Medical Interventions Unit 4

Insulin

A protein hormone synthesized in the pancreas that regulates blood

sugar levels by facilitating the uptake of glucose into tissues.

genetic engineering

The direct manipulation of genes for practical purposes.

plasmids

A small ring of DNA that carries accessory genes separate from those of

the bacterial chromosome.

transformation

The process by which the genetic makeup of the call is changed by the

uptake of DNA from the environment.

recombinant DNA

A DNA molecule made in vitro with segments from different sources.

End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)

A progressive condition characterized by a severe decline in kidney function, leading to the need for dialysis or kidney transplantation.

National Organ Transplant Act (NOTA)

The National Organ Transplant Act (1984 Public Law 98-507), approved

October 19, 1984 and amended in 1988 and 1990, provided for the

establishment of the Task Force on Organ Transplantation; authorized the

Secretary of HHS to make grants for the planning, establishment, and

initial operation of qualified OPOs; and established the formation of the

Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) and Scientific

Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR).

Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN)

The OPTN operates the national network for organ procurement and

allocation and works to promote organ donation. Through its policies, the

OPTN works to ensure that all patients have a fair chance at receiving the

organ they need, regardless of age, sex, race, lifestyle, religion, or

financial or social status.

allocation policies

Rules or policies, generally based on medical criteria, established by the

OPTN to guide and regulate organ allocation or distribution in the United

States.

Dialysis

Medical procedure to remove wastes or toxins from the blood and adjust

fluid and electrolyte imbalances by utilizing rates at which substances

diffuse through a semipermeable membrane.

hemodialysis

The process of removing blood from an artery (as of a kidney patient),

purifying it by dialysis, adding vital substances, and returning it to a vein.

peritoneal dialysis

A procedure performed in the peritoneal cavity in which the peritoneum

acts as the semipermeable membrane.

antibody

A protein secreted by plasma cells (differentiated B cells) that binds to a

particular antigen and marks it for elimination.

antigen

A foreign macromolecule that does not belong to the host organism and

elicits an immune response.

human leukocyte antigen (HLA)

Molecules found on all nucleated cells in the body that help the immune

system to recognize whether or not a cell is foreign to the body. These

antigens are inherited from one's parents. Human leukocyte antigens are

used to determine the compatibility of kidneys and pancreases for

transplantation from one individual to another. The major groups of HLA

antigens are HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-DR.

major histocompatibility complex (MHC)

A family of genes that encode a large set of cell surface proteins called

MHC molecules. Class I and class II MHC molecules function in antigen

presentation to T cells. Foreign MHC molecules on transplanted tissue

can trigger T cell responses that may lead to rejection of the transplant.

crossmatch

The testing of the compatibility of the bloods or tissues of a donor and a

recipient by mixing the blood or tissue of the other to determine the

absence of agglutination reactions.

nephrectomy

The surgical removal of a kidney.

laparoscopy

A minimally invasive surgery involving visual examination of the inside of

the abdomen by means of a laparoscope.

anesthesia

Loss of sensation and usually of consciousness without loss of vital

functions artificially produced by the administration of one or more agents

that block the passage of pain impulses along nerve pathways to the

brain.

xenotransplantation

A transplantation of an organ, tissue, or cells between two different

species.

tissue engineering

A multidisciplinary field involving biology, medicine, and engineering

working to restore, maintain, and enhance tissue and organ function.