Infectious causes of chronic disease
Category archives for Infectious causes of chronic disease
Can your pet dog make you sick? Multiple Sclerosis and Canine Distemper Virus
Posted by Tara C. Smith on April 29, 2010 Student guest post by Raj Nair. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease that affects the central nervous system (CNS) consisting of the brain and the spinal cord [1]. It is thought to be an autoimmune disease since individual’s immune system attacks their own healthy tissues [1]. However, studies to ascertain triggering factors…
Worms: Are they good or bad for us?
Posted by Tara C. Smith on April 27, 2010 Student guest post by Shylo Wardyn “Of all the parasites I’ve had over the years, these worms are among the… hell, they are the best”. Was Fry from the animated show ‘Futurama’ right in his assessment of worms being good for him? Did he know something about parasitic worm infections that I was unaware of?…
Potential for common bacteria to cause colorectal cancer
Posted by Tara C. Smith on April 27, 2010 Student guest post by Desiré Christensen Colorectal cancer (aka colon cancer) includes cancers of the colon, rectum, and appendix. Colorectal cancer is more common in developed countries (e.g. United States and Japan) compared to developing countries in Africa and Asia. Each year in the United States, there are around 150,000 cases of colorectal cancer diagnosed…
Malignant Mesothelioma and Simian Virus 40 (SV40)
Posted by Tara C. Smith on April 26, 2010 Student guest post by Andrew Behan Malignant Mesothelioma (MM) is a rare type of cancer which manifests itself in the thin cells lining the human body’s internal organs. There are three types of MM; pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma, and pericardial mesothelioma, affecting the lining of the lungs, abdominal cavity, and lining of the heart, respectively…
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: a Legitimate Excuse for Missing Work
Posted by Tara C. Smith on April 26, 2010 Student guest post by Jay Watson Tired again? Perhaps it’s the crappy weather, because you’re sure that you’ve been getting enough sleep. After all, you can’t remember the last time you spent less than ten hours in bed per night. Hopefully it’s not mono; one of your friends had it a few months ago and…
The Uncertain Etiology of PMS and a Link to Infectious Disease
Posted by Tara C. Smith on April 26, 2010 Student guest post by Anne Dressler Ninety percent of menstruating women experience some kind of premenstrual symptoms during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, with 20-30% experiencing moderate to severe symptoms. With an even more severe collection of symptoms, is premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). 3-8% of menstruating women report symptoms severe enough to be…
Schizophrenia: is it preventable?
Posted by Tara C. Smith on April 23, 2010 Student guest post by Zainab Khan Schizophrenia has puzzled and often times scared not only the scientific community, but also the general public since its emergence. Cases of schizophrenia-like behavior have been well documented in history. As this disease has been studied, factors such as genetics, environment, and even personal habits have all been associated…
Aspirin for Heart Attack: What’s Next, Tylenol for Alzheimer’s Disease?
Posted by Tara C. Smith on April 22, 2010 Student guest post by Ron Bedford The NYT (Kolata, 2010) recently published a story we’d all like to believe in. After their “lab’s usual end-of-the-week beer hour,” two Harvard neurology researchers noticed similarities between not only genes associated with both the innate immune system and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but structures, characteristics, and actions of selected…
What’s in Your Genes?
Posted by Tara C. Smith on April 22, 2010 Student guest post by Liz Stepniak In the field of chronic disease, genetics has long been determined as a component of disease susceptibility. Infectious disease was believed to be caused by an agent of infection, such as a virus or bacteria which comprises a large environmental factor. In the past decade or so, this view…
Campylobacter jejuni-Associated Guillain-Barré Syndrome: It’s No Picnic
Posted by Tara C. Smith on April 20, 2010 Student guest post by D.F. Johnston As the year marches forward, ever closer to that summer sun we missed so much during dreary winter days, we also get closer to the traditional summer picnics and barbecues. Sometimes, in our hurry to enjoy quality time with friends and family, we get distracted from our usual practices…