BV Causes

Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection that, if left untreated, can be fatal. This condition, caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis , typically affects the lungs. However, it can affect other parts of the body, including the bones. Spinal tuberculosis—also called Pott's disease—is the most common type of TB affecting the bones. This article discusses spinal tuberculosis—symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis for this condition. x-reflexnaja / Getty Images Symptoms of Spinal Tuberculosis Spinal tuberculosis typically affects the thoracic spine in the upper back and the lumbar spine in the lower back. Symptoms of spinal tuberculosis are vague, particularly early on. They include: Back pain Muscle spasms Stiffness As the disease progresses, symptoms can become more apparent, causing: Joint deformities/scoliosis (an abnormal curve in the spine) Swelling Decreased range of motion Ulcers ...

Gonorrhea is on the rise in the U.S. (Photo: Getty Images) Cases of gonorrhea are skyrocketing in the U.S. after hitting a historic low in 2009. In 2020 (the most recent year data is available), more than 675,000 gonorrhea cases were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, making it the second most common sexually transmitted infection behind chlamydia. In fact, rates of reported gonorrhea have gone up 111% since 2009. But despite its prevalence, many people don't know a lot about the infection. Here are important facts to keep in mind, just in case. It's not spread by kissing or sharing food. Gonorrhea, which is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae, spreads through sexual contact with the penis, vagina, mouth or anus of someone who is infected, the CDC explains. A person doesn't need to ejaculate for gonorrhea to be spread. It can also be spread from mother to baby during childbirth, infectious disease expert Dr. Amesh Adalja, senior scholar at...

[unable to retrieve full-text content] Biotech pioneer, Genzyme veteran Jim Geraghty on the 'orphan ...    The Business Journals

Keith Roach  |  To Your Health Dear Dr. Roach: I am a 72-year-old female in relatively good health. I have a history of allergic rhinitis. A regimen of allergy testing and shots was successful in controlling my seasonal allergies. I also have vasomotor rhinitis, which results in a runny nose during meals, drinking hot or cold beverages and after tooth brushing. I never get through a meal without needing a tissue or two. I have seen several ENTs over the years regarding this condition. I recently tried ipratropium bromide nasal spray, which the ENT was sure would alleviate this condition. It didn't. Now the ENT doctor suggests ablation of the posterior nasal nerves using low frequency radio waves. Have you heard of this procedure? My ENT says it has been in use for about 10 years. The clinical studies appear to have been done by the manufacturer of the device. My concern is the ablation procedure may alleviate the rhinitis problem but create another problem. — N...

Traditionally, endemic fungi are characterized by geographical distribution, however, disease-causing fungi may infect people beyond these havens. Risk of histoplasmosis, blastomycosis, and coccidioidomycosis—also known as Valley fever—may increase in the United States, according to research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Considered endemic fungal diseases (found in a distinct geographical location), researchers warn that climate changes could propel the disease-causing fungi beyond their traditional hot spot. "These 3 fungal diseases usually inhabit specific US regions conducive to their survival," said George Thompson, professor at the UC Davis School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, and the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, in a recent press release. "Recently, we are finding more cases of these diseases outside their known areas, taking clinicians and patients by surprise." These disea...

December 30, 2022 5 min read ADD TOPIC TO EMAIL ALERTS Receive an email when new articles are posted on Please provide your email address to receive an email when new articles are posted on . " data-action="subscribe"> Subscribe ADDED TO EMAIL ALERTS We were unable to process your request. Please try again later. If you continue to have this issue please contact customerservice@slackinc.com. Back to Healio Endoscopic bariatric surgery within the past few years has become a hot topic in the field of gastroenterology as a way to improve outcomes in patients who are obese or have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. In 2022, research on bariatric surgery included adding weight management to NAFLD care to boost bariatric surgery referrals, improvements in patient outcomes after endoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, FDA and industry news ...

A silicone chip lined with tissue from human donors could help scientists test drug treatments for bacterial infections in the vagina. Dr. Don Ingber makes organs for a living. Using flexible pieces of silicone carved with tiny channels, he grows tissues that can mimic the complex physical interactions between cells and fluids, creating malleable, three-dimensional models of organs. Over the past decade, Dr. Ingber, a bioengineer at Harvard, has made more than 15 of these organ chips, including those simulating lungs, livers, intestines and skin. And now, as described in a paper published last month, he has added a far less studied organ to the list: the vagina. The "vagina on a chip" was made from vaginal cells donated by two women. The model was grown inside of silicone rubber chips the size of a stick of gum, forming channels that were responsive to fluctuating estrogen levels and bacteria. The chip successfully mimicked key features of the vaginal microbiome, the swarming...

Listen to this article With 1 in 5 women being infertile due to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) have become a common public health concern. Sexual interaction between two people can be responsible for spreading STDs or sexually transmitted infection (STI). Though the spread mainly occurs during vaginal, oral, or anal intercourse, it can occasionally happen with other intimate physical interactions and result in infertility in females and males as well. It is brought on by bacteria or a virus that multiplies within the body and causes STDs. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), an illness frequently brought on by STDs, can cause tubal factor infertility. Conditions such as gonorrhea and chlamydia may be associated with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and can cause damage to a woman's fallopian tubes and thus, causes pregnancy complications. Both male and female reproductive systems can be affected by it. Not having any visible symptoms is often the c...

What Is Avodart? Avodart (dutasteride) is a once-daily drug used to treat signs of an enlarged prostate gland in people designated male at birth. It may be used alone or with Flomax (tamsulosin). Dutasteride belongs to a drug class called 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors. It is available as a 0.5 milligram (mg) capsule. Dutasteride prevents the body from producing a kind of testosterone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT), causing a decrease in the growth of the prostate. Drug Facts Generic Name : Dutasteride Brand Name : Avodart Drug Availability : Prescription Administration Route : Oral Therapeutic Classification : 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors Available Generically : Yes Controlled Substance : No Active Ingredient : Dutasteride Dosage Form(s) : Capsule What Is Avodart Used For? Avodart (dutasteride) is used to treat the signs of an enlarged prostate, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). It lowers the risk of acute urinary reten...

Gonorrhea is on the rise in the U.S. (Photo: Getty Images) Cases of gonorrhea are skyrocketing in the U.S. after hitting a historic low in 2009. In 2020 (the most recent year data is available), more than 675,000 gonorrhea cases were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, making it the second most common sexually transmitted infection behind chlamydia. In fact, rates of reported gonorrhea have gone up 111% since 2009. But despite its prevalence, many people don't know a lot about the infection. Here are important facts to keep in mind, just in case. It's not spread by kissing or sharing food. Gonorrhea, which is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae, spreads through sexual contact with the penis, vagina, mouth or anus of someone who is infected, the CDC explains. A person doesn't need to ejaculate for gonorrhea to be spread. It can also be spread from mother to baby during childbirth, infectious disease expert Dr. Amesh Adalja, senior scholar at...

It is the role of the pharmacist to ensure patients are adequately counseled on the adverse effects and potential harms of codeine. An 84-year-old female patient with a persistent cough went to her local pharmacy to seek relief after trying a dextromethorphan product with minimal symptomatic improvement. After describing her symptoms to the pharmacist, it was recommended she try a cough syrup containing guaifenesin and codeine, which was available without a prescription behind the counter. Codeine regulation varies widely across countries and states. In some states, including North Carolina, Florida, Oklahoma, and Iowa, 1,2 pharmacists can dispense a small quantity of cough syrup containing codeine OTC. Based on individual state law, this information may not be logged into the prescription drug monitoring program, which may contribute to providers being unaware of their patients' use of codeine. Approximately 10 days after the female patient began taking the codeine-containing co...