A 36-year-old woman, who has admitted to drinking excessive…

A 36-year-old woman, who has admitted to drinking excessive amounts of alcohol over the last year experiences a sudden sense of chest discomfort and feeling faint that is accompanied by the vomiting of coffee-ground emesis and the passing of tarry stool suggestive of gastric bleeding. She relates that she has not had any signs of stomach disorders in the past. What is this patient’s most likely diagnosis?

The liver is responsible for breaking down a variety of toxi…

The liver is responsible for breaking down a variety of toxic compounds. One such compound is a byproduct of amino acid metabolism that liver converts to urea. However, when the liver is not functioning and this toxic compound builds up in the blood, it can cause hepatic encephalopathy that leads to alterations in mood, coma, and eventual death. What is this compound?