coagulation

A thrombus or blood clot is the final product of blood coagulation, through the aggregation of platelets and the activation of the humoral coagulation system. Thrombus is physiologic in cases of injury, but pathologic in case of thrombosis. Some of the conditions in which blood clots develop include atrial fibrillation (a form of cardiac arrhythmia), heart valve replacement, a recent heart attack, extended periods of inactivity (see deep venous thrombosis), and genetic or disease related deficiencies in the blood's clott ...

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Oral contraceptives are chemicals taken by mouth to inhibit normal fertility. All act on the hormonal system. Female oral contraceptives have been on the market since the early 1960s, and enjoy great popularity. They are used by millions of women around the world, though the acceptance varies by region: approximately one-third of sexually active women in the United Kingdom, but much less in countries such as Japan. Male oral contraceptives remain a subject of research and development, and are not widely available to the public. Including:

• Oral contraceptive - Principles
• Oral contraceptive - Use
• Oral contraceptive - Mechanism of action
• Oral contraceptive - Effectiveness
• Oral contraceptive - Packaging
• Oral contraceptive - Drug interactions
• Oral contraceptive - Side-effects
• Oral contraceptive - Formulations
• Oral contraceptive - Effects on sexuality
• Oral contraceptive - Cautions and contraindications
• Oral contraceptive - Benefits
• Oral contraceptive - History
• Oral contraceptive - Invention
• Oral contraceptive - France
• Oral contraceptive - Japan

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An automated analyser is a laboratory machine designed to measure different chemicals in a number of biological samples quickly, with minimal human assistance. The chemicals and other qualities of blood and other fluid measured may be useful in the diagnosis of disease. Different methods of putting samples through have been invented, but usually involve placing test tubes of sample into racks, which can be moved along a track, or circular carousels that rotate to make the sample available. To protect the health and safety of laboratory staff many analysers feature closed tube sam ...

Including:

• Automated analyser - Routine biochemistry analysers
• Automated analyser - Immuno-based analysers
• Automated analyser - Haematology analysers
• Automated analyser - Cell counters
• Automated analyser - Coagulometers
• Automated analyser - Other haematology apparatus

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Blood diseases affect the production of blood and its components, such as blood cells, hemoglobin, blood proteins, the mechanism of coagulation, etc. The study of etiology, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and prevention of blood diseases is the domain of hematology and hemotherapy. Medical specialists in this domain are called hematologists. Blood diseases - Classification of diseases. Hemoglobinopaties (abnormal structure of part of the hemoglobin molecule) Sickle-cell diseas ...

Including:

• Blood diseases - Classification of diseases
• Blood diseases - Related topics

Read more here: » Blood diseases: Encyclopedia - Blood diseases

A bruise or contusion or ecchymosis is a kind of injury, usually caused by blunt impact, in which the capillaries are damaged, allowing blood to seep into the surrounding tissue. Normally minor but painful, bruises can be serious, leading to hematoma, or can be associated with serious injuries, including fractures and internal bleeding. Minor bruises are easily recognized by their characteristic blue or p ...

Including:

• Bruise - Light bruises
• Bruise - Severe bruises

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Arterial blood gas measurement is a blood test that is performed to determine the concentration of oxygen, carbon dioxide and bicarbonate, as well as the pH, in the blood. Its main use is in pulmonology, as many lung diseases feature poor gas exchange, but it is also used in nephrology (kidney diseases) and electrolyte disturbances. As its name implies, the sample is taken from an artery, whi ...

Including:

• Arterial blood gas - Obtaining and processing the sample
• Arterial blood gas - Interpretation
• Arterial blood gas - Reference ranges

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Blood plasma is the liquid component of blood, in which the blood cells are suspended. Serum is the same as blood plasma except that clotting factors (such as fibrin) have been removed. Plasma resembles whey in appearance (transparent with a faint straw colour). It is mainly composed of water, blood proteins, and inorganic electrolytes. It serves as transport medium for glucose, lipids, hormones, metabolic end products, carbon dioxide and oxygen. (Oxygen transport capacity of plasma is much lower than that of the hemoglo ...

Including:

• Blood plasma - Laboratory use of plasma and serum
• Blood plasma - Fresh frozen plasma
• Blood plasma - Dried plasma

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Acute renal failure (ARF) is a rapid loss of renal function due to damage to the kidneys, resulting in retention of nitrogenous (urea and creatinine) and non-nitrogenous waste products that are normally excreted by the kidney. Depending on the severity and duration of the renal dysfunction, this accumulation is accompanied by metabolic disturbances, such as metabolic acidosis (acidification of the blood) and hyperkalaemia (elevated potassium levels), changes in body fluid balance, and effects on many other organ systems. It can ...

Including:

• Acute renal failure - Causes
• Acute renal failure - Diagnosis
• Acute renal failure - Treatment
• Acute renal failure - History

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Blood is a circulating tissue composed of fluid plasma and cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets). Medical terms related to blood often begin in hemo- or hemato- (BE: haemo- and haemato-) from the Greek word "haima" for "blood". The main function of blood is to supply nutrients (oxygen, glucose) and constitutional elements to tissues and to remove waste products (such as carbon dioxide and lactic acid). Blood also enables cells (leukocytes, abnormal tumor cells) and different su ...

Including:

• Blood - Anatomy of blood
• Blood - Physiology of blood
• Blood - Production and degradation
• Blood - Transport of oxygen
• Blood - Transport of carbon dioxide
• Blood - Transport of hydrogen ions
• Blood - Color
• Blood - Health and disease
• Blood - Ancient medicine
• Blood - Diagnosis
• Blood - Pathology
• Blood - Treatment
• Blood - Mythology and religion
• Blood - Indo-European paganism
• Blood - Judaism
• Blood - Christianity
• Blood - Jehovah's Witnesses
• Blood - Vampire legends
• Blood - Chinese and Japanese culture

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Paracetamol (INN) or acetaminophen (USAN) is a popular analgesic and antipyretic drug that is used for the relief of fever, headaches, and other minor aches and pains. It is a major ingredient in numerous cold and flu medications and many prescription analgesics. It is remarkably safe in standard doses, but, because of its wide availability, deliberate or accidental overdoses are not uncommon. Paracetamol (Acetaminophen) 4-(Acetylam ...

Including:

• Paracetamol - History
• Paracetamol - Available forms
• Paracetamol - Mechanism of action
• Paracetamol - Metabolism
• Paracetamol - Toxicity
• Paracetamol - Overview
• Paracetamol - Mechanism of toxicity
• Paracetamol - Risk factors for toxicity
• Paracetamol - Natural history
• Paracetamol - Diagnosis
• Paracetamol - Treatment

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An anticoagulant is a substance that prevents coagulation; that is, it stops blood from clotting. A group of pharmaceuticals called anticoagulants can be used in vivo as a medication for thrombotic disorders. Some chemical compounds are used in medical equipment, such as test tubes, blood transfusion bags, and renal dialysis equipment. Anticoagulant - As medications. Anticoagulants are given to people to stop thrombosis (blood clotting inappropriately in the blood vessels). This is useful in primary ...

Including:

• Anticoagulant - As medications
• Anticoagulant - Vitamin K antagonists
• Anticoagulant - Heparin and derivative substances
• Anticoagulant - Direct thrombin inhibitors
• Anticoagulant - Anticoagulants outside the body

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Chelation therapy is a process involving the use of chelating agents such as EDTA to remove heavy metals from the body. It has uses in both conventional and alternative medicine. Chelation therapy - Discovery in medicine. Chelating agents were introduced into medicine as a result of the use of poison gas in World War I. The first widely used chelating agent was called British Anti-Lewisite, or BAL, a name given to dimercaprol. It is an organic compound related to the mercaptans, which are a class of sulfur- ...

Including:

• Chelation therapy - Discovery in medicine
• Chelation therapy - Uses in conventional medicine
• Chelation therapy - Uses in alternative medicine
• Chelation therapy - Calcium chelation therapy

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Cirrhosis is a chronic disease of the liver in which liver tissue is replaced by connective tissue, resulting in the loss of liver function. Cirrhosis is caused by damage from toxins (including alcohol), metabolic problems, chronic viral hepatitis or other causes. Cirrhosis is sometimes referred to by its obsolete eponym Laennec's cirrhosis after René Laënnec. Cirrhosis is irreversible but treatment of the caus ...

Including:

• Cirrhosis - Symptoms
• Cirrhosis - Initial symptoms
• Cirrhosis - Complications
• Cirrhosis - Causes
• Cirrhosis - Diagnosis
• Cirrhosis - Pathology
• Cirrhosis - Pathophysiology
• Cirrhosis - Treatment
• Cirrhosis - Epidemiology

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Angioedema (BE: angiooedema), also known by its eponym Quincke's edema and the older term angioneurotic edema, is the rapid swelling (edema) of the skin, mucosa and submucosal tissues. Apart from the common form, mediated by allergy, it has been reported as a side effect of some medications, specifically ACE inhibitors. Additionally, there is an inherited form, due to deficiency of the blood protein C1-inhibitor. This form is called hereditary angioedema (HAE) or hereditary angio-neurotic edema (HANE), ...

Including:

• Angioedema - Signs and symptoms
• Angioedema - Diagnosis
• Angioedema - Pathophysiology
• Angioedema - Therapy
• Angioedema - History

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A stroke or cerebrovascular accident (CVA) occurs when the blood supply to a part of the brain is suddenly interrupted. In brain tissue, a reduction of blood flow, ischemia, leads to an ischemic cascade that can damage or kill brain cells. Death of brain tissue can lead to loss of the function controlled by that tissue. Thus stroke is the third leading cause of death and leading cause of adult disability in the US and industrialized European nations (Jauch, 2005), and is a medical emergency. To underscore the seriousness ...

Including:

• Stroke - Types of stroke
• Stroke - Ischemic stroke
• Stroke - Hemorrhagic stroke
• Stroke - Watershed stroke
• Stroke - Rarer types of stroke
• Stroke - Causes
• Stroke - Ischemic stroke
• Stroke - Hemorrhagic stroke
• Stroke - Watershed stroke
• Stroke - Signs and symptoms
• Stroke - Diagnosis
• Stroke - Pathophysiology
• Stroke - Prevention
• Stroke - Treatment
• Stroke - Early assessment
• Stroke - Ischemic stroke
• Stroke - Hemorrhagic stroke
• Stroke - Care and rehabilitation
• Stroke - Prognosis
• Stroke - Risk factors
• Stroke - History

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Antithrombin is a small molecule that inactivates several enzymes of the coagulation system. It is a glycoprotein produced by the liver. Antithrombin - Function. Antithrombin is a serpin (serine protease inhibitor) that inactivates a number of enzymes from the coagulation system, namely the activated forms of Factor X, Factor IX and Factor II (thrombin). Its affinity for these molecules (i.e. its effectivity) is enhanced by heparin. Antithrombin - Role in disease. Antithr ...

Including:

• Antithrombin - Function
• Antithrombin - Role in disease
• Antithrombin - Genetics
• Antithrombin - Nomenclature
• Antithrombin - Reference

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Valproic acid Valproic acid or 2-Propylpentanoic acid, is a chemical compound that has found clinical use as an anticonvulsant and mood-stabilizing drug, primarily in the treatment of epilepsy and bipolar disorder; but also used to treat migraine headaches and schizophrenia. In epileptics, valproic acid is used to control absence seizures, tonic-clonic seizures (grand mal), complex partial seizures, and the seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Related drugs include the sodium salt – Sodium valproate, ...

Including:

• Valproic acid - Side effects
• Valproic acid - Contraindications
• Valproic acid - Formulations
• Valproic acid - US
• Valproic acid - UK
• Valproic acid - South Africa
• Valproic acid - Canada

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Thrombosis is the formation of a clot or thrombus inside a blood vessel, obstructing the flow of blood through the circulatory system. Thromboembolism is a general term describing both thrombosis and its main complication: dislodgement of a clot and embolisation. Thrombosis - Causes. Classically, thrombosis is caused by abnormalities in one or more of the following (Virchow's triad): The composition of the blood Quality of the vessel wall Nature of the blood flow < ...

Including:

• Thrombosis - Causes
• Thrombosis - Types/classification
• Thrombosis - Embolisation

Read more here: » Thrombosis: Encyclopedia - Thrombosis

Blood transfusion is the taking of blood or blood-based products from one individual and inserting them into the circulatory system of another. It can be considered a form of organ transplant. Blood transfusions may treat medical conditions, such as massive blood loss due to trauma, surgery, shock and where the red cell producing mechanism (or some other normal and essential component) fails (see blood diseases). Blood transfusion - History. Roman Catholic authors take pains to discredit the contemporary ch ...

Including:

• Blood transfusion - History
• Blood transfusion - Precautions
• Blood transfusion - Procedure
• Blood transfusion - Contraindications
• Blood transfusion - Complications
• Blood transfusion - Animal blood transfusion
• Blood transfusion - Blood transfusion substitutes

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Nephritis is inflammation of the kidney. The word comes from the Greek nephro- meaning "of the kidney" and -itis meaning "inflammation". The two most common causes of nephritis are infection or an auto-immune process. Nephritis has the effect of damaging and closing up the microscopic filters in the kidney. This means that in addition to various toxic waste products, the inflamed kidney filters out important proteins (larger molecules) from the blood. Therefore the characteristic symptom of nephritis is proteinuri ...

Including:

• Nephritis - Subtypes
• Nephritis - Famous sufferers

Read more here: » Nephritis: Encyclopedia - Nephritis