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What Does a Quadrantectomy Involve?

Following a diagnosis of breast cancer, the majority of women are likely to undergo some form of surgical procedure. The options usually offered are as follows...

1 Sep 2016

Preventing Toxocariasis

Because humans live with dogs and cats everywhere in the world, toxocariasis, which is an infection by dog and cat roundworms, is widespread globally.

1 Sep 2016

Palliative and End-of-Life Care in Lung Cancer

Palliative care is holistic care that is focused on helping patients with life-threatening or grave illnesses to achieve a better quality of life to the very end. It is aimed at averting or treating problems caused by the illness or its treatment, in the physical, emotional, social and spiritual spheres of the patient’s life, even if there is no prospect of a cure. It may be termed “comfort care”, because it aims at providing total support to the patient and the patient’s family and managing symptoms throughout the course of the disease.

1 Sep 2016

Brucellosis: Background, Types, Diagnosis, Treatment

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease - a disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans. Humans can become infected through contact with an infected animal, infected food, or inhalation. Four species of bacteria from the genus Brucella infect humans: B. abortus, B. canis, B. melitensis, and B. suis.

1 Sep 2016

Toxocariasis: Background, Types, Diagnosis, Treatment

Toxocariasis is an infection by roundworm larvae from dogs (Toxocara canis) and cats (Toxocara cati). Roundworm eggs from the dog and cat feces are common in soil and sand at parks, public beaches, and other outdoor environments.

1 Sep 2016

Iris Nevus vs Melanoma

Iris tumors are not very common. They may be classified as solid or cystic tumors. Among the solid tumors, iris nevi and melanomas fall into the melanocytic tumor category. This also includes iris freckle, melanocytoma, and Lisch nodules.

31 Aug 2016

Iris Melanoma

An iris melanoma is part of the group of uveal tumors, which make up one of the most common eye tumors. These arise from the pigmented tissue inside the eye called the uvea. Iris melanomas are the least common among this type of tumor, comprising 4-5 per hundred uveal tumors.

31 Aug 2016

Choroidal Melanoma

The choroid in the eye is part of the uveal tract. This is made up of the colored iris, the ciliary body, and the choroid. All are rich in melanocytes, the specialized cells that produce melanin. This pigment is a dark-colored, light-absorbing particle.

31 Aug 2016

Punch Biopsy Results and Side Effects

Punch biopsies are a type of technique used on the skin to obtain tissue for microscopic and histopathological examination. A tube-shaped sharp cutting tool is rotated through the skin to the subcutaneous fat to obtain a cylindrical-shaped specimen. This sample undergoes tissue fixation, preparation of slides and staining for microscopy, or storage in solution for bacterial or viral cultures.

31 Aug 2016

Alport Syndrome Genetics and Inheritance

Alport syndrome is a condition that develops due to mutations in three different genes – COL4A3, COL4A4 and COL4A5. The reason that the syndrome has a significant impact on the kidneys is because all of these genes provide instructions that affect the type IV collagen in a protein present in the kidneys.

31 Aug 2016

How is Alport Syndrome Treated?

There are various treatments that are used to help patients with Alport syndrome to manage their condition. Most of them are used to help reduce and slow down symptoms. The benefits of the treatments are mostly realized when they are implemented early in the patient’s diagnosis with the syndrome.

31 Aug 2016

How is Alport Syndrome Diagnosed?

There are various methods of identifying whether a patient has Alport syndrome. The syndrome presents in significant ways in some patients but with less obvious symptoms in other patients, and there are several ways of determining the condition in most affected people, as outlined below.

31 Aug 2016

Alport Syndrome Signs and Symptoms

Alport Syndrome is an inherited condition, which can lead to chronic kidney disease (CKD). In CKD, a patient’s kidneys progressively do not work as well as they should and do not effectively filter out wastes from the body. It is the second highest cause of CKD after polycystic kidney disease, where fluid filled sacs develop in the kidneys and impair kidney function. The syndrome affects the kidneys by attacking the glomeruli (capillary blood vessels) that help with the filtering process.

31 Aug 2016

Why Does Morning Sickness Occur in the Mornings?

Nausea or vomiting in the early morning (also known as “morning sickness”) is so common that is usually acknowledged as a symptom of normal pregnancy. It takes place soon after waking up, often as retching rather than actual vomiting, thus it typically does not disturb the health of a pregnant women.

25 Aug 2016

How to Prevent Mold Allergies

Molds are a common type of microscopic fungi that grow in warm and moist conditions, most often in the form of multicellular structures called hyphae. There is ample evidence in medical literature that describes an association between molds and a plethora of allergic health effects.

25 Aug 2016

Gastrointestinal Disease and Skin Problems

The gastrointestinal region of the body includes organs such as the liver, pancreas, and gall bladder, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and rectum. There are several diseases that affect the gastrointestinal region that, in turn, also affect the appearance and natural function of the skin.

25 Aug 2016

Treatment and Surgery for Phyllodes Tumors

Accounting for less than 1% of all breast tumors, phyllodes tumors (PTs), which are “leaf-like” in appearance, are rare fibroepithelial tumors. They display a wide range of biological behaviors, ranging from fairly benign to highly aggressive.

23 Aug 2016

How are Phyllodes Tumors Diagnosed?

Phyllodes tumors (PTs) are fibroepithelial tumors of the breast. These are rare, presenting clinically as painless lumps. They are primarily found in women between the fourth and sixth decades of life, with a peak incidence at the age of 45. Their occurrence in men is extremely rare, but has been reported in cases associated with enlargement of the male breast due to hormonal imbalances

23 Aug 2016

Symptoms and Causes of Phyllodes Tumors

Growing in a “leaf-like” pattern, from which they acquired their name, phyllodes tumors (PTs) are fibroepithelial tumors of the breast. They may occur at any age, but occur primarily in women between 40 to 60 years old and are extremely rare in men.

23 Aug 2016

Phyllodes Tumors (PTs) - Fibroepithelial Tumors of the Breast

Phyllodes tumors (PTs) are rare fibroepithelial tumors of the breast that display a wide range of biological behaviors. They account for up to 1% of all breast tumors. They are called “phyllodes,” which means “leaf-like” in Greek, because of the “leaf-like” pattern they grow in. However, they were known by over 60 different names before receiving the official terminology of PTs (from the World Health Organization).

23 Aug 2016