Introduction Throughout history, humans have sought to understand the differences between biological sexes and the mechanisms responsible for these biological differences. Normal gonadal differentiation and sex development depend on the…
Introduction What makes one an effective user of the clinical laboratory? Such a user: • Identifies at least one sympathetic ally in the clinical laboratory to whom one can reach…
Overview Pregnancy is a complex physiological state consisting of a symbiotic relationship between two genetically distinct, but related, individuals: the mother and the fetus. The success of pregnancy requires dramatic…
Introduction Hormones exert their actions by binding to specific receptor proteins, a process that induces conformational changes or compartmental redistribution of these proteins. The activated receptor is now capable of…
Introduction The study of the endocrine system has undergone a dramatic evolution since the 1990s, from the traditional physiologic studies that dominated the field for many years to the discoveries…
Historical background Endocrinology is a discipline of science that seeks to understand how chemical signals secreted by cells regulate the function of distant (endocrine) or local (paracrine) tissues, or even…
Clostridioides difficile , formerly knowns as Clostridium difficile, is a Gram-positive, anaerobic bacillus, with a spore phase that prolongs survival in the environment. Ingestion of spores that are resistant to…
Diarrheal disease is the second most common cause of death in children younger than 5 years worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In the United States, viruses are…
Parasitic infections are an uncommon but potentially important cause of morbidity and mortality in children undergoing solid organ transplantation (SOT). Although few data have been published relating to parasitic infections…
Epidemiology and risk factors Pneumocystis jirovecii (formerly Pneumocystis carinii ) is an infrequent though potentially deadly cause of fungal pneumonia ( P. jirovecii pneumonia [PJP]) in immunocompromised patients. P. jirovecii…
