Hdkino Health and Medical Information

What is Lipitor (atorvastatin)? How does it work (mechanism of action)? Lipitor (atorvastatin) is type of statin that lowers the level of cholesterol in the blood. All statins, including atorvastatin, prevent the production of cholesterol in the liver by blocking HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme that makes cholesterol. Statins reduce total cholesterol as well as LDL …

Multiple sclerosis (MS) and pregnancy definitions and facts Share Your Story Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune condition that results in a disruption of information signals between the body and the brain that can cause neurological symptoms. MS is more prevalent in women of childbearing age than in any other group. Symptoms of multiple sclerosis include: Pain Bladder and bowel …

Tommy John surgery (ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction) facts Share Your Story The ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) is the major stabilizer of the elbow. UCL injury is an overuse injury, most often caused by the repetitive motion of throwing. Symptoms include pain over the medial part of the elbow that worsens with throwing and gets better with rest. Usually, health care …

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 treating vaginal, oral, and esophageal …

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 …