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Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Chapters: Scurvy, Pernicious Anemia, Iron Deficiency Anemia, Folate Deficiency, Megaloblastic Anemia, Plummer-Vinson Syndrome. Excerpt:Folate deficiency Folate deficiency is a lack of folic acid in the diet and the signs are often subtle. Symptoms Loss of appetite , and weight loss can occur. Additional signs are weakness , sore tongue, headaches , heart palpitations , irritability , and behavioral disorders. Women with folate deficiency who become pregnant are more likely to give birth to low birth weight and premature infants, and infants with neural tube defects . In adults, anemia (Macrocytic, Megaloblastic anemia ) can be a sign of advanced folate deficiency. In infants and children, folate deficiency can slow growth rate. Late studies suggested an involvement in tumorogenesis (especially in colon) through demethylation/hypomethylation of fast replicating tissues. Some of the symptoms can also result from a variety of medical conditions other than folate deficiency. It is important to have a physician evaluate these symptoms so that appropriate medical care can be given. Depression Studies have shown that folate and vitamin B-12 status play a role in depression . The role of vitamin B-12 and folate in depression is due to their role in transmethylation reactions, which are crucial for the formation of neurotransmitters (e.g. serotonin , epinephrine , nicotinamides, purines , phospholipids ). Low levels of folate or vitamin B-12 can disrupt transmethylation reaction, leading to an accumulation of homocysteine (hyperhomocisteinemia) and to impaired metabolism of neurotransmitters (especially the hydroxylation of dopamine and serotonin from tyrosine and tryptophan ), phospholipids, myelin, and receptors. Hyperhomocysteinemia could also lead to vascular injuries by oxidative mechanisms... ... Read more

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High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Megaloblastic anemia (or megaloblastic anaemia) is an anemia (of macrocytic classification) that results from inhibition of DNA synthesis in red blood cell production. This is often due to deficiency of vitamin B12 and/or folic acid. Vitamin B12 deficiency alone will not cause the syndrome in the presence of sufficient folate, for the mechanism is loss of B12 dependent folate recycling, followed by folate-deficiency loss of nucleic acid synthesis, leading to defects in DNA synthesis. Megaloblastic anemia not due to hypovitaminosis may be caused by antimetabolites that poison DNA production directly, such as some chemotherapeutic or antimicrobial agents (for example azathioprine or trimethoprim). ... Read more

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The “Gale Encyclopedia of Science” is written at a level somewhere between the introductory sources and the highly technical texts currently available. This six-volume set covers all major areas of science and engineering, as well as mathematics and the medical and health sciences, while providing a comprehensive overview of current scientific knowledge and technology. Alphabetically arranged entries provide a user-friendly format that makes the broad scope of information easy to access and decipher. Entries typically describe scientific concepts, provide overviews of scientific areas and, in some cases, define terms.

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For the most honest, objective opinion, HealthScouter provides a patient's view of the most common medical problems. Including hundreds of quotes, questions, and answers from patients themselves, this guide provides comprehensive information about a single condition for from perspective that matters: the patient's perspective. Understand how current patients approach their medical challenges, and help overcome your own. This reference will help you see through obscure medical jargon and limited treatment options and empower you to better understand the issues that really matter: Diagnosis + Symptoms + What to Expect + Treatment Options + Medical Terminology ... Read more

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The article is excerpted fromGale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine.
"Gale's products are known to be thorough, well-researched, and good reference tools.This item is no exception...
This is a valuable resource for readers who are seeking information oncomplementary medicine and herbal remedies. The scope of thisencyclopedia is comprehensive, but not definitive. Readers should usethis as a supplement,.to professional healthcare consultation. Thissource has been a long-awaited product for the consolidation of generalalternative medicine information."
-- ARBA (2002)

Informationon recommended therapies for specific disorders and diseases, medicinaluses for plants and herbs are balanced by conclusions of studies onefficacy and analysis of current levels of acceptance by traditionalscientists and doctors. Biographies of pioneers in the field --including Deepak Chopra, Edward Bach and David Palmer --appear assidebars through the text. Included are 39 sidebars. Each volumecontains a color photo insert containing images of herbs. There aremore than 275 disease/condition entries, 300 herb/remedy entries, and150 therapies. ... Read more

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Megaloblastic anaemia is a common disorder encountered in daily haematological practice. The possibility of such diagnosis needs to be considered with every blood count showing an increase in red cell size. The clinical importance of megaloblastic anaemia is that it is commonly due to a deficiency of either folate or cobalamin (vitamin B12). Therapy with the appropriate vitamin produces very gratifying clinical benefits. Although a clinical suspicion of megaloblastic anaemia may initiate appropriate investigations, diagnosis must be made in the laboratory from examination of the blood and marrow. The book has been considerably shortened for the new edition, nevertheless is a full account of the field for the practising haematologist and for the student specialising in haematology ... Read more

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The folate and cobalamin vitamins are extensively analyzed in this volume multi-authored by international experts. A variety of perspectives covers biochemical, metabolic, nutritional, and other medical aspects. The clinical aspects deal with the various consequences of a deficiency in both infants and adults; the therapeutic aspects include studies on methotrexate pharmacokinetics. The relationship between these vitamins and some pediatric, gastroenterologic, neurologic, and geriatric diseases is successively presented in this book; it serves as a complete overview to the numerous fields in which folate and cobalamin are involved. ... Read more