Hemophilia is a disease of inheritance. Therefore genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis are important measures to help people.

Genetic counseling helps people with hemophilia, carriers, and their families make more informed choices about having children where there is a possibility of having a child with hemophilia. It includes a wide range of tests for diagnostic and carrier detection, as well as individual counseling.

Prenatal diagnosis is usually offered when termination of the pregnancy would be considered if an affected fetus was identified. However, it may also be done for helping the family to be prepared and for planning delivery. Assisted delivery is best avoided if the fetus has hemophilia.

Prenatal diagnosis is done by following tests

Chorionic villous sampling

Chorionic Villous Sampling or biopsy, is the main method of prenatal diagnosis and can be done earliest at 10-11 weeks of gestation. It is avoided before this period as it may cause with fetal limb abnormalities.

Amniocentesis is another procedure can be done at 12-15 of weeks of gestation and involves withdrawal of amniotic fluid.

All invasive methods used for prenatal diagnosis may cause feto-maternal hemorrhage, and anti-D immunoglobulin should be given if the mother is Rh D negative.

These procedures are carried out early in a pregnancy before the factor VIII level has risen significantly, hemostatic support may be required to prevent maternal bleeding, if the maternal levels are below 50%.

Prophylactic administration of clotting factor concentrates is advised before  activities with higher risk of injury. This is done to prevent bleeding.

Prophylaxis has been shown to decrease joint bleeding with preservation of joint function and improve quality of life.

25-40 IU/kg of clotting factor concentrates three times a week for those with hemophilia A and twice a week for those with hemophilia B is the mostly used prophylaxis. However, it should be recognized that many different protocols are followed for prophylaxis, even within the same country, and the optimal regimen remains to be defined.
In young children the insertion of a venous access device may kept over a period. In such cases where devices are kept, they must be kept clean.

While conducting a study on 1800 men for homosexual HIV transmission, the researchers have found that overall, the risk of contracting HIV did not significantly differ between circumcised and uncircumcised men.

The study has been published in the  online in  AIDS in November..

The researchers hinted that circumcision could be protective among men who primarily had insertive sex with other men.

Therefore, the authors suggest reinforcement of  the importance of condom use for HIV prevention.

Previous trials show that circumcision can  risk of HIV infection through heterosexual sex can be reduced up to 60% by circumcision.

Currently, the WHO recommends circumcision to lower men’s risk of HIV in countries where heterosexual transmission is common.

Circumcision is thought to lower the heterosexual transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. One reason circumcision might have little effect on homosexual HIV transmission is no impact on the risk from receptive anal sex.

AIDS. Posted online November 19, 2010. Abstract

Do you know the Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) and School of Montpellier financed experts indicated that regulating ‘good’ and ‘bad’ levels of cholesterol can help prevent mood problems among seniors?

In a newly released issue of the journal Biological Psychiatry (http://www.biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com) written in July 2010, leading researcher Dr. Marie-Laure Ancelin of INSERM (Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale http://www.inserm.fr) announced that gender specific regulation of cholesterol levels can help stop depressive disorder in the aging seniors.

French scientists observed a large number of men and women aged sixty five and older for 7 years.

They identified that depressive disorder in women was connected with lower levels of “good” high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), which puts them at higher risk for coronary disease, including stroke.

On the other hand, depression in men was related to low levels of “bad” low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). This association was strongest in men with a genetic vulnerability to depression related to a serotonin transporter gene.

Therefore, proper regulation of HDL-C and LDL-C levels can help reduce depressive disorder in the elderly, the researchers concluded.

The research appeared in the July 15 issue of the journal Biological Psychiatry (Reference:  http://www.biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com/article/S0006-3223(10)00393-8/abstract).

Major nutritional sources of cholesterol include dairy products, egg yolks, meat, pork, chicken, and shrimp. Plant products such as flax seeds and peanuts include cholesterol-like compounds known as phytosterols.

Total cholesterol means the sum of HDL (High-density lipoprotein), LDL (Low-density lipoprotein), and VLDL (Very-low-density lipoprotein). Usually, only the total, HDL, and triglycerides are tested.

Experts recommend to have cholesterol tested more often than five years if a person has total cholesterol of 200 mg/dL or more, or if a man over age 45 or a woman over age fifty has HDL (good) cholesterol less than 40 mg/dL, or exist other risk components for cardiovascular disease and stroke.

So…exactly what can you do to increase your HDL (good) and decrease your LDL (bad) levels?

1. Physical exercise can substantially increase HDL cholesterol while lowering LDL cholesterol.
2. Smoking cigarettes has been shown to lower HDL while raising LDL cholesterol.
3. Highly processed, trans fats at the same time raise LDL cholesterol and lower HDL cholesterol.
4. Monounsaturated fats such as those found in organic olive oil and avocados increase HDL and lower LDL.
5. Fatty fish like sardines and salmon contain omega-3 fats that raise HDL and lower LDL.
6. Whole, intact grains contain dietary fiber and niacin, both of which raise HDL and may lower LDL.

Now it’s all to you…

The author – Betty Doyle shares knowledge for the depression pills .org blog. It’s a nonprofit site specialized in her personal depression journey. The blog focuses on presenting energy and hope to anyone who is suffering from depressive disorder and supports those individuals to find the energy to fight against the effects of depression.
By doing this she would like to support alleviate some of the stigma mental illness depression can cause and help the public perception of mood difficulties.

Snoring is the vibration of respiratory structures and the resulting sound, due to obstructed air movement during breathing while sleeping. In some cases the sound may be soft, but in other cases, it can be rather loud and quite unpleasant. The structures are usually the uvula and soft palate. The irregular airflow is caused by a blockage and usually due to one of the following:

• Throat weakness, causing the throat to close during sleep
• Mispositioned jaw, often caused by tension in the muscles
• Fat gathering in and around the throat
• Obstruction in the nasal passageway

Snoring is a serious medical condition and in some cases can even lead to high blood pressure, diabetes and heart problems.

If a person snores then he/she should get themselves screened at a sleep medicine clinic as in the long run it could result in high blood pressure, diabetes and heart problems.

Sleep Apnea is dangerous consequence of ignoring a snoring problem. In this, patients don’t breathe for more than 10 seconds due to obstructed airway. As a result, they have disturbed sleep at night and make up for it by sleeping in the day.

Experts say this can be dangerous as people can suddenly fall asleep while driving.

Doctors say it is important to diagnose this problem in the initial stages as it can be cured.

There is more to fitness than well-toned muscles. While there are plenty of exercise regimes for body, only few cater to mind as well.

You can improve your mind-body connection for better mind and body fitness.

Therefore, it is important to choose realistic fitness options.

High levels of stress has been linked to abnormalities of health in terms of weight gain and other emotional reactions harming the body. Any activity that trains the body and relaxes the mind would help you to live a better and healthier life.

First of all it is important to realize that an exercise that suits your needs and goals better are better for your mind too. Do an exercise that you would enjoy and your mind body connection would be greatly enhanced.

A routine that is pleasurable is more likely to provide the long-term gains you are seeking.

An exercise should not become a burden but rather an enjoyble activity. You must squeeze time for exercise but should not cut down on your daily important chores. Rather you could take time out of rather unimportant wasteful activities like watching TV, sitting idly etc.

If you like going to gym, go for it but if you like working alone then rather stay at home. Whatever you choose, your mental harmony is maintained.

Follow your inner voice in choosing your exercise plan and schedule and be realistic about how to proceed.

Fitness of mind and body belong together, and that exercise as concept concentrates only on body. But if you plan your activity with mind in consideration too, you would be immensely benefited.