Several types of defibrillators are used to deliver electric currents to the heart muscles and correct abnormal and life threatening heart rhythms. The four main types of defibrillator include: Advanced life support (ALS) unit These tools are used in the healthcare setting such as in hospitals and ambulances and allow staff to monitor the patient’s heart rhythm and intervene manually […]
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Biosecurity refers to measures that are taken to stop the spread or introduction of harmful organisms to human, animal and plant life. The measures taken are a combination of processes and systems that have been put in place by bioscience laboratories, customs agents and agricultural managers to prevent the use of dangerous pathogens and toxins. Goals of Biosecurity The main […]
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Defibrillation is a procedure used to treat life threatening conditions that affect the rhythm of the heart such as cardiac arrhythmia, ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia. The procedure involves the delivery of an electric shock to the heart which causes depolarisation of the heart muscles and re-establishes normal conduction of the heart’s electrical impulse. The machine used to deliver […]
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Gallbladder cancer treatment primarily depends on the stage of the cancer and the grade of the cancer. Treatment also depends on the general health of the patient. Surgery is the primary method of treatment in early stages of the cancer. This may be followed up with radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy with anticancer drugs. Who treats gallbladder cancer? The team of […]
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Peanut allergy is one of the most common food allergies and, in the Western world, is thought to be prevalent in up to 1 in 200 individuals in some populations. In fact, studies have suggested that peanut allergy in American children younger than five years doubled in prevalence between 1998 and 2003. In the United Kingdom, around 0.4 to 0.6% […]
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A novel coronavirus that was first reported in China in December 2019 quickly led to a global pandemic. Named COVID-19, the virus has had a devastating effect on economies and healthcare systems worldwide. Image Credit: Cryptographer / Shutterstock.com As it is highly contagious, the first defense against the transmission of the disease is restricting contact between infected and healthy people, […]
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Angina is a heart condition that is typically manifested as chest pain and is more of a symptom of an underlying condition than a disease in itself. The pain in the chest is caused when the blood supply to the heart muscles of cardiac muscles falls short of the required amount. This occurs when the arteries that supply the heart […]
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Oxidative stress describes a state of physiological stress in the body that arises from exposure to high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) relative to the level of neutralizing antioxidants. Free radicals can interact with molecules in the body and damage various cell components such as DNA, protein and lipids, giving rise to various disease states. Reduction or redox potential […]
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Retrograde pyelography is a procedure commonly used by urologists involving X-ray imaging to visualize the kidneys, bladder and ureters. It involves the insertion of a cystoscope into the urinary system and contrast dye administered to the ureters. During this process, X-ray images are used to visualize the movement of the dye and the function of the system. Image Copyright: Image […]
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The condition known as von Willebrand disease is the result of reduction in the plasma levels of, or the production of a defective form of, the coagulation factor known as von Willebrand factor (vWF). This is a large glycoprotein made up of many monomers. Its main function is to bind plasma proteins, and in particular factor VIII. When unbound, factor […]
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