Ankylosing Spondylitis

          Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) refers to inflammation of the joints in the spine. AS is also known as rheumatoid spondylitis or Marie-Strumpell disease (among other names). A form of arthritis, AS is characterized by chronic inflammation, causing pain and stiffness of the back, progressing to the chest and neck. Eventually, the whole back may become curved and inflexible if the bones fuse (this is known as “bamboo spine”). AS is a systemic disorder that may involve multiple organs, such as the:

·        *eye (causing an inflammation of the iris, or iritis)

·       * heart (causing aortic valve disease)

·       * lungs

·        *skin (causing a scaly skin condition, or psoriasis)

·        *gastrointestinal tract (causing inflammation within the small intestine, called ileitis, or    inflammation of the large intestine, called colitis)

Less than 1% of the population has AS; however, 20% of AS sufferers have a relative with the disorder.

Animal bite infections

      The most common problem following an ani­mal bite is simple infection. The saliva of dogs and cats is known to contain a wide variety of bacteria. According to one recent study, bacteria or other pathogens show up in about 85 percent of bites. When an animal bites, it can then transmit pathogens into the wound. These microorganisms may grow within the wound and cause an infection. The consequences of infection range from mild discomfort to life-threatening complications.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme test

     This test measures blood levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), also known as Serum Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (SASE). The pri­mary function of ACE is to help regulate arterial pressure by converting angiotensin I to angiotensin II.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors

           Angiotensin-convert­ing enzyme inhibitors (also called ACE inhibitors) are medicines that block the conversion of the chemical angiotensin I to a sub­stance that increases salt and water retention in the body.

Angioplasty

       Angioplasty is a term describing a procedure used to widen vessels narrowed by stenoses or occlusions. There are various types of these procedures and their names are associated with the type of vessel entry and equipment used. For example, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) describes entry through the skin (percutaneous) and navigates to the area of the vessel of interest through the same vessel or one that communicates with it (transluminal). In the case of a procedure involving the coronary arteries, the point of entry could be the femoral artery in the groin and the cath- eter/guidewire system is passed through the aorta to the heart and the origin of the coronary arteries at the base of the aorta just outside the aortic valve.

Angiography

          Angiography is the x-ray study of the blood ves­sels. An angiogram uses a radiopaque substance, or dye, to make the blood vessels visible under x-ray. Arteriography is a type of Angiography that involves the study of the arteries.

Angina

           Angina is pain, “discomfort,” or pressure localized in the chest that is caused by an insufficient supply of blood (isch­emia) to the heart muscle. It is also sometimes characterized by a feeling of choking, suffocation, or crushing heaviness. This condition is also called angina pectoris. Often described as a muscle spasm and choking sensation, the term “angina” is used primarily to describe chest (thoracic) pain originating from insufficient oxygen to the heart muscle. An episode of angina is not an actual heart attack, but rather pain that results from the heart muscle temporarily receiving too little blood. This temporary condition may be the result of demanding activi­ties such as exercise and does not necessarily indicate that the heart muscle is experiencing permanent damage. In fact, episodes of angina seldom cause permanent damage to heart muscle. Angina can be subdivided further into two categories: angina of effort and variant angina..