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What Is Purinethol? Purinethol (mercaptopurine, 6-MP) is an oral chemotherapy medication used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Purinethol is a nucleoside metabolic inhibitor that belongs to the class of drugs called antimetabolites. Antimetabolites help stop the growth of cancer cells. This medication comes in tablet form. It is also available as a suspension (liquid) under the brand name Purixan. What Is Purinethol Used For? Purinethol is used in combination with other chemotherapy as part of a treatment regimen for adults and children with ALL....

A skin graft is a surgical procedure in which an area of skin that has been damaged to the point of being unable to repair itself is replaced with healthy skin. The healthy skin is usually removed from one area of a person’s body and transplanted to the damaged area, though skin from a donor can be used in some cases. This article will review the reasons for a skin graft, the procedure, as well as what to expect during surgery....

Spermicide is a form of birth control that is sold over the counter as suppositories, foam, cream, and other forms. The active ingredient in spermicide is nonoxynol-9, which kills sperm and blocks the entrance to the cervix so sperm can’t reach an egg. Spermicide is placed deep into the vagina just before intercourse. When used alone, it prevents pregnancy only around 72% of the time. It is commonly used along with a diaphragm, condom, or cervical cap....

As cold and flu season arrives, people may be looking for ways to support their immune systems and hopefully keep these illnesses at bay. Key Takeaways The findings of a recent systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that zinc supplements may help lessen the duration of a cold and the severity of its symptoms, even if a person is not deficient in the nutrient.The study found that specific forms of zinc supplements were more effective than others....

Although the opioid epidemic is a problem nationwide, it isn’t affecting the whole country equally. A new study finds that the crisis is disproportionately impacting certain hot spots and is most widespread in six states. Key Takeaways Although the opioid epidemic is nationwide, researchers have identified 25 hot spots throughout the country that are disproportionately affected. White males in their late 20s and early 30s are the most affected by opioid use disorder....

Thirdhand smoke is the nicotine and other chemicals from cigarettes that remain on surfaces well after someone has smoked. These residues can then be ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin, potentially increasing the risk of certain cancers and other serious diseases. Some of these chemicals can also mix with common indoor pollutants to create toxins harmful to smokers and non-smokers alike. Infants and small children are especially vulnerable to thirdhand smoke due to hand-to-mouth behaviors....

When someone approaches us to rant or complain about a past event, how do we respond? The first instinct might be to minimize the issue or emotion. We might say: “What’s all the big fuss about, anyway?” Key Takeaways A new study suggests that we should try validating, rather than invalidating, anger before exploring alternative solutions in a conversation with others.When participants recounted an anger-provoking event, those who weren’t validated in their angry emotions showed a decline in positive emotions....

Medicare is not a one-stop-shop. While it covers a wide breadth of services, it may leave you to fend for yourself when it comes to certain healthcare essentials as you grow older. For example, it doesn’t cover corrective lenses (e.g., contact lenses or eyeglasses), dentures, hearing aids, or white canes for the blind. Certain medications are off the table, too, even if you have a Part D prescription drug plan....

If you’re worried you might have gum disease, there’s a good reason for that. About half of U.S. adults have gum disease. It’s one of the most common reasons people see the dentist. Also called periodontal disease, this condition may have serious consequences for both dental and overall health. It’s a chronic condition that can progress quickly, with older people more at risk. In the worst cases, it leads to infected teeth that need to be removed....

Alkaline water has been touted to have benefits for people with cancer and for cancer prevention, but what does the research say? The theory behind alkaline water (or an alkaline diet) and cancer is that some cancer cells grow better in acidic environments. In addition, the tissue surrounding cancerous tumors tends to be, in fact, acidic. While the literature is relatively scant, it’s important to also look at what happens when alkaline water enters the tightly regulated milieu of the body....

The amygdala is the part of the brain primarily involved in emotion, memory, and the fight-or-flight response. It is one of two almond-shaped cell clusters located near the base of the brain. Together, the amygdalae (plural), also known as the amygdaloid complex, is an important part of the limbic system. The amygdalae interpret external stimuli like sights and sounds as potentially dangerous and send that information to the hippocampus. This process activates a release of energy so you can respond to and protect yourself from external threats (the flight-or-fight response)....

If you or your child has asthma, it is important that you recognize and treat the early warning signs of an asthma attack. The symptoms of an asthma attack include wheezing, a sense that you are struggling to breathe, and pale or blue fingers, toes, or lips. Early management may prevent a trip to the emergency room or admission to the hospital as the effects of an asthma attack can occur rapidly....

People with diabetes are encouraged to exercise daily, which can improve blood sugar control, boost self-esteem, foster healthy habits, and elevate mood. But, for people with diabetes, exercise can affect blood sugar levels. For athletes with diabetes, it is important to uncover how exercise affects blood sugar, as well as know what blood sugar levels are safe before, during, and after exercise and how to eat when exercising. This is especially important for parents of children with type 1 diabetes who are newly diagnosed or are too young to understand these difficult concepts....

Atripla is a single-pill, fixed-dose combination drug used to treat HIV in adults and older children. Approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2004, Atripla was the first all-in-one antiretroviral drug that required only one pill daily to achieve complete viral suppression. Atripla contains three different antiretroviral drugs: Efavirenz, a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) also sold as a single-drug tablet called SustivaEmtricitabine, a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) also known as FTC, available in a single-drug capsule called EmtrivaTenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), another NRTI also sold as a single-pill tablet called Viread Until 2015, Atripla was given preferred, first-line status in the treatment of HIV in the United States....

Bronchioles are air passages inside the lungs. They branch off like tree limbs from the bronchi—the two main air passages. Air flows into the bronchi from the trachea (windpipe) after being inhaled through the nose or mouth. The bronchioles function is to deliver air to tiny sacs called alveoli where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged. Bronchioles are vulnerable to conditions like asthma, bronchiolitis, cystic fibrosis, and emphysema that can cause constriction and/or obstruction of the airways....

Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is a rare condition involving severe, cyclical episodes of vomiting that are related to the long-term daily use of marijuana. CHS is considered a paradoxical effect, as several active substances in marijuana suppress nausea via their activity in the brain. The exact reason for the paradox isn’t yet understood, but the key to CHS is believed to involve two factors: marijuana’s interaction with the digestive system plus a lowered sensitivity to the drug’s neurological effects over time....

Chia seeds may have several benefits for digestion and the absorption of some components of the food you eat. Research into this is in the early stages, but potential digestive benefits of chia seed include improving intestinal tissue health, promoting the growth of beneficial gut bacteria (flora), altering absorption of some dietary components, and easing constipation. This article examines research into the potential digestive benefits of chia seeds, other health benefits, the possible risks, and how to add chia seeds to your diet....

Wherever you are on the patient pathway—having just been diagnosed with bladder cancer, embarking on treatment for it, or undergoing monitoring for recurrence—you are likely experiencing some anxiety and sense of unease. To give you some peace of mind, here are tips to guide you through your bladder cancer journey. Educate Yourself Knowledge is power and there is no exception when it comes to understanding your bladder cancer diagnosis. That said, bladder cancer is a particularly complex disease, so reading about it may seem overwhelming....

Computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans are imaging healthcare providers use to produce detailed images of internal anatomy. CT scans are quick and widely available. Providers use them to evaluate many conditions. MRI scans, though they’re slower and less widespread, can provide better soft tissue detail than CT scans can. This article will discuss the differences between CT and MRI scans. MRIs Healthcare providers use MRI scans to view detailed images inside the head, abdomen, legs, or joints....

About 132 people are diagnosed with oral cancer each day in the United States, according to the Oral Cancer Foundation. Perhaps a person undergoes a routine doctor, dental, or self-oral examination that reveals something suspicious, or perhaps it is a symptom, like a non-healing sore or persistent throat pain, that raises concern. Whatever the case, the diagnostic process for oral cancer begins with a visit to an ear-nose-throat (ENT) doctor, which usually involves a head and neck examination, endoscopy, biopsy, and imaging tests to confirm and determine the spread of oral cancer....