Chromosome 21 abnormalities: a review and report of a case of Erondu-Cymet syndrome.

The co-existence of rare clinical findings in a patient with a genetic abnormality has often led to the characterization of new syndromes. Although these genetic syndromes are generally rare, the pathophysiology of these disorders has broadened our understanding of common medical conditions. The variety of disorders that map to chromosome 21 provide insight into the effects of lifelong low pO2 and poor perfusion on various organs.

Shin splints: painful to have and to treat.

When people overuse their legs they develop an uncomfortable awareness of these limbs manifested as a dull burning or aching. The cause is often clear to the person with the problem as a result of the often obvious relationship to overdoing an exercise or activity and the pain. "Shin splints" is the lay term; physicians use the term medial tibial stress syndrome.

As if the cancer wasn't enough! Understanding and treating the pain that comes with cancer.

In people with cancer, pain often occurs from the malignancy, from procedures done to diagnose, stage, and treat the malignancy, and from the toxicities of therapy used in treating the cancer. Of people with cancer, 75% complain of some sort of pain. Determining whether the pain is from tissue damage or nerve structures will guide therapy.

Childhood obesity: normal variant or serious illness?

Obesity is a serious medical issue. Problems that develop in children with a high body mass index include high blood pressure, asthma, and cardiovascular disease at a young age. Obese children also have less upper body strength and decreased endurance.

Planning for the HPV vaccine and its impact on cervical cancer prevention.

Genital human papilloma virus (HPV), the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States, is associated with cervical cancer in women, and penile cancers in men. The infection is asymptomatic until a malignancy develops. Of the more than 90 subtypes, only a small number are associated with malignancies.

Avian flu: the wrath of birdzilla or Polly got the sniffles?

The potential damage from an avian flu epidemic is huge, but unlikely. Currently, the virus affects birds and humans who handle dead birds. Only one case of suspected human-to-human transmission exists.

Does long-distance running cause osteoarthritis?

There is a dose-response relationship between physical activity and the reduced risk of some diseases (eg, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus). At a certain "dose," however, the reduced risk of some diseases may be offset by an increased risk of injury and osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis can be caused by trauma to, or overuse of, the joints.

Carbohydrate and calories: it is not what we used to think.

The majority of our diet consists of carbohydrates. Carbohydrates may be glycemic, which can be broken down and turned into simple glucose molecules quickly, or non-glycemic, which are not turned into sugar until they reach the large intestine. The glycemic index tells us how quickly the food we eat is turned into sugar and the glycemic load will give us absolute amounts of sugar introduced into the body by a food.

Treating the victims after disaster: physical and psychological effects.

Disaster victims present in waves. The initial presenting group is traditionally suffering from mild physical injuries, and the second wave, usually following 6 h later, typically has more serious trauma. Medical problems typically are not adequately treated when a person has psychological reasons to worry about survival.

Probiotics: the benefits of bacterial cultures.

Probiotics are bacterial cultures widely used in the treatment of disease. They are available without a prescription. Bacterial interference between types of bacteria and immunomodulation are the most common explanations as to why people may benefit from these treatments.

A practical approach to fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia is the name given to a collection of symptoms with no clear physiologic cause, The constellation of symptoms are clearly recognizable as a distinct pathologic entity. The diagnosis is made through clinical observations made by the examiner. Differential diagnosis must include other somatic syndromes as well as disease entities like hepatitis, hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, electrolyte imbalance, multiple sclerosis, and cancer.

Retrospective analysis of hiccups in patients at a community hospital from 1995-2000.

Hiccups are a physiologic phenomenon noted in animals and humans. There is little understanding of what makes hiccups occur and whether or not they have any productive purpose. A retrospective analysis of all patients seen in a community hospital over a 5 year period was conducted to see who is affected by hiccups, evaluate laboratory findings in people with hiccups, and to see what the currently accepted treatment is for hiccups.