Medicine and surgery

03/01/2026

Infectious Endocarditis (IE)

Infectious endocarditis is a serious infection of the inner lining of the heart (endocardium), most often affecting the heart valves. It happens when bacteria or fungi enter the bloodstream and attach to damaged areas of the heart.

How it starts

Germs can enter the blood through:

Dental procedures or poor oral hygiene

Skin infections or wounds

IV lines or injections

Previous heart valve damage or valve replacement

Once in the blood, they can stick to heart valves and form infected clumps called vegetations.

Common symptoms

Symptoms may develop slowly or suddenly:

Persistent fever and chills

Fatigue and weakness

Heart murmur (new or changing)

Shortness of breath

Night sweats

Weight loss

Small skin findings like painless spots on palms/soles (Janeway lesions) or painful finger/toe nodules (Osler nodes)

⚠️ Symptoms can be subtle, which makes early diagnosis difficult.

Who is at higher risk

People with previous heart valve disease

Artificial (prosthetic) heart valves

Congenital heart defects

History of endocarditis

Long-term IV lines or injections

Possible complications

If not treated early, IE can cause:

Valve destruction → heart failure

Stroke or organ damage from clots breaking off

Abscesses in the heart

Widespread infection (sepsis)

Diagnosis

Doctors usually rely on:

Blood cultures (to identify the germ)

Echocardiography (heart ultrasound) to see valve infection

Blood tests showing inflammation or infection

Treatment

Long-course IV antibiotics (often 4–6 weeks)

Antifungal treatment if fungi are involved

Heart surgery may be needed if valves are severely damaged or infection doesn’t clear

Prevention

Good oral hygiene

Treat infections early

Some high-risk patients may need preventive antibiotics before certain dental procedures (only when prescribed)

Key takeaway

Infectious endocarditis is life-threatening but treatable if caught early. Persistent fever with heart-related symptoms should never be ignored.

08/12/2025

Gut Microbe Molecule Found to Calm Inflammation Offering a New Path for Diabetes Treatment

A global team of scientists has identified an unexpected defender against inflammation and insulin resistance: a gut derived molecule known as trimethylamine TMA. Their findings, published in Nature Metabolism, show that this microbial metabolite produced when gut bacteria break down choline from food can suppress a key immune pathway and significantly improve blood sugar control.

The research was led by Professor Marc Emmanuel Dumas (Imperial College London & CNRS) in collaboration with Prof. Patrice Cani (Imperial & UCLouvain) Dr. Dominique Gauguier (Imperial & INSERM) and Prof. Peter Liu (University of Ottawa Heart Institute).

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A Breakthrough Rooted in Two Decades of Work

This discovery builds on an idea first proposed nearly 20 years ago. As a postdoctoral researcher Patrice Cani found that eating a high fat diet allows small bacterial components to leak into the body triggering an immune response that fuels inflammation and over time insulin resistance. The concept was controversial in 2005 yet today it forms the basis of modern understanding of metabolic inflammation.

In 2025 researchers from the University of Louvain and Imperial College London finally uncovered a way to interrupt this harmful process. Their studies showed that TMA generated naturally by gut microbes from choline in foods like eggs fish and meat can enhance glucose regulation.

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How TMA Switches Off the Inflammatory Signal

At the center of this mechanism is IRAK4 a protein that acts as an immune alarm system. Under a high fat diet IRAK4 becomes hyperactive driving widespread inflammation that contributes to insulin resistance.

The researchers discovered that

TMA binds directly to IRAK4 blocking its ability to trigger inflammatory responses.

This reduces diet induced inflammation and restores insulin sensitivity.

The effect was confirmed across human cell models mouse experiments and molecular screening.

The molecule even protected mice from sepsis related death by preventing excessive inflammation.

According to Prof. Cani the findings highlight how diet and gut bacteria can work together to produce beneficial metabolites capable of reshaping metabolic health.

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A New Target for Diabetes Therapies

The team further showed that removing IRAK4 genetically or inhibiting it with drugs resulted in the same metabolic improvements observed with TMA. This is particularly promising because IRAK4 is already a validated drug target in pharmaceutical research.

“This discovery completely changes the narrative” said Prof. Dumas. “We now know that a microbial molecule can counteract the metabolic damage caused by an unhealthy diet through an entirely new mechanism.”

With diabetes affecting over half a billion people globally identifying TMA as an immune modulating microbial signal opens doors to innovative treatments. Future approaches may include dietary strategies or medications designed to enhance TMA production or mimic its effects.

As Prof. Cani puts it "Our food shapes our microbiome and in turn some of the molecules our microbes produce can shield us from diseases like diabetes."

02/12/2025

Cerebrotendinous Xanthomatosis (CTX)

Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX) is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder caused by mutations in the CYP27A1 gene. This results in a deficiency of sterol 27-hydroxylase, a mitochondrial enzyme needed to convert cholesterol into chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA).
When this pathway is blocked, cholesterol and cholestanol accumulate in multiple tissues, including the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, tendons, the lens of the eye, and arterial walls. These deposits lead to progressive neurological dysfunction, tendon xanthomas, early cataracts, and increased risk of coronary artery disease.

Some individuals with later-onset CTX symptoms may have had cholestatic jaundice during infancy. The pattern and severity of symptoms vary widely, even among individuals with identical mutations.

Treatment

1. Chenodeoxycholic Acid (CDCA / Chenodal) – First-Line Therapy

Oral CDCA is the mainstay of CTX treatment because it:

Restores feedback inhibition of bile acid synthesis

Normalizes the overproduction of cholestanol

Prevents disease progression

Can keep asymptomatic patients symptom-free when started early

The effectiveness of therapy is monitored by measuring blood cholestanol levels, which decrease with successful treatment.

In 2009, the U.S. FDA re-approved synthetic chenodeoxycholic acid (Chenodal) for gallstones. It is also used as first-line therapy for CTX and has received orphan drug designation for this indication.

2. Cholic Acid

Cholic acid has been used particularly in young children with CTX.
It may be preferred in some cases because it lacks the potential hepatotoxic effects sometimes associated with chenodeoxycholic acid. However, CDCA remains the primary and most effective therapy for most patients.

3. HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors (Statins) – Use With Caution

Although statins can reduce cholestanol production, they must be used carefully in CTX. Concerns include:

Upregulation of LDL receptors, which may increase cholesterol uptake and potentially worsen tissue cholesterol accumulation in CTX.

Risk of statin-induced myopathy, which may be especially problematic in patients already experiencing muscle or neurological issues.

Statins may be used only when clearly beneficial and under close specialist supervision.

4. Importance of Early Treatment

Research shows that beginning treatment before age 25 leads to significantly better outcomes.
Patients treated later often have:

Worse mobility

More severe cognitive decline

Less reversible neurological damage

Early detection is crucial because advanced neurological deficits cannot be fully reversed, even with optimal therapy.

5. Supportive and Symptomatic Management

Additional interventions may be needed depending on disease progression:

Cataract surgery, often required before age 50

Management of neurological symptoms

Treatment of tendon xanthomas (if painful or functionally limiting)

Physical and occupational therapy

Cardiovascular monitoring due to elevated risk of coronary disease

29/11/2025

LECTURE: Human Embryology Week 1 (An Introduction for Beginners)

Welcome to your first lesson in embryology. In this lecture we will explore what happens in the very first week of human development. This is a simple and clear introduction designed for beginners who are new to the subject.

Overview

Week 1 covers the events from the moment the s***m meets the egg all the way to the beginning of implantation in the uterus.

Day 0 Fertilization

Fertilization normally occurs in the ampulla of the fallopian tube.

A single s***m enters the female egg.
Once they combine they form one cell called a zygote.
The zygote carries all the genetic information needed to form a complete human being.
The s*x of the baby is also determined at this moment by the chromosome combination.

You can think of the zygote as the master seed that will now begin to multiply.

Day 1 to 3 Cleavage Stage Early Cell Division

After fertilization the zygote begins dividing.
It divides into two cells then four then eight and continues increasing in cell number.
These early cells are called blastomeres.

Even though the number of cells increases the overall size of the structure does not grow yet.
It is like cutting a single piece of bread into many tiny pieces without adding more bread.

By Day 3 these divisions produce a compact mass of cells called a morula.

Day 3 to 4 Formation of the Blastocyst

At this stage fluid begins to enter the morula.
A small cavity forms inside and this transforms the morula into a blastocyst.

The blastocyst contains two important cell groups

1. The inner cell mass which will develop into the actual baby or embryo

2. The trophoblast cells which will later form the placenta and supporting membranes

By Day 4 the basic plan for both the embryo and the placenta is already established.

Day 4 to 5 Hatching From the Zona Pellucida

The blastocyst is still surrounded by a protective shell called the zona pellucida.
Before implantation can occur the blastocyst must break free from this shell.
This process is called hatching.

Hatching is important because
It allows the blastocyst to grow freely
It allows it to interact with and attach to the uterine lining
It helps prevent abnormal implantation outside the uterus

Day 6 to 7 Beginning of Implantation

The blastocyst reaches the uterus and begins attaching to the endometrium which is the lining of the uterus.

The trophoblast cells now separate into two layers
The cytotrophoblast which is the inner cellular layer
The syncytiotrophoblast which is the outer invasive layer

The syncytiotrophoblast begins to burrow into the maternal tissue.
This marks the beginning of implantation.

During this time the syncytiotrophoblast also starts producing the hormone hCG which is the hormone detected in pregnancy tests.
It helps maintain early pregnancy by supporting the corpus luteum.

Week 1 Summary

Day 0 Fertilization leading to the formation of the zygote
Day 1 to 3 Early cell divisions leading to the morula
Day 3 to 4 Formation of the blastocyst
Day 4 to 5 Hatching of the blastocyst
Day 6 to 7 Beginning of implantation

28/11/2025

https://medium.com//when-the-body-betrays-itself-b8052d0cae51
Read when the body betrays itself by a reproductive biologist from Nigeria

When the Body Betrays Itself. It was on a Sunday afternoon after church when I realized it had been a while since I scrolled through Instagram. I wasn’t even looking for anything specific , just …

04/05/2023

sphygmomanometer for checking blood pressure , it has a 99% accuracy and can be used in the house hold..
You need this in your house especially if you have the elderly at home

23/01/2020

Asthmatic patient who need an electric nebulizer, Chat us up cause we got nebulizer and other medical equipment for sale.. send us a DM we got you covered

07/11/2018

Happy Diwali
Doctors and future Doctors...
Remember saving lives is your job..

01/11/2018

This Holiday we should learn to appreciate the little things of life.. To love,To care, to embrace and to be kind towards another.. To heal broken hearts ... Happy Diwali to all Indians you are loved

24/10/2018

Many young people have been asking us about the best university to study medicine in Nigeria..
This are their ranking in descending order
University of Ibadan
University of Lagos
University of Nigeria Nsukka
University of Benin

This are the four top ranking universities for studying medicine and surgery in nigeria

24/10/2018

Hello Medics in Nigeria.. Like A Friends page.. Help support his Hustle Asparts

29/09/2018

Watch amazing video.. Get brain stormy