Higher BMI Increases Risk Of Gallstones, Especially In Women
New research reveals a causal association between elevated body mass index (BMI) and increased risk of gallstone disease. Results published in Hepatology, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, show women are at greater risk of developing gallstones. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) describe gallstones as pebble-like material, which can develop when there is excess cholesterol - accounting for 80% of all gallstones - bile salts or bilirubin in bile stored in the gallbladder... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - July 15, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness Source Type: news
Nigeria: 'Adequate Feeding Prevents Jaundice in Babies'
[Vanguard]Undoubtedly, Infant jaundice remains one of the main killers of newborns in Nigeria. It is a medical condition associated with yellow discoloration of a new born baby's skin and eyes. It occurs because the baby's blood contains excess bilirubin, a yellow-coloured pigment of red blood cells. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)
Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine - June 21, 2013 Category: African Health Source Type: news
New fluorescent protein from eel revolutionizes key clinical assay
(RIKEN) Unagi, the sea-going Japanese freshwater eel, harbors a fluorescent protein that could serve as the basis for a revolutionary new clinical test for bilirubin, a critical indicator of human liver function, hemolysis, and jaundice, according to researchers from the RIKEN Brain Science Institute. The discovery also sheds light on the mysterious and endangered Unagi that could contribute to its conservation. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - June 13, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news
Extreme Hyperbilirubinemia and Risk of Symptomatic GallstonesExtreme Hyperbilirubinemia and Risk of Symptomatic Gallstones
Extremely high bilirubin levels increase the risk of symptomatic gallstone disease, Danish researchers say. Reuters Health Information (Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines)
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines - June 10, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Gastroenterology News Source Type: news
New iPhone App Allows Consumers to Test Their Urine on the Go for as Many as 25 Different Diseases
Pathologists and clinical laboratory managers may want to learn more about the UCheck mobile app developed by Biosense Technologies Developers of a new iPhone application claim their app can analyze a urine specimen for up to 25 different diseases. This mobile app is a deliberate attempt to give consumers the ability to perform diagnostic [...] (Source: Dark Daily)
Source: Dark Daily - April 26, 2013 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: jude Tags: Instruments & Equipment Laboratory News Laboratory Pathology AliveCor Android anemia Apple bilirubin biosense technologies bladder cancer cardiogram chronic condition clinical laboratory diabetes diagnostic test digital E Source Type: news
Male Smokers With Low Levels Of Serum Bilirubin At Greater Risk For Lung Cancer
Elevated levels of bilirubin in the blood get attention in the clinic because they often indicate that something has gone wrong with the liver. Now researchers have found that male smokers with low levels of the yellow-tinged chemical are at higher risk for lung cancer and dying from the disease. A team led by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center reported its findings in a late-breaking abstract at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013 in Washington, D.C... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - April 10, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Lung Cancer Source Type: news
Old Biomarker May Have New Role in Lung Ca (CME/CE)
WASHINGTON (MedPage Today) -- Bilirubin, which is considered a useful liver function marker, may also point to smokers at increased risk for lung cancer. (Source: MedPage Today Meeting Coverage)
Source: MedPage Today Meeting Coverage - April 9, 2013 Category: Journals (General) Source Type: news
Low levels of serum bilirubin spell higher lung cancer risk for male smokers
Elevated levels of bilirubin in the blood get attention in the clinic
because they often indicate that something has gone wrong with the
liver. Now researchers have found that male smokers with low levels of
the yellow-tinged chemical are at higher risk for lung cancer and dying
from the disease. (Source: M. D. Anderson Cancer Center - News Releases)
Source: M. D. Anderson Cancer Center - News Releases - April 8, 2013 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news
Low levels of serum bilirubin spell higher lung cancer risk for male smokers
(University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center) A study shows metabolite biomarker could improve spiral CT screening, help detect disease early. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - April 7, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news
Is EBV a Common Cause of Elevated Liver Enzymes?
Discussion
Infectious mononucleosis is caused by an Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) infection causing the triad of fever, sore throat and adenopathy.
The differential diagnosis of clinical presentations similar to EBV includes:
Viral
Cytomegalovirus
Herpes simplex
Hepatitis A, B, C
HIV
Varicella
Bacterial/Spirochete
Brucellosis
Leptospirosis
Syphilis
Q fever
Miscellaneous
Autoimmune hepatitis
Drug side effects
Ischemia
Wilson Disease
Treatment for EBV infections is mainly supportive. Anti-viral medications such as ganciclovir are usually used for severe problems. Liver failure has been treated by transplant.
Refraining fr...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - April 1, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Donna M. D'Alessandro, M.D. Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news
Changing the face of Midaortic Syndrome treatment to save Sofia
The American Journal of Transplantation recently published a paper, documenting a first-of-its-kind treatment for midaortic syndrome, as performed by Khashayar Vakili, MD, of Boston Children’s Department of Surgery and Heung Bae Kim, MD, director of Boston Children’s Pediatric Transplant Center.
In the following blog Marcus Groff, father of the patient described in the Journal of Transplantation, writes about his daughter’s revolutionary surgery at Boston Children’s.
Sofia
Two years ago my wife and I were anxiously waiting outside the NICU of our local hospital at four in the morning. Inside, our...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - February 25, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Guest Blogger Tags: All posts Diseases & conditions Heart conditions Our patients’ stories Heung Bae Kim kidney transplant midaortic syndrome Midaortic Syndrome and Renovascular Hypertension (MAS/RVH) Program our patients' stories Pediatric Transplant Cen Source Type: news
HRT and Gallstones
Gallstones (Cholecystitis) is a disease where stones become lodged in the gallbladder ducts. This can cause infection and inflammation with a great deal of pain. Around 75-80% of gallstones are known to ‘cholesterol stones’, the majority of the remainder are bilirubin pigment stones.
It is known that the risk of developing gallstones does increase with age (there is an urban myth that says they affect the ‘fair, fat and forty’), and they are more common in women, suggesting that there is a link between hormonal levels and the development of gallstones.
However, it does appear that taking HRT can inc...
Source: The Hysterectomy Association - February 11, 2013 Category: OBGYN Authors: Linda Parkinson-Hardman Tags: HRT News gallstones Oestrogen Source Type: news
Neonatal Cholestasis
Cholestatic jaundice is a common presenting feature of neonatal hepatobiliary and metabolic dysfunction. Any infant who remains jaundiced beyond age 2 to 3 weeks should have the serum bilirubin level fractionated into a conjugated (direct) and unconjugated (indirect) portion. Conjugated hyperbilirubinemia is never physiologic or normal. The differential diagnosis of cholestasis is extensive, and a step-wise approach based on the initial history and physical examination is useful to rapidly identify the underlying etiology. Early recognition of neonatal cholestasis is essential to ensure timely treatment and optimal prognos...
Source: NeoReviews recent issues - February 1, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Feldman, A. G., Sokol, R. J. Tags: Fetus and Newborn Infant Articles Source Type: news
FDA warns of liver injury risk with tolvaptan
Source: BioSpace , FDA
Area: News
The FDA and Otsuka America Pharmaceuticals have notified healthcare professionals of significant liver injury associated with the use of tolvaptan. In a double-blind, 3-year, placebo-controlled trial in about 1400 patients with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) and its open-label extension trial, 3 patients treated with the drug developed significant increases in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) with concomitant, clinically significant increases in serum total bilirubin. Most of the liver enzyme abnormalities were observed during the first 18 months of therapy. In t...
Source: NeLM - News - January 28, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
Samsca (tolvaptan): Drug Warning - Potential Risk of Liver Injury
Large clinical trial findings of significant elevations of both ALT and bilirubin. (Source: FDA MedWatch)
Source: FDA MedWatch - January 25, 2013 Category: American Health Source Type: news
