Rare Disease Hyperlipidemia

Rare Disease Hyperlipidemia

You call it high cholesterol. Your doctor refers to it as hyperlipidemia. Regardless, it's a common issue.

The term refers to a group of disorders that cause excess fats, or lipids, in your blood. You can influence some of the causes, but not all of them.
Hyperlipidemia can be treated, but it is often a chronic condition. You'll need to watch your diet and exercise regularly.You may also need to take a prescribed medication. The goal is to reduce harmful cholesterol levels. This lowers your risk of heart disease, heart attack, stroke, and other problems.
Causes
Cholesterol, a waxy substance, is a type of fat that your body produces. It can also result from what you eat.
Foods containing cholesterol, saturated fat, and trans fats can raise your blood cholesterol levels. These include cheese and egg yolks.
• Fried and processed food.
• Ice cream • Pastries • Red meat.

Symptoms & Risks
Most people suffering from hyperlipidemia are unaware of their condition at first. It's not something you can feel, but you'll notice the effects eventually. Cholesterol, along with triglycerides and other fats, can accumulate inside your arteries. This narrows the blood vessels, making it more difficult for blood to pass through. Your blood pressure could increase. The buildup can also result in a blood clot. A heart attack occurs when a blood clot breaks off and travels to the heart. If it travels to your brain, it can result in a stroke.

How Is It Diagnosed?
Your doctor should regularly monitor your lipid levels.
It requires a blood test called a lipoprotein panel. The findings reveal the levels of:
LDL cholesterol is the "bad" cholesterol that builds up in your arteries.
HDL cholesterol is the "good" cholesterol that reduces your risk of heart disease.
Triglycerides are another type of fat in your bloodstream.
Total cholesterol: The sum of the other three numbers.
Total cholesterol levels of 200 mg/dL or higher are outside of the normal range. Your doctor will consider factors such as your age, smoking status, and whether a close family member has heart problems when determining whether your specific test numbers are high and what to do about them.

Treatment
A healthy diet, weight loss, and exercise are all examples of lifestyle changes that can help lower cholesterol. To avoid trans fats, choose foods with low amounts.
• Consume fiber-rich foods like oatmeal, apples, bananas, pears, prunes, kidney beans, chickpeas, lentils and lima beans. • Eat fish twice a week.
Limit your alcohol consumption, too. That means a maximum of one drink per day for women and two for men.
Improve your exercise habits. On most days of the week, aim for 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity, such as a brisk walk.
You don't have to do everything at once. Even just 10 to 15 minutes can make a difference.

Medications
Some people may find that making dietary and lifestyle changes is sufficient to lower their cholesterol levels. Other people may require more assistance.
Statins are drugs that inhibit your liver's ability to produce cholesterol. They are a popular choice for lowering cholesterol levels in the blood.
Nicotinic acid also influences how your liver produces fat. It lowers LDL cholesterol and triglycerides while increasing HDL cholesterol. Fibrates are another type of drug that affects your liver. They lower triglycerides and may increase HDL, but they are less effective at lowering LDL.
A newer type of drug prevents ingested cholesterol from being absorbed by your intestine. The drug is known as a selective cholesterol absorption inhibitor.
Dietary factors that affect lipid levels include nutritional component modification, specific food consumption, the use of food additives and supplements, and major dietary approaches.
The most beneficial changes come from reducing saturated and trans fats, increasing polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, fortifying foods with plant stanols or sterols, isocalorically adding tree nuts to the diet, consuming one or two alcoholic drinks per day, and following a Portfolio, Mediterranean, low-carbohydrate, or low-fat diet. Reducing dietary cholesterol, increasing soluble fibre and soy protein consumption, and eating fatty marine fish or taking marine-derived omega-3 fatty acid supplements all have smaller but still beneficial effects. Red yeast rice supplements have similar effects to statin medications and are more well tolerated in some patients.
Regular aerobic exercise has a positive effect on lipid levels, especially if done for at least 120 minutes per week.
Brief physician counselling will have little effect on unselected patients, so efforts should be focused on those who are motivated and willing to make lifestyle changes.
Hyperlipidemia is a major risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. For the past decade, the National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) has recommended nonpharmacologic treatment as the first line of treatment for the majority of hyperlipidemia patients.1 The Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) approach was based on a 1999 panel review of the available evidence, which concluded that diet and exercise can improve serum levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides.
The TLC diet recommends getting 25 to 35 percent of your daily calories from fats, limiting saturated fats to less than 7% of total calories, and keeping cholesterol to less than 200 mg per day.
However, physicians and patients are frequently unaware of how much change in blood lipid levels can be expected when the TLC diet is prescribed, and they wonder which lifestyle changes have the greatest impact. This article aims to shed light on these questions by reviewing recent literature that was not available at the time of the ATPIII analysis. Because of the volume of published evidence in these areas, we will focus on meta-analyses, structured reviews, and randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that report findings on serum lipid levels.

When Your Heart Rhythm Isn't Normal

When Your Heart Rhythm Isn't Normal

"Arrhythmia" means that your heartbeat is irregular. It does not necessarily indicate that your heart is beating too quickly or too slowly. It simply means that it is out of its normal rhythm.

It may feel as if your heart has skipped a beat, added a beat, is "fluttering," or is beating too fast (tachycardia) or too slowly (bradycardia). Alternatively, you may not notice anything because some arrhythmias are "silent." Arrhythmias can be life-threatening or completely harmless. If you notice anything unusual about your heartbeat, call 911 so that doctors can determine why it is happening and what you should do about it.
Even if your heart is healthy, you may experience an arrhythmia. Alternatively, it could happen because you have:
The incorrect balance of electrolytes (such as sodium or potassium) in your blood.
Changes in the heart muscle
Injuries from heart attacks
Healing process following heart surgery.
There are numerous types of arrhythmias, including:
Premature atrial contractions are early extra beats that originate in the heart's upper chambers, known as the atria. They are typically harmless and do not require treatment.Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are some of the most common arrhythmias.
They are the "skipped heartbeats" that we all experience from time to time. These symptoms may be caused by stress, excessive caffeine, or nicotine use. However, PVCs can be caused by heart disease or an electrolyte imbalance.
 If you have a lot of PVCs or symptoms related to them, consult a cardiologist.
Atrial fibrillation is a common irregular heart rhythm in which the upper chambers of the heart contract abnormally.
Atrial flutter- This arrhythmia is typically more organised and consistent than atrial fibrillation. It occurs most frequently in people with heart disease and in the first week after heart surgery. It often progresses to atrial fibrillation.
Accessory pathway tachycardias- A rapid heart rate can occur due to an extra pathway connecting the upper and lower chambers of the heart. It's as if there was an extra road on your way home, in addition to your usual route, so cars could move around faster. When this occurs in your heart, it can cause a rapid heartbeat known as tachycardia. The impulses that control your heart rhythm travel quickly around the heart, causing it to beat unusually fast.
To diagnose an arrhythmia or determine its cause, doctors use tests such as:
Electrocardiogram - Also known as an EKG or ECG, this test measures the electrical activity of your heart. You wear small electrode patches on your chest, arms, and legs for the quick, painless test, which is performed in your doctor's office.
Holter monitor - This is a portable EKG that will be used for one to two days.
You will have electrodes taped to your skin. It is painless, and you can do everything except shower while wearing the electrodes.
If your symptoms do not occur frequently, your doctor may recommend that you wear an event monitor for about a month. This is a device that, when you press a button, records and saves your heart's electrical activity for several minutes. When you notice symptoms, try to take a reading on the monitor. Your doctor will interpret the results.
There are several types of stress tests. The goal is to determine how much stress your heart can tolerate before experiencing a heart rhythm problem or insufficient blood flow to the heart. The most common stress test involves walking on a treadmill or pedalling a stationary bike at increasing difficulty while receiving an EKG and monitoring your heart rate and blood pressure.

Echocardiogram - This test uses ultrasound to evaluate the heart muscle and valves.

Cardiac catheterization involves inserting a long, thin tube, known as a catheter, into a blood vessel in your arm or leg. Using a special X-ray machine, she will guide it to your heart. Then she will inject dye through the catheter to aid in the creation of X-ray images of your heart's valves, coronary arteries, and chambers.
Electrophysiology study - This test measures your heart's electrical activity and pathways. It can identify the root cause of heart rhythm issues and recommend appropriate treatment options. During the test, your doctor will safely reproduce your abnormal heart rhythm and may administer various medications to determine which one best controls it or what procedure or device is required to treat it.

Head-up tilt table test - Doctors use this test to determine what is causing fainting. It measures the difference in heart rate and blood pressure when you stand or lie down. You will take this test in a laboratory. During an EKG, you will lie on a stretcher tilted at various angles while specialists check your blood pressure and oxygen level. This determines whether the symptoms of passing out are caused by the electrical, nervous, or vascular systems.

Treatment of arrhythmias
If drugs cannot control a persistent irregular heart rhythm (such as atrial fibrillation), you may require cardioversion. Doctors will administer a short-acting anaesthetic and then deliver an electrical shock to your chest wall to allow the normal rhythm to resume.
A pacemaker device sends small electrical impulses to the heart muscle to maintain a stable heart rate. The pacemaker consists of a pulse generator (which houses the battery and a small computer) and wires that transmit impulses from the pulse generator to the heart muscle.
ICDs are primarily used by doctors to treat two potentially fatal heart rhythms: ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation.

Breast Cancer Drug Found Effective Nearly Six Years After Treatment

 Breast Cancer Drug Found Effective Nearly Six Years After Treatment

According to new research, nearly six years after discontinuing a five-year regimen of the breast cancer drug anastrozole, women at high risk for breast cancer were 50% less likely to develop the disease.

More than 3,800 postmenopausal women with a high risk of breast cancer participated in the trial. High-risk factors included having two or more blood relatives with breast cancer, having a mother or sister who developed breast cancer before age 50, and having breast cancer in both breasts.
Approximately half of the participants were randomly assigned to take the aromatase inhibitor anastrozole...Arimidex... for five years, while the other half received a placebo.
One breast cancer expert who was not involved in the study explained that drugs such as anastrozole are used to prevent breast cancer from recurring.
"One of the most important parts of my job as a breast programme director is running our' high risk clinic, and the most common question that I get from our patients is 'What else can I do to prevent breast cancer?'" said Dr. Alice Police, who directs breast surgery at the Northwell Health Cancer Institute in Sleepy Hollow, New York.
"Aside from lifestyle interventions, such as diet and exercise, and prophylactic surgery, there are medications that we know can reduce the future risk of breast cancer in this group by 50 percent or more," according to her."Tamoxifen is the drug that has historically been used for this purpose and this study looks at the drug anastrozole as an alternative."
The new findings were scheduled to be presented Thursday at the annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium and published simultaneously in The Lancet.
According to study author Jack Cuzick, the study "was designed to investigate whether five years of anastrozole can safely and effectively prevent breast cancer in postmenopausal women who are at high risk for the disease."
In 2013, the research team "reported that in the first seven years of follow-up, anastrozole significantly reduced breast cancer incidence compared to placebo, and that it did so with very few side effects," Cuzick stated in a symposium news release.
"Our new data show that after a median of 10.9 years of follow-up, there continues to be a significant reduction in breast cancer incidence," Cuzick said in a statement. He directs the Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, leads the Centre for Cancer Prevention, and is the John Snow Professor of Epidemiology at Queen Mary University of London.
Hair straighteners and dyes are linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.
"It is exciting to see that anastrozole has a continued impact on breast cancer incidence even after stopping treatment, as this strengthens the case for its use as a breast cancer prevention therapy," she said.
"Another way to consider the data is that it translates into anestimated 29 women needing to be treated with anastrozole for five years to prevent one breast cancer during treatment and in the next five years," he said.
"This is far fewer women than the estimated 49 women that need to be treated with tamoxifen for five years to prevent one breast cancer in the same time period," he went on to say.

Cuzick observed that anastrozole has preventive benefits for oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancer and ductal carcinoma in situ, but not for oestrogen receptor-negative breast cancer.
Anastrozole targets the oestrogen pathway.
Astrazeneca funded the study, and Cuzick, the study's co-chair, consults for Myriad Genetics.Police described the new findings as "exciting and important."
"Even after stopping the drug, the protection continued for atleast five more years for most types of breast cancer," she said. "I now have an even better answer for the question 'What else can I do?'"
Dr. Lauren Cassell is the chief of breast surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. After reviewing the findings, she agreed that the data was "extremely exciting news" for patients.

"We have known that tamoxifen can decrease a woman's risk of developing breast cancer, which actually persists longer than the five years that it was taken," Cassell said. However, "we did not have the same data for anastrozole."According to Cassell, both tamoxifen and anastrozole have advantages and disadvantages.
"Anastrozole does not carry an increased risk for uterine cancer or blood clots, which we find with tamoxifen," she went on to explain, "but many patients complain of significant joint pains [with anastrozole], which causes them to discontinue the medication."
So far, it is unclear whether anastrozole reduces the risk of breast cancer death, so the researchers intend to continue following the study participants to answer that question.

Testosterone Deficiency In Men

Testosterone Deficiency In Men

Testosterone is the primary androgen synthesised and secreted by the testes' Leydig cells in response to the pituitary gland's lutenising hormone (LH). The hormone is controlled by a negative feedback system that includes the pituitary gland and hypothalamus.

The testes produce 5-7mg of testosterone per day, which is converted to the active form, dihydrotestosterone, when it exits the bloodstream and enters target cells.
Approximately 60% of testosterone is bound to the sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), with the remaining 38% bound by albumin and other proteins. Only about 2% of the testosterone in circulation is free and bioactive.

Normal young men have a circadian rhythm of testosterone release; levels peak around 8 a.m. and drop in the late afternoon/early evening.
After the age of 40, men's testosterone levels gradually but steadily decline by 1-2% each year.
Because SHBG levels rise with age, the level of free, bioactive testosterone declines faster than the level of total testosterone. In elderly men, the circadian rhythm is lost.

Signs and Symptoms
Most men with low testosterone levels are asymptomatic. Men with low testosterone levels may suffer from hypogonadism, which can lead to decreased sex drive and erectile dysfunction.
They may experience a general lack of well-being, depression or anxiety, and difficulty concentrating. They may also notice a reduction in body hair and the need to shave less frequently.
They may also notice an increase in weight as body fat increases and muscle mass decreases. Some men will experience an increase in breast tissue (gynaecomastia).
These symptoms may go unreported because they appear gradually and are accompanied by feelings of embarrassment.

Other manifestations that may not be immediately apparent unless tested for include changes in cholesterol and lipid levels, a decrease in bone mineral density, which leads to osteoporosis and an increased fracture risk, and a decrease in haemoglobin and possible anaemia.

Causes of Low testosterone
Hypogonadism is the clinical condition requiring testosterone replacement, but it is not the most common cause of low testosterone levels. Hypogonadism can be categorised as primary or secondary.
Primary hypogonadism is distinguished by gonad abnormalities, anorchia, or disturbances in testicular function such as undescended testes, testicular inflammation, testicular torsion, or irradiation, in which case luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels are typically elevated. Secondary hypogonadism is caused by insufficient pituitary gonadotrophin (LH/FSH) production, which can be due to pituitary gland failure or hypothalamic defects; such patients may have normal or low LH and FSH levels.

Older men may be diagnosed with "late-onset hypogonadism" (LOH). The condition has been described as "a clinical and biochemical syndrome associated with advancing age and characterised by symptoms and a deficiency in serum testosterone levels" .
Illness and medications
It's important to remember that illness is the most common cause of low testosterone levels. Measurement of testosterone should be avoided during an acute illness, and interpreting a low testosterone level in those with chronic illnesses is difficult.

Before consulting an endocrinologist for diagnosis and treatment, a low testosterone level should be detected on at least two occasions, with samples taken at least four weeks apart.
Many men with type 2 diabetes have low testosterone as a result of their condition; keep this in mind when reviewing their testosterone levels.
Some medications (e.g., opiates, corticosteroids) will also lower testosterone levels, so it is critical to obtain an accurate history from your patient and review their medical records.
Men who use anabolic steroids, as well as those who smoke marijuana or abuse cocaine and methamphetamines, will have lower testosterone levels.

Testosterone levels can be low in shift workers due to a lack of sleep.
Low testosterone is caused by high levels of serum prolactin. High prolactin levels can be caused by hypothyroidism, secretion from a pituitary tumour (prolactinonma), or a variety of medications such as opiates, antipsychotics, antidepressants, and domperidone. Such patients may present with gynecomastia.
This is difficult to quantify accurately because there is no internationally agreed-upon definition of hypogonadism.Men with low testosterone levels may be asymptomatic, so measuring testosterone levels is not the same as measuring symptoms of hypogonadism.

According to the European Male Ageing Study, if testosterone falls below the limit of the reference range for normal young men (-10 nmol/L), the prevalence of biochemical hypogonadism is 23.3% in men aged 40 to 79.
There is no evidence that the prevalence of hypogonadism varies by race or ethnic group.

Diagnosis
This necessitates the demonstration of low testosterone in symptomatic patients.The key symptoms are most closely associated with testosterone levels. Symptoms that provide a less compelling reason to suspect hypogonadism include decreased muscle mass/strength, decreased body hair, osteoporosis gynecomastia, lushing and sweating, simple fatigue, a lack of energy, and depression.

Measuring testosterone
Due to the circadian rhythm of testosterone production, it is critical to obtain a blood sample early in the morning, preferably before 11 a.m.
In shift workers, however, a sample taken before 11 a.m. is invalid.Instead, samples should be collected within four hours of waking.
As previously stated, testosterone levels should be measured on at least two separate occasions, at least a month apart, before beginning any treatment.
Abnormal testosterone results should prompt a request for additional pituitary function tests, including LH, FSH, and prolactin.
Changes in the concentrations of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and albumin will affect total testosterone levels.
For example, SHBG increases significantly with age and testosterone deficiency but decreases with obesity and type 2 diabetes, so total testosterone levels can be misleading.

New Birth Control Pill Provide Contraception For A Month

 New Birth Control Pill Provide Contraception For A Month

Researchers estimate that 9% of women in the United States who use the birth control pill become pregnant each year.

To be effective, an oral contraceptive must be taken on a daily basis, preferably at the same time of day.
This consistency can be difficult to maintain, which may make this method of birth control less appealing.
Now, a study published in Science Translational Medicine offers a new option: a birth control pill that only needs to be taken once per month.
The researchers explain that the new monthly pill gradually releases the common contraceptive drug levonorgestrel over a four-week period.

An unintended pregnancy can be a life-altering event for anyone.
In the developing world, as elsewhere, it can prevent a woman from supporting herself and her family, as well as pursuing educational opportunities.
Taking a pill once a month is more convenient than taking one every day. New research introduces and tests a monthly pill in pigs.
A new study introduces a monthly birth control pill.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that 214 million Trusted Source women of reproductive age who want to avoid pregnancy do not use modern contraception methods.
Some believe that the inconvenience of using oral contraception on a daily basis is contributing to the problem. The authors of the new study believe that a monthly pill will be more appealing.

According to co-lead author Ameya Kirtane, Ph.D. of The Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, developing a monthly contraceptive drug has the potential to significantly improve global health. Oral contraceptives have a significant impact on human health and gender equality. Furthermore, the new system may be capable of delivering more than just contraceptives.
Prof. Robert Langer of MIT, a co-senior author, hopes that this study, the first of its kind, will pave the way for new treatment options for women's health and other conditions.

The study's other senior author is Giovanni Traverso, Ph.D., a gastroenterologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. Tiffany Hua, a former technical associate at MIT, serves as the other lead author.
The monthly contraceptive pill consists of six rigid arms, each containing multiple doses of levonorgestrel.
The arms are made of carefully selected polymer materials that take approximately 4 weeks to degrade in the presence of stomach acid.
The polymer arms gradually release the contraceptive into the stomach and bloodstream over the course of a month.
A rubbery hub in the centre of the pill allows the gelatin-coated, star-shaped structure to be folded and inserted into a swallowable capsule.

When stomach acid digests the gelatin, the star unfolds, expanding to a size that allows it to remain in the stomach and deliver its medicine without passing through the digestive system.
The researchers are still testing conditions that would cause the arms to break off, such as changes in pH or temperature, as well as exposure to specific chemicals.
Testing the new pill on pigs
Tests on this pill have yielded promising results in pigs.
According to the authors, the contraceptive was released at a consistent rate over about 28 days, and the amount of the drug detectable in the pigs' bloodstreams was roughly equivalent to that of a human taking daily levonorgestrel pills.

While the drug level from a daily tablet decreases over 24 hours, the level produced by the new pill remains constant for nearly a month.

Arthritis Symptoms Can Be Vague And Confusing

Arthritis Symptoms Can Be Vague And Confusing

Arthritis symptoms can be ambiguous and difficult to identify, but they must be recognised. Joint pain, stiffness, tenderness, and swelling may be caused by an injury, but if they persist, a doctor should be consulted to determine whether arthritis is the cause. There are numerous types of arthritis, and the severity and location of the affected joints vary. While most types of arthritis share certain symptoms, it is the differences that set them apart.

Frequent Symptoms
These symptoms occur in most types of arthritis and rheumatic diseases and are the most commonly seen at onset:
Joint pain, joint stiffness, tenderness in and around the joint joint counts), joint swelling, restricted range of motion in one or more affected joints, redness and warmth around the affected joints, Fever, fatigue, malaise. Lumps and bumps (nodules, nodes).
Symptoms will vary according to the type of arthritis and rheumatic disease.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune, inflammatory form of arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis primarily affects the joints, but it can also have systemic effects.
Other symptoms and characteristics of RA are:
Morning stiffness lasts more than an hour.
involvement of the small bones of the hands and feet.
Extreme fatigue
Rheumatoid nodules.
Symmetrical joint involvement (for example, both knees are affected rather than just one).

Rheumatic Arthritis Symptoms
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) primarily affects joints, with no systemic effects. The most common symptom of osteoarthritis is pain in the affected joint(s) after repeated use, which usually worsens later in the day. After extended periods of inactivity, the affected joints may swell, feel warm, and stiffen. Osteoarthritis can occur alongside other types of arthritis. Bone spurs and enlargements are also signs of osteoarthritis.

Common Osteoarthritis Symptoms:
Psoriatic Arthritis.
Psoriatic arthritis is a type of arthritis that is linked to psoriasis (a skin condition marked by red, patchy, raised, or scaly areas) and chronic joint pain. Psoriasis symptoms and joint inflammation frequently appear separately.
The symptoms of psoriatic arthritis differ in how they appear (symmetrical or asymmetrical pattern) and which joints are affected; it can affect any joint in the body. 4 When psoriasis causes pitting and thickened or discoloured fingernails, the joints near the fingertips are more likely to develop arthritis.

Symptoms of psoriatic arthritis
Ankylosing Spondylitis.
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is commonly associated with inflammation of the spine and sacroiliac joints. The first symptoms are usually chronic pain and stiffness in the lower back and hips. Typical ankylosing spondylitis pain in the back worsens with rest or inactivity. 5 As pain and stiffness progress up the spine and into the neck, possibly including the rib cage area, bones may fuse.

Symptoms of Ankylosing Spondylitis include lupus, 
which can affect joints, the nervous system, skin, kidneys, lungs, heart, and other organs. Lupus can be difficult to diagnose because it can mimic other forms of arthritis and rheumatic diseases.
Lupus is distinguished by a butterfly-shaped rash that appears on the cheeks and bridge of the nose (malar rash).6

Symptoms of Lupus: Gout.
Gout is considered one of the most painful forms of arthritis. It is characterised by the sudden onset of severe pain, tenderness, warmth, redness, and swelling caused by joint inflammation. Gout typically affects a single joint, most commonly the big toe, but it can also affect the knee, ankle, foot, hand, wrist, or elbow.7
Gout can affect the shoulders, hips, and spine, but only in rare cases. The first gout attack usually happens at night.

Symptoms Of Gout
Aside from the symptoms commonly associated with various rheumatic conditions, some present with less common ones.

Ankylosing Spondylitis.
AS can occasionally affect the heart, lung, or kidney.8 Heart failure and conduction defects may occur. Lung problems can result from limited movement of the chest wall and spine, as well as lung fibrosis. Kidney problems, such as IgA nephropathy, may also occur. Some of these issues could be life-threatening.

Psoriatic Arthritis.
Arthritis mutilans, which is painful and destructive, accounts for 5% of all psoriatic arthritis cases.4 Enthesitis (inflammation of the tendons and ligaments that attach to bone) develops, and phalangeal (finger) bones resorb.

Lupus
Lupus has a wide range of common symptoms, making it a difficult condition to diagnose, which frequently requires ruling out other diseases. Lupus's less common symptoms include dizziness, depression, confusion, seizures, and complications/sub-group indications. The complications of arthritis differ according to the type of arthritis.

Juvenile arthritis
One of the types of arthritis affects approximately one in every thousand children under the age of sixteen. The symptoms are similar to the adult symptoms observed for each type.
Inflammation and corticosteroid treatment can hinder bone formation, leading to concerns about bone loss. This can result in early osteoporosis or bone fractures.9

Osteoarthritis
Being overweight increases your risk of developing osteoarthritis in both your weight-bearing joints and your hands. Losing extra weight can be beneficial.
Osteoarthritis is prevalent in older adults, earning the nickname "wear-and-tear" arthritis. Painful joints can limit physical activity, make it difficult to perform basic daily tasks, and prevent you from sleeping well.

Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis can destroy joints, causing deformities in the fingers and wrist. Complications can occur in various organ systems, such as rheumatoid nodules, Sjogren's syndrome, pericarditis, vasculitis, pleuritis, COPD, and scleritis. Obesity and smoking can worsen the lung and heart complications of rheumatoid arthritis.11 Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death from this condition.
Women with rheumatoid arthritis have a more difficult time conceiving. It is recommended that the condition be well-managed for three to six months before attempting to become pregnant. Methotrexate must be discontinued at least three months before pregnancy to reduce the risk of birth defects.

Genetic Test May Reveal Stroke Risk At Birth

 Genetic Test May Reveal Stroke Risk At Birth

Can genetics help predict a person's risk of a stroke from birth?

An international team of researchers believes so. They have created a genetic risk score based on results from a simple blood or saliva test, which they claim can identify people at high risk for ischemic stroke, one of the leading causes of disability and death worldwide.
The researchers' findings were published on Friday in the journal Nature Communications.
"For common diseases, such as stroke, it is clear that genetics is not destiny," co-author Michael Inouye of the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute and the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom said in a statement. "However, each person has a unique innate risk for any given disease.
The challenge now is to integrate risk information into clinical practice to improve public health and longevity.Stroke is the second leading cause of death and disability worldwide, with approximately 80% of strokes being "ischemic" - that is, caused by a blockage of an artery that supplies blood to the brain. Genetic and environmental factors influence a person's risk of having an ischemic stroke, and those with high blood pressure or diabetes are more susceptible.
In the new study, the researchers used machine learning to combine stroke-related genetic data from various sources into a single genetic risk score. The researchers evaluated the new risk score using genetic data from over 400,000 people in the UK Biobank, a patient data collection for research purposes.
The authors discovered that their new score outperformed previously tested rating systems while performing similarly to other well-known risk factors for stroke, such as smoking status or body mass index. Most notably, the new genetic risk score outperformed family history in predicting future ischemic stroke, detecting approximately one in every 400 individuals who are three times more likely to develop the condition.
The authors suggest that genomic risk prediction for ischemic stroke, based on an individual's unique DNA sequence, outperforms established risk factors. Because it can be used to predict risk at birth, co-author Martin Dichgans, Director of the Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research at Ludwig-Maximilians University Hospital in Munich, believes it may enable the implementation of preventive strategies before individuals develop conventional risk factors such as high blood pressure.
The study's findings also suggest that current clinical guidelines may be ineffective for people with a high genetic risk of stroke, and that these people may require more intensive interventions, the authors wrote.

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Rare Disease Hyperlipidemia

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