A-H 5

Homozygous: Having identical alleles at a gene locus. Hormone receptor-positive: Expression of estrogen and/or progesterone receptors in breast cancer cells. Hot flashes: A feeling of warmth that is commonly accompanied by skin flushing and mild to severe perspiration. Human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2)positive: Tumor positivity is defined by immunohistochemistry (3+ when > 10% of the cells harbor complete membrane staining) and FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization) (if the number of HER2 gene copies is > 6 or the HER2/chromosome 17 ratio is > 2). Human leukocyte antigens (HLA): Groups of genes found on the major histocompatibility complex that contain cell-surface antigen presenting proteins. The body uses HLA to distinguish between self cells and non-self cells. Humoral: Relating to the body fluids, especially with regard to immune responses involving antibodies in body fluids as distinct from cells. Hydrocephalus: A condition marked by accumulation of cerebral spinal fluid in the brain resulting in increased pressure inside the skull. Hydronephrosis: Swelling of the renal pelvis and calyces of the kidney due to a back-up of urine due to obstruction. Hyperalgesia: An exaggerated intensity of pain sensation. Hypercalcemia: Excessive amount of calcium in the blood. Hypercalciuria: Excessive amount of calcium in the urine. Hypercapnia: Excessive carbon dioxide in the bloodstream, typically caused by inadequate respiration. Hypercoagulable state: A disorder or state of excessive or frequent thrombus formation; also known as thrombophilia. Hyperemesis gravidarum: A rare disorder of severe and persistent nausea and vomiting during pregnancy that can result in dehydration, malnutrition, weight loss, and hospitalization. Hyperglycemic hyperosmolar nonketotic syndrome: Severe increase in serum glucose concentration without the production of ketones, leading to an increase in serum osmolality and symptoms such as increased thirst, increased urination, weakness, fatigue, confusion, and in severe cases convulsions and/or coma. Hyperopia: Farsightedness. Hyperpigmentation: A common darkening of the skin which occurs when an excess of melanin forms deposits in the skin. Hypertrichosis: Excessive growth of hair. Hyphae: A long, branching multicellular filamentous form of a fungus. Hypocretin: A wake-promoting hypothalamic neuropeptide whose deficiency is involved in the pathophysiology of narcolepsy. Hypogammaglobulinemia: Reduced levels of antibodies. Hypogonadism: A medical condition resulting from or characterized by abnormally decreased functional activity of the gonads, with retardation of growth and sexual development. Associated with testosterone deficiency resulting from either testicular or pituitary/hypothalamic diseases. Presenting symptoms differ according to the timing of disease onset in relation to puberty. Hypomimia: Lack of facial expression. Often termed masked face. Hypophonia: Decreased voice volume. Hypopituitarism: A clinical disorder characterized by complete or partial deficiency in pituitary hormone production. Hypoxemia: Deficiency of oxygen in the blood. Hypoxia: Deficiency of oxygen in body tissues. Hysterectomy: An operation to remove a woman’s uterus.Androgen deprivation therapy: Agents such as LHRH agonists, GnRH antagonist, and antiandrogens that are used to suppress testosterone levels to that consistent with medical castration (testosterone levels < 50 ng/mL)..Anovulatory cycle: A menstrual cycle where ovaries fail to produce, mature, or release egg.Amenorrhea: The absence or discontinuation of regular menstrual periods. Abnormal cessation or absence of menses...Androgen deprivation therapy: Agents such as LHRH agonists, GnRH antagonist, and antiandrogens that are used to suppress testosterone levels to that consistent with medical castration (testosterone levels < 50 ng/mL)...Anticitrullinated protein antibodies: Autoantibodies directed against cyclic citrullinated peptide, a circular peptide (a ring of amino acids) containing the amino acid citrulline...Aortic dissection: A serious condition in which there is a tear in the wall of the aorta.Aplasia cutis: Congenital absence of skin, commonly affecting the scalp.β-Lactam allergy: Allergy to the β-lactam family, namely penicillins and cephalosporins, but may also include carbapenems.Boutonniere deformity: Joint deformity associated with rheumatoid arthritis that presents as flexion of the proximal interphalangeal joints with hyperextension of the distal interphalangeal joints.Calcitonin: A hormone produced by the parafollicular cells of the thyroid gland; involved in helping to regulate levels of calcium and phosphate in the blood.Calculi: An abnormal concretion (or stone) usually found in hollow organs or their passages (eg, kidney stone).Castration resistant prostate cancer: Prostate cancer that continues to progress despite suppression of typical hormonal growth signals (ie, despite androgen deprivation that achieves castration levels of testosterone).Catheterization: Insertion of a tubular medical device into canals, vessels, passageways, or body cavities to permit injection or withdrawal of fluids or to keep a passage open.Cell-mediated immunity: An immune response that involves activation of phagocytes, antigen-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocytes, and the release of various cytokines in response to an antigen. Can be independent of antibody action.Cocoon immunization: Vaccine strategy to protect an infant from disease by vaccinating those with expected close contact.Comedolytic: An agent that is able to break up or destroy a comedo.Comorbidities: Multiple disease states occurring concurrently in one patient.Complete response: In cancer, disappearance of all targeted lesions.Complex regimen: Taking medications 3 or more times per day, or 12 or more doses per day.Concreteness: Inability to think in abstract terms. It may be a primary developmental defect or secondary to organic mental disorder or schizophrenia. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia: A rare inherited condition resulting from a deficiency in cortisol and aldosterone synthesis with resulting excess androgen production. The clinical presentation depends on the variant of the condition but typically manifests as abnormalities in sexual development and/or adrenal insufficiency. Conidia: Non-motile spores produced by fungi. Conjunctival injection: Erythema of the conjunctiva. Conjunctivitis: Inflammation of the conjunctiva. Conjunctivitis medicamentosa: A drug-induced form of allergic conjunctivitis resulting from overuse of topical ocular vasoconstrictors. Consolidation: Treatment that is given after cancer has disappeared following the initial therapy. Consolidation therapy is used to kill any cancer cells that may be left in the body. Contiguous: Spread of infection via direct invasion of adjacent structures. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP): A technique of assisting breathing by maintaining the air pressure in the lungs and air passages constant and above atmospheric pressure throughout the breathing cycle. Cor pulmonale: Right-sided heart failure caused by lung disease. Corneal arcus: Accumulation of lipid on the cornea. Coronary artery bypass graft surgery: Surgical intervention to improve coronary blood flow by removing a vein from the leg and attaching one end to the aorta and the other end to the coronary artery distal to the atherosclerotic plaque. Alternatively, an artery from the inside of the chest wall may be used to bypass the coronary occlusion. Cosyntropin: A synthetic version of adrenocorticotropic hormone. Counterirritant: A substance that elicits a superficial inflammatory response with the objective of reducing inflammation in deeper, adjacent structures. C-peptide: A peptide which is made when proinsulin is split into insulin and C-peptide. They split before proinsulin is released from endocytic vesicles within the pancreas, one C-peptide for each insulin molecule. C-peptide is the abbreviation for “connecting peptide.” It is used to determine if a patient has type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus. Creaming: Aggregation of lipid emulsion particles that then migrate to the surface of the emulsion can be reversed with mild agitation. Creatinine: A waste product in the blood produced from the breakdown of protein by-products generated by muscle in the body or ingested in the diet. The kidneys filter blood to remove creatinine and maintain homeostasis; a decline in kidney function results in an increase in creatinine.