Some eating out in Nanjing have found themselves suddenly close to acting in perhaps the most-memorable scene from sci-fi horror classic movie, “Alien”, when a dining companion began to uncontrollably cough up blood at their table.
一些在南京外出就餐的人突然发现自己差点就演了科幻恐怖经典电影《异形》中最令人难忘的一幕：一名就餐同伴开始在餐桌上不受控制地咳血。
It was just recently in Nanjing that 60-year-old Mr. Li began to spit blood after dinner. By the time he had reached the hospital, he had coughed up almost one full litre of blood. Or to put that another way, more than 20 percent of the total in his entire body.
就在近日，南京60岁的李先生晚饭后开始吐血。当他到达医院时，他已经咳出了几乎整整一升的血。或者说，占他全身的百分之二十以上。
Mr. Li has had a history of liver cirrhosis for many years. Doctors say that gastrointestinal bleeding is caused by portal hypertension that is a common complication of liver cirrhosis.
李先生有多年肝硬化病史。医生表示，消化道出血是由门静脉高压引起的，门静脉高压是肝硬化的常见并发症。
Portal hypertension is increased pressure in the portal venous system, a major vein that leads to the liver.
门静脉高压是指门静脉系统（通向肝脏的主要静脉）压力升高。
Qi Xiaolong is Chief editor of English magazine, “Portal Hypertension and Cirrhosis”. Speaking with Jiangsu Television, Qi said, “When we eat something a little harder, even a melon or sunflower seed, it’s possible to cut that vein”.
齐小龙，英文杂志《门脉高压与肝硬化》主编。齐在接受江苏电视台采访时说，“当我们吃稍微硬一点的东西时，即使是瓜子或葵花子，也有可能割断静脉”。
In a report published by The Paper, a doctor said that mortality from hematemesis, or vomiting blood, can be as high as 50 percent.
在澎湃新闻发表的一份报告中，一位医生表示，吐血导致的死亡率可能高达 50%。
Li has got off very lucky. Surgery has so far been successful, and his medical condition is presently described as having turned a corner.
李的下车非常幸运。到目前为止，手术很成功，目前他的健康状况据描述已经好转。
Cinematic similarities aside, this is also a warning tale. According to Britain’s NHS, “Cirrhosis is scarring (fibrosis) of the liver caused by long-term liver damage. The scar tissue prevents the liver working properly”. Cirrhosis is also referred to as the “end-stage liver disease” as it takes place after other liver-damage conditions, such as hepatitis.
除了电影的相似之处之外，这也是一个警示故事。根据英国国民医疗服务体系（NHS）的说法，“肝硬化是由长期肝脏损伤引起的肝脏疤痕（纤维化）。疤痕组织会妨碍肝脏正常工作”。肝硬化也被称为“终末期肝病”，因为它发生在其他肝损伤疾病（例如肝炎）之后。
But what we need to know is that cirrhosis may not show any symptoms during its early stages. People with damaged livers may feel tired and weak, experience a loss of appetite, weight and muscle mass; and have nausea, red patches on their palms as well as small, spider-like blood vessels on the skin above waist level.
但我们需要知道的是，肝硬化在早期阶段可能不会表现出任何症状。肝脏受损的人可能会感到疲倦和虚弱，食欲不振、体重和肌肉质量下降；恶心，手掌上有红斑，腰部以上皮肤上有蜘蛛状的小血管。
As for its causes, drinking too much alcohol for many years should not come as a surprise. Those who have been infected with hepatitis B or C for an extended period are also susceptible, as are those with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. It is also possible that cirrhosis be caused by problems related to bile ducts, the immune system, certain inherited conditions, or the long-term use of certain medicines.
至于其原因，长年过量饮酒并不奇怪。长期感染乙型或丙型肝炎的人以及非酒精性脂肪性肝炎的人也容易感染。肝硬化也可能是由胆管、免疫系统、某些遗传性疾病或长期使用某些药物相关的问题引起的。
