Post Type Archives: Topics

Celiac disease (Celiac Sprue) is an autoimmune disease caused by the ingestion of gluten, it is also called gluten sensitive enteropathy. Gluten is the protein component of wheat, rye and barley. There is an intestinal immune reaction to gluten in genetically predisposed individuals causing damage to intestinal epithelium. Following three factors are working together in […]

Organophosphate Poisoning occurs due to exposure to organophosphates, these organophosphate compounds are used as commercial insecticides, in chemical warfare as nerve gases and are used as aerosols or dusts. They are rapidly absorbed through skin and mucous membranes or by inhalation. Organophosphates are also used in ophthalmology (echothiopate is used to treat glaucoma). Mechanism of […]

Diverticular disease has become the most common gastrointestinal disorder in the United States and is the leading indication for elective colon resection. The incidence of diverticular disease is on the rise. Formerly, diverticular disease was confined to developed countries but with the adoption of westernized diets in underdeveloped countries, diverticulosis is on the rise across […]

Salivary gland tumors are rare tumors that begin in the salivary glands. Salivary gland tumors can begin in any of the salivary gland, but parotid gland is most common site. Following are the most common forms- Pleomorphic Adenoma Pleomorphic adenomas are benign tumors consisting of mixture of epithelial and mesenchymal cells. Epithelial elements are dispersed […]

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by recurrent abdominal pain and altered bowel habit in the absence of significant organic pathology. Pathogenesis Irritable bowel syndrome has no significant structural abnormality and pathogenic mechanism causing disease is uncertain. Following are few hypotheses associated with IBS- Gastrointestinal tract motor abnormalities (e.g., abnormal transit […]

The osmotic fragility test (OFT) is performed to measure erythrocyte resistance to hemolysis in varying levels of serial dilution of a saline solution/ hypotonic solution. When cells are exposed to a hypotonic environment, water enters the cell and causes swelling and cell lysis. The osmotic lysis of erythrocytes depends upon surface area to volume ratio […]

Hereditary spherocytosis (HS) is the most common inherited red cell membrane disorder causing chronic hemolytic anemia. This defect lead to the formation of spherocytes, which are nondeformable cells. Pathogenesis It is commonly inherited in autosomal dominant pattern. It caused by a deficiency in red blood cell membrane proteins spectrin, ankyrin, or Band 3.1. These are […]

Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic relapsing inflammatory disorder of intestine. It includes two major forms, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Although the exact etiology of IBD is unknown, it involves a complex interaction between the genetic, environmental or microbial factors and the immune responses. Following are major factors associated with Inflammatory Bowel Disease- Genetic […]

Tetralogy of Fallot is a congenital cardiac defect caused by anterosuperior displacement of the infundibular septum, characterized by four defects occurring together- Right ventricular outflow tract obstruction (subpulmonic stenosis) Ventricular septal defect (VSD) Overriding of the VSD by the aorta Right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) Pathophysiology Conotruncal abnormality from failure of neural crest cells to migrate. […]

DiGeorge syndrome arises because of a microdeletion of chromosome 22q11.2. This deletion of genetic material leads to a developmental defect that involves the third and fourth pharyngeal pouches. Hypoplasia of the thymus and parathyroid glands, aortic arch as well as facial malformations and learning difficulties are most common abnormalities seen in such cases. Patients have […]