Shingles or Herpes zoster is a viral disease that occurs with reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (a virus that causes varicella or chickenpox). It is characterized by a painful skin rash which usually shows a dermatomal distribution. Pathophysiology of Herpes Zoster Varicella-zoster virus (VZV), is a double-stranded DNA virus. It is a herpes virus related […]
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Allicin and Its Health Benefits
Allicin is a compound produced when you bite fresh garlic or crush it or cut it. Allicin is produced by enzymatic action on the precursor component alliin. Studies have found that Allicin has antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties, and has been found beneficial in a number of health conditions. Garlic contains a small amount of […]
Bone marrow – Structure, Composition and Functions
Bone marrow is soft, spongy, gelatinous tissue that fills the centers of bones known as medullary cavities. Bone marrow is highly vascular meaning that it is enriched with blood vessels and capillaries. Each day bone marrow produces hundreds of billions of new blood cells. Bone marrow takes over from the liver as the major hematopoietic organ […]
Aplastic Anemia – Classification, Treatment and Prognosis
Aplastic anemia is a rare hematological (blood) disorder in which the bone marrow is damaged resulting in failure to produce all the three major types of blood cells. Bone marrow is a sponge-like tissue inside the bones that makes stem cells which develop into red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), and platelets. It is also called hypoplastic anemia. The fundamental […]
DOTS Therapy and Its Use in Tuberculosis Treatment
DOTS Therapy for Tuberculosis DOTS therapy stands for directly observed treatment short-course therapy. It is a method of treatment of tubercular disease where the treatment is given according to the category of the patient and is directly supervised. It has been included in the national program in India and is carried out by various DOTS […]
Lactose Intolerance Types, Symptoms and Treatment
Lactose intolerance is a condition resulting from an inability to digest lactose (which is a carbohydrate present in milk and milk products). This results in gastric symptoms including abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, nausea, etc. Pathophysiology Lactose intolerance occurs due to decreased levels or absence of enzyme lactase in the body. Lactose (a disaccharide) can’t be directly absorbed through the […]
Amniocentesis- Indications, Procedure and Complications
Amniocentesis is a medical procedure carried out on pregnant women. It is an invasive prenatal diagnostic test in which a small amount of amniotic fluid is removed from the uterus and analyzed for detecting various fetal disorders. What is amniotic fluid? Amniotic fluid is a clear yellow liquid that surrounds the developing fetus in the […]
Penis Disorders, Anatomical and Developmental Variations
The penis can be affected by a variety of conditions. Some are due to pathologies in the structures constituting penis. Many conditions are due to congenital anatomical variations of the Penis. Infection, tumors and psychological conditions are other causes. Conditions affecting the penis are discussed below Penile agenesis Penile agenesis is a condition where the […]
Endometriosis – Causes, Symptoms, Tests and Treatment
Endometriosis is a disorder in which tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus (the endometrium) grows outside the uterus. Endometriosis most commonly involves the ovaries, fallopian tubes and the tissue lining the pelvis. Rarely, it may spread beyond pelvic organs. This abnormally placed endometrial tissue continues to act as the normal endometrium. Due to […]
Brain Tumors Grading and Prognostic Factors
Tumor grading refers to its aggression. A staging system describes the location of the tumor and its spread to other parts of the body. There is no recommended systemic staging system for adult brain tumors because most primary tumors do not usually spread beyond the central nervous system. Grading of Brain Tumors [WHO] The histologic […]