“Both eczema and psoriasis can cause a rash — patches of red, raised, itchy skin — and they can appear in the same places of the body, such as the hands and scalp. Neither condition is contagious but both can lead to infections. An experienced dermatologist may be able to spot the differences, but to the untrained eye, it’s hard to tell.  More than 32 million Americans will have atopic dermatitis, a form of eczema, in their life. About 7.5 million Americans have psoriasis.  The biggest difference between eczema and psoriasis is the underlying causes.

If you have eczema, summer might not be your favorite season. Some people with eczema are sensitive to heat. In hot weather, overheating can cause perspiration, which can lead to skin flare.

However, for most psoriasis patients, abundant natural ultraviolet B (UVB) light from sunshine can be a blessing. UVB light can slow down the abnormal growth of skin cells. It is used as a medical treatment for psoriasis for some.

But remember, too much of a good thing can become damaging. If you go sunbathing without using sunscreen or are exposed to sunlight for too long, overexposure can trigger psoriasis symptoms. If you start to feel itchy or see red spots, get out of the sun!”.

Penn Medicine (https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/health-and-wellness/2022/march/psoriasis)

If you suffer from itchy, red and dry skin you’ve probably tried every cream, ointment and lotion on the market to treat your eczema. But if you’ve tried it all and can’t seem to calm your itchy skin it might be because there’s another skin condition that can have visually similar symptoms and your eczema cream probably won’t work for it. It’s called psoriasis.

Eczema and psoriasis are like twins — they have a similar look, but deep down, they are fundamentally different.

So What is the difference?

If you suffer from itchy, red and dry skin you’ve probably tried every cream, ointment and lotion on the market to treat your eczema. But if you’ve tried it all and can’t seem to calm your itchy skin it might be because there’s another skin condition that can have visually similar symptoms and your eczema cream probably won’t work for it. It’s called psoriasis.

Eczema and psoriasis are like twins — they have a similar look, but deep down, they are fundamentally different!

“The National Toxicology Program (NTP) recently released a report about how persistent night shift work is related to cancer risk (1). This report follows a similar evaluation released in July, 2019 by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) (2), an update of their 2007 report (3). Both agencies reviewed existing studies of night shift work and cancer and both convened experts in the fields of human, animal, and basic science research. In the recent NTP report, it was concluded that there is “high confidence” that persistent night shift work that results in circadian disruption can cause human cancer.

In addition to cancer, night shift work has been associated with type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, metabolic disorders, and sleep disorders (4). Night shift workers might also have an increased risk for reproductive issues, such as irregular menstrual cycles, miscarriage, and preterm birth. Digestive problems and some psychological issues, such as stress and depression are more common among night shift workers. The fatigue associated with nightshift can lead to injuries, vehicle crashes, and industrial disasters (5).”

CDC – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2021/04/27/nightshift-cancer/).

“Do you often feel tired and groggy in the morning, even on nights when you’ve gotten enough sleep? It’s a frustrating experience, but there may be a simple explanation: you have poor sleep quality. Poor sleep quality can impair your focus (concentration), worsen your mood, and is even linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease.”.

Sleep Deprivation (https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-hygiene/how-to-determine-poor-quality-sleep)

“The rarest blood type in existence is Rh null blood. This stuff is characterized by a complete lack of antigens in the Rh system, which is the largest blood group system. Besides making someone feel really special, Rhnull and other rare bloods are extremely valuable. Because Rh null blood can be considered ‘universal’ blood for anyone with rare blood types within the Rh system, its life-saving capability is enormous. As such, it’s also highly prized by doctors – although it will be given to patients only in extreme circumstances, and after very careful consideration, because it may be nigh on impossible to replacef”

Discovery (https://www.discovery.com/science/Rhnull-Rarest-Blood-Type-on-Earth)

Blood type (also called blood group) is genetically determined. Blood is primarily categorised based on the presence and/or absence of antigens on the surface of our red blood cells (RBCs). Antigens are distinct molecules or substances capable of coaxing an immune response. Our immune system sends out mini soldiers called antibodies (also known as immunoglobulins), which are special proteins that recognise and bind to these antigens.

If our antibodies recognise these antigens as allies or naturally part of our body, our immune system happily leaves it alone.  But if they detect enemy or foreign antigens, our immune system will go on an all-out war to destroy them. This is the reason you need give the blood type and Rh factor (positive or negative) that a patient is if they need blood transfusions to prevent this destructive action to take place unless your the universal donor type O with no antibodies.  Unfortunately, our immune system isn’t perfect. In rare cases, it does attack ‘self’ antigens, as seen in some cases of autoimmune blood disorders.

You might be familiar with the ABO blood group system. When you ask someone what blood type they are, they might respond with “AB”. They are referring to this most important blood group system in human-blood transfusion. It comprises of only two antigens (antigen A and antigen B), but it can produce these four ABO blood types: A, B, AB or O.  At present, the International Society of Blood Transfusion recognises 36 human blood group systems and more than 300 different antigens.  The most common are type ABO and AB blood types.

Why does Rh positive or negative matter in knowing for your blood type?

The Rh blood group system has a colourful history. It consists of 61 blood group antigens (Rh antigens), which are expressed as part of a protein complex found only in RBC membranes. Rh antigens are believed to be essential for maintaining the integrity of RBCs.

Briefly going back to ABO blood group system, some people might tell you that they’re “O negative” or “A positive”. The negative/positive part refers to the absence or presence of one Rh antigen: the Rh(D) antigen. It’s the main Rh antigen considered for human-blood transfusion.

So what is Rh Null?

People who have the ‘golden blood’ type lack these Rh antigens. Their DNA lacks the genes responsible for building those RBC protein complexes. These people don’t just lack one, two or three of these 61 Rh antigens, they actually lack all of them. Yes, you read that right: all of them. As you might have guessed, people with Rh Null blood type have abnormal RBCs. They have deformed shapes, leaky membranes and shorter lifespans, which sometimes result in mild anaemia for the individual. Still, the absence of all Rh antigens makes Rh null the ‘golden blood’, which is highly admired for its rarity and medical purposes.

Rare blood types within the Rh blood type system can make it difficult or even impossible to get a blood transfusion. This makes Rh Null blood as the ‘universal’ life-saving blood for the Rh blood type system (especially if the donor has an ABO blood type O too).

But rarity comes at a price. If people with Rh Null blood type requires a blood transfusion, they can only receive Rh_null blood themselves. Even if they receive an O-negative blood, the presence of other Rh antigens on the RBCs may trigger a severe immune response. Therefore, these ‘golden blood’ carriers are solely dependent on other Rh Null donors, but only a few of them regularly donate and they are all spread out across the world.

This is why Rh Null blood is considered as the ‘golden blood’, but it’s not all sunshine and rainbows for those people who carry it. Still, we can’t deny the life-saving properties of this rare blood type and we can deeply appreciate the generosity of those selfless donors.

“Children with Moebius syndrome often have trouble moving their faces.  They may also have trouble feeding. Some children with Moebius syndrome also have abnormal development in the limbs or chest muscles.  Moebius syndrome is not progressive, meaning it does not get worse over time.  Moebius syndrome is very rare. The exact incidence is unknown, but some estimates are 2 to 20 cases per million births.”

Cleveland Clinic (https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/6064-moebius-syndrome)

“Moebius syndrome is a rare neurological disorder characterized by weakness or paralysis (palsy) of multiple cranial nerves, most often the 6th (abducens) and 7th (facial) nerves. Other cranial nerves are sometimes affected. The disorder is present at birth (congenital). If the 7th nerve is involved, the individual with Moebius syndrome is unable to smile, frown, pucker the lips, raise the eyebrows, or close the eyelids. If the 6th nerve is affected, the eye cannot turn outward past the midline. Other abnormalities include underdevelopment of the pectoral muscles and defects of the limbs. Moebius syndrome is not progressive. The exact cause is unknown. It appears to occur randomly (sporadically) in most cases; however, some cases occur in families suggesting that there may be a genetic component.”

NORD (https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/moebius-syndrome/)