Aspartic acid, also called aminosuccinic acid or aspartate, is a non-essential amino acid that is made naturally in the human body through dietary intake. Image Credit: StudioMolekuul/Shutterstock.com It has several uses, such as in the synthesis of proteins and the regulation of certain hormones, but it is also chemically synthesized to create dietary supplements, although its benefits as a supplement […]
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Quincke’s edema, also known as angioneurotic uvular edema, was named after Heinrich Quincke, a professor of internal medicine during the latter half of the 19th century. Credit: Nikolas Saevich/Shutterstock.com In 1882, Heinrich Quincke described several cases of acute localized skin edema, which he segregated into familial and sporadic forms, and also hypothesized that this phenomenon occurred due to neurogenic factors. […]
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Corticosteroids are a form of anti-inflammatory drug that is commonly used to treat issues associated with the joints, soft tissues, and connective tissues. Corticosteroids are artificially made but bear a close resemblance to the naturally occurring cortisol. Image Credit: Shidlovski/Shutterstock.com How do corticosteroids work? Cortisol, which a corticosteroid mimics, is naturally produced by the adrenal glands. Cortisol has a role […]
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Leukemia is the most common form of childhood cancers, with a prevalence rate of 10 – 45 per 100,0000 children in each year. Among various types of leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is the most common form, followed by acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Acute lymphoblastic leukemia, bone marrow smear, 3D illustration – Image Credit: Kateryna […]
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Fructose and glucose are both simple monosaccharide sugars. Both starch and sugar, whether sucrose or high-fructose corn syrup (HCFS), yield glucose in large amounts when digested. Glucose is absorbed and transported directly to the body cells to fuel their metabolism, and to eventually form water and carbon dioxide through the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. It does not undergo any hepatic […]
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Infections with Nipah virus can affect both humans and animal reservoirs. The presence of Nipah virus is confirmed using several levels of testing, which primarily includes viral isolation, serology and nucleic acid amplification (the latter is also known as molecular diagnostics). Nipah virus, newly emerging zoonotic infection with acute respiratory syndrome and severe encephalitis, 3D illustration. Image Credit: Kateryna Kon […]
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Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing is important in organ transplantation protocols, as they determine the likelihood of rejection. The HLA system is little understood, however. In simple terms, the HLA genes are a family of genes which code for a set of proteins called the human leukocyte antigen complex. They are related to each other structurally and functionally, and play […]
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A group of pathogenic microorganisms generally known as genital mycoplasmas, that were identified as early as 1898, are frequently encountered in the lower genitourinary tract of sexually active men and women. Although their prevalence might be high among healthy people, they are also responsible for various infectious syndromes and potential complications. Mycoplasmas are considered the smallest free-living organisms. They are […]
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Berries are generally considered to be beneficial for a number of human body systems, including the cardiovascular system. Blueberries have been shown to reduce type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease risk, both in the short-term and the long-term for normal and at-risk populations. Image Credit: sarsmis / Shutterstock.com The mechanisms by which berries cause these beneficial effects are found to […]
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Multimorbidity is defined as the existence of two or more long-term chronic illnesses in the same individual at the same time. Usually neither of the medical conditions is considered dominant – instead, the conditions exist alongside one another, each having a significant impact on the patient. This phenomenon is increasingly common in the population today and is strongly linked to […]
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