Nerdy Science Blog

Does your kid have asthma? Perhaps it’s a gene-linked disease.

In a genetic study of more than 2,000 children, scientists established that genetic markers on chromosome 17 had a striking effect on the risk of asthma in children. They also found that these markers altered the levels of a new gene called ORMDL3, which was at a higher level in the blood cells of children with asthma than in those without.

—— ScienceDaily: Gene Linked With Childhood Asthma Is Identified, Giving Hope For New Therapies

Both my brother and I had asthma when we were young, it was such an irritating thing. We did not have the freedom to drink cold drinks (coke used to be luxury to us) and can’t run around like other kids.

Asthma is a chronic disease of the respiration system. People having asthma often facing breathing difficulties when they encounter certain factors, such as allergens (animals, dust), irritants (air, odours), emotional factors and also illness.

Long-acting bronchodilator is a piece of equipment that asthma patient should carry around. One of the most common long-acting bronchodilator is Serevent (salmeterol), I used to carry this inhaler around with me when i was still an asthma patient.

(Picture Source)

What is Papular mucinosis?

“Papular mucinosis is a rare condition, where the dermal layer of the skin breaks into small and solid bumps, usually conical in shape. Unlike pustules, these bumps do not contain pus and usually come in clusters.

In the case of papular mucinosis, the papules contain mucin – which is a substance of mucus, the body’s natural and protective lubricant found in saliva and epithelial cells in lungs and the sensitive part of the nose.

There is no effective treatment for this condition and it has recently been reported in patients infected with the HIV/AIDS virus.”

source.

Papular mucinosis is a type of rare skin disease. It cripples a Berita Harian newsman, Karim Sulaiman, the winner of the 2001 Kajai Journalism Award, making him lies on the bed and losing ability even move even his own body.

The news was on Star recently, and it available online, at here.