What is Gonorrhea? Gonorrhea is an STI caused by the gram-negative bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Microscopically, this bacterium appears as paired, round cells enclosed within a capsule—a formation known as diplococci. A handy way to recall its classification: the word “gonorrhea” contains a “G” and “N” close together, which can help remind you it’s Gram-negative Neisseria….
Introduction: Nephrotic syndrome is defined as a set of symptoms that occur due to damage to the kidney’s filtering structure, leading to a massive leakage of proteins into the urine. This condition is characterized by significant protein loss, which disrupts normal blood protein levels. The Nephron and Glomerulus To understand the condition, it is essential…
What is PVD? PVD is the impediment of the blood flow within the peripheral vascular system due to damage to the vessels that make up that system. Your peripheral vascular system provides circulation to your arms, hands, feet, and legs. This is circulation outside of the heart and brain. With peripheral vascular disease, the condition…
Anti-Coagulants First up is the medication class known as the anti-coagulants. The prefix “anti” means against, so we are working against coagulation—that is, the body’s ability to form a clot. We affect that process with medications such as These medications treat conditions with clotting issues, for instance, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, atrial fibrillation, or…
What is Hyperthyroidism? Hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland secretes high levels of thyroid hormones (T3 and T4), which can wreak havoc on the body. It is diagnosed through blood tests that check T3, T4, or thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels, as these hormones play critical roles in metabolic processes and overall bodily function. The…
Definition: COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a pulmonary disease that leads to a chronic obstruction of airflow from the lungs. Before we get into the nitty-gritty of pathophysiology, let’s nail down some key points to keep in mind as we go through this. 1. Limited Airflow In COPD, airflow is restricted. Why? Because in…
What is Pneumonia? Pneumonia is a lower respiratory tract infection that causes inflammation of the alveoli (the tiny air sacs in the lungs responsible for gas exchange). When inflamed, these sacs fill with fluid, pus, or cellular debris, impairing oxygen exchange and leading to symptoms like hypoxemia (low blood oxygen) and respiratory acidosis. Pathophysiology of Pneumonia…
What is Cholecystitis? To understand cholecystitis, let’s break the word apart. The word “chole” means bile, “cyst” means membranous sac, and “itis” means inflammation. So, cholecystitis refers to inflammation of the membranous sac that holds bile. What structure in the body does that? The gallbladder. Cholecystitis is inflammation of the gallbladder. Now, to help us…
What is Hypertension? Hypertension is the amount of resistance of blood pumping through your body and arteries. What happens is that the arteries narrow, increasing blood pressure. A helpful analogy is to think of a water hose: when you squeeze the hose, the water jets out more forcefully. Similarly, when arteries constrict, blood flows through…
What is Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV)?? Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is not a newly discovered virus; it has been responsible for infections for over six decades. First identified in 2001 in the Netherlands, the virus was found to predominantly impact children. HMPV is a large, enveloped, negative-sense RNA virus belonging to the Pneumoviridae family. In 2016, it…
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