The Radioactive Iodine and Its Therapeutic Dose

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RAI or Radioactive Iodine is a therapy for thyroid problems such as hyperthyroidism and thyroid carcinoma. It is given in a form of liquid or capsule (I-131) which, once taken by patient orally, is being absorbed and concetrated in the thyroid cells. This type of treatment lowers the thyroid hormones and destroys the thyroid cells as well as the thyroid cancer cells but does not harm tissues of the rest of the body.

Getting to Know: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

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Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) infection is a more severe and potentially life threatening infection that most commonly occur among patients in the health care settings. It’s a kind of staph bacteria which is resistant to specific antibiotics named beta-lactams. These include the antibiotics methicillin and other more common antibiotics being used such as amoxicillin, penicillin, and oxacillin. 

Colon Cancer Diagram

Colon Cancer diagram by Joe Lertola

1. Cells that line the colon are very active, constantly dividing and creating buds, known as polyps. Most polyps are small, benign growths that eventually stop growing.

2. But a tiny percentage of these polyps keep growing, sometimes for 10 years or more. Various genetic mutations can transform them into cancerous tumors.

3. As these tumors grow larger, they gather more mutations and begin to burrow deeper and deeper into the muscle wall that surrounds the colon.

4. Once the cancer invades the blood and lymph systems, malignant cells can break off and spread to other organs, such as the liver, lungs, and stomach.

Getting to Know: The Liver

LIVER

-          Storages  vitamins A, B, D; iron; and copper

-          Synthesizes plasma proteins, including albumin and globulins

-          Synthesizes the clotting factors vitamin K and prothrombin

-          Storages glycogen and synthesizes glucose from other nutrients (gluconeogenesis)

-          Breakdowns fatty acids for energy

-          Produces bile

-          Detoxifies and excretes waste products

Getting to Know: Diabetes Mellitus

DIABETES MELLITUS

Types

DM 1: INSULIN DEPENDENT

-          Characterized by destruction of the pancreatic beta cells. It is thought that combined genetic, immunologic, and possible environmental (e.g. viral) factors contribute to beta cells destruction

DM 2: NON-INSULIN DEPENDENT

-          The two main problems related to insulin in type 2 DM are insulin resistance and impaired insulin secretion. Insulin resistance refers to decreased tissue sensitivity to insulin. The exact mechanisms that lead to insulin resistance and impaired insulin secretion in type 2 are unknown, although genetic factors are thought to play role.