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How is Adrenal Cancer Diagnosed?

There are several important steps in the diagnosis of adrenal cancer. Initially, a patient usually presents with signs or symptoms that may indicate adrenal cancer. This prompts an investigation involving blood tests, urine tests, and imaging tests to determine the cause of the symptoms.

17 Nov 2016

What are the Signs of Adrenal Cancer?

Adrenal cancer is characterized by the growth of a tumor in the adrenal glands. The signs and symptoms associated with it can vary significantly according to the size and nature of growth of the tumor. Initially, the symptoms are quite subtle but usually become more obvious as the tumor grows in size and press against nearby tissues in the abdomen, or spreads to other areas of the body. The characteristics of adrenal cancer are discussed in more detail below.

17 Nov 2016

Outlook and Complications of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA)

JIA is an autoimmune condition caused by the formation of autoantibodies that target the synovial membranes of the affected joints.

16 Nov 2016

Causes of Bleeding in the Upper and Lower Gastrointestinal Tract

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract begins in the mouth and works its way down the esophagus, through the stomach, small and large intestines and rectum, before terminating at the anus. Bleeding or hemorrhaging anywhere along this pathway may be acute or chronic and can be due to a host of factors.

16 Nov 2016

Causes of Asthma

The precise cause of asthma isn’t entirely clear. However, there are a number of environmental and inherited factors that are thought to be involved in causing the condition.

16 Nov 2016

Air Pollution and Lung Health

Air pollution is air that contains a high concentration of pollutants that has the potential to cause harm to humans, animal, plants, or buildings. It is an important risk factor for the health of populations throughout the world. In fact, it has been estimated that outdoor air pollution caused 3.7 premature deaths on a global basis in 2012 alone.

16 Nov 2016

How Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Differ from Tuberculosis

Mycobacteriaceae represent a family of bacteria. This family includes several bacterial species, some of which cause human disease, and others which do not. Mycobacterium tuberculosis leads to the onset of tuberculosis in humans. Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are a species in the mycobacteria group that could precipitate illness, but not tuberculosis (TB).

15 Nov 2016

Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Diagnosis

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are bacteria that grow and survive naturally in water and in dirt. These bacteria have been classified as nontuberculosis to distinguish them from tuberculosis-causing bacteria, also known as the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex.

15 Nov 2016

Nontuberculosis Mycobacteria

Just as with plants, germs are segregated into a variety of categories, known as families. The Mycobacteriaceae family represents one family of bacteria. Several species exist in the Mycobacteriaceae family but only certain species, known as pathogenic Mycobacteriaceae, can lead to the onset of human disease. Other species, termed saprophytic Mycobacteriaceae, do not lead to the onset of human disease or illness.

15 Nov 2016

How to Use Nasal Sprays Correctly

When used correctly, nasal sprays can offer effective relief of allergy symptoms or other conditions, depending on the type of spray being used. However, it is important that patients are clear about the way in which the spray should be used. This helps in both increasing the efficacy of the medication and reducing the risk of side effects associated with nasal sprays.

15 Nov 2016

Mycobacterial infections and "Lady Windermere Syndrome"

There are many forms of bacteria in the mycobacteria family. For example, the most common mycobacteria can lead to the onset of tuberculosis. Leprosy is caused by other mycobacteria. In addition, other mycobacteria do not specifically cause tuberculosis, but they can still cause harm to sufferers, notably individuals who are immunocompromised – who have an impaired immune system, or who suffer from AIDS.

15 Nov 2016

Nephrotic Syndrome Epidemiology

Nephrotic syndrome is quite rare but has an important role to play in the development of kidney disease.

15 Nov 2016

Nephrotic Syndrome Treatment

The treatment of nephrotic syndrome will depend on the underlying cause of the syndrome. Therefore, it is important that the most likely cause is identified during the diagnostic process to enable the optimal treatment decisions to be made.

15 Nov 2016

Nephrotic Syndrome Diagnosis

When a patient presents with symptoms characteristic of nephrotic syndrome, a diagnosis can be made with a urinalysis test. Other tests, such as blood tests and a kidney biopsy, are also important to establish the cause of the condition, which will help guide treatment decisions for the patient.

15 Nov 2016

Nephrotic Syndrome Symptoms

Nephrotic syndrome is a set of symptoms characterized by proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, hyperlipidemia, and edema. There are also several other symptoms that are reported by patients that result from these primary changes in the blood and urine. The main symptoms of the syndrome will be covered in more detail below.

15 Nov 2016

Nephrotic Syndrome Causes

There are many possible causes of nephrotic syndrome. These are usually related to a health condition that has the potential to cause damage to the glomerulus and affect the functioning of the kidneys.

15 Nov 2016

Outlook for Interrupted Aortic Arch

Interrupted aortic arch (IAA) is an extremely serious condition of the heart in which the development of the aortic arch is disrupted.

15 Nov 2016

Diagnosis and Treatment of Interrupted Aortic Arch

Interrupted aortic arch (IAA) is a serious congenital heart anomaly, often associated with other cardiac abnormalities which make its treatment complex. It is found, in at least one out of four cases, to be associated with a genetic mutation, namely, a deletion of the 22q11 locus, also responsible for the DiGeorge syndrome.

15 Nov 2016

Causes and Symptoms of Interrupted Aortic Arch

Interrupted aortic arch (IAA) refers to a rare but very serious congenital heart defect in which there is a gap between the ascending and descending segments of the aorta, namely, in the arch of the aorta. In 97 of every 100 infants born with this condition, a ventricular septal defect is also present.

15 Nov 2016

Interrupted Aortic Arch

Interrupted aortic arch is a rare congenital heart condition first describedby Steidele in 1773. The condition accounts for less than 1% of congenital heart conditions and is part of a broader spectrum of heart anomalies in 97% of affected children.

15 Nov 2016