What are antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA)? Readers Comments 2 Share Your Story Between 95 and 98% of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) have autoantibodies (antibodies to self) in their blood that react with the inner lining of mitochondria. These autoantibodies are called antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA). Mitochondria are the energy factories present inside all of our...
What are cold sores vs. herpes? Cold sores are small blisters that appear on the lips and face. They are caused by the herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1). Genital herpes is caused by the HSV-2 virus and it is spread by sexual contact. Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 can cause sores on the mouth and genitals. Cold...
What is fundoplication? Readers Comments 47 Share Your Story Fundoplication is a surgery used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) by strengthening the barrier to acid reflux when the sphincter does not function normally. Fundoplication is the standard surgical method for treating gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD causes inflammation, pain (heartburn), and other serious complications...
Hirschsprung disease definition and facts* Medical facts edited by Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD Hirschsprung disease is a congenital disease where the large intestine does not have nerve cells needed to expel stools (feces) normally from the body. About one in 5000 newborns have Hirschsprung disease. Symptoms in newborns include: No bowel movement within 48...
What is an appendectomy? An inflammed or ruptured appendix may be removed through an incision in the abdomen. Appendectomy is the surgical removal of the appendix. It is most often performed as an emergency surgery for appendicitis. Occasionally while a patient undergoes an abdominal surgery for other reasons, the appendix might be removed to prevent...
NOTICE I am not a doctor and the information that follows is not intended as medical advice. It is written to give you an idea of how I survived my operation and some of the things I found helpful along the way. All medical advice should be obtained from your doctor. If you have questions...
A woman experiencing abdominal pain.Source: iStock Facts you should know about diverticulosis and diverticulitis Readers Comments 25 Share Your Story Most people with diverticulosis (diverticular disease) have few or no symptoms, and the symptoms that occur with diverticulosis probably are not caused by the diverticula, even though this has been referred to as "diverticular disease."...
Illustration of the colonoscope in the colon during a colonoscopy procedure.Source: MedicineNet What is a colonoscopy? Readers Comments 100 Share Your Story Colonoscopy is a procedure that enables an examiner (usually a gastroenterologist) to evaluate the inside of the colon (large intestine or large bowel). The colonoscope is a four-foot long, flexible tube about the...
Introduction to hemodialysis Hemodialysis is the most common method used to treat advanced and permanent kidney failure. Since the 1960s, when hemodialysis first became a practical treatment for kidney failure, we’ve learned much about how to make hemodialysis treatments more effective and minimize side effects. In recent years, more compact and simpler dialysis machines have...
A woman suffers from colitis abdominal pain. There are numerous causes of colitis including infection, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are two types of IBD), ischemic colitis, allergic reactions, and microscopic colitis.Source: Getty Images Colitis definition and facts Colitis refers to inflammation of the inner lining of the colon. There are numerous...