Medical Life

07/24/2025

(Greek for “stone baby”)
- it’s an extremely rare phenomenon in which a fetus dies during an abdominal (ectopic) pregnancy and is too large to be reabsorbed by the body. Instead, to protect the mother from infection, the body encases the dead fetus in layers of calcium, effectively mummifying it. This can remain undiagnosed for decades, often discovered incidentally during imaging for unrelated issues. In the case of a 74-year-old woman, the calcified fetus likely resulted from a pregnancy decades earlier that went unnoticed or was misdiagnosed, especially in eras or regions with limited access to prenatal care. Only a few hundred cases have ever been reported, and many women remain asymptomatic. The condition is more commonly found in postmenopausal women from developing countries, highlighting disparities in medical access and early pregnancy diagnostics.

06/21/2025

06/01/2025

Causes of parotitis
There are many reasons why a person’s parotid gland might swell, though the risk factors aren’t always clear. Parotid gland swelling may be associated with:

Mumps.
Herpes.
Epstein-Barr.
Influenza.
COVID-19.
Staph infections.
Candida or other fungal infections.
Diabetes.
Salivary gland inflammation (sialadenitis).
Salivary gland stones (sialolithiasis).
Salivary gland tumors.
Poor oral hygiene.
Dehydration.
Sjogren’s syndrome.
Sarcoidosis.
Tuberculosis.
Cystic fibrosis.
Anorexia.
Bulimia.
Certain drugs, like some antihistamines, antidepressants and antipsychotics.
HIV.
Trauma to your mouth.
Bruxism (teeth grinding or clenching).
Dental malocclusion (when your bite is “off”).
Alcohol use disorder.
Smoking or to***co use.

What virus causes parotitis?
Many different viruses can cause parotid gland swelling. But the most common is MuV — the virus that causes mumps. Other viruses include herpes, HIV, Epstein-Barr and COVID-19.

06/01/2025

Causes of Angular Cheilitis
Angular cheilitis refers to inflammation of one or both angles of the mouth. Angular cheilitis can occur due to a number of causes:

1. Infections
Many organisms can cause angular cheilitis. Common among them are candida albicans, staphylococcus aureus, and beta-hemolytic streptococci.

2. Irritation Contact Dermatitis
Approximately 22% of cases of angular cheilitis occur as result of contact dermatitis. Common irritants are saliva, dentures, UV light exposure, and irritants from cigarette smoking.

3. Nutritional Deficiency
Deficiency of nutrients like iron, B vitamins, folate, and zinc is associated with angular cheilitis.

4. Systemic Disorders
Anorexia nervosa, Sjogren syndrome, down syndrome, HIV, and diabetes are among few systemic disorders than can cause angular cheilitis.

5. Drugs
Drugs that can cause xerostomia can give rise to angular cheilitis. Common among them are: isotretinoin, indinavir, and sorafenib. Co***ne, hallucinogens, he**in, and methamphetamine can cause angular cheilitis.

05/27/2025

Sleeve gastrectomy

A surgical weight loss procedure!
This is the portion of the stomach that was removed during a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, a type of bariatric (surgical weight loss) procedure.

About 75% of the stomach was removed by a surgical resection of a large portion of the stomach along the greater curvature, leaving a narrow gastric "tube" or "sleeve".
No intestines are removed or bypassed during the sleeve gastrectomy.

The basic principle behind that procedure is that it greatly reduces the size of your stomach and limits the amount of food that can be eaten at one time. It does not cause decreased absorption of nutrients or bypass your intestines and after eating a small amount of food, you will feel full very quickly and continue to feel full for several hours.

04/18/2025

1. Nuchal Cord and Its Impact on Labor

A nuchal cord occurs when the umbilical cord wraps around a baby's neck. While it can sometimes be loose and harmless, in cases where the cord is tightly wrapped, it can lead to complications such as:

Reduced oxygen supply to the baby

Restricted movement and difficulty descending through the birth canal

Delayed or stalled labor, increasing the risk of distress for both mother and baby

In situations where labor isn't progressing due to a tight nuchal cord, doctors may recommend a cesarean section to ensure the baby is delivered safely.

2. The Risks of Avoiding Medical Help
Our warning against running away from the hospital, seeking unproven alternatives, or giving birth in unsafe conditions is rooted in real dangers:

A tightly wrapped cord can cause the baby’s oxygen supply to be cut off, leading to stillbirth.

Without medical professionals available to act quickly, complications can result in long-term injury or death for the mother or baby.

Some parents may refuse lifesaving interventions due to fear or mistrust, but this decision often leads to tragic consequences.

3. Trusting Trained Professionals
You’re making an important point: Doctors study for years to understand complications like this and know how to respond. While fears and concerns are valid, childbirth is unpredictable, and trusting medical expertise can save lives. If a mother feels her doctor isn’t listening or providing adequate care, she shouldn’t reject medical assistance altogether—she should seek another qualified professional instead.

4. The Core Message: Lives Are Worth Saving
our final statement, “You are worth saving. And your life is worth living,” reinforces the idea that every mother and baby deserve safe, skilled, and reliable care. It’s a call for people to prioritize safety over fear, misinformation, or distrust.

04/16/2025

Palpitations after Dinner
A 76-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension presented with a 1-month history of palpitations that occurred only after she had eaten dinner. The sensation was felt at the center of the chest and lasted for 10 to 15 minutes after the meal. An electrocardiogram was unremarkable. A chest radiograph (Panel A) showed a mediastinal shadow (white arrowheads) lateral to the left heart border (black arrowheads). Computed tomography of the chest revealed a left diaphragmatic hernia (Panel B), with the stomach positioned in the thorax (Panel C, coronal view), abutting the left ventricle (Panel D, axial view, arrowheads). The stomach was visibly twisted, a finding consistent with a gastric volvulus. Gastric endoscopy revealed a volvulus, with twisting of the mucosa. After surgical repair of the hernia and volvulus, the palpitations resolved, and at follow-up more than 1 year after surgery, the patient remained free of symptoms.

04/16/2025

Saber Tibia in Paget's Disease of Bone
A 57-year-old man presented with long-standing, painful deformation of the right tibia. He reported increased volume of the right leg since late adolescence and three low-impact fractures in the fourth decade of life. He was treated 15 years before presentation with calcitonin for 6 months, without symptomatic relief. Physical examination revealed a prominent saber-like tibia and superficial venous circulation related to chronic venous insufficiency (Panel A). Radiographs showed cortical thickening, trabecular enlargement, and bowing of the tibia (Panel B shows the anteroposterior view and Panel C the lateral view). Levels of bone turnover markers were increased, including an alkaline phosphatase level of 345 U per liter (normal range, 45 to 129), an N-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (P1NP) level of 506.3 ng per milliliter (normal value,

04/16/2025

Most commonly used Abbreviations