Category: Aq-Ar

Taenia solium.

An agency of the US Department of Defense specializing in pathology consultation, education and research. The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) consults on many cases, including difficult, unusual, or rare tumors sent for an expert “second opinion.” The AFIP is located in Washington, DC.

Age-related macular degeneration (which may also be abbreviated as AMD).

1. In popular usage, the appendage that extends from the shoulder to the hand. However, the medical definition refers to the upper extremity extending from the shoulder only to the elbow, excluding the forearm, which extends from the elbow to the wrist. The arm contains one bone: the humerus.  2. In a randomized clinical trial, any of…

Aristotle of Stagira (384-322 B.C.), Greek philosopher and scientist. The son of a physician, Aristotle was a student of Plato but developed methods of inquiry different from those of his teacher. Unlike Plato, Aristotle felt that one could, and in fact must, trust one’s senses in the investigation of knowledge and reality. Aristotle’s writings cover…

Aristolochic acids are a family of carcinogenic, mutagenic, and nephrotoxic compounds commonly found in the Aristolochiaceae family of plants. Aristolochic acid was previously contained in a number of botanical products sold as “traditional medicines” or as dietary supplements or weight-loss remedies. The use of products containing aristolochic acid were found to cause kidney damage, including end-stage kidney failure requiring dialysis or…

A Chinese herb that is injurious to the kidney and is also associated with an increased risk of cancer of the urinary system. Aristolochia can cause kidney failure requiring renal dialysis or a kidney transplant. The tumors reported have included urothelial carcinoma, carcinoma of the ureter, renal pelvis, or both and papillary bladder tumor. Aristolochic acid, the harmful ingredient in Aristolochia fangchi, is also…

Brand name for anastrozole, an oral antiestrogen. Arimidex inhibits the enzyme aromatase in the adrenal glands that produces the estrogens (estradiol and estrone) and thereby lowers their levels. It works by decreasing the amount of estrogen the body makes. This can slow or stop the growth of many types of breast cancer cells that need estrogen to grow. A drug that…

We do not usually give a misspelling but this is a frequent misspelling of arrhythmia (with two r’s), meaning an abnormal heart rhythm. In an arrhythmia the heartbeats may be too slow, too rapid, too irregular, or too early. Rapid arrhythmias (greater than 100 beats per minute) are called tachycardias. Slow arrhythmias (slower than 60 beats per minute) are…

Silver poisoning, resulting in ashen, gray, discolored skin, and damage to other tissues of the body. Caused by long-term use of silver salts or other preparations containing silver.