What is Aralen (chloroquine), and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Chloroquine (Aralen) and its sister drug hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) are under investigation for treatment of the COVID-19 coronavirus disease Korean doctors used these anti-malaria drugs to treat COVID-19 with some success, according to a paper filed with Elsevier in March 2020. A tiny French …
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How is bariatric surgery performed? Photo showing the bariatric surgery procedure. Bariatric surgery is performed under general anesthesia. Most bariatric surgeries are laparoscopic, but some patients may need a conventional surgery. The procedure may last several hours. A surgeon specialized in bariatric surgery will perform the procedure. A gastroenterologist is integral in caring for the patient before and after the …
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What is Verzenio (abemaciclib), and what is it used for? Verzenio (abemaciclib) is a drug in oral tablet form that attacks tumor cells in patients with HR+/HER2- breast cancer. Specialists prescribe it as part of a combination of drugs that also includes an aromatase inhibitor. Verzenio is a CDK4 and 6 inhibitor. CDK4 and 6 are proteins that govern how …
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What is a colonoscopy? A colonoscope includes a camera, light, and surgical tools to examine the colon. The digestive system processes and eliminates waste after digestion. The colon and rectum are the final portions of the digestive system and are also referred to as the large bowel or large intestine. A colonoscopy is a diagnostic procedure to evaluate the health …
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What is a lumbar discectomy? In a discectomy, surgeons remove part or all of a damaged disc or discs in the spinal column. A spinal disc is a sponge-like cushion located between the bones of the spine. Discs act as shock absorbers and allow the spine to flex. When a disc ruptures (herniates) it prolapses and presses on the nearby …
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What is Veltassa (patiromer), and what is it used for? Veltassa is indicated for the treatment of hyperkalemia, or high levels of potassium. High levels of potassium usually are caused by kidney or adrenal gland malfunctions and may cause Nausea Fatigue Weakness Slow heartbeat Veltassa works in the colon by binding with potassium from your food and preventing your body …
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What is bariatric surgery? There are different forms of bariatric surgery, but they all aim to shrink the stomach and sometimes affect nutrient absorption to help the patient lose weight. Bariatric surgery is an operation on the digestive system to help an obese person lose weight. The surgery restricts calorie intake by reducing the size of the stomach. Some types …
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What is stereotactic radiosurgery? Stereotactic radiosurgery is a way to deliver radiation to tumors or other abnormalities deep in the brain or other hard-to-reach areas of the body. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is a radiation treatment that uses focused delivery of radiation in high doses to precise locations in the body. It is used to treat certain tumors and other abnormalities …
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What is a discography? A lumbar discography is an imaging test to identify damage to a spinal disc discs in the lower back causing pain or discomfort. A discography, or discogram, is an imaging test of the spine to determine which particular disc is causing a patient’s back pain. The doctor injects a dye into a specific disc to reveal …
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What is transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation? TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) delivers current to sore muscles, reducing pain for many. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a therapy that provides short-term pain relief using low-voltage electric current. It is noninvasive, inexpensive and can even be self-administered. It is one of the most popular forms of electric therapy for pain relief. …
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