10/17/14

Barium X-ray examinations

 Barium X-ray examinations
barium X-ray examinations - Procedures used to detect and follow the progress of some gastrointestinal tract disorders. Because X-rays do not pass through it, barium is used to outline organs, such as the stomach, which are not normally visible on an X-ray.

In some cases, barium X-rays are an alternative to endoscopy. Barium sulphate mixed with water is passed into the part of the tract requiring examination, and X-rays are taken. X-rays may be singleor double-contrast. Single-contrast barium X-rays use barium sulphate alone.

The barium fills the section of the tract and provides an outline image that shows up prominent abnormalities. In double-contrast barium X-rays, the barium forms a thin film over the inner surface of the tract, and the tract is filled with air so that small surface abnormalities can be seen.

Different types of barium X-ray examination are used to investigate different parts of the gastrointestinal tract. Barium swallow involves drinking a barium solution and is used to investigate the oesophagus. A barium meal is carried out to look at the lower oesophagus, stomach, and duodenum.

Barium followthrough is used to investigate disorders of the small intestine; X-rays are taken at intervals as the barium reaches the intestine. A barium enema is used to investigate disorders of the large intestine and rectum; barium is introduced though a tube inserted in the rectum.

Barium remaining in the intestine may cause constipation. Therefore, it is important to have a high-fibre diet and drink plenty of water after a barium examination, until all the barium has passed through.
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barbiturate drugs

barbiturate drugs - A group of sedative drugs that work by depressing activity within the brain. They include thiopental and phenobarbital. In the past, barbiturates were widely used as antianxiety drugs and sleeping drugs but have been largely replaced by benzodiazepine drugs and other nonbarbiturates.

Barbiturates are now strictly controlled because they are habit-forming and widely abused. An overdose can be fatal, particularly in combination with alcohol, which dangerously increases the depressant effect on the brain (including suppression of the respiratory centre).

However, phenobarbital is still commonly used as an anticonvulsant drug in the treatment of epilepsy. Thiopental is very short acting and is used to induce anaesthesia (see anaesthesia, general).
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bandage

bandage - A strip or tube of fabric used to keep dressings in position, to apply pressure, to control bleeding, or to support a sprain or strain. Roller bandages are the most widely used.

Tubular gauze bandages require a special applicator and are used mainly for areas that are awkward to bandage, such as a finger. Triangular bandages are used to make slings. (See also wounds.)
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bambuterol

bambuterol - A bronchodilator drug that is converted to terbutaline in the liver. Bambuterol can only be taken orally.
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balm

balm - A soothing or healing medicine applied to the skin.
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balloon catheter

balloon catheter - A flexible tube with a balloon at its tip, which, when inflated, keeps the tube in place or applies pressure to an organ or vessel. One type is used to drain urine from the bladder (see catheterization, urinary).

Balloon catheters are sometimes used to expand narrowed arteries (balloon angioplasty). They may also be used to control bleeding oesophageal varices before surgery.
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balanitis

balanitis - Inflammation of the foreskin and glans (head) of the penis. Balanitis causes pain and/or itchiness, and the entire area may be red and moist. Causes include infection or chemical irritation by contraceptive creams or laundry products.

Treatment is usually with antibiotic or antifungal drugs (as creams or taken orally) and careful washing of the penis and foreskin. Phimosis, in which the foreskin is overly tight, makes balanitis more likely to recur. In such cases, circumcision may be recommended.
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balance

balance - The ability to remain upright and move without falling over. Information on body position is relayed to the brain by many parts of the body: the eyes; proprioceptors (sense organs) in the skin, muscle, and joints; and the labyrinth of the inner ear.

The cerebellum (part of the brain) integrates the information and sends instructions to enable various parts of the body to perform adjustments needed to maintain balance. Disorders affecting the ear, brain, or spinal cord commonly affect balance.

Ear disorders include labyrinthitis and Ménière’s disease. Less commonly, otitis media may affect balance. Damage to nerve tracts in the spinal cord, which carry information from position sensors in the joints and muscles, can also impair balance.

This damage may result from spinal tumours, circulatory disorders, nerve degeneration due to deficiency of vitamin B12, or, rarely, tabes dorsalis (a complication of syphilis).

A tumour or stroke that affects the cerebellum may cause clumsiness of the arms and legs and other features of impaired muscular coordination.
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Baker’s cyst

Baker’s cyst - A fluid-filled lump behind the knee. A Baker’s cyst is caused by increased pressure in the knee joint due to a buildup of fluid in a disorder such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Most Baker’s cysts are painless, and some disappear spontaneously. Occasionally, a cyst may rupture, producing pain and swelling in the calf that can mimic a deep vein thrombosis (see thrombosis, deep vein).

Diagnosis of a Baker’s cyst is confirmed by ultrasound scanning. Treatment is rarely needed.
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bagassosis

bagassosis - A rare disease affecting the lungs of workers who handle mouldy bagasse (the fibrous residue of sugarcane after juice extraction).

Bagassosis is one cause of allergic alveolitis. Symptoms develop 4–5 hours after inhaling dust and include shortness of breath, wheezing, fever, headache, and cough. Repeated dust exposure may lead to permanent lung damage.
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bacteriostatic

bacteriostatic - A term used to describe a substance that stops the growth or multiplication of bacteria but does not kill them. (See also antibacterial drugs; antibiotic drugs.)
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bacteriology

bacteriology - The study of bacteria, particularly of the types that cause disease.

Bacteriology includes techniques used to isolate and identify bacteria from specimens such as a throat swab or urine. Bacteria are identified by their appearance under a microscope, including their response to stains (see staining) and the use of culture. Testing for sensitivity to antibiotics may be performed.
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bactericidal

bactericidal - A term used to describe any substance that kills bacteria. (See also antibacterial drugs; antibiotic drugs.)
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bacterial vaginosis

bacterial vaginosis - An infection of the vagina that causes a greyish-white discharge and itching. The disorder is due to excessive growth of bacteria that normally live in the vagina. It is more common in sexually active women and is treated with antibiotic drugs.
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bacteria

 A ROD-SHAPED BACTERIUM
bacteria - Single-celled microorganisms that are invisible to the naked eye. The singular form of the term is bacterium. Abundant in the air, soil, and water, most bacteria are harmless to humans. Some bacteria, such as those that live in the intestine, are beneficial and help to break down food for digestion.

Bacteria that cause disease are known as pathogens and are classified by shape into 3 main groups: cocci (spherical); bacilli (rod-shaped); and spirochaetes or spirilla (spiral-shaped). Many bacteria have whip-like threads called flagella, which enable them to move in fluids, and pili, which anchor them to other cells.

Aerobic bacteria require oxygen to grow and multiply; in the body, these are most commonly found on the skin or in the respiratory system. Anaerobic bacteria thrive where there is no oxygen, deep within tissue or wounds.

They reproduce by simple division, which can take place every 20 minutes. Some bacteria also produce spores that can survive high temperatures, dry conditions, and lack of nourishment; and some produce poisons (either endotoxins or exotoxins) that are harmful to human cells.

The body’s immune system attacks invading bacteria, but in some cases treatment with antibiotic drugs is necessary and will speed recovery. Superficial inflammation and infected wounds may be treated with antiseptics. Immunity toinvading bacterial diseases, such as some types of meningitis, can be acquired by active immunization. (See also infectious disease.)

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bacteraemia

bacteraemia - The presence of bacteria in the bloodstream. Bacteraemia occurs briefly after many minor surgical operations and dental treatment. The immune system usually prevents the bacteria from multiplying and causing damage.

However, in people who have abnormal heart valves, the bacteria may settle on the valve and cause endocarditis. If the immune system is damaged or suppressed, septicaemia (an infection of the blood) may develop.
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baclofen

baclofen - A muscle-relaxant drug that is used to relieve muscle spasm and stiffness due to brain or spinal cord injury, stroke, or neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis. Adverse effects of baclofen include drowsiness and muscle weakness; these side effects can be limited, however, by increasing the dose of the drug gradually.
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back pain

back pain - Pain affecting the back, often restricting movement. The pain usually lasts for only a week or so but can recur in some people. Rarely, persistent back pain causes long-term disability.

Back pain is usually caused by minor damage to the ligaments and muscles in the back. The lower back is especially vulnerable to these problems because it supports most of the body’s weight and is under continual stress from movements such as bending, twisting, and stretching. Less commonly, lower back pain may result from an underlying disorder such as a prolapsed intervertebral disc (see disc prolapse) in the spine.

In most cases, back pain can be treated with over-the-counter painkillers (see analgesic drugs) such as aspirin and related drugs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or muscle-relaxant drugs. If the pain persists, a heat pad, a wrapped hot-water bottle or, sometimes, an ice-pack, may provide additional relief.

Generally, it is advisable to remain as active as the pain permits. People whose pain worsens or is still too severe to allow normal movement after several days should consult a doctor for medical tests.

Investigations for back pain, such as X-rays, CT scanning, or MRI, sometimes reveal abnormalities, such as disc prolapse, that require surgical treatment and can be treated by a microdiscectomy. Other treatments for back pain include acupuncture, spinal injection, exercise, or spinal manipulation.
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back

back - The area between the shoulders and the buttocks. The back is supported by the spinal column (see spine), which is bound together by ligaments and supported by muscles that also control posture and movement.

Disorders that affect the bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves, and joints in the spine may cause back pain. (See also spine, disorders of.)
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bacilli

bacilli - Rod-shaped bacteria. The singular term is bacillus.
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baby blues

baby blues - A common name for a mild form of depression that sometimes occurs in women after childbirth. Baby blues almost always disappears without treatment but can occasionally develop into a more serious depressive illness (see postnatal depression).
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Babinski’s sign

Babinski’s sign - A reflex movement in which the big toe bends upwards when the outer edge of the sole of the foot is scratched. In adults, Babinski’s sign indicates damage or disease of the brain or the spinal cord. In babies, Babinski’s sign is a normal reflex.
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