|
<div style="background:#F4F4E8;padding:8px 0 8px;">1. <b style="font-size:1.1em;">-cidal:</b> Suffix indicating killing, as in <b>bacteriocidal</b>
(capable of killing bacteria) and in <b>suicidal</b> (the killing of oneself).</div>
<div style="background:#fff;padding:8px 0 8px;">2. <b style="font-size:1.1em;">-cide:</b> Suffix indicating killing or killer, as
in<b> bactericide</b> (a solution capable of killing bacteria).</div>
<div style="background:#F4F4E8;padding:8px 0 8px;">3. <b style="font-size:1.1em;">-emia:</b> Suffix meaning blood or referring to the presence of a substance in the blood. As for example, <b>anemia</b> (lack of blood) and <b>hypervolemia</b> (too high a volume of blood). </div>
<div style="background:#fff;padding:8px 0 8px;">4. <b style="font-size:1.1em;"><b>-ectomy</b>:</b> A surgical suffix referring to the removal of something. For example, a <b>lumpectomy</b> is the surgical excision of a lump which may be benign or not, <b>tonsillectomy</b> is the removal of the tonsils, a <b>partial colectomy</b> is removal of part of the colon, an <b>appendectomy</b> is removal of the appendix, etc. From the Greek "ek" (out) + "tome" (a cutting) = a cutting out.</div>
<div style="background:#F4F4E8;padding:8px 0 8px;">5. <b style="font-size:1.1em;"><b>ECST</b>:</b> stands for the <b>exercise cardiac stress test</b>, the most widely used cardiac (heart) screening test. In an ECST the patient exercises on a treadmill according to a standardized protocol, with progressive increases in the speed and elevation of the treadmill (typically changing at three-minute intervals). During the ECST, the patient's electrocardiogram (EKG), heart rate, heart rhythm, and blood pressure are continuously monitored. If a coronary arterial blockage results in decreased blood flow to a part of the heart during exercise, certain changes may be observed in the EKG (the electrocardiogram), as well as in the response of the heart rate and blood pressure. The accuracy of the ECST in predicting significant coronary artery disease (CAD) depends in part on the "pre-test likelihood" of CAD (also known as <b>Bayes' theorem</b>). In a patient at high risk for CAD (for example, because of advanced age or multiple coronary risk factors), an abnormal ECST is quite accurate (over 90% accurate) in predicting the presence of CAD. However, a relatively normal ECST may not mean there is an absence of significant coronary artery disease in a patient with the same high risk factors (so-called "<b>false negative ECST</b>"). In a patient at low risk for CAD, a normal ECST is quite accurate (over 90%) in predicting the absence of significant CAD. And an abnormal ECST test may not reflect the true presence of CAD (so-called "<b>false-positive ECST</b>"). The ECST may miss the presence of significant CAD and so give a false negative result. Or the ECST may indicate the presence of significant CAD when, in fact, there is none and so yield a false-positive test result. These false-negative and false-positive results are due to a variety of cardiac circumstances, which may include: An abnormal EKG at rest, which may be due to abnormal serum electrolytes, abnormal cardiac electrical conduction, or certain medications, such as digitalis; Heart conditions not related to CAD, such as <b>mitral valve prolapse</b> (drooping) or <b>hypertrophy</b> (increased size) of the heart; or an inadequate increase in the heart rate and/or blood pressure during exercise. If the initial ECST does not clarify the diagnosis, additional tests are often used to clarify the condition. These further options include radionucleide isotope injection and ultrasound of the heart (<b>stress echocardiography</b>) during the stress test.
</div>
<div style="background:#fff;padding:8px 0 8px;">6. <b style="font-size:1.1em;"><b>Ecstasy</b>:</b> 1. A state of rapture and trancelike elation. 2. A street name for <b>3-4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)</b>, also called "<b>Adam</b>," "<b>ecstasy</b>," or "<b>XTC</b>" on the street, a synthetic, <b>psychoactive</b> (mind altering) drug with hallucinogenic and amphetamine-like properties. Its chemical structure is similar to two other synthetic drugs, MDA and methamphetamine. Problems that users encounter with MDMA are similar to those found with the use of amphetamines and cocaine, including: psychological difficulties, including confusion, depression, sleep problems, drug craving, severe anxiety, and paranoia during and sometimes weeks after taking MDMA (in some cases, psychotic episodes have been reported) and physical symptoms such as muscle tension, involuntary teeth clenching, nausea, blurred vision, rapid eye movement, faintness, and chills or sweating. Increases in heart rate and blood pressure, a special risk for people with circulatory or heart disease. MDMA use was reported to cause permanent damage to the brain and lead to symptoms resembling those in Parkinson's disease. However, this report was later retracted because the monkeys and baboons in the study were not injected with MDMA but, by mistake, with another drug. </div>
<div style="background:#F4F4E8;padding:8px 0 8px;">7. <b style="font-size:1.1em;"><b>ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy)</b>:</b> A procedure in which an electric current is passed through the brain to produce controlled <b>convulsions</b> (seizures) to treat patients with depression, particularly for those who cannot take or are not responding to antidepressants, have severe depression, or are at high risk for suicide. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is believed to act by a massive neurochemical release in the brain due to the controlled seizure. The most common side effect is short-term memory loss, which usually resolves quickly. ECT typically relieves depression within 1 to 2 weeks after beginning treatments.</div>
<div style="background:#fff;padding:8px 0 8px;">8. <b style="font-size:1.1em;"><b>Ectodermal Dysplasia</b>:</b> A genetic disorder in which there is abnormal development of the skin and associated structures (the hair, nails, teeth, and sweat glands). The most dangerous problem occurs in cases with decreased sweating due to absence of the sweat glands. Affected persons have trouble controlling fevers and being in a warm environment. The hair may also be absent or sparse. The skin tends to be thin and light in color. Problems with the lining inside the nose predispose to chronic nasal infections. The teeth may be notably absent or develop abnormally. There are a number of different types of ectodermal dysplasia. <b>X-linked anhidrotic (non-sweating) ectodermal dysplasia</b> is most common. As an X-linked trait, it mainly affects males. There is also an autosomal dominant form affecting males and females alike. The term "ectodermal dysplasia" refers to the abnormal development (<b>dysplasia</b>) of structures derived from the ectoderm, one of the germ cell layers in the embryo.</div>
<div style="background:#F4F4E8;padding:8px 0 8px;">9. <b style="font-size:1.1em;"><b>Ectoparasite</b>:</b> A parasite that lives on or in the skin but not within the body. Fleas and lice are ectoparasites. Infestation with an ectoparasite is called an <b>ectoparasitosis</b>.</div>
<div style="background:#fff;padding:8px 0 8px;">10. <b style="font-size:1.1em;"><b>Ectopia Cordis</b>:</b> A type of birth defect in which the heart is abnormally located. In ectopia cordis, the heart usually protrudes outside the chest.</div>
<div style="background:#F4F4E8;padding:8px 0 8px;">11. <b style="font-size:1.1em;"><i>Bacillus anthracis</i>:</b> The bacterium that causes anthrax. Anthrax
differs from most bacteria in that they exist in an inactive (<b>dormant</b>)
state called spores. The spores are found in soil, animal carcasses and feces
(including sheep, goats, cattle, bison, horses, and deer), and animal products
(e.g., hides and wool). Some animals (cats, dogs, rats, and swine) are very
resistant to anthrax. Remarkably, anthrax spores can remain dormant in soil
for many years, perhaps decades. Likened somewhat to eggs that have the ability
to hatch, spores can transform (<b>germinate</b>) into active bacteria under
appropriate conditions. The spores themselves do not cause significant damage
to tissue. Once in the body, the spores germinate to form the<b> virulent</b>
(disease-causing) bacteria. Thus, the spores can lead to disease by: entering
broken skin and germinating there to cause <b>cutaneous anthrax</b>; being inhaled
and germinating in the lungs to cause <b>inhalation anthrax</b>; or being eaten
and germinating in the gastrointestinal tract to cause <b>gastrointestinal anthrax</b>.
<i>Bacillus anthracis</i> was discovered in 1850. Notably, it was actually the
first bacterium to be shown to cause a disease. In fact, it was the great German
physician, Robert Koch, who discovered this. He grew the anthrax bacteria in
culture plates, injected them into animals, and thereby demonstrated that the
bacteria produced the disease. Then, the famous French scientist, Louis Pasteur
(known for pasteurizing milk), used anthrax bacteria that he damaged to develop
a vaccine for anthrax. His idea was that the damaged bacteria would not cause
the disease, but would still protect (produce immunity) against anthrax. Indeed,
he showed that this vaccine protected animals from getting the disease when
they were subsequently injected with healthy, virulent (disease-causing) anthrax
bacteria. Recently terrorists have discovered bacteriology and specifically
the qualities of anthrax which makes it a useful instrument to spread anxiety
as well as disease.</div>
<div style="background:#fff;padding:8px 0 8px;">12. <b style="font-size:1.1em;"><i>Bartonella quintana</i>:</b> Also called <i>Rochalimaea
quintana</i>, this micro-organism is an unusual rickettsia that can multiply
within the gut of the body louse and then can be transmitted to humans. Transmission
to people can occur by rubbing infected louse feces into abraded (scuffed) skin
or into the <b>conjunctivae </b>(whites of the eyes). <i>Bartonella quintana</i>
(is the cause of <b>trench fever</b>, a disease that was first recognized in
the trenches of World War I, when it is estimated to have affected more than
a million people in Russia and on the fronts in Europe. Trench fever was again
a major problem in the military in World War II and is seen endemically in Mexico,
Africa, E. Europe, and elsewhere.</div>
<div style="background:#F4F4E8;padding:8px 0 8px;">13. <b style="font-size:1.1em;"><i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i>:</b> The spirochete (a
type of bacteria) that causes Lyme disease. Named after its discoverer, Dr.
Willy Burgdorfer. See: Borrelia.</div>
<div style="background:#fff;padding:8px 0 8px;">14. <b style="font-size:1.1em;"><i>Campylobacter jejuni</i>:</b> A bacterium that typically
infects the bowels. Now the leading cause of bacterial food poisoning, Campylobacter
jejuni is most often spread by contact with raw or undercooked poultry. A single
drop of juice from a contaminated chicken is enough to make someone sick. Disease
caused by Campylobacter jejuni is termed Campylobacteriosis. Campylobacteriosis
usually strikes only one person or a few people at a time. A common way to become
infected is to cut poultry meat on a cutting board, and then use the unwashed
cutting board or utensil to prepare vegetables or other raw or lightly cooked
foods. The Campylobacter organisms from the raw meat can then spread to the
other foods. The organism is not usually spread from person to person, but this
can happen if the infected person is a small child or is producing a large volume
of diarrhea. Many chicken flocks are silently infected with Campylobacter; that
is, the chickens are infected with the organism but show no signs of illness.
When an infected bird is slaughtered, Campylobacter can be transferred from
the intestines to the meat. More than half of the raw chicken in the US market
has Campylobacter on it. Campylobacter is also present in the giblets, especially
the liver.</div>
<div style="background:#F4F4E8;padding:8px 0 8px;">15. <b style="font-size:1.1em;"><i>Chlamydia trachomatis</i>:</b> A bacterium that
causes a disease called <b>trachoma</b> that results in blindness so frequently
that it places a huge burden a year on world health funding ($25 billion in
the year 2000). The disease goes by a number of names such as <b>sandy blight</b>.
The transmission of Chlamydia trachomatis is mainly among children and from
children to women during child care. Key risk factors include low socioeconomic
status and inadequate supplies of water. Trachoma affects approximately 500
million people worldwide, primarily in rural communities of the developing world
and in the arid areas of tropical and subtropical zones. About 6-9 million people
worldwide are currently blind and many more have suffered partial loss of vision
from trachoma. Australia is the only developed country where trachoma is still
a significant health problem; there it affects an estimated 100,000 people.
The mass treatment of trachoma with <b>tetracycline ointment</b> is effective
in the short term, but the disease usually returns within 6-12 months to pretreatment
levels in a community. Trachoma can now also be treated with the antibiotic
<b>azithromycin</b> (brand name: <b>Zithromax</b>). Promotion of increased face-washing
helps further to control the disease. Surgery of the scarred eyelids can prevent
continued damage to the cornea by turned-in lashes.</div>
<div style="background:#fff;padding:8px 0 8px;">16. <b style="font-size:1.1em;"><i>Chlamydia</i>:</b> A type of bacteria one species
of which causes an infection very similar to gonorrhea in the way that it is
spread, the symptoms it produces, and the long-term consequences.</div>
<div style="background:#F4F4E8;padding:8px 0 8px;">17. <b style="font-size:1.1em;"><i>Clostridium botulinum</i>:</b> A group of rod-shaped
bacteria commonly found in the soil that grow best under low oxygen conditions.
The bacteria form heat-resistant spores which allow them to survive in a dormant
state until exposed to conditions that can support their growth. Clostridium
botulinum produces <b>botulinum toxin</b>, a highly potent neurotoxin and the
basis of the disease botulism. Clostridium botulinum and its spores are widely
distributed in nature. They occur in both cultivated and forest soils, bottom
sediments of streams, lakes, and coastal waters, and in the intestinal tracts
of fish and mammals, and in the gills and viscera of crabs and other shellfish.</div>
<div style="background:#fff;padding:8px 0 8px;">18. <b style="font-size:1.1em;"><i>Clostridium difficile</i>:</b> A bacterium that
is one of the most common causes of infection of the large bowel (colon). In
technical terms, Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is an obligate anaerobic
or microaerophilic, gram-positive, spore-forming, rod-shaped bacillus. C. difficile
is now recognized as the chief cause of <b>nosocomial</b> (hospital-acquired)
<b>diarrhea</b> in the US and Europe. Patients taking antibiotics are at risk
of becoming infected with C. difficile. Antibiotics disrupt the normal bacteria
of the bowel, allowing C. difficil |
