Prostate Specific Antigen

Prostate Specific Antigen

(Source: Internet: http://www.prostatecancerguide.net/PSA-test)

 

1. The levels of serine protease enzyme produced in the prostate which is commonly known as prostate specific antigen and abbreviated to PSA.

2. Determination of PSA levels can be used to gauge the likelihood that the patient has developed prostate cancer or not.

3. The PSA test is generally taken in parallel with the digital rectal examination to ensure more accurate diagnosis.

4. Men normally have a low level of PSA in the blood stream; levels of PSA can become elevated if prostate function is disrupted.

5. Elevated PSA levels alone are not necessary an indicator of cancer, as infections of the prostate and benign growths may also lead to leakage of PSA into the bloodstream.

6. Other factors that increase the prostate specific antigen levels in a test include recent ejaculation and bike riding. It has been recorded many times that patients with a high PSA score do not have cancerous growth of the prostate.

7. The levels of PSA are also very dependent upon age and the size of the prostate, generally older people and larger prostates result in a naturally higher level of PSA’s. Conversely many drugs, such as those given to combat benign prostate hyperplasia can lead to a lowering of PSA levels and hence mask detection of cancerous growth. PSaA is measured in nano-grams per millilitre and is normally in the range of 0.1 to 4.

8. There are two forms of PSA present in the bloodstream, those bound to alpha antichymotrypsin, which are the most abundant form, and free PSA. It is generally considered that by analyzing the percentage of free PSA together with total PSA (defined as percent-free PSA) will lead to a better PSA test result interpretation and a more accurate diagnostics of the chance of a patient having prostate cancer.

9. Patients with PSA test results of between 4 and 10 are normally considered borderline patients; the level of percent free PSA well then determine if a biopsy is required. If percent-free PSA test numbers are 10% or less then the chance of having cancer is about 50%. Normally a doctor will recommend a patient has a biopsy if percent-free PSA readings are less than 25%.

10. It is recommended that both a digital rectal examination and a Protein specific antigen test are carried out together.

'Salt intake not linked to heart disease'

'Salt intake not linked to heart disease'

TNN , Jul 7, 2011, 06.03am IST
(Source: Times of India newspaper on Internet; The following interesting news from Times of India newspaper is being posted for general awarness).
 
LONDON: For years, doctors have been saying that too much salt is bad for health. Yet, a new study claims that it's safe to eat - and cutting its intake does nothing to lower risk of having heart disease. High levels of salt have long been linked to a greater risk of developing hypertension , heart attacks and strokes. Now, researchers at the University of Exeter claim to have found evidence that although blood pressure is reduced when salt intake is cut, there're actually no longterm health benefits, the 'Daily Express' reported. They reviewed seven researches that looked at 6,489 people, which they said was a large enough set of data from which to draw conclusions. Most researches recommen ded a reduction of 50% of nor mal salt intake. A person's daily salt intake from the research papers reviewed was on average 8-9 g a day, so the reduction was to around 4g. But this had no long-term health benefit. "Encouragement to reduce salt intake did lead to a reduction in salt eaten and a small reduction in BP after six months. "What we wanted to see was whether this dietary change also reduced a person's risk suffering from cardiovascular events," author Prof Rod Taylor said.