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Symptoms and Causes of Double Inlet Left Ventricle

Double inlet left ventricle (DILV) is a rare condition and its exact etiology is currently unknown. It occurs in 5 to 10 out of 100 000 births. It is suspected to be due to abnormal development of the heart tube during intrauterine life and it leads to the mal-development of heart valves and chambers. As a result, only one heart chamber is actively involved in pumping of blood.

30 Nov 2016

Double Inlet Left Ventricle Diagnosis and Treatment

Congenital heart disease is estimated to occur in about 7 out of every 1000 children born alive. Double inlet left ventricle (DILV) is a very rare condition in which the heart chambers and valves are malformed. It occurs in about 5-10 of every 100 000 babies born alive.

30 Nov 2016

Sources of Iron

Iron is a necessary mineral for the functioning of the body. It is estimated that around 20% of women, 3% of men, and 50% of pregnant women are iron deficient. Symptoms of iron deficiency include fatigue, pallor, and cravings for non-food items like ice or dirt.

30 Nov 2016

Iron Functions in the Body

Iron performs many important functions in the body. It is primarily involved in the transfer of oxygen from the lungs to tissues. However, iron also plays a role in metabolism as a component of some proteins and enzymes.

30 Nov 2016

Influenza Immunization

Influenza, or flu, is a seasonal infection that occurs primarily in the winter months in the northern hemisphere.

30 Nov 2016

How do wearable fitness trackers measure steps?

A fitness tracker is a gadget that can be worn by an individual throughout the day to keep track of various body parameters. Any wearable fitness tracker needs the person using it to input physiological details such as their weight, height, gender to help the tracker make better sense of the data that it collects.

30 Nov 2016

What is the Epidermis?

The epidermis is the thin, outer layer of the skin that is visible to the eye and works to provide protection to the body.

29 Nov 2016

Causes of Pulmonary Hypoplasia

Pulmonary hypoplasia is a condition where a baby’s lungs have failed to develop properly during development in the womb. The alveoli, which are needed for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lung, are reduced in number, which affects the baby’s ability to breathe independently after birth. If newborns with pulmonary hypoplasia cannot be supported long enough for new lung tissue to grow, they are at risk of developing lung failure.

29 Nov 2016

Signs and Symptoms of Lead Poisoning

Lead exposure occurs through inhalation of lead dust or fumes or through ingestion of clothing, water or foods that contain the metal. Inhaled or digested lead is released into the blood and then distributed to different parts of the body. Most of the lead builds up and is stored in the bones, which then release it back into the blood, meaning organs are re-exposed long after the initial exposure.

29 Nov 2016

Prevention of Lead Poisoning

Lead is a highly toxic metal. Children under the age of six years are particularly vulnerable to the effects of lead poisoning because it can affect the formation and connection of neurons while the nervous system is growing and developing. No level of lead in the blood has been found to be safe in children and even small amounts can affect children’s ability to learn, concentrate and achieve academically.

29 Nov 2016

Lead Poisoning Pathophysiology

Lead circulates in the body bound to red blood cells. O nly a small fraction is present in the plasma. However, if the level of lead in the blood exceeds 2.9 µmol/L, red cell binding becomes saturated, meaning the fraction of lead in plasma begins to increase. Lead in the plasma gradually gets distributed to various organs and tissues. B ecause the process is slow, it usually takes long-term exposure over months or years before clinical toxicity occurs.

29 Nov 2016

Lead Poisoning, Diagnosis and Treatment

Lead is a very toxic substance that can build up in the body and affect virtually every organ and bodily function. Lead poisoning is usually a chronic disorder and may not present with any acute symptoms. Whether acute symptoms are present or not, lead poisoning eventually leads to permanent and irreversible damage such as cognitive impairment, kidney dysfunction and peripheral neuropathy.

29 Nov 2016

What Happens if You Take Too Much Iron?

Iron is an essential mineral in the diet, and is a crucial component of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body. Dietary iron is present in two forms. Heme iron is bound within a ring-shaped molecule called porphyrin. It is found mainly in red meat. Non-heme iron is found in both plants and animals. Its absorption is aided by vitamin C.

29 Nov 2016

Iron Deficiency

A deficiency of iron can result from a number of different causes. Inadequate iron in the diet, impaired absorption of iron, and excessive bleeding are all examples of conditions that can lead to iron deficiency.

29 Nov 2016

Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (ION): Overview

Ischemic optic neuropathy (ION) is a condition in which there is significant impairment or loss of vision in the middle-aged or elderly population, especially Caucasians, due to ischemia of the optic nerve head. The incidence in the USA is between 2 and 10 per 100 000 with 6000 new cases being diagnosed each year.

28 Nov 2016

Pulmonary Embolism (PE): Overview

A pulmonary embolism (PE) is a potentially fatal blockage of an artery in the lungs. The nature of the blockage is typically a blood clot, fat agglomeration, bubble of gas, or a piece of foreign material, known as an embolus.

28 Nov 2016

Optic Neuritis: Overview

Optic neuritis is a condition in which the optic nerve becomes inflamed and swollen, leading to an acute severe impairment of vision in the affected eye. The swelling may further lead to damage to the nerve fibers running through the nerve, causing permanent or temporary loss of vision in that eye. It is much more common in young female patients.

28 Nov 2016

Symptoms and Causes of Vitreous Detachment

Vitreous detachment is a process in which the vitreous separates from the retina with or without collapsing in on itself. The vitreous is a jelly-like body that fills the posterior chamber of the eye, giving the eyeball its round shape and keeping the retina in place against the back of the eye.

27 Nov 2016

Vitreous Detachment Treatment

A vitreous detachment by itself does not cause any visual problems. However, it is associated with a significant number of patients who have retinal tears or the formation of a macular hole. These are serious threats to the eyesight and so require immediate treatment. Thus, anyone who has the symptoms of vitreous detachment may also have a retinal break or detachment.

27 Nov 2016

Difference Between Double Outlet Right Ventricle and Double Inlet Left Ventricle

Both double outlet right ventricle (DORV) and double inlet left ventricle (DILV) are congenital heart defects that create the phenomenon of a single ventricle. This means that the heart, which normally has two distinct pumping chambers (i.e., right and left ventricles) has only one functional chamber.

27 Nov 2016