Gastrointestinal bleeding refers to any form of hemorrhage or blood loss that occurs in the gastrointestinal tract, the passage that extends all the way from the mouth to the anus. The causes of this type of bleeding are numerous but a patient’s symptom history and a physical examination usually help to distinguish the main causes. Bleeding can range in severity […]
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Ebola virus, together with the Marburg virus, belongs to the family Filoviridae. Medical scientific community first encountered this viral family when Marburg virus appeared in 1967. During that time, laboratory workers with an unusual and severe disease were admitted to a hospital in Marburg, Germany. Subsequent investigation found that the immediate source of the virus were green monkeys imported from […]
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Cellulitis is an infection of the deeper skin tissues that leads to redness, pain and swelling across affected areas. The most common cause of cellulitis is bacterial infection. Bacteria that make up the natural flora of the skin such as group A Streptococcus or Staphylococcus aureus often cause cellulitis if they penetrate the skin surface and enter the dermis and subcutaneous […]
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Uveitis refers to inflammation of the uvea, which is the middle layer of the eye comprising the choroid, ciliary body and iris. Other areas of the eye, such as the vitreous, retina and optic nerve may also be involved. It is an uncommon condition, estimated to affect 2 to 5 people in 10,000 every year. Adults between the age […]
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Mastectomy is an operation to remove one or both breasts. In many cases, mastectomy not only involves removing breast tissues, but also the axillary lymph nodes so they can be examined to provide clues about cancer spread. Why is mastectomy performed? Mastectomy is performed in cases of ductal carcinoma in situ where large or multiple areas of a breast are […]
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Cachexia is a complex condition characterized by progressive weight and muscle loss, fatigue, and poor functional performance. It interferes with the routine activities of the patient and is usually resistant to normal therapies. Cancer cachexia becomes worse over time leading to an impoverished quality of life. Cachexia – a metabolic syndrome – occurs in stages, namely, mild, moderate, and severe. […]
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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) does not have a cure. It is a progressive disease that leads to steady joint damage and severe debility. The main outcomes of rheumatoid arthritis include: continuing and persistent joint inflammation progressive joint damage progressive decline in joint movement and function Other major prognosis and outcomes include features of other systems like inflammation of blood vessels (vasculitis), […]
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Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is one of the most controversial treatments used in medical practice. While some psychiatrists believe that ECT is an effective life-saving psychiatric treatment, others have grave concerns about its effectiveness and the associated side effects. The ECT that is practiced today is very different to the procedure that has been performed historically (often referred to as electroshock […]
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Cervical cancer, if detected early, is curable. Who provides cervical cancer treatment? Treatment is provided by a multidisciplinary team. The team usually consists of a gynaecologist, a surgeon, a clinical oncologist who specializes in chemotherapy and radiotherapy, a medical oncologist who specializes in chemotherapy, a pathologist, a radiologist or an imaging radiologist, a social worker, a psychologist and an oncology […]
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Women who are pregnant are more likely to be affected by certain dental conditions such as gingivitis. Gingivitis is a condition that involves inflammation of the gums, and when it occurs in pregnancy, it is referred to as pregnancy gingivitis. Gingival recession due to dental calculus. Image Credit: dr.kenan / Shutterstock Signs and Complications of Pregnancy Gingivitis The signs of […]
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