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liver
liver
liver A large lobed organ in the abdomen of vertebrates that plays an essential role in many metabolic processes by regulating the composition and concentration of nutrients and toxic materials in the blood. It is made up of units called
lobules, each of which is a roughly hexagonal structure consisting largely of
hepatocytes arranged around a central vein. The liver receives the products of digestion dissolved in the blood via the
hepatic portal vein and its most important functions are to convert excess glucose to the storage product
glycogen, which serves as a food reserve; to break down excess amino acids to ammonia, which is converted to
urea or
uric acid and excreted via the kidneys; and to store and break down fats (see
lipolysis). Other functions of the liver are (1) the production of
bile; (2) the breakdown (
detoxification) of poisonous substances in the blood; (3) the removal of damaged red blood cells; (4) the synthesis of vitamin A and the blood-clotting substances prothrombin and fibrinogen; and (5) the storage of iron (see
ferritin).
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Liver Chi: a Chinese herbal supplement for hepatitis and liver repair.
Magazine article from: Townsend Letter: The Examiner of Alternative Medicine; 12/1/2007; ; 700+ words
; ...vital processes rely on the proper functioning of the liver. This organ stores proteins, carbohydrates, and...used throughout the body. These are just some of the liver's functions. Liver impairment can be detrimental to overall health...
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Liver can deliver nutritional goods . . . tastefully
Newspaper article from: Chicago Sun-Times; 1/14/1988; ; 700+ words
; ...people; lamb's liver is rarely seen in stores. Poultry livers have a floury texture...familiar chopped liver made with inexpensive chicken livers, to the expensive...delicacy made with goose liver. Goose and duck livers are out of the reach...
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Liver disease and diagnostics targeted by NIH action plan.
Newspaper article from: Medical Device Daily; 1/11/2005; 700+ words
; ...gallbladder) disease, including liver cancer, accounts for about...Currently, about 5,000 liver transplants are performed...consequence of the limited supply of livers, there are more than 17,000 patients on the liver transplant waiting list...
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Liver support: an evidence-based review & call for research.(Naturopathic Perspectives)
Magazine article from: Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients; 4/1/2005; ; 700+ words
; ...CAM), practitioners often speak of and employ "liver support." Liver supportive therapies are widely used and incorporate...vitamins, minerals, amino acids and organ extracts. Liver support entails the use of therapies that assist the...
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Liver Diseases: A Huge European Health Burden, But Some Trends Are Positive.
PR Newswire Europe; 4/23/2008; 700+ words
; ...29 Million EU Citizens (6%) Have Liver Diseases, 5th Most Common Cause of Death - Yearly, Liver Cancer Alone Takes 40,000 Lives; Alcohol Abuse Takes 13,000 - Number With Fatty Liver Disease Stable or Growing; Viral Hepatitis...
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The liver cleanse and gallbladder flush: separating fact from fiction.(Naturopathic Perspectives)
Magazine article from: Townsend Letter: The Examiner of Alternative Medicine; 12/1/2007; ; 700+ words
; Liver support and cleansing are popular topics in alternative medicine. Liver support is perhaps one of the most widely employed...naturopathic medicine. It would seem that treating the liver is an integral step in the journey from disease to...
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Liver gets tender treatment in microwave
Newspaper article from: Chicago Sun-Times; 2/26/1987; ; 700+ words
; ...covering membrane so the liver will not shrivel...microwaving. Chicken livers should be pierced...Separate and rinse livers under cold water...For other types of liver, defrost on medium...powder; spoon over liver. Top with cheese...AND SOUR CHICKEN LIVERS 1/3 cup brown sugar...
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Artificial livers coming of age // `Biomachines' perform organ's filtering functions
Newspaper article from: Chicago Sun-Times; 5/25/1992; ; 700+ words
; ...biochemicals, an artificial liver has been considered...have used artificial livers to save patients who were dying from liver failure, and one of...have used artificial livers to save three patients with severe liver failure caused by either...
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Liver cells aid transplant candidates.
News Wire article from: United Press International; 11/30/1999; 700+ words
; ...livers than there are livers available for transplant...is no time to find a liver,'' Tisnado said...treatment if a transplanted liver is not available...000 people are on liver waiting lists, but only 5,000 livers are transplanted each...
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Abnormal liver studies: what happens next? Most likely, nothing is wrong, but of course you can't make that assumption. An expert tells what your next steps should be.(biological markers in diagnosing liver abnormalities)
Magazine article from: Clinical Advisor; 4/1/2006; ; 700+ words
; ...otherwise uneventful day, an abnormal liver study is at the top of the list. Patients...alike are often stopped cold when serum liver tests fall outside of the norm. Fortunately...meaningless. In fact, when it comes to serum liver values, up to 6% of the population deviates...
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Liver Transplantation
Encyclopedia entry from: Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, 3rd ed.
Liver Transplantation Definition Liver transplantation is a surgery that removes a diseased liver and replace it with a healthy donor liver. Purpose The liver is the body's principle chemical factory. It receives all nutrients, drugs, and...
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Liver Disease
Encyclopedia entry from: Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, 3rd ed.
...that about 25 million Americans experience a liver-related disease each year. Individuals cannot live without a functioning liver. The ability to transplant livers is improving, liver transplantation is not nearly as common or...
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Liver Function Tests
Encyclopedia entry from: Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, 3rd ed.
Liver Function Tests Definition Liver function tests, or LFTs, include tests for bilirubin, a breakdown...a protein byproduct that is normally converted into urea by the liver before being excreted by the kidneys. LFTs also commonly include...
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Liver Cancer
Encyclopedia entry from: Gale Encyclopedia of Cancer
Liver cancer Definition Liver cancer is a form of cancer with a high mortality rate. Liver cancers can be classified into two types. They are either primary, when the cancer starts in the liver itself, or metastatic, when the cancer has spread...
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Liver Biopsy
Encyclopedia entry from: Gale Encyclopedia of Surgery: A Guide for Patients and Caregivers
Liver biopsy Definition A liver biopsy is a medical procedure performed to obtain a small piece of liver tissue for diagnostic testing. The sample is examined under a microscope by a pathologist, a doctor who specializes in the effects of disease...
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