Category: Ia-In

Abbreviation for immunoglobulin, a protein produced by plasma cells and lymphocytes. Immunoglobulins are an essential part of the body’s immune system which attach to foreign substances, such as bacteria, and assist in destroying them. The classes of immunoglobulins are immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M (IgM), immunoglobulin D (IgD) and immunoglobulin E (IgE).

Indirect immunofluorescence assay.

Of unknown cause. Any disease that is of uncertain or unknown origin may be termed idiopathic. For example, acute idiopathic polyneuritis, diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, idiopathic scoliosis, etc. From the New Latin idiopathia (primary disease), from the Greek idiopatheia, from idio-, from idios (one’s own, personal) + -patheia, -pathic (feeling, suffering).

An outdated term for Tay-Sachs disease (TSD) which is concisely defined by OMIM (Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man) as “an autosomal recessive, progressive neurodegenerative disorder, which in the classic infantile form, is usually fatal by age 2 or 3 years, results from deficiency of the enzyme hexosaminidase A. ” “Autosomal” points to the gene for TSD…

Intradermal.

A disorder in which patients in an intensive care unit (ICU) or a similar hospital setting may experience anxiety, become paranoid, hear voices, see things that are not there, become severely disoriented in time and place, become very agitated, even violent, etc. The condition has been formally defined as “acute brain syndrome involving impaired intellectual…

Intensive care unit. The intensive care unit is a designated area of a hospital facility that is dedicated to the care of patients who are seriously ill.

Jaundice. At least one medical dictionary defines icterus as the presence of jaundice seen in the sclera of the eye. This is incorrect. Icterus is synonymous with jaundice. They are one and the same thing. Curiously, both icterus and jaundice come from the Greek. Icterus is a Latinized (-us) form of the Greek word “ikteros” and to…

Dry, rectangular scales on the skin. Like fish scales. From the Greek “ichthys” meaning fish. Ichthyosis is not one but rather a group of skin disorders characterized by scaling of the skin. Many different metaphors have been used to describe the appearance and texture of the skin in the various types and stages of ichthyosis, for example alligator…

Implantable cardiac defibrillator, a device that is put within the body and is designed to recognize certain types of abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) and correct them. Defibrillators continuously monitor the heart rhythm in order to detect overly rapid arrhythmias such as These ventricular arrhythmias impair the pumping efficiency of the heart and greatly raise the risks of fainting (syncope)…