310 OLIVE OILS AND HEALTH PANCREATIC EXOCRINE FRACTION (See PANCREAS / Exocrine pancreas) PANCREATITIS (See PANCREAS) PARENTERAL ADMINISTRATION / PARENTERAL ROUTE One of the most commonly used methods for drug administration. It involves bypassing one or more layers of the skin, blood vessels, or tissues, depending on the route used. Different types of parenteral administration include: intradermal (into the layers of the skin), subcutaneous (under the skin), intramuscular (into the muscle), and intravenous (into a vein). Another form of product administration is the enteral route, through which substances reach the digestive system. Enteral routes include oral, sublingual, nasal, or rectal. Substances can be administered in different forms such as tubes, capsules, tablets, syrups, suspensions, etc. These administration routes are also used to treat dehydration or to provide nutritional support to patients. PATHOGENIC MICROORGANISMS (See IMMUNE SYSTEM)) PENTACYCLIC TRITERPENES (See MINOR COMPOUNDS / Triterpenoids) PERIODONTITIS Inflammation and infection of the periodontium, the tissue that surrounds the teeth, including the alveolar bone that supports them. It is usually caused by the accumulation of plaque at the junction between the gum and the tooth, which leads to gum inflammation and infection (gingivitis). If gingivitis is not treated, small pockets may form between the gum and the tooth where infection and inflammation build up. These can spread from the gums to the ligaments and bone that support the teeth, causing periodontitis. The resulting loss of support makes the teeth loosen and eventually fall out. Periodontitis is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. The first symptom of both gingivitis and periodontitis is gum bleeding. Other symptoms may appear later, including pain when chewing, bad breath, mouth sores, and loose or sensitive teeth. Periodontitis is common, but largely preventable, as it usually results from poor oral hygiene. (See also Figure 5 in Chapter 8) PERIPHERAL ARTERY DISEASE Also known as peripheral arteriopathy, it is a circulatory disorder caused by the progressive narrowing or blockage of the arteries that supply blood to the legs, due to the accumulation of fatty deposits (atherosclerosis). This obstruction leads to a chronic reduction in blood supply to the legs, the severity of which depends on the degree of arterial narrowing. It usually presents as leg pain during walking (claudication), due to reduced blood flow.
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