What is Down Syndrome?

Down syndrome, also known as Trisomy 21, is a genetic disorder resulting from possession of an extra copy of chromosome 21. It is named after Dr Langdon Down who first recognized and described the condition in 1866. The genetic origin of Down syndrome was identified much later by scientists in 1959. Individuals with this disorder suffer from varying degrees of learning impairment as well as having typical physical features such as a flat facial profile with upward slanting eyes, short neck, a single palmar crease, and various other recognizable characteristics.

continue reading Down Syndrome Babies, Facts, Pictures, Features and Diagnosis

The liver, apart from being versatile, is a highly resilient organ. It is able to withstand a range of chemical insults on a daily basis and one of its core functions is to reduce the toxic effect of various noxious substances. Despite its ability to neutralize chemical agents and regenerate more prolifically than many other organs in the body, it is not entirely immune to various disruptions in structure that may arise for any number of reasons. Some of the changes seen in the liver, as is the case with most other organs includes inflammation, fibrosis and necrosis which causes varying degrees of liver dysfunction. One of the possible structural changes of the liver is infiltration of the liver cells with fat that coalesces into large droplets. This is fatty infiltration is now the leading form of liver disease although most of these cases remain asymptomatic and undetected.

continue reading Fatty Liver Disease, What is it, Causes and Symptoms

A viral infection of the liver is most commonly due to one of the five types of hepatitis viruses – A, B, C, D and E. These viruses are similar in structure, except for hepatitis D, and the pathogenesis is also similar. Some are more likely to cause just an acute infection and resolve, while others are often associated with a chronic infection. The risk profiles may vary for the different types of hepatitis due to the mode of transmission. In this regard, hepatitis A and E are more frequently associated with the ingestion of contaminated food or water (orofecal route). Hepatitis B, C and D are transmitted by the sharing of bodily fluids, mainly blood and semen and less frequently saliva.

Of the different types of viral hepatitis, it is hepatitis A, B and C that are most commonly heard of with hepatitis D being seen in about one fourth of all hepatitis B infections. A less frequently heard of viral hepatitis is hepatitis E. This is endemic in certain areas like south and central Asia and is more likely to be observed in travelers to these areas. About half of all acute cases of viral hepatitis contracted by travelers to India is due to the hepatitis E virus (HEV). However, recently the prevalence of this hepatitis E has increased globally although it is still fairly uncommon.

continue reading Hepatitis E, Hepatitis G and Other Viral Liver Infections

There are five main types of hepatitis viruses that can infect the liver and cause inflammation. Some of these will cause acute inflammation and resolves spontaneously or with minimal treatment and there is no risk of chronic infection. Others may present with an acute phase but chronic infection persists for life and may lead to irreversible damage. The hepatitis virus, depending on the type, is spread through contaminated food or water or through contaminated bodily fluids like blood, semen and sometimes even saliva. The virus reaches the hepatocytes (liver cells), implants its genetic material within the host cell and causes it to replicate more virions while destroying the host cell in the process. This interaction is between the human host and virus. However, a certain type of hepatitis virus is actually dependent on the presence of another type of hepatitis virus to cause an infection.

continue reading Hepatitis D Virus (HDV) Co-Infection, Superinfection, Symptoms

Skeletal muscle are those voluntary muscles that attaches to bones and is responsible for movement of the different body parts. The muscles are active to varying degrees in each individual, which affects its size and structure. The muscles are prone to the same physiological changes and pathological alterations as any other organ of the body. Inflammation is the protective response of tissue to injury. When this occurs in muscles, it is known as myositis. This should be differentiated from other related terms like myalgia which is muscle pain, myopathy which is any disease of the muscles and rhabdomyolysis where there is degeneration of skeletal muscle tissue.

continue reading Inflamed Muscles (Myositis) Types, Causes and Symptoms