Mumps Virus belongs to the family Paramyxoviridae. Mumps is an acute syndrome which causes an abnormal enlargement of the salivary glands associated with pain. Mumps were known to be eradicated from the world until 2006, when it relapsed. It was then felt necessary to research for a laboratory test which was clinically compatible. Within the parameters of laboratory diagnosis and Mumps Virus Antibody IgM test, an antibody against mumps virus is detected. However, factors like decreased sensitivity and specificity act as limitations to the above procedure and demand additional laboratory diagnosis namely PCR in the throat, saliva or urine for the detecting viral nucleic acid. It also demands the technique of virus isolation. These laboratory tests are known to be clinically compatible.
You can talk to your doctor about it. When the doctor is affirmatively about the test, ask him about the precautions or preparations you need to make before the test. Do not forget to inform him about the present medications you are going through or about any other allergies. Since the reference scale for the Mumps Virus Antibody IgM test varies for lab to lab, your doctor might suggest you a few minor things that you are expected to take care of. It can be a slight change in your diet wherein you will be asked to consume more fluid foods and juices for a couple of days.
It checks the immunity of a person against specific viruses due to past infections. Diagnoses the present status of the patient for any prevailing mumps or even measles virus. Tracks outbreaks.
The well known and well formulated diagnosis method of Enzyme – linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) is used or applied on the blood sample. For the testing, the equipment available should be effective with almost no errors and it’s usage largely depends on the number of samples under study.
Readers should have an appropriate or accurate filter, that is, somewhere between the range of 650 nm to 450 nm. Pipettes of all types, single channel or multi – channel with adjustable or fixed volumes can be used. Washing of the plates can be manual, semi automated or fully automated. A number of reagents like sample diluents, substrate, stop solution, wash concentrate, etc. can/are used. The test sample is added to a micro title wherein it reacts with Ag or Ab. Enzyme labelled antibody is added to the reaction mixture. The substrate is then added to the antigen – antibody reaction. The enzyme, through catalysis, produces a colour which is then verified using ELISA reader.
| Type | Gender | Age-Group | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Mumps Virus Antibodies
|
Unisex
|
All age groups
|
Antibodies are not normally present
|
Most men are very careful about their penis health, and understandably so - the penis is a very sensitive organ, and the manhood a very sensitive area. Ensuring proper penis care means regular washing, using a high-end penis health crème, and checking out the skin on a regular basis to ensure nothing looks different down there. So when a man sees warts on his penis, he will likely be quite concerned, puzzled - or even terribly frightened.
That's why it is so important to understand what it means to have warts, where they come from, and what can be done about it.
Warts on the penis?
Genital warts are one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases, with over 500,000 cases each year. It travels so easily from one person to another because the virus needs only simple skin-to-skin contact. That means that even if a man uses a condom, he might receive or transmit the infection through the touching of other body parts, such as the inner thigh or buttocks.
Warts on the penis are caused by the human papilloma virus, also known as HPV. There are over 100 strains of HPV. Some people might have a virus that causes warts on the feet or hands. Those who have genital warts are usually infected by one of two strains: HPV 6 or HPV 11.
In most cases, these warts are flesh-colored, soft to the touch, and might look a bit like cauliflower. They are usually painless, but they might lead to an itchy penis. They might be here and there all over the penis, or might form one large cluster. They usually show up between six weeks and six months after infection.
What does this mean?
A man who notices warts on his penis should immediately see the doctor. It is important to remember that though the warts might be unsightly or uncomfortable, they are usually not dangerous in and of themselves. It is possible that the warts, when irritated, could lead to open sores or bleeding, and that could lead to easier transmission of disease.
The human body is very good at fighting off the HPV virus. However, some prescriptions can help lessen the look, feel and number of warts, and might encourage faster healing. Warts that don't go away on their own can be removed by freezing, burning or minor surgery.
Keep in mind that when the warts are present, it is very easy to spread them from one person to another. But it is also important to note that warts can be spread even when an active 'outbreak' is not happening. That's why it is so important to get tested for sexually transmitted diseases, understand exactly what strains of HPV are present, and share that information with all sexual partners.
Preventing warts on the penis
It is very important to maintain great penis health, and that means doing what a man can to prevent warts in the first place. A man should always use a condom when with a new sexual partner. Getting the HPV vaccine might reduce the chances of a man contracting warts. He should also not smoke, as smoking seems to increase the risk of contracting HPV, and might make wart outbreaks more frequent or harder to treat.
Finally, a man should always inspect the penis skin carefully as he applies a regular dose of penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin). Look for a crème that contains vitamin A, a known anti-bacterial agent, as well as alpha-lipoic acid, which fights against free radicals that can lead to premature aging and thinning of the skin. Great vitamins and nutrients wrapped up in a Shea butter emollient, enhanced with vitamin E, can help the skin look and feel its best.
The term infertility in females explains a wide range of disorders but in order to simplify things, lets’ just say, infertility in women is a condition in which women are unable to conceive. There are numerous reasons that can be responsible for this situation and although some are preventable or curable, most others have no specific cure or treatment.
Ovulatory Disorders
One of the most common reasons for infertility is an ovulatory disorder. Almost 30 percent of female infertility is caused due to this reason. 70 percent of such infertility is treatable with drugs such as Reprones/Menogan and Clomiphene. Here is a list of causes of failed ovulation-
Disruption in the complex hormonal balance.
Ovaries fail to produce mature eggs. Polycystic ovarian syndrome is the most common disorder causing this problem. This syndrome has reduced FSH production and increased production of LH, Oestrogen and Testosterone. Suppressed FSH production may cause the partial development of ovarian follicles.
Hypothalamus may malfunction thereby causing the pituitary to malfunction, thus losing control over the process or FSH and LH production.
Physical damage to the ovaries by multiple surgeries or due to the formation of cysts.
A rare case of premature menopause.
Problems of the follicle.
Poor functioning of fallopian tubes
Diseases or disorders in the tube have been another major reason of infertility in women. Almost 25 percent of women infertility occurs due to this reason. Although treatments exist, success rates of the treatments are as high as 30 percent. The causes of tube damage may be as follows-
Infection caused by bacteria or viruses
Abdominal diseases like colitis and appendicitis
Previous pelvic or abdominal surgeries.
A condition called ectopic pregnancy which occurs in the tube, and even if very carefully but successfully overcome, may leave permanent damage.
Rare congenital defects in which women may be born with tube anomalies.
This is the condition where the endometrium expands excessively thereby preventing individuals from getting pregnant. This affects almost 10 percent of the population of infertile women. Almost 40 percent of women with endometriosis are infertile.
Other Factors
Other additional factors may include:
Abnormal uterus
Behavioural factors like personal habits, lifestyle and health factors.
Exercise and diet- extremely overweight or underweight women may have problems in conceiving.
Cigarette smoking reduces the chances of conceiving by one-third.
Alcohol increases the chances of birth defects.
Hence, pregnancy is tougher than it might really seem. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a Gynaecologist.
Cervical cancer is a form of cancer which occurs in the cervix or the lower part of the uterus in women, which opens up into the vagina. Its different from the other cancers that occur in other parts of the uterus and has a high rate of being cured if detected early.
Causes of Cervical Cancer: Cervical cancer is usually caused when abnormal cells present in the cervix, get out of control. Usually, major cases of cervical cancer are caused by a virus known as the human papillomavirus or HPV. This virus gets transmitted from one person to another by sexual means or sexual contact. Abnormal changes in the cervix cells lead to cervical cancer. Usually, cell changes occur in the transformation zone in the cervix as the cells tend to change constantly, thereby leading to cancer.
Symptoms:
How it can be diagnosed?
A routine screening test should be undertaken to observe any abnormal cell changes in the cervix and also for the screening for cervical cancer. Taking regular Pap smear test is recommended to detect abnormal cell changes so that cervical cancer can be prevented before hand. Other diagnostic tests include, Colposcopy and cervical biopsy to determine the presence of abnormal cells in the cervix, Endocervical biopsy and Cone biopsy.
Treatment options available:
Cervical cancer can be treated when detected at an early stage. The type of treatment depends on the stage and type of cervical cancer. The most common treatment methods are as follows:
Pelvic cancer is caused by abnormal cell changes in the pelvis. It is a common kind of cancer and can cause negative effects on the health. Proper diagnosis and treatment are essential for treating pelvic cancer. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a gynaecologist.
Oral cancer (OC) occurs when DNA mutations develop in the cells lining the lips and the mouth cavity. It commonly affects the tongue, floor of mouth, buccal mucosa, lips, palate, gum etc all. Mostly, oral cancers are squamous cell carcinomas that begin in the squamous cells lining the lips and the inside of mouth.
Type: of oral cancer are as enumerated below -
Squamous cell carcinoma: is the most common, as described above.
Adenocarcinoma: affects the salivary glands.
Lymphoma: affects the tissues of the tonsil(s) or those involving the lymphatic system.
Melanoma: may affect the mucous tissues of the oral cavity.
Gender: affects the male populace predominantly. But, it can affect both male and female. It’s the commonest cancer in India currently, and accounts for a significant percentage of the total cancer mortality.
Etiology: consumption of “khaini” (tobacco & lime mix), betel nut, areca nut, slaked lime, chronic irritation due to irregular teeth, smoking, alcohol consumption, oral infection with Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) / Human Papilloma virus (HPV), nutritional deficiencies, chronic infections & poor dental/ oral hygiene are the common risk factors that can trigger oral carcinogenesis. It is noteworthy that the local effects of tobacco and alcohol are both dose-dependent and synergistic.
Features: the various presentations (of signs & symptoms) of Oral cancer are as given below –
Cheek cancer - hard and painless thickening, with an ulcer sometimes that does not heal for weeks together.
Lip cancer - white patch on the inner lining of the lip on which a hard mass slowly develops.
Palate cancer- persistent sore on the hard palate that may ulcerate.
Throat cancer - difficulty swallowing, sore throat, voice changes, feeling of hard lump in the throat.
Tongue cancer - ulcer on the side of the tongue that bleeds occasionally and does not heal.
Gum cancer and cancer of the minor salivary glands - loose teeth, bad breath and sensory loss of the feelings in the face
Screening: is generally recommended for asymptomatic populations goal of which, as usual, is to be able to detect & diagnose oral cancer at an early stage which is potentially curable. Visual screening by healthcare personnel including dentists, general practitioners, oncologists, surgeons etc all is crucial to detect not only early asymptomatic oral cancers but also the oral pre-cancerous lesions including oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF), oral leukoplakia, erythroplakia et al which carry a high risk of malignant transformation to in-situ and invasive cancers.
Diagnosis: a complete physical exam of the local parts basis the features mentioned above arouses suspicion that prompts diagnosis -
Biopsy (punch or removal of mass of tissue (excision) for cytology) clinches the diagnosis of oral cancer. Should there be a neck mass that arises suspicion of a regional metastatic disease, a fine needle biopsy (FNB) can be attempted.
Initial staging workup includes CT, MRI scans etc all. PET CT scan though frequently employed, is not usually used for the initial workup.
A triple endoscopy that includes laryngoscopy, esophagoscopy and bronchoscopy can help definitive staging of the disease. Biopsies obtained during this procedure help confirm the primary diagnosis, define the extent to which the primary site disease has spread, and identify additional pre-malignant lesions and metastasis, if any.
Treatment / Prognosis: preventive measures, earlier diagnosis and right early treatment is key for better prognostication and efficient/ effective therapeutic management of oral cancer. Conventional treatment includes surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy as deems appropriate. Simultaneously, an adjunctive or integrative naturopathic treatment with suitable complementary & alternative medicines (CAM) too can help improve clinical endpoints and facilitate recovery as would be feasible contextually. As seen with other cancers, the site, stage, histopathological grading etc all determine the treatment outlook. The number of micronucleated oral mucosal cells can be a useful biomarker for predicting course of oral pre-cancerous lesions and prognosis thereof.
Prevention: rightly said, prevention is always a better choice. Although genetic risks are difficult to modify, still an increased focus on protective factors and avoidance of the risk factors can be of help. Especially, abstaining from use of tobacco/ products, alcohol, regularly maintaining oral health and hygiene and daily intake of fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables can help prevent a vast majority of oral cancers. Also, timely screening/ detection of the pre-cancerous lesions of the oral cavity and prompt treatment thereof is crucial to preventing a malignant transformation of the same. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can ask a free question.
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