Etiology, Clinical Manifestations, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Cobalamin (Vitamin B12) Deficiency.

Cobalamin, also known as vitamin B12, is a water-soluble vitamin. Cobalamin deficiency can be frequently seen in people all around the world. It can have non-specific symptoms, and in patients who are in a very critical state, it can lead to neurological or hematological abnormalities. While pernicious anemia used to be the main cause, it now accounts for a smaller number of cases, with food-bound cobalamin malabsorption being more common. Early diagnosis and appropriate management are crucial to avoid severe complications like spinal cord degeneration and pancytopenia. The primary method of treatment has been injections of vitamin B12 which are given through the intramuscular route but now the oral replacement therapy has also been very effective in treating the patients. There is increasing evidence linking increased levels of vitamin B12 to hematological and hepatic disorders, particularly cancers. This review has primarily highlighted the metabolism, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of cobalamin deficiency in the past decade.

Etiology, Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, Signs and Symptoms, Evaluation, and Treatment of Vitamin A (Retinol) Deficiency.

Vitamin A, also known as retinol, is a non-water-soluble vitamin. Vitamin A is very important for the proper functioning of the human body. Retinol, especially in the form of retinyl ester, can be found in many animal-based products and is essential for the efficient operation of many physiological processes. Fruits and vegetables are also excellent sources of vitamin A; the majority of them include carotenoids, which are precursors to vitamin A. The human body has the ability to convert natural retinols like retinyl ester, retinoic acid, and provitamin A into biologically active forms that interact with a variety of molecular targets like nuclear receptors and retinal opsins. This review article provides knowledge regarding retinol deficiency in humans. It provides brief information about the sources, etiology, epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of vitamin A deficiency.

Dietary Sources, Bioavailability, and Functions of Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) and Its Role in the Common Cold, Tissue Healing, and Iron Metabolism.

Ascorbic acid is also popularly known as vitamin C or ascorbate. It is a water-soluble vitamin. Ascorbic acid is necessary for bone formation, wound healing, connective tissue growth, and the maintenance of healthy gum tissue. Antioxidants like ascorbic acid shield the body from free radical damage. In many illnesses and conditions, vitamin C is employed as a medicinal agent. It improves the immunity of the body, reduces the severity of allergies, and aids in the management of infectious disorders. Additionally, ascorbic acid has health benefits for conditions including atherosclerosis, cancer, the common cold, iron deficiency anemia, etc. Therefore, continuous efforts may open new avenues to understand the importance of vitamin C in managing various diseases.

Epidemiology, Types, Causes, Clinical Presentation, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Hypothyroidism.

Hypothyroidism means an underactive thyroid gland. This leads to a decrease in the functioning of the thyroid gland. It is a very common endocrine disorder that causes under-secretion of thyroid hormones, mainly thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). It affects people of every age group but is more commonly found in women and older people. The symptoms of hypothyroidism can go unnoticed, may not be specific, and may overlap with other conditions, which makes it harder to diagnose it in some cases. Common symptoms include fatigue, weight gain, increased sensitivity to cold (cold intolerance), irregular bowel movements (constipation), and dry skin (xeroderma). These conditions are mostly the result of a low metabolic rate in the body. Weight gain occurs due to a decrease in fat-burning rate and cold intolerance due to a decrease in heat production by the body. This condition can be caused by a variety of factors, including autoimmune diseases, radiation therapy, thyroid gland removal surgeries, and certain medications. The diagnosis of hypothyroidism is based on laboratory tests that measure the levels of thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) in the blood. Treatment typically involves lifelong hormone replacement therapy with synthetic thyroid hormone replacement medication, such as levothyroxine, to help regulate hormone levels in the body. People with hypothyroidism may need to have their medication dosage adjusted over time. If hypothyroidism is left untreated, it can lead to severe complications like mental retardation, delayed milestones, etc., in infants and heart failure, infertility, myxedema coma, etc., in adults. With appropriate treatment, the symptoms of hypothyroidism can be effectively managed, and most people with the condition can lead normal, healthy lives. Lifestyle modifications like eating healthy food and exercising regularly can help manage the symptoms and improve the quality of life.

Aetiology, Epidemiology, Histopathology, Classification, Detailed Evaluation, and Treatment of Ovarian Cancer.

There are a minimum of five distinct sub-types of ovarian cancer based on histology, each of which has distinct factors of risk, types of cells, molecular makeups, clinical characteristics, and therapeutic approaches. Ovarian cancer is detected usually at later stages, and there is no reliable screening method. Cytoreductive surgery and chemotherapy which use platinum-containing drugs are the standard treatments used for freshly detected cancer. Chemotherapy, drugs that are anti-angiogenic, poly ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitors, and immunological treatments are all used to treat recurrent cancer. The most frequent type of ovarian cancer to be diagnosed is high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC), which often responds well to platinum-based chemotherapy when discovered. However, HGSCs commonly relapse and develop increased treatment resistance in addition to the other histologies. As a result, ovarian cancer research is actively focused on understanding the processes causing platinum resistance and developing strategies to combat it. Serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma is an HGSC precursor lesion. It is one of the early complications seen in ovarian carcinoma. It has been very useful in identifying the people who have a greater chance of developing ovarian cancer and development of strategies to prevent it. This has led to a significant progress for identification of the genes which are found in people with greater chances of development of ovarian carcinoma (for example, the BRCA1 and BRCA2).