Electrical nerve stimulation history For several thousand years, people have recognized that electrical stimulation can have an impact on pain. Hippocrates, the father of medicine, is said to have used electric fish to cause numbness, and a report of gout being “cured” by accidental contact with a fish called an electric ray dates back to...
What is a stool acidity test? Readers Comments 1 Share Your Story The stool acidity test is a test for diagnosing intolerance to lactose, the sugar contained in milk, in infants and very young children. What is lactose intolerance? Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest the lactose sugar in milk. Milk containing the sugar...
Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy facts Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy is a procedure that allows nutritional support for patients who cannot take food orally. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy involves placement of a tube through the abdominal wall and into the stomach through which nutritional liquids can be infused. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy is a surgical procedure; however, it does not...
What is the operation (procedure) that is recommended? Ask your surgeon for a simplified explanation of the type of operation, technique used, and reasons it should be performed. (Pictures and drawings can tell patients and family a great deal.) Why was this specific procedure chosen over possible alternatives? What is the surgeon's experience with this...
Pseudoxanthoma elasticum facts Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) is a rare disorder involving degeneration of the elastic fibers. PXE is inherited from the parents. PXE typically causes yellow-white small raised areas in the skin folds (flexure areas). PXE can affect areas of the body other than the skin. Treatment of PXE involves monitoring by the doctor and...
What is peripheral blood stem cell transplantation? Share Your Story Peripheral blood stem cell transplantation is a treatment which involve first harvesting specific cells called stem cells from the peripheral blood of the donor. These cells are harvested by a type of filtration and then preserved, usually by freezing, and finally given to the recipient after he...
Pediatric epileptic surgery facts Pediatric epilepsy surgery can be used to treat a highly selected group of patients whose seizures are not controllable by standard means. The appropriate candidate for epilepsy surgery must meet several criteria. There are currently three major categories of epilepsy surgery: resective surgery, corpus callosotomy, and implantation of the vagus nerve...
What is leprosy? Share Your Story Leprosy, also termed Hansen's disease, is a chronic infection caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae, a rod-shaped organism that stains reddish when an acid-fast stain is applied. Historians suggest leprosy was recognized as a disease as early as 600 BC; because of the disfigurement of individuals with untreated leprosy,...
What is an ultrasound? Readers Comments 1 Share Your Story While the patient's history and physical examination are the initial steps of making a medical diagnosis, the ability to peer inside the body can be a powerful tool. Ultrasound is an imaging technique that provides that ability to medical practitioners. Ultrasound produces sound waves that...
Melioidosis facts Readers Comments 1 Share Your Story Melioidosis is an infectious disease caused by a bacterium, Burkholderia pseudomallei. Melioidosis infection commonly involves the lungs. Melioidosis is diagnosed with the help of blood, urine, sputum, or skin-lesion testing. Melioidosis is treated with antibiotics. The overall mortality rate is 40%. What is melioidosis? What causes melioidosis?...