Chronic kidney disease of CKD is one of the most leading public health problems worldwide. There is a global estimate that the estimated prevalence of CKD is 13.4%, and patients with kidney failure readily need renal replacement therapy (between an estimation of 5 and 7 million people). Procedures used in the management of kidney disease include chemical and microscopic examination of the urine (urinalysis), measurement of kidney function by calculating the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using the serum creatinine; and kidney biopsy and CT scan to evaluate for abnormal anatomy. Dialysis and kidney transplantation are used to treat kidney failure; one (or both sequentially) of these are almost always used when renal function drops below 15%. Nephrectomy is frequently used to cure renal cell carcinoma. Chronic kidney disease relates to the gradual loss of kidney function over the period of months to years. Later symptoms can be leg swelling, feeling tired, vomiting, loss of appetite, and confusion. Some complications can be hormonal dysfunction of the kidney, high blood pressure, bone disease, and anemia. Additionally, CKD patients have markedly increased cardiovascular complications with increased risks of death and hospitalization. There are many causes of chronic kidney disease like: diabetes, high blood pressure, glomerulonephritis, and polycystic kidney disease. Risk factors include a family history of chronic kidney disease too. Diagnosis is by blood tests to measure the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and a urine test to measure albumin. Ultrasound or kidney biopsy may be performed to determine the underlying cause. Several severity-based staging systems are in use.
Screening at-risk people is recommended. Initial treatments may include medications to lower blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) or angiotensin II receptor antagonists (ARBs) are generally first-line agents for blood pressure control, as they slow progression of the kidney disease and the risk of heart disease. Loop diuretics may be used to control edema and, if needed, to further lower blood pressure. NSAIDs should be avoided. Other recommended measures include staying active, and certain dietary changes such as a low-salt diet and the right amount of protein. Treatments for anemia and bone disease may also be required. Severe disease requires hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, or a kidney transplant for survival. Chronic kidney disease affected 753 million people globally in 2016 (417 million females and 336 million males.) In 2015, it caused 1.2 million deaths, up from 409,000 in 1990. The causes that contribute to the greatest number of deaths are high blood pressure at 550,000, followed by diabetes at 418,000, and glomerulonephritis at 238,000. CKD doesn't have symptoms at first. Yet, uremic frost on the head is a sign of someone with chronic kidney disease. Those with CKD have to reduce potassium intake. Sexual dysfunction is very common in both men and women with CKD. A majority of men have a reduced sex drive, and difficulty obtaining an erection, and reaching orgasm, and the problems get worse with age. Most women have trouble with sexual arousal, and painful menstruation, and problems with performing and enjoying sex are common. Cognitive decline in patients experiencing CKD is an emerging symptom revealed in the research literature. Current research suggests that patients with CKD face a 35-40% higher likelihood of cognitive decline and or dementia. This relation is dependent on the severity of CKD in each patient; although emerging literature indicates that patients at all stages of CKD will have a higher risk of developing these cognitive issues. To manage kidney disease, people can have a low protein and low salt diet, treatment of high blood lipids, express weight management, exercise, and get adequate sleep.
Screening those who have neither symptoms nor risk factors for CKD is not recommended. Those who should be screened include: those with hypertension or history of cardiovascular disease, those with diabetes or marked obesity, those aged > 60 years, subjects with African American ancestry, those with a history of kidney disease in the past, and subjects who have relatives who had kidney disease requiring dialysis. Currently, several compounds are in development for the treatment of CKD. These include the angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) olmesartan medoxomil; and sulodexide, a mixture of low molecular weight heparin and dermatan sulfate.
Renal physiology is the study of kidney function. Nephrology is the medical specialty that addresses diseases of kidney function: these include CKD, nephritic and nephrotic syndromes, acute kidney injury, and pyelonephritis. Urology addresses diseases of kidney (and urinary tract) anatomy: these include cancer, renal cysts, kidney stones and ureteral stones, and urinary tract obstruction. The word “renal” is an adjective meaning “relating to the kidneys”, and its roots are French or late Latin. Whereas according to some opinions, "renal" should be replaced with "kidney" in scientific writings such as "kidney artery", other experts have advocated preserving the use of "renal" as appropriate including in "renal artery."
There are many ways to improve kidney health. People can eat healthy foods and reduce the intake of sodium, proteins, and phosphorus in the diet. An adequate level of potassium intake can be done. People can detoxify the kidneys by drinking sufficient water and stay hydrated constantly. Foods with vitamin C, apples, kidney beans, lemon juice, cranberries, and excess fluids to maintain hydration. Vitamin B supplements and Omega-3 also help to detoxify the kidney and liver. Drinking juice or soda with high calories should also be avoided. Avoiding alcohol intake and quitting smoking are important. Avoid taking too many painkiller medicines as they have bad effects on kidney function. People can get a checkup to get the kidney checked out. People should keep their blood pressure below 140/90 or ask a professional doctor what the best blood pressure target is is. Because having kidney disease increases the chances of also having heart disease and stroke, early detection and treatment of kidney disease is important for people with diabetes to help prevent or delay cardiovascular death and kidney failure.
Dr. Brian Williams, M.D. is an expert trauma surgeon, an Air Force Academy alumnus, and a former congressional health policy advisor. For years, Dr. Williams has been a clinician, medical educator, and public speaker. He has been a voice that has took on structural racism, gun violence, and health equity. He earned his BS in Aeronautical Engineering from the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, graduating with military honors. He received his MD from the University of South Florida College of Medicine in Tampa, completed general surgery residency training at Harvard Medical School/Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and completed two fellowships, trauma surgery and surgical critical care, at Emory University/Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. He has served as a faculty trauma surgeon at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, TX, and at the University of Chicago Medicine. He is running for Congress in Texas because he wants every Texan to have an equal opportunity to thrive in their own lives.
Skin health is always of paramount importance. Skin is the usually soft, flexible outer tissue covering the bodies of vertebrates. The skin helps with protection, regulation, and sensation. There is an arthropod exoskeleton with animal coverings too. Yet, mammals have skin as an organ of the integumentary system. That system is made up of many layers of ectodermal tissues that guard the underlying muscles, bones, ligaments, and internal organs. Different types of skin are found in amphibians, reptiles, and birds. All mammals have some hair on their skin even whales, dolphins, and porpoises (which are marine mammals). The skin interfaces with the environment and is the first line of defense from external factors. For example, the skin plays a key role in protecting the body against pathogens and excessive water loss. Its other functions are insulation, temperature regulation, sensation, and the production of vitamin D folates. Severely damaged skin may heal by forming scar tissue. This is sometimes discolored and depigmented. The thickness of skin also varies from location to location on an organism. In humans, for example, the skin located under the eyes and around the eyelids is the thinnest skin on the body at 0.5 mm thick and is one of the first areas to show signs of aging such as "crows feet" and wrinkles. The skin on the palms and the soles of the feet is the thickest skin on the body at 4 mm thick. The speed and quality of wound healing in the skin is promoted by the reception of estrogen. To know skin, there are two major layers. They are the epidermis (which helps with waterproofing and serves as a barrier to infection) and the dermis (which serves as a location for the appendages of skin).
The epidermis is composed of the outermost layers of the skin. It forms a protective barrier over the body's surface, responsible for keeping water in the body and preventing pathogens from entering, and is a stratified squamous epithelium, composed of proliferating basal and differentiated suprabasal keratinocytes.
Keratinocytes are the major cells, constituting 95% of the epidermis, while Merkel cells, melanocytes and Langerhans cells are also present. The epidermis can be further subdivided into the following strata or layers.
The dermis is the layer of skin beneath the epidermis that consists of connective tissue and cushions the body from stress and strain. The dermis provides tensile strength and elasticity to the skin through an extracellular matrix composed of collagen fibrils, microfibrils, and elastic fibers, embedded in hyaluronan and proteoglycans. Skin proteoglycans are varied and have very specific locations. For example, hyaluronan, versican, and decorin are present throughout the dermis and epidermis extracellular matrix, whereas biglycan and perlecan are only found in the epidermis.
The dermis harbors many mechanoreceptors (nerve endings) that provide the sense of touch and heat through nociceptors and thermoreceptors. The dermis also contains the hair follicles, sweat glands, sebaceous glands, apocrine glands, lymphatic vessels, and blood vessels. The blood vessels in the dermis provide nourishment and waste removal from its own cells as well as for the epidermis. Dermis and subcutaneous tissues are thought to contain germinative cells involved in the formation of horns, osteoderm, and other extra-skeletal apparatus in mammals. The dermis is tightly connected to the epidermis through a basement membrane and is structurally divided into two areas: a superficial area adjacent to the epidermis, called the papillary region, and a deep thicker area known as the reticular region. The subcutaneous tissue (also hypodermis) is not part of the skin and lies below the dermis. Its purpose is to attach the skin to underlying bone and muscle as well as supplying it with blood vessels and nerves. It consists of loose connective tissue and elastin. The main cell types are fibroblasts, macrophages, and adipocytes (the subcutaneous tissue contains 50% of body fat). Fat serves as padding and insulation for the body. There is the hypodermis too.
Tissue homeostasis generally declines with age, in part because stem/progenitor cells fail to self-renew or differentiate. Skin aging is caused in part by TGF-β by blocking the conversion of dermal fibroblasts into fat cells which provide support. Common changes in the skin as a result of aging range from wrinkles, discoloration, and skin laxity, but can manifest in more severe forms such as skin malignancies. Moreover, these factors may be worsened by sun exposure in a process known as photoaging.
Skin care relates to skin health. There are many people who use many means to support skin integrity, enhance its appearance, and relieve skin conditions. Improving skin health means having proper nutrition, avoidance of excessive sun exposure, and the appropriate use of emollients. In our time, more people have used cosmetics, botulinum, exfoliation, fillers, laser resurfacing, microdermabrasion, peels, retinol therapy, and ultrasonic skin treatment. Skin care is very important to be utilized in a daily routine that can prevent dermatitis, improve skin injuries, heal wounds, stop skin cancer, etc. There are medications for skin care too. Skincare differs from dermatology by its inclusion of non-physician professionals, such as estheticians and wound care nursing staff. Skin care includes modifications of individual behavior and environmental and working conditions.
Though nearly all human skin is covered with hair follicles, it can appear hairless. There are two general types of skin, hairy and glabrous skin (hairless). The adjective cutaneous literally means "of the skin" (from Latin cutis, skin).
Skin plays an important immunity role in protecting the body against pathogens and excessive water loss. Its other functions are insulation, temperature regulation, sensation, synthesis of vitamin D, and the protection of vitamin B folates. Severely damaged skin will try to heal by forming scar tissue. This is often discoloured and depigmented.
In humans, skin pigmentation (affected by melanin) varies among populations, and skin type can range from dry to non-dry and from oily to non-oily. Such skin variety provides a rich and diverse habitat for bacteria that number roughly 1000 species from 19 phyla, present on the human skin.
The skin supports its own ecosystems of microorganisms, including yeasts and bacteria, which cannot be removed by any amount of cleaning. Estimates place the number of individual bacteria on the surface of 6.5 square centimeters (1 sq in) of human skin at 50 million, though this figure varies greatly over the average 1.9 square meters (20 sq ft) of human skin. Oily surfaces, such as the face, may contain over 78 million bacteria per square centimeter (500 million per square inch). Despite these vast quantities, all of the bacteria found on the skin's surface would fit into a volume the size of a pea. In general, the microorganisms keep one another in check and are part of healthy skin. When the balance is disturbed, there may be an overgrowth and infection, such as when antibiotics kill microbes, resulting in an overgrowth of yeast. The skin is continuous with the inner epithelial lining of the body at the orifices, each of which supports its own complement of microbes.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, between 40 and 50 million Americans develop acne each year. Although many associate acne with adolescence, acne can occur at any age, with its causes including heredity, hormones, menstruation, food, and emotional stress.
Sun protection is an important aspect of skin care. Though the sun is beneficial in order for the human body to get its daily dose of vitamin D, unprotected excessive sunlight can cause extreme damage to the skin. Ultraviolet (UVA and UVB) radiation in the sun's rays can cause sunburn in varying degrees, early ageing and an increased risk of skin cancer. UV exposure can cause patches of uneven skin tone and dry out the skin. It can even reduce skin's elasticity and encourage sagging and wrinkle formation. Sunscreen can protect the skin from sun damage; sunscreen should be applied at least 20 minutes before exposure and should be re-applied every four hours. Sunscreen should be applied to all areas of the skin that will be exposed to sunlight, and at least a tablespoon (25 ml) should be applied to each limb, the face, chest, and back, to ensure thorough coverage. Many tinted moisturizers, foundations and primers now contain some form of SPF. Elderly people can have their skin age too.
Fine lines, bruising, spots, dry skin, and more can slowly, overtime become more apparent. Although wrinkles occur naturally as we age, smoking can worsen the appearance of wrinkles. As humans spend time in the sun, we aren't aware of the long-term effects. As time progresses, sunspots, dryness, wrinkles, or even cancer can occur from sun exposure. This can also occur by tanning either with the sun or with the usage of UV lights. The exposure to UV makes the skin less ecstatic. Skin problems including pruritus are common in the elderly but are often inadequately addressed. Moisturizers with humectants helped with skin dryness, and skin barrier occlusive reduced skin injuries. Sunblock is stronger than even sunscreen. Sunblock can block most of the UVA/UVB rays and radiation from the sun. It doesn't need to be reapplied several times a day. Healthy skin can be developed by eating foods with Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dark leafy green, nuts, and seeds. Several scientific studies confirmed that changes in baseline nutritional status affect skin condition.
Spinning Gold is a 2023 American biographical drama film. It was written by Timothy Soctt Bogart. It is based on the life of his farther, Casablanca Records founder Neil Bogart. The film shows the life of record producer and Casablanca Records founder Neil Bogart. Bogart worked with many iconic artists like Donna Summer, Kiss, Village People, Cameo, the Pips (without Gladys Knight), Cher, and Parliament. All of these artists were very popular in the 1970's and beyond. The film starred Jeremy Jordan (who played Neil Bogart), Wiz Khalifa (played George Clinton), Jason Isaacs (who played Al Bogatz), Jason Derulo (who played Ron Isley), Jay Pharoah (who played Cecil Holmes), Michelle Monaghan (who played Elizabeth Weiss-Bogart), Dan Fogler (who played Buck Reingold), and Sebastian Maniscalco (who was played by Giorgio Moroder. Moroder helped to invest in disco music). Ledisi played Gladys Knight, Tayla Parx played Donna Summer, Sam Harris played Paul Stanley, Pinks Sweats played Bill Withers, Chris Reed played Frankie Crocker, and James Wolk played Larry Harris.
The project was originally announced in September 2011, with Timothy Scott Bogart writing and directing the feature about his late father. Filming started on June 17, 2021, at New Jersey. The film was released in theaters on March 31, 2023. There is a controversy with the film. Berry Gordy filed a $10 million lawsuit against the filmmaker. Gordy accused the film of portraying him as a negative thug character (who acted on a murder for hire plot). Gordy said that the film defamed him as trying to put out a hit on Neil Bogart.
The film is about the Bogart family and the dream to cause a musical empire. The family formed Casablanca Record. The film shows Bogart being active in the development of songs made by Glady Knights and the Pips (in their song Midnight Train to Georgia), Donna Summer (in her song of Love-to-Love You Baby), etc. Drugs and music are shown in the movie as drug culture was prominent in mainstream music culture back then and today. Neil Bogart passed away in 1982. He was just 39 years old when he passed away. He was born in Brooklyn, New York City to a Jewish family being raised up in the Glenwood Houses, a housing project in the Flatlands section of Brooklyn. Shortly before his death, he founded Boardwalk Records and jumped on the new wave music movement, as disco was in decline. Joan Jett, Phil Seymour, and Harry Chapin were among his last signings. The movie should be used as part of the history of the time period. Music evolved from the doo-wop of the 1950's and early 1960's to the hard rock, new wave, disco, and contemporary R&B of the 1970's and beyond. Going Platinum, a book about Bogart, was published in 2014. It was written by his nephew Brett Ermilio and Josh Levine and published by Globe Pequot Press. Many of the artists who worked with Bogart have paid tribute to him including Donna Summer and others.
In a time of almost 80 years, we have seen a transformation of the world after the Normandy landings by the heroic Allied powers. Over the course of many decades, the fascism shown by the evil Axis Powers didn't end. We see a rise of anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and other evils plaguing the world. We have authoritarian leaders from Orban to others who don't care about democratic rights. We are in the midst of a 2024 Presidential election with Trump calling people who disagree with him "vermin" which harkens back to Nazi rhetoric. Like the fascists of the American Liberty League back in the 1930's and 1940's, we have a MAGA movement that rejects democracy, hates women, hates minorities (especially black and brown people), and seeks to obsess with cultural wars as a means to promote overt, heinous bigotry, not human or spiritual enlightenment. During the Normandy invasion, America, Britain, Canada, French freedom fighters, and other nations united for the goal of liberating millions of people from the tyranny of Nazism. General Dwight D. Eisenhower, General Omar Bradley, General Bernard Montgomery, and other leaders caused D-Day to be an overt victory over the forces of tyranny. The Nazis lost D-Day because of many reasons. Many Nazi forces were in Eastern Europe, the Allied forces used decoys to manipulate Nazi leaders, and the Normandy invasions were specifically planned for a positive result. D-Day involved the largest maritime invasion in human history with 156,000 soldiers and 195,700 naval personnel being used by the Allied heroes on the Western Front. Thousands of people lost their lives, and we remember their sacrifice to this very day. The Normandy landings came about on June 6, 1944, as part of Operation Overlord. France would be liberated fully, and this invasion laid a great foundation for the Allied victory on the Western Front indeed.
I know more information about my first cousin Viola Faltz Warren who was born on October 30, 1933, at Southampton County, Virginia. She married Lewis McCoy Warren Sr. on June 22, 1957, in Norfolk, Virginia. Their children are my 2nd cousins who are Louis McCoy Warren Jr. (b. 1961), Rene Elaine Warren Mebane (b. 1965), Darlene Warren, and Andrew Marvin Warren (b. 1967). Lewis McCoy Warren Jr. married Lisa Williams Warren (b. 1963), and their children are my 3rd cousins Arielle P. Warren (b. 1999) and Marshall Warren (b. 2001). Rene Elaine Warren Mebane made great contributions to the world as I did research on her life. She is the President of Arielle-Wren, Inc. She is also the Co-President of Noelle-Elaine Media, Inc., and she worked as a producer on CNBC from 1991 to 1994. She led many management, video, and virtual projects for corporations, celebrities, and politicians from Bernice King to Chris Tucker. She has been the lead producer for the National Urban League, NFL Foundation, etc. She is a graduate of Old Dominion University (in 1987) and has an M.A. from Columbia University. She earned the Southern Illinois University's postgraduate program in London and a Certificate in Finance from the New York Institute of Finance. Rene Elaine Warren Mebane is married to Ryan Keith Mebane (b. 1965). Now, how are these people related to me? Now, Viola Faltz Warren and her children and grandchildren are related to me, because we are all descendants of my 3rd great-grandparents of Rev. James Thompson Claud and Susanna Field Hurst-Turner. One child of Rev. James Thompson Claud and Susanna Field Hurst-Turner was Alice Rosetta Claud (1906-1988). Alice loved to play the guitar, and she married Joseph Nathan Faltz Sr. One of their children was Viola Faltz Warren (b. 1933). Viola Faltz Warren with Lewis McCoy Warren Sr. gave birth to Rene Elaine Warren Mebane, Darlene Warren, Lewis McCoy Warren Jr., and Andrew Marvin Warren. That is how everything comes together.
Black maternal issues have been sidelined by many in mainstream society. Yet, in the past few years, more voices have been speaking up about this important issue involving the human situation of maternity matters. According to many sources, black women are three times more likely to die in childbirth in comparison to white women. That statistic must change. There was a documentary released called "Aftershock" that detailed the personal stories of black women who passed away from childbirth. Maternal mortality is a real issue. According to the CDC, Black women’s chances of dying from pregnancy-related causes are three times higher than white women. The most recent CDC report shows in 2021, Black women’s rates rose from 55 to almost 70 deaths per 100,000 live births. While Black women gave birth less in 2021, they still died at higher rates, according to the data. The reasons are broad ranging from limited resources available to the systemic bias and racism in the healthcare field that Black women experience. These statistics prove that the Black maternal mortality crisis is an urgent matter. The documentary of Aftershock details the stories of two late mothers, Shamony Gibson and Amber Rose Isaac. It shows their stories and the partners and families of both Gibson and Isaac. Many activists and birth workers are fighting against systemic racism in order for black women to have adequate care without healthcare neglect which is common in many parts of the black community. The film’s creators Tonya Lewis Lee and Paula Eiselt, both experienced their very own unfortunate dealings with healthcare neglect and are now on a mission to help other mothers-to-be. Tonya Lewis Lee outlined her experiences in real life about how many women from across America needlessly die from childbirth complications. Safe births should be available for all women worldwide. Eiselt said that she experienced birth trauma and used her experiences to fight for solutions. The documentary is a solution-based situation where communities, medical schools, insurance companies, Congressional leaders, and healthcare providers must work together to solve this important problem. Angela Doyinsola Aina, the co-founder and executive director of Black Mamas Matter Alliance wants more to be done to address this issue systemically. This is why historically; midwives and doula care are important to empower black women with joy and a sense of celebration during their birthing process. People who receive care from midwives are less likely to have a preterm birth, less likely to have a C-section, and more likely to breastfeed. There are many solutions. There should be investments in doulas, and grassroots programs to help underfunded neighborhoods and address the leading causes of pregnancy-related death. There should be more diversity in medicine and medical-related jobs. Statistics show that black patients fare better when cared for by black doctors. Education should be encouraged to allow black people to be doctors. Safety strategies must be encouraged in hospitals and clinics. About 65 percent of black birthing people in America rely on Medicaid. So, expanding postpartum Medicaid benefits to a full year instead of 60 days (which is required under federal law) can improve the quality of care for mothers who give birth. There should be a program of having national paid family leave for mothers which is supported by most Americans. One study found that implementing telehealth for postpartum care amid the pandemic was linked to decreased racial disparities in postpartum visit attendance. Eliminating racial bias involving health care is very much key too. There should be no discrimination or discriminatory policies in any hospital worldwide. Supporting organizations about the work to solve problems must be clear too. At the end of the day, we are all about making solutions for human beings.
By Timothy
No comments:
Post a Comment