LYCOS RETRIEVER
Liver: Bodys
built 633 days ago
The length of time a person waits for a new liver depends on blood type, body size, and how soon the patient needs a transplant. During the wait, it is important to stay in good physical health. Following a nutritious diet and a light exercise plan are important. In addition, regularly scheduled visits with the transplantation team may be scheduled for health examinations. A patient ... receives vaccines against certain bacteria and viruses that are more likely to develop after the transplantation because of immunosuppression (antirejection) medication.
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The liver participates in a lot of activities within the body. It helps the digestion of food through production of bile and helps change digested foods into substances used by the body for energy and growth. The liver ... helps process some medications into material(s) that can be used by the body; the liver may assist in eliminating medications from the body once they have had their effect. The liver stores vitamins and minerals and works with sugar (carbohydrates, glucose), fats and proteins. It also helps maintain proper blood clotting and removes many body toxins from the blood. Without proper liver function, the pet's health is compromised.
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If you have cirrhosis (a condition in which damaged liver cells have been replaced by fibrous scar tissue that disrupts the liver's important functions), you may experience loss of appetite, nausea, malnutrition, and weight loss. Because it's so important to maintain the proper balance of nutrients, your doctor may recommend that you get nutritional guidance from a registered dietitian. In general, it's important to take in a balanced amount of proteins, carbohydrates, other nutrients, and calories to maintain a healthy weight. If you aren't eating enough protein-rich foods, your body may take protein from your body's muscle tissue, leaving you feeling weaker. However, too much protein (especially protein from meats) can cause a buildup of toxins, which can interfere with brain function. Because vegetable and dairy protein may be tolerated better than meat protein, try to include vegetable and dairy protein sources in your diet.
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The liver ... functions as the body’s chemical factory. Several important proteins found in the blood are produced in the liver. One of these proteins, albumin, helps retain calcium and other important substances in the bloodstream. Albumin also helps regulate the movement of water from the bloodstream into the body’s tissues. The liver also produces globin, one of the two components that form hemoglobin—the oxygen-carrying substance in red blood cells. Certain globulins, a group of proteins that includes antibodies, are produced in the liver, as are the proteins that make up the complement system, a part of the immune system that combines with antibodies to fight invading microorganisms.
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The liver plays an important role in the metabolism of iron since it is the primary organ in the body that stores this metal. The average American diet contains about 10-20 mg of iron per day. About 10% of this iron is absorbed, in keeping with the body’s need for 1 to 2 mg. of iron per day. Patients with chronic HCV sometimes have an increase in the iron concentration in the liver. Excess iron can be very damaging to the liver. Studies suggest that high iron levels reduce the response rate of patients with HCV to interferon.
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The liver holds about one pint (13 percent) of the body's blood supply at any given moment. The liver consists of two main lobes, both of which are made up of thousands of lobules. These lobules are connected to small ducts that connect with larger ducts to ultimately form the hepatic duct. The hepatic duct transports the bile produced by the liver cells to the gallbladder and duodenum (the first part of the small intestine).
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