Viruses and Health

Melasma is a skin condition that causes patchy areas of discoloration or spots that resemble freckles. It's so frequent in pregnant people that it's sometimes called the "mask of pregnancy." Melasma is most likely to appear on the cheeks, but it can also develop elsewhere. Melasma is not dangerous or cancerous, but it may affect how you feel about your appearance. Read on to learn about what causes melasma during pregnancy and how to treat it. LumiNola / Getty Images Why Does Melasma Develop During Pregnancy Experts think that increases in the levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone during pregnancy may trigger melasma. The spots develop when the hormones trigger cells called melanocytes , which go into overdrive and produce more of a substance called melanin. Melanin is what gives skin its color. Melasma is more common in people with medium to darker skin and seems to run in families. Estimates vary, b...

For DNA sequencing, this "is the year of the big shake-up," says Michael Snyder, a systems biologist at Stanford University. Sequencing is crucial to fields from basic biology to virology to human evolution, and its importance keeps growing. Clinicians are clamoring to harness it for early detection of cancer and other diseases, and biologists are finding ever more ways to use genomics to study single cells. But for years, most sequencing has relied on machines from a single company, Illumina. Last week, however, a young company called Ultima Genomics said at a meeting in Orlando, Florida, that with new twists on existing technologies, it could provide human genomes for $100 a pop, one-fifth the going rate. Several other companies also promised faster, cheaper sequencing at the same meeting, Advances in Genome Biology and Technology. This year, key patents protecting Illumina's sequencing technology will expire, paving the way for more competition, including from a Chin...

Periorbital cellulitis is an infection involving the skin around the eye or the eyelid. It is also known as preseptal cellulitis. A periorbital infection can involve any tissue in the area until it reaches the bony socket. But once the bony tissue is involved, this becomes known as orbital cellulitis. Orbital cellulitis is more serious than periorbital cellulitis because it can quickly lead to vision loss if left untreated. While anybody can have periorbital cellulitis, it most commonly occurs in children under age 5. This article will discuss symptoms and causes of periorbital cellulitis, how it is diagnosed. and how this can be effectively treated. Amorn Suriyan / Getty Images Periorbital Cellulitis Symptoms The symptoms associated with periorbital cellulitis may come on suddenly. They also may be slightly different for everyone. Common symptoms include the following: Eyelid swelling, which can include the upper and/or the lower lid R...

The introduction and distribution of the MMR ( measles - mumps - rubella ) vaccine in the United States changed the trajectory of these diseases. Illnesses that were commonplace among baby boomers now occur very rarely. Still, vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and the people around you from measles, mumps, and rubella and to maintain the rarity of these diseases in the U.S. This article provides an overview of the MMR vaccine, describes symptoms and complications of measles, mumps, and rubella, and outlines who should and should not get the MMR vaccine. LWA/Dann Tardif / Getty Images What Is the MMR Vaccine? The MMR vaccine protects people from measles, mumps, and rubella. It is a two-dose regimen that is typically recommended to start in early childhood. It is extremely effective at protecting against infection and severe illness. Measles Measles is a highly contagious disease that is characterized by: Rash Fever ...

[unable to retrieve full-text content] Hepatic Encephalopathy: Types, Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment    Healthgrades Hepatic Encephalopathy: Types, Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment - Healthgrades

New Delhi: Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth or SIBO is a serious condition of the small intestine where the bacteria population increases to problematic levels. Having healthy levels of bacteria in the gut is normal and beneficial as it plays a key role in digestion. However, abnormal amounts can be harmful. It is also known as the blind loop syndrome. SIBO symptoms and causes SIBO can be caused due to surgical, structural, or surgical complications. Here are some factors that can lead to small intestinal bacterial overgrowth: Related News Giardiasis: All about the parasitic infection 5 most common nutritional deficiencies Complications of an abdominal surgery Medical complications such as celiac disease, Crohn's disease , scleroderma, etc. Small intestine related structural issues such as scar tissue Some common symptoms of SIBO include bloating , abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, nausea, and malnutrition. SIBO - Complications, diagnosis, and treatment SIBO can cause health compl...

An international team led by The University of Vienna and the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology in collaboration with the National Museum of Korea has successfully sequenced and studied the whole genome of eight 1,700-year-old individuals dated to the Three Kingdoms period of Korea (approx. 57 BC-668 AD). The first published genomes from this period in Korea and bring key information for the understanding of Korean population history. The Team has been led by Pere Gelabert and Prof. Ron Pinhasi of the University of Vienna together with Prof. Jong Bhak and Asta Blazyte from the UNIST and Prof. Kidong Bae from the National Museum of Korea. The study, published in Current Biology , showed that ancient Koreans from Gaya confederacy were more diverse than the present-day Korean population. The eight ancient skeletal remains used for DNA extraction and bioinformatic analyses came from the Daesung-dong tumuli, the iconic funerary complex of the Gaya confederacy, and from Yu...