The National Cancer Institute reports the most common locations of cancer metastasis are the lungs, bones, the liver and the brain. Dr. Julia Maltzman of the University of Pennsylvania explains that bone is a rich source of growth factors that...
Calcium participates in nerve conductions, muscle contraction, bone formation and growth. The majority of calcium is found in your bones, which serve as a reservoir for calcium and readily release the mineral when needed. Yet, your bones can be...
Say you're in the woods on a hike and you find a piece of interesting wood. As you lean down to inspect it closer, a blast of wind kicks dirt up your nose. You might think this is harmless, but sometimes getting a face full of soil can have...
Hansen's disease--commonly known as leprosy--is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacteriumleprae. According to the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library, symptoms of Hansen's disease don't usually begin to develop until at least a...
Acute renal failure is the inadequacy of the kidneys in filtering blood, which results in the accumulation of waste and abnormal concentrations of electrolytes in the blood. Acute renal failure may result from very low blood pressure or from...
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that's focused in the large intestine, or colon. The inner lining of the intestine becomes red, irritated and swollen, and open ulcers develop that often bleed. It can affect the whole...
Natural diuretics can help expel water build-up within the body, which can contribute to weight loss. Nonetheless, some water retention may indicate an underlying issue that requires medical attention, MayoClinic.com warns. If you are carrying...
Anabolic supplements remain popular despite the risks associated with their use. Professional and recreational athletes take these steroids to improve performance and hasten recovery. Media reports showing the advantages of supplementation have...
The term "arthritis" means inflammation of the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is an autoimmune disease that causes pain and inflammation in the lining of the joints and eventually leads to joint destruction and deformation. Rheumatoid...
Alkaline phosphatase is an enzyme that is found in several organs of the body. The enzyme is primarily found in the liver, placenta, bone, kidneys and intestines. Thus, alkaline phosphatase will have elevated levels whenever there is an increase...
In the human body, the bowel is composed of the large intestine (colon) and the rectum. After you eat a meal, the ingested food is passed along the bowel where nutrients are absorbed and excess waste is excreted through the rectum. Bowel diseases,...
Blastomycosis is an infection caused by inhaling the fungus Blastomyces dermatitidis. As a relatively rare communicable disease, blastomycosis usually occurs as an isolated event with only a small number of outbreaks or clusters, according to the...
Blastomycosis is a fungal disease. Medline Plus describes blastomycosis as a rare infection that may occur when patients inhale a fungus named Blastomyces dermatitidis, which is found in wood and soil. The disease usually presents with pulmonary...
The old saying is "you are what you eat." However, you may also be what you drink. Water quality monitoring aims to minimize the concentration of harmful chemicals in drinking water and many government agencies strive to ensure that certain...
C-ANCA and p-ANCA are two tests used in the diagnosis and evaluation of rheumatologic diseases. These conditions often result from a dysfunction in the immune system, which triggers an attack on certain tissues in the body that it mistakes as...
Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the digestive tract lining. The disease is often diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 30 and affects men and women equally, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information...
In the March 2010 issue of "The New England Journal of Medicine," Elizabeth Shane, MD, writes that 10 to 12 million Americans are affected by osteoporosis. This disease decreases the density of bone and results in increased bone fractures. In...
