3rd Quarter 2022 - 2022-09-15

Approach to adult patient with Anaemia

Anaemia is defined as a reduction in one or more of the red blood cell indices of Hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, Hematocrit, and Red blood cell (RBC) count. However, Hemoglobin concentration is the most widely used parameter.

3rd Quarter 2022 - 2022-09-15

Natriuretic peptides in patients with heart failure

Cleavage of the prohormone proBNP (B-type natriuretic peptide) produces biologically active 32 amino acid BNP and biologically inert 76 amino acid N-terminal pro-BNP (NT-proBNP). Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is a hormone that is released from myocardial cells in the atria, and in some cases the ventricles in response to volume expansion.

3rd Quarter 2022 - 2022-09-15

What is creatinine?

Creatinine is a waste product of the body that comes from the breakdown of muscle creatine. It is eliminated in the urine by filtration in the kidneys. When the kidneys' ability to eliminate waste decreases, the amount of creatinine increases in the blood. Its dosage in the blood, therefore, depends on kidney function but also on muscle mass.

3rd Quarter 2022 - 2022-09-15

High blood pressure

Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps blood through them. The narrower an artery, the greater the force needed to push the blood through it. Blood pressure is measured with a cuff your health care worker places around your arm.

3rd Quarter 2022 - 2022-08-30

HIV Testing

HIV-1/2 is diagnosed either by detecting HIV- specific antibodies or the virus itself. In individuals >18 months old the detection of HIV-specific antibodies remains the recommended method for routine diagnosis.

3rd Quarter 2022 - 2022-08-10

Pollen allergy: causes and symptoms

Respiratory allergies affect many people, especially allergic rhinitis which alone affects about 25% of adults. The symptoms vary and are most often non-specific to the allergy.

3rd Quarter 2022 - 2022-08-10

Understand Allergies Better

Allergy is related to the development of an inappropriate reaction of the body to contact with an allergen. This reaction develops in a context that brings together a set of family and environmental factors. It results in the appearance of a wide variety of symptoms that evolve over the course of a lifetime and can affect several organs.

3rd Quarter 2022 - 2022-07-18

Interpretation of COVID-19 RT PCR Positive & Negative Results on Sequential Samples

RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 is a diagnostic test designed for detecting the virus in respiratory samples of symptomatic individuals.

• It is therefore very specifc, so positive results are real sensitivity however is lower and false negative results may occur in up to 20% of swabs done, especially in mild or asymptomatically infected individuals.
• Referring doctors and patients usually have difficulty in interpreting these results, particularly when performed sequentially on patients, resulting in negative/positive or positive/negative discordances.

3rd Quarter 2022 - 2022-07-18

Drug Testing

This guide serves to inform you of the different types of Drug tests available, what type of test to choose, and under which circumstances. Drugs can be divided into legally prescribed drugs like: Benzodiazepines (E.g. Valium), Opiates and other Analgesics, and Illicit drugs like: Amphetamines, Vocaine and Marijuana. Prescription drugs are often abused and can also be obtained illicitly. Individuals who are abusing drugs display clinical signs that are associated with the drug of abuse.

3rd Quarter 2022 - 2022-07-18

Monkeypox

Monkeypox virus is an enveloped double-strain DNA virus of the Poxviridae family. Orthopoxvirus genus. There are 2 distinct genetic clades, called the Central Africa and West African clades, depending on where they are originally described. The Central African clade causes more severe diseases. Various animal species are the natural hosts of this virus, mainly rodents, tree squirrels and some non-human primates.