one of the two major classes of lymphocytes, B
lymphocytes are white blood cells of the immune system that are
derived from the bone marrow and spleen. B cells develop into plasma
cells, which produce antibodies.
Peptic ulcer of the lower esophagus. It is
caused by the presence of cells that normally stay in the stomach
lining.
Information available on BecomeHealthyNow.com pertinent to this entry:
Refers to a continuous supply of low levels of
insulin, as in insulin pump therapy.
Baseline
the time point in a study just before
initiation of intervention (vaccination) when starting measurements
are taken. Measurements taken at later time points may be compared
with those taken at baseline to study variations.
Basilar
artery migraine
Migraine ,
occurring primarily in young women and often associated with the
menstrual cycle, that involves a disturbance of a major brain
artery. Symptoms include vertigo, double vision, and poor muscular
coordination.
Benign
Not cancer; does not invade or spread to other
parts of the body.
Benign
exertional headache
headache brought on by running, lifting,
coughing, sneezing, or bending.
Beta cell
A type of cell in the pancreas in areas called
the islets of Langerhans. Beta cells make and release insulin, a
hormone that controls the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood.
A test to find out if heartburn is caused by
acid in the esophagus. The test involves dripping a mild acid,
similar to stomach acid, through a tube placed in the esophagus.
A ball of food, mucus, vegetable fiber, hair,
or other material that cannot be digested in the stomach. Bezoars
can cause blockage, ulcers, and bleeding.
A condition present from birth in which the
bile ducts inside or outside the liver do not have normal openings.
Bile becomes trapped in the liver, causing jaundice and cirrhosis.
Without surgery the condition may cause death.
A narrowing of the biliary tract from scar
tissue. The scar tissue may result from injury, disease,
pancreatitis, infection, or gallstones. See also Stricture.
The substance formed when hemoglobin breaks
down. Bilirubin gives bile its color. Bilirubin is normally passed
in stool. Too much bilirubin causes jaundice.
a technique in which patients are trained to
gain some voluntary control over certain physiological conditions,
such as blood pressure and muscle tension, to promote relaxation. Thermal
biofeedback helps patients consciously raise hand temperature,
which can sometimes reduce the number and intensity of migraines.
A way to enhance a body signal so that one is
aware of something that usually occurs at a level below
consciousness. An electronic device provides information about a
body function (such as heart rate) so that the person using
biofeedback can learn to control that function. Biofeedback can help
people with arthritis learn to relax their
muscles. In this case, an electronic device amplifies the sound of a
muscle contracting, so the arthritis patient knows that the muscle
is not relaxed.
the amount of drug that is available to the
target tissue after administration; this may not be 100% due to
degradation or alteration before reaching the target tissue
Biopsy
The removal of tissue, which is then examined
under a microscope to check for cancer cells. When only a sample of
tissue is removed, the procedure is called incisional biopsy or core
biopsy. When the whole tumor is removed, it is called excisional
biopsy. Removing tissue or fluid with a needle for microscopic
examination is called needle biopsy or needle aspiration.
Biphasic
Insulin
A type of insulin that is a mixture of
intermediate- and fast-acting insulin.
A nonprescription medicine such as
Pepto-Bismol. Used to treat diarrhea, heartburn, indigestion, and
nausea. It is also part of the treatment for ulcers caused by the
bacterium Helicobacter pylori (HELL-uh-koh-BAK-tur
py-LOH-ree).
a clinical trial in which participants are
unaware as to whether or not they are in the experimental or control
arm of the study. (See also Double-blind
study.)
Fullness or swelling in the abdomen that often
occurs after meals.
Blood
Glucose
The main sugar that the body makes from the
three elements of food-proteins, fats, and carbohydrates-but mostly
from carbohydrates. Glucose is the major source of energy for living
cells and is carried to each cell through the bloodstream. However,
the cells cannot use glucose without the help of insulin.
Blood
Glucose Meter
A machine that helps test how much glucose
(sugar) is in the blood. A specially coated strip containing a fresh
sample of blood is inserted in a machine, when then calculates the
correct level of glucose in the blood sample and shows the result in
a digital display. Some meters have a memory that can store results
from multiple tests.
Blood
Glucose Monitoring
A way of testing how much glucose (sugar) is in
the blood. A drop of blood, usually taken from the fingertip, is
placed on the end of a specially coated strip, called a testing
strip. The strip has a chemical on it that makes it change color
according to how much glucose is in the blood. A person can tell if
the level of glucose is low, high, or normal in one of two ways. The
first is by comparing the color on the end of the strip to a color
chart that is printed on the side of the test strip container. The
second is by inserting the strip into a small machine, called a
meter, which "reads" the strip and shows the level of
blood glucose in a digital window display. Blood testing is more
accurate than urine testing in monitoring blood glucose levels
because it shows what the current level of glucose is, rather than
what the level was an hour or so previously.
Blood
Pressure
The force of the blood on the walls of
arteries. Two levels of blood pressure are measured-the higher, or
systolic, pressure, which occurs each time the heart pushes blood
into the vessels, and the lower, or diastolic, pressure, which
occurs when the heart rests. In a blood pressure reading of 120/80,
for example, 120 is the systolic pressure and 80 is the diastolic
pressure. A reading of 120/80 is said to be the normal range. Blood
pressure that is too high can cause health problems such as heart
attacks and strokes.
Blood Sugar
See: Blood glucose
Blood Urea Nitrogen
(BUN)
A waste product of the kidneys. Increased
levels of BUN in the blood may indicate early kidney damage.
Blood Vessel
Tubes that act like a system of roads or canals
to carry blood to and from all parts of the body. The three main
types of blood vessels are arteries, veins, and capillaries. The
heart pumps blood through these vessels so that the blood can carry
with it oxygen and nutrients that the cells need or take away waste
that the cells do not need.
Correct positioning of the body for a given
task, such as lifting a heavy object or typing.
Bolus
A concentrated mass given as a single dose;
Diabetes: An extra boost of insulin given to cover expected rise in
blood glucose (sugar) such as the rise that occurs after eating.
Bone marrow
The soft sponge-like material inside some
bones. Blood cells are formed in the bone marrow. Bone marrow may be
autologous (the patient's own marrow saved earlier), allogeneic
(marrow from someone else), or syngeneic (marrow from an identical
twin).
Bone
marrow transplantation
A procedure in which doctors replace marrow
destroyed by treatment with high doses of anticancer drugs or
radiation. The replacement marrow may be taken from the patient
before treatment or may be donated by another person. When the
patient's own marrow is used, the procedure is called autologous
(aw-TOL-o-gus) bone marrow transplantation.
