Medical science, drawn into focus.

Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Overview Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, also known as AAA, is a permanent dilation of the abdominal aorta with a diameter of >1.5 times of the expected diameter. The adopted diameter that indicates AAA is 3cm or more. AAA is strongly associated with smoking and increasing age. Most of these aneurysms are fusiform and originate below the…

X-linked Agammaglobulinaemia (XLA / Bruton’s Disease)

Overview X-linked agammaglobulinaemia (XLA) is a rare primary immunodeficiency caused by mutations in the Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) gene , leading to failure of B-cell maturation. It results in profound hypogammaglobulinaemia and susceptibility to recurrent bacterial infections, particularly with encapsulated organisms. It usually presents after 6 months of age (once maternal IgG wanes). Prevalence is…

Diabetes Mellitus Type II

Overview Diabetes Mellitus type II is a progressive disorder defined by deficits in insulin secretion and action (insulin resistance). 1 in 12 people have diabetes (50% do not know they have it). Diabetes type II accounts for over 90% of all diabetes cases. The remaining 10% include type I diabetes. People with type II diabetes…

Gestational Diabetes

Overview Diabetes:  A group of metabolic diseases in which there are high blood sugar levels over a prolonged period.   Two types Diabetes Mellitus Type I (autoimmune destruction of beta cells in the pancreas) and Type II (insulin resistance followed by beta cell atrohpy) Gestational Diabetes:  diabetes diagnosed during the second half of pregnancy with…

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Overview Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) comprises a spectrum of inflammatory disorders of the upper female genital tract, including any combination of endometritis, salpingitis, tubo-ovarian abscess, and pelvic peritonitis. Causative organisms are either sexually transmitted (such as C trachomatis , N gonorrhoeae , Mycoplasma genitalium ) or endogenous vaginal organisms (for example, Bacteroides species) that ascend…

DiGeorge Syndrome

Overview DiGeorge syndrome (22q11.2 deletion syndrome) is a congenital immunodeficiency and multisystem disorder caused by a microdeletion on chromosome 22. It leads to defective development of the third and fourth pharyngeal pouches, resulting in thymic hypoplasia/aplasia, hypocalcaemia due to parathyroid hypoplasia, and congenital heart defects. Prevalence is estimated at 1 in 4000 live births. Clinical…

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Overview Rheumatoid arthritis is a common systemic inflammatory disease characterized by the presence of a destructive polyarthritis with a predisposition for affecting the small joints of the hands and feet and the wrists. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common inflammatory arthritis, with a lifetime prevalence of up to 1 percent worldwide. Like many autoimmune diseases, the etiology…

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