Medical science, drawn into focus.

Sexual Transmitted Infection

Overview Sexually transmitted infections (STI) are a significant public health worldwide. STI can result in chronic disease, pregnancy complications, infertility, and even death. Globally, congenital syphilis is still a leading cause of stillbirth and neonatal death. Antibiotic-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae continues to be a significant public health concern.  Chlamydia trachomatis infection is the most frequently reported…

Birth Defects

Overview Birth defects are the leading cause of perinatal and post- neonatal deaths, and result in substantial morbidity and disability in developed countries. There is a wide variety of mechanisms including genetic, environmental and multifactorial. Major birth defects affect 2–3% of live-borns, and minor birth defects affect 15%. Preventative strategies remain limited, but include maternal folic acid supplementation,…

Acute Heart Failure

Overview Heart failure is a condition in which the heart does not pump enough blood to meet all the needs of the body. It is caused by heart muscle damage or dysfunction, valve problems, heart rhythm disturbances and other rarer causes. Acute heart failure can present as new-onset heart failure in people without known cardiac…

Aortic Regurgitation (incompetence)

Overview Aortic regurgitation (AR) is backward flow of blood from the aorta into the left ventricle during diastole because the aortic valve does not close completely. AR may result from disease of the valve leaflets, dilatation of the aortic root or both. Chronic AR causes progressive left-ventricular volume overload and dilatation, whereas acute severe AR…

Sickle Cell Anaemia

Overview Sickle cell anaemia is an autosomal recessive disorder causing production of abnormal ß-globin chains. A single amino acid is substituted in the ß-globin chain (Glu to Val at position 6). This results in the production of HbS (haemoglobin Sickle) rather than HbA. The common variants of sickle cell disease are: Sickle cell anaemia (SS…

Amyloidosis (Overview)

Overview Amyloidosis is a disorder in which misfolded proteins aggregate into insoluble beta-pleated sheet fibrils and deposit extracellularly in tissues, leading to progressive organ dysfunction. It may be systemic or localized .  In current practice, the most clinically important systemic forms are AL (light-chain), AA (serum amyloid A), and ATTR (transthyretin; hereditary or wild-type) .…

Snapping Hip Syndrome (Coxa Saltans)

Overview Snapping Hip Syndrome (SHS) is characterized by an audible or palpable “snap” around the hip during motion; it may be painless or painful and can be unilateral or bilateral. Prevalence estimates suggest up to ~5–10% of the general population may experience snapping to some degree, with higher rates in dancers and athletes who work…

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