A high percentage of patients operated on for colorectal carcinoma (around 40%) develop local recurrence or metastatic disease (1). The formation of a granuloma from non-absorbable suture material within the abdominal cavity is an uncommon condition following intestinal surgery. On occasion, such reactions are mistaken for abscesses or tumors, with patients undergoing unnecessary therapies (2)....

In order to make use of the nutrients stored in feedstuffs, all animals must first break down (digest) feed into a form that can be absorbed by the body. The focus of this chapter is to provide a basic overview of the structures, abilities, and limitations of the sheep’s digestive system. Sheep belong to a group of herbivores called ruminants. Ruminants are able to digest a large portion of the...

Digestion is essential for good health. Unlocking nutrients from foods is a complex process. In order to break down food we rely on optimal levels and function of a special set of proteins called digestive enzymes. These proteins are found in the saliva and also in the small intestines. Without the combined actions of our digestive enzymes we would simply be unable to absorb many nutrients that...

During the development of malaria parasites within human erythrocytes, the fusion of digestive vesicles gives rise to a large digestive vacuole (DV). This organelle, which is maintained at low pH, processes 60-80 percent of the erythrocyte hemoglobin to provide a pool of amino acids that is crucial for parasite growth and development. During proteolysis, heme is released from hemoglobin as a t...