What are NRTIs in antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV infection? Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) are one of the seven classes of drugs developed to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. NRTIs were the first drugs developed to manage HIV infection and remain a mainstay of antiretroviral therapy (ART) combinations. What is HIV infection? HIV …

What is antiretroviral therapy (ART) for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection? ART for HIV is typically a combination of three or more different antiretroviral drugs that each target the human immunodeficiency virus at different points in its replication in the body. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a treatment regimen used to reduce the amount of …

What is a bronchoplasty? Bronchoplasty is used for various benign and malignant pulmonary lesions. Bronchoplasty is a reconstruction or repair of the bronchus to restore its function. During inhalation, air travels through the nose and/or mouth into the trachea (windpipe). The trachea further divides into two tubes called bronchus (bronchi). The bronchi branch out into smaller tubes called bronchioles. The …

What are the warning signs of a heart attack in a woman? Many women think that the typical signs of a heart attack like crushing chest pain and shortness of breath can be easily recognized and cannot be missed. Heart disease is the number one cause of death among women in the United States, with one out of every three …

What is lupus? The four types of lupus are Lupus dermatitis, SLE, drug-induced lupus, and neonatal lupus. Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks healthy tissue. It affects the joints, skin, brain, lungs, kidneys, and blood vessels, leading to inflammation and tissue damage in the affected organs.  When internal organs are involved, the condition is called systemic …

What is cholangioscopy? SpyGlass cholangioscopy is a recently developed technique for the visualization of the bile ducts. Cholangioscopy is a procedure in which a flexible tube, called an endoscope, allows the doctor to visualize the inside of the bile ducts. It is used to treat related medical conditions, such as removal of bile duct stones.  When coupled with the visualization …

What is enteroenterostomy? Braun enterostomy is a type of anastomosis done following a major surgery like pancreaticoduodenectomy (removal of pancreas and a part of the intestine).  Enteroenterostomy is an anastomosis (connection) between one part of the small bowel to another (jejunum or ileum). The entire small intestine is around 20 feet long and is divided into three parts.  The first …

What is a coccygectomy? Generally, orthopedic or spinal surgeons perform the surgery. Coccygectomy is usually done under general anesthesia. Coccygectomy is the surgical removal of the tailbone (coccyx). It is done in the cases of pain in the tailbone region (coccydynia) when conservative treatment options, such as rest, painkillers, physiotherapy, and steroid injections, have failed.  The surgery is not commonly …

What is peritoneal lavage? Diagnostic peritoneal lavage is used in unstable patients who have suffered severe physical trauma. Peritoneal lavage is a bedside procedure for evaluating bleeding in the abdominal cavity or a ruptured organ. In this procedure, a needle connected to a catheter, a tube-like structure, is inserted into your abdominal cavity. It is commonly known as diagnostic peritoneal …

What is seborrheic dermatitis? The exact cause of seborrheic dermatitis is unknown. However, some scientists opine that genes and hormones may play a role in giving rise to seborrheic dermatitis. Seborrheic dermatitis is an inflammatory skin disease characterized by flaky, red, or yellowish scales that resemble dandruff. Sometimes, the scales may itch or even crust and ooze. Seborrheic dermatitis affects …