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Addison's Disease and Skin Problems

Addison's disease, also known as primary adrenal insufficiency, is an endocrine disorder where insufficient amounts of cortisol and aldosterone hormones are produced by the adrenal glands. Cortisol is commonly referred to as the “stress hormone” and is involved in several mechanisms in the body.

23 Aug 2016

Mammary Duct Ectasia Diagnosis

Mammary duct ectasia represents a benign condition characterized by the dilatation of the mammary ducts. The diagnosis can be clinically challenging due to its complex and diversified symptoms, but also because in some cases it can mimic breast cancer.

23 Aug 2016

Intraductal Papilloma - Benign Tumors of the Breast

Intraductal papillomas are a group of benign tumors of the breast that stem from the epithelium of the lactiferous ducts (i.e., a system that links the lobules of the mammary gland with the tip of the nipple). The incidence of these changes is low and usually in the range of 2 to 3%, affecting women between 30 and 77 years of age.

23 Aug 2016

Gail Model (Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool)

The risk of breast cancer - one of the most important malignant tumors of modern society - is continually increasing across different societies of the world, with rates in developing countries (which were inherently lower) catching up with the higher rates observed in the Western world.

23 Aug 2016

HIV-1 versus HIV-2: What’s the Difference?

The human immunodeficiency virus is classified into two main types: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 was discovered first and is more prevalent worldwide, while HIV-2 is less pathogenic and is mostly confined to West Africa. So when we generally say HIV, we are referring to HIV-1. The fundamental differences between HIV-1 and HIV-2 infections lie in the mechanism of retroviral pathogenesis, which is not fully clear yet.

22 Aug 2016

Oophorectomy and Breast Cancer

Oophorectomy is a surgical operation in which the ovaries are removed. The removal of these sex organs has been practiced for over a century as part of the treatment of breast cancer. It causes a significant reduction in the production and circulation of estrogen and progesterone, the primary female sex hormones.

22 Aug 2016

Graft Versus Host Disease Research

Researchers are exploring ways that they can minimize the risk of graft vs host disease (GvHD) in stem cell/bone marrow transplantation patients.

22 Aug 2016

Mammary Duct Ectasia

Mammary duct ectasia represents a type of benign blockage of milk ducts with a varying incidence, depending on the diagnostic methods used. Albeit historically descriptions of mammary duct ectasia involved different terminologies (according to diverse symptomatic and histological characteristics), in 1951, Haagensen and his colleagues proposed a formal and unified named based on its dominant pathological feature – a clogged lactiferous duct.

22 Aug 2016

Allergic to Dogs: Symptoms, Causes and Diagnosis

Although domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) are among the most abundant of household pets, the prevalence of clinically relevant allergic diseases caused by dogs is lower than that for cats. Still, sensitivity to dog allergens can be a major cause of allergic symptoms (and even severe manifestations such as asthma) in susceptible individuals, and it is thought that up to 20% of the population in Western countries exhibits some kind of allergy to dogs.

22 Aug 2016

Early Signs of Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a life event (divided into three trimesters of 13 weeks each) that entails substantial physiological and psychological adjustments for the mother. Within each trimester, numerous adaptations occur with the end-goal of facilitating the growth of the fetus.

21 Aug 2016

Cushing's Syndrome and Skin Problems

Cushing's Syndrome (sometimes called hypercortisolism) is a hormonal disease caused by an abnormally high level of the hormone cortisol in the body. This may arise because of an endogenous or exogenous source of cortisol. Endogenous causes include the elevated production of cortisol by the adrenal glands, while exogenous causes include the excessive use of cortisol or other similar steroid (glucocorticoid) hormones over a prolonged period of time.

21 Aug 2016

Thyroid Disorders and Skin Problems

Thyroid disorders are characterized by abnormal levels of thyroid hormone in the serum. Thyroid hormone has many roles in body metabolism. These include its involvement in the embryonic development of mammalian skin, the initiation and maintenance of hair growth, determination of epidermal thickness, and secretion of sebum.

21 Aug 2016

Diabetes and Skin Problems

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by a disruption in glucose homeostasis. The most well-known manifestation is that the blood glucose level remains higher than normal. The condition is categorized as Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Whilst diabetes can cause many systemic effects, it can also cause certain dermatological complications.

21 Aug 2016

Rheumatoid Arthritis Skin Problems

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune illness. It is the result of the body’s immune system producing antibodies against its own antigens, causing damage to the target organs. Like most other autoimmune diseases, RA occurs three times more often in women as compared to men.

21 Aug 2016

Ochronosis Skin Disorder

Ochronosis is a rare disorder which manifests as a bluish-black discoloration of the skin and mucosa. It is categorized into endogenous or exogenous forms.

21 Aug 2016

Female Pattern Hair Loss Treatments and Prognosis

Female pattern hair loss is a common problem of adult women. It presents with a diffuse and gradual reduction in hair density, most noticeable over the frontal and mid-portions of the scalp. This condition is progressive in nature, which means that without treatment the prognosis is one of continuous hair loss and widespread thinning.

21 Aug 2016

Symptoms and Diagnosis of Female Pattern Baldness

Female pattern baldness is a common clinical entity in women. It is characterized by a progressive decline in scalp hair density. In medical terms it is known as female androgenetic alopecia, suggesting that it may be perceived as the female equivalent of male androgenetic alopecia.

21 Aug 2016

Causes of Female Pattern Baldness

Female pattern baldness is a quite common, non-scarring form of hair loss that may be observed in all ages, but most notably in postmenopausal women. This condition typically manifests as a diffuse reduction of hair density over the frontal and vertex regions. The occipital and parietal areas may also be involved.

21 Aug 2016

Female Pattern Hair Loss

Female pattern hair loss (also known as female pattern androgenetic alopecia) represents a common condition with a multifactorial etiology that affects a large number of women worldwide. It is characterized by a progressive reduction in hair density, most notably on the crown and frontal scalp.

21 Aug 2016