Diabetes Mellitus and Hyperglycemia
BACKGROUND Print Section Listen Insulin is produced by beta cells in the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. Insulin secretion is regulated by glucose influx into the beta cell, which…
Disorders of Thyroid Hormone
BACKGROUND Print Section Listen Thyroid hormone has many effects on the human body. It plays an essential role in growth and development, thermogenesis, oxygen consumption, and the metabolism of carbohydrates,…
Disorders of Pituitary Function
BACKGROUND Print Section Listen The pituitary gland is comprised of two parts with distinct origins. The anterior pituitary is derived embryonically from Rathke’s pouch of oral ectoderm, while the posterior…
Drug-Associated Rashes
BACKGROUND Print Section Listen Drug-associated rashes are very common in hospitalized patients, and uncommonly can be associated with conditions that prompt admission. In large prospective studies and systematic reviews, 2.9%…
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis
BACKGROUND Print Section Listen Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are severe cutaneous reactions that are best considered part of the same disease process. SJS and TEN are…
Erythema Multiforme
BACKGROUND Print Section Listen Erythema multiforme (EM) is a self-limited acute hypersensitivity reaction to a variety of inciting agents including medications, viruses, bacteria, and fungi. The cutaneous lesions of EM…
Electrocardiogram Interpretation
BACKGROUND Print Section Listen Every heartbeat is controlled by electrical waves passing through the heart. The summation of this electrical activity results in the tracing seen on an electrocardiogram (ECG)….
Atopic Dermatitis
BACKGROUND Print Section Listen Atopic dermatitis (AD), or atopic eczema, is a common inflammatory skin disorder characterized by pruritus, a chronic and recurrent course, and a distinctive anatomic distribution and…
Congenital Heart Disease
BACKGROUND Print Section Listen Excluding patent ductus arteriosus of the premature infant, congenital heart disease is estimated to occur in about 0.8% of all children.1 Fortunately, most of these problems…
