What is Diflucan (fluconazole)? How does it work (mechanism of action)? Diflucan (fluconazole) is an anti-fungal medication related to clotrimazole (Lotrimin), ketoconazole (Nizoral), itraconazole (Sporanox), and miconazole (Micatin, Monistat). Fluconazole prevents growth of fungi by preventing production of the membranes that surround fungal cells. What are the uses for Diflucan (fluconazole)? Diflucan is used for …

What is acetaminophen? How does it work (mechanism of action)? Acetaminophen belongs to a class of drugs called analgesics (pain relievers) and antipyretics (fever reducers). The exact mechanism of action of acetaminophen is not known. It may reduce the production of prostaglandins in the brain. Prostaglandins are chemicals that cause inflammation and swelling. Acetaminophen relieves pain by elevating the pain …

What are the liver-related procdures and tests? Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) Blood Test Antimitochondrial Antibody (AMA) Test Antinuclear Antibody (ANA) Test CAT Scan Chemoinfusion and Chemoembolization of the Liver (TACE) Cholecystectomy Cholescintigraphy Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) Laparoscopy Liver Biopsy Liver Blood Tests Liver Resection MRI Scan Proton Beam Therapy of the Liver Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) Therapy Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic …

What is the lactose tolerance test? The lactose tolerance test is a test for diagnosing an intolerance of ingested lactose. Lactose intolerance is a genetic condition in which individuals are unable to digest and absorb the lactose sugar in cow’s milk. What is lactose intolerance? Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest the sugar in milk, lactose. Milk is an …

What is endoscopy? Standard upper gastrointestinal endoscopes (120 cm flexible tubes with a light and camera on their tips) are capable of reaching only a foot or so past the stomach into the small intestine. If abnormalities are located within this area, these endoscopes have working channels through which surgical instruments can be passed so that diagnostic and therapeutic procedures …

What is proton beam therapy and for what is it used? Proton beam therapy is a type of radiation therapy that uses protons instead of X-rays (photons) and can be used for the treatment of various solid tumors, including liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma or HCC). Protons are positively charged particles that, produced with high energy, can destroy cancer cells. Proton …

Tips for trying to conceive* Readers Comments 10 Share Your Story *Trying to conceive facts medically edited by: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD If you are trying to get pregnant (conceive), you have the best chance of success if you are aware of your menstrual cycle and changes that happen to your body during that time. It helps to know when …

Nipah virus infection (NiV) facts Share Your Story Nipah virus (NiV) is a member of the family Paramyxoviridae, genus Henipavirus and is related to Hendra virus that infects horses. NiV is a zoonotic virus (a disease that animals can transmit to humans, known as a zoonosis); the virus often infects animals such as pigs and fruit bats (Pteropodidae), but they …

Thymoma facts A thymoma is a type of tumor or growth in the thymus gland. Thymic tumors are tumors of the thymus gland. Physicians describe thymomas in terms of their degree of spread. Most thymomas have the potential to behave like a cancer and spread beyond the thymus, but many appear to behave in a benign fashion and are noninvasive. …

What is erenumab (Aimovig)? How does it work (mechanism of action)? Erenumab (Aimovig) is a new medication used for preventing migraine attacks. It received the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) approval on May 17, 2018. It belongs to a new class of drugs called calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor (CGRP-R) antagonist. CGRP-R is a chemical produced by the body that acts …