Cirrhosis: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
Cirrhosis is a potentially fatal condition that causes scarring on the liver. This scarring is irreversible, although it can be slowed down.Contributor: Rena SherwoodPublished: Feb 01, 2013 (Source: Most Recent Health Wellness - Associated Content)
Source: Most Recent Health Wellness - Associated Content - February 1, 2013 Category: Other Conditions Source Type: blogs
Tolvaptan: Vasopressin Antagonist
Tolvaptan is vasopressin antagonist which acts on the V2 receptors in the renal tubules. Activation of V2 receptors increases water permeability in the renal collecting duct resulting in passive reabsorption of water. This causes aquaresis or free water clearance. Syndrome of inappropriate anti-diuretic hormone secretion (SIADH), heart failure and cirrhosis can be associated with increased secretion of arginine vasopressin (AVP). This leads to water retention or inadequate water excretion and hyponatremia (dilutional hyponatremia). Tolvaptan binds to V2 receptors and induces excretion of electrolyte-free water without al...
Source: Cardiophile MD - January 19, 2013 Category: Cardiology Authors: Prof. (Dr.) Johnson Francis MD, DM, FACC, FRCP Edin Tags: General Source Type: blogs
Over Transfused
A new paper from NEJM indicates that perhaps we need to re-calibrate our blood transfusion strategies in patients with severe upper gastrointestinal bleeds. Patients were randomly assigned to liberal (transfuse for HgB under 9) vs restrictive (transfuse only for HgB under 7) transfusion treatment protocols and outcomes were measured (survival, bleeding, portal venous gradients, etc).
The probability of survival was slightly higher with the restrictive strategy than with the liberal strategy in the subgroup of patients who had bleeding associated with a peptic ulcer (hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% CI, ...
Source: Buckeye Surgeon - January 8, 2013 Category: Surgeons Authors: Jeffrey Parks MD Source Type: blogs
Don't make patients pay for insurers' mistakes
Don’t Make Patients Pay for Insurers’ Mistakes
The health insurance industry continues to warn of financial ruin unless America institutes pharmaceutical price controls of the sort mainly found in Europe and Canada. Or, in the absence of regulatory action, insurers are simply sticking their customers with the tab through increased cost-sharing. It would be highly unfortunate if the insurance industry campaign sparked bad policy decisions that hinder pharmaceutical innovators’ ability to respond to the next epidemic, such as Ebola. Or to illnesses such as hepatitis C that afflict some three million individuals and ca...
Source: drugwonks.com Blog - September 6, 2007 Category: Pharmaceuticals Source Type: blogs
