PrimeViews in 2016

Sheehan syndrome or postpartum hypopituitarism is a condition characterized by hypopituitarism due to necrosis of the pituitary gland. The initial insult is caused by massive postpartum haemorrhage, leading to impaired blood supply to the pituitary gland, which has become enlarged during pregnancy.

Lyme borreliosis is a tick-borne disease, caused by three genospecies of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, that can cause a distinctive skin lesion, and neurological and cardiovascular symptoms. This PrimeView focuses on the epidemiology of Lyme borreliosis.

Hookworms are soil-transmitted human parasites that can survive and multiply in the small intestine for years. This PrimeView illustrates how hookworms feed on the host's blood and focuses on their complex interactions with the host's immune system and commensal microbiota.

This PrimeView on carcinogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) infection highlights the need for more reliable tests and strategies to predict cancer risk of a given HPV lesion.

Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated disease characterized by cutaneous manifestations (often red, scaly plaques) and rheumatological complications (psoriatic arthritis). This PrimeView highlights the pathological mechanisms that lead to psoriatic lesions, in particular, the altered immune responses.

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can affect people of all ages and are a major cause of disability and death worldwide. The mechanisms of TBIs, including axonal injury, inflammation and vascular disturbances, are highlighted in this PrimeView.

Neuroblastoma is a neuroendocrine tumour of early childhood and results in tumours in the adrenal glands and/or sympathetic ganglia. This PrimeView focuses on the diagnosis of neuroblastoma, which encompasses laboratory tests, radiographic imaging and tumour biopsy.

Community-acquired bacterial meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges and a medical emergency. This PrimeView focuses on its mechanisms, following the bacteria as they infect the host, migrate to the bloodstream and infiltrate the cerebrospinal fluid.

This PrimeView highlights the complex nature of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection; it can remain latent and asymptomatic in the lungs or progress to active tuberculosis disease, which requires prolonged treatment with multiple antibiotics and has high morbidity and mortality in high-burden, resource-poor settings.

This PrimeView focuses on the mechanisms underlying the development of mitochondrial diseases, a group of genetic disorders caused by mutations in the mitochondrial or nuclear genomes that encode proteins involved in mitochondrial function.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a joint disorder that results from a combination of risk factors, of which increasing age and obesity are the most important. This PrimeView focuses on the epidemiology, mechanisms, diagnosis and management of OA.

Osteoporosis, which is characterized by low bone mass and micro-architectural deterioration of bone tissue, increases bone fragility and the risk of fractures. Half of women >50 years of age will experience an osteoporotic bone fracture during their lifetime, which has a considerable impact on quality of life.

This PrimeView highlights the mechanisms underlying the development of primary open-angle glaucoma, an optic neuropathy that is characterized by deformation of the optic nerve head and visual impairment.

This PrimeView highlights the diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder, a psychiatric condition that is characterized by persistent depressed mood, diminished interests, impaired cognitive function and vegetative symptoms.

Otitis media (OM) or inflammation of the middle ear is an umbrella term that encapsulates acute OM, OM with effusion and chronic suppurative OM. This PrimeView focuses on the diagnosis of OM, which mainly depends on clinical signs and symptoms, accompanied by diagnostic modalities.

This PrimeView highlights the pathophysiology of infective endocarditis (IE), which results from infection usually bacterial of the endocardial surface of the heart. IE can have cardiac, pulmonary, renal and neurovascular manifestations, among others.

This PrimeView highlights the genetic alterations that are associated with the development of ovarian cancer, including genes that have a role in homologous recombination and DNA mismatch repair.

Dengue is caused by infection with any of the four dengue virus serotypes. This PrimeView highlights the mechanisms underlying the clinical course of a dengue infection, which can range from mild febrile illness through to haemorrhagic fever and circulatory shock.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects 5–20% of women of reproductive age. This PrimeView focuses on the complex aetiologies and interplay between mechanisms that result in and perpetuate the clinical features of PCOS, including hyperandrogenism, ovulatory dysfunction and polycystic ovarian morphology.

This PrimeView highlights the mechanisms of α1-antitrypsin deficiency (A1ATD), an inherited disorder caused by mutations in SERPINA1. A1ATD leads to liver and lung disease and can be associated with substantial morbidity and increased mortality.