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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is defined as progressive, chronic airflow obstruction due to chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or both. The majority of patients have components of both, although one of these entities will frequently dominate the clinical picture. Emphysema�airspace enlargement distal to the terminal bronchioles due to destruction of alveolar septa. Chronic bronchitis�chronic airway inflammation and bronchospasm. Clinically defined as productive cough lasting for at least 3 mo over 2 consecutive years. Although COPD is irreversible, patients with acute exacerbations do have reversible bronchospastic and inflammatory components.
Virtual Ports, Ltd. (http://www.virtual-ports.com) is a medical device company developing and marketing instruments to improve minimally invasive laparoscopic procedures.
The EndoGrab retraction system reduces the number of ports needed for surgery by eliminating the need for traditional hand held retraction. For the surgeon, this simple solution results in the need for less auxiliary personnel, a decreased overall surgery cost, and more control over the surgery. The EndoGrab also offers added benefit to the patient who will experience less post-operative discomfort and scarring.
The EndoGrab is an internally anchored, hands-free retracting device that is introduced at the start of surgery through a 5mm trocar by means of a proprietary Applier tool. The Surgeon uses the Applier to attach the EndoGrab to both the organ requiring retraction and to the internal abdominal wall, thereby removing the organ from the operative field. The Applier is then removed and the port is free for use by other instruments.
3D video animation produced by Virtual Point Multimedia (http://virtual-point.com)
In the United States, end-stage liver disease (ESLD) is the 12th leading cause of death and the 7th leading cause of death in people between the ages of 25 and 64 years. Complications of ESLD such as ascites, variceal hemorrhage, hepatic encephalopathy, and renal impairment primarily account for these deaths. Patients with ESLD require increasingly complex medical support and manifest a spectrum of complications and symptoms that have significant impact on both survival and quality of life.
Formerly called toxemia, preeclampsia is a condition that pregnant women develop. It is marked by high blood pressure in women who have previously not experienced high blood pressure before. Preeclamptic women will have a high level of protein in their urine and often also have swelling in the feet, legs, and hands. This condition usually appears late in pregnancy, generally after the 20 week mark, although it can occur earlier
Bacterial meningitis is very serious and can be deadly. Death can occur in as little as a few hours. While most people with meningitis recover, permanent disabilities such as brain damage, hearing loss, and learning disabilities can result from the infection. There are several types of bacteria that can cause meningitis. Some of the leading causes of bacterial meningitis in the United States include Streptococcus pneumoniae, group B Streptococcus, Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae, and Listeria monocytogenes.
Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths of the uterus that often appear during childbearing years. Also called leiomyomas (lie-o-my-O-muhs) or myomas, uterine fibroids aren't associated with an increased risk of uterine cancer and almost never develop into cancer. Fibroids range in size from seedlings, undetectable by the human eye, to bulky masses that can distort and enlarge the uterus. You can have a single fibroid or multiple ones. In extreme cases, multiple fibroids can expand the uterus so much that it reaches the rib cage. Many women have uterine fibroids sometime during their lives. But most women don't know they have uterine fibroids because they often cause no symptoms. Your doctor may discover fibroids incidentally during a pelvic exam or prenatal ultrasound.
Sialadenitis is an infection of the salivary glands. It is usually caused by a virus or bacteria . The parotid (in front of the ear) and submandibular (under the chin) glands are most commonly affected. Sialadenitis may be associated with pain, tenderness, redness, and gradual, localized swelling of the affected area.
Will you still love me if I have herpes? About 1 in 6 Americans between the ages of 14 and 49 is infected with herpes simplex virus type 2, according to a health survey released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you’re living with herpes, HSV, HPV or other STDs, you're recommended to check out the largest STD support site STDdatings.
Alcoholic liver disease is a term that encompasses the liver manifestations of alcohol overconsumption, including fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, and chronic hepatitis with liver fibrosis or cirrhosis. It is the major cause of liver disease in Western countries.
A brain (cerebral) aneurysm is a bulging, weak area in the wall of an artery that supplies blood to the brain. In most cases, a brain aneurysm causes no symptoms and goes unnoticed. In rare cases, the brain aneurysm ruptures, releasing blood into the skull and causing a stroke. When a brain aneurysm ruptures, the result is called a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Depending on the severity of the hemorrhage, brain damage or death may result. The most common location for brain aneurysms is in the network of blood vessels at the base of the brain called the circle of Willis. What causes a brain aneurysm? A person may inherit the tendency to form aneurysms, or aneurysms may develop because of hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) and aging. Some risk factors that can lead to brain aneurysms can be controlled, and others can't. The following risk factors may increase your risk for an aneurysm or, if you already have an aneurysm, may increase your risk of it rupturing: Family history. People who have a family history of brain aneurysms are more likely to have an aneurysm than those who don't. Previous aneurysm. People who have had a brain aneurysm are more likely to have another. Gender. Women are more likely to develop a brain aneurysm or to suffer a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Race. African Americans are more likely than whites to have a subarachnoid hemorrhage. High blood pressure. The risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage is greater in people who have a history of high blood pressure. Smoking. In addition to being a cause of high blood pressure, the use of cigarettes may greatly increase the chances of a brain aneurysm rupturing.