polyuria

DEFINITION:

The passage of a large volume of urine in a given period, a characteristic of diabetes.

biopsy

DEFINITION:

The removal and examination, usually microscopic, of tissue from the living body, performed to establish precise diagnosis.

salivary

DEFINITION:

Pertaining to the saliva.

gland

DEFINITION:

An aggregation of cells, specialized to secrete or excrete materials not related to their ordinary metabolic needs.

infiltration

DEFINITION:

1. The pathological accumulation in tissue or cells of substances not normal to it or in amounts in excess of the normal.

lymphocytes

DEFINITION:

Any of the mononuclear, nonphagocytic leukocytes, found in the blood, lymph, and lymphoid tissues, that are the body's immunologically competent cells and their precursors. They are divided on the basis of ontogeny and function into two classes, B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes, responsible for humoral and cellular immunity, respectively.

mesenchyme

DEFINITION:

Mesenchyma.

myalgia

DEFINITION:

Pain in a muscle or muscles. Called also myodynia .

bilateral

DEFINITION:

Having two sides, or pertaining to both sides.

hemoglobin

DEFINITION:

The protein coloring matter of the red blood corpuscles, serving to convey oxygen to the tissues and occurring in reduced form in venous blood and in combination with oxygen in arterial blood. Symbol: Hb.

X

DEFINITION:

Symbol for Kienbock unit and xanthine or xanthosine . See also exposure , definition 3.

polyuria

DEFINITION:

The passage of a large volume of urine in a given period, a characteristic of diabetes.

value

DEFINITION:

1. A measure of worth or efficiency.

2. A quantitative measurement of the activity, concentration, or some other quality of a substance.

serologic

DEFINITION:

Pertaining to serology.

immunoglobulins

DEFINITION:

Proteins found in the blood serum and in tissue fluids, also known as antibodies . Immunoglobulins are produced by cells of the immune system called B-lymphocytes. Their function is to bind to substances in the body that are recognized as foreign antigens (often proteins on the surface of bacteria and viruses). This binding is a crucial event in the destruction of the microorganisms that bear the antigens. Immunoglobulins also play a central role in allergies and hypersensitivity reactions. In this case they bind to antigens that are not necessarily a threat to health, which may provide an inflammatory reaction.

There are five classes of immunoglobulins; of these, immunoglobulin G (IgG) is the major immunoglobulin in blood serum (See below). Immunoglobulins can be extracted from blood of recovering patients and used for passive immunization against certain infectious diseases.

IgG immunoglobulin - The IgG molecule consists of two parts, one of which binds to antigen; the other binds to other cells of the immune system. These other cells are principally white cells called phagocytes, which then engulf the microorganisms bearing the antigen. The antigen-binding site of the IgG molecule is variable in its structure, the different versions of the molecule being capable of binding to an almost infinite number of antigens.

Immunoglobulin G - See IgG immunoglobulin above.

immunoelectrophoresis

DEFINITION:

A technique combining protein electrophoresis and double immunodiffusion; proteins are separated by agarose gel electrophoresis; then specific antisera are placed in a trough cut parallel to the protein track, and the proteins and antibodies are allowed to diffuse through the gel, the proteins diffusing radially from their electrophoretic placement and the antibodies diffusing perpendicularly from the trough, resulting in a distinct elliptical precipitin arc for each protein detectable by the antisera. Abbreviation IEP.

dilution

DEFINITION:

1. The art or process of diluting or the state of being diluted.

2. A diluted or attenuated medicine.

3. In homeopathy, the diffusion of a given quantity of a medicinal agent in ten or one hundred times the same quantity of water.

positive

DEFINITION:

Having a value greater than zero; indicating existence or presence of a condition, organism, etc., as chromatin positive or Wassermann positive; characterized by affirmation or cooperation.

antibody

DEFINITION:

An immunoglobulin molecule that has a specific amino acid sequence by virtue of which it interacts only with the antigen that induced its synthesis in cells of the lymphoid series (especially plasma cells), or with an antigen closely related to it.

serial

DEFINITION:

Arranged in or forming a series.

metabolic acidosis

DEFINITION:

Any of the various kinds of acidosis in which the acid-base status of the body shifts toward the acid side because of loss of base or retention of acids other than carbonic acid (fixed or nonvolatile acids), in contrast to respiratory acidosis. Called also nonrespiratory acidosis.

vasopressin

DEFINITION:

1. One of two octapeptide hormones formed by the neuronal cells of the hypothalamic nuclei and stored in the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland (neurohypophysis), the other being oxytocin. It stimulates the contraction of the muscular tissue of the capillaries and arterioles, raising the blood pressure. It promotes contraction of the intestinal musculature and increases peristalsis, and also exerts some contractile influence on the uterus. It also has a specific effect on the epithelial cells of the distal portion of the uriniferous tubule, augmenting resorption of water independently of solutes, resulting in concentration of urine and dilution of blood serum. Its rate of secretion is regulated chiefly by the osmolarity of the plasma.

2. [USP], A pharmaceutical preparation of the same principle, prepared synthetically or obtained from the posterior pituitary of healthy domestic animals used for food by man; used mainly as an antidiuretic in the treatment of acute or chronic diabetes insipidus, administered intramuscularly as a test of hypothalamo-neurohypophysial-renal function in distinguishing central from nephrogenic diabetes insipidus; it may also be used to stimulate smooth muscle tissue, especially to induce vasoconstriction in the presence of hemorrhage. Called also antidiuretic hormone (ADH).

test

DEFINITION:

1. An examination or trial.

2. A significant chemical reaction.

3. A reagent.

4. A loose or rigid, secreted or agglutinated, protective shell or shell-like covering or exoskeleton, seen in various invertebrates, including certain protozoa and echinoderms.

bicarbonate

DEFINITION:

Any salt containing the HCO₃-anion.

diabetes insipidus

DEFINITION:

A disorder of the pituitary gland characterized by intense thirst and by the excretion of large amounts of urine.

diabetes insipidus, central - A metabolic disorder due to injury of the neurohypophyseal system, which results in a deficient quantity of antidiuretic hormone being released or produced, and thus in failure of tubular reabsorption of water in the kidney. As a result, a large amount of urine of low specific gravity is excreted, followed by dehydration and great thirst; it is often attended by voracious appetite, loss of strength, and emaciation. It may be inherited, acquired, or idiopathic.

diabetes insipidus, nephrogenic - A syndrome of polyuria and hyposthenuria caused by the failure of the renal tubules to reabsorb water in response to antidiuretic hormone, without disturbance in the renal filtration and solute excretion rates; the condition does not respond to exogenous vasopressin. It may be inherited as a rare X-linked trait or be acquired as a result of drug therapy or systemic disease.

diabetes insipidus, pituitary - Central diabetes insipidus (See above).

subclinical

DEFINITION:

Without clinical manifestations; said of the early stage(s) of an infection or other disease or abnormality before symptoms and signs become apparent or detectable by clinical examination or laboratory tests, or of a very mild form of an infection or other disease or abnormality.

renal tubular acidosis

DEFINITION:

A variety of metabolic acidosis resulting from impairment of renal function; it is usually accompanied by hyperchloremic acidosis, high urinary pH, bicarbonaturia, and lowered excretion of ammonium and titratable acids. Type 1 and Type 2 are distinguished according to whether the primary dysfunction is in the distal or the proximal tubules. See distal renal tubular acidosis and proximal renal tubular acidosis . Abbreviated RTA .

orally

DEFINITION:

Pertaining to the mouth; taken through or applied in the mouth, as an oral medication or an oral thermometer.

intravenous

DEFINITION:

Within a vein or veins.

cyclophosphamide

DEFINITION:

A cytotoxic alkylating agent of the nitrogen mustard group, used as an antineoplastic, often in combination with other agents, for a wide variety of conditions, including Hodgkin's disease, lymphosarcoma, acute lymphocytic leukemia, Burkitt's lymphoma, carcinoma of the breast, multiple myeloma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, bronchogenic carcinoma, neuroblastoma, ovarian carcinoma, and carcinoma of the uterine cervix; also used as an immunosuppressive agent to prevent transplant rejection and in the treatment of certain diseases with abnormal immune function. Cyclophosphamide itself is pharmacologically inert; several active metabolites are produced by the microsomal enzyme systems in the liver.