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If you take a weekly injection of pegylated interferon, you owe thanks to a chemist. This is because without the chemistry of pegylation you would need to inject interferon up to three times a week. In short, pegylation makes taking your medicine easier and actually makes it work better. Pegylated Interferon Definition Pegylated interferon, usually called peginterferon, is a chemically modified form of the standard interferon that treats hepatitis C and rarely hepatitis B....

If you have neck pain, you may benefit from working with a physical therapist to help decrease your pain and improve your neck range of motion. Your physical therapist can show you how to adjust your posture to keep your neck in the optimal position, and gentle stretches may be prescribed to improve mobility and decrease muscle pain. Your neck is comprised of seven vertebrae stacked on top of one another....

Behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) is one of several types of dementias that fall into the “frontotemporal degeneration” category. This category affects approximately 50,000 to 60,000 Americans. As the name indicates, this kind of dementia primarily affects the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. The most common frontotemporal dementias are of the behavioral-variant type. Behavioral-variant frontotemporal dementia is sometimes referred to as Pick’s disease. What Causes Pick’s Disease? Pick’s disease is thought to be caused by abnormal clustering of tau proteins in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain....

Some types of allergy to cats can result in an allergy to pork due to cross-reaction. Learn what is behind pork-cat syndrome and who is at risk. Cat Allergy Allergy to cats is extremely common, occurring in up to 25% of people. Cat allergy is more common than allergy to dog dander, a fact that may be related to the potency of cat hair and dander as an allergen—and because cats generally aren’t bathed....

Healthcare reimbursement describes the payment that your hospital, healthcare provider, diagnostic facility, or other healthcare providers receive for giving you a medical service. Often, your health insurer or a government payer covers the cost of all or part of your healthcare. Depending on your health plan, you may be responsible for some of the cost, and if you don’t have healthcare coverage at all, you will be responsible to reimburse your healthcare providers for the whole cost of your health care....

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is an eye disorder that primarily affects premature infants born before 31 weeks of gestation. It is one of the most common causes of vision loss in childhood and can lead to permanent blindness. The most vital risk factor is a premature birth, since the eye and blood supply to the retina develop later in pregnancy. This article discusses the causes and risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity....

The sphenopalatine artery enters the back of the nasal cavity, the inside of the nose, providing blood supply to the inner and outer walls of the nasal cavity and to the adjacent sinuses. It is clinically important since it is a frequent cause of nosebleeds. Anatomy The nasal cavity is a space inside the nose and face that conditions air taken in by the nose, passing it on to the rest of the respiratory system....

Boron is a trace mineral that is naturally found in many plant foods, such as fruits and legumes. It may be beneficial for reproduction and development, brain function, and immunity. It may also have anti-inflammatory effects. A trace mineral is a mineral that your body needs in only small amounts. Boron is not considered an essential nutrient, mainly because there has not been enough research conducted to identify a defined biological role for boron in the body....

Kidney stones are common in the United States, with about 11% of men and 9% of women reporting ever having had a kidney stone. Once you get a stone, you are at risk of getting another. Fortunately, it is possible to prevent kidney stones from forming by paying attention to your diet and remaining well-hydrated. What Are Kidney Stones? The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs located in your upper abdomen, under the ribs towards your back....

Low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels can increase your heart risk. Having a low level of this “good” cholesterol is a concern, just as having high levels of triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein (​LDL) cholesterol can have negative effects on your heart health. Lifestyle choices, such as diet and exercise, and genetic factors can contribute to low HDL levels. This article explains the causes of low HDL, what the optimal levels are, and how HDL plays a role in your overall health....

Osteopenia is defined as low bone density caused by bone loss. Osteopenia is often a precursor to osteoporosis, a common condition of brittle bones that can result in fracture. The two medical terms are sometimes confused and it’s important to know the difference and how each is related to arthritis. The biggest difference between osteopenia and osteoporosis is that osteopenia is not considered a disease while osteoporosis is. Instead, osteopenia is considered a marker for risk of fractures....

Can you eat your way to a longer life? Well, yes and no. Certain dietary patterns are associated with lower risks for coronary heart disease, cancer, and other diseases. Learning more about these patterns, including the Mediterranean diet, and adopting certain dietary habits can help promote healthier living. Mediterranean Diet for Health Interest in the Mediterranean diet was triggered by the realization that people who live in countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea had some of lowest rates of coronary heart disease and greatest longevity in the world....

People who have undergone joint replacement surgery are at risk for developing infections of their implanted joints. In severe cases of infection, a person may require surgery to repair the joint or may develop septicemia (a systemic infection). Preventing an infection is crucial. Deep infection is a serious problem, affecting between 4% of primary and 15% of revision knee replacements. There have been changing recommendations as to whether antibiotics should be mandatory for joint replacement recipients when undergoing dental work....

Therapeutic ultrasound is used in physical therapy to treat pain and loss of joint function due to osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis occurs when cartilage in the joints breaks down over time. Also known as wear-and-tear arthritis, degenerative joint disease, and degenerative arthritis, osteoarthritis causes joint pain and stiffness that can interfere with everyday activities. This article discusses how ultrasound therapy works and how it can help treat osteoarthritis in the hip and knee....

Acne, commonly referred to as pimples, is the most common skin disease treated by physicians. It is a chronic condition that affects about 85 percent of adolescents and young adults. What is the difference between whiteheads and blackheads, why is this distinction important, and what treatments are available? Types of Acne Not all acne is the same. Simplistically, acne can be divided into red bumps and blackheads or whiteheads. This division is important because each type is treated differently....

Cymbalta (duloxetine hydrochloride) is a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). It is a prescription-only drug approved for the treatment of chronic musculoskeletal pain and chronic low back pain, which can be caused by conditions such as osteoarthritis. Cymbalta was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2004 for major depressive disorder. Subsequently, it was also approved for the treatment of anxiety, pain caused by diabetic neuropathy, and pain caused by fibromyalgia before gaining FDA approval for chronic musculoskeletal pain in 2010....

It is not just deaf and hard of hearing children who use sign language. Another large segment of sign language users is hearing nonverbal children who are nonverbal due to conditions such as down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, trauma, and brain disorders or speech disorders. For parents, sign language provides a means of quick communication, particularly for those whose attention spans may be very short or language very limited. Or it may be a tool for language development prior to developing spoken language....

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) makes your digestive system sensitive to certain stimuli, including certain foods, medication, and stress. Most people with IBS have the diarrhea-predominant type, called IBS-D. It may not always be possible to prevent or stop IBS diarrhea, but you have lots of ways to make bouts of diarrhea less common, head them off quickly when they do occur, and manage the accompanying symptoms. The basics of this include:...

Many orthopedic conditions like hip pain, knee pain, or low-back pain seem to come on for no apparent reason. Often, there is a slow, gradual onset and progression of pain. Your symptoms may come and go, or they may simply get worse and worse until your functional mobility is compromised and you need some help from your healthcare provider or physical therapist to get back to normal. You may feel that diagnostic studies are needed to get an accurate diagnosis of your condition....

The treatment of hypertension (high blood pressure) involves more than just antihypertensive drugs. In addition to exercise, maintaining an ideal weight, and quitting cigarettes, diet plays an important role in controlling blood pressure. While most people are aware that too much sodium in the diet can increase blood pressure, many are unaware of how too little of another mineral—potassium—also contributes. About Hypertension Hypertension is one of the most common chronic health conditions in adults....