Craniofacial Disorders: Genes, Diagnosis, and Hope

Craniofacial disorders entail a wide spectrum of issues affecting the anatomy and development of the skull and face. These abnormalities, ranging from cleft lip and palate to craniosynostosis and Treacher-Collins syndrome, can have serious physical and mental consequences. Understanding the genetic links underlying craniofacial abnormalities is critical for proper diagnosis, …

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Sputum gram stain

Gram staining of expectorated sputum is a simplistic, easy-to-perform, commonly available, and low-cost diagnostic for pneumonia patients. Sputum Gram stain may detect many infections at the same time, and the test has a quick turnaround time. With adequate specimens, the sputum Gram stain can aid in establishing the right bacterial …

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alpha-Thalassemia

Thalassemia is a spectrum of genetic conditions in which one or more globin genes are defective, resulting in reduced or deficient synthesis of the related globin chains. Patients with minor genetic abnormalities are usually asymptomatic. Patients with more severe abnormalities have symptoms caused by one or more of the following: …

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Understanding TMAO: The Link Between Gut Bacteria, Heart Health, and Cholesterol Metabolism

Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) has a molecular mass of 75.1 daltons and belongs to the family of amine oxides. It is commonly found in the tissues of a wide range of marine creatures, particularly marine elasmobranchs, where TMAO is known to protect against the negative effects of temperature, salinity, high urea, …

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Atherosclerosis: Causes, Progression, and Clinical Complications

Atherosclerosis, also known as coronary artery disease (CAD), is the most common type of cardiovascular disease (CVD), with the main component being lipid accumulation and inflammation of the large arteries, which can eventually lead to clinical complications such as myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke. Clinically significant atherosclerosis is a slow-progressing …

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Rotavirus infection and diagnosis

Rotavirus is a widely recognised cause of acute gastroenteritis in young children all around the world. Almost every child under the age of five is at risk of contracting group A rotavirus (RVA). The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that Rotavirus causes around 450,000 fatalities, more than 2 million hospitalizations, …

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