Pleural mesothelioma diagnosis is typically met with the striking news that a patient has less than a year or two to live. Early diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma can increase the likelihood of effective treatment. Identifying a level of protein from a specific gene might just be the key to early mesothelioma treatment.
Pleural mesothelioma is significantly more alarming than other asbestos-caused diseases such as asbestosis because of the high risk of death that comes along with the diagnosis of this cancer. However, the short life span that follows mesothelioma is often a result of its late diagnosis. If this asbestos caused cancer were to be diagnosed earlier, then potentially life-saving treatment could begin earlier.
Pleural mesothelioma and asbestosis are lung diseases that produce symptoms similar to hundreds of other potential respiratory illnesses and cancers. Although a history of working with asbestos is a strong indicator that asbestos may be the cause of a patient’s lung disease, many patients fail to mention their working history to their physicians, and many physicians dismiss the possibility of asbestos related disease because of its low reported statistics. These statistics, however, are vastly under-reported, as many countries do not have the access to the medical knowledge, equipment, or personnel to correctly determine and report asbestos-caused diseases. Asbestos use continues to thrive around the world, and the incidences of asbestos caused cancer and asbestosis will continue to thrive as well.
Medial researchers are trying to prepare for the future epidemic of asbestos illnesses that the asbestos workers of today will be suffering from in the upcoming decades. Although a cure for pleural mesothelioma is far off in the distance, medical researchers have found that a protein gene identified as osteoprontin exists in patients with this disease and their serum osteoprontin levels are six times higher than other lung disease patients. Osteoprontin is typically associated with the bones since it is a protein located in the bones. However, the gene is an active participant and an important player in bone remodeling, wound healing, and the immune system. The University of Bristol in the UK also found that the gene needs to be suppressed to prevent dangerous scarring of internal tissues and have begun to work on a gel to speed up wound healing that facilitates this suppression.
For patients suffering from undiagnosed respiratory illnesses, identifying an increase in serum osteoprontin can distinguish asbestos cancer from asbestosis or lung cancer. This will save years of unnecessary testing and expenses, provide the opportunity for early cancer treatment, and even increase the swiftness of processing asbestos workers’ compensation claims.
Pleural mesothelioma research, medical research on asbestosis, and medical research on other asbestos-related diseases continues to contribute valuable findings that can contribute to improving care and provide valuable medical insights that can be applied within multiple medical fields. Soluble mesothelin-related peptide is similar to osteoprontin, and is also a unique identifier of mesothelioma. Accessible medical access that can test individuals for both of these unique markers can have a significant impact on the health and longevity of today’s asbestos workers. Lung diseases may soon be more easily differentiated. But that isn’t enough. Medical accessibility must be improved around the world so today’s asbestos workers can get the early treatment they need to survive.
By: Avi Solutions
Showing posts with label asbestos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label asbestos. Show all posts
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Introduction To Asbestos: 10 Key Facts
1. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral which has been used for thousands of years!
2. The asbestos mineral is mined from the earth.
3. The asbestos mineral in its natural state is harmless.
4. Asbestos becomes potentially harmful to health when it is mined or used in the manufacture of other products, essentially once it is in dust or fibrous form and capable of being inhaled or swallowed it becomes potentially harmful to health and can cause asbestos disease.
5. Exposure to asbestos dust/fibres by way of inhalation and/or swallowing can lead to the development of one or more of the following asbestos diseases: malignant mesothelioma, asbestos lung cancer; asbestosis, pleural thickening and pleural plaques.
6. Malignant mesothelioma and asbestos lung cancer are, as their names suggest, forms of cancer and have no cure.
7. Asbestosis is scarring on the lungs which can cause problems with the respiratory system and whilst not so aggressive as malignant mesothelioma and asbestos lung cancer it usually gets worse over time. Although not normally a fatal condition in itself it often combines with other health issues to become a serious health issue.
8. Pleural thickening is thickening of the linings of the lungs and can cause symptoms of breathlessness and pain. Although not a fatal condition in itself it is evidence of exposure to asbestos and therefore a marker of the risks of developing one of the more serious asbestos diseases i.e. malignant mesothelioma or asbestos lung cancer.
9. Pleural plaques are patches of fibrosis (scarring) of the lungs and are often calcified. They rarely cause symptoms of breathlessness and pain. Although not a fatal condition in themselves, they are, like pleural thickening, they are evidence of exposure to asbestos and therefore a marker of the risks of developing the more serious asbestos diseases.
10. Despite pleural plaques representing scarring on the lungs sufferers are no longer entitled to receive compensation for them. This is despite the fact that for the 20 years or so prior to 2006 compensation was routinely paid by insurers for this condition! There is an important distinction to be made here and that is if the pleural plaques are causing symptoms eg pain and breathlessness the sufferer is entitled to compensation.
By: clicknige
2. The asbestos mineral is mined from the earth.
3. The asbestos mineral in its natural state is harmless.
4. Asbestos becomes potentially harmful to health when it is mined or used in the manufacture of other products, essentially once it is in dust or fibrous form and capable of being inhaled or swallowed it becomes potentially harmful to health and can cause asbestos disease.
5. Exposure to asbestos dust/fibres by way of inhalation and/or swallowing can lead to the development of one or more of the following asbestos diseases: malignant mesothelioma, asbestos lung cancer; asbestosis, pleural thickening and pleural plaques.
6. Malignant mesothelioma and asbestos lung cancer are, as their names suggest, forms of cancer and have no cure.
7. Asbestosis is scarring on the lungs which can cause problems with the respiratory system and whilst not so aggressive as malignant mesothelioma and asbestos lung cancer it usually gets worse over time. Although not normally a fatal condition in itself it often combines with other health issues to become a serious health issue.
8. Pleural thickening is thickening of the linings of the lungs and can cause symptoms of breathlessness and pain. Although not a fatal condition in itself it is evidence of exposure to asbestos and therefore a marker of the risks of developing one of the more serious asbestos diseases i.e. malignant mesothelioma or asbestos lung cancer.
9. Pleural plaques are patches of fibrosis (scarring) of the lungs and are often calcified. They rarely cause symptoms of breathlessness and pain. Although not a fatal condition in themselves, they are, like pleural thickening, they are evidence of exposure to asbestos and therefore a marker of the risks of developing the more serious asbestos diseases.
10. Despite pleural plaques representing scarring on the lungs sufferers are no longer entitled to receive compensation for them. This is despite the fact that for the 20 years or so prior to 2006 compensation was routinely paid by insurers for this condition! There is an important distinction to be made here and that is if the pleural plaques are causing symptoms eg pain and breathlessness the sufferer is entitled to compensation.
By: clicknige
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