Medical science, drawn into focus.

Hyperlipidaemia

Overview Hyperlipidaemia is an umbrella term which encompasses genetic and acquired disorders that raise lipid levels within the blood. Hyperlipidaemia does not independently cause clinical symptoms, rather can lead to other disorders that can manifest in possible life-threatening presentations. Most notably, hyperlipidaemia causes atherosclerosis which may lead to cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and peripheral vascular disease. 1…

ACL Tear

Overview Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear is one of the most common knee injuries, particularly in young athletes involved in pivoting sports (soccer, basketball, skiing). ACL injuries account for ~50% of all knee ligament injuries, with an incidence of ~68 per 100,000 annually, more common in females due to anatomical and biomechanical risk factors. ACL…

Anklylosing Spondylitis (AS)

Overview Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic, progressive inflammatory arthritis that primarily affects the axial skeleton, especially the sacroiliac joints and spine. It is a subtype of the seronegative spondyloarthropathies and is characterised by inflammatory back pain, morning stiffness, and eventual spinal fusion in severe cases. AS often presents in young adults, typically males, and…

Delirium

Overview Delirium is a neuropsychiatric syndrome characterized by a disturbance in consciousness and cognition. It typically presents as an acute confusional state , with inattention as its core symptom. Unfortunately, the diagnosis of delirium is often delayed or missed, especially the hypoactive form that is common in older persons. Delirium : Cognitive impairment typically caused…

Schizophrenia

Overview Schizophrenia is a complex syndrome often presenting in late teens/early 20s with positive, negative and cognitive symptoms. Positive symptoms include behaviours and thoughts that are not normally present (psychosis). Negative symptoms include social withdrawal and affective flattening. Finally, cognitive symptoms are expressed as a broad set of cognitive dysfunction. The average lifetime prevalence of…

Complement Deficiencies

Overview Complement deficiencies are rare primary immunodeficiencies resulting from inherited absence or dysfunction of complement proteins, regulators, or receptors. They predispose to recurrent bacterial infections, autoimmune disease (particularly systemic lupus erythematosus–like syndromes), and in some cases angioedema. Complement proteins play a central role in innate immunity by opsonisation, chemotaxis, and direct lysis of pathogens via…

Varicose Veins

Overview Varivose veins (VV) are long, torturous and dilated don't veins of the superficial venous system. There is a spectrum ranging from telangiectasias (dilated interdermal venules less than 1 mm), through to reticular veins (non-palpable subdermal veins 1–3 mm) to varicose veins (greater than 3 mm). 35% of the general population affected. The venous system of…

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