. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma can spread to almost any part of the body, including the liver, bone marrow, and spleen. Read more

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