MEDICAL/TECHNICAL GLOSSARY
* Some sessions do not have a
glossary.
Neoplasm: Unlimited or uncontrolled new growth of cells or tissues.
Epithelial tissue: One of the 4 basic types of tissue making up the human body. Some of the functions include: (1) covering and lining surfaces (skin); (2) absorption (the intestines); and (3) secretion (the glands).
Adenocarcinoma: A malignant neoplasm of epithelial tissue, frequently with infiltration of adjacent tissue.
Squamous cells: A type of epithelial cell that lines the surface of the lungs.
Radioimmunoassay (RIA): This assay is based on the binding of an antigen by a specific antibody. The antigen is quantified by labeling the antibody with a radioisotope and measuring the radioactivity bound to the antigen-antibody complex.
Spectrophotometry: The procedure of observing and measuring (by means of a Spectrophotometer) the relative positions and wave lengths of light rays in a spectrum.
(Reference: Miller BF. and Keane CB. Encyclopedia and
Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing and Allied Health. 4th edition, W.B. Saunders Company:
Philadelphia).
Molybdenum: A silvery white metallic chemical element.
Nitrate: A salt of nitric acid (HNO3)
Atherosclerosis: A condition in which deposits of yellowish plaques containing cholesterol and lipid (fatty) material are formed within arteries.
Gout: A disease of metabolism characterized by recurrent attacks of arthritis, particularly in the joint of the great toe, although any joint may be attacked. Deposits of sodium urate in and around the affected joints occur.
Body Mass Index: Commonly referred to as BMI or Quetelet Index. Defined as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters2. This measure is frequently used in epidemiology studies to estimate relative body composition.
Psychometric measurements: The measurement of mental processes.
(Reference: Miller BF. and Keane CB. Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing and Allied Health. 4th edition, W.B. Saunders Company: Philadelphia).
Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN): is considered to be a probable precursor of full blown invasive cancer of the cervix. By definition, CIN is limited to the epithelial lining of the cervix, the external entrance to the uterus. In the typical Pap smear, cells are obtained from the cervix, and these are examined under the microscope for evidence of atypical cells or for clearly abnormal cells classified into CIN-1, CIN-2, CIN-3, depending on the degree of abnormality. An additional procedure, namely a cervicovaginal lavage, is required to obtain specimens for HPV testing, as described in the journal article to be discussed.
Neoplasia: The formation of a tumor.
Intraepithelial: Within the epithelium (The cellular surfaces covering the inside and outside of the body).
Lavage: The irrigation or washing out of an organ or cavity.
Condylomatous: Having an elevated wartlike lesion of the epithelium.
Human papillomavirus (HPV): A DNA tumor virus. In humans, different strains of the virus can cause a variety of lesions both benign and malignant.
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR): A molecular technique whereby one amplifies a target DNA or RNA sequence as much as a million-fold. (The following article does a nice job of explaining this complicated technique: Mullis K. The unusual origin of the polymerase chain reaction Scientific American April 1990:56-65 )
(Source: Miller, BF. and Keane, CB. Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing and Allied Health 4th edition, W.B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia).
NTU: Nephelometric turbidity units. Measure of turbidity or "cloudiness" of water due to suspended particles such as clay. Considered to be an indicator of run-off in surface water and an indicator of filtration efficacy in treated water. Measured by a turbidimeter which passes a beam of light through a test tube of water and records how much light is scattered. Current EPA standards (June 1993) for turbidity of drinking water are that 95% of samples have < 0.5 NTU. Before June 1993, EPA recommended that the monthly average NTU not exceed 1 and that no 2 consecutive samples have an average NTU greater than 5.
Coliforms: A group of bacteria which are measured as indicators of microbiological water safety. EPA standards for drinking water are <1 coliform colony forming unit (CFU) per 100 ml of water.
Coagulation: Clumping particles suspended in water by adding a chemical (such as alum or polyaluminum hydroxychloride) which forms an insoluble gelatinous substance on which the particles stick and aggregate.
Fluoride: A compound of fluorine with another element.
Neoplasm: Unlimited or uncontrollable new growth.
Osteoscarcoma: A malignant neoplasm of the bone usually occuring as a solitary mass, most frequently in the shaft at either end of the long bone.
Retinoblastoma: A neoplasm of the retina. Usually hereditary and occurs before the fourth year of life.
Mutagenic: Having the ability to cause mutations (a change in the character of a gene).
Cytotoxicity: The degree to which an agent
possesses a specific destructive action on certain cells or the possession of such action.
Lipoprotein: Complexes or compounds containing lipid (fat-soluable substances) and protein.
Atherosclerosis: A condition in which deposits of yellowish plaques containing cholesterol and lipid (fatty) material are formed within arteries.
Antioxidant: An agent that inhibits oxidation (combination with oxygen).
Carotene: Yellow-red pigments found in plants and animals. Carrots for example have a large amount. They include precursors of Vitamin A.
Carotenoids: Resembling carotene, having a yellow color.
Micronutrients: Essential food factors required in only small quantities by the body. For example vitamins and trace minerals.
Free radical: A radical (a group of elements or atoms), in its uncombined state. These elements or atoms usually pass intact from one compound to another, but are usually incapable of prolonged existence in the free state. Free radicals may be involved as short-lived, highly active intermediates in various reactions in living tissue, most notably photosynthesis.
Anemia: Any condition in which the number of red blood cells is less than normal.
Ischemic: Related to ischemia (localized anemia due to mechnical obstruction of the blood supply).
Ascorbic acid: Vitamin C.
Cryptoxanthin: Carotenoid yielding 1 mole of Vitamin A per mole.
Tocopherols: Name given to vitamin E by its discoverer; now a generic term for vitamain E and compunds chemically related to it.
(Source: Stedman's Medical Dictionary 24th edition.)
Monoclonal: Pertaining to a protein from a single clone of cells, all molecules of which are the same.
Flow Cytometer: A piece of equipment that regulates the flow of cells (in this case cells with monoclonal antibodies bound to them) into single droplets. These droplets are illuminated by a laser beam and monitored by fluorescence detectors.
ELISA: ELISA stands for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, which detects if HIV proteins are present by adding the patient’s serum to an antigen preparation. If the HIV antibodies are present they will react with HIV proteins. This test has been validated against a gold standard, which in this case is the clinical syndrome.
Western Blot: This HIV screening test involves dissociating HIV proteins; electrophoresis is applied which separates the protein by molecular charge and weight. Individual proteins are recognized and read as colored bands.
reference: Turner V. (1993). Is a positive Western Blot proof of HIV infection? Biotechnology. 11, 696-670.