What is Systemic Scleroderma? Systemic scleroderma (SSc) is a rare autoimmune disease, which mainly influences middle-aged patients, its morbidity rate varies in different countries at 100-300/1,000,000. With the main characteristics of vascular endothelial impairment and diffuse fibrosis, SSc mainly affects the skin and lung tissues, as well as the function of the heart and digestive […]
Author Archives: Francisco Fernandez, MD
What is Glaucoma? Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, the health of which is vital for good vision. This damage is often caused by an abnormally high pressure in your eye. Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness for people over the age of 60. It can […]
People who have survived COVID-19 frequently complain of cognitive dysfunction, which has been described as brain fog. The prevalence of post-COVID-19 cognitive impairment and the association with disease severity are not well characterized. The COVID pandemic has now claimed as many American lives as World War I, the Vietnam War, and the Korean War combined. […]
What is Hypoxic-ischemic Encephalopathy? Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a serious birth complication affecting full term infants: 40%–60% of affected infants die by 2 years of age or have severe disabilities. It occurs in 1.5 -2.5 per 1000 live births in developed countries. The majority of the underlying pathologic events of HIE are a result […]
A new study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention by researchers from the Cleveland Clinic showed for the first time that diet-associated molecules in the gut are associated with aggressive prostate cancer, suggesting dietary interventions may help reduce the risk. Prostate Cancer Prostate cancer is cancer that occurs in the prostate. The […]
Alzheimer’s disease has no known cure. Studies suggest that this is because the neurodegenerative condition results from complex interactions between several genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors. Consequently, this has led to challenges in developing a single drug to treat every case of Alzheimer’s disease. New Study Testing APOE4 A recently published study suggests that the […]
What is Lupus? Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disease that is characterized by autoantibodies with immune complex deposition leading to multiorgan injury. Is a disease that occurs when your body’s immune system attacks your own tissues and organs (autoimmune disease). Inflammation caused by lupus can affect many different body systems, including your […]
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder essentially triggered by the activation of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) which in turn triggers a series of inflammatory reactions leading to the disease process. It is a chronic inflammatory disorder that can affect more than just the joints. In some people, the condition can damage a wide variety of […]
What is Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis? Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare neurological disease that primarily affects the nerve cells (neurons) responsible for controlling voluntary muscle movement (those muscles we choose to move). Voluntary muscles produce movements like chewing, walking and talking. The disease is progressive, meaning the symptoms get worse over time. Currently, there […]
What is IBD? Inflammatory bowel disease is an umbrella term used to describe disorders that involve chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. There are 2 main types: Crohn’s disease, which can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract, and ulcerative colitis, which only affects the large intestine (colon) and rectum. In 2015, an estimated 3.1 […]