Facts on File Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine

and does not contract unless a laxative stimulates it. Laxatives, and particularly suppositories and enemas, also can irritate t ...

arises from the liver’s workhorse cells, the hepato- cytes. Hepatocytes continually regenerate; researchers believe the continue ...

hepatitis B infection and appropriate measures to limit exposure to hepatitis C. People who already have chronic hepatitis, cirr ...

tic procedures might include abdominal ULTRA- SOUND, COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY(CT) SCAN, or PERCU- TANEOUS LIVER BIOPSY. Treatment Opt ...

months. Repeated attacks of INFLAMMATION pro- gressively kill hepatocytes until the level of hepa- tocytic function falls below ...

levels suggest liver dysfunction. The normal range of serum albumin is 3.4 to 5.4 grams per deciliter (g/dL). Bilirubin One key ...

alkaline phosphatase (ALP), which also goes up in biliary obstruction (blockage of the flow of BILE) gamma-glutamyltranspeptida ...

Donor organs must match BLOOD TYPEand, for OLT, body size. With HLT body size is less impor- tant because the surgeon can select ...

M–N malabsorption Inadequate absorption of NUTRI- ENTS into the BLOODcirculation from the SMALL INTESTINEduring digestion, also ...

bilateral, existing in pairs on each side of the brain. Both receive NERVEand chemical input from body systems. Nausea often pre ...

P pancreas An elongated gland with both endocrine and exocrine functions that lies beneath the STOMACH on the upper left side of ...

acts to slow the release of other digestive enzymes as well. The pancreas releases glucagon when blood glucose levels fall. Gluc ...

Symptoms and Diagnostic Path Acute pancreatitis makes a person very ill, with symptoms that include moderate to severe ABDOM- IN ...

ENDOSCOPY to examine the ESOPHAGUS, stomach, and duodenum often makes the diagnosis, allow- ing the gastroenterologist to visual ...

Symptoms often appear suddenly and are severe. Initially the perforation may provide relief because it releases pressure but the ...

hypertension requires surgical intervention. Shunts can help redirect the flow of blood into the liver and lower portal vein pre ...

BIOPSY. As more damage to the bile ducts occurs, symptoms intensify. Medical interventions for primary sclerosing cholangitis ar ...

R rapid gastric emptying A disorder, also called dumping syndrome, in which food moves from the STOMACHinto the SMALL INTESTINEi ...

See also ANAL FISSURE; CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE; CYSTOCELE; ENDOSCOPY; HEMORRHOIDS; ILEUS; MECO- NIUM; PROCTITIS; RECTOCELE. rec ...

S short bowel syndrome Reduction in the struc- tural or functional length of the SMALL INTESTINE that results in MALABSORPTION, ...