GENERAL SCIENCE FOR ALL

GENERAL SCIENCE FOR ALL

1. The respiration is carried on by
(A) Kidneys
(B) Brain
(C) Intestine
(D) Lungs
Ans (D)
2. Which is the outer protective cover of the body?
(A) Skeleton
(B) Hair
(C) Skin
(D) None of these
Ans (C)
3. Which collects the blood from the organs?
(A) Arteries
(B) Veins
(C) Lungs
(D) Nerves
Ans (B)
4. Which removes waste materials from the body?
(A) Kidneys
(B) Lungs
(C) Heart
(D) Brain
Ans (A)
5. Which of the following is well developed and functional in grazing animals?
(A) Appendix
(B) Liver
(C) Duodenum
(D) Rectum
Ans (A)
6. How many teeth will the children have?
(A) 10
(B) 15
(C) 28
(D) 20
Ans (D)
7. What is inner lining of the alimentary canal called ?
(A) oesophagus
(B) Mucous membrance
(C) Muscle
(D) Muscular
Ans (B)
8. Which of the following is not a part of the alimentary canal?
(A) Mouth
(B) Stomach
(C) Small intestine
(D) lungs
Ans (D)
9. Liver and pancreas are the ________ glands.
(A) blood clear
(B) digestive
(C) breathing
(D) none of these
Ans (B)
10. _________ is a sticky substance in saliva and provides easy movement for food.
(A) Insulin
(B) Amylase
(C) Mucin
(D) none of these
Ans (C)
11. Nose opens at the uuper end of _____ through a pair of internal nostrils.
(A) Larnyx
(B) Trachea
(C) Pharnyx
(D) none of these
Ans (C)
12. Which of the following is a long tube and wind pipe?
(A) Bronchi
(B) Nasal canal
(C) Pharnyx
(D) Trachea
Ans (D)
13. How many lungs are present in the human body?
(A) 1
(B) 2
(C) 3
(D) none of these
Ans (B)
14. The lungs are covered by two membrances called as _______
(A) Veins
(B) Air sacs
(C) pleura
(D) none of these
Ans (C)
15. The normal temperature of a human body is _____
(A) 98.4ºC
(B) 98.4ºF
(C) 99.0ºC
(D) 99.0ºF
Ans (B)
16. What is the temperature of boiling water?
(A) 100ºC
(B) 32ºC
(C) 180ºF
(D) 32ºF
Ans (A)
17. Units which can be expressed in terms of two or more fundamental units of mass or called____ units
(A) Derived
(B) defined
(C) undefined
(D) underived
Ans (A)
18. The mean distance of sun from the earth is called
(A) Astronomical units
(B) Lightyear
(C) Astrological units
(D) Angstroms
Ans (A)
19. One nano metre =
(A) 10Aº
(B) 11Aº
(C) 12Aº
(D) 10.5Aº
Ans (A)
20. Which of the following is known as acqua gold
(A) Sulphuric acid
(B) Nitric Acid
(C) Hydrochloric Acid
(D) Ammonia WRONG 3 2
21. The force is the product of _____
(A) velocity and acceleration
(B) the speed and acceleration
(C) mass and speed
(D) mass and acceleration
Ans (D)
22. Root part is represented in a mature emryo by
(A) plumule
(B) radicle
(C) chalaza
(D) cotyledons
Ans (B)
23. Bone deformities occur due to the excessive intake of
(A) phosphorus
(B) potassium
(C) fatti acid
(D) fluorine
Ans (D)
24. Excess of fat in the body is stored in
(A) Adipose tissue
(B) Acrosome
(C) Connective tissue
(D) Bone marrow
Ans (A)
25. Disease caused by HIV virus is
(A) mumps
(B) plague
(C) AIDS
(D) tuberculosis
Ans (C)

Doctors to remove 16-pound facial tumor from 15 years old girl

Fifteen-year-old Lai Thi Dao waves to members of the media as she leaves Jackson Memorial Medical Center after a news conference Tuesday, April 22, 2008, in Miami. The Vietnamese girl has a 16-pound facial tumor and is in Miami awaiting surgery that will restore her ability to eat and speak. Doctors say the tumor threatens to suffocate Lai. They will remove the tumor in a 10-hour surgery on April 29.

Dr. Robert Marx, left, points to a CT scan of fifteen-year-old Lai Thi Dao during a news conference at the Jackson Memorial Medical Center Tuesday, April 22, 2008 in Miami. The Vietnamese girl, center, has a 16-pound facial tumor and is in Miami awaiting surgery that will restore her ability to eat and speak. Doctors say the tumor threatens to suffocate Lai. They will remove the tumor in a 10-hour surgery on April 29. Behind Dao is her mother Tuyet Van, and sponsor Geoffrey Le of Fort Worth, Tx., and holding the scan is Dr. Jesus Gomez.

This undated handout photo courtesy of the University of Miami School of Medicine, in Miami, Florida shows an extremely large tumor that has severely deformed the face of fifteen year-old Lai Thi Dao from Vietnam. US doctors are due to remove from the Vietnamese girl a 15-pound (seven-kilo) tumor thought to be one of the largest of its kind on record.

A BABY BORN WITH TWO FACES

A baby with two faces, two noses, two pairs of lips and two pairs of eyes was born on March 11 ,2008 in a northern Indian village, where she is doing well and is being worshipped as the reincarnation of a Hindu goddess, her father said Tuesday,April 8, 2008. Mother Sushma holds her daughter Lali at their residence in Saini Sunpura, 50 kilometers (31 miles) east of New Delhi, India, Tuesday, April 8, 2008.

Discovery of Biological Link Between Pain And Fatigue

Researchers says that a biological link between pain and fatigue and may help explain why more

women than men are diagnosed with chronic pain and fatigue conditions like fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.Working with mice, the researchers, led by Kathleen Sluka, Ph.D., professor in the Graduate Program in Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science in the UI Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, found that a protein involved in muscle pain works in conjunction with the male hormone testosterone to protect against muscle fatigue.Chronic pain and fatigue often occur together -- as many as three in four people with chronic, widespread musculoskeletal pain report having fatigue; and as many as 94 percent of people with chronic fatigue syndromes report muscle pain. Women make up the majority of patients with these conditions.To probe the link between pain and fatigue, and the influence of sex, the UI team compared exercise-induced muscle fatigue in male and female mice with and without ASIC3 -- an acid-activated ion channel protein that the team has shown to be involved in musculoskeletal pain.A task involving three one-hour runs produced different levels of fatigue in the different groups of mice as measured by the temporary loss of muscle strength caused by the exercise.Male mice with ASIC3 were less fatigued by the task than female mice. However, male mice without the ASIC3 protein showed levels of fatigue that were similar to the female mice and were greater than for the normal males.In addition, when female mice with ASIC3 were given testosterone, their muscles became as resistant to fatigue as the normal male mice. In contrast, the muscle strength of female mice without the protein was not boosted by testosterone."The differences in fatigue between males and females depends on both the presence of testosterone and the activation of ASIC3 channels, which suggests that they are interacting somehow to protect against fatigue," Sluka said. "These differences may help explain some of the underlying differences we see in chronic pain conditions that include fatigue with respect to the predominance of women over men."The study, which was published in the Feb. 28 issue of the American Journal of Physiology -- Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, indicates that muscle pain and fatigue are not independent conditions and may share a common pathway that is disrupted in chronic muscle pain conditions. The team plans to continue their studies and investigate whether pain enhances fatigue more in females than males."Our long-term goal is to come up with better treatments for chronic musculoskeletal pain," Sluka said. "But the fatigue that is typically associated with chronic, widespread pain is also a big clinical problem -- it leaves people unable to work or engage in social activities. If we could find a way to reduce fatigue, we could really improve quality of life for these patients."In addition to Sluka, the UI research team included Lynn Burnes, a research assistant and lead author of the study; Sandra Kolker; Jing Danielson; and Roxanne Walder. The study was funded in part by grants from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.

Computer may recognize attractiveness in Women

[Curtesy by science daily]

scientist says that Computer can Taught To recognize attractiveness in Women

"
Scientist successfully "taught" a computer how to interpret attractiveness in women. But there's a more serious dimension to this issue that reaches beyond mere vanity. The discovery is a step towards developing artificial intelligence in computers. Other applications for the software could be in plastic and reconstructive surgery and computer visualization programs such as face recognition technologies.
From Mathematics to Aesthetics "Until now, computers have been taught how to identify basic facial characteristics, such as the difference between a woman and a man, and even to detect facial expressions," says Kagian. "But our software lets a computer make an aesthetic judgment. Linked to sentiments and abstract thought processes, humans can make a judgment, but they usually don't understand how they arrived at their conclusions."
In the first step of the study, 30 men and women were presented with 100 different faces of Caucasian women, roughly of the same age, and were asked to judge the beauty of each face. The subjects rated the images on a scale of 1 through 7 and did not explain why they chose certain scores. Kagian and his colleagues then went to the computer and processed and mapped the geometric shape of facial features mathematically.
Additional features such as face symmetry, smoothness of the skin and hair color were fed into the analysis as well. Based on human preferences, the machine "learned" the relation between facial features and attractiveness scores and was then put to the test on a fresh set of faces.
Says Kagian, "The computer produced impressive results -- its rankings were very similar to the rankings people gave." This is considered a remarkable achievement, believes Kagian, because it's as though the computer "learned" implicitly how to interpret beauty through processing previous data it had received.
Beauty is Golden The notion that beauty can be boiled down to binary data and interpreted by a mathematical model is nothing new. More than 2,000 years ago the Greek mystic, philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras observed the connection between math, geometry and beauty. He reasoned that features of physical objects corresponding to the "golden ratio" were considered most attractive.
"I know that Plato connected the good to the beautiful," says Kagian. "Personally, I believe that some kind of universal correctness to beauty exists in nature, an aesthetic interpretation of the universal truth. But because each of us is trapped with our own human biases and personalized viewpoints, this may detract us from finding the ultimate formula to a complete understanding of beauty."
Kagian, who studied under the Adi Lautman multidisciplinary program for outstanding students at Tel Aviv University, says that a possible next step is to teach computers how to recognize "beauty" in men. This may be more difficult. Psychological research has shown that there is less agreement as to what defines "male beauty" among human subjects. And his own portrait, jokes Kagian, will not be part of the experiment.

Health News

Women living with HIV/AIDS face strikingly high levels of stigma4/1/2008 3:38:00 PM IST
Washington, Apr 1 (ANI): According to a new survey, HIV-positive women in the United States face strikingly high levels of stigma.
Use of anticoagulants after joint replacement ops may lead to more deaths4/1/2008 3:38:00 PM IST
Washington, Apr 1 (ANI): A new study from Hospital for Special Surgery in New York has revealed that the use of anticoagulants to prevent blockage in pulmonary artery after joint replacement operations may actually lead to more deaths among patients taking these drugs.
Physical activity could delay onset of Huntington's disease4/1/2008 2:48:00 PM IST
Washington, Apr 1 (ANI): A new study on mice has found that the simple act of running in an exercise wheel may delay the onset of some symptoms of Huntington's disease.
Indian scientist's 'Raman effect' spectroscopy for dramatically sharper tumour images4/1/2008 2:48:00 PM IST
Washington, Apr 1 (ANI): A team of researchers from Stanford University School of Medicine, led by an Indian-origin scientist, has developed a new type of imaging system, called Raman spectroscopy, that can illuminate details of tumours and tissues with a precision 1,000 times sharper than existing techniques.
Anti-psychotic Alzheimer's drugs do more harm than good4/1/2008 2:48:00 PM IST
London, Apr 1 (ANI): A new study has suggested that the anti-psychotic drugs or neuroleptics, which are widely prescribed for Alzheimer's patients, do not provide any benefit, but cause significant deterioration in people suffering form the disease.
Fasting could help ease effects of chemotherapy4/1/2008 2:26:00 PM IST
Washington, April 1 (ANI): A new study has suggested that short-term fasting can help protect cancer patients against the effects of chemotherapy.
Two-drug blood pressure therapy can cut cardiovascular risk: Study4/1/2008 1:39:00 PM IST
Washington, Apr 1 (ANI): Researchers at University of Michigan have revealed that combination of two blood pressure drugs can effectively lower cardiovascular risk among hypertensive patients.
Size zero obsession fuelling rise in eating disorders4/1/2008 1:39:00 PM IST
London, Apr 1 (ANI): An incessant obsession to be size zero is putting women at a high risk of developing eating disorders, warns an expert.
Tai Chi could help fight against type 2 diabetes4/1/2008 1:09:00 PM IST
London, Apr 1 (ANI): Tai Chi Chuan, the traditional Chinese martial arts exercises, could help curb symptoms of type 2 diabetes, according to a new study.
Scientists identify gene linked to Lou Gehrig's disease4/1/2008 1:09:00 PM IST
London, Apr 1 (ANI): Researchers from Canada and France have identified a new gene, called TDP-43, which is responsible for a major fraction of ALS, (sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) cases or Lou Gehrig's disease.
Diabetes drug may help slow plaque build-up in coronary arteries4/1/2008 1:09:00 PM IST
Washington, April 1 (ANI): A new study which compared two types of drugs to treat type 2 diabetes, has found that pioglitazone is better than glimepiride at slowing the rate of progression of atherosclerosis, a process in which plaque build-up in the coronary arteries.
Obese children require less intensive exercise for effective weight loss4/1/2008 12:41:00 PM IST
London, Apr 1 (ANI): Less intensive exercise can effectively burn off fat among obese kids, says a new research.
Fewer children born after Caesarean delivery: Study4/1/2008 12:41:00 PM IST
Washington, Apr 1 (ANI): Women who have a Caesarean delivery for their first child are more likely to have fewer kids later, as compared to women who give birth normally, says a new study.
Lung transplants not harmful for children with cystic fibrosis4/1/2008 12:41:00 PM IST
Washington, Apr 1 (ANI): Refuting previous findings, a new research has reported that lung transplants are not harmful for children with cystic fibrosis.
Scientists use new technique to identify molecular 'biomarkers' for disease4/1/2008 11:47:00 AM IST
Washington, April 1 (ANI): Chemists at the University of Florida have made a breakthrough in the fight against serious diseases, by using a new tool to identify their molecular signatures, without any prior knowledge of what these microscopic signatures or biomarkers should look like.
Study shows TB bacteria accumulate 'fat' to survive and spread4/1/2008 11:47:00 AM IST
Washington, April 1 (ANI): A team of scientists has claimed a significant breakthrough in their research into the spread of tuberculosis, by identifying for the first time that TB bacteria accumulate fat that may help them to survive passing from one person to another and boost their resistance to anti-TB drugs.
Scientists develop new tool to eliminate drug discovery bottleneck3/31/2008 5:19:00 PM IST
Washington, Mar 31 (ANI): Researchers at University of California, San Diego have developed a new tool that may help in screening for new drugs and studying natural compounds.
Cheap masks as effective at preventing flu spread as more expensive ones3/31/2008 3:54:00 PM IST
Sydney, Mar 31 (ANI): A new study has shown that normal surgical masks can help prevent flu spread just as well as more expensive face masks.
Scientists identify genes that govern course of immune restoration in HIV therapy3/31/2008 3:54:00 PM IST
London, Mar 31 (ANI): A research team, led by an Indian-origin scientist, has identified two genes, CCR5 and CCL3L1, that play a key role in deciding the course of immune restoration in HIV-positive individuals undergoing virus-suppressing therapy.
Unsafe carcinogenic arsenic levels found in baby food rice3/31/2008 3:54:00 PM IST
London, Mar 31 (ANI): Unsafe levels of arsenic have been found in brands of baby food rice that are widely sold in British supermarkets, according to a team of researchers from Aberdeen University.
Regular doctor-patient communication can lower heart disease risk3/31/2008 12:59:00 PM IST
Washington, Mar 31 (ANI): A new study has revealed that regular communication with doctors can lower the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
How nerve cells in the left and right sides of the brain are wired3/31/2008 12:59:00 PM IST
Washington, March 31 (ANI): Scientists at University College London (UCL) claim that they have for the first time observed how the left and right-sided nerve cells in a part of the brain, called the habenula, are wired.
One sausage a day can boost bowel cancer risk3/31/2008 12:59:00 PM IST
London, Mar 31 (ANI): Eating just one sausage a day can increase a person's chances of developing bowel cancer by a fifth, experts have warned.
Hormone combo may offer safe, reversible male birth control tool3/31/2008 12:59:00 PM IST
Washington, Mar 31 (ANI): Researchers at the University of Sydney have found that a contraceptive containing the hormones testosterone and progestin might become a safe, effective and reversible form of male birth control.
Mobile phones could be more cancerous than smoking, asbestos3/31/2008 11:57:00 AM IST
Washington, Mar 31 (ANI): A new study by an Indian-origin neurosurgeon has shown that cell phone use could kill more people than smoking, because of its possible association with brain cancer.
Scientists search superbugs in ICUs to develop MRSA sampling system3/31/2008 11:57:00 AM IST
Washington, Mar 31 (ANI): Scientists at the Sheffield Hallam University in South Yorkshire are trying to determine which bugs grow in intensive care units, in a bid to develop a novel sampling regime that would indicate the threat of MRSA and other superbugs in the environment.
Scientists identify new genes linked to type 2 diabetes, prostate cancer3/31/2008 11:57:00 AM IST
London, Mar 31 (ANI): A multi-group team headed by University of Michigan (U-M) researchers has identified six new genes that play a role in the development of type 2 diabetes.
Study shows anticoagulant drugs have similar outcomes after angioplasty3/31/2008 11:27:00 AM IST
Washington, March 31 (ANI): Italian researchers have shown that in heart attack patients who have angioplasty, the anticoagulant drugs abciximab and tirofiban produce similar outcomes for certain cardiac measures within 90 minutes after the procedure.
Green tea can help curb superbugs3/31/2008 11:27:00 AM IST
Washington, Mar 31 (ANI): Egyptian scientists from Alexandria University have revealed that drinking green tea in combination with antibiotics may help beat superbugs.
Vaccine for Ebola virus successfully tested in primates3/31/2008 10:37:00 AM IST
Washington, March 31 (ANI): Researchers in the US and Canada have made a breakthrough in the fight against Ebola haemorrhagic fever, one of the world's deadliest diseases caused by the Ebola virus, by successfully testing several Ebola vaccines in primates.

SCIENCE & TECH NEWS

Flameless combustion could reduce polluting emissions/1/2008 2:48:00 PM IST
Washington, April 1 (ANI): Researchers in the Middle East have determined that using flameless combustion to build industrial gas turbines for power generation, would produce almost no polluting emissions.
Hydrogen storage in nanoparticles would allow usage in mobile applications4/1/2008 2:48:00 PM IST
Washington, April 1 (ANI): A Dutch chemist has demonstrated that hydrogen can be efficiently stored in nanoparticles, which allows hydrogen storage to be more easily used in mobile applications.
War is bound to exact a heavy toll on civilian mental health4/1/2008 2:26:00 PM IST
London, April 1 (ANI): A new research has determined that the health effects of war are not limited to battlefield injuries, and are also bound to exact a heavy toll on civilian mental health.
What may be needed to transform human arms into wings4/1/2008 2:26:00 PM IST
London, April 1 (ANI): A reconstructive surgeon at the University of Wisconsin in Madison has come up with an explanation as to what may be required to transform human arms into wings.
Researchers discover how plants counter attack pathogens4/1/2008 2:26:00 PM IST
Washington, April 1 (ANI): A new research has helped to discover how plants counter attack pathogens, which could potentially lead to crops with enhanced disease resistance.
Some biofuels might cause severe environmental impacts4/1/2008 2:26:00 PM IST
Washington, April 1 (ANI): A new study has determined that though biofuels are widely considered as a source of renewable energy, some of them might cause severe environmental impacts and reduce biodiversity unless principles and standards for production are developed and implemented.
Scientists discover how HIV hides itself in our cells4/1/2008 1:39:00 PM IST
Washington, April 1 (ANI): Researchers at the University of Michigan, USA, have taken a major step forward in the fight against AIDS, by discovering how Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which causes the disease, can hide itself in our cells and evade the attention of our normal defences.
New mini cooler may help your electronics work better4/1/2008 1:39:00 PM IST
Washington, April 1 (ANI): As an important step towards the development of highly effective micro-coolers, an Indian-origin researcher at the University of Twente has created a cooler for electronic products which is about three times smaller than conventional coolers, yet has a higher cooling output.
Mountains on neutron stars could trigger gravitational waves4/1/2008 1:39:00 PM IST
London, April 1 (ANI): A new computer simulation has suggested that neutron stars can boast of topographical features such as plateaus or mountains, which could ripple the surrounding fabric of space, producing gravitational waves.
Kids, not ghosts behind the 'poltergeist phenomena'4/1/2008 1:09:00 PM IST
London, Apr 1 (ANI): The site of a vase flying off a shelf by itself and crashing 12 feet across the room can strike fear of ghost in anyone's heart. But according to two physicists, such kind of an activity, called as poltergeist phenomena, may have nothing to offer in the way of ghost evidence.
How lowly female honeybees can be reborn as pampered queens4/1/2008 1:09:00 PM IST
London, Apr 1 (ANI): The miserable and toiling life of the lowly female Cape honeybees can be reincarnated as royalty, at least that's what a new research suggests.
Flexible colour monitors and heads-up displays in car windshields may soon be a reality4/1/2008 1:09:00 PM IST
Washington, April 1 (ANI): E-paper, flexible colour monitors, and heads-up displays in car windshields may soon be a reality, for engineers have already made the first active matrix display using a new class of transparent transistors and circuits.
Now, a Facebook tool to spy on your spouse via your mobile phone4/1/2008 1:09:00 PM IST
London, Apr 1 (ANI): The frantic Where r u? text message has been shown the door, thanks to this revolutionary Facebook tool that gives suspicious partners an electronic map showing the location of their spouse.
Chloroform sheds light on 150-year-old general anaesthesia puzzle4/1/2008 1:09:00 PM IST
Washington, April 1 (ANI): Chloroform, one of the earliest general anaesthetics to be used in medical science, has shed light on how these anaesthetics actually work - an enigma that's baffled doctors for over 150 years.
3,000-year-old ivory carving depicts whaling scene4/1/2008 1:09:00 PM IST
London, April 1 (ANI): Archaeologists working in the Russian Arctic have unearthed a remarkably detailed 3,000-year-old ivory carving that depicts groups of hunters engaged in whaling, which pushes back direct evidence for whaling by about 1,000 years.
Now, specially designed soils to fight global warming4/1/2008 12:40:00 PM IST
Washington, April 1 (ANI): A research team from Newcastle University in UK has aimed to design soils that can remove carbon from the atmosphere, permanently and cost-effectively.
Climate change and human hunting caused woolly mammoth extinction4/1/2008 12:40:00 PM IST
Washington, April 1 (ANI): A new paper has used climate models and fossil distribution to establish that the woolly mammoth went extinct primarily because of loss of habitat due to changes in temperature, while human hunting acted as the final straw.
Best sex lasts from three to 13 minutes4/1/2008 11:47:00 AM IST
Washington, April 1 (ANI): Great sex doesn't require long steamy nights of passion, for a new US survey has found that all you need for some good sex is three to 13 minutes.
Astronomers discover two peanut-shaped star systems4/1/2008 11:47:00 AM IST
Washington, April 1 (ANI): Astronomers have spotted two new star systems, which are the first of its kind, sharing stellar material to form the shape of a peanut.
Aberdeen Maritime Museum exhibits Atlantic Ocean's ugliest, most frightening creatures3/31/2008 5:10:00 PM IST
London, March 31 (ANI): Aberdeen Maritime Museum is putting stunning pictures of some of the most frightening-looking creatures and specimens collected from the volcanic mountain range in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean on display.
Now, miniscule TV sets for your doll-houses3/31/2008 5:10:00 PM IST
London, Mar 31 (ANI): Kids will now be able to install working television sets in the sitting rooms of their doll-houses, thanks to a miniature enthusiast who has developed such miniscule TV sets.
Brit cell phone users in the grip of 'nomo-phobia'3/31/2008 4:22:00 PM IST
London, March 31 (ANI): A survey has revealed that 20 per cent of cellular phone users in Britain consider being out of mobile phone contact to be as stressful as moving house or breaking up with a partner.
Researchers achieve 3-D imaging of magnetic fields for first time3/31/2008 3:54:00 PM IST
Washington, March 31 (ANI): Researchers have succeeded, for the first time, in a direct, three-dimensional visualisation of magnetic fields inside solid, non-transparent materials.
San Francisco may soon boast of the greenest buildings3/31/2008 3:54:00 PM IST
London, March 31 (ANI): The city of San Francisco may soon boast of the greenest buildings in the US, with the local government planning the toughest environmental construction standards in the country.
Cellulose might be the 'paper trail' in search for life on other planets3/31/2008 3:26:00 PM IST
Washington, March 31 (ANI): The discovery of cellulose microfibers in ancient salt deposits has pushed back the earliest direct evidence of biological material on Earth by about 200 million years, and suggesting scientists looking for evidence of life on Mars or other planets, cellulose might be the 'paper trail'.
New chip to speed up detection of livestock viruses3/31/2008 3:26:00 PM IST
Washington, March 31 (ANI): Scientists have developed a screening chip that would be help to speed up detection of some of the worst livestock viruses like bird flu and foot-and-mouth disease.
Environment threatening laughing gas is being released by bacteria3/31/2008 2:23:00 PM IST
Washington, March 31 (ANI): Scientists have said that nitrous oxide, which is popularly known as laughing gas, is being released in the environment by a number of species of bacteria.
Bowel cancer risk governed by your race and country3/31/2008 1:39:00 PM IST
London, March 31 (ANI): Scientists at the University of Edinburgh have shown that chances of getting cancer depends on an individual's country, by finding that genes linked to the deadly disease do not affect all races the same way.
Scientists shed light on 'the wallpaper problem'3/31/2008 1:39:00 PM IST
London, March 31 (ANI): You must have wondered several times as to why a sheet of wallpaper refuses to tear neatly off the wall, or why people often find it difficult to peel the tape off the roll in a straight line. Well, an international team of researchers perhaps knows the answer.
Antarctic tourism threatening region's ecosystems, warn campaigners3/31/2008 12:59:00 PM IST
London, March 31 (ANI): Environmental campaigners have called for greater restrictions on shipping around Antarctica in order to prevent damage to its unique ecosystems.
New geological age similar to 65 million year old mass extinction event3/31/2008 11:57:00 AM IST
Canberra, March 31 (ANI): A leading environmental scientist has suggested that an unprecedented climatic change is creating a new geological age, which is similar to the mass extinction event which wiped out the dinosaurs and other species 65 million years ago.
Ancient clay tablet helps unravel 5,000-year-old asteroid mystery3/31/2008 11:27:00 AM IST
London, March 31 (ANI): British scientists have deciphered a mysterious ancient clay tablet, which they believe has helped them to solve a riddle over a giant asteroid impact more than 5,000 years ago.According to a report in the Telegraph, the circular clay tablet was discovered 150 years ago by Sir Austen Henry Layard, a leading Victorian archaeologist, in the remains of the royal palace at Nineveh, capital of ancient Assyria, in what is now Iraq.

How important is nutrition for cancer patients?

Some patients lose their appetite and find it hard to eat well. In addition, the common side effects of treatment, such as nausea, vomiting, or mouth sores, can make it difficult to eat. For some patients, foods taste different. Also, people may not feel like eating when they are uncomfortable or tired.Patients who eat well during cancer treatment often feel better and have more energy. In addition, they may be better able to handle the side effects of treatment. Eating well means getting enough calories and protein to help prevent weight loss and regain strength.Doctors, nurses, and dietitians can offer advice for healthy eating during cancer treatment. Patients and their families also may want to read the National Cancer Institute booklet Eating Hints: Recipes and Tips For Better Nutrition During Cancer Treatment , which contains many useful suggestions.

What are the side effects of cancer treatment?

It is hard to limit the effects of treatment so that only cancer cells are removed or destroyed. Because treatment also damages healthy cells and tissues, it often causes unpleasant side effects.The side effects of cancer treatment vary. They depend mainly on the type and extent of the treatment. Also, each person reacts differently. Attempts are made to plan the patient's therapy to keep side effects to a minimum. Patients are monitored during therapy so that any problems which occur can be addressed.

Surgery

The side effects of surgery depend on the location of the tumor, the type of operation, the patient's general health, and other factors. Although patients are often uncomfortable during the first few days after surgery, this pain can be controlled with medicine. Patients should feel free to discuss pain relief with the doctor or nurse. It is also common for patients to feel tired or weak for a while. The length of time it takes to recover from an operation varies for each patient.

Radiation Therapy

With radiation therapy, the side effects depend on the treatment dose and the part of the body that is treated. The most common side effects are tiredness, skin reactions (such as a rash or redness) in the treated area, and loss of appetite. Radiation therapy can also cause a decrease in the number of white blood cells, cells that help protect the body against infection. Although the side effects of radiation therapy can be unpleasant, they can usually be treated or controlled. It also helps to know that, in most cases, they are not permanent.

Chemotherapy

The side effects of chemotherapy depend mainly on the drugs and the doses the patient receives. Generally, anticancer drugs affect cells that divide rapidly. These include blood cells, which fight infection, help the blood to clot, or carry oxygen to all parts of the body. When blood cells are affected by anticancer drugs, patients are more likely to develop infections, may bruise or bleed easily, and may have less energy. Cells that line the digestive tract also divide rapidly. As a result of chemotherapy, patients can have side effects, such as loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, hair loss, or mouth sores. For some patients, medicines can be prescribed to help with side effects, especially with nausea and vomiting. Usually these side effects gradually go away during the recovery period or after treatment stops.Hair loss, another side effect of chemotherapy, is a major concern for many patients. Some chemotherapy drugs only cause the hair to thin out, while others may result in the loss of all body hair. Patients may feel better if they decide how to handle hair loss before starting treatment.In some men and women, chemotherapy drugs cause changes that may result in a loss of fertility (the ability to have children). Loss of fertility can be temporary or permanent depending on the drugs used and the patient's age. For men, sperm banking before treatment may be a choice. Women's menstrual periods may stop, and they may have hot flashes and vaginal dryness. Periods are more likely to return in young women.In some cases, bone marrow transplantation and peripheral stem cell support are used to replace tissue that forms blood cells when that tissue has been destroyed by the effects of chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Hormone Therapy

Hormone therapy can cause a number of side effects. Patients can have nausea and vomiting, swelling or weight gain, and, in some cases, hot flashes. In women, hormone therapy can also cause interrupted menstrual periods, vaginal dryness, and, sometimes, loss of fertility. Hormone therapy in men can cause impotence, loss of sexual desire, or loss of fertility. These changes may be temporary, long-lasting, or permanent.

Biological Therapy

The side effects of biological therapy depend on the type of treatment. Often, these treatments cause flu-like symptoms such as chills, fever, muscle aches, weakness, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Some patients develop a rash, and some bleed or bruise easily. In addition, interleukin therapy can cause swelling. Depending on how severe these problems are, patients may need to stay in the hospital during treatment. These side effects are usually short-term and they gradually go away after treatment stops.Doctors and nurses can explain the side effects of cancer treatment and help with any problems can occur.

How is cancer diagnosed?

If you have a sign or symptom that might mean cancer, the doctor will do a physical exam and ask about your medical history. In addition, the doctor usually orders various tests and exams. These may include imaging procedures, which produce pictures of areas inside the body, endoscopy, which allows the doctor to look directly inside certain organs, and laboratory tests. In most cases, the doctor also orders a biopsy, a procedure in which a sample of tissue is removed. A pathologist examines the tissue under a microscope to check for cancer cells.ImagingImages of areas inside the body help the doctor tell whether a tumor is present. These images can be made in several ways. In many cases, the doctor uses a special dye so that certain organs show up better on film. The dye may be swallowed or put into the body through a needle or a tube.X-rays are the most common way doctors made pictures of the inside of the body. In a special kind of x-ray imaging, a CT or CAT scan uses a computer linked to an x-ray machine to make a series of detailed pictures.In radionuclide scanning, the patient swallows or is given an injection of a mildly radioactive substance. A machine (scanner) measures radioactivity levels in certain organs and prints a picture on paper or films. By looking at the amount of radioactivity in the organs, the doctor can find abnormal areas.Ultrasonography is another procedure for viewing the inside of the body. High-frequency sound waves that cannot be heard by humans enter the body and bounce back. Their echoes produce a picture called a sonogram. These pictures are shown on a monitor like a TV screen and can be printed on paper.In MRI, a powerful magnet linked to a computer is used to make detailed pictures of areas in the body. These pictures are viewed on a monitor and can also be printed.EndoscopyEndoscopy allows the doctor to look into the body through a thin, lighted tube called an endoscope. The exam is named for the organ involved (for example, colonoscopy to look inside the colon). During the exam, the doctor may collect tissue or cells for closer examination.Laboratory TestsAlthough no single test can be used to diagnose cancer, laboratory tests such as blood and urine tests give the doctor important information. If cancer is present, the lab work can show the effects of the disease on the body. In some cases, special tests are used to measure the amount of certain substances in the blood, urine, and other body fluids, or tumor tissue. The levels of these substances may become abnormal when certain kinds of cancer are present.BiopsyThe physical exam, imaging, endoscopy, and lab tests can show that something abnormal is present, but a biopsy is the only sure way to know whether the problem is cancer. In a biopsy, the doctor removes a sample of tissue from the abnormal area or may remove the whole tumor. A pathologist examines the tissue under a microscope. If cancer is present, the pathologist can usually tell what kind of cancer it is and may be able to judge whether the cells are likely to grow slowly or quickly. StagingWhen cancer is found, the patient's doctor needs to know the stage, or extent, of the disease to plan the best treatment. The doctor may order various tests and exams to find out whether the cancer has spread and, if so, what parts of the body are affected. In some cases, lymph nodes near the tumor are removed and checked for cancer cells. If cancer cells are found in the lymph nodes, it may mean that the cancer has spread to other organs.

What are cancer risk factors?

Growing older Tobacco Sunlight Ionizing radiation Certain chemicals and other substances Some viruses and bacteria Certain hormones Family history of cancer Alcohol Poor diet, lack of physical activity, or being overweightMany of these risk factors can be avoided. Others, such as family history, cannot be avoided. People can help protect themselves by staying away from known risk factors whenever possible. If you think you may be at risk for cancer, you should discuss this concern with your doctor. You may want to ask about reducing your risk and about a schedule for checkups. Over time, several factors may act together to cause normal cells to become cancerous. When thinking about your risk of getting cancer, these are some things to keep in mind: Not everything causes cancer.Cancer is not caused by an injury, such as a bump or bruise.Cancer is not contagious. Although being infected with certain viruses or bacteria may increase the risk of some types of cancer, no one can "catch" cancer from another person.Having one or more risk factors does not mean that you will get cancer. Most people who have risk factors never develop cancer.Some people are more sensitive than others to the known risk factors.The sections below have more detailed information about the most common risk factors for cancer.

How can cancer be detected early?

In many cases, the sooner cancer is diagnosed and treated, the better a person's chance for a full recovery. If you develop cancer, you can improve the chance that it will be detected early if you have regular medical checkups and do certain self-exams. Often a doctor can find early cancer during a physical exam or with routine tests, even if a person has no symptoms. Some important medical exams, tests, and self- exams are discussed on the next pages. The doctor may suggest other exams for people who are at increased risk for cancer.Ask your doctor about your cancer risk, problems to watch for, and a schedule of regular checkups. The doctor's advice will be based on your age, medical history, and other risk factors. The doctor also can help you learn about self-exams. (More information and free booklets about self-exams are available from the Cancer Information Service).Many local health departments have information about cancer screening or early detection programs.

What are symptoms of cancer?

You should see your doctor for regular checkups and not wait for problems to occur. But you should also know that the following symptoms may be associated with cancer: changes in bowel or bladder habits, a sore that does not heal, unusual bleeding or discharge, thickening or lump in the breast or any other part of the body, indigestion or difficulty swallowing, obvious change in a wart or mole, or nagging cough or hoarseness. These symptoms are not always a sign of cancer. They can also be caused by less serious conditions. Only a doctor can make a diagnosis. It is important to see a doctor if you have any of these symptoms. Don't wait to feel pain. Early cancer usually does not cause pain.

Key Statistics about Mesothelioma

Recent reports show that an estimated 2,500 to 3,000 new cases per year of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year. Although mesothlioma is relatively uncommon, projections show that its incidence is expected to rise over the next decade.
The first diagnosis of mesothelioma on average occurs between 50 - 70 years of age. Mesothlioma affects men more often than women mostly dues to increased occupational exposure. The disease is also less common in African Americans than it is in white Americans.
As mesothelioma is disease that is difficult to detect in its early stages, often the disease is advanced at its first diagnosis. Accordingly, the average survival period using current treament protocols is a little over one year. When fortunate enough to find the cancer early and treat it aggressively, chances increase significantly of reaching the two year survival point. Approximately 20% or patients diagnosed with mesothelioma are able to achieve a five year survival rate.
Those who live at least five years after their cancer is diagnosed have a good chance to continue living a productive life for many additional years. As treatment therapies continue to advance for mesothelioma, we can expect survival rates to continue to improve as well for those recently diagnosed.

Stages of Mesothelioma

Staging is the process of finding out how far the cancer has spread. Staging of mesothelioma is based on imaging studies such as x-rays, CT scans, and MRI scans. The treatment and outlook for patients with mesothelioma largely depends on the stage (extent of spread) of their cancer. Since pleural mesothelioma occurs most frequently and has been studied the most, it is the only mesothelioma for which a staging classification exists.
The staging system most often used for mesothelioma is the Butchart system. This system is based mainly on the extent of the primary tumor mass, and divides mesotheliomas into stages I through IV.
Butchart Staging System
Stage I: Mesothelioma is present within the right or left pleura, and may also involve the lung, pericardium, or diaphragm (the muscle separating the chest from the abdomen) on the same side.
Stage II: Mesothelioma invades the chest wall or involves the esophagus (food passage connecting the throat to the stomach), heart, or pleura on both sides. The lymph nodes in the chest may also be involved.
Stage III: Mesothelioma has penetrated through the diaphragm into the peritoneum (lining of the abdominal cavity). Lymph nodes beyond those in the chest may also be involved.
Stage IV: There is evidence of distant metastases (spread through the bloodstream to other organs).
Another staging system has recently been developed by the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC). This is a TNM system, similar to staging systems used for most other cancers. T stands for tumor (its size and how far it has spread to nearby organs), N stands for spread to lymph nodes and M is for metastasis (spread to distant organs). In TNM staging, information about the tumor, lymph nodes, and metastasis is combined in a process called stage grouping to assign a stage described by Roman numerals from I to IV. Minor differences exist between the AJCC TNM staging system and the Butchart staging system.
TNM Staging System
Stage I: Mesothelioma involves the right or left pleura. It may also have spread into the lung, pericardium, or diaphragm on the same side. It has not yet spread to the lymph nodes.
Stage II: Mesothelioma has spread from the pleura on one side to the nearby peribronchial and/or hilar lymph nodes next to the lung on the same side. It may also have spread into the lung, pericardium, or diaphragm on the same side.
Stage III: Mesothelioma has spread into the chest wall muscle, ribs, heart, esophagus, or other organs in the chest on the same side as the primary tumor, with or without spread to subcarinal and/or mediastinal lymph nodes on the same side as the main tumor. Subcarinal nodes are located at the point where the windpipe branches to the left and right lungs. Mediastinal lymph nodes are located in the space behind the chest bone in front of the heart. Mesotheliomas with the same extent of local spread as in stage II that have also spread to subcarinal and/or mediastinal lymph nodes on the same side are also included in stage III.
Stage IV: Mesothelioma has spread into the lymph nodes in the chest on the side opposite that of the primary tumor, or directly extends to the pleura or lung on the opposite side, or directly extends into the peritoneum, or directly extends into organs in the abdominal cavity or neck. Any mesothelioma with evidence of distant metastases (spread to other organs through the bloodstream) or spread to organs beyond the chest or abdomen is included in this stage. Although the recently developed TNM classification is the most detailed and precise, the original Butchart staging system is still used most often to describe the spread of pleural mesotheliomas. Understanding these staging systems for mesothelioma is important both for estimating and better understanding prognosis, and also for assessing therapeutic options.
Prognostic Factors
Because pleural mesothelioma has been better studied than peritoneal mesothelioma we know more about factors associated with prognosis for pleural mesothelioma. Younger age at diagnosis, performance status (functional status) and absence of weight loss are associated with a more favorable prognosis.
Mesotheliomas are usually of three different cell types (histological analysis):

1) epithelial cell type - has the most favorable prognosis;

2) fibrosarcomatous cell type - carries the worst prognosis

3) mixed cell type - has an intermediate prognosis.

What are the risk factors for malignant mesothelioma?

There are several risk factors that increase the likelihood that a person will develop mesothelioma. The primary risk factor is asbestos exposure. Exposure to this very harmful substance can significantly enhance the chances of contracting the disease. Other secondary factors include exposure to radiation, zeolite, simian virus 40 (SV40) and tobacco.Following are the these risk factors :

Asbestos

Exposure to asbestos is the leading risk factor associated with mesothelioma. Asbestos is an insulating material comprised of magnesium-silicate mineral fibers. It was favored by builders and contractors for many years for its low heat conductivity and resistance to melting and burning. Since researchers have identified more and more links between mesothelioma and exposure to asbestos, the material is now less widely used. Prior to this discovery, however, millions of Americans have experienced serious exposure to this harmful substance.Over 700,000 schools and buildings in the United States today contain asbestos insulation as reported by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Asbestos exposure doesn’t stop there, however. Asbestos is often found in ship yards, manufacturing facilities, railway facilities and construction sites. Blue collar workers are at the highest risk for developing mesothelioma due to occupational exposure and include those who work in mines, factories, shipyards, construction sites, railroads and for insulation manufacturers and gas mask manufacturers. The occupations most widely affected are miners, factory workers, railroad workers, ship builders and construction workers - especially those who install asbestos containing insulation. Sometimes family members related to the workers receive second hand exposure to asbestos from the dust and fibers that were brought home on the workers clothes and also become at risk for contracting mesothelioma.
Serpentine fibers and amphiboles are the 2 primary types of asbestos used. Chrysotile is a form of serpentine fiber and the most frequently used. These fibers tend to be curly and flexible. Amphibole fibers, however, are generally straight and thin and usually comprise one of five types: crocidolite, amosite, anthrophylite, tremolite, and actinolyte. The crocidolite type of Amphiboles is thought to be the leading contributor to cancer caused by asbestos. Serpentine fibers are dangerous as well, however, and have also been linked to mesothelioma.Some research points to the fact that inhaled asbestos fibers cause a physical irritation resulting in cancer rather than the cancer being caused by a reaction that is more chemical in nature. As fibers are inhaled through the mouth and nose they are cleared from the body by adhering to mucus in the nose, throat and airways and then get expelled by coughing or swallowing. The Amphibole fibers (long and thin) do not clear as easily and it is therefore thought that they can embed into the lining of the lungs and chest and result in mesothelioma.Asbestosis (scar tissue in the lungs) or lung cancer can also be caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibers. In fact, people exposed to asbestos are seven times more likely to develop lung cancer over the general public. Workers who sustain high levels of asbestos exposure are more likely to die from asbestosis, lung cancer or mesothelioma than any other disease. It is also believed that the action of coughing up and swallowing asbestos could contribute to a form of mesothelioma originating in the abdomen called peritoneal mesothelioma. Mesothelioma has been found to exist in other organs of the body as well such as the larynx, pancreas and colon, but those instances are extremely limited compared to lung cancer incidents.
The chance of developing mesothelioma is in direct proportion to the duration and amount of asbestos exposure that an individual sustains. Those who are exposed to high levels of asbestos at a young age, for long periods of time have a greater risk of being diagnosed with mesothelioma than those who have short, low level exposure. Another important consideration is that Mesothelioma can take a long time to manifest. Often, twenty to forty years can elapse from the time of exposure to diagnosis. Genetic factors can also play a role which explains why not everyone exposed to asbestos develops and asbestos related disease.

Radiation

Thorium dioxide (Thorotrast), a substance used in x-ray tests in the past has reported links to pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma. The use of Thorotrast has been discontinued for many years due to this discovery.

Zeolite

Some mesothelioma cases in the Anatoli region within Turkey have been linked to Zeolite, a silica based mineral with chemical properties similar to asbestos found in the soil there.

Simian Virus 40 (SV40)

Some scientists have found the simian virus 40 (SV30) in mesothelioma cells from humans and have been able to create mesothelioma in animals with the virus. The relationship between this virus and mesothelioma is still unclear, however, and further research is being conducted to gain clarity on this potential link.

Tobacco

Smoking alone is not linked to mesothelioma, but smokers who are exposed to asbestos have a much higher chance of developing lung cancer (as much as fifty to ninety percent higher). Research indicates that lung cancer is the leading cause of death among asbestos workers.

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Mesothelioma (Asbestos Cancer) Symptoms

Symptoms may not show up in the body until between 20 - 50 years after exposure, which is why so many new cases of this form of cancer are being diagnosed in recent years. All though the dangers of asbestos cancer were realized many decades ago and precautions have been taken to reduce the risk of the disease, it can take very little exposure to cause the cancer.
As with many forms of cancer, the asbestos cancer tumor can spread in the body rapidly, often infecting the opposite pleura and continuing on to other internal organs. The symptoms of Asbestos cancer are listed below.
Pleural Mesothelioma:

* Shortness of breath

* Chest pain in the chest (caused by fluid accumulation in the pleura)

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

* Weight loss

* Abdominal pain

* Abdominal swelling (caused by fluid build-up in the abdomen)

* Bowel obstruction

* Blood clotting abnormalities

* Anemia * Fever
If the asbestos cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, additional symptoms may include:

* Pain

* Trouble swallowing

* Swelling of the neck or face areas

If you are experiencing these or similar medical problem, please consult your doctor.

What Is Cancer?

Cancer develops when cells in a part of the body begin to grow out of control. Although there are many kinds of cancer, they all start because of out-of-control growth of abnormal cells.
Normal body cells grow, divide, and die in an orderly fashion. During the early years of a person's life, normal cells divide more rapidly until the person becomes an adult. After that, cells in most parts of the body divide only to replace worn-out or dying cells and to repair injuries. Because cancer cells continue to grow and divide, they are different from normal cells. Instead of dying, they outlive normal cells and continue to form new abnormal cells.
Cancer cells develop because of damage to DNA. This substance is in every cell and directs all activities. Most of the time when DNA becomes damaged the body is able to repair it. In cancer cells, the damaged DNA is not repaired. People can inherit damaged DNA, which accounts for inherited cancers. More often, though, a person's DNA becomes damaged by exposure to something in the environment, like smoking.
Cancer usually forms as a tumor. Some cancers, like leukemia, do not form tumors. Instead, these cancer cells involve the blood and blood-forming organs and circulate through other tissues where they grow.
Often, cancer cells travel to other parts of the body where they begin to grow and replace normal tissue. This process is called metastasis. Regardless of where a cancer may spread, however, it is always named for the place it began. For instance, breast cancer that spreads to the liver is still called breast cancer, not liver cancer.
Not all tumors are cancerous. Benign (noncancerous) tumors do not spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body and, with very rare exceptions, are not life threatening.
Different types of cancer can behave very differently. For example, lung cancer and breast cancer are very different diseases. They grow at different rates and respond to different treatments. That is why people with cancer need treatment that is aimed at their particular kind of cancer.
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. Half of all men and one third of all women in the United States will develop cancer during their lifetimes. Today, millions of people are living with cancer or have had cancer. The risk of developing most types of cancer can be reduced by changes in a person's lifestyle, for example, by quitting smoking and eating a better diet. The sooner a cancer is found and treatment begins, the better are the chances for living for many years.

What Are The Key Statistics About Malignant Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is fairly rare. There are an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma each year in the United States. The incidence of mesotheliomas in the United States increased from 1970 to 1990 and then stabilized. It may now be decreasing. Most of the past increase in cases, as well as the recent decrease in cases, has been in men. The rate, although lower, has been fairly steady for women. In European countries, the rate of mesotheliomas is still increasing.
Mesothelioma is rare in people under age 55. Its incidence increases with age. Three-fourths of people with mesothelioma are over 65 years old. The disease affects men 5 times more often than women. Mesothelioma is less common in African Americans than in white Americans.
Mesothelioma is a serious disease. By the time the symptoms appear and cancer is diagnosed, the disease is often advanced. The average survival time is about 1 year. The 5-year relative survival rate is around 10%, but this rate has been slowly improving.
The 5-year survival rate refers to the percentage of patients who live at least 5 years after their cancer is diagnosed. Many of these patients live much longer than 5 years after diagnosis, and 5-year rates are used to produce a standard way of discussing prognosis. Five-year relative survival rates do not include patients dying of other diseases and are considered to be a more accurate way to describe the prognosis for patients with a particular type and stage of cancer. That means that relative survival only talks about deaths from mesothelioma. Of course, 5-year survival rates are based on patients diagnosed and initially treated more than 5 years ago. They may no longer be accurate. Improvements in treatment result in a more favorable outlook for recently diagnosed patients.

Types of Malignant mesothelioma

Malignant mesotheliomas are divided into three main types:

• Epithelioid (50% to 70% are of this type)
• Sarcomatoid (7% to 20% are of this type)
• Mixed/biphasic (20% to 35% are of this type)

Mesothelioma and Asbestos

While a rare disorder in the general population, mesothelioma is not rare among individuals exposed to asbestos. There are two to three thousand new diagnoses of mesothelioma every year. Exposure to asbestos is the only confirmed cause of mesothelioma. Most mesothelioma victims were exposed to asbestos in the workplace and were never told of its dangers or given proper protective gear. Others were exposed through family members who brought asbestos home on their clothes or through home renovation projects. Unlike many other predominantly pulmonary-related cancers, cigarette smoking has no known causative effect on mesothelioma incidence, although asbestos workers who smoke do have a much greater likelihood to develop lung cancer — even more so than regular smokers who don’t work with asbestos. One of the most difficult aspects of mesothelioma to come to terms with is its long latency period, which is the period of time between first exposure to asbestos and the onset of the disease. Mesothelioma can develop anywhere between 10 to 70 years after the initial exposure.

What Is Malignant Mesothelioma?

A layer of specialized cells called mesothelial cells lines the chest cavity, abdominal cavity, and the cavity around your heart. These cells also cover the outer surface of most of your internal organs. The tissue formed by these cells is called mesothelium. The mesothelium helps protect your organs by producing a special lubricating fluid that allows organs to move around. This fluid makes it easier for the lungs to move inside the chest during breathing. The mesothelium of the chest is called the pleura and the mesothelium of the abdomen is known as the peritoneum. The mesothelium of the "sac-like" space around the heart (pericardial cavity) is called the pericardium. Tumors of the mesothelium can be non-cancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant). A malignant tumor of the mesothelium is called a malignant mesothelioma; however, malignant mesothelioma is often simply called mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma in Southern Asia (Extrapolated Statistics)

Country/Region Extrapolated Incidence Population Estimated Used

Afghanistan 267 28,513,6772

Bangladesh 1,326 141,340,4762

Bhutan 20 2,185,5692

India 9,993 1,065,070,6072

Pakistan 1,493 159,196,3362

Sri Lanka 186 19,905,1652

Mesothelioma Data, Statistics, & Information

Mesothelioma is fairly rare. There are an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma each year in the United States. The incidence of mesotheliomas in the United States increased from 1970 to 1990 and then stabilized. It may now be decreasing. Most of the past increase in cases, as well as the recent decrease in cases, has been in men. The rate, although lower, has been fairly steady for women. In European countries and world wide, the rate of mesotheliomas is still increasing.

Mesothelioma is rare in people under age 55. Its incidence increases with age. Three-fourths of people with mesothelioma are over 65 years old. The disease affects men 5 times more often than women. Mesothelioma is less common in African Americans than in white Americans.

Mesothelioma is a serious disease. The only known cause of mesothelioma is asbestos. By the time the symptoms appear and cancer is diagnosed, the disease is often advanced. The average survival time is about 1 year.

The 5-year relative survival rate is around 10%, but this rate has been slowly improving. The 5-year survival rate refers to the percentage of patients who live at least 5 years after their cancer is diagnosed. Many of these patients live much longer than 5 years after diagnosis, and 5-year rates are used to produce a standard way of discussing prognosis. Five-year relative survival rates do not include patients dying of other diseases and are considered to be a more accurate way to describe the prognosis for patients with a particular type and stage of cancer. That means that relative survival only talks about deaths from mesothelioma. Of course, 5-year survival rates are based on patients diagnosed and initially treated more than 5 years ago. They may no longer be accurate. Improvements in treatment result in a more favorable outlook for recently diagnosed patients.

• Each year 2,500 to 4,000 patients in the U.S. are diagnosed with mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases.
• Mesothelioma has a long latency (inactive) period of anywhere between 15 – 50 years.
• Experts predict that mesothelioma diagnoses will continue to increase in the United States for at least another 10 to 20 years.
• While many countries have banned certain forms of asbestos, an estimated 5,000 asbestos-containing products exist today.
• As many as 8 million people in the U.S. have already been exposed to asbestos and it continues to pose a serious threat to workers in certain occupations.
• One study of asbestos insulation workers reported a mesothelioma death rate up to 344 times higher than the general population.
• Most mesothelioma victims die within 18 months of diagnosis. Mortality is swift not because the cancer is fast-growing but because it usually is far advanced by the time it is detected.
• Poor prognostic variables include: nonepithelial histology, older age (greater than 75 years), pleural primary, chest pain at presentation, poor performance status, and elevated platelet count (greater than 400,000/mcL).
• By the year 2030 there are estimates that asbestos will have caused 60,000 instances of mesothelioma and around 250,000 other cancers that result in death.
• Over half a million asbestos and mesothelioma injury claims have been filed to date. Over 50,000 were filed in 1998 alone.
• Every year, more than 10,000 people worldwide (3,000 in the U.S. alone) are diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related conditions.
• More than 500,000 asbestos or mesothelioma lawsuits have been filed.
• More than 110,000 schools in the U.S. still contain some form of asbestos. 8 million Americans have been exposed to dangerous levels of asbestos.
• Asbestos insulation workers have a mesothelioma death rate 344 times higher than that of the general population. More than 7,500 Americans died from mesothelioma between 1999 and 2001.
• The industries with the highest mesothelioma mortality rates are ship building and ship repairing.
• People working around industrial chemicals had the second-highest rate, and those in the construction industry were third.
• 85% of mesothelioma deaths are male; this has more to do with asbestos exposure than with gender. There is also a high rate of mesothelioma deaths among schoolteachers, many of whom are female.
• The average age of people diagnosed with mesothelioma is between 50 and 70, but the number of people diagnosed with mesothelioma between the ages of 30 and 40 is increasing. Asbestos is used to make more than 5,000 products worldwide.
• Even when mesothelioma treatment is possible, it is very expensive, sometimes costing between $400,000 and $800,000 for oxygen, drugs, pain medicine and other forms of treatment .

Is there any promising research or are there promising drugs for mesothelioma?

Research is being conducted at various cancer centers all over the United States as well as by pharmaceutical companies. To find more about these studies, click on Clinical Trials.. A recent study of Alimta showed patients living much longer with Alitma than other chemotherapy drugs.

How do you get Mesothelioma?

Most people with malignant mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they breathed asbestos. Others have been exposed to asbestos in a household environment, often without knowing it. More about the different ways in which people have been exposed to asbestos.

What is peritoneal mesothelioma?

Peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the abdominal cavity. This form of cancer makes up approximately one-fifth to one-third of the total number of mesothelioma cases diagnosed.

Mesothelioma Video

Notable people that have lived for some time with Mesothelioma

Although life expectancy with this disease is typically limited, there are notable survivors. In July 1982, Stephen Jay Gould was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma. After his diagnosis, Gould wrote the "The Median Isn't the Message" for Discover magazine, in which he argued that statistics such as median survival are just useful abstractions, not destiny. Gould lived for another twenty years eventually succumbing to metastatic adenocarcinoma of the lung, not mesothelioma.Author Paul Kraus was diagnosed with mesothelioma in June 1997 following an umbilical hernia operation. His prognosis was "a few months." He continues to survive using a variety of integrative and complimentary modalities and has written a book about his experience.

Notable people that died from Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma, though rare, has had a number of notable patients. Australian anti-racism activist Bob Bellear died in 2005. British science fiction writer Michael G. Coney, responsible for nearly 100 works also died in 2005. American film and television actor Paul Gleason, perhaps best known for his portrayal of Principal Richard Vernon in the 1985 film The Breakfast Club, died in 2006. Mickie Most, an English record producer, died of mesothelioma in 2003. Paul Rudolph, an American architect known for his cubist building designs, died in 1997.Bernie Banton was an Australian workers' rights activist, who fought a long battle for compensation from James Hardie after he contracted mesothelioma after working for that company. He claimed James Hardie knew of the dangers of asbestos before he began work with the substance making insulation for power stations. Mesothelioma eventually took his life along with his brothers and hundreds of James Hardie workers. James Hardie made an undisclosed settlement with Mr Banton only when his mesothelioma had reached its final stages and he was expected to have no more than 48hrs to live. Australian Prime Minister-elect Kevin Rudd mentioned Mr Banton's extended struggle in his acceptance speech after winning the 2007 Australian Federal Election.Steve McQueen was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma on December 22, 1979. He was not offered surgery or chemotherapy because doctors felt the cancer was too advanced. McQueen sought alternative treatments from clinics in Mexico. He died of a heart attack on November 7, 1980, in Juárez, Mexico, following cancer surgery. He may have been exposed to asbestos while serving with the US Marines as a young adult—asbestos was then commonly used to insulate ships' piping—or because of its use as an insulating material in car racing suits.[9] (It is also reported that he worked in a shipyard during World War II, where he might have been exposed to asbestos.[citation needed]United States Congressman Bruce Vento died of mesothelioma in 2000. The Bruce Vento Hopebuilder is awarded yearly by his wife at the MARF Symposium to persons or organizations who have done the most to support mesothelioma research and advocacy.After a long period of untreated illness and pain, rock and roll musician and songwriter Warren Zevon was diagnosed with inoperable mesothelioma in the fall of 2002. Refusing treatments he believed might incapacitate him, Zevon focused his energies on recording his final album The Wind including the song "Keep Me in Your Heart," which speaks of his failing breath. Zevon died at his home in Los Angeles, California, on September 7, 2003.Christie Hennessy, the influential Irish singer-songwriter, died of mesothelioma in 2007, and had stridently refused to accept the prognosis in the weeks before his death.[10] His mesothelioma has been attributed to his younger years spent working on building sites in London.[11][12]Bob Miner, one of the founders of Software Development Labs, the forerunner of Oracle Corporation died of mesothelioma in 1994.

Staging of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is described as localized if the cancer is found only on the membrane surface where it originated. It is classified as advanced if it has spread beyond the original membrane surface to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall, or abdominal organs.

Signs and symptoms of Mesothelioma

Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath, cough, and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleural space are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma.Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and cachexia, abdominal swelling and pain due to ascites (a buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity). Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face.These symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma or by other, less serious conditions.Mesothelioma that affects the pleura can cause these signs and symptoms:chest wall pain pleural effusion, or fluid surrounding the lung shortness of breath fatigue or anemia wheezing, hoarseness, or cough blood in the sputum (fluid) coughed up In severe cases, the person may have many tumor masses. The individual may develop a pneumothorax, or collapse of the lung. The disease may metastasize, or spread, to other parts of the body.Tumors that affect the abdominal cavity often do not cause symptoms until they are at a late stage. Symptoms include:abdominal pain ascites, or an abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen a mass in the abdomen problems with bowel function weight loss In severe cases of the disease, the following signs and symptoms may be present:blood clots in the veins, which may cause thrombophlebitis disseminated intravascular coagulation, a disorder causing severe bleeding in many body organs jaundice, or yellowing of the eyes and skin low blood sugar level pleural effusion pulmonary emboli, or blood clots in the arteries of the lungs severe ascites A mesothelioma does not usually spread to the bone, brain, or adrenal glands. Pleural tumors are usually found only on one side of the lungs.

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is almost always caused by previous exposure to asbestos. In this disease, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs. Its most common site is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and chest cavity), but it may also occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity) or the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart).Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles, or have been exposed to asbestos dust and fibre in other ways, such as by washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos, or by home renovation using asbestos cement products. Unlike lung cancer, there is no association between mesothelioma and smoking.