Biosimilar is a word we’re going to hear a lot more of in the healthcare industry in 2017. Biosimilars are drugs or biologic medical products that provide an almost identical copy of an original drug, manufactured by another pharmaceutical company. But keep in mind “similar” does not mean “identical”, which means they differ from traditional small-molecule drugs that are consistent as far as dosage, usages, treatment expectations, and side effects. What makes Biologic drugs different? Most drugs fall under one of two categories—small-molecule drugs or biologic drugs. Put simply, biosimilars offer doctors, pharmacists, and patients alternative therapeutic options when it comes to treating certain diseases, side effects, and medicine storage. For instance, biologics are unique as far as: Structure The first difference lies in structure. While small-molecule drugs are as implied by the name, small in structure and synthesized from chemicals in a consistent process that ensures relatively consistent effects each and every time (i.e., aspirin). Biologic drugs, on the other hand, are created from a living cell, such as yeast or bacterium that are extracted from a living system—such as plants or animals (i.e., goats, mice, cows, humans, etc.), which means they’re not only larger and denser in structure, but also often less reliably consistent.

Generic drugs A generic drug is a chemically-derived drug, typically developed from a tiny, homogeneous molecule, which means it’s bioequivalent in nature to its original. In legal terms, generic drugs, are exact copies of the original medicine and although they may be manufactured by different pharmaceutical companies, the law demands their chemical structure is the same. Because the generic drug is bioequivalent (or identical) in nature to name brand drugs, they follow have the side effects, storage, and administration and follow the same instructions for strength and dosage, safety, and intended use. Biosimilar drugs Biosimilar is a biologically-derived drug , typically developed from complex, biological structure. Although biosimilar in nature, biologic drugs are extracted from living plant or animal systems as a bacterium or yeast so they’re larger and heavier in size, and although similar to their original, they can be consistent ineffectiveness. Biosimilar drugs fall under different and much more demanding regulatory requirements of the U.S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) compared to generic drug development. According to official reports from the FDA, “biological products include a wide range of products—gene therapies, allergenics, vaccines, tissues, recombinant therapeutic proteins, blood and blood components, and somatic cells”…made up of a combination of substances (i.e., proteins, living cells and tissues, and sugars.

Sinusitis is the medical term for a sinus infection, which causes inflammation of the sinuses due to chronic allergies , fungal or bacterial infection, or environmental or chemical sinus irritation. Sinusitis is characterized by the type of infection. For instance, sinus infections can be acute or subacute, infectious or non-infectious, or chronic infections . While individuals with sinusitis aren’t typically considered contagious, left untreated a sinus infection can be very serious and even life-threatening if it develops into one of the following: Zygomycosis, a rare fungal infection of the sinuses that demands emergency medical treatment. Osteomyelitis, which is characterized as an infection in a bone that spreads through the bloodstream. Meningitis, or a sinus infection that infects the rear central area in the head, eventually infecting the brain. Orbital cellulitis, which causes swelling in the eye tissues behind the orbital septum. A brain abscess, which infects the brain with a dangerous fungal, viral, or bacterial infection . Sinusitis can often be mistaken for a common cold because many of the common symptoms are similar. Look for these telltale signs of sinus infection: Recommended Read: Does Snoring Affect Your Mental Well being? Is it flu or the common cold? Patients often assume they have a common cold in the early stages of a sinus infection.

Child sponsorship is the provision of financial aid to children from underdeveloped and developing countries, as well as low-income areas of one’s own country. This financial aid includes sponsorship of a child’s food, clothing, and education. It also includes support for the community in which the child lives (in terms of utilities, healthcare, education etc.); and for initiatives that aim to reduce the child’s risk of diseases like malaria, diarrhoea, tuberculosis, pneumonia , HIV etc. that they become predisposed to as a result of living in poverty. The practice of child sponsorship has had its fair share of controversy. Questions have been raised about the financial practices of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that run sponsorship programs – particularly with regards to the proportion of sponsorship money that actually makes its way to the child or community in need. While these are valid concerns, it should not deter you from sponsoring a child in need through a legitimate and trusted NGO. Recommended Read:  Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Read on to learn how child sponsorship can not only benefit the needy child but also enrich the lives of the sponsor: A Personal Connect Child sponsorship personalizes the donation process. By sponsoring an individual child, you feel you have made a tangible positive difference to someone’s life, as well as their community – as compared to when you simply make a donation to a nameless, faceless group of people.

Tetanus is a bacterial infection which causes painful muscle spasms, which can also lead to death. Tetanus infection is also called as lockjaw. Thanks to its widespread use of the tetanus vaccine, tetanus has become very rare in the country. Tetanus infection is not contagious as you cannot get it through another person’s cut or wound. Recommended Read:  Tetanus Vaccine The tetanus bacteria is commonly present in manure, dust, and even in soil. The bacteria can infect a person even through a tiny scratch. However, a person is more likely to suffer from a tetanus infection through punctured wounds inflicted through nails or knives. The tetanus bacteria travels via blood through nerves to the central nervous system. Following are the symptoms of Tetanus The symptoms of tetanus result from a toxin produced by the tetanus bacteria. A person suffering from tetanus infection might experience symptoms around a week after the infection. The most common symptoms of the tetanus infection is the stiffness in the jaw, making it locked. Thus the disease is also referred to as locked jaw disease. Other symptoms include Headache Restlessness Sweating followed by fever High blood pressure and palpitations One of the most distinct symptoms of tetanus is a steady grin which is a result of muscle spasms in the face.