NCM 112: Immunology and Inflammation Practice Flashcards

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers key infectious, inflammatory, and immunologic disorders as presented in the NCM 112 Module 3 transcript, including pathophysiology, diagnostic criteria, and clinical signs.

Pneumonia

An inflammation of the lungs parenchyma caused by various microorganisms, including bacteria, mycobacteria, fungi, and viruses.

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP)

Pneumonia that occurs either in the community setting or within the first $24$ hours after hospitalization or institutionalization.

Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP)

Pneumonia that develops $48$ hours or more after admission and was not incubating at the time of admission.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP)

Pneumonia occurring in a patient who has been endotracheally intubated and received mechanical ventilatory support for at least $48$ hours.

Streptococcus pneumoniae

A gram-positive organism that is the most common cause of CAP in people younger than $60$ years without comorbidity.

Orthopnea

Shortness of breath when reclining or in the supine position, often requiring the patient to sit up or lean forward to breathe.

Tuberculosis (TB)

An infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis that primarily affects the lung parenchyma but can transmit to the kidneys, bones, and lymph nodes.

Ghon tubercle

A fibrous tissue mass formed during the accumulation of granulomas in TB, also known as a GHON FOCUS.

Mantoux method

A tuberculin skin test using purified protein derivative (PPD) injected intradermally to screen for latent M. tuberculosis infection.

Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB)

Tuberculosis that shows resistance to at least both Isoniazid and Rifampicin.

Extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB)

Resistance to any fluoroquinolone and at least one of three second-line injectable drugs (Capreomycin, Kanamycin, and Amikacin), in addition to MDR.

Ebola Transmission

Spread through direct contact with blood or body fluids such as urine, vomit, feces, saliva, sweat, semen, and breast milk.

MERS-Cov

A zoonotic viral respiratory disease caused by a coronavirus first identified in Saudi Arabia in $2012$.

Viral Hepatitis

A systemic viral infection where necrosis and inflammation of liver cells produce clinical, biochemical, and cellular changes.

Anti-HBs

An antibody to surface determinants on HBV that usually indicates recovery and the development of immunity.

Guillain-Barré Syndrome

An autoimmune attack on the peripheral nerve myelin, also known as acute idiopathic polyneuritis.

Miller–Fisher variant

The rarest type of GBS that presents with ataxia, areflexia, and ophthalmoplegia.

Bacterial Vaginosis

An infection caused by an overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria and Gardnerella vaginalis, characterized by a fishlike odor.

Trichomoniasis

A sexually transmitted infection caused by a flagellated protozoan that may produce "strawberry spots" on the cervix.

AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)

The advanced stage of HIV infection, defined by a CD4 cell count less than $200$ copies or the occurrence of opportunistic infections.

Western Blot

A protein separation technique used to confirm the presence of HIV antibodies in a biological sample.

Rubor

The cardinal sign of inflammation referring to redness caused by increased vascularity.

Purulent Exudate

A type of inflammatory exudate containing pus, composed of leukocytes, liquefied dead tissue, and bacteria.

Crohn’s Disease

A subacute and chronic inflammation of the GI tract wall that is transmural and characterized by regional "skip lesions."

Ulcerative Colitis

A chronic inflammatory disease restricted to the mucosal and submucosal layers of the colon and rectum.

Rovsing sign

A physical exam finding where palpation of the LLQ causes pain in the RLQ, suggestive of appendicitis.

Peritonitis

Inflammation of the serous membrane lining the abdominal cavity, often producing a "board-like" rigid abdomen.

Pancreaticoduodenectomy

The surgical removal of the head of the pancreas, duodenum, gallbladder, and bile duct, also known as a Whipple resection.

Cholesterol Stones

The common type of gallstone formed when bile is supersaturated with cholesterol, acting as a mucosal irritant.

Innate Immunity

The inborn, nonspecific first line of defense that distinguishes self from non-self but does not distinguish specific pathogens.

Cytotoxic T-cells (CD8+)

Direct-attack cells capable of killing microorganisms, cancer cells, and viral infected cells by boring holes in membranes.

Lhermitte’s sign

A transient sensory symptom in Multiple Sclerosis described as an electric shock radiating down the spine upon neck flexion.

Acute Glomerulonephritis

An immune-mediated inflammatory disease of the renal glomeruli capillary loops, often following a streptococcal infection.

Anaphylaxis

A serious, life-threatening allergic reaction requiring immediate treatment with an epinephrine injection.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

A chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by autoantibodies like ANA and symptoms such as the malar (butterfly) rash.

Swan Neck Deformity

A deformity in Rheumatoid Arthritis involving hyperextension of the PIP joint and flexion of the DIP joint.

Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c)

A blood test measuring average glucose over $8$ to $12$ weeks; an A1C level of $6.5\%$ or higher suggests diabetes.

C-peptide

A protein produced during insulin production used to differentiate between Type 1 (low levels) and Type 2 (high levels) diabetes.