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Glossary - I |
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- IBD
- See Inflammatory
Bowel Disease (IBD).
- IBS
- See Irritable
Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
- IDDM
- See: Insulin-dependent
diabetes mellitus.
- Idiopathic (id-ee-oh-PATH-ik)
- describing a disease of unknown cause
- IGF-1
- Literally, insulin-like growth factor 1, a
crucial blood protein produced in the liver in response to
stimulation by growth hormone. IGF-1 provides the best indicator of
growth hormone levels and optimal levels are linked to healthy bone,
heart, thyroid, skin, and nervous system.
-
- Ileal (IL-ee-ul)
- Related to the ileum, the lowest end of the
small intestine.
- Ileal Pouch
(IL-ee-ul powtch)
- See Ileoanal
Reservoir.
- Ileitis (il-ee-EYE-tis)
- See Crohn's
Disease.
- Ileoanal
Pull-Through (il-ee-oh-AY-nul PUL-throo)
- An operation to remove the colon and inner
lining of the rectum. The outer muscle of the rectum is not touched.
The bottom end of the small intestine (ileum) is pulled through the
remaining rectum and joined to the anus. Stool can be passed
normally. Also called ileoanal anastomosis.
- Ileoanal
Reservoir (il-ee-oh-AY-nul REZ-uh-vwar)
- An operation to remove the colon, upper rectum,
and part of the lower rectum. An internal pouch is created from the
remaining intestine to hold stool. The operation may be done in two
stages. The pouch may also be called a J-pouch or W-pouch.
- Ileocecal
Valve (il-ee-oh-SEE-kul valv)
- A valve that connects the lower part of the
small intestine and the upper part of the large intestine (ileum and
cecum). Controls the flow of fluid in the intestines and prevents
backflow.
- lleocolitis
(il-ee-oh-koh-LY-tis)
- Irritation of the lower part of the small
intestine (ileum) and colon.
- Ileostomy
(il-ee-AW-stuh-mee)
- An operation that makes it possible for stool
to leave the body after the colon and rectum are removed. The
surgeon makes an opening in the abdomen and attaches the bottom of
the small intestine (ileum) to it.
- Ileum (il-ee-um)
- The lower end of the small intestine.
- Immune complex
- the result of a reaction between an antigen and
a specific antibody. This combination of antigen bound by antibody
may or may not cause adverse effects in a person.
- Immunity
- natural or acquired resistance provided by the
immune system to a specific disease. Immunity may be partial or
complete, specific or nonspecific, long-lasting or temporary.
- Immunization
- the process of inducing immunity by
administering an antigen (vaccine) to allow the immune system to
prevent infection or illness when it subsequently encounters the
infectious agent.
- Immunodeficiency,
immune deficiency
- a condition resulting from a defective immune
system; a breakdown or inability of certain parts of the immune
system to function, thus making a person susceptible to diseases
that they would not ordinarily develop.
- Immunogen
- a substance capable of provoking an immune
response. Also called an antigen.
- Immunocompetent
- capable of developing an immune response;
possessing a normal immune system.
- Immunogenicity
- the ability of an antigen or vaccine to
stimulate immune responses.
- Immunoglobulin
- a general term for antibodies, which bind to
invading organisms, leading to their destruction. There are five
classes of immunoglobulins: IgA, IgG, IgM, IgD and IgE. (See also antibody.)
- Immunosuppressive
Drugs
- Drugs that block the body's ability to fight
infection or foreign substances that enter the body. A person
receiving a kidney or pancreas transplant is given these drugs to
stop the body from rejecting the new organ or tissue. Cyclosporin is
a commonly used immunosuppressive drug.
- Immunotherapy
- a treatment that stimulates or modifies the
body's immune response.
- Impaction
(im-PAK-shun)
- The trapping of an object in a body passage.
Examples are stones in the bile duct or hardened stool in the colon.
- Impaired Glucose
Tolerance (IGT)
- Blood glucose (sugar) levels higher than normal
but not high enough to be called diabetes. People with IGT may or
may not develop diabetes. Other names (no longer used) for IGT are
"borderline," "subclinical,"
"chemical," or "latent" diabetes.
- Imperforate
Anus (im-PUR-fuh-rut AY-nus)
- A birth defect in which the anal canal fails to
develop. The condition is treated with an operation.
- Impotence
- The loss of a man's ability to have an erect
penis and to emit semen. Some men may become impotent after having
diabetes for a long time because the nerves or blood vessels have
become damaged. Sometimes the problem has nothing to do with
diabetes and may be treated with counseling.
- Incidence
- How often a disease occurs; the number of new
cases of a disease among a certain group of people for a certain
period of time; the rate of occurrence of some event, such as the
number of individuals who get a disease divided by a total given
population per unit of time. (Contrast with prevalence.)
- Inclusion/exclusion
criteria
- the medical or social reasons why a person may
or may not qualify for participation in a clinical trial. For
example, some trials may exclude people with chronic liver disease
or with certain drug allergies; others may include only people with
a low CD4+ T-cell count.
- IND (investigational
new drug)
- the status of an experimental drug after the
FDA agrees that it can be tested in people.
- Indigestion
(in-duh-JES-tchun)
- Poor digestion. Symptoms include heartburn,
nausea, bloating, and gas. Also called dyspepsia.
- INDIRECT
THROMBIN INHIBITOR
- An agent that inactivates thrombin
by catalyzing the activation of naturally occurring thrombin
inhibitors such as antithrombin III and heparin
cofactor II.
- Informed
consent
- an agreement signed by prospective volunteers
for a clinical research trial that indicates their understanding of
- why the research is being done,
- what researchers want to accomplish,
- what will be done during the trial and for
how long,
- what risks are involved,
- what, if any, benefits can be expected from
the trial,
- what other interventions are available, and
- the participant’s right to leave the
trial at any time.
- Infarct (IN-farkt)
- An area of necrosis
in a tissue due to local ischemia resulting from obstruction of
circulation to the area, most commonly caused by a thrombus
or embolus.
- Infarction (in-FARK-shun)
- The formation of an infarct.
- Infectious
Diarrhea (in-FEK-shus dy-uh-REE-uh)
- Diarrhea caused by infection from bacteria,
viruses, or parasites. See also Travelers'
Diarrhea and Gastroenteritis.
- Infectious
Gastroenteritis (in-FEK-shus gah-stroh-en-tuh-RY-tis)
- See Gastroenteritis.
- Infiltrate (in-FILL-trait)
- material deposited as a result of filtration
- Inflammation
- A typical reaction of tissues to injury or
disease. It is marked by four signs: swelling, redness, heat, and
pain.
- Inflammatory
Bowel Disease (IBD) (in-FLAM-uh-toh-ree BAH-wul duh-zeez)
- Long-lasting problems that cause irritation and
ulcers in the GI tract. The most common disorders are ulcerative
colitis and Crohn's
disease.
- Inguinal
Hernia (IN-gwuh-nul HUR-nee-uh)
- A small part of the large or small intestine or
bladder that pushes into the groin. May cause pain and feelings of
pressure or burning in the groin. Often requires surgery.
- Insulin
- A hormone that helps the body use glucose
(sugar) for energy. Imbalances of insulin are common in diabetes,
gastrointestinal disorders, and obesity. The beta cells of the
pancreas (in areas called the Islets
of Langerhans) make the insulin. When the body cannot make
enough insulin on its own, a person with diabetes must inject
insulin made from other sources, i.e., beef, pork, human insulin
(recombinant DNA origin), or human insulin (pork-derived,
semisynthetic).
- Insulin
Allergy
- When a person's body has an allergic or bad
reaction to taking insulin made from pork or beef or from bacteria,
or because the insulin is not exactly the same as human insulin or
because it has impurities.
The allergy can be of two forms. Sometimes an
area of skin becomes red and itchy around the place where the
insulin is injected. This is called a local allergy.
In another form, a person's whole body can
have a bad reaction This is called a systemic allergy. The person
can have hives or red patches all over the body or may feel changes
in the heart rate and in the rate of breathing. A doctor may treat
this allergy by prescribing purified insulins or by desensitization.
See also: Desensitization.
- Insulin
Antagonist
- Something that opposes or fights the action of
insulin. Insulin lowers the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood,
whereas glucagon raises it; therefore, glucagon is an antagonist of
insulin.
- Insulin
Binding
- When insulin attaches itself to something else.
This can occur in two ways. First, when a cell needs energy, insulin
can bind with the outer part of the cell. The cell then can bring
glucose (sugar) inside and use it for energy. With the help of
insulin, the cell can do its work very well and very quickly. But
sometimes the body acts against itself. In this second case, the
insulin binds with the proteins that are supposed to protect the
body from outside substances (antibodies). If the insulin is an
injected form of insulin and not made by the body, the body sees the
insulin as an outside or "foreign" substance. When the
injected insulin binds with the antibodies, it does not work as well
as when it binds directly to the cell.
- Insulin-Dependent
Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM)
- A chronic condition in which the pancreas makes
little or no insulin because the beta cells have been destroyed. The
body is then not able to use the glucose (blood sugar) for energy.
IDDM usually comes on abruptly, although the damage to the beta
cells may begin much earlier. The signs of IDDM are a great thirst,
hunger, a need to urinate often, and loss of weight. To treat the
disease, the person must inject insulin, follow a diet plan,
exercise daily, and test blood glucose several times a day. IDDM
usually occurs in children and adults who are under age 30. This
type of diabetes used to be known as "juvenile diabetes,"
"juvenile-onset diabetes," and "ketosis-prone
diabetes." It is also called type I diabetes mellitus.
- Insulin Pump
- A device that delivers a continuous supply of
insulin into the body. The insulin flows from the pump through a
plastic tube that is connected to a needle inserted into the body
and taped in place. Insulin is delivered at two rates: a low, steady
rate (called the basal rate) for continuous day-long coverage, and
extra boosts of insulin (called bolus doses) to cover meals or when
extra insulin is needed. The pump runs on batteries and can be worn
clipped to a belt or carried in a pocket. It is used by people with
insulin- dependent diabetes.
- Insulin
Receptor
- Areas on the outer part of a cell that allow
the cell to join or bind with insulin that is in the blood. When the
cell and insulin bind together, the cell can take glucose (sugar)
from the blood and use it for energy.
- Insulin
Resistance
- Many people with noninsulin-dependent diabetes
produce enough insulin, but their bodies do not respond to the
action of insulin. This may happen because the person is overweight
and has too many fat cells, which do not respond well to insulin.
Also, as people age, their body cells lose some of the ability to
respond to insulin. Insulin resistance is also linked to high blood
pressure and high levels of fat in the blood. Another kind of
insulin resistance may happen in some people who take insulin
injections. They may have to take very high doses of insulin every
day (200 units or more) to bring their blood glucose (sugar) down to
the normal range. This is also called "insulin insensitivity.
- Insulin
Shock
- A severe condition that occurs when the level
of blood glucose (sugar) drops quickly. The signs are shaking,
sweating, dizziness, double vision, convulsions, and collapse.
Insulin shock may occur when an insulin reaction is not treated
quickly enough. See also: Hypoglycemia; insulin reaction.
- Insulinemia
- Refers to the status of insulin levels within
the blood; often used to indicate elevated levels of insulin.
- Internist
- A doctor who specializes in internal medicine
(not requiring surgery).
- Intestines
(in-TES-tinz)
- See Large
Intestine and Small Intestine.
Also called gut.
- Intestinal
Flora (in-TES-tuh-nul FLOR-uh)
- The bacteria, yeasts, and fungi that grow
normally in the intestines.
- Intestinal
Mucosa (in-TES-tuh-nul myoo-KOH-zuh)
- The surface lining of the intestines where the
cells absorb nutrients.
-
- Intestinal
Pseudo-Obstruction (in-TES-tuh-nul SOO-doh ub-STRUK-shun)
- A disorder that causes symptoms of blockage,
but no actual blockage. Causes constipation, vomiting, and pain. See
also Obstruction.
- Intolerance
(in-TAH-luh-runs)
- Allergy to a food, drug, or other substance.
- Intramuscular
Injection
- Putting a fluid into a muscle with a needle and
syringe.
- Intravenous
Injection
- Putting a fluid into a vein with a needle and
syringe.
- Intrinsic
Factor
- A protein normally secreted by the epithelium
(lining) of the stomach that binds vitamin B12, the intrinsic
factor/B12 complex is selectively absorbed by the distal ileum
(large intestine), though only the vitamin is taken into the cell.
-
- Intussusception
(IN-tuh-suh-SEP-shun)
- A rare disorder. A part of the intestines folds
into another part of the intestines, causing blockage. Most common
in infants. Can be treated with an operation.
- In vitro (in
VEE-troh)
- from the Latin meaning in glass; in an
artificial environment such as a test tube or the equivalent
laboratory apparatus; an artificial environment created outside a
living organism (e.g., in a test tube or culture plate) used in
experimental research to study a disease or biologic process.
- In vivo (in VEE-voh)
- testing within a living organism, e.g., human
or animal studies.
- IRB (Institutional Review
Board)
- a committee of physicians, statisticians,
community advocates and others that reviews clinical trial protocols
before they can be initiated. IRBs ensure that the trial is ethical
and that the rights of participants are adequately protected.
- Irritable
Bowel Syndrome (IBS) (EER-uh-tuh-bul BAH-wul sin-drohm)
- A disorder that comes and goes. Nerves that
control the muscles in the GI tract are too active. The GI tract
becomes sensitive to food, stool, gas, and stress. Causes abdominal
pain, bloating, and constipation or diarrhea. Also called spastic
colon or mucous colitis. For a complete discussion of Irritable
Bowel Syndrome go here.
- Ischemic
Colitis (is-KEE-mik koh-LY-tis)
- Decreased blood flow to the colon.
Causes fever, pain, and bloody diarrhea.
- Islets
of Langerhans
- Special groups of cells in the pancreas.
They make and secrete hormones that help the body break down and use
food. Named after Paul Langerhans, the German scientist who
discovered them in 1869, these cells sit in clusters in the
pancreas. There are five types of cells in an islet: beta cells,
which make insulin; alpha cells, which make glucagon; delta cells,
which make somatostaton; and PP cells and D1 cells, about which
little is known.
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