What Is Systemic Lupus Erythematosus? Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease that is characterized by involvement of multiple organs due to the production of antibodies to components of the cell nucleus.1 SLE has an unpredictable course of acute ...
Read More »Muscle Spasm And Muscle Cramps
What Are Muscle Spasm, Muscle Cramps? Muscle spasm and muscle cramps are disorders of muscle function caused by painful involuntary contractions of affected skeletal muscles characterized by limited movement. Q: What is the difference between muscle spasm and cramps? A: ...
Read More »Vitamin E Deficiency
What Is Vitamin E? Vitamin E is not a single vitamin but naturally occurs as a fat-soluble vitamin family that consists of at least 8 distinct molecules. These molecules include 4 tocopherols (alpha, beta, gamma, and delta) and 4 tocotrienols ...
Read More »Cancer Predisposition In Children
What Is Cancer Predisposition In Children? Cancer predisposition in children signifies a higher than normal risk of developing cancer. Cancer is the uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in the body. Among the 12 major types of childhood cancers, leukemias (blood ...
Read More »Lymphoma, Enteropathy-Associated T-Cell (EATL)
What Is Enteropathy-Associated T-Cell Lymphoma? Enteropathy associated T-cell lymphoma (EATL), although rare, is a tumor of intraepithelial lymphocytes. It is the most common primary gastrointestinal T-cell lymphoma and is characterized by its aggressive course and poor prognosis. Primary means this ...
Read More »Cancer Of The Pharynx
What Is Cancer Of The Pharynx? Cancer of the pharynx is a malignant growth of stratified squamous cells that line the pharynx, or throat. Q: What are stratified squamous cells that line the pharynx? A: Stratified squamous cells are thin, flat epithelial ...
Read More »Progressive Myoclonic Ataxia
What Is Progressive Myoclonic Ataxia? Progressive myoclonic ataxia is a movement disorder characterized by defective muscular coordination of a muscle group with its origin in the brain. The pathology is in the cerebellum.1 Myoclonus in a context of progressive ataxia ...
Read More »Angina Pectoris
What Is Angina Pectoris? Angina pectoris, or simply angina, is a coronary syndrome characterized by an oppressive substernal pain (pain under breastbone) or pressure brought on by exertion and relieved by rest that results from failure of coronary arteries to ...
Read More »Delayed Puberty in Boys
What Is Delayed Puberty in Boys? Delayed puberty in boys is characterized by lack of growth and functional activity of the male gonads, called testes or testicals, to produce testosterone by age 14 and failure to grow pubic hair by age 15. ...
Read More »Coronary Artery Disease
What Is Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)? Coronary artery disease (CAD), also called ischemic heart disease, is a gradual narrowing of medium and large arteries of the heart by fatty buildups, called atherosclerotic plaques. It is characterized by slowly developing interference with blood flow to heart ...
Read More »Infertility In Males
What Is Infertility in Males? Infertility in males is characterized by inability to either produce sperm or to produce viable sperm or mobile sperm resulting in prohibiting fertilization of the female ovum (egg). To the left is a false-colour scanning ...
Read More »Hypogonadism In Adult Males That Is Unexplained
What Is Unexplained Adult Male Hypogonadism? Hypogonadism in males is a distressing reproductive disorder characterized by inadequate production of male andogen hormones and/or spermatozoa by the testes. Q: How do andogens affect reproductive health? A: Male androgen hormones control the ...
Read More »Dyspareunia (Painful Intercourse), Primary
What Is Primary Dyspareunia (Painful Intercourse)? Dyspareunia is a distressing female genital disorder characterized by pain during or after coitus involving the labia, vagina or pelvis. There are two types of dyspareunia: primary which affect the vagina itself in the ...
Read More »Dysmenorrhea (Painful Periods)
What Is Dysmenorrhea? Dysmenorrhea is a distressing menstrual disorder in females characterized by cramping and spasmodic pain that occurs regularly just before or during menstruation. What Is Dysmenorrhea In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?
Read More »Ataxia, Gluten
What Is Gluten Ataxia? Gluten ataxia is a degeneration of the cerebellum (lower brain) caused by an immune reaction to gluten that is characterized by positive anti-gliadin antibodies, motor abnormalities including upper or lower limb ataxia, gait ataxia, and dysarthria ...
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