Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

A drug that comes in many forms. It is an adrenergic broncodilator and a cardiac stimulant. Drug used to treat bronchial asthma and to stimulate the heart. Adverse effects include hypotension and abnormalities of cardiac rhythm.  

Members of the steroid class of compounds. Isoprenoids include carotenes and ubiquinone.  

A neuropeptide-like protein produced by the β cell of the pancreas. Its function is not known.  

A very inefficient process. Iron is transferred from the intestinal mucosa to transferrin. Transferrin then transports this iron to the rest of the body. Individuals who have had a gastric bypass operation are characterized by reduced iron absorption and their iron status can be compromised. Hepcidin is a good predictor of dietary iron bioavailability.  

An angiotensin II receptor antagonist that serves as an antihypertensive agent. A drug used to control high blood pressure. Irbesartan (Avapro) is classified as an angiotensin II antagonist and has similar benefits to angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors without producing a common side effect, a dry cough. Irbesartan causes blood vessels to dilate, or widen, thereby…

The ion of iodine, an essential nutrient required primarily for the synthesis of thyroxin. The deficiency disorder is called goiter and is characterized by thyroid gland enlargement.  

Two copies of the same sequence of DNA repeated in opposite orientations on the same molecule; adjacent inverted repeats constitute a palindrome.  

Provision of fluids and/or nutrients or drugs into a vein.  

A surgical procedure wherein part or all of the small intestine is removed and the remaining fragments connected. The gastrointestinal tract is thus reduced in length. Surgical procedure, used in the treatment of obesity, in which a large part of the small intestine is bypassed so that food is not absorbed there and weight is…

A method for estimating food intake. Two frequently used interview methods are the 24-hour recall method and the dietary history method. In the 24-hour recall method, a complete description of the total food intake during the 24 hours preceding the interview is requested. As with the 2-day record method, a single 24-hour recall does not…