Usman

Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

  • Ascaris

    Intestinal roundworms. Infection with ascaris is referred to as ascariasis.

  • Ascariasis

    Infection with Ascaris lubricoides, the intestinal roundworm, the most common worm infection in humans. Ascaris eggs are found in the soil. Infection occurs when a person accidently ingests (swallows) infective ascaris eggs. Once in the stomach, larvae (immature worms) hatch from the eggs. The larvae are carried through the lungs then to the throat where they are…

  • Asbestosis

    A condition featuring scarring of the lungs caused by inhaled asbestos fibers. Asbestosis is irreversible. Asbestosis can also lead to lung cancer or to mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining on the surface of the lung.

  • Asbestos

    A natural material made up of tiny fibers that is used as thermal insulation. Inhalation of asbestos fibers can lead to asbestosis and mesothelioma.

  • ASA (drug caution code)

    Abbreviation on a medication that indicates it contains acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin). This special caution code is intended to be a warning for patients with specific medical conditions. If you see it or another possible caution code on a prescription, talk to your pharmacist about it before using the medicine. While not a part of the historical heritage…

  • Arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase

    The synbol for the enzyme arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase and for the gene that encodes it. AANAT is present in animals, bacteria and yeast but in no other living organisms. AANAT belongs to the large superfamily of acetyltransferase enzymes. AANAT is used to make melatonin, a hormone that regulates the body’s cycles of sleeping and waking.

  • Artificial pancreas

    A machine that constantly measures glucose (sugar) in the blood and, in response to an elevated level of glucose, releases an appropriate amount of insulin. In this respect, an artificial pancreas functions like a natural pancreas.

  • Artificial pacemaker

    A device that uses electrical impulses to regulate the heart rhythm or reproduce it. An internal pacemaker is one in which the electrodes to the heart, the electronic circuitry, and the power supply are all implanted internally, within the body. Although there are different types of pacemakers, all are designed to treat a heart rate that is too slow…

  • Artificial nose

    An artificial device worn to replace part or all of a missing nose.

  • Artificial knee

    A replacement for the human knee. An artificial knee typically has a metal shell on the end of the thigh bone (the femur), a metal and plastic trough on the shin bone (the tibia), and sometimes a plastic button in the kneecap (the patella). An artificial knee is exchanged for the human knee by a surgical procedure known…

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