Hey folks
I've not been posting my Net.philes articles which I publish in the Student
BMJ for a while - but I know some people enjoyed them so I thought I would
start again.
I'm also compiling a searchable archive of these articles along with the
Netlines articles from the weekly BMJ on our web site at:
http://www.medmicro.mds.qmw.ac.uk/bmj/
If you have suggestions for addresses to be featured in future Net.philes
articles then please let me know!
Bye for now
Nick.
http://www.yahoo.co.uk/Health/Diseases_and_Conditions/
Yahoo lists web resources for a staggering 400 separate diseases and
conditions. Whilst you may have heard of many, there are many strange and
exotic rarities you may never come across in a lifetime. Here are some that
caught my eye. Explore the others at your leisure!
Moebius syndrome results in permanent paralysis of the face. It is thought
to be inherited genetically and causes incomplete development of the 6th and
7th cranial nerves. Although rare, many children go undiagnosed for years so
brush up on the symptoms (http://www.ciaccess.com/moebius/front.htm).
Maple Syrup Urine Disease is an autosomal recessive inherited disease. Its
name derives from the distinctive sugary smell of the urine. Like
phenylketonuria it affects metabolism of branched-chain amino acids and is
treated by a special medical diet which excludes high levels of leucine,
isoleucine and valine. (http://www.msud-support.org/)
Blue Rubber Bleb Nevus Syndrome is an unwieldy but descriptive name for this
genetic disorder. It results in abnormal blood vessels, haemangiomas, which
affect the skin and internal organs of the body. The haemangiomas are
characteristically blue, have a rubbery texture and are bladder-like in
appearance. (http://www.swmed.edu/home_pages/brbns/)
Although it may sound like a complication of Viagra, ‘Stiff Man Syndrome’ is
in fact a severe neuromuscular condition affecting both sexes. This
condition affects the startle reflex resulting in violent spasms when the
sufferer is exposed to sudden sounds or stimulation. This has serious
consequences for their lives often forcing isolation from society and normal
daily activities. (http://www.stiff-man.org/)
Meanwhile, the question of what disease afflicted the Elephant Man has been
the subject of controversy since his death in 1890 and has left a legacy of
diseases misnamed after him. The first guess was elephantiasis, a disorder
involving lymphatic disorder. Later the possibility of neurofibromatosis was
considered. NF-1 (one of the two forms of the disease) quickly became known
as ‘Elephant Man’s Disease’ to the great dismay of organisations such as the
Neurofibramatosis Foundation. NF is still a possibility but a case as severe
as John Merrick's has not been seen since. Recent radiographic studies have
posed the hypothesis that he suffered from Proteus syndrome. The answer may
be determined soon by DNA studies on his remains.
(http://www.luton.ac.uk/Healthcare/Ross/LYMPH.HTM, http://nf.org,
http://neurosurgery.mgh.harvard.edu/NFR/,
http://www.kumc.edu/gec/support/proteus.html)
http://www.soton.ac.uk/~hta/
The NHS R&D Health Technology Assessment Programme is now online. This site
is worth visiting for its reviews of many healthcare issues. These include
reviews on outpatient services for chronic pain control, effectiveness of
dialysis therapy and screening for genetic disorders in neonates. The
articles are available free of charge in PDF format but for a trial period
only. Go get them!
The PDF reader, Adobe Acrobat can be obtained from http://www.adobe.com.
http://www.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/Galileo_Prototype/MAIN.HTM
What are the chances of your scribbled notes become a national treasure in
400 years time? Galileo Galilei’s manuscript 72, ‘Notes on Motion’ has been
put on-line in folio as a collaborative project between German and Italian
museums. Most pages are rather like an ancient math homework book but the
sense of history and genius surrounding the author makes them compelling
viewing nonetheless – even if your Latin is a bit rusty.
http://www.mailexcite.com
http://www.hotmail.com
http://www.yahoomail.com/
There has recently been an explosion in the number of free email services
which can be used over the Web. These will let you receive and send mail
regardless of your location.
---
Nick Loman
http://www.csosl.co.uk/~nick/
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