In the United States, sarcoidosis affects four Black Americans for every one White American diagnosed. Black patients, particularly Black women, experience more severe disease, more multi-organ involvement, higher hospitalization rates, and mortality. Factors such as genetics, environmental toxins, socioeconomic conditions, and unconscious bias contribute to worsening outcomes in sarcoidosis (Hena, 2020). What is sarcoidosis? Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory condition in which

An open hand framed by a sunset "I've been tryin' to get down To the heart of the matter But my will gets weak And my thoughts seem to scatter But I think it's about Forgiveness, forgiveness…” Don Henley, The Heart of the Matter, 1989 As human beings, we are familiar with the concept of needing to forgive those who have wronged us. However, people are often uncertain about how to accomplish forgiveness (7) or understand its importance in their own health and wellbeing (9). Th

Author Micah Sagini CXCR4 is a chemokine receptor that is associated with the development of cancer and other inflammatory disorders. The endogenous inhibitor of CXCR4 known as EPI-X4, is a recently discovered peptide from human serum albumin that inhibits C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4). Chemokines are small signaling proteins (8–12 kDa) that interact with G-protein-coupled receptors to regulate physiological processes in the body. One of the most studied chemokines

Acc. to WHO, global burden of diabetes grown from 200 million in 1990 to 830 million in 2022, with a sharper rise seen in low- and middle- income countries compared to high- income countries. Most people with diabetes are aware that the disease can harm the eyes, nerves, heart, and other important body systems. What many don't realize is that diabetes can also cause problems in the mouth. Diabetes- Oral Health Connection : A two-way relationship What your mouth reveals about

Figure 1 : Superior rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD), macula-off, and a horseshoe tear located at 12 o’clock. (14) Written by Abida Mozid, BSc Biomedical Science What is a Retinal Detachment? Retinal detachment is a sight-threatening condition that is caused by the retina separating from the back of the eye. This is classed as a medical, ocular emergency, as prevention of permanent vision loss depends on the time taken from symptom onset up to diagnosis and treatment.

Mother provide immune protection both in utero and during breast-feeding. Passive Immunity: Our immune systems are vital for our protection against the various pathogens we are exposed to. There are two arms of immune protections: Innate and adaptive immune responses. Innate immunity provides protection through recognition of pathogen-associated products, triggering an immune response aims to clear the pathogen. The adaptive immune response is more trained and establishes l

Wild animals harbor a wide array of pathogens and act as natural reservoirs, living in complex ecosystems that allow diseases to persist and spread. These wildlife-borne pathogens not only threaten animal populations, including endangered species, but also pose significant risks to human health. In fact, over 60% of emerging infectious diseases in humans originate from animals, with nearly 72% coming specifically from wildlife. Migration patterns of wild animals and birds fur

Introduction HIV affects over 40 million people worldwide, with up to 77% of patients accessing antiretroviral therapy. Despite efforts to control the progression of the disease with antiretroviral therapy, approximately 30-50% of people living with HIV may develop HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder, or HAND. These patients present with difficulties in executive function, memory, attention, verbal fluency, and concentration. Pathogenesis HIV enters the central nervous sy

Introduction Stress is often thought of as something that happens "in your head"; worry that keeps you up throughout the night, feeling emotionally overwhelmed after a long workday, or a racing mind before a big presentation. But stress rarely stays confined to thoughts alone. Fatigue, muscle tension, stomach discomfort, and even changes in movement or coordination lag close behind. This is not a coincidence. These physical symptoms reflect the brain’s constant communication

Fathers want to be involved in their infant’s care, as asserted in the seminal work of Garfield and Isacco (2006). Moreover, fathers have unique concerns and questions that should be addressed at well-child visits. Pediatricians and other healthcare providers play a vital role in supporting fathers during well-child visits (Garfield & Isacco, 2006; Yogman & Craig, 2016). Further, research has shown that involving fathers in well-child visits greatly improves their child’s hea

Note: There are a few types of sleep apnea with obstructive sleep apnea being the most common, which is the focus of this piece. Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia, or irregular heart rhythm, in the world, affecting around 5 million people just in the United States. A diagnosis of atrial fibrillation can have many downstream effects; long-term fatigue, increased risk for stroke, and overall increased risk of death. In modern days, it is a manageable condition a

Introduction Multiple Sclerosis (MS) has long been understood as a disease of two distinct phases: an inflammatory phase characterized by acute relapses (driven largely by peripheral immune cells attacking the CNS), and a neurodegenerative phase characterized by slow, steady disability accrual independent of relapses. While current Disease-Modifying Therapies (DMTs) are highly effective at suppressing relapses, they have largely failed to stop the insidious progression of dis

Introduction In the vast landscape of autoimmune diseases, a significant proportion are driven by pathogenic Immunoglobulin G (IgG) autoantibodies. These antibodies attack the body's own tissues, leading to debilitating conditions such as generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG), chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), and hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN). Traditional treatments, such as broad immunosuppression or plasma exchange, are often indis

Introduction Throughout the day, you encounter minor and major inconveniences. There’s no gas in the car, kids are crying and screaming, or you wake up late because you forgot to set your alarm. These occurrences can build up and contribute to a worldwide phenomenon known as stress. While stress is something everyone experiences, it does not affect everyone in the same way. Cultural background, lived experiences, and social conditions all influence how stress shows up in the

Image Credit: Freepik In the recent decade the onset of puberty in girls is occurring at an earlier age. The timing of of puberty is dependent on genetic and epigenetic factors. The early onset of puberty in girls has raised concerns about what the causes might be and what are the potential risks associated with it. Hormones and Puberty The trigger for the onset of puberty lies in the part of the brain called the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is a gland that releases hormone

Modern Medicine and Solid Organ Transplant For people with failing organs such as hearts, kidneys, livers, or lungs, solid organ transplantation can represent the difference between life and death. What was once seen as experimental medicine is now one of the most powerful tools in modern healthcare. According to a major scientific journal review, an astounding 41,354 solid organ transplants were performed in the United States alone in 2021, showing how widely this life-savi

Cerebral Venous Thrombosis is the leading cause of strokes in younger populations, despite being a relatively rare type of stroke. Symptoms can vary massively from patient to patient, but often most patients present with a severe headache.

By: Nesredin Hassen Yesuf LinkedIn | Email Introduction Acromegaly is a rare, chronic endocrine disorder caused by sustained overproduction of growth hormone (GH), typically due to a benign pituitary adenoma. The excess GH stimulates hepatic synthesis of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), resulting in widespread tissue overgrowth and systemic complications [1]. Although distinct facial and skeletal changes eventually develop, the onset is gradual, and diagnosis often lags

HbA1c measures the percentage of sugar coated on hemoglobin, acting as a "metabolic memory" of your blood sugar over the last 2–3 months. Unlike daily finger-pricks, it provides a long-term view of your health. Understanding this number is vital for diagnosing diabetes and preventing complications like heart or kidney disease. It is the gold standard for tracking treatment success and maintaining long-term wellness.

By Abby Newberry Parathyroid glands, shown in red in this image, are located along the back of the Thyroid gland You have likely heard of the Thyroid gland, which is usually situated in the lower front of the neck and regulates the body’s metabolic functions. However, you may not have heard of the Parathyroid gland , a close neighbor of the thyroid but with a completely different function. These two glands are commonly confused because of their similar-sounding names. Al