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Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is one of several techniques used to search your cells’ DNA, looking for the presence or absence of specific genes or portions of genes. Many different types of cancer are associated with known genetic abnormalities. And by genetic, we are not just talking about heredity. Over a lifetime, cells can make mistakes when they divide and grow. Mutations in the DNA that are associated with cancer may accumulate in these cells....

The General Practitioner Assessment of Cognition (GPCOG) is a short screening tool for dementia. The test includes a patient assessment and a caregiver interview. It takes about four to six minutes to complete. The tool was developed in 2002 by Henry Brodaty and colleagues at Prince of Wales Hospital in Australia. The Alzheimer’s Association recommends screening for cognitive impairment at Medicare annual wellness visits. It recommends using the GPCOG, Memory Impairment Screen (MIS), or the Mini-Cog for this purpose....

How often should you urinate? Most people go between six and eight times a day. But there are a few things that can affect that range; among them, fluid intake (especially if you drink coffee and alcohol) and certain medications (like those that cause a rapid increase in urine production or require you to take them with lots of water). Normal Bladder Function and Frequency of Urination Your kidneys filter out wastes and extra water to produce urine....

Retirement is supposed to be the golden time of life when work is set aside and leisure time is filled with enjoyable pastimes. For too many, however, health problems can significantly impair the quality of life in these latter years. In particular, retirement can profoundly undermine sleep and be associated with factors that lead to increasing difficulty with insomnia. Discover how retirement can ruin sleep and avoid the pitfalls that entrap too many retirees....

It is important that you know how to brush your teeth properly to prevent conditions such as gingivitis and tooth decay. Incorrect brushing technique can also lead to tooth abrasion, a condition in which the surface of the tooth is worn away. The number one cause of tooth abrasion is from a toothbrush. The delicate gum tissue is also at risk for damage from the toothbrush bristles, causing tooth sensitivity from exposed root surfaces....

Amid the dizzying array of treatments available for psoriasis, moisturizing is the only therapy that can help all patients, regardless of the severity of their skin lesions. A daily moisturizing regimen is simply essential for people with psoriasis. If you suffer from psoriasis, you want to not only keep your existing patches from worsening, but help to prevent future outbreaks. A moisturizer—whether in the form of a lotion, cream, oil, or ointment—serves double duty in the fight against psoriasis, an immune-system condition that causes skin cells to reproduce far more rapidly than normal....

Joubert syndrome is a genetic birth defect in which the area of the brain that controls balance and coordination is underdeveloped. It occurs in both males and females, in about one in 100,000 births. The syndrome, first identified in 1969 by pediatric neurologist Marie Joubert, can occur in a child with no family history of the disorder or it may be inherited. Children with Joubert syndrome typically have delays in gross motor milestones....

If you’ve been recently diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or other motor neuron disease, you probably have some questions and concerns regarding your future. As of yet, there’s no cure for these diseases. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get help. There are lots of resources available, that can make you as comfortable as possible, and others that could even affect how long you are able to live. Feeding in ALS ALS slowly robs people of the strength required to move....

Medical marijuana is a controversial issue—socially, legally, and politically. However, scientific evidence continues to mount suggesting that it could be a safe and effective treatment for numerous pain conditions, including fibromyalgia. We have some synthetic versions of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on the market, which is the substance associated with the “high” of marijuana. Studies suggest, though, that other compounds in the plant may have therapeutic value as well. Before discussing the specific effects of medical marijuana on fibromyalgia, it helps to know a little about something called the endogenous cannabinoid, or endocannabinoid, system....

While melatonin is a popular supplement for certain sleep conditions like jet lag, there isn’t strong evidence to recommend its use during pregnancy. Researchers don’t know enough about how higher melatonin levels in the body can affect a developing human fetus. Fortunately, there are other pregnancy-safe sleep aid options that you can discuss with a healthcare provider. This article provides an overview of whether melatonin is safe during pregnancy and outlines alternatives for sleep support throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding....

Cardiac Syndrome X, or microvascular angina, is diagnosed when a person has angina, with evidence of cardiac ischemia on stress testing, but with normal-looking coronary arteries on cardiac catheterization. In most cases, microvascular angina is caused by a disorder of the small branches of the coronary arteries in which these tiny vessels fail to dilate normally, thus producing a lack of blood flow to the heart muscle. Since the problem is now thought to be localized to the small arteries, the older name of cardiac syndrome X has largely been supplanted by the more descriptive term, microvascular angina....

Negative feedback loops play an important role in regulating health in the human body. Also known as an inhibitory loop, a negative feedback loop allows the body to regulate itself. The process starts when there is an increase in output from a body system, which results in higher levels of certain proteins or hormones. This stops (inhibits or reverses) future production by the system. Thus, the body reduces the amount of proteins or hormones it creates when their levels get too high....

If you have a drop foot, your physical therapist may use neuromuscular electrical stimulation, or NMES, to improve the way your muscle contracts. Foot drop is a condition that is caused by anterior tibialis muscle weakness or paralysis. There many causes of foot drop including, but not limited to: Stroke Sciatica Spinal cord injury Peripheral nerve entrapment or injury If you have foot drop, visit your practitioner right away for a full assessment of your condition and to get an accurate diagnosis and treatment....

The lower extremity refers to the part of the body from the hip to the toes. The lower extremity includes the hip, knee, and ankle joints, and the bones of the thigh, leg, and foot. Many people refer to the lower extremity as the leg. In fact, the leg is the part of the body between the knee and ankle joints. The proper way to describe the lower limb is the lower extremity....

Sexual abstinence means not having sexual intercourse. Abstinence works as an effective form of birth control by eliminating all chances of sperm fertilizing an egg. Unlike other forms of birth control that work to prevent pregnancy regardless of the exchange of sexual fluids, abstinence prevents semen from coming into contact with the vagina. Abstinence is the only birth control method that is 100% effective in preventing pregnancy as well as sexually transmitted infections (STIs, formerly called sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)....

Measuring pain objectively is a challenge for healthcare providers, and so coming to a chronic pain diagnosis can be challenging. Everyone feels pain differently, even when the underlying cause is the same. Because of this, being diagnosed with chronic pain is not as simple as making a healthcare appointment and leaving with a handful of information. It may take many months to diagnose your chronic pain condition accurately as your healthcare provider tries to pinpoint the exact cause (or causes) of your pain....

Just last week, the House approved a $715 billion infrastructure bill that would invest in roads, rail, public transit, and clean water over the next five years. Key Takeaways The infrastructure bill is a $715 billion bipartisan bill that would invest in roads, rail, public transit, and clean water over the next five years.It seeks to remove all remaining lead pipes and service lines.Lead exposure can damage the brain and nervous system, slow growth and development, and lead to learning and behavioral problems....

It can be scary and frustrating when your child has a mysterious symptom, the cause of which is hard to diagnose or discover. Does your child have some exotic illness, a strange virus, or is it all in his head? Classic Pediatric Symptoms Fortunately, children usually have more classic symptoms when they get sick, such as the barky cough of croup, sandpapery rash of scarlet fever, or slapped cheeks rash of fifth disease....

Scientists in California are investigating a naturally occurring steroid called lanosterol that could be used one day to treat cataracts. It may be possible one day to use lanosterol in the form of a topical eye drop to reduce cataract development. Lanosterol eye drops could potentially be a safe, non-invasive, and less costly alternative to cataract surgery for patients who have moderate forms of cataracts. What Are Cataracts? According to the World Health Organization, cataracts are the leading cause of blindness among people older than 55....

Vitiligo, also called piebald skin or acquired leukoderma, is a condition in which pigment, produced by cells called melanocytes, is lost from areas of the skin, causing whitish, smooth patches. Hair that grows in those areas may also be affected, turning white as well. Vitiligo is neither dangerous nor contagious, but people with visible patches may feel self-conscious about their appearance. Symptoms The primary symptom of vitiligo is a loss of pigment that occurs in patches on any area of the body....