Homocysteine, a toxic waste product that results from the metabolism of another amino acid, is used as a marker for cardiovascular disease risk because of its damaging effects on blood vessels. Homocysteine may contribute to heart disease risk in...
DNA provides the blueprint for life: it codes the information required for cells to generate the compounds required for growth, development and metabolism. Genetic diseases may develop due to abnormalities or deletions of single genes, or large...
Leptin is a hormone produced by your body that is involved in the regulation of appetite and energy expenditure. Leptin was initially thought to be the key to solving the current obesity epidemic due to its role in decreasing fat storage.
A cleft lip or palate is one of the most common birth defects in the United States. Fortunately, a variety of early interventions are available to treat the child with cleft lip or palate. From surgeries to different therapies, treatments are...
Male-pattern baldness, or androgenetic alopecia, is the most common type of hair loss in men. Usually caused by a genetic sensitivity to the hormone dihydrotestosterone, hair recedes along the hairline over time until it meets a balding crown,...
According to Children's Hospital Boston, thalassemia is a group of inherited blood disorders that interfere with the body's production of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that helps transport oxygen through the body. Without...
Lymphedema is a condition during which a blockage occurs in your lymphatic system. The fluid in your lymphatic system begins to build up, causing swelling in your extremities. This swelling may be present in one or all of your extremities....
DNA contains the instructions, called genes, that control a body's structure and function. When DNA is mutated, instructions become changed or erased. This can lead to disease. Most genes have two copies; if one gets damaged, there is a backup....
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is a developmental condition characterized by restlessness, hyperactivity and impulsive behavior. It usually starts in childhood, but can continue into adulthood. The exact cause of ADHD is...
Breast cancer, the development of tumors originating from lobules, ducts or nipples of the breast, is a prevalent disease that can be fatal. The National Cancer Institute indicates that breast cancer caused more than 40,000 deaths in the United...
Cancer cells circulating in the blood are usually tumors of the blood cells themselves, known as leukemias. The World Health Organization recognizes more than 32 unique leukemias arising in children and adults. Acute leukemias usually have a more...
The goals of treatment for HIV-infected children are to maximally suppress the viral load, prevent destruction of the immune system and decrease the development of resistant HIV strains. The Working Group on Antiretroviral Therapy and Medical...
The largest and most accessible organ in the human body, skin is vulnerable to a variety of influences that can lead to disease. Some skin diseases are predetermined by an individual's genetic inheritance. Others can be caused by exposure to a...
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in women ages 15 to 54. Although less common among younger women, breast cancer is more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage, more likely to be associated with genetic risk factors and have...
Chemotherapy, a common cancer treatment, uses highly toxic drugs to kill cancer cells. Upon entering the cancer cell, chemotherapy drugs typically interfere with molecules within the cell and prevent cell division, halting cancer growth. The drugs...
The term radiation refers to the way that energy travels from one place to another. There are two main types of radiation, non-ionizing radiation, which does not cause damage to the body and ionizing radiation, which has the ability to penetrate...
Radiation therapy, the administration of energy waves often referred to as ionizing radiation, is a common treatment for cancer patients. The radiation therapy targets rapidly growing and dividing cells, which can include normal, healthy cells,...
When faced with stressful situations, the body responds in a variety of ways. In addition to increased production of certain hormones, and changes in heart rate and blood pressure, excessive physical and emotional stress can cause hair loss. The...
Cancer development begins when previously healthy cells throughout the body acquire genetic mutations that interfere with normal cell behavior. These mutations allow the cells to proliferate rapidly without regulation, give rise to unlimited...
Rheumatic diseases are conditions that involve inflammation--pain, swelling, heat, redness--in your joints or your connective tissues--tissues, such as your tendons, ligaments and muscles, that help connect or support structures throughout your...
According to the American Heart Association, high cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease that may be managed with exercise and lifestyle modification. Standard guidelines established by both the American Heart Association and the...
A blood clot that may cause tingling in the leg and foot is called deep vein thrombosis. The blood clot can form in one or more of the deep veins in the thigh or lower leg and prevent proper blood flow. When blood flow is hindered, it can cause a...
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), more than 25 percent of Arizona residents were obese in 2009. That number is expected to rise unless people find weight-loss methods that lead to lasting lifestyle changes. The goal of the CDC is...
Krabbe disease, also known as globoid cell leukodystrophy, is a rare genetic disorder caused by a deficiency of an enzyme known as galactocerebrosidase. MayoClinic.com reports that this enzyme is essential for the maintenance of myelin, a fatty...
Radiation therapy is a common type of cancer treatment that uses various types of high-energy radiation -- gamma rays, x-rays, charged particles -- to shrink or eliminate your tumors and cancer cells. The National Cancer Institute reports that...
Chemo, or chemotherapy, involves the use of drugs to destroy cancer cells or stop them from multiplying, while radiation therapy is the use of high-powered radiation to destroy cancer cells. Cancer cells are more susceptible to both chemotherapy...
Bone cancer is a rare but serious condition. Enhancing patient survival means exploring a variety of factors that may be associated with poor versus successful outcomes. Inflammation, which is measured by assessing markers in the blood, has been...
Pompe disease is a genetic disorder that interferes with proper glycogen breakdown, resulting in muscle weakness, which produces mobility and respiratory problems. Consistent exercise is an important part of Pompe disease treatment because it...
Because it is caused by a complex set of genetic abnormalities, there is no known way to prevent Russell-Silver syndrome from occurring. There are some steps, however, that you can take to minimize the effects of the disorder on your child and...
