AIDS, AIDS tests, Alanine aminotransferase test, Alcohol-related neurologic disease, Alcoholism

AIDS: 

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is an infec¬tious disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It was first recognized in the United States in 1981. AIDS is the advanced form of infection with the HIV virus, which may not cause recognizable disease for a long period after the initial exposure (latency). No vaccine is currently available to prevent HIV infection. At present, all forms of AIDS therapy are focused on improving the quality and length of life for AIDS patients by slowing or halting the replication of the virus and treating or preventing infections and cancers that take advantage of a person’s weakened immune system.

AIDS tests:

 AIDS tests, short for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome tests, cover a number of different procedures used in the diagnosis and treatment of HIV patients. These tests are sometimes called AIDS serology tests. Serology is the branch of immunology that deals with the contents and character¬istics of blood serum. Serum is the clear light yellow part of blood that remains liquid when blood cells form a clot. AIDS serology evaluates the presence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in blood serum and its effects on each patient’s immune system.

Alanine aminotransferase test: 

The alanine aminotransferase test, also known as ALT, is one of a group of tests known as liver function tests (or LFTs) and is used to monitor damage to the liver.
Albinism: Albinism is an inherited condition present at birth, characterized by a lack of pigment that normally gives color to the skin, hair, and eyes. Many types of albinism exist, all of which involve lack of pigment in varying degrees. The condi¬tion, which is found in all races, may be accompanied by eye problems and may lead to skin cancer later in life.

Alcohol-related neurologic disease: 

Alcohol, or ethanol, is a poi¬son with direct toxic effects on nerve and muscle cells. Depend¬ing on which nerve and muscle pathways are involved, alcohol can have far-reaching effects on different parts of the brain, peripheral nerves, and muscles, with symptoms of memory loss, incoordination, seizures, weakness, and sensory deficits. These different effects can be grouped in three main categories:
(1) intoxication due to the acute effects of ethanol,
(2) withdrawal syndrome from suddenly stopping drinking, and
(3) disorders related to long-term or chronic alcohol abuse. Alcohol-related neurologic disease includes Wernicke-Korsakoff disease, alco-holic cerebellar degeneration, alcoholic myopathy, alcoholic neuropathy, alcohol withdrawal syndrome with seizures and delirium tremens, and fetal alcohol syndrome.

Alcoholism: 

The essential feature of alcohol abuse is the mal-adaptive use of alcohol with recurrent and significant adverse consequences related to its repeated use. Alcoholism is the popular term for two disorders, alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence. The hallmarks of both these disorders involve repeated life problems that can be directly attributed to the use of alcohol. Both these disorders can have serious conse-quences, affecting an individual’s health and personal life, as by slowing or halting the replication of the virus and treating or preventing infections and cancers that take advantage of a person’s weakened immune system