COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by a virus called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This virus is part of a large family of viruses known as coronaviruses. The coronavirus family includes many different types of viruses, some that cause disease in humans and some that cause disease in animals. SARS-CoV-2 is closely …
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A virus is an incredibly small biological agent capable of infecting animals, plants, bacteria, and fungi. The typical virus is approximately 1/10 the size of a single bacteria and 1/100 to 1/1000 the size of a human cell. What are the parts of a typical virus? Although there are many different types of viruses (see …
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A meningioma is a type of tumor that develops from cells in the meninges, the thin layers of tissue that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord. More specifically, meningiomas arise from meningothelial cells in the arachnoid mater, one of the protective layers. Most meningiomas are well-circumscribed, meaning the tumor has a clear border …
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Medullary thyroid carcinoma is a rare type of thyroid cancer that starts from C cells (also called parafollicular cells). The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland at the front of the neck. Most thyroid cancers begin in follicular cells, which make thyroid hormone. Medullary thyroid carcinoma differs because it arises from C cells, which produce a hormone …
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What is nodular thyroid hyperplasia? Nodular thyroid hyperplasia is a non-cancerous type of growth involving the thyroid gland. The abnormal growth can affect one-half of the gland (one lobe) or the entire gland (both lobes and the isthmus). It is the most common cause of nodules in the thyroid gland. Other names for this condition …
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Mesothelioma is a cancer that starts in mesothelial cells — the specialized cells that form a thin lining around internal organs. This lining, called the mesothelium, is found around the lungs (the pleura), around the abdominal organs (the peritoneum), and around the heart (the pericardium). The large majority of mesotheliomas — roughly 75–80% — arise …
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Melanoma in situ is an early, non-invasive form of skin cancer that arises from melanocytes, the cells that produce melanin. In healthy skin, melanocytes sit in a neat row at the bottom of the epidermis — the thin outer layer of the skin. In melanoma in situ, these cells have become cancerous and have grown in abnormal …
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SOX10 is a protein that helps control how certain types of cells grow, develop, and function in the body. It plays a particularly important role in the development of cells in the nervous system and melanocytes, which are pigment-producing cells found in the skin. Pathologists use SOX10 as a marker to identify tumours that arise …
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p40 is a specialized protein that helps pathologists identify specific types of cells, especially squamous cells, which are found on surfaces like the skin, the lining of the mouth and throat, and parts of the lungs and urinary tract. p40 is a shortened version (or “isoform”) of another protein called p63, but it is more …
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Calcification is the buildup of calcium salts within body tissue where calcium is not normally found in significant amounts. While calcium is essential in bones and teeth — where it provides strength and structure — its accumulation in soft tissues such as the breast, arteries, lymph nodes, or organs is abnormal and can signal a …
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