Hi all,
I received a request to share this interesting information about how exercise and fitness can help in overcoming the side effects of various cancer treatments and I am happy to share this with you all.
" Get Up and Get Moving
The American Cancer Society has researched the benefits of exercise as it applies to cancer and the results are amazing. Before a person even receives a diagnosis of a cancer, he can exercise to prevent cancer. The American Cancer Society states that a mere 150 minutes per week of moderate exercise can significantly reduce a person’s chances of cancer over the course of his lifetime. In addition, those that already have cancer and are going through various forms of cancer treatment, including some rare ones, can also significantly reduce the intensity of treatment side effects, improve overall health, improve their mood and improve their quality of life.
The benefits of exercise are for everyone; not just those with cancer. However, in recent years, doctors have taken to recommending cancer patients and survivors to get up and get active as much as possible. In the past, doctors told their cancer patients and survivors to rest up as much as possible. Exercise’s biggest benefit is that it can improve a person’s immune system. This occurs because the immune system is the part of the body that works to fight disease, illness and sickness. It is common knowledge that those who exercise regularly are sick less often and that is because the hormones produced through exercise strengthen a person’s immune system.
Cancer is a stressful situation, and stress produces hormones that suppress the immune system; exercise can diminish the bad hormones and multiply the good ones to improve a person’s health. Additionally, exercise is good for every part of the body, both inside and out. A person will increase health and look and feel better when they exercise regularly.
What is perhaps the most important aspect of overcoming cancer and living, as a cancer survivor, is quality of life. A person with a good quality of life has a better chance of overcoming cancer and living cancer free than one that does not have a good quality of life. This is achieved through exercise. Because exercise is a feel good activity in every possible sense, a person that exercises is going to have a better quality of life. Exercise promotes a better mood, which promotes happiness, which promotes confidence, which inspires a better quality of life.
Look better, feel better and live better; that is what exercise makes everyone feel, whether or not that person is undergoing cancer treatments or is a survivor of cancer. Exercise is vital to quality of life and 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week is nothing. That is just over 21 minutes per day of walking, swimming, running, cardio or even yoga. Get up and get moving; it is going to benefit everyone, cancer patient and survivors alike."
- by Mr. David Haas, An advocate of cancer patients and an avid researcher on cancer and fitness.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Homeostasis (Physiology Lecture)
Homeostasis, according to Dr Vivek is, “why things happen in a certain manner”. He begins with reminding us that the function of any organ, be it the kidney, liver or the lung, is at the CELL level. The fluid inside these cells are called “Intracellular Fluid (ICF).
As shown in the above diagram, all cells are surrounded by these Extra-Cellular Fluids. They are bathed by ECF, they survive, live in this fluid. Hence these fluids are its environment!
Milieu Interior: (Milieu- Etymology- Mi = Middle (medius-Latin), Lieu = place) Its outside the cell but inside the body, hence it’s the internal environment for these cell, hence it’s called Milieu Interior. The properties of these fluids needs to be constant/stable, The Na level, K+ level, pH level, temperature, the acid-base balance, these are all the constituents of the ECF. The cell survives to its fullest only if all these parameters or constituents of the ECF is kept constant. Maintaining the consistency of the internal environment is called Homeostasis. (Etymology- Gk. stasis "a standing still," related to statos "placed," verbal adj. of histemi "cause to stand," from PIE base *sta- "to stand". sis-suffix in Gk. nouns denoting action, process, state, condition, from Gk. -sis, which is identical in meaning with L. -entia, Eng. -ing.)
Dr Vivek then went on to describe various systems, its function and importance. Interesting things that I now remember is that among systems like skeletal, reproductive, digestive etc., the regulatory systems are Nervous system and Endocrine system. Nervous systems have instantaneous messengers while endocrine system is slower. He gave the example of the thyroid hormones which starts secretion 24-48 hours after receiving the go ahead! He added that hormones are mainly created in ductless organs and secretion of such glands come directly into the blood stream.
Other tidbits that I remember from the class are, Digestion is simplification of complex food so that the nutrition can be absorbed. 99% of the mechanism or function of the body are based on negative feedback. The CO2 is released by each cells is transported to the heart which then send it to the lungs and its then expelled out. Skeletal system is used by the body to transfer itself to a congenial environment (if it’s too hot or cold), it allows to move towards food/water.
As shown in the above diagram, all cells are surrounded by these Extra-Cellular Fluids. They are bathed by ECF, they survive, live in this fluid. Hence these fluids are its environment!
Milieu Interior: (Milieu- Etymology- Mi = Middle (medius-Latin), Lieu = place) Its outside the cell but inside the body, hence it’s the internal environment for these cell, hence it’s called Milieu Interior. The properties of these fluids needs to be constant/stable, The Na level, K+ level, pH level, temperature, the acid-base balance, these are all the constituents of the ECF. The cell survives to its fullest only if all these parameters or constituents of the ECF is kept constant. Maintaining the consistency of the internal environment is called Homeostasis. (Etymology- Gk. stasis "a standing still," related to statos "placed," verbal adj. of histemi "cause to stand," from PIE base *sta- "to stand". sis-suffix in Gk. nouns denoting action, process, state, condition, from Gk. -sis, which is identical in meaning with L. -entia, Eng. -ing.)
Dr Vivek then went on to describe various systems, its function and importance. Interesting things that I now remember is that among systems like skeletal, reproductive, digestive etc., the regulatory systems are Nervous system and Endocrine system. Nervous systems have instantaneous messengers while endocrine system is slower. He gave the example of the thyroid hormones which starts secretion 24-48 hours after receiving the go ahead! He added that hormones are mainly created in ductless organs and secretion of such glands come directly into the blood stream.
Other tidbits that I remember from the class are, Digestion is simplification of complex food so that the nutrition can be absorbed. 99% of the mechanism or function of the body are based on negative feedback. The CO2 is released by each cells is transported to the heart which then send it to the lungs and its then expelled out. Skeletal system is used by the body to transfer itself to a congenial environment (if it’s too hot or cold), it allows to move towards food/water.
Monday, September 5, 2011
First day: Baby goes to school
Teacher started with the syllabus for the semester. Fantastic teacher doing her Ph.D. Mrs Deepali! Done her 3 years MSc from Solapur . She adds that guys don’t do that particular coarse because of its duration.
She started with very basic like Atoms, elements, moving on to measurement, I will be posting only the things I found new or interesting.
pH value: Normal blood pH is between 7.35 to 7.45. Water is at 7 (neutral), below that gets acidic and above Alkaline. pH is defined as the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration. I couldn’t understand so told her that any solvent would not contain ANY free ions. It should be all neutral. She took the example of H20 (water). She said it is H+ and OH- and added that it will need an hour’s explanation kept for future. I also couldn’t understand why water has a pH of 7 when it is neutral. I think the answer is it’s just a nomenclature. When the blood pH goes below 7.4 it is called Alkalosis and over it is Acidosis.
Enzymes are catalysts. I asked if hormones are enzymes. She said hormones are just the messenger. They will ask the organs to secrete enzymes. She said enzymes are very important and hence Vitamins are important. I couldn’t understand the link so I asked. She said Vitamins stick with enzymes and are actually co-enzymes.
For example if AH2 is oxidized to form H2, then an enzyme and a co-enzyme is needed for the reaction. The co-enzyme is nothing but a Vitamin, in this case “FAD”. It forms FADH2. This FADH2 is used by ETC electron Transport Chain. Somewhere along the line which I forgot (how much can one learn in one day!) that two Hydrogen atoms are released back in the form of two protons and two electrons. The electron move in the ETC of the IMM (inner microbial membrane) this movement allows the creation of three channels from which protons move out. The center part contains a bunch of protons surrounded by an impermeable membrane. The electrons move around and are later joined by the protons (from the pair of Hydrogen atom: two electron and proton)
FAD stands for flavin adenine dinucleotide and is the co-enzyme. FAD stands for flavin adenine dinucleotide and is the co-enzyme (I forgot the name of the Enzyme). Nothing much was talked about FAD except that it came from the Vitamin Niacin (in that particular flowchart). I asked if that is the Vitamin in rice, she replied saying that was Thiamine and not Niacin (I wonder if Niacin is in Aspirin or the cholesterol reducing medication).
After oxidation the H2 atoms generated are split into 2 protons and 2 electrons. The 2 protons go right inside the impermeable membrane while the electron move outwards joining later with the protons and oxygen to form water (bio water? Water made by our body). I asked if this water is used as sweat. She said not always. The movements of the electrons open three channels through which the protons move out. To maintain equilibrium the protons need to be put back in. This is done with forcefully and is called PMF proton motive force!
The topic in syllabus was how the body maintains its blood pH value near 7. She said that for example in a diabetic patient, I interrupted saying the glucose level in the blood increases. She said we are not talking about glucose level. I said “Insulin?” She then explain how insulin opens the channel to allow glucose in. When in starvation, there is no glucose hence fat is converted into glucose. I asked which channel open/which hormone is needed for the fat channel to open. She answered that the cell membranes allow the oil/fat without the need of any such “channels”/triggers (passive transfer). I asked is it like leather allowing “oil” (I should have said water but she got the jest). Things become hazy here maybe because its time to sleep so I will just scribble. Glucose produced by the body using its own protein (eating itself) is used only for life saving organs like Brain (or heart?). A byproduct of this metabolism is extra ions(?). I said if that is why Anna’s ketones level increased. She exclaimed "YES"! I asked if it was possible to keep the glucose level so high if he was starving for so many days. There is some khichadi which I don’t want to dig too deep because as the teacher also said it was for a good cause ;) Somethings are better left unsaid.
She started with very basic like Atoms, elements, moving on to measurement, I will be posting only the things I found new or interesting.
pH value: Normal blood pH is between 7.35 to 7.45. Water is at 7 (neutral), below that gets acidic and above Alkaline. pH is defined as the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration. I couldn’t understand so told her that any solvent would not contain ANY free ions. It should be all neutral. She took the example of H20 (water). She said it is H+ and OH- and added that it will need an hour’s explanation kept for future. I also couldn’t understand why water has a pH of 7 when it is neutral. I think the answer is it’s just a nomenclature. When the blood pH goes below 7.4 it is called Alkalosis and over it is Acidosis.
Enzymes are catalysts. I asked if hormones are enzymes. She said hormones are just the messenger. They will ask the organs to secrete enzymes. She said enzymes are very important and hence Vitamins are important. I couldn’t understand the link so I asked. She said Vitamins stick with enzymes and are actually co-enzymes.
For example if AH2 is oxidized to form H2, then an enzyme and a co-enzyme is needed for the reaction. The co-enzyme is nothing but a Vitamin, in this case “FAD”. It forms FADH2. This FADH2 is used by ETC electron Transport Chain. Somewhere along the line which I forgot (how much can one learn in one day!) that two Hydrogen atoms are released back in the form of two protons and two electrons. The electron move in the ETC of the IMM (inner microbial membrane) this movement allows the creation of three channels from which protons move out. The center part contains a bunch of protons surrounded by an impermeable membrane. The electrons move around and are later joined by the protons (from the pair of Hydrogen atom: two electron and proton)
FAD stands for flavin adenine dinucleotide and is the co-enzyme. FAD stands for flavin adenine dinucleotide and is the co-enzyme (I forgot the name of the Enzyme). Nothing much was talked about FAD except that it came from the Vitamin Niacin (in that particular flowchart). I asked if that is the Vitamin in rice, she replied saying that was Thiamine and not Niacin (I wonder if Niacin is in Aspirin or the cholesterol reducing medication).
After oxidation the H2 atoms generated are split into 2 protons and 2 electrons. The 2 protons go right inside the impermeable membrane while the electron move outwards joining later with the protons and oxygen to form water (bio water? Water made by our body). I asked if this water is used as sweat. She said not always. The movements of the electrons open three channels through which the protons move out. To maintain equilibrium the protons need to be put back in. This is done with forcefully and is called PMF proton motive force!
The topic in syllabus was how the body maintains its blood pH value near 7. She said that for example in a diabetic patient, I interrupted saying the glucose level in the blood increases. She said we are not talking about glucose level. I said “Insulin?” She then explain how insulin opens the channel to allow glucose in. When in starvation, there is no glucose hence fat is converted into glucose. I asked which channel open/which hormone is needed for the fat channel to open. She answered that the cell membranes allow the oil/fat without the need of any such “channels”/triggers (passive transfer). I asked is it like leather allowing “oil” (I should have said water but she got the jest). Things become hazy here maybe because its time to sleep so I will just scribble. Glucose produced by the body using its own protein (eating itself) is used only for life saving organs like Brain (or heart?). A byproduct of this metabolism is extra ions(?). I said if that is why Anna’s ketones level increased. She exclaimed "YES"! I asked if it was possible to keep the glucose level so high if he was starving for so many days. There is some khichadi which I don’t want to dig too deep because as the teacher also said it was for a good cause ;) Somethings are better left unsaid.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Bachelor Of Exercise Science
Attended the question-answer session by Prof Peter Milburn, Head of School, Griffith University Australia. He was accompanied by Ajinkya DY Patil Chairman, DY Patil Group among others.
Points remembered-
Cerebral palsy patient undergoing surgery needs the area, muscles, size, weight to be calculated before the doctor transplants the muscle to the desired area so that the patient may function again. This requires the knowledge of the patients needs/profession/gender/age, information/strength of the muscle being used.
How to measure fatigue.
First year syllabus is same as MBBS. Students are using the books in DY Patil library. No need to purchase text books.
Exams contain objective as well as long answers.
Prof Milburn says lack of knowledge of chemistry can hamper grades.
Slide showing a picture of a student measuring temperature of the muscle of a rat (part of calculation of muscle strength)
Students don't join Griffith because its tough.
Points remembered-
Cerebral palsy patient undergoing surgery needs the area, muscles, size, weight to be calculated before the doctor transplants the muscle to the desired area so that the patient may function again. This requires the knowledge of the patients needs/profession/gender/age, information/strength of the muscle being used.
How to measure fatigue.
First year syllabus is same as MBBS. Students are using the books in DY Patil library. No need to purchase text books.
Exams contain objective as well as long answers.
Prof Milburn says lack of knowledge of chemistry can hamper grades.
Slide showing a picture of a student measuring temperature of the muscle of a rat (part of calculation of muscle strength)
Students don't join Griffith because its tough.
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