- Obesity
- When people have 20 percent (or more) extra
body fat for their age, height, sex, and bone structure. Fat works
against the action of insulin. Extra body fat is thought to be a
risk factor for diabetes.
- Obstruction
(ub-STRUK-shun)
- A blockage in the GI tract that prevents the
flow of liquids or solids.
- Occult
Bleeding (uh-KULT)
- Blood in stool that is not visible to the naked
eye. May be a sign of disease such as diverticulosis
or colorectal cancer.
- Open-label
trial
- a clinical trial in which doctors and
participants know which treatment is being administered to all
participants.
- Opportunistic
infection
- an illness caused by an organism that usually
does not cause disease in a person with a normal immune system.
People with advanced HIV infection suffer opportunistic infections
of the lungs, brain, eyes and other organs.
- Oral
Dissolution Therapy (OR-ul dih-soh-LOO-shun
theh-ruh-pee)
- A method of dissolving cholesterol gallstones.
The patient takes the oral medications chenodiol (KEE-noh-DY-awl)
(Chenix) and ursodiol (ERS-oh-DY-awl) (Actigall).
These medicines are most often used for people who cannot have an
operation.
- Oral
Hypoglycemic Agents
- Pills or capsules that people take to lower the
level of glucose (sugar) in the blood. The pills work for some
people whose pancreas still makes some insulin. They can help the
body in several ways such as causing the cells in the pancreas to
release more insulin.
Six types of these pills are for sale in the
United States. Four, known as "first- generation" drugs,
have been in use for some time. Two types, called "second-
generation" drugs, have been developed recently. They are
stronger than first- generation drugs and have fewer side effects.
All oral hypoglycemic agents belong to a class of drugs known as
sulfonylureas. Each type of pill is sold under two names: one is the
generic name as listed by the Food and Drug Administration; the
other is the trade name given by the manufacturer. They are:
- First-Generation Agents:
- Generic Name: Tolbutamide
Trade Name: Orinase
Generic Name: Acetohexamide
Trade Name: Dymelor
Generic Name: Tolazamide
Trade Name: Tolinase
Generic Name: Chloropropamide
Trade Name: Diabinese
- Second-Generation Agents:
- Generic Name: Glipizide Trade
Name: Glucotrol
Generic Name: Glyburide Trade
Name: Diabeta, Micronase
- Orphan Drug
- a drug for which the target population is
limited or for which the disease it treats occurs rarely.
- Osteoarthritis
- OA (also know as degenerative joint disease)
primarily affects cartilage within the joints, causing it to fray,
wear, ulcerate, and in extreme cases, to wear away entirely, leaving
a bone-on-bone joint. At the edges of the joint, bony spurs may
form. OA can cause joint pain, loss of function, reduced joint
motion, and deformity. Disability results most often from disease in
the spine and in the weight-bearing joints (knees and hips).
- Osteoporosis
- A thinning of bone tissue caused by gradual
bone loss over a long period of time. Osteoporosis produces dry,
brittle bones that may easily crack or collapse. Approximately 1 out
of every 2 women are at high risk for developing osteoporosis.
- Ostomate
(AH-stuh-mayt)
- A person who has an ostomy. Called ostomist in
some countries.
- Ostomy (AH-stuh-mee)
- An operation that makes it possible for stool
to leave the body through an opening made in the abdomen. An ostomy
is necessary when part or all of the intestines are removed. Colostomy
and ileostomy are types of ostomy.
- Oxidative stress
- A state characterized by an excess of free
radical groups in the body, which creates a potentially unstable
cellular environment linked to tissue damage, accelerated aging, and
degenerative disease. Oxidative stress can result from many factors,
including exposure to alcohol, medications, poor nutrition, trauma,
cold, toxins, and over-exercise.
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