h4. Alternative Names Spinal curvature; Kyphoscoliosis h4. Definition Scoliosis is a curving of the spine. The spine curves away from the middle or sideways. Causes, incidence, and risk factors There are three general causes of scoliosis: * Congenital scoliosis is due to a problem with the formation of vertebrae or fused ribs during prenatal development. * Neuromuscular scoliosis is caused by ...

h4. What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful progressive condition caused by compression of a key nerve in the wrist. It occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the hand, becomes pressed or squeezed at the wrist. Symptoms usually start gradually, with pain, weakness, or numbness in the hand and wrist, radiating up ...

h4. What is myasthenia gravis? Myasthenia gravis is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease characterized by varying degrees of weakness of the skeletal (voluntary) muscles of the body. The name myasthenia gravis, which is Latin and Greek in origin, literally means "grave muscle weakness." With current therapies, however, most cases of myasthenia gravis are not as "grave" as the name implies. In ...

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurological condition that typically causes tremor and/or stiffness in movement. The condition affects about 1 to 2 percent of people over the age of 60 years and the chance of developing PD increases as we age. Most people affected with PD are not aware of any relatives with the condition but in a number of families, ...

“In my research,” says Gilla Kaplan, Ph.D., of the Public Health Research Institute in Newark, New Jersey, “I ask what aspect of the immune response to infection protects some people from developing TB, and what is missing in those people who develop the disease.” Both human and bacterial factors contribute to the eventual outcome of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) infection. If ...

h4. Thirty Plus Years Ago In the 1960s, the most popular form of treatment for heroin addiction was “Civil Commitment,” which essentially placed heroin addicts in prison camps. After use of heroin (and other drugs) skyrocketed, methadone was tested and found to be an effective treatment for opiate addiction. In the early 1970s, public concern over veterans returning from Vietnam with ...

Lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus) is a serious and potentially fatal autoimmune disease that mainly affects young women. The disease often starts between the ages of 15 and 44. The manifestations of lupus are diverse: it can affect many parts of the body, including the joints, skin, kidneys, heart, lungs, blood vessels, and brain. People of all races can have lupus; however, ...

h4. Thirty Years Ago In the past, death typically occurred over a short period of time from illness or injury. Often times, death occurred at home, and family members served as caregivers. Issues surrounding end-of-life experiences were poorly understood and little studied. Improvements in medical technology were beginning to prolong life in many life-threatening situations, raising issues of end-of-life care. h4. ...

There is a tendency to romanticize bipolar disorder. Many artists, musicians, and writers have suffered from its mood swings. But in truth, many lives are ruined by this disease; and without effective treatment, the illness is associated with an increased risk of suicide. Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a serious brain disease that causes extreme shifts in mood, ...

h4. What is age-related macular degeneration? Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease associated with aging that gradually destroys sharp, central vision. Central vision is needed for seeing objects clearly and for common daily tasks such as reading and driving. AMD affects the macula, the part of the eye that allows you to see fine detail. AMD causes no pain. In ...

Some people report that they react to chemicals in their environments and that these allergy-like reactions seem to result from exposure to a wide variety of synthetic and natural substances. Such substances can include those found in # Paints # Carpeting # Plastics # Perfumes # Cigarette smoke # Plants Although the symptoms may resemble those of allergies, sensitivity to chemicals ...

h4. Estimated new cases and deaths from colon cancer in the United States in 2007 New cases: 112,340. Deaths (colon and rectal cancers combined): 52,180. Note: Some citations in the text of this section are followed by a level of evidence. The PDQ editorial boards use a formal ranking system to help the reader judge the strength of evidence linked to ...

h4. What are the adrenal glands? The adrenal glands are the part of the body responsible for releasing three different classes of hormones. These hormones control many important functions in the body, such as: * Maintaining metabolic processes, such as managing blood sugar levels and regulating inflammation * Regulating the balance of salt and water * Controlling the "fight or flight" ...

After decades of research, scientists have identified all of the genetic “letters” that spell out the “words” of our genes. This library of genes—called the human genetic code, or the human genome—is the complete set of instructions for creating you or me. But scientists’ ability to read the human genetic code is only a beginning. It will be many more years ...

h4. About MRSA Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus is the full name for MRSA (sometimes referred to as the 'superbug'). It belongs to the Staphylococcus aureus family of germs. Staphylococcus aureus is a very common cause of bacterial infections such as boils, carbuncles, infected wounds, deep abscesses and bloodstream infection (or bacteraemia). It was first described in the 1880s when doctors realised ...

Hemodialysis is the most common method used to treat advanced and permanent kidney failure. Since the 1960s, when hemodialysis first became a practical treatment for kidney failure, we’ve learned much about how to make hemodialysis treatments more effective and minimize side effects. In recent years, more compact and simpler dialysis machines have made home dialysis increasingly attractive. But even with better ...

An important part of the mission of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is to understand all stages of development throughout the lifespan - from birth and childhood, through adolescence and adulthood, and into old age. One of the key ...

In 1965, a lawyer made an unusual deal with one of his older clients, Jeanne Calment of Arles, France. In exchange for ownership of her apartment, he agreed to pay her a monthly pension for the rest of her life. Because Mme. Calment was 90 years old at the time, it seemed likely that the lawyer would only have to make ...

h4. What is genetic mapping? Developing new and better tools to make gene hunts faster, cheaper and practical for any scientist was a primary goal of the Human Genome Project (HGP). One of these tools is genetic mapping, the first step in isolating a gene. Genetic mapping - also called linkage mapping - can offer firm evidence that a disease transmitted ...

h4. Treatment of HIV Infection In the early 1980s when the epidemic began, AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency disease) patients were not likely to live longer than a few years. With the development of safe and effective drugs, however, people infected with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) now have longer and healthier lives. The discovery and development of new therapeutic strategies against HIV is ...