Gilbert’s syndrome is caused by lack or deficiency of an enzyme uridine-diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase or UGT. This enzyme is responsible for converting fat soluble free or unconjugated bilirubin into water soluble conjugated bilirubin which is then excreted from the body. Bilirubin thus helps in excretion of the heme derived from the dead red blood cells. Diagnosis of Gilbert’s syndrome Gilbert’s syndrome […]
Continue reading »
The vast majority of patients with sciatica notice a significant improvement in the severity of their symptoms within 6-8 weeks. For this reason, initial treatment should be conservative to avoid unnecessary exposure to treatments. Instead, patients should be adequately counseled to understand the nature of the condition and equipped with methods to relieve the associated pain. If another condition, such […]
Continue reading »
When a patient complains of joint pain, the first step is to identify the source of the pain: inflammatory or non-inflammatory. The next step is to establish the pattern of joint involvement. This includes the number of joints involved, the type of joints, symmetrical joint involvement, and onset of symptoms. The third step is serologic testing to establish a diagnosis […]
Continue reading »
Coronary artery disease is usually caused by a build up cholesterol rich deposits or plaques on the lining inside the artery. These plaques are also called atheromatous plaques or simply atheromas and they cause a thickening of the arterial wall and a narrowing of the arterial space through which blood flows to reach the heart. The amount of blood reaching […]
Continue reading »
Glycemia or the concentration of glucose in the blood is strictly regulated in the body through several mechanisms. Several health conditions can cause the blood glucose level to become too high or fall too low. For example, stress, injury, heart attack or stroke can cause temporary increases in blood glucose, while drugs such as alcohol, acetaminophen, gemfibrozil or clofibrate can […]
Continue reading »
Autoimmunity refers to a failing of the immune system to differentiate between the body’s own tissues and invading bodies. A person’s gender is thought to play a role in the development of autoimmunity, with most autoimmune conditions being related to gender. Studies have shown that around three quarters of Americans who have autoimmune illnesses are female, although millions of men […]
Continue reading »
As there is currently no successful treatment for individuals with Tay-Sachs disease, there is a need for significant research into therapy techniques that could be useful in the treatment for the disease. Among the most promising research at this point in time is enzyme replacement therapy, the Jacob sheep model, substrate reduction therapy and the increasing the activity of β-hexosaminidase […]
Continue reading »
Beta-thalassemia is an inherited disorder of the blood that affects the hemoglobin inside red blood cells. The condition is caused by an abnormality in the production of the beta globin chain found in hemoglobin. This results in haemoglobin that has a reduced capacity to transport oxygen around the body, which can lead to symptoms of anemia. Beta thalassemia statistics In […]
Continue reading »
Since there is no cure for type 1 diabetes, treatment is focused on controlling the condition effectively in order to minimize symptoms and delay disease progression. The disease is caused by damaged or destroyed pancreatic beta cells that fail to secrete insulin. Insulin is a vital hormone that stimulates the uptake of glucose in the blood by muscles, fat, liver […]
Continue reading »
Reactive oxygen species or ROS and free radicals can cause severe damage to the normal cells of the body. This damage can be to the DNA, proteins, and other macromolecules. This damage forms the basis of a wide variety of diseases, most notably heart disease and cancer. There are numerous studies that prove that since these diseases are mediated by […]
Continue reading »