++
++
Human insulin consisting of 70% NPH and 30% regular insulin. SEE: human insulin.
++
++
A sensation resulting from lack of food, characterized by a dull or acute pain referred to the epigastrium or lower part of chest. It is usually accompanied by weakness and a desire to eat. Hunger pains coincide with powerful contractions of the stomach. Hunger is distinguished from appetite in that hunger is the physical drive to eat, while appetite is the psychological drive to eat. Hunger is affected by the physiological interaction of hormones and hormonelike factors;, appetite is affected by habits, culture, taste, and other factors. SEE: illus.
++
++
++
HORMONES AFFECTING HUNGER
++
++
++
Hypocalcemia that develops in hyperparathyroid patients treated with parathyroidectomy or in patients with end-stage renal disease treated with calcimimetic drugs. It is caused by a sudden decrease in serum parathyroid hormone levels, which in turn increase the uptake of calcium, magnesium, and phosphate by bone. Clinical consequences include tetany (repetitive muscle twitching) esp. in patients whose calcium deficiency is severe.
++
(hŭn′ĕr) [Guy LeRoy Hunner, U.S. surgeon, 1868–1957] Interstitial cystitis.
++
[Charles H. Hunter, Canadian physician, 1873–1955] Mucopolysaccharidosis due to a deficiency of the enzyme L-iduronosulfate sulfatase. Clinically, there are retinal degeneration without corneal clouding, mental retardation, joint stiffness, skeletal dysplasia, cardiac lesions, and deafness. SYN: mucopolysaccharidosis II.
++
++
(hŭnt′ing-tŏn) [George Huntington, U.S. physician, 1850–1916] An autosomal dominant disease of the central nervous system, marked by choreoathetosis, gradually worsening emotional and behavioral disturbances, and eventual dementia. The disease is rare, affecting about 5 people in 100,000. Symptoms usually become obvious in adulthood, often after individuals who carry the causative gene have already transmitted it to their offspring. The hallmarks of the illness may take decades to become fully manifest. Death usually occurs more than 15 yr after diagnosis. Postmortem examination reveals atrophy of the putamen and caudate nucleus.
++
DIAGNOSIS: The diagnosis is straightforward when typical symptoms develop in a son or daughter of a parent known to have the disease. Genetic testing for the illness is available although its use presents difficult ethical questions for couples who want to start a family.
++
TREATMENT: Dopamine agonist drugs (haloperidol, risperidone) can help control chorea, as can tetrabenazine. There is no known treatment to stop the degeneration of the affected portions of the brain. SYN: ...