Hemostasis is the mechanism by which the body stops blood loss. It involves a series of steps first to rapidly plug the leak and then to secure it followed by permanent healing processes that restores the integrity of the blood vessel. One of the important phases of hemostasis is the coagulation phase which involves >> Read More ...
What Is Medical History? A medical history or anamnesis (Greek anamnesis = recalling) is a summary of your symptoms, past diseases, therapies, medical investigations and diagnoses (personal medical history), and chronic diseases running in your family (family medical history), as you reveal them to your doctor (Picture 1). >> Read More ...
Patients presenting with symptoms of prostate cancer would have reached a stage at which curative interventions are usually not possible since the symptoms are often only present in the advanced stages. Detection of prostate cancer prior to the onset of symptoms is therefore necessary for adopting a curative line of >> Read More ...
Where Does S. aureus Live? S. aureus lives in: Healthy people (S.aureus carriers): in the mucosa of the nose, less commonly in the throat, vagina, intestines and lungs; on the skin: mainly in the armpits, under the breasts and in the groin Infected people: in skin lesions, the blood, stool, urine, respiratory mucosa, >> Read More ...
What is a Colonoscopy? Colonoscopy (Greek kolon = large intestine; skopein= to watch) is a diagnostic procedure during which a doctor – usually gastroenterologist – inspects the inner lining (mucosa) of your colon and rectum by a flexible viewing tube – colonoscope – that has a camera and >> Read More ...
FOOD ALLERGY TESTS How to prepare for allergy testing? Antihistamine and antidepressant drugs should be stopped 3-5 days before testing, but only with doctor’s approval. Skin Prick Test A skin prick test can confirm allergies to certain foods. A drop of a dissolved food sample is placed on the forearm, and pricked >> Read More ...
Stool Test Stool tests are done to find a cause of unexplained chronic or heavy acute diarrhea, anemia or weight loss. Tests may reveal intestinal parasites, bacterial infection, celiac disease or Crohn’s disease, blood and various substances (fats, reducing substances) that speak for intestinal malabsorption. How to >> Read More ...
Intestinal Absorption Tests Chronic abdominal bloating and gas, diarrhea or unintentional weight loss (malabsorption syndrome) may result from reduced absorption of nutrients in the small intestine due to: Lactose intolerance. Fructose malabsorption. Food allergies and food intolerances (Tests) Food poisoning, parasites, >> Read More ...
What Is Double Balloon Endoscopy? Double balloon endoscopy (enteroscopy) is an endoscopic investigation of the entire small intestine, using a gastroscope or colonoscope and a tube with two balloons that help to drag the intestine over the endoscope (1). Investigation is done to: Make biopsies of suspicious mucosal >> Read More ...
Blood Tests in Gallbladder Disease When upper right abdominal pain suggests gallbladder disease or obstruction of the common bile duct, the following blood tests may be performed: Bilirubin and liver enzyme alkaline phosphatase (AP) are often elevated in cases of gallstones in the gallbladder and common bile duct (1) >> Read More ...
