Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

A variant of apolipoprotein A-I identified in about 40 inhabitants of Limone sul Garde, a small town in rural North Italy, who had extraordinarily low HDL levels, levels so low that they were off the scale. Because HDL is the “good” cholesterol, it was expected that these people would have very high rates of heart disease. Instead, they seemed…

Apolipoprotein A-I.

A gene that encodes one of several proteins important to apoptosis, the normal process through which cells die. Mutations in the FAS gene have been found in ALPS (the autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome), a disease in which there is failure of lymphocytes to die on schedule. As a result, lymphocytes stay about and attack the body’s…

A temporary cessation of breathing called apnea. Sleep apnea is a condition in which patients stop breathing for short periods during sleep. People who have sleep apnea are may not be aware they have it. They may wake up gasping for breath, and often those who share a bed with them notice snoring.

Sleep apnea is a breathing disorder characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep. It owes its name to a Greek word, apnea, meaning “want of breath.” There are two types of sleep apnea: central and obstructive. Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain fails to send the appropriate signals to the breathing muscles to initiate respirations. Obstructive sleep apnea…

Sleep apnea is a breathing disorder characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep. It owes its name to a Greek word, apnea, meaning “want of breath.” There are two types of sleep apnea: central and obstructive. Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain fails to send the appropriate signals to the breathing muscles to initiate respirations. Obstructive sleep apnea…

The absence of breathing (respiration).

Adipose most abundant gene transcript 1. (AdiPose Most abundant gene transcript 1 = APM1.) The APM1 gene encodes the hormone adiponectin.

APLS (antiphospholipid antibody syndrome): An immune disorder characterized by the presence of abnormal antibodies in the blood associated with abnormal blood clotting, migraine headaches, recurrent pregnancy losses (repeat spontaneous abortions), and low blood platelet counts (thrombocytopenia). The abnormal antibodies are directed against phospholipids, fats that contains phosphorous. APLS can occur by itself (primary APLS) or be caused by another underlying condition (secondary…

Anemia due to failure of the bone marrow to produce red and white blood cells as well as platelets. Aplastic anemia frequently occurs without a known cause. Known causes include exposure to chemicals (for example, benzene, toluene in glues, insecticides, solvents), drugs (for example, chemotherapy drugs, gold, seizure medications, antibiotics), viruses (for instance, HIV, Epstein-Barr), radiation, immune conditions (for example, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis), pregnancy, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, and inherited disorders (for…