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A food allergy is a result of your immune system getting confused by the structural similarity between proteins found in pollen or the harmless proteins found in certain foods. Image Copyright: Tim UR / Shutterstock Perceiving the latter as a threat, it releases immunoglobulin E (IgE), which activates an allergic reaction. This involves the release of chemicals such as histamine, […]
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Both the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are important in suppressing tumors and repairing damaged DNA. Mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes give rise to a predisposition to cancer which is referred to as Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (HBOC) syndrome. While more than 500 different mutations can occur in the BRCA1 gene on chromosome 17 and raise a woman's […]
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The growth of prostate cancer is stimulated by the presence of male hormones or androgens in the body. Hormone therapy is aimed at reducing the amount of androgen present in the blood to prevent the growth and further spread of prostate cancer. The therapy is also called androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) or androgen suppression therapy. Hormone therapy works either by […]
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Pediatrics is the branch of medicine dealing with the health and medical care of infants, children, and adolescents from birth up to the age of 18. The word “paediatrics” means “healer of children”; they are derived from two Greek words: (pais = child) and (iatros = doctor or healer). Paediatrics is a relatively new medical specialty, developing only in the […]
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The prosthetic implant used in hip replacement procedures is composed of three parts. These include the acetabular cup that acts as the socket; the femoral head or “ball” component that sits inside this socket; and the articular interface that lies between these components cushioning them to allow ease of movement as the structures interact with each other. The acetabular cup […]
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Spasticity is a condition involving an involuntary increase in muscle tone that leads to resistance against normal movements of the body and may cause pain in some individuals. It is strongly associated with certain medical conditions of the central nervous system (CNS), such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and cerebral palsy, in addition to injury or tumor growth in the area. […]
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Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are both health conditions involving the respiratory system and can lead to difficulty breathing. There is some overlap between the two conditions and it is estimated that approximately 40% of patients with COPD also suffer from asthma. However, there are some distinct differences between the two conditions, in their pathophysiology, presentation of symptoms […]
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By Keynote ContributorProf. Madhu Pai, MDCanada Research Chair in Epidemiology & Global Health,McGill University, Montreal By Prof Madhukar Pai Cepheid Inc., produces Xpert MTB/RIF, which is an automated, fast test for TB using molecular diagnostics. Compared to the standard test for TB in developing countries, sputum smear microscopy, it is considerably more accurate. In an hour and a half, Xpert […]
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Nutraceuticals are natural, bioactive chemical compounds that have health-promoting, disease-preventing or general medicinal properties. This category encompasses vitamins, minerals, herbal supplements, and certain animal products. In addition, nutraceuticals also include “functional foods” – i.e. foods that tout a specific health benefit based on their ingredients. Regulation presents noteworthy challenge to the globalization of nutraceuticals, with murky and somewhat dissimilar definition […]
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First discussed in medical literature in the 1800s, acute myeloid leukemia is a progressive and aggressive type of cancer affecting the white blood cells. Image Credit: Jarun Ontakrai / Shutterstock.com What is Acute Myeloid Leukemia? Acute leukemia is an aggressive and progressive form of cancer that affects white blood cells. The condition can be further differentiated into two sub-types, […]
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