The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) virus and resulting COVID‐19 pandemic present important diagnostic evaluation challenges. These range from understanding the value of signs and symptoms in predicting possible infection, assessing whether existing biochemical and imaging tests can identify infection and people needing critical care, and evaluating whether new diagnos...
Vitamin D and Bone Health What is Vitamin D? Vitamin D, first identified as a vitamin early in the 20th century, is now recognized as a prohormone. It is a group of fat-soluble secosteroids that is naturally present in very few foods, responsible for increasing intestinal absorption of calcium, magnesium, and phosphate, and many other biological effects. Vitamin D plays an important ro...
Preface Influenza is a seasonal respiratory illness that occurs annually, usually peaking in winter. It affects 5-10% of adults and 20-30% of children each year.[1] This common, yet serious, infectious disease, represente a significant threat to public health. Globally, annual influenza epidemics are estimated to result in about 3 to 5 million cases of severe illness, millions of hospita...
Stress Hormone: Cortisol—— The Roles and Diseases it Takes Part in Over recent years, due to the changing social environment and increasing challenges, stress and stress-related feelings especially after COVID-19 pandemic are on the rise. These stressors containing global conflicts, personal health, economic downturn, rising up family responsibilities, etc[1]. What are Str...
All About Thyroid Dysfunction What Is the Thyroid? The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in the base of the neck just below the Adam's apple. Although relatively small, the thyroid gland plays a huge role in our body, influencing the function of many of the body’s most important organs, including the heart, brain, liver, kidneys and skin. Ensuring that the thyroid glan...
What Is Osteocalcin? Osteocalcin is the most abundant non-collagenous protein hormone in bone and is produced exclusively by osteoblasts, the cells that build bones. Osteocalcin binds calcium in the bones, working to maintain and regenerate bone tissue.[1] As a kind of hormone, it’s functions also extends to the regulation of whole body metabolism, reproduction, cognition and can be d...
How VB12 Affects Our Lives Vitamin B12 is an important nutrient that helps your body keep your nerve cells and blood cells healthy. It also helps your body make DNA, the genetic material in all of your cells. Your body does not make vitamin B12 on its own, so you have to consume food and drinks that have vitamin B12 in order to get it. Vitamin B12 is found in animal products you eat and drink such...
A Versertile Biomarker for Diagnostic Ferritin Ferritin, derived from Latin 'ferratus' (iron-bearing), was discovered by Victor Laufberger in 1937 in a horse's spleen [1]. It is the only known protein complex capable of storing large amounts of iron and serves as a crucial indicator of iron levels in the human body. The Significance of Iron and Ferritin Iron's exceptional capacity to donate...
