The formation of a scar is a natural part of the healing process following an injury to the skin as the body repairs the wound. The appearance of the scar after the area has healed depends on several factors, including the type of injury, the area of the body affected and the healing process itself. The type of injury is […]
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Arthrogryposis is a name given to a large group of medical conditions in which multiple joints are severely fixed and immobilized by the formation of contractures present at birth, but not progressing thereafter. The term contracture refers to the formation of fibrous connections across joints, which results in very limited or absent joint mobility. When only one joint is affected […]
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Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological disorder marked by symptoms of unpleasant sensations and an uncontrollable desire to move the legs. Epidemiology It is estimated that up to 10% of individuals may experience symptoms of restless legs syndrome, with 2-3% of adults reporting moderate to severe symptoms. However, it is difficult to determine the exact prevalence, as many individuals […]
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The fundamental cause of multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a loss of oligodendroglial and neuronal cells in the brain and central nervous system. The loss of cells is gradual and progressive, leading to slowly worsening symptoms. Degeneration is found in three parts of the nervous system: the basal ganglia, the cerebellum, and parts of the brain that regulate the autonomic […]
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Plant-derived medicines are common, but today biopharming has changed the nature of the plants themselves, making use of gene therapy to produce transgenic plants which yield non-native proteins targeting deadly viruses like Ebola or HIV, and some cancers. Tobacco field. Image Credit: Ivana Vrnoga / Shutterstock This is different from bioengineering in which plant biological drugs are produced in bioreactors […]
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Gum disease or periodontitis is a common oral disease and causes damage to supporting tissues of the teeth. There may be initial gingivitis or inflammation and infection of the gums that leads to inflammation of the marginal periodontium and finally periodontitis. Not every gingivitis case, however, goes on to become periodontitis. The cause lies in the microorganisms and their virulence […]
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Chelation therapy is a widely used medicine for the treatment of heavy metal poisoning. The treatment can be administered orally or through injection into a vein or muscle. The route of administration as well as the choice of chelator agent depends on the type of poisoning. Some of the available chelators include: British anti-Lewisite (BAL) Dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) Dimercapto-propane-sulfonate (DMPS) […]
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Motion sickness is an unpleasant sensation commonly seen in some vulnerable individuals when they are subjected to unnatural motion. All persons can develop motion sickness if given the right stimulus. For example, even hardy sea men are seen to develop sea sickness (a form of motion sickness) during a stormy season. However, those at risk may develop the symptoms even […]
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Glaucoma Glaucoma is the second greatest factor leading to permanent blindness in the United States. The aqueous humor is a water-like fluid that occupies the anterior chamber of the eye where the pupil, lens, iris, and cornea are located. The fluid provides the eye with nutrients and the necessary pressure to help maintain the shape of the eye, known as […]
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Vaginitis, also known as vulvovaginitis, is a term used to describe inflammation of the vulva and the vagina. It can occur as a result of various conditions, including those that cause an infection due to the presence of yeast, bacteria, or viruses and irritation from chemicals or clothing in the area. It is normal for the vagina to produce a […]
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