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"ABOUT ENZYMES" I Could not reach the author, but I think this is so important, I say Thank You Author Learn !

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• TEETH
   
• PALATE
   
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• Salivary Glands
  
• THE EAR
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• GASTRIC
  
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• STOMACH

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 OXYGEN GEL
by CELLFOOD

SILICA
FORMULA

THE HUMAN LIVER
 
WHAT YOU SHOULD
KNOW

THE HUMAN LIVER

The MOST INFORMATIVE SITE I'VE
EVER FOUND
IN 14 YEARS
OF RESEARCH FOR LIVER KNOWLEDGE

DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

In the vertebrates the digestive system is very complex.  It consists of the gastrointestinal
tract (gut), an extensive tube extending from the mouth to the anus, through which the
swallowing, digestion, and assimilation of food and the elimination of
waste products are accomplished.

In the digestive system, ingested food is converted into a form that can be absorbed 
into the circulatory system for distribution to and utilization by the various tissues
 of the body. This is accomplished both physically, by mastication in the mouth
 and churning of the stomach, and chemically, by secretions and enzymes
 of the gastrointestinal tract.

 Beginning at the mouth, all food passes through the alimentary canal
(pharynx, esophagus, stomach, and intestines) before it reaches
the anus, where undigested matter is eliminated as waste. 

The outer walls of the digestive tract are composed of layers of muscle and tissue that
undergo waves of contraction, thereby pushing the food along its digestive path. 

The inner lining contains glands that secrete the acids and enzymes necessary
to break down food into a form utilizable by the body.

Digestion begins in the mouth, where chewing reduces the food to fine texture,
and saliva moistens it and begins the conversion of starch into simple
sugars by means of an enzyme, salivary amylase.

The food is then swallowed, passing through the pharynx and down the muscular
esophagus, or gullet, to the expanded muscular pouch like section of the 
gastrointestinal tract, the stomach. 

Specialized cells in the stomach secrete digestive enzymes and gastric juices, which act on the partially digested food. The stomach also physically churns and mixes the food.

 The stomach secretions include the enzyme pepsin, , which acts on proteins;
hydrochloric acid, essential for the action of pepsin; and an enzyme, 
gastric lipase, which begins the breakdown of fats. 

The gastric juices of young children contain, in addition to those just mentioned, the enzyme rennin, which acts on milk. Some foods, like simple sugars and alcohol, are absorbed directly through the stomach wall and do not remain in the stomach. 

Most food, however, is not absorbed in the stomach and passes into the duodenum 
(first section of the small intestine) in the form of a thick liquid called chyme.

Digestive enzymes from the pancreas and bile from the liver act on the chyme in the duodenum. These enzymes include pancreatic lipase, which breaks down fats into glycerol and fatty acids; pancreatic amylase, which continues the breakdown of starches and most other
carbohydrates into disaccharides; trypsin and erepsin, which break down whole
 and partially digested proteins (proteoses and peptones) into amino acids,
the end products of protein digestion. 

Bile is essential for emulsifying large fat globules into smaller ones that 
are more easily digested by pancreatic lipase. 

In addition, intestinal juices are secreted by small glands in the intestinal wall
 called the crypts of Lieberkühn. 

Like the pancreatic juices, intestinal juices contain enzymes that continue the digestion of proteins and fats and also contain three enzymes that break down disaccharides
 into glucose, galactose, and fructose (simple sugars). 

The digested food is absorbed into the circulatory and lymphatic systems through
 small fingerlike projections of the intestinal wall, called villi. 

Undigested material passes into the large intestine, where most of the water 
is absorbed and the solid material, or feces, is excreted through the anus.

A TOXIC LIFE?   

The digestive or gastrointestinal (GI) system is to us what the roots are to a tree.
As food moves from the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestine
it undergoes transformation that leads to the absorption of nutrients and
elimination of waste.

Unfortunately, most of us do not have healthy bowels.  Just look at how many people
suffer from heartburn, indigestion, bloating, gas, constipation and diarrhea.  These
symptoms are extremely common, with well over 60 million Americans purchasing
laxatives and anti acids, spending over $ 1 billion on these drugs every year.

One reason for this is our lifestyle --- especially our eating habits.  We do not eat the
right foods, we don't consistently exercise, or get enough fresh air.  The food we  eat
is not whole, but processed.  The use of "junk food" --- high in sugar and fat but low
in fiber --- is widespread.  Alcohol, antibiotics, pharmaceutical painkillers and other
medications, both prescription and over-the-counter --- all of these disrupt
normal bowel function.

As we get older, there is a definite decline in the level of digestive enzymes produced
 in the stomach, pancreas and small intestine.  This leads to decreased digestion and
absorption of nutrients and increased accumulation of putrefied fecal matter in the
intestinal tract.  Undigested food material and metabolic waste build up, which can
lead to the autointoxication (self-toxication). 

This sets the stage for various health problems.

Unable to survive in this toxic environment, beneficial bacteria die.  They are
replaced by pathogenic organisms.  This leads to changes in permeability of
the intestinal wall, can inhibit nutrient absorption and allows the absorption
of many toxic chemicals into the bloodstream. 

Result = the total toxic load of the body is increased, which places an additional burden
 on the  liver and the kidneys: Our main organs of detoxification and elimination.

The result is that instead of being an organ responsible for supplying nutrients and
eliminating waste, the GI tract turns into a gigantic waste dump that increases the
toxic burden on the already overtaxed detoxification system.

Many people are shocked to learn that an average person carries 5  to 10 pounds
of putrefied fecal matter, dead microorganisms, undigested food remnants, slime,
fermentation byproducts and other fowl material.  Just imagine the amount of
toxins produced by this "cocktail."

What are the Symptoms of Toxicity?

When symptoms first appear, they are usually general and non-specific ---
decreased energy, headache, fatigue, and minor digestive problems, such
as bloating, gas, belching, indigestion and constipation.  Most of us either
suppress them with antacids, gas relievers or laxatives.

As bowel function continues to deteriorate, more serious problems appear.

SO --- CLEANSE AND DETOXIFY

Digestive System Problems

Digestive system problems are common in very sick people. Some of these problems are related to symptoms of disease. Others are related to medications. All are best
prevented, or treated early, rather than letting them get to the point
 of making you uncomfortable.

"I just can't eat"

Many people find they have no appetite, and that forcing oneself to eat isn't pleasant.
Usually you are best advised to follow your instincts.
Try small amounts of any appealing food

Also, recognize that food is often important for its symbolism (of home, friends, and traditions) and its bringing people together socially, rather than for its nutrition.

Unless particular foods or salt make you sick, when you are close to the end of life,
eat what you want, not what someone thinks you should.

Nausea/vomiting

You may have nausea and/or vomiting because of certain medications,
constipation, or bowel obstruction.

If your medication is the cause, you should ask your doctor about changing your medicines,
 or adding an anti emetic, to reduce nausea. Constipation can cause nausea and vomiting
 so treat it promptly. Sometimes imbalance in blood chemistry is the problem,
so your doctor may need to run blood tests.

Subjects of:  Constipation and the Bowel.  Here is something that
ties-in with that section of the anatomy -- More of our Educational Helps:

http://www-medlib.med.utah.edu/WebPath/GIHTML/GI148.html

Please READ the text that is with the images.  UGH  ---

Constipation

Constipation is commonplace and very uncomfortable. With limited liquid or food intake, little activity, and various medications, it is no wonder that your bowels may be sluggish.

Constipation can cause abdominal cramping. Talk to your doctor or nurses about using stool softeners, laxatives, and enemas to relieve constipation, especially if you
 are taking opioids.

Always try to prevent constipation. Relief of constipation can improve
comfort, even during late stages of dying.

Bowel obstruction

Your bowels can get blocked sometimes, especially in abdominal cancer. If you might have many months to live, doctors will advise surgery. However, if you are close to the end of life, you can stay quite comfortable without surgery, usually by using medications to slow bowel
contractions and other means to prevent stomach overfilling, as needed.

A little pathway may open up, perhaps with some help from steroids,
so that fluids can be absorbed normally.

If vomiting due to bowel obstruction is uncontrollably severe, a tube can be
 placed through the abdomen into the stomach so that stomach juices
can drain without being vomited.

This is called a "venting gastrostomy" and can be done under light sedation.

Unlike a "nasogastric tube," a venting gastrostomy tube does not stay in the
nose and throat causing pain and irritation.

Although a bowel obstruction may be a final complication in the days before death,
 dying this way can usually be made comfortable.

At its simplest, the digestive system it is a tube running from mouth to anus.

This tube is like an assembly line, or more properly, a dissembly line.

Its chief goal is to break down huge macromolecules (proteins, fats and starch), which cannot be absorbed intact, into smaller molecules (amino acids, fatty acids and glucose) that can be absorbed across the wall of the tube, and into the circulatory system
 for dissemination around your body.

In many ways, the digestive system can be thought of as a well-run factory in which
 a large number of complex tasks are performed. The three fundamental
processes that take place are:

• Secretion: Delivery of enzymes, mucus, ions and the like into the lumen, and hormones into blood
• Absorption: Transport of water, ions and nutrients from the lumen, across the epithelium and into blood
• Motility: Contractions of smooth muscle in the wall of the tube that crush, mix and propel its contents

Each part of the digestive tube performs at least some of these tasks, and different regions of the tube have unique and important specializations.

Like any well-run factory, proper function of the digestive system requires robust control systems. Control systems must facilitate communication among different sections of the digestive tract (i.e. control on the factory floor), and between the digestive tract and the brain (i.e. between workers and management). 

Control of digestive function is achieved through a combination of electrical and hormonal messages which originate either within the digestive system's own nervous and endocrine systems, as well as from the central nervous system and from endocrine organs such as the adrenal gland. 

Different parts of these systems are constantly talking to one another. The basic messages are along the lines of "I just received an extraordinary load of food, so I suggest you get prepared" (stomach to large intestine) or "For goodness sake, please slow down until I can catch up with what you've already given me" (small intestine to stomach).

         Fast review and things you need to know about:

• Mouth: Foodstuffs are broken down mechanically by chewing and saliva is added as a lubricant. In some species, saliva contains amylase, an enzyme that digests starch.
• Esophagus: A simple conduit between the mouth and stomach - clearly important but only marginally interesting compared to other regions of the tube.
• Stomach: Where the real action begins - enzymatic digestion of proteins initiated and foodstuffs reduced to liquid form.
• Liver: The center of metabolic activity in the body - its major role in the digestive process is to provide bile salts to the small intestine, which are critical for digestion and absorption of fats.
• Pancreas: Important roles as both an endocrine and exocrine organ - provides a potent mixture of digestive enzymes to the small intestine which are critical for digestion of fats, carbohydrates and protein.
• Small Intestine: The most exciting place to be in the entire digestive system - this is where the final stages of chemical enzymatic digestion occur and where almost all nutrients are absorbed.
• Large Intestine: Major differences among species in extent and importance - in all animals water is absorbed, bacterial fermentation takes place and feces are formed. In carnivores, that's about the extent of it, but in herbivores like the horse, the large intestine is huge and of critical importance for utilization of cellulose.

NOTE:  Here and there, I will begin (as of Mar 01,2005), to add some sites you may
wish to check which relates to the G I tract = Educationally --- Here is one:

http://www-medlib.med.utah.edu/WebPath/GIHTML/GI416.html

When YOU are there --- you will also be able to access the INDEX.
Now you can learn a lot on the subjects and see the images too!

INTESTINES

Intestine, muscular hose like portion of the gastrointestinal tract extending from
 the lower end of the stomach (pylorus) to the anal opening. In humans this fairly 
narrow (about 1 in./2.5 cm) tube like structure winds compactly back and 
forth within the abdominal cavity for about 23 ft (7 m).

This can be a lengthy subject.  But, from personal and many customers over the years, there are many problems that are considered in the Intestines.  

Major one is that instead of the normal 85% good bacteria and 15% bad bacteria, there is usually a more realistic ratio of 85 % bad to little or no good bacteria.

This comes about for many reasons, but usually it's due to use of antibiotics,
 stress, malnutrition, mal absorption, chemo, etc.

Now for the product which is most inquired about, ordered and re-ordered:

And that is   FLORA SOURCE    Please check this.

It is the leading probiotic worldwide, and although it does many things, 
I consider its most important functions as:

 A = Replenishes the good bacteria                                                        
B = Lowers the bad bacteria                                                                 
C = Helps fight the Candida albicans devastation (Yeast, etc).           
D = Because it does the above, it helps the IMMUNE System too. 

When you visit the FLORA SOURCE web site (above), you will see 
many other benefits from this outstanding Probiotic Gem. 

Role of INTESTINAL BACTERIA and the Effect of Probiotics in MAN

Food preservation methods adopted by primitive man (drying or more
often fermentation) guaranteed an intake of bacteria that favored
the formation of the intestinal flora, an advantage denied to
 modern man by current preservation systems.  

The lifestyle of our times has enormously reduced the availability of naturally fermented foods and following identification of microbes in the recent past all bacteria have been considered in irrefutable source of disease and 
therefore banned from all products on the market.  

The food industry's drive to extend food preservation life has led the 
use of alternative production techniques using enzymes
 as opposed to live bacteria. 

As consumption of many antibacterial substances - ranging from vinegar 
to antibiotics - has also increased, both man and domesticated animals
are no longer able to develop a protective intestinal flora.

The combination of extreme hygiene measures adopted during childbirth    
(in the past a newborn baby's first natural  source of intestinal micro-flora)
and an excessive quest for "sterile  conditions" right from a tender age
can lead to an unsatisfactory development of indigenous bacterial flora.

Although not yet proven, there is a suspicion that this may be related to
an exponential growth in incidence of allergies (and infections)
 observed for children in Western society.

Successive recourse to antibiotics for combating infections and the over
optimistic expectations that this class of pharmaceuticals has given rise
to have highlighted what were previously unimaginable problems.

We could continue --- but consider FLORA SOURCE
(notation from webmaster)

THE MOUTH AND THE TEETH 
(info coming up)

In humans, the mouth is defined in front and at the sides by the lips,
 jawbone, teeth and gums.  

In the rear it merges with the throat.  The roof of the mouth is composed of the hard
 and soft palates and the floor of the mouth is formed by the tongue, a muscular structure that contains the organs of taste (taste buds). 

The lips, palates, tongue, and teeth are the major components in speech formation,
 using the “raw sound” formed in the larynx.. 

The process of digestion begins in the mouth; the chewing and grinding action of the teeth reduces the food to a readily digestible substance. The enzymatic process of converting 
starch to sugar is initiated by salivary amylase (ptyalin) excreted by the three salivary 
glands located at the angle of the jawbone and under the tongue. 

Saliva produced in these glands moistens food, preparing it for processing in 
the digestive system.

TEETH

MIST ORAL III

They are hard, calcified structures embedded in the bone of the jaws or vertebrates that perform the primary function of mastication.  Humans have a temporary set of teeth, the deciduous, or milk teeth. 

They usually erupt between the 6th and 24th months. 

They number 20 in all: 2 central incisors, 2 lateral incisors, 2 canines, 
and 4 premolars in each jaw.

At about six years of age, the preliminary teeth begin to be shed as 
the permanent set replaces them. 

The last of the permanent teeth (wisdom teeth) may not appear until the 25th year,
and in some persons do not erupt at all. The permanent teeth generally number
32 in all: 4 incisors, 2 canines, 4 bicuspids, and 4 (or 6, if wisdom teeth
develop molars in each jaw. 

Human canines are the smallest found in any mammal. 

Among all mammals, the tooth consists of a crown, the portion visible in 
the mouth, and one or more roots embedded in a gum socket. 

The portion of the gum surrounding the root, known as the periodontal 
membrane, cushions the tooth in its bony socket.

The jawbone serves as a firm anchor for the root. 

The center of the crown is filled with soft, pulpy tissue containing blood vessels
 and nerves; this tissue extends to the tip of the root by means of a canal.

 Surrounding the pulp and making up the greater bulk of the tooth is a hard, 
bony substance, dentin. 

The root portion has an over layer of cementum, while the crown portion 
has an additional layer of enamel, the hardest substance in the body. 

Most non mammalian vertebrates do not have the outer layer of enamel on their teeth, but instead have a substance known as vitro dentine, similar to dentine, though much harder.

Proper diet is necessary for the development and maintenance of sound teeth,
especially sufficient calcium, phosphorus, and vitamins D and C. 

The most common disorder that affects the teeth is tooth decay.

A widely accepted explanation of the process of tooth decay is that salivary bacteria convert carbohydrate particles in the mouth into lactic acid, which attacks
the enamel, dentin, and, if left untreated, the pulp of the teeth. 

Regular cleansing and semiannual dental examinations are important in preventing dental caries and gum disorders.  Fluoridation of public water supplies and use of fluoride toothpastes also help prevent tooth decay.

 In the study of fossil remains done in paleontology and physical anthropology,
teeth are the most frequently found remains, a testament to their high mineral
 content and resistance to deterioration over time.

PALATE       ( roof of the mouth) 

In mammals (other than humans), the soft palate overlaps the larynx during swallowing so as to prevent entry of foreign substances into the respiratory tract.

Both the hard and soft portions of the palate are lined with mucous membrane
 containing numerous glands that lubricate the mouth and throat. 

MOUTH ---  Please check the following:

MIST ORAL III

The TONGUE

The appearance of the tongue is often an indication of body health; a pinkish-red
color is normal. In impairment of the digestion and in certain feverish
diseases, a yellowish coating forms. 

Local infection of the tongue is called thrush.

"Thrush" in medicine, is infection caused by the fungus Candida albicans,
manifested by white, slightly raised patches on the mucous membrane
of the tongue, mouth, and throat.

 The mucous membrane beneath the patches is usually raw and bleeding. 

The overgrowth of this fungus results when the balance in the normal oral
microbe population is disturbed by antibiotic therapy or disease.

It occurs most frequently in infants, in adults suffering from chronic illnesses, in the debilitated, in the immunosuppressed, and in individuals on long-term
antibiotic, corticosteroid, or anti neoplastic therapy. 

LARYNX

The Larynx is the organ of voice. Commonly known as the voice box, the larynx
 is a tubular chamber about 2 in. high, consisting of walls of cartilage bound
by ligaments and membranes, and moved by muscles.

The human larynx extends from the windpipe.

 In humans, part of the structure may protrude noticeably at the front of the neck, forming the so-called Adam's apple. Within the larynx lie the vocal cords,
 a pair of elastic folds in the lining of mucous membrane. 

During silent breathing, the vocal cords rest along the larynx walls, leaving the air passage fully open.  During speech, the cords are stretched across the larynx;
 air released from the lungs is forced between the cords, causing them
 to vibrate and so produce voice. 

Since men's larynges are usually larger than women's, male vocal cords tend
 to be longer and the male voice is thus deeper.

The larynx controls pitch and volume of vocal utterances — it produces initial sounds, while the articulation of these sounds results from the manipulation of
teeth, tongue, palate, and lips.

 Above them, (at the opening of the larynx into the throat), hangs the epiglottis, a flap of cartilage that helps to seal off the lower respiratory tract during swallowing so that 
food and other foreign elements do not enter it.

SALIVARY GLANDS

The process of digestion begins in the mouth; the chewing and grinding action of the teeth reduces the food to a readily digestible substance. The enzymatic process of converting starch to sugar is initiated by salivary amylase (ptyalin) excreted by
 the three salivary glands located at the angle of the jawbone and under the tongue.

 Saliva produced in these glands moistens food, preparing it for
processing in the digestive system.

There are three pairs of glands that secrete the alkaline digestive fluid,
(saliva), into the mouth.

The largest pair of salivary glands is situated just below and in front of each ear 
(parotid glands), the second pair is below the jaw (submandibular), and the 
third is under the tongue (sublingual).

Ducts carry the secretions of the salivary glands into the mouth cavity. Together with the mucus secreted by the membrane of the mouth and the secretions of other small glands in the mouth, saliva helps to keep the mouth moist, softens the food as it is chewed, and by means of salivary amylase (the digestive enzyme contained in
 saliva) converts starch to sugar, initiating the process of digestion.

The flow of saliva is stimulated by the presence of food in the mouth, or even the sight and smell of food. A lack of salivary flow from a gland may be caused by
the formation of a calculus, (or mineral concretion), that blocks a duct.

EUSTACHIAN TUBE

Is a hollow structure of bone and cartilage extending from the middle ear  to the rear of
the throat, or pharynx, technically known as the pharyngotympanic or auditory tube.

By permitting air to leave or enter the middle ear, the tube equalizes air pressure on either side of the eardrum. The tube can become blocked, as by enlarged adenoids
 or the mucous secretions of a cold, so that external and internal pressure
 become imbalanced.

Earache and diminution of hearing may result. The tube may also serve as a pathway to the ear for infections of the throat. A common ear disease known as Otitis Media, usually appearing in early childhood, is thought to be related to the Eustachian tube.

The tube tends to be shorter and more horizontal among children, factors which facilitate
 the spread of infections from upper respiratory diseases to the middle ear,
as well as the accumulation of fluids in the region.

EAR

The EAR is the organ of hearing and equilibrium. The human ear consists of outer, middle, and inner parts. The outer ear is the visible portion; it includes the
skin-covered flap of cartilage known as the auricle, or pinna, and the
opening (auditory canal) leading to the eardrum.

 The middle ear, separated from the outer ear by the eardrum, contains three small bones, or ossicles. Because of their shapes, these bones are known as the
hammer (malleus), anvil (incus), and stirrup (stapes). Air reaches the middle ear
through the Eustachian Tube, or auditory tube, which connects it to the throat.

 ABOUT THE ESOPHAGUS

Heartburn is a burning sensation felt behind the breastbone and sometimes in the neck and throat.
It is caused by stomach acid refluxing or splashing up into the esophagus -- the muscular tube that connects the throat to the stomach. At the lower end of the esophagus where it enters the stomach,
 there is a strong muscular ring called the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES).

The LES should remain tightly closed, except to allow food and liquid to pass into the stomach.
Heartburn occurs when the LES opens at the wrong time. Almost every one has this occasionally,
and it is nothing to be concerned about. However, heartburn that is severe or that occurs frequently
 over a long period of time can be harmful. 

This is known as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).  If GERD is untreated, there is
constant  acid irritation to the lining of the esophagus, and complications can occur.

About 1 in 10 patients with GERD are found to have a condition called  Barrett's esophagus.
 It can be serious and may lead to cancer of the esophagus.

What is Barrett's Esophagus?

The cells lining the esophagus differ from those lining the stomach or intestines,
mainly because they have different functions.

They also have a distinctly different appearance, so it is usually easy for
 a physician to tell them apart when examining the esophagus and stomach. 

Normally, there is an area at the end of the esophagus that marks the border between the cells
of the esophagus and those of the stomach. Barrett's esophagus is the abnormal
 growth of intestinal-type cells above this border, into the esophagus.

Since the cells lining the stomach are protected from contact with acid, their growth into the esophagus may actually be a defense mechanism. It may protect the normal tissue in the esophagus against
 further damage by GERD. his may explain why the symptoms of GERD seem to lessen i
n some patients with Barrett's esophagus.

Unfortunately, these tissue changes may be a forerunner of cancer of the lower esophagus,
 known as adenocarcinoma. 

Cancer of the upper esophagus (squamous cell cancer) is usually related to
alcohol and smoking.

This type of cancer appears to be decreasing in the population, while the rate of
adeno-carcinoma is increasing sharply, especially in white males.

In time, the Barrett's cells may develop abnormal changes known as dysplasia. Over a period of perhaps two to five years, the dysplasia
may then progress to low grade, then to high grade dysplasia, and
 finally to cancer. Fortunately, this happens only in
about 1-5% of patients with Barrett's esophagus.

Cause and Symptoms

For unknown reasons, Barrett's esophagus is found three times more
often in males than in females. In some instances, Barrett's esophagus appears to be congenital
 (present at birth). However, current evidence is strong that in most instances, it develops as
a result of longstanding GERD.

Patients with Barrett's usually have symptoms similar to those produced by  
chronic GERD, such as heartburn and reflux of stomach acid into the mouth.

Some Barrett's patients may also suffer from other complications of GERD, such as esophageal peptic ulcers and stricture (narrowing of the esophagus) that comes from scarring. These facts are why it is important for patients with these symptoms
to see their physicians regularly.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus requires an examination called upper endoscopy or EGD (esophagogastroduodenoscopy). This is done with the patient under sedation.

The physician examines the lining of the esophagus and stomach with a thin, lighted, flexible endoscope. Biopsies are performed, taking pieces of tissue to be examined under a microscope for abnormal cells which have the potential of becoming malignant.

 The changes may be indefinite dysplasia where the pathologist may be uncertain of the changes. In this circumstance, medical treatment is intensified and repeat biopsies are performed in 6-12 months. When dysplasia is definite, some type of definite
 correction is necessary.
 

        Things Patients Can Do

Currently, there are no medications to reverse Barrett's esophagus. However, it appears that treating the underlying GERD may slow the progress of the disease
 and prevent complications. Following are some things the patient can do to help
reduce acid reflux and strengthen the LES.

Avoid eating anything within three hours before bedtime. Avoid smoking and tobacco products. Nicotine in the blood weakens the LES.   Reduce consumption of fatty foods, milk, chocolate, mints, caffeine, carbonated drinks, citrus fruits and juices, tomato products, pepper seasoning, and alcohol (especially red wine).   (???? webmaster reaction here) Eat smaller meals. Avoid tight clothing or bending over after eating. Review all medications with the physician. Certain drugs can actually weaken the LES. Elevate the head of the bed or mattress 6 to 8 inches. This helps to keep acid in the stomach. Pillows by themselves are not very helpful. Lose weight if overweight. This may relieve upward pressure on the stomach and LES.

 

Gastric Varices

Image 1    Stomach Varicose Veins

You are looking at the black endoscope as it comes into the stomach, has made a U-turn and is looking back at itself. Note the swollen dilated varicose veins around the black endoscope. These occur usually with cirrhosis of the liver where the blood from the intestines is detoured away from the liver to the upper stomach and esophagus
 on its way back to the heart. The veins eventually dilate.

The Larynx

This is what your voice box looks like from above. You notice the vocal cords on each side. These move back and forth as air is forced out over the cords. Amazingly, these simple fibrous bands of tissue allow us to talk, whisper, shout and sing the entire range of melodious and rich bass tones. This is a normal appearance of the larynx.

It is a portion of the digestive tube that conducts food from the mouth to the stomach.

When food is swallowed it passes from the pharynx into the esophagus, initiating rhythmic contractions  of the esophageal wall, which propel the food along
toward the stomach.

The walls of the esophagus are lined with mucous glands that continue the lubrication of
the food as it is conducted to the stomach. The human esophagus is
about 10 in. (25 cm) long and 1 in. (2.5 cm) in diameter.

Normal Images of the Stomach        
    
                  Image 1                        

These are images of the normal stomach. The stomach has two parts. The upper part is called the fundus. It is where food enters from the esophagus and where it stays until it is ground into small fragments. 

The antrum is the grinder of the stomach. It is where food is churned back     and forth until small spurts of liquid and particles of food are passed through the pylorus which is the name of the outlet valve of the stomach. 

Image 1 is a picture of the fundus or upper portion of the stomach. You see the endoscope has entered the stomach and then has made a
U-turn to take the picture.

 Image 2 is the antrum with the pylorus in the distance.

 Image 3 is a close up of the pylorus which normally continuously
 opens and closes.

More important information about the Stomach follows:

One Meal in the Life of the Stomach

The stomach functions dynamically, in parallel with meals. Consider the stomach's most notable activity - secretion of acid.  Acid is secreted in large quantities when the stomach is distended with food, which is useful because it facilitates the initial breakdown of proteins. 

However, once the meal has been liquefied and the stomach has  emptied, acid secretion trickles to a stop and remains shut off during the inter digestive period. 

This shut-off in acid secretion is a good thing - otherwise excessive acid would damage the mucosa of the stomach and small intestine, as happens in certain disease states.

Gastric function is often classified into three phases in which secretory and motor activities are tightly coupled. Try identifying these phases in yourself or your loved ones around meal time:

Cephalic phase ("wake up call"):  

Seeing, smelling and anticipating food is perceived in the brain and the brain informs the stomach that it should prepare for receipt of a meal.

This communication is composed of parasympathetic stimuli transmitted thought --- the vagus nerve to the enteric nervous system, resulting in release of acetylcholine in the vicinity of G cells and parietal cells. Binding of acetylcholine to its receptor on G cells induces secretion of the hormone gastrin, which, in concert with acetylcholine and histamine, stimulates parietal cells to secrete small amounts of acid. 

Additionally, a low level of gastric motility is induced. In essense, the gastric motor is turned on and begins to idle.

Gastric phase ("full steam ahead"):  

When a meal enters the stomach several additional factors come into play, foremost among them --- distension and mucosal irritation.

Distension excites stretch receptors and irritation activates chemo receptors in the mucosa. These events are sensed by enteric neurons, which secrete additional acetylcholine, further stimulating both G cells and parietal cells; gastrin from the G cells feeds back to the parietal cells, stimulating it even further. 

Additionally, activation of the enteric nervous system and release of gastrin cause vigorous smooth muscle contractions. The net result is that secretory and motor functions of the stomach are fully turned on - lots of acid and pepsinogen are secreted, pepsinogen is converted into pepsin and vigorous grinding and mixing contractions take place. 

However, there is a mechanism in place in the stomach to prevent excessive acid secretion - if lumenal pH drops low enough (less than about 2), motility and secretion are temporarily suspended.

Intestinal phase ("step on the brakes"):

 As food is liquefied in the stomach, it is emptied into the small intestine. Its seems to be important for the small intestine to be able to slow down gastric emptying, probably to allow it time to neutralize the acid and efficiently absorb incoming nutrients.

Hence, this phase of gastric function is dominated by the small intestine sending inhibitory signals to the stomach to slow secretion and motility. 

Two types of signals are used: nervous and endocrine. 

Distension of the small intestine, as well as chemical and osmotic irritation of the mucosa is transduced into gastric-inhibitory impulses in the enteric nervous system.  This nervous pathway is called the enterogastric reflex. 

Secondly, enteric hormones such as cholecystokinin and secretin are released from cells in the small intestine and contribute to suppression of gastric activity.

Collectively, enteric hormones and the enterogastric reflex put a strong brake on gastric secretion and motility. As the ingesta in the small intestine is processed, these stimuli diminish, the damper on the stomach is released, and its secretory and motor activities resume

To summarize, the brain alerts the stomach that it should expect arrival of a meal and the stomach comes out of its interdigestive quiescence and begins low level motor and secretory activity (cephalic phase). After a meal is consumed, the gastric motor and secretory activity is fully turned on (gastric phase). 

If the meal is at all substantial, the gastric phase is periodically suppressed by signals from the small intestine and, if gastric pH falls to very low levels, from the stomach itself. 

Eventually, the meal is fully liquefied and emptied, and the stomach falls back into a state of very low motor and secretory activity, where it remains until the next cephalic phase.

  We believe that you're getting the "view" here.  Much more detail is in our research but for now we'll stop here and continue with  ---

Next, you will be into GASTRITIS.   We feel you should know the following about
"emptying".  Just check it out (after that, please follow the original information]:

Control of Gastric Emptying

The rate of gastric emptying is strongly influenced by both volume and composition of gastric contents, which makes considerable sense. Consider three examples of something you might ingest and which rate of gastric emptying would be most appropriate:

• A large glass of water: The stomach becomes distended, but there are no solids to grind and liquefy, and after the water reaches the small intestine, no further processing is required before absorption - the rate of gastric emptying should be very fast.
  
• A Double Whopper with fries (or a mouse if you're a cat): The stomach is distended and its contents must be liquefied; you would also want the meal to be retained in the stomach long enough for pepsin and acid to get a good shot at digesting the protein. Additionally, the resulting chyme should be allowed to empty in the small intestine slowly so as to not overload that organ, particularly with regard to digestion of fat - the rate of gastric emptying should be slow.
  
• A single Chicken McNugget (or a grasshopper if you're a cat): The stomach will not be distended after this kind of a "meal" and in the absense of distension, there is relatively little stimulus for gastric motility - the rate of gastric emptying should be slow.

For liquids, the principal determinant of rate of gastric emptying is volume and, secondarily, composition. If the liquid is low in nutrients (e.g. Evian bottled water), there is an exponential relationship between volume and rate of emptying - large volumes empty at an exponentially faster rate than small volumes.

However, if the fluid is hypertonic or acidic or rich in nutrients such as fat or certain amino acids, the rate of gastric emptying will be considerably slower and non-exponential. Indeed, the rate of gastric emptying of any meal can be predicted rather accurately by knowing its nutrient density. Nutrient density is sensed predominantly in the small intestine by osmoreceptors and chemoreceptors, and relayed to the stomach as inhibitory neural and hormonal messages that delay emptying by altering the patterns of gastric motility. The presence of fat in the small intestine is the most potent inhibitor of gastric emptying, resulting in relaxation of the proximal stomach and diminished contractions of the distal, "gastric grinder" - when the fat has been absorbed, the inhibitory stimulus is removed and productive gastric motility resumes.

GASTRITIS              

 Image 1         Hemorrhagic Gastritis

This is the condition where there are pinpoint hemorrhages on the surface lining of the stomach. Each one of these tiny points can ooze small amounts of blood. Over time this can be a considerable amount and cause anemia or a low red cell count. Aspirin, arthritis medications such as Advil, Motrin and Naprosyn, and excessive alcohol can all cause this condition.

The usual symptoms are burning in  the stomach area, nausea and even vomiting of a coffee ground or red blood material material.    

More on Gastritis  and  ANTRAL EROSIONS

             

                                 Image 1                                         Image 2

Image 1 shows the antrum or outlet of the stomach. There are many black-based erosions here. This means that the lining of the stomach has been injured and you see a black blood clot in the base of the erosions. 

Image 2 shows small white-based erosions next to the dark hole called the pylorus, which is the outlet to the stomach. The bright white spots are light reflection while the bubbly white areas are swallowed saliva. These erosions can lead to ulcers.

 Aspirin or any of the arthritis medicines such as ibuprofen, Naprosyn, Motrin, Advil, Voltaren and Feldene can cause such erosions.

   Ulcers of the Stomach   Image 1   

The Gastric Ulcer 

 This stomach ulcer is clean and benign appearing which means it is probably not malignant or cancerous. The lining of the stomach is healthy and pink. 

The black hole in the background is the pylorus which is the outlet to the stomach. This particular ulcer occurred because the patient was taking an arthritis medicine called an NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug). 

Examples of these medications are ibuprofen, Naprosyn, Motrin, Advil,
Voltaren and Feldene. 

The bacteria, H. pylori, which also can cause stomach ulcers, was not found. 
(not in this situation, but in mine, it was   ...  a webmaster note ....)

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)

Note:  Before you get to the existing text, Do look at the
nest Images and the text ---

http://www-medlib.med.utah.edu/WebPath/GIHTML/GI256.html

  Again, this is done for Your Health Improving Education.   

This funny-sounding name identifies the basic cause of most peptic ulcers, excluding those caused by aspirin or arthritis drugs. This bacteria has a twisted spiral shape and infects the mucous layer lining of the stomach. This infection produces an inflammation in the stomach wall called gastritis. The body even develops a protein antibody in the blood against it.

The bacteria is probably acquired from contaminated food or from a drinking glass. It is only after H. pylori bacteria injure the protective mucous layer of the stomach, allowing damage by stomach acid, that an ulcer develops.

Aspirin and Arthritis Medications
Arthritis medications include ibuprofen (Advil), Feldene, Naprosyn, Voltaren, Indocin, Aleve, Lodine, and many others. As with aspirin, they can damage the mucous layer of the stomach, after which the stomach acid causes the final injury.

So, H. pylori and certain drugs are the two major factors that cause ulcers. In rare cases, a patient will produce very large amounts of acid and develop ulcers. This condition is called Zollinger -Ellison syndrome.

Finally, some people get ulcers for unknown reasons.

Symptoms

            Upper GI Endoscopy

Upper GI endoscopy, sometimes called EGD (esophagogastroduodenoscopy), is a visual examination of the upper intestinal tract using a lighted, flexible fiberoptic or video endoscope.

The upper gastrointestinal tract begins with the
 mouth and continues with the esophagus (food tube) which carries food to the stomach. The

J-shaped stomach secretes a potent acid and churns food into small particles.
The food then enters the duodenum, or small bowel, where bile from the liver
 and digestive juices from the pancreas mix with it to help the digestive process

The Procedure

Upper GI endoscopy is usually performed on an outpatient basis. The throat is often anesthetized by a spray or liquid. Intravenous sedation is usually given to relax the patient, deaden the gag reflex and cause short-term amnesia. For some individuals who can relax on their own and whose gagging can be controlled, the exam is done without intravenous medications. The endoscope is then gently inserted into the upper esophagus.

The patient can breath easily throughout the exam.

 Other instruments can be passed through the endoscope to perform additional procedures if necessary. For example, a biopsy can be done in which a
small tissue specimen is obtained for microscopic analysis. 

A polyp or tumor can be removed using a thin wire snare and electrocautery (electrical heat). The exam takes from 15 to 30 minutes, after which the patient is taken to the recovery area. There is no pain with the procedure and patients seldom remember
 much about it.

PYLORIC DILATION

The pylorus is the valve at the end of the stomach through which ground up food passes. At times, the pylorus will become narrowed and fixed so that food does not readily get out of the stomach. Image 1 shows a fixed tight pylorus. It is the black hole in the image. 

A sausage-shaped balloon was put through this narrowing and then inflated as seen in Image 2. It resulted in a planned tear in the valve, making the opening larger
 and correcting the problem, as shown in Image 3.

Duodenitis

Image 1                                    Image 2    

         

Examples of Duodenitis

At times there will be inflammation of the duodenum rather than, or sometimes before, there is an ulcer. When there is inflammation of the tissue like this, it is called duodenitis.

 Image 1 and 2 show two instances of acute reddening and localized swelling of the duodenal cap. This type of inflammation can be caused by the bacteria infection, Helicobacter pylori and by arthritis and pain drugs such as aspirin, Advil, Motrin, Naprosyn and many others. Other more unusual conditions such as Crohn's disease can also cause inflammation.

CIRCULATORY SYSTEM

Includes a group of organs that transport blood and the substances it carries to and from all parts of the body.  The circulatory system can be considered as composed of two parts: the systemic circulation, which serves the body as a whole except for the lungs, and the pulmonary circulation, which carries the blood to and from the lungs.

The organs of the circulatory system consist of vessels that carry the blood and muscular  pump, the heart, that drives the blood.  Of the vessels, the arteries carry blood away from the heart, the main arterial vessel, the aorta, branches into smaller arteries, which in turn branch repeatedly into still smaller vessels and reach all parts of the body.

Within the body tissues, the vessels are microscopic capillaries through which gas and nutrient exchange occurs.  Blood leaving the tissue
 capillaries enters converging vessels, the veins, to return
 to the heart and lungs.

The human heart is a four-chambered organ with the dividing wall (septum), that separates it into a right heart for pumping blood from the returning veins into the lungs and a left heart for pumping blood from the lungs
 to the body via the a lungs to the body via the aorta.

An auxiliary system, the lymphatic system , is composed of vessels that collect lymph from body tissues. Carried to converging vessels of
increasing size, the lymph enters the thoracic duct and is emptied
 into a large vein near the heart.

Understanding the LYMPHATIC SYSTEM  :

LYMPHATIC SYSTEM A network of vessels carrying lymph, or tissue-cleansing fluid, from the  tissues into the veins of the circulatory system. The lymphatic system functions along with the circulatory system in absorbing nutrients from the small intestines. A large portion of digested fats are absorbed via the lymphatic capillaries.  Like the blood circulatory system, the lymphatic system is composed of fine capillaries that lie adjacent to the blood vessels.  These merge into larger tributaries known as trunks, and these in turn merge into two still larger vessels called ducts. The thoracic and right lymphatic ducts empty into the venous system in the  region of the collarbones.  Lymph, a colorless fluid whose composition is similar to that of blood except that it does not contain red blood cells or platelets, and contains considerably less protein, is continuously passing through the walls of the capillaries.  It transports nutrients to the cells and collects waste products.  Most of the lymph returns to the venous capillaries; however, a small amount (about 10%) enters the terminal lymphatic capillaries and is returned to the blood via the lymphatic system.  The fluid that flows through the lymphatic system is functionally important because it contains substances having large molecules (such as proteins and bacteria) that cannot enter the small pores  of the venous capillaries.  Along the lymphatic network in certain areas of the body (neck, armpit, groin, abdomen, chest) are small reservoirs, the lymph nodes, which collect bacteria and other deleterious agents from  the lymph which passes through them, and act as a barrier against the entrance of these substances into the bloodstream. In a disease state, the lymph nodes may become filled with harmful material to the degree where they can be seen or felt; so, enlarged lymph nodes are of diagnostic importance.  Such enlargement of the lymph nodes can be a warning sign of various kinds of cancer, including breast cancer and Hodgkins disease.  In cases where a cancerous growth has developed, removal of lymph nodes may help to prevent its further spread. However, such a procedure also slows the flow of lymph and may thus  render some of the body vulnerable to infection. You may benefit from the following URL: http://www.merc-buyers.com/ah_lymphatics-R.htm

Anatomic Features 

                                    Image 1                                   Image 2

       

Image 3                                    Image 4

                             

CECUM

Let's take a tour of the normal colon. The colon is about 5-6 feet long. Its primary purpose is to dehydrate and store the liquid stool that enters it. 

The colon begins in the right lower abdomen where the small intestine ends.
This part of the colon is called the cecum.

 The ileocecal valve (ICV) at the end of the ileum regulates the flow from
the small bowel into the colon. 

Image 1 shows the typical appearance of the ICV as seen from above. It usually has a puffy, orangish appearance and, at times, it is shaped like your lower lip. 

Image 2 looks directly at the slit opening of the valve.

 Image 3 is at the base of the cecum where the appendix is attached. Here you see
 the inside opening of the long finger-like appendix in the base of the cecum. 

Image 4 is a picture of the ileum or small bowel after the endoscope has passed through the ICV. You see that the lining here has a fine feathery appearance. 

The function of the ileum is different from the colon. In the small intestine nutrients are absorbed through tiny wavy fronds called villi, so you see a speckling of light being reflected back from these villi.

The