Human health and medicine

Langerhans cell sarcoma

Langerhans cell sarcoma (LCS), also called malignant histiocytosis X, is a rare aggressive high-grade dendritic cell tumor of Langerhans cells, extranodal and multifocal, with incidence 0.2 per 10,000,000 and poor prognosis.

Oct 20, 2026

Language Therapy

Language therapy is rehabilitation for language disorders and training for children's language development disorders, distinct from speech therapy. Evidence covers DLD gains (SMD 0.46 expressive), caregiver-mediated programs, and aphasia treatment.

Lanifibranor

Lanifibranor (IVA337) is Inventiva's investigational oral pan-PPAR agonist for MASH/NASH; positive Phase 2b NATIVE trial, FDA Breakthrough Therapy status, Phase 3 NATiV3 readout expected Q4 2026.

Lanoracopan hydrochloride

MY008211A (lanoracopan hydrochloride, Yishining) is Wuhan Createrna's oral complement factor B inhibitor for PNH and IgA nephropathy; all 34 phase 2 PNH patients met the hemoglobin endpoint, and its China NDA is in priority review.

Lanreotide

Lanreotide (Somatuline Depot/Autogel) is a long-acting octapeptide somatostatin analog by Ipsen, injected deep subcutaneously every 4 weeks. It treats acromegaly, unresectable GEP-NETs, and carcinoid syndrome via SSTR2/SSTR5, prolonging progression-free survival in the CLARINET trial.

Lansoprazole

Lansoprazole (Prevacid, Zoton FasTabs) is a Japanese-developed proton pump inhibitor approved in the US in 1995 that blocks gastric (H+/K+)-ATPase to treat GERD, ulcers, H. pylori, and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

Lanterman–Petris–Short Act

Lanterman–Petris–Short Act (LPS Act), California's 1967 involuntary psychiatric treatment law (W&I Code 5000 et seq.): 5150 72-hour holds, 5250/5270 certifications, 5350 conservatorships, due process safeguards, and SB 43 (2023) reforms.

Lanugo

Lanugo is the fine, soft, unpigmented fetal hair, the first human hair type, anchoring vernix caseosa and shed around 33-36 weeks. In adults it signals anorexia, malnutrition, or rarely paraneoplastic hypertrichosis lanuginosa.

Lanzhou lamb rotavirus vaccine (LLR)

Lanzhou lamb rotavirus vaccine (LLR, 罗特威), a live attenuated oral monovalent G10P[12] lamb-strain vaccine by Lanzhou Institute of Biological Products, licensed in China in 2000, with post-marketing effectiveness of roughly 35–77%.

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is a minimally invasive operation that removes one or both adrenal glands through small abdominal incisions, first reported in 1992 and now the preferred approach for most benign adrenal tumors.

Laparoscopic appendectomy

Laparoscopic appendectomy is a minimally invasive operation that removes an inflamed appendix through small incisions using a camera, and is the standard surgical treatment for appendicitis.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a minimally invasive operation that removes the gallbladder through small abdominal incisions using a laparoscope and carbon dioxide insufflation, the standard treatment for symptomatic gallstones.

Laparoscopic hernia repair

Laparoscopic hernia repair is a minimally invasive operation that reinforces the abdominal wall through small incisions, a camera, and prosthetic mesh, used mainly for inguinal hernias and also for ventral and incisional hernias.

Laparoscopic liver resection

Laparoscopic liver resection is a minimally invasive operation that removes part of the liver through small incisions, used for liver tumors and living-donor hepatectomy, first reported in 1992.

Laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy

Laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD) is a minimally invasive operation for pancreatic and periampullary tumors, first reported in 1994, offering less blood loss and shorter hospital stay than open surgery.

Laparoscopic pancreatoduodenectomy

Laparoscopic pancreatoduodenectomy (LPD) is a minimally invasive alternative to the open Whipple operation for pancreatic and periampullary tumors, first reported in 1994, with comparable oncological outcomes.

Laparoscopic pyeloplasty

Laparoscopic pyeloplasty is a minimally invasive operation that repairs ureteropelvic junction obstruction by excising the blocked segment and rejoining pelvis to ureter, first reported in 1993 with success rates of 85 to 100%.

Laparoscopic resection

Laparoscopic resection is a minimally invasive operation removing diseased tissue or an organ through small abdominal incisions, offering faster bowel recovery and shorter hospital stays than open surgery.

Laparoscopic splenectomy

Laparoscopic splenectomy is a minimally invasive operation that removes the spleen through small abdominal incisions, first reported in 1992, used for hematologic diseases and splenic cysts but not trauma.

Laparoscopy

Laparoscopy (keyhole surgery): minimally invasive abdominal or pelvic surgery through small incisions using a camera-equipped laparoscope and CO2 insufflation. Faster recovery than open surgery; used for diagnosis, appendectomy, cholecystectomy, hernia repair, and cancer surgery.

Laparotomy

Laparotomy, also called celiotomy, is open abdominal surgery through an incision into the peritoneal cavity, performed electively or as an emergency for bleeding, perforation, obstruction, or infection; UK NELA audit data show 30-day mortality fell from 11.8% to 8.1%.

LAPC-4

LAPC-4 (Los Angeles Prostate Cancer-4, CVCL_4744) is a human prostate cancer cell line from a lymph node metastasis, AR/PSA positive with wild-type androgen receptor, TP53 R175H, wild-type PTEN, androgen dependent, used as the wild-type-AR counterpart to LNCaP.

Laquinimod

Laquinimod (ABR-215062, Nerventra) is an oral quinoline-3-carboxamide immunomodulator activating the aryl hydrocarbon receptor, trialed for multiple sclerosis (EMA-refused 2014), Huntington's disease, and now inflammatory eye disorders.

Larazotide

Larazotide (larazotide acetate, AT-1001), an eight-amino-acid synthetic zonulin antagonist peptide for celiac disease; showed symptom benefit in phase 2 gluten-challenge and GFD trials, but its phase 3 CeDLara trial was discontinued in 2022.

Large intestine

The large intestine (colon, bowel) is the terminal digestive tract organ, about 5 feet long, comprising cecum, colon, rectum, and anal canal; it absorbs water, electrolytes, and vitamins K and B, forms stool, and houses the gut microbiota.

Large plaque parapsoriasis

Large plaque parapsoriasis (LPP) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with scaly patches larger than 5 cm that develop over years and carry a risk of progressing to mycosis fungoides.