breast cancer

What is Leigh’s Disease? Leigh’s disease is a rare inherited neurometabolic disorder that affects the central nervous system. This progressive disorder begins in infants between the ages of three months and two years. Rarely, it occurs in teenagers and adults. What causes Leigh’s disease? Leigh’s disease can be caused by mutations in mitochondrial DNA or …

What is post-polio syndrome? Post-polio syndrome (PPS) is a condition that affects polio survivors years after recovery from an initial acute attack of the poliomyelitis virus. Post-polio syndrome is mainly characterized by new weakening in muscles that were previously affected by the polio infection and in muscles that seemingly were unaffected. What are the symptoms of post-polio syndrome? Readers Comments …

Klinefelter syndrome facts* Kleinfelter syndrome facts author: John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP Klinefelter syndrome, also known as the XXY condition, is a term used to describe males who have an extra X chromosome in most of their cells. About one of every 500 males has an extra X chromosome, but many don’t have any symptoms. Symptoms depend on how many …

High blood pressure and kidney disease facts *High blood pressure and kidney disease facts medically edited by: Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD High blood pressure can damage kidneys and result in chronic kidney disease High blood pressure is the excessive force of blood placed against blood vessel walls. High blood pressure damages the vessels that, in turn, can’t provide the …

Oral cancer facts* *Oral cancer facts medical author: Charles P. Davis, MD, PhD The oral cavity is complex and consists of lips, cheek lining, salivary glands, hard palate, soft palate, uvula, area under the tongue, gums, teach, tongue, and tonsils. Oral cancer is abnormal (malignant) growth of body cells in any part of the oral cavity; oral cancer is sometimes …

Neuroblastoma facts* *Neuroblastoma facts medical author: John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP Neuroblastoma is a disease in which cancer cells form in nerve tissue of the adrenal gland, neck, chest, or spinal cord. Neuroblastoma is the third most common childhood cancer after leukemias and cancer of the central nervous system. Common symptoms of neuroblastoma include a lump in the abdomen, neck, …

Hydrocephalus facts *Hydrocephalus facts medical author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD Hydrocephalus is a condition characterized by excessive accumulation of fluid in the brain. Hydrocephalus may be congenital or acquired. Communicating hydrocephalus occurs when cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) can still flow among the ventricles. Noncommunicating hydrocephalus, also called “obstructive” hydrocephalus, occurs when the flow of CSF is blocked. Hydrocephalus affects about 1 …

What is Tourette syndrome? Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neurological disorder characterized by repetitive, stereotyped, involuntary movements and vocalizations called tics. The disorder is named for Dr. Georges Gilles de la Tourette, the pioneering French neurologist who in 1885 first described the condition in an 86-year-old French noblewoman. The early symptoms of Tourette syndrome are almost always noticed first in …

Penile Prosthesis Introduction A penile prosthesis is another treatment option for men with erectile dysfunction (ED). These devices are either malleable or inflatable. The simplest type of prosthesis consists of a pair of malleable (bendable) rods surgically implanted within the erection chambers of the penis. With this type of implant the penis is always semi-rigid and merely needs to be …

Sporotrichosis facts* *Sporotrichosis facts medical author: Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD Sporotrichosis (also termed rose gardener’s or rose handler’s disease) is an infection caused by the fungus Sporothrix schenckii, found throughout the world; it is usually associated with minor skin cuts and scrapes that occur when handling vegetation (moss, hay, wood, sharp-stemmed plants like rosebushes). The first symptom of sporotrichosis …