Medical dictionary

What are biomarkers?   In medicine, biomarkers are biological substances that provide a measurable indicator of: The disease or condition someone has How the body is responding to a treatment, including medication The chances of developing a condition or responding to treatment in the future     Biomarkers are fundamental in all areas of medicine. Some

What is a biopsy?A biopsy is the removal of tissue from an area of the body. There are different types of biopsies:Percutaneous puncture biopsy – tissue is removed with a very fine needle. The specialist is guided by an x-ray or CT scanOpen biopsy – this is carried out during surgery in which local or general anaesthesia is used.Laparoscopic biopsy - very small incisions are made and then, using a

What is bipolar disorder?Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition, in which the patient experiences both episodes of elation, high energy, or high productivity (mania), and episodes of feeling down or depressed, and, in some cases, episodes with symptoms of both. It used to be known as “manic-depression”, due to this duality.The highs and lows can both last for weeks in extreme case

What is birth asphyxia?Birth asphyxia, also known as perinatal asphyxia or neonatal asphyxia, occurs when a baby doesn’t receive enough oxygen and blood supply before, during, or just after birth.  Disease prognosisBirth asphyxia can be serious if it is not treated in time, since the consequences can lead to death or life-long health conditions.Some of them are:Cerebral palsyDeafnes

What is a birthmark?A birthmark is a coloured mark that is visible on the skin, which can vary in size and colour. It often appears at birth or develops soon afterwards. A birthmark will either fade or get bigger over time and be permanent. It may appear anywhere on the body or face and is completely harmless in most cases. What are the different types of birthmarks?There are two main ty

What is bladder cancer? Bladder cancer is a relatively common type of cancer, which involves the growth of abnormal tissue (a tumour) in the bladder tissue. Bladder cancer is often described by how far it has moved into the bladder wall. It can either be non-invasive or invasive. Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer is the most common type, in which the cancerous cells are contained within the

What are bladder problems? Men and women can experience a variety of bladder conditions, with some being more common in one gender than the other. Bladder problems can be described as abnormal bladder function. Some of the most common bladder problems are: Urinary tract infections Overactive bladder Urinary retention Incontinence (stress, urge, overflow, total) I

What are bleeding disorders? Coagulopathies or bleeding disorders are a group of blood coagulation disorders. They can be inherited (such as haemophilia, von Willebrand disease or hereditary platelets conditions) or acquired (caused by a defect in the synthesising process of the plasma constituents of the blood, or by an assimilation of antibodies attacking haemocoagulating factors). Acquired c

What is it? Blepharitis is an inflammatory condition of the eyelids. It can be part of a wider inflammation of the eye surface, involving the conjunctiva (the transparent membrane covering the inside of the eyelids) and the white part of the eyeball. (conjunctivitis, blepharoconjunctivitis). It can also affect the cornea (the clear window at the front of the eye) known as blepharokeratoconjunct