Research advancements in the field
While it has been commonly known that the influenza virus increases ones chances of contracting pneumonia or meningitis caused by the streptococcus pneumonaie bacteria, new medical research in mice indicates that the flu is actually a necessary component for the transmission of the disease. Researcher Dimitri Diavatopoulo from the Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre in the Netherlands describes his observations in mice, stating that in these animals, the spread of the bacteria only occurs between animals already infected with the influenza virus, not between those without it. He says that these findings have only been inclusive in mice, however, he believes that the same could be true for humans. Mechanism of disease manifestation
Three stages can be used to categorize the infection process of pneumococcal pneumonia: transmission, colonization, and invasion. The Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) leave the colonized host via shedding in order to be transmissible to new hosts, and must survive in the environment until infection of a new host (unless direct transmission occurs). Animal models have allowed scientists to have an increased understanding of these stages of infection. Transmission
In order for transmission to occur, there must be close contact with a carrier or amongst carriers. The likelihood of this increases during colder, dryer months of the year. The probability of transmission is shown to proliferate in coordination with other upper respiratory tract (URT) infections. Animal models have allowed for an increased understanding of the transmission stage during infection.
Skull bossing is a descriptive term in medical physical examination indicating a protuberance of the skull, most often in the frontal bones of the forehead ("frontal bossing"). Although prominence of the skull bones may be normal, skull bossing may be associated with certain medical conditions, including nutritional, metabolic, hormonal, and hematologic disorders. Frontal bossing
Frontal bossing is the development of an unusually pronounced forehead which may also be associated with a heavier than normal brow ridge. It is caused by enlargement of the frontal bone, often in conjunction with abnormal enlargement of other facial bones, skull, mandible, and bones of the hands and feet. Frontal bossing may be seen in a few rare medical syndromes such as acromegaly – a chronic medical disorder in which the anterior pituitary gland produces excess growth hormone (GH). Frontal bossing may also occur in diseases resulting in chronic anemia, where there is increased hematopoiesis and enlargement of the medullary cavities of the skull. Associated medical disorders
Rickets
Achondroplasia
Acromegaly
Basal cell nevus syndrome
Congenital syphilis
Cleidocranial dysostosis
Crouzon syndrome
Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndrome (CAPS – PFS)
Ectodermal dysplasia
Extramedullary hematopoiesis
Fragile X syndrome
Hurler syndrome
Osteopathia Striata with Cranial Sclerosis
Pfeiffer syndrome
Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome
Russell-Silver syndrome (Russell-Silver dwarf)
Thanatophoric dysplasia
Talfan syndrome
Trimethadione (antiseizure drug) use during pregnancy
Beta-thalassemia (due to expansion of bone marrow secondary to increased hematopoiesis; see Extramedullary hematopoiesis)
Hallermann-Streiff syndrome


== References ==