Researchers believe that the infectious agent that causes mad cow disease is an abnormal version of a protein normally found on cell surfaces, called a prion. For reasons still unknown, this protein becomes altered and destroys nervous system tissue -- the brain and spinal cord.

You may have a lot of questions about epilepsy. We will help you understand the basics, answer the most common questions, and help you find resources and other information you may need. However, information alone won’t help you manage your epilepsy and find a way to cope with the effects on your daily life. You’ll need to learn how to use the information and make it work for you.

How to pull a wisdom tooth fully impacted

an incision made on the back of the lower leg starting just above the heel bone. After the surgeon finds the two ends of the ruptured tendon, these ends are sewn together with sutures. The incision is then closed. Another repair method makes a small incision on the back of the lower leg at the site of the rupture.

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a common complication after an allogeneic transplant, a transplant in which cells from a family member, unrelated donor or cord blood unit are used. In GVHD, the immune cells from the donated marrow or cord blood (the graft) attack the body of the transplant patient (the host).

Medical Terminology

Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine that occurs most often during the growth spurt just before puberty. While scoliosis can be caused by conditions such as cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy, the cause of most scoliosis is unknown.

Warfarin is an anticoagulant medication - it is used to slow down the blood-clotting process. Anticoagulants are used to prevent blood clots which may cause vein blockages, heart attack and stroke. Warfarin is known under the brand names Warfant, Jantoven, Coumadin, Lawarin, Marevan, and Waran.

-Korsakoff's syndrome is a common and preventable sequel of Wernicke's encephalopathy. Thiamine, if given during the stage of Wernicke's encephalopathy, can prevent the onset of Korsakoff's psychosis. The administration of glucose prior to thiamine can precipitate Korsakoff's syndrome, as seen in this case. In such patients, brain MRI frequently shows abnormal enhancement of the mammillary bodies & thallamus

Holter monitoring, electrocardiogram or echocardiogram are only recommended if a cardiac cause (e.g., arrhythmias, possible cardiac syncope, myocardial ischemia) is suspected.

Herpangina is a common childhood illness caused by a virus. It is characterized by small, blister-like ulcers on the roof of the mouth and in the back of the throat. The infection may also cause a sudden fever, sore throat, headache, and neck pain.

Defibrillation is a treatment for life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmias, specifically ventricular fibrillation (VF) and non-perfusing ventricular tachycardia (VT). A defibrillator delivers a dose of electric current (often called a countershock) to the heart.

Porcelain gallbladder is a condition characterized by calcium salt deposits in the wall of a chronically inflamed gallbladder. The calcifications can be thin or faintly visible, or may be amorphous, patchy, and thick. The gallbladder is generally large, but its size can vary considerably. Most porcelain gallbladders are associated with gallstones. A plain radiograph generally detects these, but computed tomography (CT) has a higher specificity; therefore, a CT scan is performed to confirm the diagnosis. Due to their high risk of gallbladder carcinoma, all patients with porcelain gallbladder should have an elective cholecystectomy.

This is a video which discusses the Vioptix tOX system of near infrared spectroscopy for the monitoring of free tissue transfer. Having information as to the health of the microvascular anastomosis is critical to improved patient outcome and free tissue survival. With better monitoring, supplementing clinical evaluation, surgeons are able to assess the health of the free tissue better and potentially improve patient outcome. The example in this video is of a free breast reconstruction where the tOX system was used to remotely monitor the free flap. The surgeon can follow the flap real time and more importantly follow trend lines to help predict flap complications.

Orthognathic surgery presented in this video in order of appearance. 1. Advancement Genioplasty 2. Maxillary Advancement 3. Maxillary impaction 4. BSSO Mandibular Advancement 5. BSSO Mandibular Set-back 6. Maxillary Posterior Impaction

Wound-closure technologies are becoming less painful and more efficient at closing wounds

The pituitary is a small gland found inside the skull just below the brain and above the nasal passages, which are above the fleshy back part of the roof of the mouth (known as the soft palate). The pituitary sits in a tiny bony space called the sella turcica. The nerves that connect the eyes to the brain, called the optic nerves, pass close by it.

Biceps tendonitis, also called bicipital tendonitis, is inflammation in the main tendon that attaches the top of the biceps muscle to the shoulder. The most common cause is overuse from certain types of work or sports activities.

The abortion pill is a medicine called mifepristone that ends an early pregnancy.In general, it's used up to 70 days — 10 weeks — after the first day of a woman's last period. Patients over this mark can have an in-clinic abortion procedure.

Learn how LifeVac works through this training demonstration.