Usman

Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

  • Ad-

    Prefix indicating toward or in the direction of. For example, adduction is the movement of a limb toward the midline of the body, and adrenal literally means ‘toward the kidney.’

  • 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 have water, the doctor’s order…

  • 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 infectious mononucleosis Acyclovir inhibits the replication of viral DNA needed for the virus to reproduce. Virally infected cells absorb more acyclovir than normal cells…

  • Acute-phase reactant

    A protein whose plasma concentrations increase during certain inflammatory disorders. Perhaps the best-known acute-phase protein is C-reactive protein (CRP).

  • Acute-phase proteins

    A protein whose plasma concentrations increase during certain inflammatory disorders. Perhaps the best-known acute-phase protein is C-reactive protein (CRP).

  • Acute-phase protein

    A protein whose plasma concentrations increase during certain inflammatory disorders. Perhaps the best-known acute-phase protein is C-reactive protein (CRP).

  • 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. Many times the term is used synonymously with the term acute renal failure (ARF). Generally, ATN would refer to acute renal failure…

  • Acute thrombocytopenic purpura

    Sudden onset of low blood platelet levels, with bleeding into the skin and elsewhere. Abbreviated ATP. ATP can have many causes; for example, it can be a potentially serious complication during the acute phase of measles infection.

  • 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-death experiences in accidents, witnessing a murder, and combat. The symptom of dissociation, which reflects a perceived detachment of the mind…

  • Acute respiratory distress syndrome

    Respiratory failure of sudden onset due to fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), following an abrupt increase in the permeability of the normal barrier between the capillaries in the lungs and the air sacs. The muscles used in breathing are forced to work harder, causing labored and inefficient breathing. An abnormally low level of oxygen in the blood (hypoxemia) occurs. The…

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