Squamous cell carcinoma is a malignant tumor of squamous epithelium. Squamous epithelium is a tissue that lines most surfaces of the body both externally, such as the skin, and internally where it lines many organs. Squamous epithelium has a...
Thymus carcinoma, or thymus cancer, is an uncommon tumor that usually has a bad prognosis for the patient. It is difficult to differentiate the tumor from being primarily derived from the thymus or from being a metastases from another cancer...
Alpha hydroxy acids, also referred to as AHAs, are widely used in the cosmetics industry. They exfoliate the skin for a brighter complexion and reduce the signs of aging. The American Academy of Dermatology also notes that AHAs reverse sun damage...
A catching sensation in a joint is often caused by a ligament or tendon moving across an area of bone and "snapping" back into place. Golfers can experience the sensation of a snapping elbow, as well as pain or numbness along the inside of the...
As the senior population in the United States grows, so do the number of people turning to cosmetic procedures to repair the effects of aging and sun damage. In 2009 alone, there were close to 10 million such cosmetic procedures, according to the...
The National Cancer Institute reports that 3,250 new cases of leukemia are diagnosed in children each year. According to a 1995 study in "Cancer," the peak incidence of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), the most common form of childhood leukemia,...
Lifestyle, environmental factors, natural aging and some medications that cause skin dryness cause wrinkles. Repeated facial expressions can also cause wrinkling around the mouth, according to the Mayo Clinic. Following a good skin regimen and...
An increasing number of people suffer from food allergies. According to Dr. Sandra Hong and Dr. Nicola Vogel of the Cleveland Clinic, only six foods account for the majority of allergy cases: cow's milk, soy, wheat, eggs, nuts and fish. The...
Wrinkles occur with age, when the skin begins to lose elasticity and becomes thinner. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, Americans spend approximately $12 billion each year on cosmetic procedures to try to cover up wrinkles...
Estradiol is a synthetic form of the female hormone, estrogen. According to Drugs.com, it is used in topical form as hormone replacement to alleviate the symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness and more. The use of synthetic...
Dark undereye circles can be unsightly and embarrassing. Many beauty experts recommend natural ingredients -- most readily available in your kitchen or health food store -- to treat dark circles. Although there is no clinical evidence that these...
The American Cancer Society reports that 1 in 5 women diagnosed with breast cancer will have a recurrence within 10 years of receiving therapy. Breast cancer recurrence rates vary depending on several factors.
Blood is a type of connective tissue that contains red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. The contents of blood cells are identified in lab by using cell staining techniques and evaluated under a light microscope. Some cell contents are...
The adrenal glands are a pair of organs above the kidneys which produce hormones. The outer covering is called the adrenal cortex and is comprised of three layers: the zona glomerulosa, the zona fasciculata and the zona reticularis. The inner core...
Digestive enzymes play an important role in your body's ability to convert food to energy. They are responsible for breaking down everything you eat and drink, removing toxins that could damage your body and converting foods to energy for your...
Sperm are created in the testes, also called testicles, the male sex glands found in the scrotum, the sac-like bags of skin on either side of the penis. Testicles hang outside the body because sperm need to be kept 1.5 to 2.5 degrees Celsius...
Breast cancer stages refer to the progression level of the disease, starting with Stage I, the least severe, and going up to Stage IV, the most severe. Breast cancer that reaches Stage IV remains incurable, but treatable. Typical statistics of...
The cardiovascular system plays a crucial role in the body by providing oxygen and nutrients to the cells of the body and removing waste from them. The system is a pump with a circle of tubing running away from the pump toward the tissues and then...
The excretory system has the task of ridding the body of toxins and waste products. The kidneys process the blood to produce urine, which travels through the ureters to the bladder for storage. Once the bladder becomes full, the bladder muscles...
The most deadly cancer of the female reproductive system is ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer remains a deadly cancer because diagnosis usually occurs when the disease reaches advanced stages. Four stages make up staging for ovarian cancer. Stage one...
Sjogren's syndrome is a common, chronic, autoimmune disease chiefly causing dryness of the mucous membranes. Although different parts of the body can be affected, the disease primarily involves the tear and salivary glands. Ten times as many women...
Arthritis is a general term that defines inflammation of the joints. All forms of arthritis are characterized by pain, stiffness, limited range of motions and various degrees of swelling in the affected joints. Nettle, scientifically known as...
The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is a long, hollow tube extending from the mouth to the anal canal. It consists of a variety of cells that aid in digestion, absorption and secretion. Cell types from the mouth to the anal canal are briefly discussed.
The kidneys are essential organs responsible for blood filtration. Each kidney consists of an outer cortex rich in blood vessels and an inner medulla. Both the cortex and the medulla contain millions of nephrons, the functional units of the kidney...
To get healthy glowing skin, you will need an inside-out approach. In addition to good daily routine cleansing and moisturizing practices, eating the right foods can correct many of the body's internal problems such as hormonal imbalances, weak...
Collagen protein is part of the connective tissue of the body, helping to support various tissues and organs. As such, it forms part of the bones, cartilage and skin. There are many types of collagen, and they form various structures and perform...
There are many types of lipids, none of which can dissolve in water. Lipids serve various functions. Some may form part of the cell membrane and help regulate what enters and exits the cell, while others are used by the nerves to send signals or...
Liver failure is a life-threatening condition that demands immediate medical care. If detected early, liver failure can often be treated and its effects reversed. Several traditional therapies use the extract of bitter melon to treat liver...
Sunburn, the pink or red skin that results from intense sun exposure, can take several days to heal. Symptoms like tenderness, pain, minor blistering and peeling can make those days seem to pass slowly indeed. According to dermatologist Rodney...
