White blood cells, known as leukocytes, protect the body from foreign particles such as viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites. Because white blood cells live only a day or two, the immature stem cells in the bone marrow continually produce new...
Many cancer chemotherapy medications decrease bone marrow production of red blood cells and white blood cells, an effect called myelosuppression. A low level of white blood cells can leave you vulnerable to serious bacterial infections that may be...
Leukocytes, or white blood cells, are vital to the body's ability to fight off infection and promote healing. There are five types of leukocytes, each with distinct morphologies and functions. According to Gary Thibodeau, PhD, and Kevin Patton,...
White blood cells, also called leukocytes, are a class of cells that make up the blood which contribute to the immune system. There are five main classes of white blood cells, all of which have a unique structure and function within the blood. In...
Chemotherapy has many side effects including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, hair loss, anemia, numbness or tingling in the arms and legs, fatigue, insomnia and itchy skin. One of the most worrisome side effects is decreased immune...
Low white blood cell counts, a condition known as neutropenia, can result because of bone marrow defects, infection or certain cancers such as leukemia. Neutropenia is frequently associated with the use of chemotherapeutic drugs to treat cancer....
In the condition myelodysplastic syndrome, or MDS, the bone marrow does not create sufficient numbers of healthy blood cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. The bone marrow creates immature blood cells, which die...
Many breast cancer patients receive chemotherapy as part of cancer treatment. Chemotherapy drugs help promote breast cancer cell death by damaging the cell or interfering with cellular processes the cell needs to support life, eventually slowing...
Low white blood cell counts, a condition known as neutropenia, can be a serious medical condition leading to chronic or fatal infections. White cell levels can reach low levels in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, as many chemotherapeutic...
White blood cells are part of your immune system and are found in your blood and tissue. Your body has several different types of white blood cells that fight infections by producing antibodies and cytokines, killing infected cells and removing...
White blood cells, also called leukocytes, are part of the body's defense system. They are responsible for detecting and destroying invading germs and other foreign matter. White blood cells are made from stem cells in the bone marrow and must be...
Leukocytes are commonly known as white blood cells. They are formed in the bone marrow, and are vital to the functioning of the immune system. There are five types of leukocyte, and each one has a different purpose in fighting illness. A...
Blood is a mixture of liquid and formed elements. The formed elements include the blood cells and the platelets, which are derived from stem cells in the bone marrow. Blood cells are divided into two groups: red blood cells (erythrocytes) and...
Leukopenia, also known as a low white blood cell count, is a medical condition that can reduce the effectiveness of the immune system. Because low white blood cell count can increase susceptibility to infections, it is important to find and...
There are many different forms of leukemia. Some are acute, some are chronic, some affect children and others affect people over sixty. All types of leukemia involve an overproduction of some type of white blood cell. Since, most of the symptoms...
Prostate cancer affects more than 233,000 men in the United States each year. Advanced prostate cancer is commonly treated with hormone therapy, as the male hormones feed the cancer, allowing it to spread. Many times the cancer will respond to...
White blood cells play an important role in the immune system as they scavenge the blood for invading bacteria and viruses. Individuals may become susceptible to infection when white blood cell levels become low, a condition known as neutropenia....
Some fungi grow as molds, while others exist in two forms, or dimorphic---either as molds or budding yeast. Fungi can cause pneumonia in healthy people who travel to endemic areas in the United States or Central America; they can also cause...
White blood cells play an important role in defending the body from bacteria, viruses and other foreign invaders. Certain diseases such as cancer can cause white blood cell levels to become low, a condition known as neutropenia. Mild neutropenia...
Quercetin is a plant-derived pigment, known as a flavanoid. The American Cancer Society, or ACS, reports that it is found in high concentrations in apples, onions, teas, leafy green vegetables, berries and red wines. It is also sold as a dietary...
Acute promyelocytic leukemia, or APL, occurs most often in children and adults over age 40, according to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The disease develops when white blood cells called promyelocytes proliferate abnormally. Acute...
Radiation sickness is caused by damage to the body by radiation, usually in large exposures that occur over a short period of time. The degree of sickness is determined by the dose of radiation, which means how much radiation the body absorbs....
White blood cells play a key role in defending the body against invading bacteria and viruses. When white blood cell levels become too low, a condition known as neutropenia, an individual may become more susceptible to infection. A number of...
Zeolites are a group of minerals that are commonly used in commercial absorbents, laundry detergents, agriculture and medicine. Medically, cellular zeolite may act as a body decontaminant and detoxicant and provide the timed-release function of...
Low white blood cell numbers, a condition known as neutropenia, results from a number of conditions such as infection, anemia and certain cancers. Neutropenia is often a side effect of cancer chemotherapy and radiation treatments that are toxic to...
Metoprolol tartrate is a prescription medication available in oral tablet and injection form. An extended release version is also available. Metoprolol is indicated for the treatment of high blood pressure, chest pain and to help prevent another...
White blood cells play a vital role in the immune system as they scavenge the blood for invading bacteria, viruses and fungi. Certain medical conditions can cause white cell levels to become low, a condition known as neutropenia. While mild...
Cytokines are proteins that are produced by white blood cells in our bodies. There are more than 150 different cytokines, including lymphokines, interferons and interleukins. The body produces these proteins when a bacterial infection is present....
Myelodysplastic syndromes, or MDS, are a group of diseases of blood and bone marrow. Blood stem cells originate in bone marrow; after maturation they become white or red blood cells, or platelets. In MDS, the stem cells do not mature and they...