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Showing posts from July, 2022

Corrupted proteins in focus: How shape gives rise to variations of fatal brain disease: Researchers believe imaging could lead to better understanding of what causes fatal prion diseases - Science Daily

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Prion diseases are incurable, deadly neurological disorders that can affect both humans and animals-including Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) in people, Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (also known as Mad Cow Disease) and Chronic Wasting Disease found in deer. Scientists have spent decades working to better understand how prions cause these diseases. But new research from the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Rocky Mountain Laboratories brings into focus how prions might be formed and how they can result in different disease outcomes. This collaborative research team discovered a new prion structure through revolutionary new imaging using specialized electron microscopes at the Cleveland Center for Structural and Membrane Biology Cryo-Electron Microscopy Core and the Rocky Mountain Laboratories. The new structure is of a second prion strain, providing an atomic-level view into how corrupted prion proteins self-convert and...

Home Remedies for Gonorrhea: Too Good to Be True? - Healthline

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Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacteria. Healthcare professionals diagnose an around 820,000 new cases of gonorrhea in the United States every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While the internet is full of potential home remedies for gonorrhea, these aren't reliable. Antibiotics are the only effective treatment for gonorrhea. Researchers have actually put a lot of popular gonorrhea home remedies to the test in various studies over the years. Let's examine why they don't hold up. Garlic Garlic is known for its antibacterial properties, making it a common home remedy for bacterial infections. An older 2005 study examined the effects of garlic products and extracts on gonorrhea-causing bacteria. The researchers found that 47 percent of the products studied showed antimicrobial activity against the bacteria. This is somewhat promising — but this study was done in a laboratory settin...

What are some of the best medications for muscle pain? - Medical News Today

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Sore and aching muscles are common. They can occur from injury, overexertion, or an underlying illness. While muscle aches typically resolve on their own, people can take medications to help reduce symptoms. Muscle aches, also known as myalgia, can occur in any part of the body that has muscles. Discomfort from muscle pain can vary from mild to severe, depending on the cause. Many different medications are available to help treat and relieve muscle pain. This article discusses the different medications that may help treat muscle pain. A doctor might prescribe medications, such as muscle relaxers, for people with pain and spasms in their muscles. These groups of drugs refer to medications that help alleviate muscle pain and tightness by reducing muscle contraction. A 2020 study adds that the use of muscle relaxants is increasing. While these medications are beneficial for short-term use, they may not be appropriate for everyone. Evidence also notes they can have adverse effects, and it...

Ghana confirms its first outbreak of highly infectious Marburg virus - Reuters.com

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DAKAR, July 17 (Reuters) - Ghana has officially confirmed two cases of the Marburg virus, a highly infectious disease similar to Ebola, its health service said on Sunday, after two people who later died tested positive for the virus earlier this month. Tests conducted in Ghana came back positive on July 10, but the results had to be verified by a laboratory in Senegal for the cases to be considered confirmed, according to the World Health Organization. read more "Further testing at the Institute Pasteur in Dakar, Senegal has corroborated the results," Ghana Health Service (GHS) said in a statement. GHS is working to reduce any risk of the virus spreading, including the isolation of all identified contacts, none of whom have developed any symptoms so far, it said. A health worker in protective clothing carries waste for disposal outside the isolation ward where victims of the deadly Marburg virus are treated in the northern Angolan town of Uige, File. This is only the second...

The Inmate Who Continues to Seize: Delayed Diagnosis of Zolpidem Withdrawal Due to Functional Mimics - Cureus

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Formerly known as conversion disorder, FND is a condition at the interface between neurology and psychiatry where individuals present with neurological complaints showing patterns of clinical features without distinct organic explanations [1,2]. The modern terminology is a neutral descriptor and acknowledges FND patients as victims of abnormal brain computation [3]. While among the most common neuropsychiatric disabilities, especially those with pre-existing organic neurological diseases, FND patients typically fall through the cracks in the health system with symptoms discounted and unmet medical needs [1,2,4]. This unfortunate scenario can be further complicated if individuals show stereotypical psychosocial characteristics, such as poor socioeconomic status or substance use disorders [5]. To raise awareness for this population, here we illustrate a case where an incarcerated male presented with a zolpidem withdrawal seizure, a known yet uncommon...

Zymaxid (Gatifloxacin) Ophthalmic: Uses, Side Effects - Verywell Health

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What Is Zymaxid? Zymaxid ( gatifloxacin ophthalmic solution ) 0.5% is an eye drop used to treat bacterial conjunctivitis, an eye infection caused by bacteria. Conjunctivitis itself is the inflammation or infection of the conjunctiva. This is the clear membrane that covers the white part of your eye. Conjunctivitis causes eye symptoms, including redness, itching, and tearing. It may be caused by allergies, chemical exposure, a virus, or bacteria. Zymaxid can treat bacterial types. Since conjunctivitis can have several causes, you'll want to see a healthcare provider to ensure you get the proper treatment. Zymaxid belongs to a class of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones. It works by inhibiting two important enzymes called DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV. These are proteins that bacteria rely on to replicate and survive. Gatifloxacin is a prescription drug, which means you can't purchase it over-the-counter. You'll need an order for it from yo...

The role of cellular or cytokine response and vaginal microbiome dysbiosis in the clearance, persistence, and recurrence of HPV infection - News-Medical.Net

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Human Papillomavirus (HPV) causes cervical cancer and genital warts, a common sexually transmitted infection. Even after the implementation of prophylactic HPV vaccination in young women, cervical cancer remains the fourth most common type of cancer globally. Study: Role of Immunity and Vaginal Microbiome in Clearance and Persistence of Human Papillomavirus Infection. Image Credit: Naeblys/Shutterstock Background In most cases, HPV infection clears spontaneously within 6-18 months. This might be due to the genital microbiome, host defense mechanisms, and other factors associated with the female genital tract. Recently, researchers have reviewed the role of cytokine or cellular response and vaginal microbiome dysbiosis in the persistence, clearance, and recurrence of HPV infection. This study is available in  Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology. HPV diagnosis, treatment, and preventive strategies Scientists have characterized HPV as a non-en...

A Brief List of Bizarre Diseases Currently Spreading in the United States - Futurism

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Image by Getty Images/Futurism Another day, another terrifying piece of health news. In light of the horrific-but-somehow-not-entirely-surprising confirmed United States case of — checks notes — polio , we've decided to compile a helpful list of all the trending contagions that you probably want to watch out for. Happy weekend! Polio Big shoutout to the new/old kid on the block! According to CNBC , health officials in New York declared yesterday afternoon that they've confirmed the first US case of polio in over a decade. Yes, the same polio that America had previously eradicated with vaccines. Nice job, antivaxxers. The notably unvaccinated individual who contracted the potentially disease is a resident of Rockland County, a New York City suburb. They were admitted into the hospital after experiencing severe symptoms including paralysis. CNBC reports that officials believe the infected person contracted the strain — called Sabin Type 2 — from someone who had receive...

Marburg virus: Ghana declares outbreak of Ebola-like sickness - Business Insider

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Particles of Marburg virus are shown in false color here. FR/NIH/NIAID/BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Image ...

Study unveils pro-inflammatory interactions in drug-resistant epilepsy - Medical Xpress

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Nature Neuroscience (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41593-022-01095-5"> Nature Neuroscience (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41593-022-01095-5" width="800" height="530"> Microglia and infiltrating immune cells in brain tissue from patients with DRE. Position and phenotype of clusters on the t-SNE map. Color represents the cluster ID. Credit: Kumar et al, Nature Neuroscience (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41593-022-01095-5 Epilepsy is a common condition that causes those affected to experience frequent seizures, which are bursts of electrical activity in the brain that temporarily impair its functioning. These seizures can present differently and can be associated with uncontrollable jerking or shaking, a loss of awareness or staring blankly into space, becoming stiff, unusual bodily sensations and collapse. ...

Statins: 'Contact your doctor immediately' if you experience any of these 6 side effects - Express

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On occasion, the use of statins can increase the level of enzymes that signal liver inflammation. If this occurs, six telling signs could emerge. Experts at the Mayo Clinic instructed patients to "contact your doctor immediately" if you experience any of the following: Unusual fatigue or weakness Loss of appetite Pain in your upper abdomen Dark-coloured urine Yellowing of your skin or eyes. The NHS added that inflammation of the liver, known as hepatitis, can lead to "flu-like symptoms". Flu-like symptoms can include: A sudden high temperature of 38C or above An aching body Feeling tired or exhausted A dry cough A sore throat A headache Difficulty sleeping Loss of appetite Diarrhoea or tummy pain Feeling sick and being sick. If you are concerned about any side effects from taking statins, do consult with a doctor or nurse. The British Heart Foundation (BHF) pointed out that statins are the "one of the most commonly prescribed drugs in the UK". Statins effe...