Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a disease characterized by airflow limitation that is not fully reversible. Airflow limitation is usually progressive and associated with an inflammatory response in the lungs stimulated by irritants. COPD includes chronic bronchitis and pulmonary emphysema. Although sometimes included in COPD, asthma is a reversible disorder and is therefore [...]
Written on November 26, 2008 | Posted in
Pathophysiology |
Leave a comment
Appendicitis is inflammation of the vermiform appendix caused by an obstruction attributable to infection, structure, fecal mass, foreign body, or tumor. Appendicitis can affect either gender at any age, but is most common in males 10 to 30. Appendicitis is the most common disease requiring surgery. If left untreated, appendicitis may progress to abscess, perforation, [...]
Written on November 14, 2008 | Posted in
Pathophysiology |
Leave a comment
Cerebrovascular accident or stroke (also called brain attack) results from sudden interruption of blood supply to the brain, which precipitates neurologic dysfunction lasting longer than 24 hours. Stroke are either ischemic, caused by partial or complete occlusions of a cerebral blood vessel by cerebral thrombosis or embolism or hemorrhage (leakage of blood from a [...]
Written on November 12, 2008 | Posted in
Pathophysiology |
2 Comments
Leukemia is malignant neoplasms of the cells derived from either the myeloid or lymphoid line of the hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow. Proliferating abnormal and immature cells (blast) spill out into the blood and infiltrate the spleen, lymph nodes, and other tissue. Acute leukemias are characterized by rapid progression of symptoms. High [...]
Written on November 8, 2008 | Posted in
Pathophysiology |
1 Comment
Cholelithiasis is the presence of stones in the gallbladder. Cholecystitis is acute or chronic inflammation of the gallbladder. Choledocholithiasis is the presence of stones in the common bile duct.
Most gallstones result from supersaturation of cholesterol in the bile, which acts as an irritant, producing inflammation in the gallbladder, and which precipitates out of bile, [...]
Written on November 4, 2008 | Posted in
Pathophysiology |
Leave a comment
Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a disease of vascular regulation resulting from malfunction of arterial pressure control mechanisms (central nervous system, rennin-angiotensinaldosterone system, extracellular fluid volume.) the cause is unknown, and there is no cure. The basic explanation is that blood pressure is elevated when there is increased cardiac output plus increased peripheral vascular resistance.
The [...]
Written on October 29, 2008 | Posted in
Pathophysiology |
Leave a comment
Heart Failure, also known as Congestive Heart Failure, is a clinical syndrome that results from the progressive process of remodeling, in which mechanical and biochemical forces alter the size, shape, and function of the ventricle’s ability to pump enough oxygenated blood to meet the body’s metabolic requirements. Compensatory mechanisms of increased heart rate, vasoconstriction, [...]
Written on October 18, 2008 | Posted in
Pathophysiology |
Leave a comment
Cirrhosis of the liver is a chronic disease that causes cell destruction and fibrosis (scarring) of hepatic tissues. Fibrosis alters normal liver structure and vasculature, impairing blood and lymph flow and resulting in hepatic insufficiency and hypertension in the portal vein. Complications include hyponatremia, water retention, bleeding esophageal varices, coagulopathy, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, and hepatic [...]
Written on October 17, 2008 | Posted in
Pathophysiology |
1 Comment
When cyst is swallowed, it passes through the stomach unharmed and shows no activity while in an acidic environment. When it reaches the alkaline medium of the intestine, the metacyst begins to move within the cyst wall, which rapidly weakens and tears. The quadrinucleate amoeba emerges and divides into amebulas that are swept down into [...]
Written on October 6, 2008 | Posted in
Pathophysiology |
Leave a comment
The pathophysiology of schizophrenia has long remained a mystery and still today, even with various hypotheses, remains somewhat uncertain: there are too many variants; not enough consistency in findings; and, despite research, a lack of documented proof.
The most well-known and respected hypothesis with regards to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia began in the 1990s and consisted [...]
Written on September 11, 2008 | Posted in
Pathophysiology |
Leave a comment
