What Is Hereditary Fructose Intolerance (HFI)?

Hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI) is a rare genetic disease in which fructose cannot be properly metabolised in the body. Affected person suffers from a bad abdominal reaction (bloating, diarrhea, generalized malaise) after eating fructose-containing foods. HFI is an autosomal recessive disorder of fructose metabolism, due to a deficiency of fructose-1-phosphate aldolase – an enzyme that converts fructose into glucose in the liver. Incidence of HFI is estimated at 1 / 22-58,000 people (1).

HFI should be differed from fructose malabsorption.

continue reading Rare Genetic Disorders: Hereditary Fructose Intolerance (HFI)

What Is a Birthmark?

A birthmark is a persistent mark anywhere on the skin, visible at birth or shortly thereafter (in weeks) (1). It represents local accumulation of skin pigment, vessels overgrowth, or other local skin abnormality. Some birthmarks fade, partially or completely, in few years, but other persist for life and may even become more pronounced with time.

Most of birthmarks are painless and harmless, but some may cause complications, like pressure on other organs, they may be connected with congenital diseases, or, rarely, may develop into a cancer, so they allways have to be checked by a doctor.

Pigmented skin marks that are not birthmarks may be a result of trauma.

continue reading Birthmark Removal – Hemangioma, Nevus, Mole Removal