The kidneys are vital organs, which means they are essential to survival. They perform a number of functions that are necessary to keep a person healthy and alive. Some of the main functions include the following: Filtering waste and excess fluids from the blood Regulating blood pressure Producing hormones required to keep the bones strong and the blood healthy Maintaining […]
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According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – Fifth Edition (DSM-5), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is a recurring pattern of irritable/ angry mood, defiant/ argumentative behavior or vindictiveness that lasts for a period of at least 6 months. It is estimated to occur in between 1 to 16% of children and adolescents. In younger children it is […]
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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 […]
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By Jeyashree Sundaram (MBA) Veins that have become enlarged in the tube that interconnects the throat and stomach, the esophagus, are called esophageal varices. Those who are affected with severe liver disease will be particularly prone to developing esophageal varices. Esophageal varices are developed either by the scar tissue of liver or a clot that blocks the regular blood flow […]
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Once a woman has given birth, her estrogen and progesterone levels rapidly fall. By around three days after birth, the colostrum or “first milk” which had previously been yellowish in color, becomes diluted and changes to a whiter color. Around this time, milk begins to leak from the breasts and when the baby feeds, nerves in the breasts send messages […]
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Cradle cap is a very common condition of the scalp skin in young infants. It usually appears in the first two months of life in the form of yellowish-white greasy scales or crusts over the scalp. It looks alarming, but is nonetheless a benign and self-limited condition. What causes cradle cap? Cradle cap is the infant version of dandruff. In […]
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Alstrom syndrome has been the focus of attention, among other ciliopathies, in research on the biological functions of cilia as well as the best mode of treatment of these disorders. The ALMS1 gene has been associated with this condition. Physiological Roles of ALMS1 Protein The ALMS1 gene has been the locus of research because of its association with obesity and […]
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Asthma is a chronic disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of airway obstruction and wheezing due to inflammation of the airways. Credit: u3d/Shutterstock.com Asthma History: early civilization Asthma has a long history of evolution before it was categorically defined. The earliest mention of respiratory distress and wheezing (the occurrence of a whistling sound while breathing) has been found in 2600 BC […]
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The term tongue twisting comprises rolling, folding, rotating, adjusting, and turning of the tongue. The human tongue is a muscular organ that is capable of identifying the taste of food and is used in verbal communication. All aspects of a person are in some way influenced by genetics. Likewise, the tongue structure or its movement is controlled by one’s respective […]
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Dyspareunia is a commonly neglected condition that manifests with persistent or recurrent urogenital pain just before, during or following sexual intercourse, mostly due to physical or psychological causes. This disorder may be generalized, acquired and lifelong, causing substantial personal (and interpersonal) distress. As both organic and psychosexual components may be responsible for dyspareunia, there is a need for a thorough […]
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