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Zhang Wei Wei
Integrative Medicine
About me
Zhang Weiwei, associate chief physician, graduated from Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, engaged in the clinical work of integrated Chinese and Western internal medicine for more than 10 years, and studied in the oncology department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine. He has rich clinical experience.
Proficient in diseases
Specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of advanced tumors, infertility, menstrual disorders, pelvic inflammatory disease, breast diseases, and cardiovascular diseases using a combination of traditional Chinese and Western medicine.
Voices
Can infertility ovulate?
I would like to discuss the causes of female infertility. The main causes of female infertility are ovulatory disorders and fallopian tube factors. If infertility is primarily due to fallopian tube factors, the patient does not have ovulatory disorders and can ovulate normally. Many cases of infertility are due to ovulatory disorders, which may be caused by ovarian dysfunction leading to persistent anovulation. Some are due to ovarian diseases, underdeveloped ovaries, polycystic ovary syndrome, premature ovarian failure, and functional ovarian tumors. Or it could be due to dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis causing anovulation. It could also be due to endocrine metabolic diseases, such as hyperfunction or hypofunction of the thyroid or adrenal cortex, which can lead to anovulation. Therefore, in women with infertility caused by fallopian tube factors, ovulation can occur; if it is caused by ovulatory disorders, it involves ineffective ovulation or an inability to ovulate.
What to check for infertility
What tests should be done for infertility? The tests for males are much simpler compared to those for females, primarily focusing on semen analysis as well as prostate and ultrasound examinations. For females, besides examining the development of the internal and external genitalia, checking for inflammation and inflammatory masses, and assessing breast lactation, several specialized tests can also be conducted. These include evaluating the patency of the fallopian tubes by hysterosalpingography, ovarian function tests including basal body temperature (BBT) measurements, vaginal cytology, endometrial examination, and female hormone assessments. Immunological tests include checking for anti-endometrial, anti-ovarian, anti-trophoblast, and anti-sperm antibodies, among others. Ultrasound examinations help in detecting pelvic tumors and uterine conditions, and also in monitoring follicle development and ovulation. Other tests include hysteroscopy, laparoscopy, and an analysis of chromosomal abnormalities in the couple.
Which department should I go to for infertility treatment?
For infertility issues, one should first visit a formal hospital. At the hospital, men can choose to see either a traditional Chinese medicine andrologist or a Western medicine andrologist, while women can opt to visit a traditional Chinese medicine infertility specialist, or a gynecology or obstetrics department. After consulting these departments, doctors will conduct various tests to identify and rule out causes of infertility. Then, based on the test results, they will administer targeted treatments or interventions. This approach helps infertility patients to conceive as soon as possible.
Clinical manifestations of liver abscess
Clinical manifestations of liver abscess include irregular, purulent fever, especially noticeable in bacterial liver abscesses. The fever is irregular and typically high, preceded by chills, followed by persistent pain in the liver area, which worsens with deep breaths or movement. Depending on the location of the abscess, it can lead to corresponding respiratory and abdominal symptoms, often with a history of diarrhea. If the abscess ruptures, it can evolve into purulent peritonitis with pyothorax. Special signs include liver enlargement, and in the intercostal space corresponding to the abscess, there's localized edema and clear tenderness. Some patients may exhibit jaundice. If the abscess breaks into the chest cavity, lung abscesses can occur, or if it perforates into the abdominal cavity, peritonitis may develop.
Why is there a low fever with a liver abscess?
Why do patients with liver abscesses continuously have a low fever? This is because a liver abscess is a purulent liver condition caused by various microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, or amoebas, indicating severe inflammation due to the presence of pus in the liver, resulting in a fever. But why is it a low fever? The reason may be attributed to the fact that it is inherently a bacterial infection. Treatment requires prolonged use of high-dose, full-course antibiotics. During this process, some bacteria might not be completely eradicated, or some residual bacteria continue to linger in the liver, thereby easily causing fever. Fever is a manifestation of the body's self-protection, so there is no need for excessive worry or anxiety. With proper full-course treatment, the disease can be cured. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)
Will ferritin be high in hepatic abscess?
Will ferritin levels rise in cases of liver abscess? First, we need to understand the significance of ferritin testing. I can also tell you that ferritin does not necessarily increase during a liver abscess. The main form of iron in the body is present as serum ferritin. Clinically, its relationship with the aforementioned diseases is something we can discuss. The first one is related to iron-deficiency anemia. Generally, early stages of iron deficiency do not directly cause significant anemia, but they will lead to a reduction in iron stores. There are many methods for determining serum iron content in clinical laboratories, but none are as sensitive and reliable as serum ferritin. The second point is its relationship with tumors. Ferritin acts as a soluble tissue protein that stores iron in the body. It consists of a protein shell and an iron core, with the iron core having a strong capacity to bind and store iron, maintaining the supply of iron and the relative stability of hemoglobin. The liver is the site of synthesis of serum ferritin and also the organ that clears it. Normally, only a small amount is found in the serum, so during acute or chronic liver damage, or liver cancer, a noticeable increase occurs. Therefore, when liver abscesses affect liver function or cause destruction of liver cells, it can also lead to increased ferritin levels. However, in the early stages of a liver abscess, if treatment is proactive, ferritin levels might not increase.
Principles of medical treatment for liver abscess
The principle is early diagnosis and early treatment, including the management of the primary disease, and then avoiding the occurrence of complications. Non-surgical treatment requires the use of effective and sufficient amounts of antibacterial drugs, proactive supportive care, and enhancement of the body's resistance. For a single larger abscess, it can be punctured and drained under ultrasound guidance, or continuously flushed and drained through percutaneous catheter placement, and treated with injection of antibiotics. However, the antibiotic treatment for liver abscess requires a sufficient amount and full course of symptomatic supportive care to suppress the spread of inflammation and facilitate rapid absorption of inflammation. At the same time, we can adopt some traditional Chinese medicine methods and treatment approaches to reduce swelling and drain pus, which synergistically enhance the treatment effect.
What is good to eat for a liver abscess?
You should eat a diet that is easy to digest, high in vitamins, low in fat, and high in calories. Avoid fatty, greasy, spicy, and stimulating foods. So, what types of food can we choose? We can choose foods like millet and pig stomach, including beans, because beans are high in protein, calcium, iron, and vitamin B. You can also eat seafood such as hairtail and yellow croaker, which can enhance immunity, repair damaged tissue cells, and strengthen the body's resistance to prevent viral infections. Additionally, you can eat fruits that clear heat and detoxify, relieve irritability, and quench thirst, such as dragon fruit, pears, apples, etc. You can also consume foods that are rich in potassium.
Does liver abscess have a connection with drinking alcohol?
Patients with liver abscesses are prohibited from drinking alcohol, because the main component of alcoholic beverages is ethanol, which needs to be metabolized by the liver and directly damages it. Excessive drinking can exacerbate the burden on the liver, worsening the condition. Therefore, patients with liver abscesses must absolutely avoid alcohol. If a patient insists on drinking, they should only do so in moderation three months after the abscess has healed. However, it is generally advised not to drink at all. It is beneficial for the liver if patients consume fresh vegetables and fruits and maintain a light diet, avoiding greasy and rich foods. This diet can also prevent the adhesion and aggregation of platelets, reduce the decline in white blood cells, and promote blood circulation and dispel stasis.
Can a liver abscess cause ascites?
Can liver abscess cause ascites? Some liver abscesses can cause ascites. Firstly, it must be understood why ascites occur. It is because the patient has poor resistance, internal infections, and is prone to worsened infections. A liver abscess involves significant energy consumption due to prolonged fever and intermittent fevers, which can reduce the liver’s capacity to synthesize albumin, leading to a decrease in colloid osmotic pressure within the blood vessels. This is accompanied by the formation of fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity. Therefore, when a patient with a liver abscess develops ascites, there is no need to be overly anxious or nervous. Treatment can involve vigorous anti-infection measures, supplementation with albumin, and other supportive treatments to improve the symptoms and alleviate the patient's ascites, facilitating a quicker recovery.