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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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Estradiol is a type of estrogen, which is the female sex hormone secreted by the ovaries and required for many bodily processes. Estradiol is used as a treatment for symptoms caused by the menopause such as vaginal dryness, burning, irritation and hot flushes. It is also used to prevent osteoporosis developing in women who have gone through the menopause and […]
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There are several factors that regulate angiogenesis. Some of these factors act as stimulants to angiogenesis or creation of new blood vessels, yet others act as inhibitors to prevent angiogenesis. Some of the factors that are involved in angiogenesis include:- Enzymes that breakdown the blood vessel basement membranes or proteases and proteolytic enzymes To form new capillaries, endothelial cells of […]
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One of the most worrying trends about the rising numbers of obese and overweight individuals is the rising number of children and adolescents that are obese and overweight. Rise in obesity in children Over the last few decades the number of children who are overweight or obese has doubled. The percentage of children aged 6–11 years in the United States […]
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Pancreatic cancer is not usually diagnosed early on in the disease course due to a lack of symptoms in the initial stages. By the time the cancer becomes symptomatic, it is usually in the more advanced stages when treatment is less likely to be successful. A general outline of the steps taken in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is given […]
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Several misconceptions and myths surround the topic of color vision deficiency. One common misunderstanding is that color blind individuals mistake one color for another, such as seeing red when others see green or vice versa. Instead, people who are color blind cannot distinguish colors at all and the world they see is made up of varying hues of grey. However, […]
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Hypertriglyceridemia refers to an abnormally high level of triglycerides in the blood. Found in both animal and vegetable fats, triglycerides make up about 95% of all dietary fats. Once digested, triglycerides circulate in the bloodstream and are used as a source of energy by cells. Any triglycerides that are not taken up as an energy source are stored as fat, […]
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Pneumocystis pneumonia is a potentially life-endangering disease caused by the fungal pathogen Pneumocystis jiroveci. It is predominantly observed in immunocompromised individuals. This microorganism is the most common causative agent of opportunistic infections in patients who present with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in developed countries. The exact name of the species that infects humans has been amended from Pneumocystis carinii to […]
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