gigantism

Related phrases: pituitary gigantism local gigantism island gigantism deep-sea gigantism

Definitions of gigantism on the Web:

development to abnormally large size from excessive growth of the long bones accompanied by muscular weakness and sexual impotence and usually ...
www.virtualtrials.com/dictionary.cfm

(ji-gan´tiz´´em) Abnormal body growth as a result of the excessive secretion of growth hormone.
www.mhhe.com/biosci/abio/defs.mhtml

abnormally tall stature and or excessive growth
www.proteus-uk.org/glossary.html

Disorder in which the body and body parts grow too big (acromegaly)
www.umdnj.edu/hsweb/research_glossary/g.htm

giantism: excessive size; usually caused by excessive secretion of growth hormone from the pituitary gland

excessive largeness of stature
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

Gigantism or giantism, (from Greek gigas, gigantas "") is a condition characterized by excessive height growth. As a medical term, gigantism is rarely used except to refer to the rare condition of pituitary gigantism due to prepubertal growth hormone excess. ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gigantism

People deemed tallest living

People deemed tallest living

[edit] Tallest living (current)

• Leonid Stadnyk - Confirmed tallest living person by Guinness World Records at 8'6" (257 cm).^[1]
• Yao Defen - Confirmed tallest living female by Guinness World Records at 7'9" (234 cm).
• Sandy Allen - Confirmed second tallest living female by Guinness World Records at 7'7¼" (232 cm).^[2]

[edit] Claimants for tallest living

• Ajaz Ahmed - Pakistani claimant supposedly at 8'6" (259 cm).^[3]

[edit] Formerly tallest living

• Robert Wadlow - The tallest person ever at 8'11" (272 cm)
• Vikas Uppal - Indian claimant for "tallest youth" who died in 2007 at 8'3" (251 cm).^[4]
• Bao Xishun - Formerly considered tallest living person at 7'9" (236 cm).^[5]
• Radhouane Charbib - Listed by Guinness World Records as tallest man before Bao Xishin at 7'8¾" (235 cm).^[6]
• Alam Channa - Considered to be the tallest living man when he died in 1998 at 7'7¼" (232 cm).^[7][8]
• Gabriel Estêvão Monjane - Guinness World Records listed him as tallest man from 1988 to 1990 at 8'1" (246 cm).
• Jane Bunford - The world's tallest ever woman (until Zeng Jinlian) and possibly the world's tallest person at the time of her death in April 1922 at 7'7" (231 cm). Due to a curved spine she could not stand up straight. After her death she was measured to be at 7'11" (241 cm).^[9]

[edit] Tallest in varied fields or endeavors

[edit] Tallest in varied sports

• Suleiman Ali Nashnush - Libyan who is believed to have been the tallest basketball player ever at 8'½" (245 cm).^[10]
• Sultan Kosen - Turkish, tallest living basketball player and claimant for tallest player ever at 8' (244 cm). Bad posture prevented him from standing upright. After his back operation, his height was recorded at 8'4¾" (256 cm).
• Sun Ming Ming - Tallest basketball player to play in the United States at 7'9" (236 cm).^[11]
• Gheorghe Mureşan - Tied for tallest in NBA history at 7'7" (231 cm).
• Manute Bol - Tied for tallest in NBA history at 7'7" (231 cm).
• Mika Koivuniemi - Tallest known Title Holder in Professional Bowlers Association at 6'4" (193 cm).^[12]
• Margo Dydek - Tallest in the WNBA as of 2005 at 7'2" (218cm).^[13]
• Yao Ming - Yao is currently the tallest player in the NBA at 7'7" (243 cm).
• Kenny George - Tallest Division I basketball player at 7'7" (231 cm).
• Zdeno Chára - Tallest player in National Hockey League history at 6'9" (206 cm).^[14]
• Jon Rauch - Tallest player in Major League Baseball at 6'11" (211 cm).^[15]
• Aaron Sandilands - Tallest player ever featured in Australian Football League at 6'11" (211 cm).^[16]
• Richard Sligh - Tallest player in NFL history at 7' (213 cm).^[17]
• Joel Garner and Bruce Reid - Two of the tallest international cricketers at 6'8" (203 cm), Chris Tremlett is currently still active at 6'7" (201 cm).^[18]
• Richard Metcalfe - ex-Scottish International Rugby player, and the world's tallest International rugby player at 7'0" (213 cm).^[19]
• Phil Blackmar^[20] - Tallest golfer on the PGA Tour at 6'7" (201 cm).^[21]
• Kenny George- Currently the tallest collegiate basketball player in the USA at 7'7" (231 cm) weighing at 360 lbs (164 kg) being. He is the center for UNC-Asheville.^[22]
• Choi Hong-man- Standing at 218 cm (7'2") and weighing around 360 lbs (164 kg), he is the largest combative sport competitor in the world, even bigger and heavier than the former WBA Heavyweight Champion Nicolay Valuev who was at 7'1" (216 cm) and weighed 326 lbs (148 kg).
• Tor Hogne Aaroy - Tallest football player at 6'8⅓" (204 cm). Plays for Aalesunds FK
• Ivo Karlovic - Tallest ever, and current tallest, professional male tennis player on the ATP Tour at 6'10" (208 cm).
• Akgul Amanmuradova - Current tallest professional female tennis player on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour at 6'3" (191 cm).

[edit] Tallest professional wrestlers

• Giant Gonzales - Believed to be the tallest professional wrestler ever whose height varies between 7'6" and 7'7" depending on the source, but was billed as being 8'
• The Great Khali - Reported to be the tallest wrestler in World Wrestling Entertainment today at 7'3" (221 cm).
• The Big Show - One of the tallest wrestlers at 7', though billed as being 7'5"
• Kane - One of the other tallest wrestlers at 7'
• Andre Rene Roussimoff - The 2nd tallest pro wrestler ever, he was 7'4" when he died.

[edit] Tallest actors

• Matthew McGrory - Tallest actor at 7'6" (229 cm) when he died.^[23]
• James Cromwell - Tallest Academy Award nominated actor at 6'7" (201 cm).^[24]
• Tim Robbins - Tallest Academy Award winning actor at 6'5" (196 cm).^[25]
• Tamara Dobson - It's claimed she was the tallest actress to play lead roles at 6'2" (188 cm).^[26]

[edit] Tallest living in varied nations

• Neil Fingleton - Tallest person born in UK at 7'8" (233 cm).^[27][28]
• Jerry Sokoloski - Tallest Canadian at 7'5" (226 cm) and 311 lbs (141 kg).^[29]
• Pier Gerlofs Donia - Tallest Dutch/Frisian standing at 7'5" (226 cm).

tallest people in the world

People over 8' tall (244 cm)

[edit] Year of Birth listing: Individuals in medical history reaching 8' (244 cm) or greater in height

• Patrick Cotter O'Brien (46) - (1760 - 1806), Irish: 8'1" (246 cm).
• Julius Koch (29) - (1872 - 1902), German: 8'1" (246 cm).
• Édouard Beaupré (23) - (1881 - 1904), Canadian: 8'3" (252 cm).
• Bernard Coyne (23) - (1897 - 1921), American (US): 8'2" (249 cm).
• Väinö Myllyrinne (54) - (1909 - 1963), Finnish: 8'1¼".
• Robert Wadlow (22) - (1918 - 1940), American (US): 9'0 (274cm) - Tallest person in medical history for whom there is irrefutable evidence.
• Don Koehler (55) - (1925 - 1981), American (US): 8'2" (249 cm).
• John F. Carroll (37) - (1932 - 1969), American (US): Stood 8' (244 cm) tall because of spinal curvature, full height 8'7¾" (264 cm).
• Suleiman Ali Nashnush (48) - (1943 - 1991), Libyan: 8'½" (245 cm).
• Gabriel Estêvão Monjane (46) - (1944 - 1990), Mozambiquan: 8'1" (246 cm).
• Zeng Jinlian (17) - (1964 - 1982), Chinese: 8'2" (249 cm) - Tallest female in medical history for whom there is irrefutable evidence and only female to reach a height of 8' (244 cm).
• Leonid Stadnyk (36*) - (born 1971), Ukrainian: 8'5" (257 cm).

Note that most of these people had medical conditions which led to their enormous height and generally to a short lifespan as well. The average age at death was only 36, and none reached 56 years.

COLD AND FLU

Cold & Flu Center
Is it a cold or the flu?

Stuffy, runny nose, sore throat, hoarseness, and a cough. Do you have common cold symptoms? Read More About the Common Cold »

Fever, cough, stuffy, runny nose, headache, fatigue and muscle aches. Do you have flu symptoms? Read More About the Flu »

* Cold & Flu
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* Aches, Pain, Fever
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* Common Cold
* Flu

What is the common cold, and what causes it?

The common cold, also known as a viral upper respiratory tract infection, is a contagious illness that can be caused by a number of different types of viruses. Because of the great number of viruses that can cause a cold and because new cold viruses develop, the body never builds up resistance against all of them. For this reason, colds are a frequent and recurring problem. In fact, on average, preschool children have nine colds a year, those in kindergarten, 12 colds a year; and adolescents and adults, seven colds per year.

What are the symptoms of the common cold?

Symptoms of a common cold include nasal stuffiness and drainage, sore throat, hoarseness, cough, and perhaps a fever and headache. Many people with a cold feel tired and achy. These symptoms typically last from three to 10 days.

How is the common cold spread?

The common cold is spread mostly by hand-to-hand contact. For example, a person with a cold blows or touches his or her nose and then touches someone else who then becomes infected with the virus. Additionally, the cold virus can live on objects such as pens, books, and coffee cups for several hours and can be acquired from such objects. While common sense would suggest that coughing and sneezing spread the common cold, these are actually very poor mechanisms for spreading a cold.

Does it have anything to do with exposure to cold weather?

Going out into the cold weather has no effect on the spread of a cold. The reason that there appears to be a relationship is that people spend more time indoors during the cold winter weather. In fact, however, it is the proximity to other people rather than the temperature outside that seems to be the culprit. For this same reason, children in daycare or kindergarten are particularly prone to having colds.

What is influenza?

Influenza, commonly called "the flu," is an illness caused by viruses that infect the respiratory tract. Compared with most other viral respiratory infections, such as the common cold, influenza (flu) infection often causes a more severe illness with a mortality rate (death rate) of about 0.1% of people who are infected with the virus. Unusually severe worldwide outbreaks (pandemics) have occurred several times in the last 100 years since influenza virus was identified in 1933. By an examination of preserved tissue, the worst influenza pandemic occurred in 1918 when the virus caused between 40 to 100 million deaths with a mortality rate estimated to range from 2% to 20%.

Haemophilus influenzae is a bacterium that was incorrectly considered to cause the flu until the virus was demonstrated to be the correct cause in 1933. This bacterium can cause lung infections in infants and children, and it occasionally causes ear, eye, sinus, joint, and a few other infections, but not the flu.

What are the causes of the flu?

The flu (influenza) viruses

Influenza viruses are divided into three types, designated A, B, and C. Influenza types A and B are responsible for epidemics of respiratory illness that occur almost every winter and are often associated with increased rates of hospitalization and death. Influenza type C differs from types A and B in some important ways. Type C infection usually causes either a very mild respiratory illness or no symptoms at all; it does not cause epidemics and does not have the severe public health impact of influenza types A and B. Efforts to control the impact of influenza are aimed at types A and B, and the remainder of this discussion will be devoted only to these two types.

Influenza viruses continually change over time, usually by mutation (change in the viral RNA). This constant changing often enables the virus to evade the immune system of the host (humans, birds, and other animals) so that the host is susceptible to changing influenza virus infections throughout life. This process works as follows: a host infected with influenza virus develops antibody against that virus; as the virus changes, the "first" antibody no longer recognizes the "newer" virus and reinfection can occur. The first antibody may in some instances provide partial protection against reinfection with an influenza virus.

Type A viruses are divided into types based on differences in two viral surface proteins called the hemagglutinin (H) and the neuraminidase (N). There are 16 known H subtypes and nine known N subtypes. These surface proteins can occur in many combinations. When spread by droplets or direct contact, the virus, if not killed by the host's immune system, replicates in the respiratory tract and damages host cells.
Illustration of Influenza Virus

Antigenic shift and drift

Influenza type A viruses undergo two kinds of changes. One is a series of mutations that occurs over time and causes a gradual evolution of the virus. This is called antigenic "drift." The other kind of change is an abrupt change in the hemagglutinin and/or the neuraminidase proteins. This is called antigenic "shift." In this case, a new subtype of the virus suddenly emerges. Type A viruses undergo both kinds of changes; influenza type B viruses change only by the more gradual process of antigenic drift and therefore do not cause pandemics.

hematemesis and melena

Definition of Hematemesis

Hematemesis: The medical term for bloody vomitus.

The word "hematemesis" is made up of "hema-", blood + "emesis", vomit = bloody vomit.



Definition of Melena

Melena: Stools or vomit stained black by blood pigment or dark blood products.

digestive disease: nausea and vomiting

Digestive Diseases: Nausea and Vomiting

* What causes nausea or vomiting?
* Is vomiting harmful?
* When to call the doctor regarding nausea or vomiting
* How is vomiting treated?
* How can I prevent nausea?
* How do I prevent vomiting once I feel nauseated?
* Children: prevent vomiting once feeling nauseated

Nausea is an uneasiness of the stomach that often precedes vomiting. Vomiting is the forcible voluntary or involuntary emptying ("throwing up") of stomach contents through the mouth.

What causes nausea or vomiting?

Nausea and vomiting are not diseases, but they are symptoms of many conditions such as:

* Motion sickness or seasickness
* Early stages of pregnancy (nausea occurs in 50%-90% of all pregnancies; vomiting in 25%-55%)
* Medication induced vomiting
* Intense pain
* Emotional stress (fear)
* Gallbladder disease
* Food poisoning
* Infections (such as the "stomach flu")
* Overeating
* A reaction to certain smells or odors
* Heart attack
* Concussion or brain injury
* Brain tumor
* Ulcers
* Some forms of cancer
* Bulimia or other psychological illnesses
* Gastroparesis (a condition seen in people with diabetes)

The causes of vomiting differ according to age. For children, it is common for vomiting to occur from a viral infection, food poisoning, milk allergy, motion sickness, overeating or feeding, coughing, or blocked intestines and illnesses in which the child has a high fever.

The timing of the nausea or vomiting can indicate the cause. When appearing shortly after a meal, nausea or vomiting may be caused by food poisoning, gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining), an ulcer or bulimia. Nausea or vomiting one to eight hours after a meal may also indicate food poisoning. However, certain food borne bacteria, such as salmonella, can take longer to produce symptoms.

Is vomiting harmful?

Usually vomiting is harmless, but it can be a sign of a more serious illness. Some examples of serious conditions that may result in nausea or vomiting include concussions, meningitis (infection of the membrane linings of the brain), intestinal blockage, appendicitis and brain tumors.

Another concern is dehydration. Adults have a lower risk of becoming dehydrated because they can usually detect the symptoms of dehydration (such as increased thirst and dry lips or mouth). But, children have a greater risk of becoming dehydrated, especially if they also have diarrhea, because young children are often unable to communicate symptoms of dehydration. Adults caring for sick children need to be aware of these visible signs of dehydration: dry lips and mouth, sunken eyes and rapid breathing or pulse. In infants, also watch for decreased urination and a sunken fontanelle (soft spot on top of the baby's head).

Recurrent vomiting in pregnancy can lead to a serious condition called hyperemesis gravidarum where the mother may develop fluid and mineral imbalances that can endanger her life or that of her unborn child.

When to call the doctor

Call a doctor:

* If the nausea lasts for more than a few days or or if there is a possibility of being pregnant.
* If home treatment is not working, dehydration is present, or a known injury has occurred (such as head injury or infection) that may be causing the vomiting.
* Adults should consult a doctor if vomiting occurs for more than one day, diarrhea and vomiting last more than 24 hours, or there are signs of moderate dehydration.
* Take your infant or child under six years to the doctor if vomiting lasts more than a few hours, diarrhea is present, signs of dehydration occur, there is a fever higher than 100 degrees Fahrenheit, or if the child hasn't urinated for six hours.
* Take your child over age six years to the doctor if vomiting lasts one day, diarrhea combined with vomiting lasts for more than 24 hours, there are signs of dehydration, there is a fever higher than 102 degrees Fahrenheit or the child hasn't urinated for six hours.

You should seek immediate medical care if any of the following situations occur with vomiting:

* There is blood in the vomit (bright red or "coffee grounds" in appearance)
* Severe headache or stiff neck
* Lethargy, confusion or a decreased alertness
* Severe abdominal pain
* Fever over 101 degrees Fahrenheit
* Diarrhea
* Rapid breathing or pulse

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* Digestive Diseases: Nausea and Vomiting Index

What is a headache?

Headache is defined as pain in the head that is located above the eyes or the ears, behind the head (occipital), or in the back of the upper neck. Headache, like chest pain or dizziness, has many causes.

What are the causes of headaches?

There are two types of headaches: primary headaches and secondary headaches. Primary headaches are not associated with (caused by) other diseases. Examples of primary headaches are migraine headaches, tension headaches, and cluster headaches. Secondary headaches are caused by associated disease. The associated disease may be minor or serious and life threatening.

How common are primary and secondary headaches?

Tension headaches are the most common type of primary headache; as many as 90% of adults have had or will have tension headaches. Tension headaches are more common among women than men.

Migraine headaches are the second most common type of primary headache. An estimated 28 million people in the United States (about 12% of the population) will experience migraine headaches. Migraine headaches affect children as well as adults. Before puberty, boys and girls are affected equally by migraine headaches, but after puberty, more women than men are affected. An estimated 6% of men and up to 18% of women will experience a migraine headache.

In the United States, migraine headaches often go undiagnosed or are misdiagnosed as tension or sinus headaches. As a result, many migraine sufferers do not receive effective treatment.

Cluster headaches are a rare type primary headache, affecting 0.1% of the population. An estimated 85% of cluster headache sufferers are men. The average age of cluster headache sufferers is 28-30 years, although headaches may begin in childhood.

Secondary headaches have diverse causes, ranging from serious and life threatening conditions such as brain tumors, strokes, meningitis, and subarachnoid hemorrhages to less serious but common conditions such as withdrawal from caffeine and discontinuation of analgesics.

Many people suffer from "mixed" headache disorders in which tension headaches or secondary headaches trigger migraine headaches.