What is dasatinib, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? : Dasatinib is an oral medication used for treating chronic myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. It is classified as a kinase inhibitor. Kinase inhibitors include Erlotinib (Tarceva), gefitinib (Iressa), imatinib (Gleevec), nilotinib (Tasigna), pazopanib (Votrient), sunitinib (Sutent), and vandetanib (Caprelsa). Kinase inhibitors prevent …

Recreational water illness (RWIs) facts Contrary to popular belief, chlorine does not kill all germs instantly. There are germs today that are very tolerant to chlorine and were not known to cause human disease until recently. Once these germs get in the pool, it can take anywhere from minutes to days for chlorine to kill them. Swallowing just a little …

Smell disorder facts* *Smell disorder facts by John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP People who experience smell disorders experience either a loss in their ability to smell or changes in the way they perceive odors. Hyposmia is when the ability to detect odor is reduced. Anosmia is when a person can't detect odor at all. Some people experience change in the …

Summary Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) occurs when an excessive amount of antidiuretic hormone is released resulting in water retention and a low sodium level. It is most common among older people. It has many causes including, but not limited too, pain, stress, exercise, a low blood sugar level, certain disorders of the heart, thyroid gland, kidneys, or adrenal …

Background Share Your Story Variant CJD (vCJD) is a rare, degenerative, fatal brain disorder in humans. Although experience with this new disease is limited, evidence to date indicates that there has never been a case of vCJD transmitted through direct contact of one person with another. However, a case of probable transmission of vCJD through transfusion of blood components from …

Prader-Willi syndrome facts* *Prader-Willi syndrome facts by John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP Prader-Willi syndrome (also called Prader-Labhart-Willi syndrome, or PWS) is a complex genetic condition. Infants have weak muscle tone (hypotonia), feeding difficulties, poor growth, and delayed development. Beginning in childhood, individuals may develop an insatiable appetite, which leads to chronic overeating (hyperphagia), obesity, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Prader-Willi …

What is Stiff-Person syndrome? Stiff-person syndrome (SPS) is a rare neurological disorder with features of an autoimmune disease. What are the signs and symptoms of Stiff-Person syndrome? Readers Comments 16 Share Your Story Stiff-Person syndrome is characterized by fluctuating muscle rigidity in the trunk and limbs and a heightened sensitivity to stimuli such as noise, touch, and emotional distress, which …

What is thallium? Pure thallium is a bluish-white metal that is found in trace amounts in the earth’s crust. In the past, thallium was obtained as a by-product from smelting other metals; however, it has not been produced in the United States since 1984. Currently, all the thallium is obtained from imports and from thallium reserves. In its pure form, …

What is Usher syndrome? Usher syndrome is the most common condition that affects both hearing and vision. A syndrome is a disease or disorder that has more than one feature or symptom. The major symptoms of Usher syndrome are hearing loss and an eye disorder called retinitis pigmentosa, or RP. RP causes night-blindness and a loss of peripheral vision (side …

What is Landau-Kleffner syndrome? Landau-Kleffner syndrome (LKS) is a childhood disorder. A major feature of LKS is the gradual or sudden loss of the ability to understand and use spoken language. All children with LKS have abnormal electrical brain waves that can be documented by an electroencephalogram (EEG), a recording of the electric activity of the brain. Approximately 80 percent …