N-Trivia

Mesothelioma (Asbestos-related Lung Cancer)

Posted: 29 Oct 2010 02:33 AM PDT

mesothelioma

Mesothelioma or malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is found in the lining of the chest and lung, the abdomen, or the saclike space around the heart. It is usually diagnosed in an advanced stage.

Pathophysiology:

Fibrosis caused by asbestos, asbestos fibers accumulated around terminal bronchioles, surrounds fibers with iron rich tissues, forming asbestos bodies as more fibers are inhaled, after 20-30 years of exposure fibrosis begins in lungs, interstitial fibrosis develops. Dyspnea, basal crackles and decreased in vital capacity, are early manifestation.

Types of mesothelioma:

Pleural Mesothelioma – found in the chest and lungs
Peritoneul Mesothelioma – found in the abdomen
Pericardial Mesothelioma – found in the saclike around the heart

Approximately 75% of the cases start in the chest cavity, about 10% to 20% begin in the abdomen and the least occurrence are that developed from the lining of the heart.

Three types of mesothelioma according to the forms of cancer cells:

Epithelioid – most frequent type about 50% to 70% of most cases, it has the best prognosis among the three
Sarcomatoid – makes 7% to 20% of mesotheliomas; has a very unpredictable pattern.
Biphasic – mixed type of mesotheliomas, which makes up 20% to 35%

Risk Factors of Mesothelioma:

Exposure to asbestos – greatest risk; most people are prone to these occupational asbestos exposure include factory workers, ship builders, brake repair worker, construction workers, insulation manufacturers and instalments, asbestos miners.
Personal history of asbestos exposure – if an individual directly exposed to asbestos fibers at work or at home, your risk of mesothelioma is greatly increased.
Living with someone who works with asbestos.
A monkey virus used in polio vaccines. Some research indicates a link between mesothelioma and simian virus 40 (SV40), a virus originally found in monkeys.
Radiation. Some research links mesothelioma to the radioactive substance thorium dioxide, which was used along with X-rays to diagnose various health conditions from the 1920s to the 1950s.
Family history. A family history of mesothelioma may increases the risk of mesothelioma, but more research is needed to understand this theory.

Signs and symptoms of mesothelioma:

Latency period – between 25 to 40 years; due to this length of time that it is noticed people aging 50 to 70 years old are usually being diagnosed
Presence of fluid (pleural effusion), thickening of the pleura and specific nodules or tumors – most common symptoms
Chest pain – usually located low in the chest and towards the back and side
Dyspnea – difficulty in breathing
Fatiguability
Hemoptysis – coughing of blood
Ascites – seen in patients with peritoneal mesothelioma
Weight loss

Diagnostic examination:

Complete Blood Count – white blood cell count and platelet count, serum is partially compromised of dissolved proteins
Biomarkers – Soluble mesothelin related protein (SMRP) and osteopontin
X-ray evaluation – x-rays show areas of fluid accumulation, scarring of the lungs, masses in the chest
CAT or CT scan (computerized axial tomography scan of the chest and abdomen

Medical Management:

Radical pleurectomy
Pneumonectomy
Preventive measures include enforcement for regulations governing mining milling and use of asbestos.
Protective masks may be used when working with asbestos

Nursing Management:

Assessment of social, emotional, physical, financial and spiritual needs
Emotional support of patient and family in coming to terms with the diagnosis and coping with the treatments that may have unpleasant side-effects
Education and information about lung cancer and the treatments that have been offered
Monitor symptoms and manage it as early as possible such as breathlessness and pain
Effective physiotherapy to assist mucus clearance from the lungs
Administration of a combination of oral, nebulized and intravenous bronchodilators to control infection
Administration of anti-inflammatory medications (oral or inhales steriods)
Monitoring disease progression (oxygen saturation and weight)

Photo credits: mesothelioma-the-lung-cancer.blogspot.com, malignantpleuralmesotheliomaasbestos.com

Nurse Florence Rape Case

Posted: 28 Oct 2010 11:28 PM PDT

The Nurse Florence Case

A 21-year old volunteer nurse was abducted and raped in a corn field of South Upi Maguindanao last September 25, 2010. Passers-by found Florence (not her real name), bare and unconscious on the morning of September 26, 2010. According to some sources, the volunteer nurse was on her way to Brgy. Nuro in Upi to visit a midwife but was dragged and flagged down in a corn field by at least 10 people who took turns in raping her.

Suspects were identified by South Upi town councilor Warlito Bansigan which are all residents of South Upi and have been under the custody of the police. The suspects were Glenn Saldoa (son of a retired employee of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Maguindanao, Eugene Biscara (son of a retired school teacher), Ruscom Sangclap, Michael Candelario, and Jeffrey Fernandez according to GMANews.tv.

Several reports asserted that Florence was seen with the suspects inside a videoke bar in Timanan before the incident. Rey Insular, the videoke house owner where Florence was last seen, said that the alleged suspects were innocent and they were the first to respond and rush Florence to the hospital.

Contrary to the former report, the victim's friends claimed that Florence was never seen neither smoking nor drinking especially in public places. Co-workers and friends of the raped victim were crying for justice of their friend.

Other speculations unfolded the involvement of a political figure in the gang rape. South Upi, Maguindanao Vice-Mayor Jordan Ibrahim's name was dragged in the gang rape. Some informants said that the vice mayor was in the area of the videoke bar. When Florence left the place, Fulgencio (the confessed rapist who later retracted) and the vice mayor allegedly followed her.

The rape victim, who was transferred from Cotabato Regional and Medical Center to Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City, had regained consciousness already. However, due to the head injuries she sustained, the right side of her body is paralyzed. Dr. Leopoldo Vega of Southern Philippines Medical Center stated that gradual recovery is observed in the victim but because of the physical and psychological trauma that Florence is undergoing, slow progress towards recuperation is noted. The volunteer nurse has difficulty sleeping at night and is always seen crying. Memory loss is also experienced by Florence and according to the doctor there are times that the victim forgets her own name.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) had subjected the suspects for DNA testing to determine their involvement in the sexual abuse. A chemist from Davao took the samples of the suspects and the specimens were brought to NBI laboratory in Manila for examination and the result would be out in three weeks.

Early forensic evidence showed that only one DNA profile was found from the volunteer nurse, proposing that she was not ganged rape but abused by one person. Justice Secretary de Lima stated, "The DNA profile points to a single perpetrator. It’s not any of the six, and it’s not Fulgencio. It’s most probably not gang-rape, that is what the NBI is looking into now. It may not be a conclusion yet, but so far the evidence points to that — that it’s most probably not a gang rape." The suspects together with the videoke house owner were released after they were cleared from the involvement.

According to abs-cbnnews.com, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima is giving South Upi, Maguindanao Vice-Mayor Jordan Ibrahim ultimatum to voluntarily submit himself to buccal (oral) swabbing and taking of blood samples for DNA profiling in order to rule him out as suspect in the rape of 21-year-old volunteer nurse, “Florence” last September 25.