Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

A viral disease that is acute, causes fever in domestic animals (such as cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, and camels) and humans, and is associated with mosquito-borne epidemics during years of heavy rainfall. Rift Valley fever is more deadly than West Nile virus. Rift Valley fever has not occurred in the United States (through 2003). However, there has…

A combination of ribonucleic acid (RNA) and protein. In autoimmune diseases, antibodies can form against ribonucleoprotein. They are called anti-RNP antibodies.

A nucleic acid molecule similar to DNA but containing ribose rather than deoxyribose. RNA is formed upon a DNA template. There are several classes of RNA molecules. They play crucial roles in protein synthesis and other cell activities:

The structure formed by the thoracic vertebrae and ribs, the sternum (breastbone), and the costal cartilages (that attach the ribs to the sternum). A cage is an enclosure made of “open work” that usually houses animals. The rib cage was thought to resemble an animal cage (although the largest “animals” it holds are the heart and lungs). The rib cage is also called the thoracic cage.

One of the 12 paired arches of bone that form the skeletal structure of the chest wall (the rib cage). The ribs attach to the vertebrae of the spine in the back. The 12 pairs of ribs consist of 7 pairs of ribs that attach to the sternum in the front and are known as true, or sternal, ribs; and…

RhO(D) immune globulin, an injectable drug that is used to protect an Rh+ fetus from antibodies in an Rh- mother’s blood and to prevent Rh allergy in the mother.

Rhinovirus: a virus type of the Picornavirus family that causes many common colds and upper respiratory infections. Less commonly, these viruses may cause bronchiolitis or pneumonia. Rhinoviruses are single-stranded RNA viruses and over 100 types identified. Rhinovirus infection is easily spread from person-to-person. Symptoms of rhinovirus infection usually develop within 12-72 hours of exposure and include sore throat, nasal congestion, runny nose, cough, hoarseness, headache, ear pressure, sneezing,…

Medical term for a runny nose. From the Greek words “rhinos” meaning “of the nose” and “rhoia” meaning “a flowing.”

Plastic surgery on the nose, known familiarly as a nose job. Rhinoplasty is a facial cosmetic procedure that is usually performed to enhance the appearance of the nose. During this type of rhinoplasty, the nasal cartilage and bones are modified, or tissue is added. Rhinoplasty is also performed to repair nasal fractures and other structural problems. In these cases, the…

Irritation of the nose.