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Glossary - P |
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- Pancreas
(PAN-kree-ahs)
- An organ behind the lower part of the stomach
that is about the size of a hand. It makes insulin so that the body
can use glucose (sugar) for energy. It also makes enzymes that help
the body digest food. Spread all over the pancreas are areas called
the islets of Langerhans. The cells in these areas each have a
special purpose. The alpha cells make glucagon, which raises the
level of glucose in the blood; the beta cells make insulin; the
delta cells make somatostatin. There are also the PP cells and the
D1 cells, about which little is known. For detailed information
regarding the pancreas click here.
- Pancreatitis (PAN-kree-uh-TY-tis)
- Inflammation (pain, tenderness) of the
pancreas; it can make the pancreas stop working. It is caused by
drinking too much alcohol, by disease in the gallbladder, or by a
virus.
- Papillary
Stenosis (PAH-pih-lair-ee stuh-NOH-sis)
- A condition in which the openings of the bile
ducts and pancreatic ducts narrow.
- Parakeratosis (par-ah-ker-ah-TOE-
sis)
- persistence of the nuclei in the cells of the
stratum corneum of the epidermis, as seen, for example, in psoriasis
- Parenteral
- administered intravenously or by injection. For
example, medications or vaccines may be administered by injection
into the fatty layer immediately below the skin (subcutaneous), or
into the muscle (intramuscular). Medications, but not
vaccines, can also be administered into a vein (intravenously).
- Parenteral
Nutrition (puh-REN-tuh-rul noo-TRISH-un)
- A way to provide a liquid food mixture through
a special tube in the chest. Also called hyperalimentation or total
parenteral nutrition.
- Parietal
Cells (puh-RY-uh-tul selz)
- Cells in the stomach wall that make
hydrochloric acid.
- Pathogenesis
- the origin and development of a disease. More
specifically, it’s the way a microbe (bacteria, virus, etc.)
causes disease in its host.
- PCR (polymerase chain
reaction)
- a sensitive laboratory technique used to detect
and repeatedly copy small amounts of RNA or DNA. Some PCR tests can
also quantify the amount of RNA or DNA. PCR is used to measure viral
load in persons infected with viruses such as HIV.
- Peak
Plasma Drug Concentration
- the highest level of drug that can be obtained
in the blood usually following multiple doses
- Pediatric
Gastroenterologist (pee-dee-AT-trik GAH-stroh-en-tuh-RAW-luh-jist)
- A doctor who treats children with digestive
diseases.
- Pepsin (PEP-sin)
- An enzyme in the
stomach that breaks down proteins.
- Peptic (PEP-tik)
- Related to the stomach and the duodenum, where
pepsin is present.
- Peptic Ulcer
(PEP-tik UL-sur)
- A sore in the lining of the esophagus, stomach,
or duodenum. Usually caused by the bacterium Helicobacter
pylori. An ulcer in the stomach is a gastric ulcer; an ulcer
in the duodenum is a duodenal ulcer.
- Peptide
- a short compound formed by linking two or more
amino acids. Proteins are made of multiple peptides.
- Percutaneous
(PUR-kyoo-TAY-nee-us)
- Passing through the skin.
- Percutaneous Ercutaneous Transluminal Coronary
Angioplasty (PTCA) (per-kue-TAY-nee-us tranz-LOO-min-ul
KOR-uh-nair-ee AN-jee-oh-plas-tee)
- Dilation of a coronary vessel by means of a
balloon catheter inserted through the skin and through the lumen of
the vessel to the site of the narrowing, where the balloon is
inflated to flatten plaque against the
arterial wall.
- Perforated
Ulcer (PUR-fuh-ray-ted UL-sur)
- A hole in the wall of an organ.
- Perforation
(PUR-fuh-RAY-shun)
- An ulcer that breaks through the wall of the
stomach or the duodenum. Causes stomach contents to leak into the
abdominal cavity.
- Perianal
(PEH-ree-AY-nul)
- The area around the anus.
- Perineal
(PEH-rih-NEE-ul)
- Related to the perineum.
- Perineum
(PEH-rih-NEE-um)
- The area between the anus and the sex organs.
- Peripheral
neuropathy
- Nerve damage, usually affecting the feet and
legs; causing pain, numbness, or a tingling feeling. Also called
"somatic neuropathy" or "distal sensory
polyneuropathy."
- Peripheral
vascular disease (PVD)
- Disease in the large blood vessels of the arms,
legs, and feet. People who have had diabetes for a long time may get
this because major blood vessels in their arms, legs, and feet are
blocked and these limbs do not receive enough blood. The signs of
PVD are aching pains in the arms, legs, and feet (especially when
walking) and foot sores that heal slowly. Although people with
diabetes cannot always avoid PVD, doctors say they have a better
chance of avoiding it if they take good care of their feet, do not
smoke, and keep both their blood pressure and diabetes under good
control. See also: Macrovascular disease.
- Peristalsis (PEH-ree-STAWL-sis)
- A wavelike movement of muscles in the
gastrointestinal tract. Peristalsis moves food and liquid through
the gastrointestinal tract. For detailed information about the
gastrointestinal tract click here.
- Peritoneum
(PEH-rih-toh-NEE-um)
- The lining of the abdominal cavity.
- Peritonitis
(PEH-rih-toh-NY-tis)
- Infection of the peritoneum.
- Pernicious
Anemia (pur-NIH-shus uh-NEE-mee-uh)
- Anemia caused by a lack of vitamin B12.
The body needs B12 to make red blood cells.
- Peutz-Jeghers
Syndrome (POYTS-YAY-gurz sin-drohm)
- An inherited condition. Many polyps grow in the
intestine. There is little risk of cancer.
- Pharynx (FAR-ingks)
- The space behind the mouth. Serves as a passage
for food from the mouth to the esophagus and for air from the nose
and mouth to the larynx.
- Phase 1 clinical
trial
- a closely monitored clinical trial of a drug or
vaccine conducted in a small number of healthy volunteers. A Phase 1
is designed to determine the drug’s safety in humans, its
metabolism and pharmacologic actions, and side effects associated
with increasing doses.
- Phase 2 clinical
trial
- controlled clinical study of a drug or vaccine
to identify common short-term side effects and risks associated with
the drug or vaccine and to collect information on its immunogenicity.
Phase 2 trials enroll some volunteers who have the same
characteristics as persons who would be enrolled in an efficacy
(Phase 3) trial of a drug or vaccine. Phase 2 trials enroll up to
several hundred participants and have more than one arm.
- Phase 3 clinical
trial
- large controlled study to determine the ability
of a vaccine to produce a desired clinical effect on the risk of a
given infection, disease, or other clinical condition at an
optimally selected dose and schedule. These trials also gather
additional information about safety needed to evaluate the overall
benefit-risk relationship of the drug or vaccine and to provide
adequate basis for labeling. Phase 3 trials usually include several
hundred to several thousand volunteers.
- Pharmacokinetics
- the processes of absorption, distribution,
metabolism and excretion of a drug or vaccine.
- Physiatrist
- A doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and
management of injuries and diseases causing pain, loss of function,
and disability. Treatment plans often include the use of exercise,
massage, heat, electricity (TENS), relaxation techniques, splints
and braces, and local injections to relieve pain.
- Phosphorylation
- the process of adding phosphate (a unique
combination of phosphorous and oxygen atoms) molecular groups to a
compound
- Pituitary, pituitary
gland
- a pea-sized structure, which secretes many
important hormones, located behind the hypothalamus. Often called
"the master gland," the pituitary serves the body in many
ways-in growth, in food use, and in reproduction.
- Placebo
- an inactive compound having no physiological
effect; an inert substance identical in appearance to the treatment
drug used in clinical studies; an inactive substance administered to
some study participants while others receive the agent under
evaluation, to provide a basis for comparison of effects.
- Plaque (plak)
- Any patch or flat area. Atheromatous plaque is
a swelling on the inner surface of an artery produced by lipid
deposit.
-
- Plasmid
- an extrachromosomal ring of DNA, especially of
bacterial origin, that replicates autonomously.
- Plasmin (PLAZ-min)
- A serine protease that solubilizes fibrin
clots and also degrades various coagulation factors, including fibrinogen
and factors V and VII. Derived from plasminogen.
- Plasminogen (plaz-MIN-oh-jen)
- The inactive precursor of plasmin, cleaved by
plasminogen activators to form plasmin.
- Plasminogen
Activator
- A general term for a group of substances that
have the ability to cleave plasminogen and convert it into plasmin.
Includes prourokinase, u-plasminogen activator (urokinase), and
tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). Plasminogen is activated for
therapeutic thrombolysis by recombinant forms of physiologic
activators and by streptokinase, a bacterial enzyme.
- Pneumonitis
- inflammation of the lungs
- Polyarthritis
- inflammation of several joints at the same time
- Polydipsia
- A great thirst that lasts for long periods of
time; a sign of diabetes.
- Polymer (POL-eh-mer)
- a molecule formed by the joining of many
smaller molecules; a protein, for example, is a polymer of amino
acids
- Polymerase
- an enzyme that forms long chain polymers from
simple molecular components; DNA polymerase, for example, forms DNA
strands from nucleosides
- Polymyositis
- A rheumatic disease that causes weakness and
inflammation of muscles.
- Polyp (PAH-lip)
- Tissue bulging from the surface of an organ.
Although these growths are not normal, they often are not cause for
concern. However, people who have polyps in the colon may have an
increased risk of colorectal cancer.
- Polypeptide
- A linear chain of amino
acids connected end-to-end. Proteins are complex polypeptides.
- Polyphagia
- Great hunger; a sign of diabetes. People with
this great hunger often lose weight.
- Polyunsaturated
fats
- A type of fat that comes from vegetables.
- Polyuria
- Having to urinate often; a common sign of
diabetes.
- Porphyria
(por-FEER-ee-uh)
- A group of rare, inherited blood disorders.
When a person has porphyria, cells fail to change chemicals (porphyrins)
to the substance (heme) that gives blood its color. Porphyrins then
build up in the body. They show up in large amounts in stool and
urine, causing the urine to be colored blue. They cause a number of
problems, including strange behavior.
- Portal
Hypertension (POR-tul hy-pur-TEN-shun)
- High blood pressure in the portal vein. This
vein carries blood into the liver. Portal hypertension is caused by
a blood clot. This is a common complication of cirrhosis.
- Portal Vein
(POR-tul vayn)
- The large vein that carries blood from the
intestines and spleen to the liver.
- Portosystemic
Shunt (POR-toh-sih-STEM-ik shunt)
- An operation to create an opening between the
portal vein and other veins around the liver.
- Postcholecystectomy
Syndrome (POST-koh-luh-sis-TEK-tuh-mee sin-drohm)
- A condition that occurs after gallbladder
removal. The muscle between the gallbladder and the small intestine
does not work properly, causing pain, nausea, and indigestion. Also
called biliary dyskinesia.
- Postgastrectomy
Syndrome (POST-gah-STREK-tuh-mee sin-drohm)
- A condition that occurs after an operation to
remove the stomach (gastrectomy). See also Dumping
Syndrome.
- Postvagotomy
Stasis (POST-vay-GAW-tuh-mee STAY-sis)
- Delayed stomach emptying. Occurs after surgery
on the vagus nerve.
- Preeclampsia (pree-ee-KLAMP-
see-ah)
- development of hypertension (high blood
pressure), accompanied by edema, Proteinuria,
or both, due to pregnancy
- Prevalence
- the number of people in a given population
affected with a particular disease or condition at a given time.
Prevalence can be thought of as a snapshot of all existing cases at
a specified time. (Contrast with incidence.)
- Primary
Biliary Cirrhosis (PRY-muh-ree BILL-ee-air-ee
suh-ROH-sis)
- A chronic liver disease. Slowly destroys the
bile ducts in the liver. This prevents release of bile. Long-term
irritation of the liver may cause scarring and cirrhosis in later
stages of the disease.
- Primary
Sclerosing Cholangitis (PRY-muh-ree skluh-ROH-sing
KOH-lun-JY-tis)
- Irritation, scarring, and narrowing of the bile
ducts inside and outside the liver. Bile builds up in the liver and
may damage its cells. Many people with this condition also have ulcerative
colitis.
- Proctalgia
Fugax (prahk-TAL-jee-uh FYOO-gaks)
- Intense pain in the rectum that occasionally
happens at night. Caused by muscle spasms around the anus.
- Proctectomy
(prahk-TEK-tuh-mee)
- An operation to remove the rectum.
- Proctitis
(prahk-TY-tis)
- Irritation of the rectum.
- Proctocolectomy
(PRAHK-toh-koh-LEK-tuh-mee)
- An operation to remove the colon and rectum.
Also called coloproctectomy.
- Proctocolitis
(PRAHK-toh-koh-LY-tis)
- Irritation of the colon and rectum.
- Proctologist
(prahk-TAW-luh-jist)
- A doctor who specializes in disorders of the
anus and rectum.
- Proctoscope
(PRAHK-tuh-skohp)
- A short, rigid metal tube used to look into the
rectum and anus.
- Proctoscopy
(prahk-TAW-skuh-pee)
- Looking into the rectum and anus with a
proctoscope.
- Proctosigmoidoscopy
(PRAHK-toh-SIG-moy-DAW-skuh-pee)
- An endoscopic examination of the rectum and
sigmoid colon. See also Endoscopy.
- Prolactin
- Prolactin is a hormone produced by the anterior
pituitary gland in both men and women. It is known as a
gonadotrophic hormone as it affects the gonads (testes and ovaries).
It also has an effect on other organs in the body. However, only the
effects on the reproductive organs will be discussed here.
In males, prolactin influences the production of testosterone and
affects sperm production. In conditions where prolactin secretion is
increased (hyperprolactinaemia), testosterone levels drop and sperm
production is reduced or absent, resulting in male infertility.
The main action of prolactin in females is the induction and
maintenance of lactation (breastfeeding). Prolactin levels build up
during pregnancy but milk secretion does not begin until after
birth. As an infant suckles, prolactin is released into the mother's
blood stream, causing the milk glands to produce more milk.
Prolactin and other hormones are responsible for the development of
mammary glands during pregnancy. Prolactin also affects the ovaries.
The main target area is the corpus luteum, the secretory organ
formed from the ruptured ovarian follicle after ovulation. High
prolactin levels lead to reduced progesterone function. The result
of hyperprolactinaemia (excess production of prolactin) can be the
non-appearance of menarche (beginning of menstruation at puberty),
amenorrhoea (absence of menstruation in a woman after puberty) and
anovulatory menstrual cycles (absence of ovulation i.e. no mature
eggs produced). These effects can be the basis of female
infertility.
There are many causes of increased prolactin secretion.
- Proinsulin
- The substance made first in the pancreas that
is then made into insulin. When insulin is purified from the
pancreas of pork or beef, all the proinsulin is not fully removed.
When some people use these insulins, the proinsulin can cause the
body to react with a rash, to resist the insulin, or even to make
dents or lumps in the skin at the place where the insulin is
injected. The purified insulins have less proinsulin and other
impurities than the other types of insulins.
- Prokinetic
Drugs (PROH-kih-NET-ik drugz)
- Medicines that cause muscles in the GI tract to
move food. An example is cisapride (SIS-uh-pryd) (Propulsid).
- Prolapse
(PROH-laps)
- A condition that occurs when a body part slips
from its normal position.
- Proliferative
Retinopathy
- A disease of the small blood vessels of the
retina of the eye. See also: Diabetic retinopathy.
- Prophylaxis
- prevention of disease.
- Prospective,
randomized, double-blind trial
- a clinical trial in which the method for
analyzing data has been specified in the protocol before the study
has begun (prospective), the patients have been randomly assigned to
receive either the study drug or alternative treatment, and in which
neither the patient nor the physician(s) conducting the study know
which treatment is being given t he patient
- Protease (PRO-tee-aze)
- Any enzyme that catalyzes the cleavage of
internal peptide bonds in a polypeptide or protein.
- Protease
inhibitor
- one of a class of anti-HIV drugs designed to
inhibit the enzyme protease and interfere with virus replication.
Protease inhibitors prevent the cleavage of HIV precursor proteins
into active proteins, a process that normally occurs when HIV
replicates.
- Protein (PROH-teen)
- One of the three main classes of food. Proteins
are made of amino acids, which are called the building blocks of the
cells. The cells need proteins to grow and to mend themselves.
Protein is found in many foods such as meat, fish, poultry, brown
rice and eggs. See also: Carbohydrate; fats.
- Prostaglandins
- Prostaglandins are natural chemicals which are
involved in body inflammation. By inhibiting the body's production
of certain chemical messengers (prostaglandins), NSAIDs
(Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) decrease inflammation.
However, certain prostaglandins are also important in protecting the
stomach lining from the corrosive effects of stomach acid as well as
playing a role in maintaining the natural healthy condition of the
stomach lining. By disrupting the production of prostaglandins in
the stomach, NSAIDs can cause ulcers and bleeding. Some NSAIDs have
less effect on the stomach prostaglandins than others, and,
therefore, a lower risk of ulcer formation.
-
- Proteinuria
- Too much protein in the urine. This may be a
sign of kidney damage.
- Prothrombin (PRO-throm-bin)
- A coagulation factor, also known as factor II,
converted to thrombin by extrinsic
prothrombin converting principle.
- Prothrombin
Time
- The rate at which prothrombin is converted to
thrombin in citrated blood with added calcium; used to assess the
extrinsic coagulation system of the blood. The test is often used to
monitor administration of -
type anticoagulants.
- Protocol
- the detailed plan for a clinical trial that
states the trial's rationale, purpose, vaccine dosages, routes of
administration, length of study, eligibility criteria and other
aspects of trial design..
- Proton
Pump Inhibitors (PROH-tawn pump in-HIH-bih-turz)
- Medicines that stop the stomach's acid pump.
- Prune
Belly Syndrome (PROON bel-ee sin-drohm)
- A condition of newborn babies. The baby has no
abdominal muscles, so the stomach looks like a shriveled prune. Also
called Eagle-Barrett syndrome.
- Pruritus
(proo-RY-tus)
- Itching skin; may be a symptom of diabetes.
- Pruritus Ani
(proo-RY-tus AY-ny)
- Itching around the anus.
- Psoriatic
arthritis
- Joint inflammation that occurs in about 5 to 10
percent of people with psoriasis (a common skin disorder).
- Pulmonary
Embolism (PE)
- The occlusion of the pulmonary artery or one of
its branches by an embolus, sometimes
associated with lung infarction.
- Pyloric
Sphincter (py-LOR-ik SFEENK-tur)
- The muscle between the stomach and the small
intestine.
- Pyloric
Stenosis (py-LOR-ik stuh-NOH-sis)
- A narrowing of the opening between the stomach
and the small intestine.
- Pyloroplasty
(py-LOR-oh-plah-stee)
- An operation to widen the opening between the
stomach and the small intestine. This allows stomach contents to
pass more freely from the stomach.
- Pylorus (py-LOR-us)
- The opening from the stomach into the top of
the small intestine (duodenum).
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