absorb

take up fluids, take in

acidosis

condition when blood contains more acid than normal

acuity

clearness, keenness, especially of vision

acute

new, recent, sudden

adenopathy

swollen lymph glands

adjuvant

helpful, assisting, adding

adjuvant treatment

added treatment

adverse effect

side effect

allergic reaction

rash, trouble breathing

ambulate/ambulation/ambulatory

to walk, able to walk

anaphylaxis

serious, potentially life threatening allergic reaction

anemia

low red blood cell count

anesthetic/anesthesia

a drug or agent used to stop pain, or to stop pain by putting you to sleep

angina or angina pectoris

pain resulting from insufficient blood to the heart

antecubital

area inside the elbow

antibiotic

drug that kills germs (bacteria)

antibody

protein made in the body to fight off foreign substance; attacks foreign substance and protects the body from infection.

anticonvulsant

drug used to prevent seizures

antilipemic

a drug that counteracts the fat in the blood

antimicrobial

drug that kills germs (bacteria)

antitussive

a drug used to relieve coughing

arrhythmia

any change from the heartbeat (abnormal heartbeat)

aspiration

fluid entering lungs when inhaling

assay

lab test

assess

to learn about

asymptomatic

without symptoms

axilla

armpit

benign

not malignant; without serious consequences

binding/bound

carried by; to make stick together, transported

bioavailability

the extent to which a drug or other substance becomes available to the body

blood profile

series of blood tests

bolus

a large amount

bone mass

the amount of (calcium in a given amount of) bone

bradyarrhythmias

slow irregular heart beats

bradycardia

slow heartbeat

bronchospasm

breathing distress caused by narrowing of the airways

carcinogenic

capable of causing cancer

carcinoma

type of cancer

cardiac

pertains to the heart

cardioversion

restoration of normal heart beat by electric shock

catheter

a tube for removing or introducing fluids

catheter (epidural)

a tube placed near the spinal cord used for giving anesthesia during operations

cerebral trauma

damage to the brain

CHD

coronary heart disease

chemotherapy

treatment of disease, usually cancer, using drugs (chemicals)

chronic

continuing for a long time

clinical

pertaining to medical care

clinical trial

an experiment involving patients

complete response

total disappearance of disease

consolidation phase

treatment phase intended to make a remission permanent, follow induction

controlled trial

study in which the experimental treatment or procedure is compared to standard (control) treatment or procedure

cooperative group

a group of institutions that perform clinical trials

coronary

the blood vessels that supply the heart

CT scan (CAT)

computerized series of x-rays

culture

test for infection or germs that can cause infection

CVA cerebrovascular accident

stroke

diastolic

lower number in blood pressure reading

distal

toward the end, away from the center of the body

diuretic

"water pill" or drug that causes increase in urination

doppler

sound waves

double blind

study in which neither investigators nor subjects know what drug the subject is getting

dysplasia

abnormal cells

ECG or EKG (electrocardiogram)

electrical tracing of heartbeat

echocardiogram

sound wave test of the heart

edema

increased fluid

EEG (electroencephalogram)

electric brainwave tracing

effective

how well it works

efficacy

effectiveness

electrolyte imbalance

imbalance of minerals in the blood

emesis

Vomiting

empiric

based on experience

endoscopic examination

exam of an internal part of the body with a lighted tube

enteral

by way of the intestines

epidural

outside the spinal cord

expedited review

rapid review of a protocol by the IRB chair without full committee approval, only permitted with certain low risk studies

extravasate

to leak outside of a blood vessel

FDA

U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the branch of government which approves new drugs

fibrillation

irregular beat of the heart or other muscle

general anesthesia

to avoid pain by inducing a drugged sleep

hematocrit

amount of red blood cells in the blood

hematoma

a bruise, a black and blue mark

hemodynamic measuring

measuring of blood flow

hemolysis

breakdown in red blood cells

heparin lock

needle placed in the arm with blood thinner to keep the blood from clotting

hepatoma

cancer or tumor of the liver

Holter monitor

a portable machine for recording heart beats

hypercalcemia

high blood calcium level

hyperkalemia

high blood potassium level

hypernatremia

high blood sodium level

hypertension

high blood pressure

hypocalcemia

low blood calcium level

hypokalemia

low blood potassium level

hyponatremia

low blood sodium level

hypotension

low blood pressure

hypoxemia

a decrease of oxygen in the blood

hypoxia

a decrease of oxygen in the blood

iatrogenic

caused by a doctor or by treatment

IDE

investigational device exemption; the license to test an unapproved new medical device

idiopathic

of unknown cause

immunoglobin

a protein that makes antibodies

immunosuppressive

drug which suppresses the body's immune response; it is used in transplantation operations, and in diseases that are caused by faulty/poorly working immune system

immunotherapy

giving drugs to help the body's immune (protective or disease fighting) system; it is usually used to kill cancer cells

IND

investigational new drug; the license to test an unapproved (FDA) new drug

induction phase

beginning phase or stage of a treatment

induration

hardening

infarct

death of a tissue because of a lack of blood supply

infusion

introduction of a substance into the body; usually into the blood

ingestion

eating; taking into the mouth

intramuscular

into the muscle; within the muscle

intrathecal

into the spinal fluid

intravenous (IV)

through the vein

intravesical

in the bladder

intubate

the placement of a tube into the mouth and throat to clear the airway; to allow one to breathe

invasive procedure

puncture; opening or cutting the skin

ischemia

decreased; lowered amount of oxygen in a tissue; usually because of lowered blood flow

leukopenia

low white blood cell count

lipid content

fat content in the blood

local anesthesia

lowers pain in a small area of your body

localized

limited to one area

lumen

the cavity of an organ or tube; e.g. the inside of the stomach or inside of a blood vessel

lymphangiography

an x-ray of the lymph nodes or tissues after injection of dye in the lymph vessels; e.g. in feet

lymphocyte

a type of white blood cell important in defense against infection (immunity)

lymphoma

a cancer of the lymph nodes (or tissues)

malaise

a vague feeling of bodily discomfort; feeling bad

malignancy

cancer or other slow enlarging and spreading tumor; usually fatal if not successfully treated

medullablastoma

a type of brain tumor

megaloblastosis

change in red blood cells

metabolize

process of breaking down substances in the cells to obtain energy

metastasis

spread of cancer cells from one part of the body to another

MI

(myocardial infarction) heart attack; death of the muscular tissue of the heart because of a lack of good blood supply

minimal

slight; small amount

minimize

reduce; lessen

mobility

ease of movement

monitor

check on; keep track of; watch carefully

morbidity

sickly; sick or unhealthy

mortality

death

motility

the ability to move

MRI

(magnetic resonance imaging); pictures of the inside of your body created that use magnetic rather than x-ray energy

mucosa; mucous membrane

moist lining of digestive, respiratory, reproductive and urinary tracts

multiple project assurance

agreement between institutions and OPRR regarding policies on the involvement of human subjects in research

myocardia

pertaining to the heart

nasogastric tube

a tube from the nose to the stomach

NCI

National Cancer Institute

necrosis

death of tissue

neoplasia

a tumor; it may be benign [favorable for recovery] or malignant [tending to become worse]

neuroblastoma

cancer of the nerve tissue

neutropenia

decrease in the main part of the white blood cells

NIH

the National Institutes of Health; famous research center

noninvasive

not breaking, cutting, or entering the skin

nosocomial pneumonia

infection in the lungs that one may catch while being treated in the hospital for something else

occlusion

closing; obstruction

oncology

the study of tumors or cancer

OPRR

the Office of Protection from Research Risks of the NIH; regulates committees responsible for ethical treatment of human subjects in research (Institutional Review Boards)

ophthalmic

pertaining to the eye

optimal

best; most favorable or desirable

oral administration

by mouth

orthopedic

pertaining to the bones

osteopetrosis

rare bone disorder characterized by dense bone

osteoporosis

bone disorder characterized by soft bones

ovaries

female sex glands

parenteral

administration by injection

patency

condition of being wide open; unobstructed

pathogenesis

how disease is formed; the mechanism of disease

per os, [PO]

by mouth; orally

percutaneous

through the skin

pharmacokinetics

the study of the way the body absorbs, distributes and gets rid of a drug

Phase I

the initial study of a new drug in human to determine limits of tolerance

Phase II

second phase of new drug in humans to determine initial information

Phase III

large scale tests to confirm information gathered in Phase I and II and to expand information on safety and usefulness of the drug

phlebitis

irritation or inflammation of the vein

placebo

an identical appearing pill/capsule that contains no medicine

placebo effect

an odd or peculiar occurrence when a person gets better [from being sick] because he/she took a pill that had no medicine in it

platelets

small particles in the blood that help with clotting

potentiate

increase or multiply the effect of a drug or toxin by taking or getting another drug or toxin at the same time

potentiator

an agent that helps another agent work better

PRN

as needed

prognosis

outlook; probable outcomes

prone

lying on stomach

prophylaxis

a drug given to prevent disease or infection

prospective study

a study following patients forward in time

protocol

plan of study

proximal

closer to the center of the body; away from the end

pulmonary

pertaining to the lungs

radiation therapy

x-ray or cobalt treatment; treatment to help a person get better (usually from cancer) by using radioactive materials

random

by chance

randomization

chance selection

RBC

red blood cell

recombinant

formation of new combination of genes

reconstitution

putting back together the original parts or elements

refractory

not responding to treatment

regeneration

re-growth of a structure or of lost tissue

relapse

the return of disease

relapsed

the disease has come back

remission

disappearance of evidence of cancer or other disease

renal

pertaining to the kidneys

replicable

possible to duplicate

resect

remove or cut out surgically

retrospective study

study looking back over past experience

sarcoma

a type of cancer

sedative

a drug to calm or make less anxious

seminoma

a type of testes cancer

sequentially

in a row

spirometer

an instrument to measure the amount of air taken into and exhaled from the lungs

staging

a determination of the extent of the disease

stenosis

narrowing of a duct, tube or one of the valves in the heart

stomatitis

mouth sores; inflammation of the mouth

stratify

arrange in groups for analysis of results; e.g. stratify by age, sex, etc.

subclavian

under the collarbone

subcutaneous

under the skin

supine

lying on the back

supportive care

general medical care aimed at symptoms; not intended to improve or cure the underlying disease

symptomatic

having symptoms

systolic

top number in blood pressure; pressure during active contraction of the heart

tachycardia

fast heart beat

teratogenic

capable of causing malformations in fetuses

testes

male sex glands

thrombosis

clotting

titration

a method for adjusting (over time) the dose of medication administered

t-lymphocytes

type of white blood cells

topical

surface

topical anesthetic

applied to a certain area of the skin and reducing pain only in that area where it was applied

transdermal

through the skin

trauma

injury or wound

treadmill

walking machine used to determine heart function

uptake

absorption and incorporation of a substance by living tissue; absorb and incorporate

valvuloplasty

surgical repair of a valve; especially of the heart

varices

enlarged veins

vasospasm

narrowing of the blood vessels in the brain

vector

a carrier (usually an insect) that carries and transmits disease causing germs

venipuncture

needle stick; entering a vein through the skin with a needle

WBC

white blood cell