A genetic disorder is a medical condition caused by a mutation in an individual’s genomic makeup. Most genetic disorders are caused by a mutation in the DNA sequence of a single gene, gross breaks in individual chromosomes or the addition of...
Most people will start to develop gray hair around or after age 50. This is a normal process of aging. However, some people experience gray hair as early as their teenage years and early 20s. This can be a normal biological function due to...
Newborn genetic screening is an effort to discover adverse genetic conditions in infants, according to the Genetics Department at the University of Utah. The existence of this program enables doctors to get ahead of the diseases by planning early...
There are about 35,000 genes in the nucleus of human body cells. These genes are packaged into 23 pairs of chromosomes, numbered 1 through 22, with the 23rd pair being the sex chromosomes (X and Y). Each of the genes has a specific role in the...
Cancers of the brain and nervous system are rare but very serious as they have a poor prognosis. The majority of brain cancer cases cannot be explained by any specific underlying medical or genetic conditions, environmental factors or behaviors. A...
All it takes is four nanograms of testosterone in the womb to turn a female into a male, says Stephen Harrod Buhner in his book, "The Natural Testosterone Plan." The hormone testosterone, part of a larger group of male hormones known as androgens,...
An elevation of the liver enzymes indicates damage or inflammation to the liver cells. When this happens, these enzymes leak out into the bloodstream, where they can be detected and measured with blood tests. The causes for elevation of the liver...
A short bout of vomiting in a child is a common phenomenon. A stomach virus, the flu, food allergies and overheating are common causes for an acute vomiting episode. Chronic and prolonged vomiting in children indicates a more significant...
Apples are a common fruit in the U.S household. A typical large apple provides you with 260 mg of potassium, 34 g of carbohydrate, 5 g of fiber, 24 g of sugar and 1 g of protein, the Washington Apple Commission reports. An apple will also provide...
Eczema and psoriasis are two types of skin conditions that can sometimes be confused with one another, as their symptoms and appearance are similar. However, the causes, treatments and age distribution in relation to eczema and psoriasis differ.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that there will be 106,100 new cases of colon cancer in the United States in 2009. Information about colon cancer is often grouped with information about rectal cancer. The colon and the rectum are...
For a vast majority of parents, aside from routine cleanings there is no need for real concern regarding their child's teeth until it is time to consider braces. For others, however, there are certain conditions that require them to seek advanced...
An aneurysm describes an abnormal and excessive stretching in the wall of a blood vessel. Aneurysms can occur in any type of blood vessel, including arteries and veins, but most often occur in an artery--a blood vessel that carries oxygenated...
Pregnant women are regularly preoccupied with wondering exactly what their baby looks like at that moment. While you don't have a window to your womb, medical science has taught us a lot about development in pregnancy. By knowing what is going on...
Due to recent discoveries of new genes and the development of new testing methodologies, the availability of genetic testing has increased dramatically. Several companies now offer direct-to-consumer genetic testing through which individuals can...
A cleft lip and palate is a birth defect that occurs when the facial structures of the fetus do not close completely. This typically occurs between the sixth and tenth week of the pregnancy, according to KidsHealth.org. This birth defect can be...
Aneurysm is the term for a blood vessel, in this case in the brain, that is bulging or "ballooning" outward through a weak spot in the blood vessel wall. A brain aneurysm, or cerebral aneurysm, can be an extremely dangerous problem, as the...
The body creates uric acid when it breaks down purines, which are substances found in meats and other foods. Most of the uric acid in your body is carried by the blood to the kidneys to be excreted from the body in urine. Low uric acid levels,...
According to the report released in 2000 from the American Cancer Society (ACS), brain cancer is the second most common cancer found in children right after leukemia. It affects boys more than girls, and is most common among Caucasian children...
All states in the U.S. offer newborn screening, which involves testing a small sample of a newborn's blood obtained for various genetic conditions. The number of conditions tested for varies from state to state, but new developments in testing...
Most causes of hair loss involve genetic preconditions, skin diseases/disorders, stress, chemical intoxication and random autoimmune disorders. However, some forms of hair loss may be due to certain nutrient deficiencies. According to the...
An aortic aneurysm is a condition in which the walls of the aorta balloon out, usually due to weakness of the arterial walls. Aortic aneurysms are more common in the abdomen, but they can also occur in the chest. One risk of an aortic aneurysm is...
A subcapsular cataract forms beneath the posterior lens capsule of the eye. Cataracts impair your vision, making it increasingly difficult to see. Cataracts are not painful, and can usually be treated by surgically removing the clouded lens and...
Alkaline phosphatase is an enzyme involved in many chemical reactions in the body. Primarily concentrated in the liver and bones, alkaline phosphatase levels are generally evaluated as part of a liver function laboratory test. Elevated levels may...
If you or your child has been diagnosed with scoliosis, it means that the upper part of your spine is curving sideways. Your spine may resemble a "C" or "S" shape. In some cases, there is no known cause. However, this condition can occur as a...
Atherosclerotic disease is a process whereby buildup of deposits including cholesterol, triglycerides and calcium in artery walls leads to a narrowing of these vessels, and an inflammatory response attracting white blood cells causes further...
Individual states and private adoption agencies vary in their policies regarding how much and what type of information may be shared regarding a child's natural parents. Generally, they will not update medical information once the adoption is...
Brain tumors can arise from any of the diverse cells that make up the brain. The most common brain tumors in adults in the U.S., according to the National Institutes of Health, are gliomas, which arise from the supporting tissue in the brain, and...
Skin tags are growths of skin protruding from the surface of the skin. They are usually very small, with the largest reaching a half inch in length. Skin tags frequently have a short, narrow stalk with a small lump on the end and are typically the...
Views 32
Views 39
Views 113
