Information Television Network
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English
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The shock and stigma that often follow a genital herpes diagnosis are difficult to overcome. This program deals with the physical side of the disease-explaining how it is contracted, how it manifests itself, and how it can be treated-as well as its social and emotional impact. Interviews with distinguished medical professionals shed light on specific developments in the fight against genital herpes, including the advent of powerful antiviral drugs,...
2) Lyme Disease
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English
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With wild deer and deer ticks increasingly common in suburban areas, Lyme disease has become a serious public health threat. This program familiarizes viewers with the symptoms of and treatments for Lyme disease, while providing additional information on how to prevent deer tick bites. Case studies feature a woman hospitalized with the illness after sustaining a tick bite hidden in her hair, and two patients who both contracted Lyme disease from deer...
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Chemical irritants can cause a debilitating sensitivity or even a chemical injury. This program examines the all-too-common threat of chemical exposure-often from products and materials found in the average home or office building. Showing how contaminants and irritants can travel through heating and air conditioning ducts, the program highlights a case study in which a woman developed rashes, swelling, and difficulty breathing due to chemicals in...
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When antibiotics first came on the scene, deaths from pneumonia plunged. But the microbes that cause the lung infection are resilient and continue to evolve, creating new strains that don't respond to conventional drugs. This program tours a high-tech medical lab where super-bacteria are identified, illuminates ongoing research into fighting drug-resistant MRSA, and explains why serious pneumonia cases can put doctors in a race against time. Expert...
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For patients in need of an organ, the wait, not the surgery, is often the more life-threatening factor. After a concise overview of cadaveric organ transplants, this program shifts its focus to living donor organ transplants. Three liver transplant case studies-young mother to baby daughter, adult daughter to elderly mother, and adult son to elderly father-spotlight pioneering surgeon Nancy Ascher and other transplant specialists in action. Close-ups...
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Angina pectoris is the clinical term for chest pain due to coronary heart disease, and hypertension translates to high blood pressure-two potentially life-threatening conditions that affect 10 million Americans every year. In this program, William Frishman, of New York Medical College; Steve Glasser, of the University of Minnesota; and Henry Black, of Rush Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center in Chicago, address the causes and effects of those conditions....
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Just a generation ago, pediatric cancers were almost always fatal. But today, 80 percent of childhood cancers are cured-young patients are disease-free and go on to live a normal life span. This program explores how doctors and researchers achieved this milestone, considered one of the greatest success stories in modern medicine. Also, scientists detail how research into pediatric cancer helped oncologists to develop effective anticancer regimens...
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According to the American Lung Association, flu and pneumonia are jointly ranked as the seventh leading cause of death in the United States-hence, the critical importance of flu and pneumococcus vaccines in preparation for winter. This program outlines the science behind influenza and pneumonia and the conditions, both hygienic and environmental, that contribute to the spread of dangerous viruses and bacteria. Engaging animation sequences, compelling...
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For millions of people with respiratory illnesses, every breath is a struggle for life. Free to Breathe, Free to Live is a reality-style documentary that allows viewers to step inside the lives of patients who are grappling with respiratory diseases-and winning. Children attending specialized camps for youths with asthma are spotlighted, as are a number of adults battling a variety of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, including emphysema and...
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This program shows viewers how to sign each letter of the alphabet, then demonstrates the signs for introductions and greetings, family members, rooms in the house, animals, and question forms. Segments of the video are displayed first without and then with text so that viewers can test their understanding, and a story section allows for assessment of comprehension of longer conversations.
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Whether it occurs in mild, moderate, or severe cases, hemophilia is a serious and sometimes frightening disease. This program explores the basic aspects of hemophilia and features case studies of patients who are successfully managing the condition. Illustrating the lack of specific blood proteins, or clotting factors, at the root of hemophilia, the program explains both Type A and Type B varieties and shows how treatments have evolved over the decades....
12) Narcolepsy
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English
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At various moments throughout the day, people with narcolepsy experience a sudden urge to sleep. If the urge becomes overwhelming, they may sleep for periods lasting from a few seconds to several minutes. This program examines the chronic neurological disorder and its connection to the brain's inability to regulate the correct times for sleeping and waking. Illustrating the profoundly debilitating aspects of the condition-which makes basic activities...
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In the past, esophageal cancer was linked to heavy smoking and drinking, but recent research points to a new culprit: acid reflux. This program examines the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of esophageal cancer. Case studies and commentary from leading medical experts in the field elucidate the causal chain between age; obesity; gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD; and Barrett's esophagus, a precursor to esophageal cancer. Gastroenterologists...
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Sometimes, the normal aches and pains of the aging process can indicate a more serious underlying medical condition. This program focuses on the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of one such condition: carpal tunnel syndrome. Host Dr. Kevin Soden discusses how CTS arises and its diagnosis with hand surgeon Ken Means, while physical therapist Steve Moxie explains the various treatment options for patients diagnosed with the disorder. The patient's...
15) Skin cancer
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English
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In this program, Dr. Kevin Soden, along with Johns Hopkins dermatologist Rebecca Kazin, provides an overview of the causes, detection, and treatment of skin cancer. In a question-and-answer session, they explore the ABCD&Es of skin cancer detection as well as some of the common myths about sun exposure. Additionally, Dr. Kazin discusses with Dr. Soden the three major types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma....
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While some eye infections are common and treatable-such as conjunctivitis, or pinkeye-other infections are more serious and, in a matter of hours, can totally destroy a patient's eyesight. This program features case studies involving typical and extreme eye infections, explores ways to prevent and treat related complications, and looks at what's on the horizon related to eye infection research. Topics include the special care needed by seniors and...
17) Migraines
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English
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In terms of lost and reduced productivity, migraines cost U.S. employers more than $10 billion each year. How can these debilitating headaches be prevented? Using case studies, this program discusses the biomechanics of migraine, including postmonitory and postdromal phases; diagnosis of migraine; and treatment of migraine with beta-blockers and neuromodulators as well as with biofeedback and dietary supplements such as coenzyme Q-10 and vitamin B-10....
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As much as one-fifth of all cancers are caused by viruses - some that we encounter every day. If we fail to develop a comprehensive understanding of how these viruses work, we may soon be faced with a cancer pandemic. Human papilloma viruses (HPVs) are a diverse family of DNA viruses that commonly infect the skin and mucosal membranes of humans. This science bulletin will follow recent investigations into HPV, dispelling myths about treatment and...
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NASA's Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) is an audacious mission to track the impact of climate change on the planet's vast tracts of freshwater, saltwater, and ice. GRACE's pair of satellites responds to the gravitational pull of these massive stores, effectively "weighing" Earth's shifting water resources month by month. The satellites can detect where water is accumulating and drying up on a grand scale - data that were unavailable...
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Our understanding of lymphoma is rapidly developing, with several varieties now identified. Beginning with a brief history of how medical science became aware of lymphatic cancer and providing an outline of the basic concepts involved, this program then distinguishes between Hodgkin's and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, illustrates the difference between B-Cell and T-Cell Lymphoma, and explores other topics related to the disease. Typical symptoms and their...