Medical Today

Definition

Amniocentesis is a procedure used to diagnose fetal defects in the early second trimester of pregnancy.

A sample of the amniotic fluid, which surrounds a fetus in the womb, is collected through a pregnant woman’s abdomen using a needle and syringe. Tests performed on fetal cells found in the amniotic fluid can reveal the presence of many types of genetic disorders. Early diagnosis allows doctors and prospective parents to make important decisions about treatment and intervention prior to birth.

Definition

A headache is a pain in the head and neck region that may be either a disorder in its own right or a symptom of an underlying medical condition or disease. The medical term for headache is cephalalgia.

Description

Headaches are divided into two large categories, primary and secondary, according to guidelines established by the International Headache Society (IHS).

Melatonin – a hormone released during sleep – protects your mouth from gingivitis, according to a study in the Journal of Periodontology. Analysis of 37 patients found those with the highest levels of melatonin suffered 54% less gum disease than those with low levels. “Melatonin works as an antioxidant to battle bacteria, while boosting new bone growth in the jaw,” says Dr Susan Karabin of the American Academy of Periodontology.

Sunlight

University of California researchers found vitamin D from sunlight stimulates the production of proteins that help protect you from flu. They found 20 minutes of midday sun delivers 20,000 units of vitamin D. A pint of milk contains 100 units.

Circumcision

A Yale study claims, men who are circumcised are half as likely to contract HIV from an infected partner, than uncircumcised men. The foreskin contains cell receptors that act as targets for the virus, which is why transmission rates are higher among men who are uncircumcised.

Dumping pasta and bread from your diet could help relieve indigestion, according to a new study from the University of North Carolina. Scientists report that within four days of initiating a low-carb diet, patients experienced a 44% reduction in the severity of heartburn. What’s more, the painful acid in each subject’s esophagus decreased by 60%.