Gallstones: The Truth Underneath

InnoHEALTH Magazine — Wed, 08 May 2019 10:54:58 +0000

The gallbladder is a small pear-shaped pouch situated at the undersurface of the liver which secretes a greenish fluid called “bile” which aids in digestion. Gallstones are the most common disease of the gallbladder. Technically, we call this disease “cholelithiasis”.

About 80% of gallstones patients are asymptomatic, i.e., show no visible symptoms. Gallstones are usually discovered incidentally during abdominal ultrasound scans done for another cause. The most direct and effective course of treatment is surgery which provides excellent results. Gallstones can be divided into three main types: cholesterol, pigment or mixed stones. In the Asian populations, the majority of them are pigment stones.

Causes

The process of gallstones formation is quite complex and many areas remain unclear. Obesity, high-calorie diets and certain medications (e.g. oral contraceptives) can increase secretion of cholesterol and can saturate the bile and added incomplete emptying of the gallbladder can cause these stones. Hence, to avoid inevitable recurrence of gallstones, the whole gallbladder must be removed surgically and not just the stones.

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Symptoms

Patients usually have pain in the upper abdomen, feel nausea and vomiting. A few patients may even have this for months with intermittent relief periods without any symptoms. Patients can come with acute symptoms which may warrant surgery. The treating surgeon diagnoses it with an ultrasound scan and visible symptoms.

Earlier, the gallstones were worrisome causing jaundice due to lack of awareness among the patients and delayed approach to the doctor as they believed that these stones can be melted. Unfortunately, these stones, unlike the urinary stones, cannot be melted or crushed into pieces and removed. With the advent of new surgical laparoscopic (camera) approaches, patients can be easily discharged on the next day of surgery with a completely normal diet with minimal pain and small scars. A person can function very well without a gallbladder. So, do not hesitate to approach your nearest surgeon if you suffer from gallstones and get yourself treated as it’s a completely curable disease.

About the Author

Dr. Jayadatta Pawar is a general surgeon. She is currently involved in doing private practice and shares a keen interest in creating awareness about public health.

The post Gallstones: The Truth Underneath appeared first on InnoHEALTH magazine.

Digital tracking system: Pill to determine medication ingestion

InnoHEALTH Magazine — Wed, 07 Mar 2018 11:14:41 +0000

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recently approved a pill with sensor that digitally tracks if patients have ingested their medication

AbilifyMyCite (aripiprazole tablets with sensor) has an ingestible sensor embedded in the pill that records that the medication was taken. The product is approved for the treatment of schizophrenia, acute treatment of manic and mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder and for use as an add-on treatment for depression in adults.

The system works by sending a message from the pill’s sensor to a wearable patch. The patch transmits the information to a mobile application so that patients can track the ingestion of the medication on their smart phone. Patients can also permit their caregivers and physician to access the information through a web-based portal.

“Being able to track ingestion of medications prescribed for mental illness may be useful for some patients,” said Mitchell Mathis, M.D., director of the Division of Psychiatry Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “The FDA supports the development and use of new technology in prescription drugs and is committed to working with companies to understand how technology might benefit patients and prescribers.”

It is important to note that AbilifyMyCite’s prescribing information (labeling) notes that the ability of the product to improve patient compliance with their treatment regimen has not been shown. AbilifyMyCite should not be used to track drug ingestion in “real-time” or during an emergency because detection may be delayed or may not occur.

Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe and disabling brain disorder. About 1 percent of Americans have this illness. Typically, symptoms are first seen in adults younger than 30 years of age.

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Symptoms of those with schizophrenia include hearing voices, believing other people are reading their minds or controlling their thoughts, and being suspicious or withdrawn. Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is another brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. The symptoms of bipolar disorder include alternating periods of depression and high or irritable mood, increased activity and restlessness, racing thoughts, talking fast, impulsive behavior and a decreased need for sleep.

AbilifyMyCite contains a Boxed Warning alerting health care professionals that elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death. AbilifyMyCite is not approved to treat patients with dementia-related psychosis. The Boxed Warning also warns about an increased risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children, adolescents and young adults taking antidepressants. The safety and effectiveness of Abilify-MyCite have not been established in pediatric patients. Patients should be monitored for worsening and emergence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. AbilifyMyCite must be dispensed with a patient Medication Guide that describes important information about the drug’s uses and risks.

In the clinical trials for Abilify, the most common side effects reported by adults were nausea, vomiting, constipation, headache, dizziness, uncontrollable limb and body movements (akathisia), anxiety, insomnia, and restlessness. Skin irritation at the site of the MyCite patch placement may occur in some patients.

Prior to initial patient use of the product, the patient’s health care professional should facilitate use of the drug, patch and app to ensure the patient is capable and willing to use the system.

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Nausea Archives - InnoHEALTH magazine

Gallstones: The Truth Underneath

About the Author

Digital tracking system: Pill to determine medication ingestion

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recently approved a pill with sensor that digitally tracks if patients have ingested their medication