Medical science, drawn into focus.

Gastric Antral Vascular Ectasia (GAVE)

Overview Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE, “watermelon stomach”) is a rare but important cause of non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding, often presenting with chronic iron-deficiency anaemia or recurrent overt bleeding in older adults, particularly women [1–4]. It is frequently associated with systemic conditions such as liver cirrhosis (~30% of cases) and autoimmune/connective-tissue disease (especially systemic sclerosis).…

Biceps Tendon Rupture

Overview A biceps tendon rupture is a partial or complete tear of the tendon attaching the biceps muscle to the shoulder or elbow.  Proximal ruptures, usually involving the long head of the biceps at the shoulder, are more common and often result from age-related degeneration or associated rotator-cuff disease. They typically cause upper-arm pain, bruising…

Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome

Overview Lambert–Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) is a rare autoimmune disorder of the presynaptic neuromuscular junction. It causes impaired acetylcholine release, producing the characteristic triad of proximal muscle weakness, reduced reflexes and autonomic dysfunction. LEMS may occur as a paraneoplastic syndrome—most commonly associated with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC)—or as a non-tumour-associated autoimmune disorder.  Neuromuscular junction: connection…

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Overview   Inflammatory bowel disease is a common condition. It is divided into two types: Crohn disease and Ulcerative colitis. Both these condition differ in pathology, progression and complication, but they do share a lot similar characteristics as well. Colitis: Inflammation of the colon, which may be due to infectious, autoimmune, ischemic, or idiopathic causes. Inflammatory…

Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease (UCTD)

Overview UCTD is a systemic autoimmune disease with features of connective tissue disease (CTD), but does not fulfill classification criteria for any specific CTD such as SLE, Sjögren’s syndrome, systemic sclerosis, or polymyositis. It is a diagnosis of exclusion used for patients with persistent autoimmune features who do not evolve into a defined CTD. Commonly…

Leukaemia

Overview  Leukemia is a common malignancy in children and adults that occurs when alterations in normal cell regulatory processes cause uncontrolled proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow. Leukaemia:  Clonal proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow Acute Leukaemia:  Clonal proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow that develops…

Chronic Widespread Pain

Overview Chronic widespread pain (CWP) is a nociplastic pain phenotype defined by persistent (≥3 months) pain affecting multiple body regions, with high comorbidity with fatigue, sleep disturbance, mood symptoms and functional impairment. The pooled global prevalence is ~10% (women>men), with higher rates in lower-HDI settings. CWP is recognised in ICD-11 within the chronic primary pain…

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