Factor X
Definition: A coagulation factor, a substance in blood essential to the normal clotting process. Production of factor X takes place in the liver and requires vitamin K. The gene for factor X is located...
View ArticleChilblain
Definition: An injury due to cold temperatures that, although painful, causes little or no permanent impairment. It appears as red, swollen skin that is tender and hot to the touch and may itch. This...
View ArticleThyroid
Definition: 1. The thyroid gland. Also, pertaining to the thyroid gland. 2. A preparation of the thyroid gland used to treat hypothyroidism. 3. Shaped like a shield. (The thyroid gland was so-named by...
View ArticleMRCP
Definition: Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, an application of MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) to the hepatobiliary and pancreatic system. An MRCP uses an MRI machine with special software...
View ArticleAPC (immunology)
Definition: Antigen-presenting cell, a cell that can "present" antigen in a form that T cells can recognize it. Among the APCs are B cells and cells of the monocyte lineage including macrophages.Term...
View ArticleMuscular dystrophy, Ullrich congenital
Definition: A disorder evident at birth characterized by muscle weakness, contractures of multiple joints, and hyperextensibility (looseness) of joints, particularly distal joints (well away from the...
View ArticleHiatus hernia (hiatal hernia)
Definition: An anatomical abnormality in which part of the stomach protrudes up through the diaphragm into the chest. Normally, the esophagus passes down through the chest, crosses the diaphragm,...
View ArticleMyo- (prefix)
Definition: A prefix denoting a relationship to muscle. Myo- enters into many words and terms in medicine including cardiomyopathy, dermatomyositis, electromyography, leiomyoma, myocardial infarction,...
View ArticleRetinoic acid syndrome
Definition: A disorder due to the cancer treatment retinoic acid characterized by fever, difficulty breathing, chest pain, lung infiltrates, fluid around the lungs and heart, and hypoxia (lack of...
View ArticlePolymyalgia
Acronym: PMRGeneric Name: polymyalgiaAlternate Name: Polymyalgia rheumaticaDefinition: Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), which takes its name from the greek word 'polymyalgia' meaning "pain in many...
View ArticleCysticercosis
Definition: Cysticercosis is an infection by a parasite called Taenia solium (T. solium), a pork tapeworm that creates cysts in different areas in the body.Cysticercosis refers to tissue infection...
View ArticleAmitriptyline
Generic Name: TricyclicAlternate Name: Elavil, EndepDefinition: The main classes of antidepressants used for treating fibromyalgia are tricyclics, selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and...
View ArticleSmall-Fiber Polyneuropathy
Acronym: SFPNDefinition: Small-fiber polyneuropathy (SFPN) is known to be caused by specific medical conditions, some of which can be treated and can sometimes be cured. SFPN is a type of peripheral...
View ArticleAyurvedic
Alternate Name: Ayurvedic MedicineDefinition: Ayurvedic medicine or Ayurvedic are systems of traditional medicines that are native to the Indian subcontinent. They are also forms of alternate...
View ArticleHypothyroidism
Generic Name: Too little thyroid hormoneReference Link: Hypothyroidism: Too Little Thyroid HormoneDefinition: Hypothyroidism is the name of a condition in which the body has little or insufficient...
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