Chapter: 6.2 Common Terms

Antifungal - Pertaining to a substance that kills fungi or inhibits their growth or reproduction; an antifungal, antibiotic drug. Amphotericin B and ketoconazole, both effective against a broad spectrum of fungi, probably act by binding to sterols in the fungal cell membrane and changing the membrane's permeability. Griseofulvin, another broad spectrum antifungal agent, binds to the host's new keratin and renders it resistant to further fungal invasion. Miconazole inhibits the growth of common dermatophytes, including yeastlike Candid albicans; nystain is effective against yeast and yeast like fungi.

Apendicitis - inflammation of the vermiform appendix, usually acute, that if undiagnosed leads rapidly to perforation and peritonitis. The inflammation is caused by an obstruction such as a hard mass of feces or a foreign body in the lumen of the appendix, fibrous disease of the bowel wall, an adhesion, or a parasitic infestation. The most common symptom is constant pain in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen around McBurney's point, which the patient describes as having begun as intermittent pain in midabdomen. Extreme tenderness occurs over the right rectus muscle. Appendicitis is also characterized by vomiting, a low grade fever of 990 to 1020 F. an elevated white blood count, rebound tenderness, a rigid abdomen and decreased or absent bowel sounds. Treatment is appendectomy within 24 to 48 hours of the first symptoms because delay usually results in rupture and peritonitis as fecal matter is released into the peritoneal cavity.

Autopsy - a postmortem examination performed to confirm or determine the cause of death. autopsic, autopsical, the study of disease by the examination of the body after death by a pathologist.

Bacille, Calmette-Guerin - an attenuated strain of mycobacterium bovis attenuated strain of mycobacterium bovis that is given as a live bacterial vaccine to prevent the development of TB. It is most often administered intradermally, with a multiple puncture disk. When administered to infants in high prevalence areas, there is some evidence that it prevents the more serious forms of tuberculosis. It may have some efficacy against leprosy. BCG is also instilled into the bladder as a treatment for bladder cancer to stimulate the immune response in people who have certain kinds of malignancy.

Battered Woman Syndrome - repeated episodes of physical assault on a woman by the person with whom she liver or with whom she has a relationship, often resulting in serous physical and psychological damage to the woman. Such violence tends to follow a predictable pattern, starting with verbal abuse, progressing to acute, violent activity, and followed by apologies, remorse, and promises of change. Over time, the violent episodes escalate in frequency and severity.

Blood Pressure - the pressure exerted by the circulating volume of blood on the walls of the arteries and veins and on the chambers of the heart. Blood pressure is regulated by the homeostatic mechanisms of the body by the volume of the blood, the lumen of the arteries and arterioles, and the force of cardiac contraction. In the aorta and large arteries of a healthy young adult, blood pressure is approximately 120 mm Hg during systole and 70 mm Hg during diastole.

Blood Urea Nitrogen - a measure of he amount of urea in the blood. The BUN, determined by a blood test, is directly related to the metabolic function of the liver and the excretory function of the kidney. Normal findings (in mg/ dl) are 1.0-20 for adults, 5218 for children and infants. 312 for newborns and 21-40 for cord blood. In the elderly the BUN may be slightly higher than the normal adult range. A critical value of 100 mg/ dl indicates serious impairment of renal function.