Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

These infections, also called mycoses, are common and particularly affect the skin or mucosal membranes in, for example, the mouth, anus or vagina. Fungi consist of threadlike hyphae which form tangled masses or mycelia common mould. In what is called dermatophyte (multicellular fungi) fungal infection of the hair, nails and skin, these hyphae invade the…

A steroidal aromatase inhibitor recently introduced for the treatment of patients with advanced postmenopausal breast cancer. It is better tolerated than non-steroidal aromatase inhibitors and acts by blocking the conversion of androgens to oestrogens in peripheral tissue.  

A means of encouraging excretion via the kidneys of a compound by altering the pH (acidity) and increasing the volume of the urine. Forced diuresis is occasionally used after drug overdoses, but is potentially dangerous and so only suitable where proper intensive monitoring of the patient is possible. Excretion of acid compounds, such as salicylates,…

Also termed idiopathic diffuse-pain syndrome and non-restorative sleep disorder.  

A group of drugs, also known as thrombolytics, with the ability to break down the protein fibrin the prime constituent of blood clots. They are used to disperse blood clots that have formed in the vessels of the circulatory system. The group includes streptokinase, alteplase and reteplase. The drugs work by activating plasminogen to form…

A visualising technique enabling the operator to examine the internal organs with the minimum of disturbance or damage to the tissues. The procedure has transformed the management of, for example, gastrointestinal disease. In chest disease, fibreoptic bronchoscopy has now replaced the rigid wide-bore metal tube which was previously used for examination of the tracheobronchial tree.…

A procedure in which cells for example, from the pancreas are taken from an aborted fetus and then transplanted into the malfunctioning organ (pancreas) of an individual with a disorder of that organ (in this case, diabetes). The cells from the fetus are intended to take over the function of the host’s diseased or damaged…

A procedure performed during a mother’s labour in which a blood sample is taken from a vein in the scalp of the fetus. This enables tests to be performed that indicate whether the fetus is, for example, suffering from a shortage of oxygen (HYPOXIA). If so, the obstetrician will usually accelerate the baby’s birth.  

Many glands which produce hormones are influenced by other hormones, particularly those secreted by the hypothalamus (a controlling centre in the brain) and the pituitary gland. If the amount of hormone produced by a gland rises, negative feedback mechanisms operate by instructing the pituitary gland, via the hypothalamus, to produce less of the stimulating hormones. This…

Following injury to, or inflammation of, the pancreas, the fat-splitting enzyme in it may escape into the abdominal cavity, causing death of fat-containing cells. Destruction or dissolution of fatty tissues, as seen, for example, in patients with severe cases of pancreatitis. Necrosis occurring in the adipose tissues surrounding the pancreas, resulting from acute destructive pancreatic…