Tag: Graft
-
The Dark Side of the Scalpel: A Sinister History of Prison Plastic Surgery
In the shadows of correctional facilities, a chilling chapter of medical history unfolded – one that modern narratives conveniently gloss over. Prison plastic surgery programs, far from being benign attempts at rehabilitation, were rooted in disturbing practices that blurred the lines between science and sadism. The Beautification Delusion The origins of these programs stretch back…
-
Gaspare Tagliacozzi – the man who gave “drop-dead gorgeous” a whole new meaning
Meet Gaspare Tagliacozzi, the 16th-century Italian surgeon who decided that noses were overrated as mere breathing apparatus and should double as art projects. This Renaissance Picasso of the scalpel made a name for himself by turning the faces of Bologna’s elite into his personal canvas. Tagliacozzi’s magnum opus, “On the Surgery of Mutilation by Grafting,”…
-
Tree Huggers: When Nature Takes It Literally
In the quiet corners of forests worldwide, trees are engaging in their own version of romance. It’s called inosculation, and it is nature’s answer to the artificial process of grafting. Inosculation and grafting are like botanical cousins. Both involve the fusion of plant tissues, creating a single, stronger organism. While grafting is a human-engineered process,…
-
Omenn Syndrome: When Your Body Throws Its Own Surprise Party
Imagine your immune system as an overzealous party planner, but instead of organizing a fun bash, it’s staging a revolt against your own body. Welcome to the world of Omenn syndrome, where your T cells decide to go rogue and treat your organs like they’re uninvited guests. These rebellious T cells, armed with mutant RAG…
-
The Lady Who Brought Pox to the Party
Picture this: It’s 1717, and Lady Mary Wortley Montagu is living her best life in Constantinople, sipping Turkish coffee and learning about the latest beauty trends when she stumbles upon a local practice that would change medical history forever. Instead of bringing back exotic spices or fancy rugs, she decides to import something truly wild…
-
Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) is divided into acute and chronic forms
Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) is a syndrome, characterized by inflammation in different organs. GvHD is commonly associated with bone marrow transplants and stem cell transplants. Not to be confused with Host-versus-graft disease. White blood cells of the donor’s immune system which remain within the donated tissue (the graft) recognize the recipient (the host) as foreign (non-self). The white blood cells present within the…
-
In the case of GVHD, maculopapular rash may progress to a condition similar to toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN)
Together with Stevens–Johnson syndrome (SJS) it forms a spectrum of disease, with TEN being more severe. Early symptoms include fever and flu-like symptoms. A few days later the skin begins to blister and peel forming painful raw areas. Mucous membranes, such as the mouth, are also typically involved. Complications include dehydration, sepsis, pneumonia, and multiple organ failure. The most common cause is certain medications such as lamotrigine, carbamazepine, allopurinol, sulfonamide…
-
Maculopapular rash is seen in graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)
A maculopapular rash is a type of rash characterized by a flat, red area on the skin that is covered with small confluent bumps. It may only appear red in lighter-skinned people. The term “maculopapular” is a compound: macules are small, flat discolored spots on the surface of the skin; and papules are small, raised bumps. It is also described as erythematous, or red.…
-
TRALI or ARDS: A Medical Game of “Who’s Who?”
Welcome to the thrilling world of post-transfusion respiratory distress, where distinguishing TRALI from ARDS is like trying to tell apart identical twins wearing the same outfit. Strap in, folks – it’s time for a wild ride through the land of bilateral infiltrates and hypoxemia! First things first: TRALI, or Transfusion-Related Acute Lung Injury, is the…
-
HLA-B major histocompatibility complex, class I, B
HLA-B (major histocompatibility complex, class I, B) is a human gene that provides instructions for making a protein that plays a critical role in the immune system. HLA-B is part of a family of genes called the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) complex. The HLA complex helps the immune system distinguish the body’s own proteins from proteins made by foreign invaders such as viruses and bacteria. HLA is…
-
The sweet pea is a flowering plant in the genus Lathyrus in the family Fabaceae (legumes) 🧪☣️☠️⚗️🤢
The sweet pea, Lathyrus odoratus, is a flowering plant in the genus Lathyrus in the family Fabaceae (legumes), native to Sicily, southern Italy and the Aegean Islands. It is an annual climbing plant, growing to a height of 1–2 metres (3 ft 3 in – 6 ft 7 in), where suitable support is available. The leaves are pinnate with two leaflets and a terminal tendril, which twines around supporting plants and structures, helping the sweet pea to climb. In…
