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Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cell, a type of white blood cell that produces antibodies that fight viral and bacterial infections. The causes of multiple myeloma are unknown. There are also no known environmental risk factors associated with the development of multiple myeloma. Additionally, it is unclear why some people develop resistance to treatment while others do not. Triple refractory multiple myeloma refers to someone who has not responded to all three of the major class treatments for multiple myeloma....

Each week, Verywell explains a term from health, medicine, science, or technology. Idiopathic How to say it: Idiopathic (id-ee-oh-path-ick) What it means: When the cause of a disease or condition is not known. Where it comes from: From Greek, idiopatheia, “one’s own disease or feeling.” Where you might see or hear it: Sometimes, providers do not know what causes a disease or condition. When this happens, they use the term idiopathic to talk about it because the word means that the reason for the disease or condition is unknown....

The rapid rise of Omicron in the U.S. and across the world has made it very clear that this COVID-19 variant isn’t the same as past strains of the virus. Not only is Omicron highly contagious, reports suggest that its symptoms are also slightly different than other COVID-19 variants, including Delta. Key Takeaways COVID-19 cases caused by the Omicron variant are increasing in children.Symptoms in kids are slightly different than they are in adults....

Lipoid pneumonia (LP) is a rare, non-infectious condition characterized by the presence of fat (lipids) in the alveoli of the lungs. Fat molecules in the lungs cause inflammation, filling the alveoli sacs with fluid and pus. This article discusses the types, symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of LP. Types of Lipid Pneumonia There are two types of lipoid pneumonia: Endogenous form: This results from systemic conditions, such as Krabbe and Niemann-Pick disease, in which lipids from within the lung itself accumulate....

Between cookies in the office and boozy eggnog at happy hour, the holiday season is ripe for indulgence. It seems to be human nature to associate celebration with sugar, and during December, sugar is everywhere. Key Takeaways Eating balanced meals can be challenging for people who are juggling the demands and obligations of holiday festivities.Certain habits and hacks can help people include important nutrients in their holiday diet with very little effort....

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are notoriously difficult to scrub from the environment. These so-called “forever chemicals” can take thousands of years to degrade naturally. Key Takeaways PFAS, also called forever chemicals, accumulate in the environment and body and can seriously damage health over time.A new study found a way to break down certain kinds of PFAS in a low-energy, cost-effective way.The new approach uses a mix of an ingredient commonly found in soap and another well-known solvent to degrade the chemicals under mild conditions....

Dental impressions are bad enough to make anyone hate going to the dentist. If you’ve ever needed a crown, bridge, or veneer, then you’ve experienced the agony of a dental impression. There’s nothing worse than waiting those two to five excruciating minutes for the gooey material to set. But it’s the 21st century. There’s got to be a better way to do dental impressions, right? The Traditional Impression Alternative Dental impressions are very common procedures used in dentistry, but if you are one of the many patients that absolutely can’t stand to have the traditional impression material (alginate) sit in your mouth, you will be glad to know that there is an alternative....

An epidural steroid injection is a type of injection in which cortisone is delivered to the outermost section of the spinal column, called the epidural space. It is used to treat radiating nerve pain from the low back, middle back, or neck. Cortisone is a type of steroid naturally produced by the adrenal gland which is released during times of stress. The steroid suppresses the immune system and, by doing so, reduces inflammation and the associated pain....

There are three phases of hair growth. The first is the anagen (pronounced: ANN-uh-jin) phase, the second is known as the catagen (pronounced: KAT-uh-jin) phase, and the third stage is called the telogen phase. Some experts refer to exogen, release of the hair shaft, as a fourth phase. The anagen phase is the active growth phase of hair follicles. During this phase, a hair grows about one centimeter, or about half of an inch, every 28 days....

In spite of its name, the disease hepatitis C (“hepatitis” indicating inflammation of the liver), is a multiorgan disease affecting organs beyond the liver. Chronic hepatitis C virus has the potential to affect wide-ranging organ systems, including the kidneys, the skin, the hematological system, and even cause autoimmune disease and diabetes. When it comes to the kidneys, hepatitis C tends to affect the “filter” of the kidneys, (called the “glomerulus”) in various ways, creating different disease processes....

When breast cancer spreads from outside of the breast to distant areas of the body, such as the liver, brain, bones, or lung, it is called metastatic breast cancer. HER2-positive breast cancer means that the breast cancer cells have extra HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) proteins on the outside of them. These HER2 receptors can signal the cancer cells to grow quickly and out of control. Breast cancer can be metastatic when it is diagnosed or can come back years later....

Occupational therapy is often a component of managing arthritis. This can involve a joint assessment and exercises designed to improve your ability to carry out your usual activities of daily living, which can be impacted by arthritis. Occupational Therapy Assessment An occupational therapist is a trained and licensed healthcare professional who will do a complete evaluation of the impact that your disease is having on your home and work activities. Your occupational therapist will also consider the effect of arthritis on your hobbies and recreational activities....

While face masks were initially thought to only protect those around someone wearing a mask, public health officials have determined they also help keep mask-wearers from getting sick. Now a new study from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) found that wearing face masks not only slows down the transmission of COVID-19 but may lessen the severity of the virus as well. Key Takeaways A study from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases suggests that wearing masks can lessen the severity of COVID-19....

A restricted or a low fiber diet may be prescribed at certain times for people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). A few of the reasons when this diet might be used include when there is danger of a blockage in the intestine (such as after surgery) or during a flare-up of IBD symptoms. A low fiber diet might need to be followed for several weeks. This diet tends to be easier to follow than the clear or full liquid diets because it includes a wider variety of foods....

Methotrexate is commonly prescribed to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other rheumatic conditions. Methotrexate is classified as a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD). The drug decreases pain and swelling associated with rheumatoid arthritis, slows progression of the disease, and helps prevent joint damage. When considering effectiveness and safety, is methotrexate injection better than oral methotrexate? Availability Oral methotrexate is available in 2.5 mg tablets. The usual starting dose for adults with rheumatoid arthritis is 7....

Marathons and various in-person fitness challenges have taken a hit during the pandemic, not only for athletes but also for organizations that typically use these events as a fundraising tool. Key Takeaways The COVID-19 pandemic has advised against in-person gatherings. This has been a big hit to organizations that use marathons and other physical activities to raise money for their work. This year, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is hosting a virtual 31-day Team In Training Re(solution) Challenge....

HCPCS codes are numbers Medicare assigns to every task and service a healthcare provider may provide to a patient. There are codes for each medical, surgical, and diagnostic service. HCPCS stands for Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System. Since everyone uses the same codes to mean the same thing, they ensure uniformity. For example, no matter what healthcare provider a Medicare patient visits for an allergy injection (HCPCS code 95115), that practitioner will be paid by Medicare the same amount another healthcare provider in that same geographic region would be for that same service....

Biotechnology company Moderna announced on Monday that it is working on a booster vaccine to protect against the South African variant of COVID-19, known as 501Y.V2. Moderna makes one of the two COVID-19 vaccines that have been authorized for use in the U.S. Key Takeaways Moderna found that its vaccine may be less effective against the South African strain of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.The company is creating a booster shot to target the variant....

COVID-19 restrictions have been a way of life for months now, and the infection shows no sign of slowing down. As we become used to this new normal, pandemic fatigue seems to be setting in. A new study shows that both younger and older adults were more likely to engage in risky behaviors after two months of the pandemic.The November study, published in the journal PLOS One, took data from over 5,000 participants and gauged both personal and social behaviors during the pandemic....

The punch graft technique is a treatment used to improve the appearance of depressed acne scars. How Does the Punch Graft Technique Work? First, you’ll meet with the dermatologist or plastic surgeon who will be doing your procedure. There are many different ways to treat acne scars. Together, you’ll decide which scars will be treated with the procedure. Your healthcare provider will numb the entire area with a local anesthetic before the treatment, so you shouldn’t feel any pain during the procedure besides the anesthetic needle stick....