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Post-Infectious Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome is triggered by a gastroenteritis infection. This results in the expression of various symptoms including abdominal pain and diarrhea.

9 Apr 2019

What is Adrenomyeloneuropathy?

Adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN) is the second most common form of adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) and is an adult-onset version of ALD. AMN is a genetically inherited x-linked condition which affects the myelin of the spinal cord. As with all forms of ALD, AMN affects predominantly males (1 in around 40,000) due to being inherited on the X chromosome.

9 Apr 2019

What is Spondyloarthritis?

Spondyloarthritis is a group of inflammatory joint diseases that affect the spine and, in some cases, the peripheral joints of the arms and legs. Some forms of spondyloarthritis may also involve the skin, intestines and eyes.

8 Apr 2019

Protein C Deficiency

One of the main functions of protein C is to prevent blood clotting by inactivating proteins that encourage blood clotting. Deficiencies in protein C are associated with higher risks of developing blood clots known as deep vein thrombosis.

8 Apr 2019

What is Bobble-Head Doll Syndrome?

Bobble-head doll syndrome (BHDS) is a rare neurological condition which causes involuntary ‘bobbing’ or repetitive anterior-posterior movement of the head, resembling that of a bobble-head doll. This rare condition affects young children, around 3 years of age and thus far, fewer than 60 cases have been reported in the literature.

8 Apr 2019

What is Takayasu Arteritis?

Takayasu arteritis (TAK) is a rare condition characterized by a cascade of inflammatory processes. TAK involves vasculitis or inflammation of blood vessels such as the aorta and its major branches. Inflammation of these blood vessels leads to thickening of the walls of the vessels, which, in turn, causes stenosis and ultimately ischemia of the body parts which are nourished by these vessels.

8 Apr 2019

What is Dual-Energy Computed Tomography?

Diagnostic imaging has been a widely used tool in the detection and treatment of various diseases. Dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) is an emerging imaging technique that combines information collected with various x-ray energy fields.

3 Apr 2019

What is Wavefront Aberrometry?

Diagnosing the degree of vision impairment is a difficult task for even experienced optometrists, since it depends on the subjective response of the person tested. Normally, it is based on reading out or describing letters or shapes on an eye chart. In many cases the person may not actually be reading out the letter seen, but the letter thought to be seen.

3 Apr 2019

What is Asteroid Hyalosis?

Asteroid hyalosis (AH) is a degenerative eye condition characterized by the presence of asteroid bodies or calcium-fat globules in the vitreous region of the eye. Asteroid bodies are chemically made up of calcium-pyrophosphates, and phospholipids.

3 Apr 2019

What is Trochanteric Bursitis?

Bursitis is a condition in which the joints become tender and painful. It occurs when bursae, small sacs filled with fluid that cushion the joints, become inflamed. Studies have found that non-operative treatment methods are most effective in treating the condition. It is thought to affect around 5.6 patients per 1,000 adults.

3 Apr 2019

What is Hydatid Disease?

Hydatid disease, also known as echinococcosis, or cystic hydatid disease, is caused by an infection with the larvae of the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus. This parasite causes slow-growing cystic formation and associated symptoms that depend on cyst location.

1 Apr 2019

What is Iridoschisis?

Iridoschisis is a condition described by Schmitt in 1922, but so named in another case report by Lowenstein and Foster in 1945. In this condition, the front portion of the iris (anterior layer of the iris stroma) becomes separated from the back portion (posterior iris stroma and muscle fibers). It then degenerates to form thin fibers attached at only one end, while the other ends float in the aqueous humour.

1 Apr 2019

What is Keratitis?

Keratitis is a medical term for corneal inflammation. The cornea is a clear dome of epithelium that covers the front of the eye, allowing light to pass through. It covers the iris (colored part of the eye), the pupil and the anterior chamber of the eye.

1 Apr 2019

What is Ankyloblepharon?

Ankyloblepharon is a term that literally means ‘fused eyelids’. It refers to a condition in which the upper and lower eyelids are fused (or adherent) throughout their thickness by one or multiple connecting strands between the adjacent edges (or ‘ciliary edges’). Both eyelids are anatomically and functionally normal in this condition.

1 Apr 2019