Author: Leah Vadakken
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Down the Rabbit Hole We Go: Alice in Wonderland Syndrome
“It was much pleasanter at home,” thought poor Alice, “when one wasn’t always growing larger and smaller, and being ordered about by mice and rabbits.” (Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll) Sitting at your desk, within seconds, your hands balloon to the size of your couch, your bedroom doorway recedes into an infinite tunnel, and the ticking…
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The Phosphorous Trap: How Bioavailability and Food Additives Impact Chronic Kidney Disease
High phosphorus levels in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have been directly related to increased mortality rates (Figure 1)(Noori et al. 2010). In CKD patients experiencing progressive loss of kidney function, a phosphorus-restricted diet is often a management method for hyperphosphatemia. In this condition, net intestinal absorption exceeds renal excretion and/or dialysis removal of…
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Skin Pigmentation Bias in Pulse Oximetry Measurements
Pulse oximeters have revolutionized modern medicine, enabling continuous, accurate, and non-invasive monitoring of functional oxygen saturation of hemoglobin (SpO₂) (Chan et al. 2013). Taken as a fifth vital sign, the device’s use is routine in emergency care, general ward, intermediate/intensive care unit, the operating room, and in general practices (Bosch et al. 2024). However, with…
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The Emergence of Allergic Diseases in Immigrants: A Probiotic Solution
First-generation immigrants face numerous challenges when adapting to new cultures: language barriers, discrimination, invalid credential recognition, and growing mental health concerns. While some of these challenges may be temporary, a long-term issue that remains unresolved within the immigrant population is the growing prevalence of allergic diseases (Lombardi, Passalaqua, and Walter Canonica 2009). Surprisingly, a potential…