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Moving House with Autism: Reducing Stress & Anxiety

Autistic persons often adhere to stereotypical behaviour on daily basis characterised by the need to adhere to a strict schedule or routine in a familiar setting or environment. Examples may include eating from a particular plate on a particular table at a set time each day. Any deviation from such routine and familiarity can lead to increased stress and anxiety.

14 Apr 2019

What Are Rare Clotting Factor Deficiencies?

Rare clotting factor deficiencies are a collection of bleeding disorders associated with issues with clotting factors. These conditions are inherited and target the proteins in the blood that control bleeding. Rare clotting factor deficiencies do not include deficiencies in clotting factor VIII and IX, which are known as hemophilia A and B.

14 Apr 2019

What is Fuchs Heterochromic Iridocyclitis?

Fuchs heterochromic iridocyclitis is an ocular condition characterized by the presence of keratic precipitates, iris heterochromia and iris atrophy.

14 Apr 2019

Treatment for Genital Warts

Genital warts are a sexually transmitted disease that is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). There are various treatment and preventative options available for genital warts.

14 Apr 2019

Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition and Joint Problems

Calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPDD) disease is characterized by the accumulation of calcium crystals in the cartilage tissues of the joints. The crystal deposits cause inflammation of the affected joint, and in severe cases it leads to cartilage rupture.

12 Apr 2019

What is Polymyalgia Rheumatica?

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a rheumatic disease characterized by recurrent inflammatory episodes. PMR is usually seen in Caucasians living in Northern Europe and North America. The condition generally affects people over the age of 50 years (with average patient age being above 70 years), and is more common in women than men.

12 Apr 2019

Tendonitis versus Bursitis

Tendonitis and bursitis are common conditions that cause swelling and pain around muscles and bones. Both conditions often occur in the shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, and ankles. Although tendonitis and bursitis present similar symptoms, they are two distinct conditions affecting different parts of the body.

9 Apr 2019

What is Adrenoleukodystrophy?

Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is rare X-linked genetic disease that affects the adrenal glands (found on top of the kidneys) as well as the myelin in the brain and spinal cord. The incidence of ALD is approximately 1:20,000-50,000 people worldwide, affecting predominantly males.

9 Apr 2019

Treating and Managing Reactive Arthritis (ReA)

Reactive arthritis (ReA) is a painful inflammatory joint disease. ReA occurs as a reaction to infection caused by a gastrointestinal or genitourinary pathogen such as Chlamydia trachomatis, Campylobacter, Salmonella, Shigella, or Yersinia.

9 Apr 2019

What are Myelodysplastic Syndromes?

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) occur when cells in the bone marrow that are responsible for blood formation are abnormal. It is a type of cancer in which blood cell production is defective.

9 Apr 2019

Spinal Stenosis Causes, Diagnosis & Management

Spinal stenosis is a condition characterized by narrowing of the spinal canal, a tubular structure which encloses the spinal cord. Narrowing of the spinal canal leads to compression of the spinal cord and the accompanying nerve roots; this, ultimately leads to the development of pain and muscle weakness.

9 Apr 2019

Post-Infectious Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome is triggered by a gastroenteritis infection. This results in the expression of various symptoms including abdominal pain and diarrhea.

9 Apr 2019

What is Adrenomyeloneuropathy?

Adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN) is the second most common form of adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) and is an adult-onset version of ALD. AMN is a genetically inherited x-linked condition which affects the myelin of the spinal cord. As with all forms of ALD, AMN affects predominantly males (1 in around 40,000) due to being inherited on the X chromosome.

9 Apr 2019

What is Spondyloarthritis?

Spondyloarthritis is a group of inflammatory joint diseases that affect the spine and, in some cases, the peripheral joints of the arms and legs. Some forms of spondyloarthritis may also involve the skin, intestines and eyes.

8 Apr 2019

Protein C Deficiency

One of the main functions of protein C is to prevent blood clotting by inactivating proteins that encourage blood clotting. Deficiencies in protein C are associated with higher risks of developing blood clots known as deep vein thrombosis.

8 Apr 2019

What is Bobble-Head Doll Syndrome?

Bobble-head doll syndrome (BHDS) is a rare neurological condition which causes involuntary ‘bobbing’ or repetitive anterior-posterior movement of the head, resembling that of a bobble-head doll. This rare condition affects young children, around 3 years of age and thus far, fewer than 60 cases have been reported in the literature.

8 Apr 2019

What is Takayasu Arteritis?

Takayasu arteritis (TAK) is a rare condition characterized by a cascade of inflammatory processes. TAK involves vasculitis or inflammation of blood vessels such as the aorta and its major branches. Inflammation of these blood vessels leads to thickening of the walls of the vessels, which, in turn, causes stenosis and ultimately ischemia of the body parts which are nourished by these vessels.

8 Apr 2019

What is Dual-Energy Computed Tomography?

Diagnostic imaging has been a widely used tool in the detection and treatment of various diseases. Dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) is an emerging imaging technique that combines information collected with various x-ray energy fields.

3 Apr 2019

What is Wavefront Aberrometry?

Diagnosing the degree of vision impairment is a difficult task for even experienced optometrists, since it depends on the subjective response of the person tested. Normally, it is based on reading out or describing letters or shapes on an eye chart. In many cases the person may not actually be reading out the letter seen, but the letter thought to be seen.

3 Apr 2019

What is Asteroid Hyalosis?

Asteroid hyalosis (AH) is a degenerative eye condition characterized by the presence of asteroid bodies or calcium-fat globules in the vitreous region of the eye. Asteroid bodies are chemically made up of calcium-pyrophosphates, and phospholipids.

3 Apr 2019