Cyril Kazan

1 Introduction Podocytes are highly specialized epithelial cells that are critical for plasma filtration in the kidney glomerulus. They possess interdigitated actin-based projections, known as foot processes, which wrap around capillaries and form filtration structures called the slit diaphragms. Podocyte injury and the subsequent disruption of the glomerular filtration barrier result in proteinuric kidney diseases, which could eventually lead to kidney failure (Kriz and Lemley, 2015).

Pain is one of the most common reasons why people seek medical attention. The most popular medications people reach for when experiencing pain are anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen—also known as Advil. But according to a new study led by Dr. Luda Diatchenko, a renowned pain researcher and professor of medicine and dentistry at McGill, these drugs may actually prevent pain resolution and promote the development of chronic pain.

Prevalent in habitats ranging from rainforests in Central and South America to deserts in the Middle East and Africa, a devastating protozoan parasite carried by tiny flies infects over a million people each year. This parasite, which belongs to the Leishmania genus, enters the body through the bite of an infected sand fly. Once inside the body, the parasite can cause two types of disease: Visceral or cutaneous leishmaniasis.