Roundworms – Hookworms

March/April 2012 ISSN-1059-6518 Volume 25 Number 2

THE WORLD OF HELMINTHES – PARASITIC WORMS

NEMATODA – ROUNDWORMS:

 BY Frank Hubbell, DO

In the previous several issues of the WMNL, we discussed the Phylum of parasitic tapeworms Cestoda. Over the next several issues of the WMNL, we will explore the group of parasitic roundworms – the Nematodes.

 

Nematodes are considered to the most diverse orders of animals on earth. Estimated that there are over 1,000,000 species of nematodes, 28,000 species have been described.

16,000 of these species are parasitic, of which approximately a dozen parasitize humans.

It has often been noted, that every living thing on earth, whether plant or animal, harbors so many harmless nematodes in their “body” structures, that if all of their body tissues were to disappear, the nematodes left behind would still define their shape and cast a recognizable shadow.

One of the distinctive characteristics of Nematodes, roundworms, is that they have a tubular digestive system with an opening at both ends.

 

Parasitic Nematodes:

 

Necator americanis / Ancylostoma duodenale – hookworm

Ancylostoma braziliense – cutaneous larva migrans

Strongyloides stercoralis – threadworm

Ascariasis lumbricoides  – giant roundworm

Dracunculus medinensis – guinea worm

Enterobius vermicularis – pinworm, threadworm, seatworm

Wucheria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, Brugia timori – lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis)

Onchocerca volvulus – river blindness

Trichuris trichiura – whipworm

Trichinella spiralis – trichinosis

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Shoulder Injuries

ISSN-1059-6518

Shoulder Injuries

By Frank Hubbell, DO

Illustrations by T.B.R. Walsh

THE SCENE:

It all happened so quickly, ugh, gravity. We so often forget how hard gravity is constantly pulling against us, keeping us firmly anchored to this planet. So, before I knew it, what had been a leisurely hike on a beautiful spring day went from a time of great joy to overwhelming pain in my right shoulder. I was crossing a shallow stream, stepping from stone-to-stone when my foot slipped on the wet, mossy surface, and down I went. In an instant I threw my right arm forward in an effort to control the fall. As my right hand impacted the ground, and I rolled onto my side to avoid most of the watery landing, I felt intense pain tear through my right shoulder, the type of pain that is nauseating.

 

Sitting in 6 inches of cool, clear, mountain water leaning forward, supporting my right elbow with my left hand, I tried to gently elevate the right arm in an effort to find a position of comfort. But to no avail – my shoulder was determined to make sure that I would never forget what a ten feels like on the pain scale.

 

THE PROBLEM:

Shoulder injuries are one of the most common orthopedic problems. There are approximately 7.5 million office visits in the USA per year for shoulder problems, of which around 4 million are for rotator cuff injuries. This high incidence of shoulder problems stems from the fact that the shoulder is the most susceptible joint in the body for injury, simply because shoulders have the greatest range of motion of any joint in the body.

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Vaccines – Hepatitis A and B

January/February ISSN-1059-6518 Volume 25 Number 1

By Frank Hubbell, DO

What is Hepatitis?

 

By definition hepatitis is inflammation of the hepatocytes, the cells of the liver. This inflammation can be caused by alcohol, drugs, toxins, autoimmune diseases, cancer, or infectious disease. In this article we will focus on inflammation caused by an infection from a virus, specifically Hepatitis A Virus (HAV) and Hepatitis B Virus (HBV).

 

There are at least 5 different viruses that cause hepatitis: Hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. The only ones for which we have vaccines, so far, are Hepatitis A and B. A vaccine for hepatitis C is in development. (There is also suspected hepatitis F and G that are currently under investigation.)

 

Who Cares? What does your liver do?

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Recognition and Management of Hip Injuries

ISSN-1059-6518

By Frank Hubbell, DO

Illustrations By T.B.R. Walsh

In the previous issue of the WMNL, we discussed recognition and management of knee injuries. In this edition of the newsletter, we will take a similar look at the other end of the femur, the hip.

 

Facts about hip injuries in the USA:

There are about 350,000 hip fractures per year.

90% of the hip fractures are due to simple falls.

There are about 350,000 total hip replacements per year due to arthritis.

30% of orthopedic hospital admissions are due to hip problems.

50% of hospital admissions days are for hip problems.

Hip fractures are 3 times more likely in women than men.

Women have a 1 in 7 chance of a hip fracture in their lifetime.

The average cost of a total hip replacement is $26,000.

The total cost of hip injuries is approximately $28 billion per year.

 

Anatomy of the Hip:

 

The anatomy of the hip consists of the hip joint itself and a complex arrangement of muscles around the hip that provide movement to the upper leg. A very simple ball and socket arrangement, the hip joint is referred to as a spheroidal joint.

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