Proteins are important for many fundamental activities in the body for people of all ages. For example, they are important for the transport of other chemicals through the blood or into and out of cells. They serve as hormones and help the immune...
Ectopic cushing syndrome, which is the result of tumors that secrete an excess of hormones near the adrenal gland, can be easily treated through surgery. It's important to identify the symptoms of ectopic cushing syndrome before the tumors have a...
Extra body fat is placed in strategic storage areas throughout the human body. This storage plan is a throwback to cavemen ancestry. In times of starvation, the body pulls fat from these locations and uses it for energy and nutrients to survive....
The onset of diabetes may be accompanied by many types of diabetes symptoms. But the American Diabetes Association warns that diabetes may also arrive quietly, with many of the symptoms overlooked as mild annoyances. The Mayo Clinic warns that...
The kidneys' main function is to clear the blood of wastes and remove excess fluid. Some tests that measure abnormal kidney function include blood pressure, urine albumin, creatinine, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN)....
Niacin, also known as vitamin B-3, occurs in several different forms that have different names, just to confuse the issue. Niacin, also known as nicotinic acid, niacinamide, also called nicotinamide and inositol hexanicotinate, also called...
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland of men and women. The pituitary gland is located at the base of your brain and functions as the main regulatory center for hormones that regulate most body functions....
Learn how acute cerebellar ataxia manifests itself physically so you can identify it in you or your child. Acute cerebellar ataxia is a sudden onset of uncoordinated muscle movement. It usually has the most effect on your trunk area (from your...
The urine dipstick test analyzes components in a urine sample. The components of urine have normal and abnormal levels. Furthermore, there are components that do not belong in the urine, which would render abnormal results. Some components...
The first cardiac catheterization boldly performed by Dr. Werner Forssmann, on himself, in 1929, marked the beginning of non-invasive heart surgery. Today, this procedure is primarily used to diagnose heart conditions and treat plaque buildup in...
The pigments from the nutrients in beets can discolor your urine. It's not blood --- only a sign of having a distinct, but harmless, acidity level in your gut. All kinds of foods, such as blackberries, dark leafy vegetables and even high-iron...
Diseases that affect the kidney can be difficult for a patient or doctor to diagnose without using a variety of diagnostic tests. Kidney function tests are defined by the Encyclopedia of Surgery as a variety of procedures that evaluate whether a...
Urine cytology is a test that looks for abnormalities of the cells that are present in your urine. Sometimes, foods you eat can change the results of your test. Ingestion of vitamin C, for example, might skew the results of a urine cytology test....
Many health conditions can hinder the absorption of vitamin B-12 in the gastrointestinal tract, leading to low levels. Vitamin B-12 plays an important role in neurological function, metabolism and red blood cell formation. Vitamin B-12 deficiency...
The first step in preventing proteinuria, a condition in which the urine contains abnormal amounts of protein that can impair kidney function, is to determine the existing protein levels in your urine, so your doctor can assess whether they fall...
Urine tests commonly measure protein and creatinine to check for the presence of kidney disease or dysfunction. Protein in your urine is abnormal and prompts follow-up testing. If your kidneys do not work properly, your doctor may need to test...
It's important to keep the electrolytes in your body balanced, including sodium and magnesium. Electrolytes are minerals that carry an electric charge. They're found in your blood and other body fluids. Sodium and magnesium are important for many...
Cortisol is a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands. It plays a critical role in many bodily functions including stress responses, growth and metabolism. Hormonal control regulates the release of cortisol and produces rises falls in blood levels...
Crestor is a prescription medication available as an oral tablet. Known generically as rosuvastatin calcium, it is indicated for the reduction of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and triglyceride levels. Crestor is also...
Protein counts are often tested as a part of a testing series called a comprehensive metabolic panel, which is commonly ordered as a part of a routine blood test, according to Lab Tests Online. Protein tests can be used to determine overall...
Cushing's disease is a hormonal disorder. In this syndrome, there are excessive amounts of the hormone cortisol in the body. Cortisol is made in the adrenal glands and is released in response to stress. It has many effects on the body, including...
The vast majority of hypertension, or high blood pressure, is termed essential. It has no single, reversible cause, notes MayoClinic.com. Conversely, secondary hypertension stems from a separate, treatable medical problem. The first test for...
Acetaminophen, brand name Tylenol, or international generic name paracetamol, is a medication given to infants and children for fever and pain. It is considered safe when used in the recommended dose of 10 to 15 mg per kilo of body weight per...
Whether you're a competitive athlete or a casual exercise enthusiast, the slow progress of natural training is frustrating at times. Everyone wants to be better, and there's always room for improvement. That's why many people turn to sports...
High-protein diets aren't often recommended for the kidneys. Protein tends to create a significant amount of metabolic waste, especially when this nutrient comes from meat. Because the body is unable to use this waste, it must be eliminated by the...
Several external factors, such as vitamin intake and diet, can change urine color. These effects typically are temporary and harmless. However, in certain cases, the effect of vitamins on urine can have negative consequences, especially if your...
Multiple myeloma will strike over 20,000 people in the United States each year, the Leukemia and Lymphatic Society reported in 2010. Multiple myeloma, a type of blood cell cancer, develops in plasma cells, a type of white blood cell. Plasma cells,...
Urine analysis is commonly called urinalysis. You provide a urine specimen to your doctor, who in turn sends it to a lab to be analyzed. The most routine type of urinalysis involves a dipstick test in which an indicator stick is dipped into the...
Acute renal failure, also called acute kidney failure, is a sudden loss of kidney function that results in an inability of the kidneys to filter wastes without losing electrolytes. This is a very serious condition that can lead to the need for...