Medical Dictionary Definitions A-Z List
Medical Dictionary Definitions A - Z - «A»:
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Acute renal failure
Acute renal failure: Sudden and often temporary loss of kidney function. Also called acute kidney failure. As opposed to chronic renal failure....
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Acute respiratory disease
Acute respiratory disease: A sudden condition in which breathing is difficult and the oxygen levels in the blood abruptly drop lower than normal....
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Acute respiratory distress syndrome
Acute respiratory distress syndrome: Better known as ARDS. See: ARDS....
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Acute stress disorder
Acute stress disorder: The anxiety and behavioral disturbances that develop within a month of exposure to extreme trauma. The symptoms of an acute stress disorder usually begin during or shortly following the trauma. Such extreme traumatic events include rape or other severe physical assault, near-d...
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Acute thrombocytopenic purpura
Acute thrombocytopenic purpura: The sudden onset of low blood platelet levels with bleeding into the skin and elsewhere. Acute thrombocytopenic purpura (ATP) can be due to many
causes. It may, for example, constitute a potentially
serious complication during the acute phase of measles....
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Acute tubular necrosis
Acute tubular necrosis: A severe form of acute renal failure that develops in people with severe illnesses (such as sepsis) or with very low blood pressure. Patients may need dialysis. Kidney function often improves if the underlying disease is successfully treated. Abbreviated ATN....
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Acute-phase proteins
Acute-phase proteins: See: Acute-phase protein....
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Acyclovir
Acyclovir: (Brand name: Zovirax) One of a group of antiviral drugs that acts against the herpes viruses, including:
Herpes simplex 1 which causes cold sores
Herpes simplex 2 which causes genital herpes
Varicella-zoster which causes both chickenpox and shingles
Epstein-Barr virus which causes infe...
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Ad lib
Ad lib: Abbreviation for the Latin "ad libitum"
meaning "at pleasure" and
"at one's pleasure, as much as one desires, to the full
extent of one's
wishes." Sometimes seen on a prescription or doctor's
order. For example,
during an overnight fast when the patient is not to eat any
food but can
hav...
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Ad-
Ad-: Latin prefix meaning "toward" and "in the direction of," as in adduction (movement of a limb toward the midline of the body), adhesion, and adrenal (toward the kidney)....
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ADA (American Dental Association)
ADA (American Dental Association): The mission statement of the ADA reads as follows:
"The ADA is the professional association of dentists dedicated to serving both the public and the profession of dentistry. The ADA promotes the public's health through commitment of member dentists to provide quali...
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ADA (American Diabetes Association)
ADA (American Diabetes Association): The American Diabetes
Association (ADA) provides the following introduction:
"The American Diabetes Association is the nation's leading
nonprofit health organization providing diabetes research,
information and advocacy. Founded in 1940, it was reorganized in ...
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ADA deficiency
ADA deficiency: Lack of normal adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity, a genetic (inherited) condition causing one form of severe combined immunodeficiency ((SCID) disease. It is said to be "combined" in that there is dysfunction of both B and T lymphocytes with impaired cellular immunity and decreased...
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Adam
Adam: A street name for 3-4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine. See: Ecstasy....
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Adam's apple
Adam's apple: A familiar anatomic feature in the front
of the neck that is due to the forward protrusion of the thyroid cartilage, the largest and most prominent cartilage of the larynx.
The thyroid cartilage tends to enlarge at adolescence, particularly in males. Enlargement of the Adam's apple i...
