Sarco Health Dictionary

A cancer of connective tissue, bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, nerve sheath, blood vessels or lymph system.... sarcoma

An uncommon chronic in?ammatory disease of unknown origin which can affect many organs, particularly the SKIN, eyes (see EYE) and LUNGS. Commonly, it presents as ERYTHEMA nodosum in association with lymph-gland enlargement within the chest. In the eyes it causes UVEITIS. BIOPSY of affected tissue allows diagnosis, which is con?rmed by a KVEIM TEST. Often sarcoidosis is self-limiting, but in severe cases oral CORTICOSTEROIDS may be needed.... sarcoidosis

Vascular tumour. Begins with small reddish-purple plaques and skin nodules on the legs and feet. May remain benign for many years. Usually associated with AIDS, but the classical form may also be seen in renal transplant and elderly male patients receiving cortisone preparations. The tumours may appear anywhere in the body, especially around eyes and nose, giving a bruised appearance.

Diagnosis is difficult to the inexperienced practitioner. Referral to a dermatologist for skin biopsy. Homosexuals are at risk from semen ejaculated into a foreign environment. The blood abnormality extends to the lymph system for which Lymphatics such as Echinacea, Saw Palmetto and Poke root are indicated. See: AIDS.

Treatment by a general medical practitioner or hospital specialist. ... kaposi’s sarcoma

A cancer or tumour of the blood and/or lymphatic vessel walls. It usually appears as blue-violet to brownish skin blotches or lumps. Before the appearance of AIDS, it was rare in the developed world. AIDSassociated Kaposi’s sarcoma is much more aggressive than the earlier form of the disease and is associated with Human Herpes Virus 8.... kaposi’s sarcoma

See OSTEOSARCOMA.... osteogenic sarcoma

Mites which infest humans and animals. Sarcoptes scabei hominis causes human SCABIES. Other species infest dogs (sarcoptic mange), cats and birds.... sarcoptes

A rare malignant form of bone cancer. It arises in a large bone, usually the femur, tibia, humerus, or a pelvic bone, and spreads to other areas at an early stage. The condition is most common in children aged 10–15. An affected bone is painful and tender. It may also become weakened and fracture easily. Other symptoms include weight loss, fever, and anaemia.

The sarcoma is diagnosed by X-rays and a biopsy.

If cancer is found, the whole skeleton is examined by X-rays and radionuclide scanning, and the lungs viewed by CT scanning, to determine if, and how far, the cancer has spread.

Treatment is with radiotherapy and anticancer drugs.

If the cancer has not spread, the outlook is good.... ewing’s sarcoma

Dymock.

Family: Fabaceae; Papilionaceae.

Habitat: The mountainous regions from Asia Minor to Iraq and Iran.

English: Sarcocola.

Ayurvedic: Rudanti (substitute).

Unani: Anzaroot, Kohal Kirmaani (Gum).

Action: Gum—antirheumatic, aperient, anthelmintic, emollient.

The rootbark yields alkaloids, atala- phylline and its N-methyl derivatives and atalaphyllidine, which have close structural similarities with the antitu- mour alkaloid, acronycine, and its co- geners. The rootbark also contains the limonoid, atalantin.

The leaf juice forms an ingredient of a compound liniment used in hemiplegia. The essential oil is used in paralysis. The oil contains higher terpene esters belonging to azulene group (29%). (Azulenes impart anti-inflammatory activity.)... astragalus sarcocola

An uncommon but very malignant cancer of the bone in children and young adults, the condition was ?rst identi?ed as being di?erent from OSTEOSARCOMA by Dr J Ewing in 1921. It usually occurs in the limbs or pelvis and soon spreads to other parts of the body. Treatment is by RADIOTHERAPY and CYTOTOXIC drugs. Since the use of the latter, the number of patients who survive for ?ve years or more has much improved.... ewing’s sarcoma

A malignant tumour of fowls which is caused by a virus. This tumour has been the subject of much experimental work on the nature of CANCER.... rous sarcoma

Fleshy swelling or tumour of the testis... sarcocele

(D. Don) Muell.-Arg.

Synonym: S. pruniformis Hook. f. S. trinervia Wt.

Family: Buxaceae.

Habitat: The Himalayas and the hills of North-eastern India up to 2,700 m.

Folk: Geru (Garhwal, Patiala), Tiliari (Jaunsar), Sukatsing (Ku- maon).

Action: Leaves—used in the treatment of rheumatism and fever.

The leaves contain steroidal alkaloids, including saracosine, saracodine and saracodinine; also betulin.

Aerial parts exhibit spasmolytic, diuretic and anti-inflammatory activity. Steroidal alkaloids induce non- recoverable fall in blood pressure in dogs.... sarcococca saligna

W. & A.

Family: Icacinaceae.

Habitat: The Western Ghats, from Konkan southwards.

Ayurvedic: Ingudi. (Balanites aegyptiaca is also equated with Ingudi.)

Siddha: Odal (Tamil).

Action: Seed oil—used externally in rheumatism. Powdered bark— given in rheumatism, neurological disorders and skin diseases.... sarcostigma kleinii

n. a genus of parasitic protozoans (see Sporozoa) that infect birds, reptiles, and herbivorous mammals. S. lindemanni, which occasionally infects humans, forms cylindrical cysts (sarcocysts) in the muscle fibres. In heavy infections these cysts can cause tissue degeneration and therefore provoke muscular pain and weakness. Sarcocysts have, in the few positively diagnosed cases, been located in the heart muscles, arm muscles, and larynx.... sarcocystis

1. adj. fleshy. 2. n. a fleshy tumour.... sarcoid

n. the cell membrane that encloses a muscle cell (muscle fibre).... sarcolemma

the most common tumour of the cervix and vagina in children and adolescents under the age of 16; 90% occur in children under five years. Symptoms are vaginal bleeding and a bloody discharge; in young girls the tumour may protrude from the cervix. It is a highly malignant *rhabdomyosarcoma with the appearance of a bunch of grapes. Treatment is with triple chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy prior to hysterectomy and vaginectomy.... sarcoma botryoides

W. & A.

Synonym: S. acidum Voigt.

Family: Asclepiadaceae.

Habitat: Dry places in West Bengal, Bihar and Peninsular India.

English: Moon Plant, Soma Plant.

Ayurvedic: Somavalli, Somalataa, Somakshiri, Saumyaa, Dwijpriyaa. (Not to be confused with Soma of the Vedas.) (Substitute: Ephedra gerardiana.)

Siddha/Tamil: Somamum, Kodi- Kalli.

Action: Dried stems—emetic. Plant—insecticidal.

The plant contains malic acid, suc- cinic acid, reducing sugar, surcosa, traces of tannin, an alkaloid, a phytos- terol, alpha-and beta-amyrins, lupeol and lupeol acetate and beta-sitosterol. The milky exudate from the stem contains 4.1% of caoutchouc. Coagulum contains: caoutchouc 16, resins 68.1 and insolubles 15.9%.

Related species, Sarcostemma bru- nonianum W. & A. (South India), known as Perumaattaan kodi in Tamil Nadu; S. intermedium Decne (Peninsular India), and S. stocksii Hk. f. (Peninsular India), are also said to have similar uses as those of S. acidum.

Sarcostemma secamone (L.) Bennet, synonym S. esculentum (L. f.) Holm. (throughout the plains in semi marshy places) is known as Dughdhikaa or Duudhilataa in Northern India and Usippalai in Tamil Nadu. Whole plant is depurative, galactagogue and antiseptic (used as a gargle in sore throat and stomatitis; fresh root is prescribed in jaundice. A pregnane triglycoside, esculentin and cardenolide tetraglyco- sides have been isolated from the root.

Dosage: Milky exudate from stem— 1-3 drops. (CCRAS.)... sarcostemma brevistigma

Cancer appearing in bone, muscle, connective tissue or cartilage. Malignant tissue which differs from carcinoma. Pain is intermittent, often relieved by exercise. The following is an example.

“I saw a man suffering from sarcomatous tumour infiltrating the body tissue of the upper jaw, extending to the nose. We recommended an operation. Dr O’Sullivan, Professor of Pathology, Trinity College, declared the growth to be a round-celled sarcoma. Of that there was no doubt. A month after excision the growth returned with increased vigour, bulging through the incision and protruding upon the face. The new tumour, almost closing the right eye, was blue, tense, firm and tabulated, but it did not break.

“Early in October the patient walked into my study. He looked better in health than I have ever seen him. The tumour had completely disappeared from the face and I could not identify any trace of it in the mouth. He said he had no pain of any kind. He has since gone home apparently well.

“He told me he had applied poultices of Comfrey root, and that the swelling had gradually disappeared. Now this was a case of which none of us had any doubt at all. Our first view was confirmed by the distinguished pathologist mentioned and by my own observation at the time of the major operation.” (Dr Wm Thompson, President, Royal College of Surgeons, Eire, in his address in Dublin).

Vinchristine. An alkaloid of the Vinca plant.

Internal Treatment. See: CANCER – NOSE AND THROAT. Diet. See: DIET – CANCER.

Treatment by a general medical practitioner or hospital oncologist. ... cancer – sarcoma

n. one of the basic contractile units of which *striated muscle fibres are composed.... sarcomere

n. a genus of widely distributed non-bloodsucking flies, the flesh flies. Maggots are normally found in carrion or excrement but occasionally females will deposit their eggs in wounds or ulcers giving off a foul-smelling discharge; the presence of the maggots causes a serious *myiasis. Rarely, maggots may be ingested with food and give rise to an intestinal myiasis.... sarcophaga

(myoplasm) n. the cytoplasm of muscle cells.... sarcoplasm

an arrangement of membranous vesicles and tubules found in the cytoplasm of striated muscle fibres. The sarcoplasmic reticulum plays an important role in the transmission of nervous excitation to the contractile parts of the fibres.... sarcoplasmic reticulum

n. a bundle of muscle fibrils.

SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) an *atypical pneumonia caused by a virus, SARS coronavirus (SARS CoV), and spread by close contact with an infected person, that first appeared in November 2002 in Guangdong province, China. Over the next few months it spread to many countries in Asia, Europe, and North and South America before being contained (the last case in this outbreak occurred in June 2003). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a total of 8098 people worldwide contracted SARS during the 2003 outbreak; 774 of these died. Over the next two years the number of cases declined until the disease itself was declared eradicated by the WHO (in May 2005).... sarcostyle