The hypothalamus controls some of the basic functions of life including hormonal activity via the pituitary gland. There are several gender differences in the gland present between males and females. Some of the differences between male and female hypothalamus can be listed as: The volume of a specific nucleus in the hypothalamus (third cell group of the interstitial nuclei of […]
Continue reading »
Pharmacogenomics is the field of study about the effect of genes on an individual’s response to medications. It combines the science of drugs, pharmacology, with the study of genes, genomics, to establish effective ways to use medications in respect to the genetic makeup of each individual. Conventional Medications The majority of medications currently available on the market are targeted towards […]
Continue reading »
Stroke was the term used for apoplectic seizures from as early on as 1599. Johann Jacob Wepfer in his 1658 book called "Apoplexia," described the cause of apoplexy as bleeding in the brain. Stroke is a medical emergency that commonly causes death and disability all over the world. In the Western world, for example, stroke is the second common cause […]
Continue reading »
Hunter syndrome is an inherited disorder where glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) build up in cells of the body due to a deficiency of the enzyme iduronate-2-sulfatase. There is no cure for the syndrome and treatment is aimed at managing the condition so as to ease symptoms and provide some relief for the sufferer. This is referred to as palliative treatment and the […]
Continue reading »
Prion diseases, also known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) are dreaded neurological diseases with a progressive course, and are invariably fatal. They are caused by tiny particles primarily composed of a pathogenic protein which is actually an abnormal variant of the PrP protein, a normal component of the cell membrane. Prions are unique in being proteinaceous particles without nucleic acids […]
Continue reading »
Throughout wakefulness and sleep, the electrical activity of the brain changes and creates different types of brain waves, characterizing the various stages of sleep. There are two broad stages of sleep: rapid eye movement (REM) and non-rapid eye movement (NREM), which is further broken up into three stages. Each of these sleep stages is described in more detail below. Stage […]
Continue reading »
There are between 100-150 rheumatic disease varieties and the term rheumatism is a layperson term describing joint pain and stiffness and not specifically rheumatic disorders. For example, most of the traditional descriptions of rheumatism describe aches and pains in the joints as a person ages. Many of these cases were actually osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is not included in the inflammatory joint […]
Continue reading »
Heartburn is a symptom that is often indicative of an underlying condition of acid reflux or Gastro-esophageal reflux disorder. Diagnosis of heartburn is vital as its symptoms are similar to that of a heart attack or other chest pathologies. Image Credit: GBALLGIGGSPHOTO / Shutterstock.com Diagnosis of heartburn or acid reflux disorder includes the following. Skip to Medical history Physical examination […]
Continue reading »
Laparoscopic surgery or keyhole surgery is minimally invasive surgery that is associated with several advantages over traditional open surgery. In an open procedure, one large abdominal incision is made to expose the tissues and structures inside for examination and surgery. In a laparoscopic procedure on the other hand, only a small incision of up to 1.5 cm in length is […]
Continue reading »
Balance problems are symptoms of an underlying condition rather than disease in itself. There are several different causes and varieties of disorders that may lead to balance problems. Thus treatment of balance disorders is also wide ranging and varied. For example, balance problems caused by ear infections are treated using antibiotics and anti-inflammatory agents while those due to side effects […]
Continue reading »