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Query: UMLS:C0009443 (cold)
 92,137 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Vaccination is the primary measure for preventing morbidity and mortality from influenza. During the influenza season, family physicians must distinguish influenza from the common cold and other flu-like illnesses. Signs and symptoms of influenza include abrupt onset of fever, severe myalgias, anorexia, sore throat, headache, cough, and malaise. Clinical diagnosis can be difficult or nonspecific when patients have other symptoms (e.g., stuffy nose, sneezing, cough, sore throat) that can be caused by various respiratory viruses or bacterial pathogens. Family physicians can improve diagnostic accuracy by being aware of the epidemiology of influenza. During outbreaks of influenza, commercially available rapid assays can be used to identify type A and B viruses. On average, rapid in-office tests are more than 70 percent sensitive and 90 percent specific for viral antigens. The assays vary in complexity, specificity, sensitivity, time to obtain results, specimen analyzed, and cost. The results of rapid viral tests can guide treatment decisions.
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PMID:An office-based approach to influenza: clinical diagnosis and laboratory testing. 1253 74

Peppermint plants have been used as a herbal medicine for many conditions, including loss of appetite, common cold, bronchitis, sinusitis, fever, nausea, vomiting and indigestion. This study is aimed at investigating the biochemical and histological effects of Mentha piperita L., growing in the Yenisar Bademli town of Isparta City, and Mentha spicata L., growing on the Anamas high plateau of Isparta City, on rat kidney tissue. Forty-eight male Wistar albino rats weighing 200-250 g were used for this study. Animals were divided into four experimental groups, each with 12 rats, as follows: control group (group I); 20 g/L M. piperita tea (group II); 20 g/L M. spicata tea (group III); 40 g/L M. spicata tea (group IV). The control group rats were given commercial drinking water (Hayat DANONESA water). The tea for the other groups was prepared daily and provided at all times to the rats during 30 days as drinking water. Plasma urea and creatinine levels were determined, and the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were studied in the homogenates of kidney tissue. The levels of plasma urea and creatinine were increased significantly (P < 0.0033) in groups III and IV when compared with group I. The activities of SOD and GSH-Px were decreased significantly (P < 0.0033) in group IV when compared with group I. The activities of CAT were decreased significantly in groups III and IV (P < 0.033, P < 0.0033, respectively) when compared with group I. TBARS levels were increased significantly (P < 0.0033) in groups III and IV when compared with group I. In groups II, III and IV, hydropic degeneration of tubular epithelial cells, the epithelial cells with picnotic nuclei and eosinophilic cytoplasm, tubular dilatation and enlargements in Bowman capsules were observed histologically. However, in group II histopathological changes were more slight than in groups III and IV. In group IV, in addition to these changes, extremely hydropic degeneration of tubular epithelial cells, some atrophic tubules and glomerules, and focal mononuclear cell infiltrations in the kidney tissues of the rats were observed. In conclusion, the results indicate that M. piperita does not show nephrotoxicity but M. spicata presents markedly nephrotoxic changes in rats.
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PMID:Investigation of biochemical and histopathological effects of Mentha piperita L. and Mentha spicata L. on kidney tissue in rats. 1275 72

The plant Mentha piperita, or peppermint, is commonly used in the treatment of loss of appetite, common cold, bronchitis, sinusitis, fever, nausea and vomiting, and indigestion as a herbal agent. In this study, we aimed to investigate biochemical and histological effects of M. piperita Labiatae, growing in the Yenisar Bademli town of Isparta city, and Mentha spicata Labiatae, growing in the Anamas high plateau of the Yenisar Bademli town, on the rat liver tissue. Forty-eight male Wistar albino rats weighing 200-250 g were used for this study. Rats were divided into four groups of 12 animals: Group I received no herbal tea (control group); Group II received 20 g/L M. piperita tea; Group III received 20 g/L M. spicata tea; and Group IV received 40 g/L M. spicata tea. Herbal teas were prepared daily and provided at all times to the rats during 30 days as drinking water. Liver function tests, including aspartate aminotransferase (AST/GOT) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT/GPT) activities were measured. To evaluate liver antioxidant defences, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) activities were determined in the homogenates of liver tissue. In addition, liver tissues were submitted for histopathologic examination. AST and ALT activities were increased in Group II, Group III and Group IV gradually when compared with the control group. The difference between Group II and the control group was not statistically significant (P > 0.016). Increases in AST and ALT activities of Group III and Group IV were statistically significant when compared with the control group. SOD, GSH-Px and CAT activities were increased in Group II when compared with the control group but the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.016). However, SOD, GSH-Px activities and the TBARS level were significantly increased, and CAT activity was significantly decreased in Group III when compared with the control group. In Group IV, while SOD, GSH-Px and CAT activities were decreased, the TBARS level was increased as compared with the control group (P < 0.0016). Histopathological evaluation of experimental groups revealed a mild to severe degree of hepatic damage when compared to the control group. In Group II, there was only minimal hepatocytes degeneration. In Groups III and IV, there were granular or ballooning hepatocyte degeneration and necrosis, sinusoidal and central vein dilatation. It was concluded that lipid peroxidation and hepatic damage occurs after M. piperita and M. spicata administration in rat liver and the damage seems to be dose dependent.
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PMID:Investigation of biochemical and histopathological effects of Mentha piperita Labiatae and Mentha spicata Labiatae on liver tissue in rats. 1502 12

Anaemia is highly prevalent in patients with cancer, and its incidence and severity depend on many factors, such as type of anti-cancer therapy. The decreased oxygen capacity of blood resulting from anaemia affects virtually every organ and tissue system in the body, manifesting in numerous signs and symptoms that include fatigue, dyspnoea, palpitations, tachycardia, asthenia, anorexia, cold hypersensitivity and general weakness. Anaemia related to cancer may also cause cognitive dysfunction, leading to decreased mental alertness, poor concentration and memory problems. There is a close association between anaemia and overall quality of life (QoL) variables, and anaemia is an adverse prognostic factor in patients with cancer. Since anaemia can seriously compromise the QoL of cancer patients and is associated with decreased overall survival time, there is a strong need for effective and well-tolerated treatment strategies. Erythropoietic agents have been proven to be safe, well-tolerated and effective in the management of anaemia in patients with cancer. Epoetin therapy reduces transfusion requirements and increases haemoglobin levels in patients with solid tumours and haematological malignancies.
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PMID:The burden of anaemia in patients with cancer. 1548 59

A 69-year-old woman caught a cold resulting in nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and severe anorexia. Then she suffered progressively from dyspnea and leg edema, and finally became delirious. On admission severe hypoglycemia, hypothermia, marked tachycardia, generalized edema, mild jaundice and cachexy were noted. EKG showed atrial fibrillation. A chest X-ray, chest CT and echocardiography showed congestive heart failure. Therapeutic use of diuretics induced shock leading to serious liver dysfunction and disseminated intravascular coagulation. However, combined therapy by intravenous glucose, digitalis, diuretics, anti-fibrinolytic drug and hydrocortisone were effective. Addition of antithyroid therapy brought a further favorable outcome.
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PMID:Severe starvation hypoglycemia and congestive heart failure induced by thyroid crisis, with accidentally induced severe liver dysfunction and disseminated intravascular coagulation. 1580 13

Anorexic and bulimic patients have a highly distorted relationship with food and eating, even though they tend to be knowledgeable about diet and nutrition. The progress of this disease, as well as its complications and associated difficulties, are increasingly understood, while the etiopathogeny of eating disorders remains obscure. The approach that we are proposing involves the study of one of the most fundamental cognitive functions of human reasoning--the cognitive process of categorization. The purpose of this study is to understand the procedures used by these patients to construct representations of food. Categorization, one of the basic features of human cognition, allows individuals to organize their subjective experience of the surrounding environment by structuring its contents. This ability to group different objects into the same category based on their common characteristics is important for explaining the major cognitive activities of planning, memorization, communication and perception. Indeed, our categories reflect our conceptions of the world. They depend on our experiences and representations, as well as the expertise acquired in a specific field. The differences that appear in the categories created by subjects when they are asked to classify objects reveal the properties that are most salient to them and, as a result, the interests, values and ideas associated with these properties. There are three types of properties: perceptive properties, which describe the object's shape, color, odor and texture; structural properties, which relate to the object's components; and functional properties, which specify the way in which the object is used and provide an answer to the question, "What is it used for?". Subjects attribute these functional properties by means of knowledge or inference according to their representation of the object's role; such properties are especially likely to emerge during top-down (theory-driven) processing. The type of processing used (bottom-up or top-down) is dependent on a certain number of factors. We hypothesize, within the context of food product categorization, that patients suffering from eating disorders largely resort to processing based on acquired information or beliefs about the objects, i.e. top-down processing. We present two studies: a naturalistic and exploratory pilot study whose goal is to identify whether the various categorization processes used by eating disorder patients differ from those employed by subjects not suffering from an eating disorder. A second study aims to identify the different categorization procedures. During the first experiment, 68 women (17 control subjects, 17 anorexics, 17 anorexic bulimics and 17 bulimics) aged 18-39 (average age: 26.6) verbalize all representations that come to mind during a limited time period as the name of a food item is read. Eighty-nine food items are presented in alphabetical order. The list is read out loud and all comments are recorded. The data is processed in three ways : an analysis based on the positive or negative valence of each representation, an analysis based on each categories of food and an analysis of representations based on themes expressed. The three analyses (valence, categories of food and theme assigned to the representations) show differences between the representations of the four experimental groups. In fact, the anorexics and anorexic bulimics mainly express strongly negative representations about food, whereas bulimics and control produce representations whose positive and negative valences balances. These negative cognitions concern mainly meat for the control subjects and cakes for the subjects reached of TCA. Concerning theme assigned to the representations, the control subjects produce mainly cognitions relating to the hedonism, the flavor of food and their purpose on health. The anorexics and anorexics-bulimics evoke mainly the fat and sugar content of the foods. The bulimics evoke mainly cognitions relating to the effect on health and the intestinal transit time of food. These results lead one to believe that it is not the bulimic binging and purging of these patients, but rather their restrictive behavior that is the determining factor in the differences in food representations observed between the two experimental groups. During the second experiment, 60 women (15 controls, 15 anorexics, 15 anorexic bulimics and 15 bulimics) aged 18-32 (average age: 25.6) classified 27 food names according to their similarities and differences, and then explained the reasons for their categorizations. The data were analyzed in terms of similarity/difference, and the verbalizations were analyzed by content. The results indicate that 10 of the 27 foods were categorized differently by the controls and the subjects with eating disorders. Subjects classified the following foods: camembert cheese, cold cuts, cheese spread, fruit in syrup, whole milk, mayonnaise, bread, fresh fish, potatoes and plain yogurt. Bulimics and controls use similar classifications for food names, while anorexics and atypical bulimics classify foods in a similar way. Examining the categorization criteria used during verbalizations allows us to better understand these differences. The control group's major criterion seems to be the succession of dishes. These subjects group into separate categories entry foods (beef, eggs, fish, etc.), vegetables, cheese or dairy foods, and finally desserts. Additional foods, like bread and mayonnaise, belong to the same category. Other categories are nutritional criteria (for example, dairy products contain calcium) and biological criteria (for example, bananas and apples are fruits). These categorization criteria include structural properties (which describe what the object is made of) and functional, "academic" properties, those which describe how foods are used, "as in cookbooks or diet books." On the other hand, the categorization criteria expressed by anorexic patients are very different from those used by control subjects: foods that are hard to eliminate, rich, high-fat and therefore indigestible are considered to be similar. Some examples are cold cuts, potatoes, mayonnaise and prepared desserts. A second categorization criterion involves the concept of natural foods : certain foods "are unhealthy because they're processed, so they're bad for you"--one such example is cheese spread. A third criterion concerns the notion of familiar foods: poultry and eggs, for example, are "familiar to us." We are clearly seeing here the importance of functional properties in the categorization of food names: certain foods are indigestible, hard to eliminate, cause heartburn or reflux, are not natural, and thus are avoided. The categorization criteria mentioned by bulimic patients also clearly take into account the functional properties of foods. The criteria are of the following type: "it's filling, it relieves a bulimic attack, it helps prevent heartburn and constipation, etc." It appears that bulimics' categorization criteria are solely associated with these foods' imagined or real effect on the body. The categorization criteria used by anorexic bulimics seem to be especially associated with weight gain or the consumption of such foods during bulimia attacks because "they make you feel full." On the other hand, light foods, which patients allow themselves to eat, are placed in the same category. This study, which seeks to understand the cognitive functioning of eating disorder patients with anorexia and bulimia, has brought new elements to light. All patients exhibit food categorization processes that differ greatly from those displayed by control subjects. Patients also attribute greater significance to the functional properties of foods as compared to controls, who give priority to structural properties. Anorexic and bulimic patients base their food categorizations on the consequences of ingestion, in terms of health, digestion and weight gain. Their processing of food stimuli is therefore radically different and gives a dominating place to top-down processes. Additional studies should supplement these findings in order to gain a better understanding of patients' disturbed processing of information.
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PMID:[Study of the categorization process among patients with eating disorders: a new cognitive approach to psychopathology]. 1597 44

Effective, pharmacologic approaches to the treatment of cerebellar ataxia are lacking or inadequate. We recently reported preliminary evidence that tandospirone citrate (tandospirone), a 5-HT1A agonist, improved cerebellar ataxia in patients with Machado-Joseph disease (MJD). In the course of that study, we found that such treatment also alleviated the pain associated with cold sensations in the legs, insomnia, anorexia, and depression, all of which are thought to be mediated through activation of the 5-HT1A receptor. In this paper, we reviewed the few published clinical trials that involved the use of 5-HT1A receptor agonists for the treatment of cerebellar ataxia, and discussed the current theories regarding their mechanism of action. Cortical cerebellar atrophy (CCA) was reported, in a double-blind study, to be amenable to treatment with tandospirone. Other types of spinocerebellar degeneration (SCD) i.e., olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA) and Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) have also been reported to respond to the drug, but these have been small studies. Responsive patients exhibited only mild ataxia. The doses of 5-HT1A agonists that have been used successfully ranged from 12.5 mg/day to 60 mg/day (or 1 mg/kg), and were well tolerated by most patients.
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PMID:Treatment of cerebellar ataxia with 5-HT1A agonist. 1614 54

The common cold and influenza (flu) are the most common syndromes of infection in human beings. These diseases are diagnosed on symptomatology, and treatments are mainly symptomatic, yet our understanding of the mechanisms that generate the familiar symptoms is poor compared with the amount of knowledge available on the molecular biology of the viruses involved. New knowledge of the effects of cytokines in human beings now helps to explain some of the symptoms of colds and flu that were previously in the realm of folklore rather than medicine-eg, fever, anorexia, malaise, chilliness, headache, and muscle aches and pains. The mechanisms of symptoms of sore throat, rhinorrhoea, sneezing, nasal congestion, cough, watery eyes, and sinus pain are discussed, since these mechanisms are not dealt with in any detail in standard medical textbooks.
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PMID:Understanding the symptoms of the common cold and influenza. 1625 89

Space motion sickness is experienced by 60% to 80% of space travelers during their first 2 to 3 days in microgravity and by a similar proportion during their first few days after return to Earth. Space motion sickness symptoms are similar to those in other forms of motion sickness; they include: pallor, increased body warmth, cold sweating, malaise, loss of appetite, nausea, fatigue, vomiting, and anorexia. These are important because they may affect the operational performance of astronauts. Two hypotheses have been proposed to explain space motion sickness: the fluid shift hypothesis and the sensory conflict hypothesis. The fluid shift hypothesis suggests that space motion sickness results from the cranial shifting of body fluids resulting from the loss of hydrostatic pressure gradients in the lower body when entering microgravity. The cranial fluid shifts lead to visible puffiness in the face, and are thought to increase the intracranial pressure, the cerebrospinal-fluid pressure or the inner ear fluid pressures, altering the response properties of the vestibular receptors and inducing space motion sickness. The sensory conflict hypothesis suggests that loss of tilt-related otolith signals upon entry into microgravity causes a conflict between actual and anticipated signals from sense organs subserving spatial orientation. Such sensory conflicts are thought to induce motion sickness in other environments. Space motion sickness is usually treated using pharmaceuticals, most of which have undesirable side effects. Further studies elucidating the underlying mechanism for space motion sickness may be required for developing new treatments.
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PMID:Space motion sickness: incidence, etiology, and countermeasures. 1693 70

The plant Mentha spicata, or peppermint, is commonly used in the treatment of loss of appetite, common cold, bronchitis, sinusitis, fever, nausea and vomiting, and indigestion as a herbal agent. In this study, we aimed to investigate the biochemical and histological effects of M. spicata Labiatae, growing on the Anamas high plateau of Yenisarbademli town, on rat uterine tissue. Twenty female Wistar albino rats weighing 160+/-10 g were used for this study. Rats were divided into two groups of ten animals: group I received no herbal tea (control group) and group II received 20 g/L M. spicata tea. Control group rats were given commercial drinking water (Hayat DANONESA water). Herbal tea was prepared daily and provided at all times to the rats over 30 days as drinking water. Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were determined. In addition, uterine tissues were submitted for histopathologic examination. MDA levels were increased in group II when compared with the control group. The difference between group II and the control group was statistically significant (P<0.01). In the M. spicata Labiatae-treated group, histopathological changes like apoptosis and diffuse eosinophil leucocyte infiltration in surface and stromal glandular epithelium were observed in both endometrium and endocervix. It was concluded that lipid peroxidation and uterine damage occurs after M. spicata administration in rat uterus. Despite the beneficial effects of M. spicata Labiatae in indigestion, we should also be aware of the toxic effects when it is not used in the recommended fashion, at the recommended dose.
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PMID:The effect of Mentha spicata Labiatae on uterine tissue in rats. 1712 May 33


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