Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

Loss of color (pigment) from the skin, mucous membranes, hair, or retina of the eye. The color of the skin, mucous membranes, hair, and retina is due to the deposition of melanin, which is a coloring matter. Melanin is produced by specialized cells called melanocytes. Other terms pertaining to pigment include pigmentation (the presence of pigment), hypopigmentation and underpigmentation (too little pigment),…

The United States government’s principal agency for “protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves.” Also known as DHHS and HHS. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has two types of operating divisions: the Human Services and the Public Health Service Operating Divisions. The Public Health…

The form of hemoglobin without oxygen, the predominant protein in red blood cells. Hemoglobin forms an unstable, reversible bond with oxygen. In its oxygen-loaded form it is oxyhemoglobin and is bright red. In the oxygen-unloaded form it is called deoxyhemoglobin and is purple-blue.

The Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST) is a widely used assessment for examining children 0-6 years of age as to their developmental progress. The name “Denver” reflects the fact that this screening test was created at the University of Colorado Medical Center in Denver. There are a number of other behavioral assessments for infants and young children.…

The most common cause of a toothache is a dental cavity. The second most common is gum disease. Toothache can be caused by a problem that does not originate from a tooth or the jaw.

Dental braces (orthodontics):?The use of devices to move teeth or adjust underlying bone. Teeth can be moved by removable appliances or by fixed braces. Crowding of teeth can require extraction of teeth. Retainers may be necessary long after dental braces are placed, especially with orthodontic treatment of adults.

A syndrome due to the dengue virus that tends to affect children under 10, causing abdominal pain, hemorrhage (bleeding) and circulatory collapse (shock). Known also as dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), it starts abruptly with high continuous fever and headache plus respiratory and intestinal symptoms with sore throat, cough, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Shock occurs after 2 to 6 days with sudden…

A syndrome due to the dengue virus that tends to affect children under 10, causing abdominal pain, hemorrhage (bleeding) and circulatory collapse (shock). DHF starts abruptly with high continuous fever and headache plus respiratory and intestinal symptoms with sore throat, cough, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Shock occurs after 2 to 6 days with sudden collapse, cool clammy extremities, weak thready pulse, and…

Loss of nerve supply. Causes of denervation include disease, chemical toxicity, physical injury, or intentional surgical interruption of a nerve.

An agent that forms a soothing, protective film when administered onto a mucous membrane surface. For example, mucilage and oils are demulcents that can relieve irritation of the bowel lining.