Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

A form of epilepsy associated with language difficulties. The syndrome surfaces around the age of four with receptive or expressive dysphasia and slowed learning. There may be absence, myoclonic, or focal seizures. The cause of the syndrome is unknown. Treatment is with seizure medications. The condition usually improves by adulthood. Also called CSWS (Continuous Spike Waves of Slow Sleep).

The hardened product of minerals from saliva and foods that accumulates in plaque around the teeth. Dental plaque and tartar cause periodontal disease, including inflammation of the bone surrounding the teeth. Tartar can become as hard as rock, becoming removable only by a dentist or dental hygienist with special tools.

A procedure that uses computers to create a 3-dimensional picture of the tumor in order to target the tumor as accurately as possible and give it the highest possible dose of radiation while sparing normal tissue as much as possible. It is also known as 3-D conformal (or conformational) radiation therapy. Conventional radiation therapy directs x-rays not only…

A neurological syndrome characterized by repetitive, involuntary, purposeless movements caused by the long-term use of certain drugs called neuroleptics used for psychiatric, gastrointestinal, and neurological disorders. Features may include grimacing; tongue protrusion; lip smacking, puckering, and pursing; and rapid eye blinking. Rapid movements of the arms, legs, and trunk may also occur. The incidence of the syndrome rises with…

A disease once thought to result from the bite of the tarantula spider. This extraordinary affliction was associated with melancholy, stupor, madness and an uncontrollable desire to dance. In fact, dancing off the tarantula venom was considered the only cure. The dancing was violent and energetic and went for 3 or4 days. In the 15th to 17th…

Fear of being buried alive. A phobia is an unreasonable sort of fear that can cause avoidance and panic. Phobias are a relatively common type of anxiety disorder. Phobias can be treated with cognitive behavioral therapy using exposure and fear reduction techniques. In many cases, anti-anxiety or anti-depressant medication proves helpful, especially during the early stages of therapy.…

A procedure whereby a sterile needle and syringe are used to drain joint fluid from the joint. This is usually done as an office procedure or at the bedside in the hospital. The skin over the joint is sterilized with a liquid. Local anesthetic is applied to the area of the joint either by injection or topical…

An antiestrogen (a drug that blocks the effects of estrogen) which competes with estrogen for binding sites in target tissues such as breast. Tamoxifen has been widely publicized. It was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat breast cancer and help prevent it in women at high risk for the disease and, then in 2000, to treat…

The common (“classic”) form of clubfoot. Talipes is made up of the Latin talus (ankle) + pes (foot). Equino- indicates the heel is elevated (like a horse’s) and -varus indicates it is turned inward. With this type of clubfoot, the foot is turned in sharply and the person seems to be walking on their ankle. A clubfoot, also known…

Clubfoot. The Latin word talipes was compounded from talus (ankle) + pes (foot) since, with the common (“classic”) type of clubfoot (talipes equinovarus), the foot is turned in sharply and the person seems to be walking on their ankle. Talipes equinovalgus: Malformation of the foot evident at birth in which the heel is elevated like a horse’s hoof (equino-) and the…