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What is a Bicuspid Aortic Valve?

A bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is the most common form of congenital heart disease and is present in about 2% of the population, affecting twice as many males as females. It is an abnormal form of the aortic valve between the heart and the aorta, the great vessel which supplies blood to the whole body except the lungs. In the normal form this is composed of three leaflets which meet securely when they close to keep blood from flowing back into the heart when the lower left heart chamber or ventricle relaxes.

26 Mar 2018

Health Effects of a Gluten Free Diet

Gluten is a family of proteins that make up about 85% to 90% of the protein composition found in wheat, barley, rye and some other grains. It is made up of almost equal proportions of two types of proteins called gliadins and glutenins, of which each has many subtypes. Thus, the genetic diversity of gluten is staggering. However, gluten makes up most of the high protein content of wheat, which is a grain that is the staple food of much of the developing world.

26 Mar 2018

What is Acrokeratosis Paraneoplastica?

Acrokeratosis paraneoplastica is also known as Bazex syndrome and is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome, a constellation of findings, which is due to the underlying presence of a systemic malignancy. It is important to take note of such conditions because a high index of suspicion is needed to make a diagnosis of the malignancy.

26 Mar 2018

What is Intermittent Explosive Disorder?

Intermittent explosive disorder (IED) is one of the impulse control disorders, all of which are characterized by the person’s inability to resist a drive or an impulse to do something which harms the patient or others.

26 Mar 2018

Status Epilepticus Treatment

Status epilepticus (SE) is a medical emergency characterized by recurrent episodes of seizures without the recovery of consciousness between them. It is associated with significant mortality, mostly due to the many complications of the brain stimulation and the concurrent muscular overstimulation, as well as of the prolonged and intensive medical care surroundings required.

26 Mar 2018

Immunology of Microsporidiosis

Microsporidosis represents an infection with the spore-forming, obligate intracellular protists. Patients suffering from infections with microsporidia are prone to developing enteritis, keratoconjunctivitis and disseminated diseases that involve muscles and other organs.

26 Mar 2018

What are Mandibular Fractures?

Fractures may occur easily in the mandible owing to its anatomical properties and this bone may account for as many as 70% of fractures occurring in the maxillofacial region. It is fairly prominent on the face and its support is not as strong when compared to other facial bones.

26 Mar 2018

What are the Health Benefits of Breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding is still common and continues for a prolonged period in developing countries, whereas its rate has declined steeply in developed nations following the introduction of formula for babies.

26 Mar 2018

What is Leber Congenital Amaurosis?

Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) is a very severe form of congenital blindness due to hereditary retinal dystrophy. It was first identified by Theodore Leber in 1869, and is diagnosed early in infancy or at birth.

25 Mar 2018

Types of Psychosurgery

Psychosurgery is a field of surgery which consists of stereotactic operations on the brain aimed at altering abnormal physiology by severing certain connections between the frontal lobe and the rest of the brain, including the cortex, the nuclei or other brain pathways, which may appear to function normally or abnormally, in order to reduce mental and/or physical suffering in otherwise untreatable patients.

25 Mar 2018

What is an Echogenic Intracardiac Focus?

An echogenic intracardiac focus is a small bright spot seen within the region of the heart seen during an ultrasound examination.

25 Mar 2018

Campylobacteriosis Symptoms

Campylobacter is a genus containing several species of Gram-negative spiral or curved bacteria with one, two or no polar flagellum and a corkscrew motility. They are microaerophilic, but some require hydrogen for growth. They are being recognized as important causes of human gastroenteritis in developed and developing countries and also because of the serious post-infectious sequelae associated with the disease.

22 Mar 2018

NIPT Test (Noninvasive Prenatal Testing)

The NIPT (noninvasive prenatal testing) is a genetic test performed on pregnant women, in order to detect fetal chromosomal aneuploidies. It is based upon the testing of cell-free fetal DNA (cf-fDNA) separated from the blood of the mother. It requires only a simple blood draw and is associated with no serious complications, like other blood tests.

22 Mar 2018

Separation Anxiety Disorder Symptoms

Separation anxiety disorder is a psychiatric condition characterized by excessive fear when parted from loved ones or those to whom the patient is closely attached. Though particularly common in children, this condition may also be present in youngsters and even in adults.

22 Mar 2018

Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a time when many dramatic changes are known to occur in a woman’s body, both with respect to anatomy and its function.

22 Mar 2018

Pregnancy and Oxytocin

Pregnancy is a physiological state which subjects the female body to a range of extreme changes in form and function. One of these is in the level of oxytocin.

22 Mar 2018

What is Mitral Regurgitation?

The human heart has four valves which direct the flow of blood in the correct double-circulation mode, taking blood to and from the lungs as well as to and from the rest of the body. Two of the valves are on the right side and two on the left.

21 Mar 2018

Odontogenic Keratocyst (OKC)

Odontogenic keratocysts (OKCs) are benign, developmental cystic lesions of epithelial origin and involve the maxilla or mandible. These lesions are fairly aggressive locally and they have a high tendency to recur once they have been excised. Furthermore, they are known for their association occasionally with nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS). Up to 70% of all OKCs occur in the mandible and the frequency of OKCs is particularly high between the second and third decades of life with a predilection for males.

21 Mar 2018

What is Still’s Disease?

Still’s disease is a rare inflammatory arthritis that can cause joint inflammation, high fever and a salmon-colored rash on the skin.

23 Mar 2018

What is the Alpha Fetoprotein Test?

The alpha-fetoprotein screening test helps predict the occurrence of congenital disease, allowing new parents to prepare for the arrival of their child.

23 Mar 2018