Psoriasis Symptoms, Treatment, Causes, Medication Information …

Psoriasis facts Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. Patients with psoriasis who are obese are predisposed to diabetes and heart disease. Psoriasis can be initiated by certain environmental triggers. A predisposition for psoriasis is inherited in genes. Psoriasis is not contagious. Psoriasis gets better and worse spontaneously and can have periodic remissions (clear skin). Psoriasis is controllable with medication. Psoriasis is currently not curable. There are many promising therapies, including newer biologic drugs. Future research for psoriasis is promising. What is psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a noncontagious skin condition that produces red papules that merge together into plaques of thickened, scaling skin. The dry flakes of skin scales are thought to result from the excessively rapid proliferation of skin cells that is triggered by abnormal lymphocytes. Psoriasis commonly affects the skin of the elbows, knees, and scalp.

Some people have such mild psoriasis (small, faint dry skin patches) that they may not even suspect that they have a medical skin condition. Others have very severe psoriasis where virtually their entire body is fully covered with thick, red, scaly skin.

Psoriasis is considered an incurable, long-term (chronic) skin condition. It has a variable course, periodically improving and worsening. It is not unusual for psoriasis to spontaneously clear for years and stay in remission. Many people note a worsening of their symptoms in the colder winter months.

Psoriasis affects all races and both sexes. Although psoriasis can be seen in people of any age, from babies to seniors, most commonly patients are first diagnosed in their early adult years. The quality of life of patients with psoriasis is often diminished because of the appearance of their skin. Recently, it has become clear that people with psoriasis are more likely to have diabetes, high blood lipids, and heart disease. There are speculations as to how this might relate to their joint and skin inflammation. Caring for psoriasis takes medical teamwork.

Medically Reviewed by a Doctor on 5/16/2013

Psoriasis - Effective Treatments Question: What kinds of treatments have been effective for your psoriasis?

Psoriasis - Symptoms Question: What symptoms and signs did you experience with psoriasis?

Scalp Psoriasis - Creams and Lotions Question: Which creams or lotions (topical medications) have helped you treat scalp psoriasis?

Medical Author:

More here:

Psoriasis Symptoms, Treatment, Causes, Medication Information ...

Tourist arrivals plummet in State

A decade since World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) commended Kerala for registering the worlds highest growth in the tourism sector, most of the States tourism stakeholders are a worried lot.

They are concerned and annoyed at the sharp decline in arrival of foreign tourists during December, when tourist arrivals generally peak.

Cost factor

Former general secretary of Mattancherry-based Kashmir Traders Association Sajid Hussain Khatai said there was roughly 70 per cent decline in arrival of foreign tourists to the heritage locale this month. Good many foreigners are showing a marked preference for Sri Lanka which resembles Kerala, but offers a more quality experience at much lesser cost. Dozens of Kashmiri traders selling handicrafts and carpets antiques are thus making a beeline to set shop in the island nation.

Even cruise ships (which bring tourists by the hundred) prefer to call at Colombo than Kochi because of lower berthing charges there. Of late, Goa and southern States too were offering stiff competition to Kerala, because they offered cheaper accommodation, travel and food, Mr. Khatai said.

The president of Kerala Travel Mart Society a conclave of prominent tourism stakeholders Abraham George said most hoteliers and other players in the sector were feeling the heat because of a noticeable fall in number of tourist arrivals. Economic recession in places like Europe has prompted group cancellations. Many who are keen to visit Kerala are peeved at hartals being called at the drop of a hat and have begun to skip the State, because their travel itinerary suffers. The increase in number of hotels, resorts etc., has further affected investors.

He called for a consensus on hartals, simultaneous with aggressive marketing of destinations, to woo tourists.

The State government too acknowledges a slowdown in the sector this season. Secretary of Kerala Tourism Suman Billa said stakeholders were hit because of hike in power tariff and salaries for staff. There is also an increase in number of hotel/resort rooms. Thus, many properties do not command the price they once had. Still, tourist arrivals in 2013 are seven to eight per cent higher than in 2012.

Garbage woes

Mr Billa expressed concern at tourists, especially from foreign countries, shunning what were once extremely popular locales like Fort Kochi because of slack garbage management and encroachments. Inadequate and ill-maintained roads/footpaths is another macro issue that needs to be tackled at the State level, since this is affecting many destinations.

Read the original post:

Tourist arrivals plummet in State

Adult Stem Cell Therapy – Regenocyte

Adult stem cells circulate throughout our bodies and act as natural healers. These cells have vast potential and limitless capabilities. For more than 40 years, adult stem cells have been used to treat cancer patients. Recent advancements in stem cell therapy have been astounding. Cells from an ill patient are being used as part of the treatment. There is no possibility of the body rejecting the new tissue formed, making stem cell treatment safe and effective in achieving positive medical outcomes. It is important to note that adult stem cell therapy is not controversial because it involves the use of a patients owntissues and NOT derived from embryos. Clinical results from cardiac, pulmonary, neurological and vascular procedures have shown that the adult stem cell procedures are as safe as traditional procedures and are complimentary to current medical practice.

Adult stem cells are extracted from the patientsbone marrow and fat(adipose). At Intercellular Sciences, the naturally occurring stem cells in the blood are cultivated into millions of RegenocyteAdult Stem Cells. The Regenocyte Stem Cells areproduced inour international treatment center and are administered into the area of need for the patient. Once injected, they stimulate tissue re-growth and greater blood flow to the affected areas. The goal of the treatment is to replace damaged cells and to promote the growth of new blood vessels and tissues in order to help the target organ function at a greater capacity. There is no risk of rejection since the Adult Stem Cells received are directly from the patient.

Regenocyte Adult Stem Cell Therapy is safe, highly effective and presents minimal risk.

To find out more today, click here or call us at (866) 216-5710

Read the original here:

Adult Stem Cell Therapy - Regenocyte

"Leading Edge" Set to Produce New Content Featuring Stem Cell Therapy, with Host Jimmy Johnson

(PRWEB) December 21, 2013

Stem cell therapy has a tremendous potential to cure various illnesses and injuries. Recent news items have highlighted possibilities that it could treat damaged spinal cords or revitalize hip joints. Scientists are working on stem cell remedies for dementia, heart disease and diabetes. Doctors in some countries have begun using this therapy to grow replacement body tissue and treat leukemia.

However, stem cell treatments remain controversial. Some people object to them on ethical or religious grounds. Others express concern about the safety of these newfound cures. Animal testing has revealed that minor mistakes can result in impurities that cause cells to produce tumors and other ill effects. Some patients have died after receiving experimental therapies that weren't adequately tested.

The producers of the "Leading Edge" TV series plan to release a new segment that examines this fascinating yet contentious health topic. Presenter Jimmy Johnson will offer an update on important facts and recent developments in the world of stem cell research. Viewers can benefit from the program's concise and unbiased perspective on an issue that many people have yet to learn about.

"Leading Edge" is independently distributed to local public TV broadcasters across the U.S. The national Public Broadcasting Service does not act as its distributor. To learn more about this informational series, please browse http://www.leadingedgeseries.com or send an email message to the program's producers. They can be reached at info(at)leadingedgeseries(dot)com.

Read the original:

"Leading Edge" Set to Produce New Content Featuring Stem Cell Therapy, with Host Jimmy Johnson

Topekan to celebrate Native American Christmas service

Dennis Rogers felt compelled to do something different this Christmas something that may never have been done before, at least in Topeka.

At 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22, Rogers will be dressed in full eagle feather regalia as he leads a special Christmas service that will include elements of Native American spirituality at Sullivan Chapel Indian Methodist Church, 1937 N.E. Madison.

The service, which will offer a musical tribute to those who have died this year, will start outside the church building, where Rogers will have his lodge or teepee set up. People are welcome to come and look at the teepee and have their photos taken outside it.

Then, around 5:30 p.m., a community dinner featuring turkey, ham, potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, corn, green beans, soft drinks and desserts will be served inside the church for all who attend.

The service, Rogers said, is designed especially for people who may not be attached to any particular congregation, as well as for those who feel drawn to Native American spirituality.

People who say they arent spiritual they seem to want to connect with something, Rogers said, and for a lot of them, its Native American spirituality.

Rogers said the service will keep the Christ child as the central focus, while also bringing in Native American elements.

We believe in a Great Spirit, and he has many different names in many different languages, Rogers said. There is a Creator. There is a Great Spirit. Native Americans have always believed in that concept that there is an Almighty, that he has all power and that there is an afterlife.

As part of bringing in elements of Native American spirituality, Rogers said he was hopeful the service would be an encouragement for those who come particularly those who may be experiencing difficulties this time of year.

Were all spiritual people, Rogers said. Were only human for a short time, and this is why we sometimes fall short of our goals and find it hard to forgive ourselves.

Here is the original post:

Topekan to celebrate Native American Christmas service

Expert on aging says boomers will return to church

Baby boomers might not be that different from the Greatest Generation when it comes to religion. Like their parents, many boomers will attend religious services later in life. But unlike their parents, baby boomers are more likely to describe a deep, intense spiritual connection from a personal experience than a religious one from an institutional practice.

Many of them dont know it yet, said a researcher at the recent annual conference of the Gerontological Society of America in New Orleans, but growing old, regardless of what generation you belong to, brings on dramatic changes that can propel people to seek new meaning in religious services.

Vern Bengtson is the author of the recently published "Families and Faith with co-authors Susan Harris and Norella Putney. He based his findings and predictions on a 35-year longitudinal study of 350 Southern California families and interviews with a subset of 156 families. The studys scope spanned six generations from 1909 to 1988. The conversations explored spirituality, religious beliefs, intensities and practices.

Bengtson, 72, is a professor emeritus of gerontology and sociology at the University of Southern California. He discussed boomers, the rebellious group born between 1946 and 1964 and known for spurning institutional models, and religion with Religion News Service at the GSA conference.

Which part of the study made you think many boomers will end up attending religious services when they currently do not?

We now know that the oldest generations had an uptick in attending religious services after retirement. Its too early to have gathered that data on boomers because theyre just starting to retire, but Im willing to predict this will happen to them based on what weve observed in older generations and from what we heard in the interviews with boomers.

You list examples in your book of young boomers saying they reject religion. "I do not want anything to do with it (religion). " And "I believe in God but do not go to church." How then do you make the jump that they will eventually go to a church or synagogue when theyre older?

When people get older, they retire and have more time to think about moral, religious and spiritual things. Our study shows this. Its the life course. They will also face a serious illness or lose a loved one for the first time. The religious education of their grandchildren becomes a concern for some grandparents. Not all, but some are concerned the parents arent doing enough. They might have skipped a generation by not educating their own children, but they got older and discovered one of the most wonderful things in life and wont want to miss an opportunity with their grandchildren.

How do the religious and spiritual views of baby boomers set them apart from the other generations?

The oldest groups (1909-1931) were religious and went to church until a certain age set in when they found it physically too difficult to go anymore. When asked if they were spiritual, they said "Whats spirituality? They were more likely to link spirituality and religion to institutional practice.

The rest is here:

Expert on aging says boomers will return to church

How to Win in the Game of Life Presented in New Book ‘Life Is a Game’

Brisbane, Australia (PRWEB) December 21, 2013

It is easy to fall into the spending craze during the holiday season. Why not take a step back from the materialistic things in life and focus on the journey?

Life Is a Game by DJ Con chronicles the personal journey of one man as he tries to move from the materialistic way of life to the spiritual side.

This book shares the intimate details a challenging spiritual journey, Con said. I eventually reached a destination so peaceful, alive, clear and vibrant, achieving a level of awareness that once seemed impossible.

Focusing on the ideals of numerology and astrology, Life Is a Game gives readers the tools to create their own reality, live in the present and contemplate the illusion of time. Con also covers the importance of learning how to manifest in order to break though the negative energy rampant in todays society.

People should be prepared to be open-minded as they seek answers to lifes questions, Con said. Enlightenment can be achieved by seeing through the illusions of life and becoming aware that life is a game.

Besides chronicling his own personal journey, Con hopes to inspire others to seek out their own spiritual journeys.

Life Is a Game By DJ Con ISBN: 978-1-47595-939-0 Softcover retail price: $27.95 E-book price: $3.99

About the author

DJ Con was born in Dublin, Ireland. He earned a degree in construction from BSA Australia and works as a carpenter and builder. He and his wife have one child and live on the east coast of Australia.

Go here to see the original:

How to Win in the Game of Life Presented in New Book 'Life Is a Game'

Real-life ‘Gravity’? Drama builds over spacewalks to fix space station

Cosmic Log

Alan Boyle, Science Editor NBC News

14 hours ago

NASA

NASA astronaut Rick Mastracchio checks his spacesuit in the International Space Station's Quest airlock in advance of Saturday's outing.

Imagine a movie where astronauts are one failure away from abandoning the International Space Station, and have to deal with toxic chemicals during a spacewalk while facing the risk of drowning in their spacesuits. Oh, and it's just before Christmas.

A Hollywood producer could spin the three spacewalks that NASA is planning over the coming week as a holiday-season sequel to "Gravity," if Sandra Bullock were available. It's more likely that the replacement of one of the space station's external coolant pumps will be completely routine. But NASA is taking extraordinary measures, such as providing the two spacewalkers with jury-rigged spacesuit snorkels, just in case the fix-up job really does turn into a thriller.

Several factors, including a scary spacewalk in July involving water in a spacesuit helmet, have combined to add some extra drama to the repair operation that begins Saturday.

What went wrong on the space station?

The International Space Station is a 450-ton machine that puts out a lot of heat, and there's a complex cooling system that keeps all of the electronics aboard (not to mention the six-person crew) at their proper operating temperature. Two external ammonia-cooled plumbing loops draw the heat away from the internal water-cooled loops and radiate it out into space. Last week, one of the valves in a pump for one of the ammonia loops malfunctioned, and that caused the loop to go offline.

View original post here:

Real-life 'Gravity'? Drama builds over spacewalks to fix space station