December 20, 2023
Sepsis

Sepsis

From: Salud (About Health) PABLO PÉREZ MARTÍNEZ, JOSÉ MANUEL RAMOS RINCÓN, ANA MAESTRE PEIRÓ Sepsis is a reaction of the body to an infection caused by microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and even fungi. When our defenses are not able to eliminate the infection by microorganisms or their toxins, we react by producing substances such as interleukins, which spread through the bloodstream, causing a generalized inflammatory reaction in the body to the infection. Sepsis is a medical emergency and if not diagnosed and treated early, it can be life-threatening, leading to irreversible tissue damage, septic shock, and multiple organ failure. This extreme reaction of the body to an infection especially affects vital organs such as the brain, lungs, liver, kidneys, etc., which are damaged; this is what we know as sepsis. Therefore, sepsis is not a disease in itself, but arises when there is a poorly regulated response of the body to an infection that damages the person’s own tissues and organs and threatens the person’s life. If there is no timely intervention and there is significant damage to multiple organs so that they stop functioning, the patient’s life is in danger. We call this critical phase septic shock. The […]
November 7, 2024
Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis

From: Salud (About Health) PABLO PÉREZ MARTÍNEZ, JOSÉ MANUEL RAMOS RINCÓN, ANA MAESTRE PEIRÓ Osteoporosis is a disease that affects the bones, making them more fragile, so that they break  more easily and are less resistant to blows. It is estimated that osteoporosis affects 5.6% of the total European population aged over 50 years (22.1% of women and 6.6% of men). The number of new fragility fractures in Europe was estimated at 4.3 million per year. Osteoporosis does not manifest itself with any symptoms until fractures appear. Most people find out they have osteoporosis after they break a bone. The bones that are most often fractured are the vertebrae, hip, and wrist. Fractures can lead to chronic pain, disability, or even death, occasionally. Osteoporosis is diagnosed by quantifying bone mineral density that can be measured with densitometry, making it possible to predict the risk of fracture in patients without any broken bones. Established osteoporosis is defined as the presence of one or more fragility fractures (spontaneous, without a previous direct blow). Some risk factors for osteoporosis are older age, menopause, a family history of hip fracture, or having had a previous fracture from a minor blow, especially after the age […]
March 20, 2025
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

From: Salud (About Health) PABLO PÉREZ MARTÍNEZ, JOSÉ MANUEL RAMOS RINCÓN, ANA MAESTRE PEIRÓ Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease, which is characterized by a dysregulation of the immune system. It results in  loss of tolerance to one’s own antigens, so that the body recognizes them wrongly as foreign, producing an attack on the different organs and tissues by antibodies (autoantibodies). Prevalence rates generally range from 20 to 70 cases per 100,000 people, with more frequent prevalence in young women between 20 and 40 years of age. Its origin is unknown, but it is believed that there is an interrelationship between genetic and environmental factors. Genetically, an association has been found with certain HLAs such as B8, DR3, DQW2, C4AQ0. In addition to genetic factors, environmental factors such as infections (Epstein-Barr virus) or exposure to xenobiotics (UV light or tobacco) appear to be related to the development of the disease. These genetic and environmental factors will culminate in the production of autoantibodies and immune complexes. The main autoantibodies present in SLE are antinuclear antibodies (ANA), a marker that identifies patients at risk of developing or having this disease, as well as others such as anti-DNA or […]