Health news blog

A. L-AsparaginaseL-Asparaginase can result in fatty metamorphosis.Liver enzyme abnormalities may be reversible while continuing therapy.Stop therapy for grade 3 or greater liver toxicity; resume at grade 2.B. 6-Mercaptopurine and 6-Thioguanine6-Mercaptopurine (6-MP) or 6-thioguanine (6-TG) can resultin cholestasis.Stop if toxicity is grade 3 or greater.Rule out viral hepatitis, Gilbert disease, or tumor effect.If drugs are the cause of liver toxicity, restart at 50% dose when the toxicity decreases to grade 2.If grade 3 or greater toxicity persists, it may be necessary to perform a liver biopsy to determine the histologic extent of the disease and whether 6-MP/6-TG can be restarted.C. MethotrexateMethotrexate can result in fibrosis and cirrhosis.1. There does not appear to be a need to modify the dosage in patients with preexisting liver damage, other than to consider whether the patient can tolerate the potential additional hepatic dysfunction induced by methotrexate.Stop if toxicity is grade 3 or greater.Rule out viral hepatitis, Gilbert disease, or drug effect.If the drug is the cause of liver toxicity, restart at 50% dose when toxicity decreases to grade 2.If grade 3 or greater toxicity persists, it may be necessary to perform a liver biopsy to determine the histologic extent of the disease and whether methotrexate can be restarted.D. Carmustine and lomustineBCNU and CCNU can result in increased liver enzymes.Stop if toxicity is grade 3 or greater.Rule out viral hepatitis or tumor effect.If drugs are the cause, restart at 50% dose when the toxicity decreases to grade 1.If grade 3 or greater toxicity persists, it may be necessary to perform a liver biopsy to determine the histologic extent of the disease and whether BCNU/CCNU can be restarted.*37\168\2*

The specific goals of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy in the treatment of binge-eating disorder are to:• Normalize your eating schedule• Increase your awareness of what and why you are eating• Train you to eat “forbidden” foods occasionally and in moderation• Break your pattern of all-or-nothing, perfectionistic thinking in relation to food• Improve your self-esteem and body image• Develop alternative ways to deal with emotional distressI have been studying the problems of obesity and binge eating for almost 25 years. In that time, I have found that the most efficient way to accomplish the goals of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy is through a concept known as Mindful Eating. Before we begin your treatment program, I will explain how mindful eating can help you change your eating patterns forever.*62\358\8*

Few of us have escaped the nagging headache that can accompany a cold or other infection. Headache is only one of the uncomfortable symptoms associated with infections, but head pain may be so severe that medical attention for the headache itself becomes necessary.     The exact mechanism by which an infection throughout the body and the accompanying fever cause headache is not fully understood. It is likely that the head pain is due to either or both the inflammation of sensitive structures or the dilation of the blood vessels that invariably occurs when the body temperature goes up.     Blood vessel dilation develops automatically during fever and is nature’s way of cooling the body by transferring some blood from internal regions to the skin, where it is exposed to air and thus cooled. The headache due to fever may resemble migraine because both are related to blood vessel dilation. The pain is often pounding, frequently hurts behind the eyes, and is aggravated by a sudden change in position, particularly bending over.     A headache that comes as part of a generalized infection and fever may be successfully treated by reducing the fever with medications like aspirin and acetaminophen or by resorting to a variety of home remedies such as cool baths or alcohol rubs. Aspirin and acetaminophen, of course, have both pain-relieving and temperature-lowering properties. Aspirin is best in this situation, however, because it has an ability to reduce inflammation which acetaminophen lacks.
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