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AIDS Glossary
b complex
see vitamin B.
b.i.d.
pharmaceutical abbreviation,  two times a day (bis in die)
b.i.w.
pharmaceutical abbreviation,  two times a week
bacillary angiomatosis
First appears as purplish lesions resembling Kaposi's sarcoma. Commonly called cat scratch disease. See fact sheet.
bacille calmette-gu?in
an attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis. BCG is used in some countries as a vaccine against tuberculosis. BCG vaccination renders the PPD test unusable as a test for the presence of M. tuberculosis. BCG adenitis is an illness caused by BCG that is present in some infants with HIV and is characterized by inflammation of the lymph nodes.
bacilliary angiomatosis (cat scratch disease)
a vascular proliferative disease caused by Bartonella henselae or Bartonella quintana that may result in swollen purplish lesions similar to those of Kaposi's sarcoma. BA is associated with contact with domestic cats.
bacillus (plural bacilli)
a type of gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria typically found in soil.

back-mutation
the reversion of a mutant, attenuated strain of a microorganism back to its natural, more virulent state.
bacteremia
presence of bacteria in the blood.
bacteria
plural of bacterium. Tiny, one-cell organisms of the class Schizomycetes. There is a vast assortment of bacteria, including many parasites.
bacterial vaginosis (bv)
a condition caused by the overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria (e.g., Gardnerella vaginalis), resulting in vaginal irritation and discharge.
bactericide
an agent that kills or neutralizes bacteria. Contrast with bacteriostatic.
bacteriostatic
an agent that inhibits bacterial growth or reproduction but does not kill bacteria. Contrast with bactericide.
bacterium (plural bacteria)
a simple single-celled microorganism. Bacteria are classified by their shape (e.g., rod, spirochete), staining properties (Gram positive or Gram negative) and habitat (aerobic, anaerobic). Many types of bacteria are pathogenic in humans.
bactrim
a brand name of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX).
balanitis
inflammation of the glans (head) of the penis.
band
an immature neutrophil released into the bloodstream to combat infection.
barbiturate
a class of drugs (e.g., phenobarbital) that have sedative properties and depress respiratory rate, blood pressure and nervous system activity.
bartonella
a species of bacteria associated with diseases including bacterial angiomatosis (cat-scratch disease), trench fever and endocarditis (heart infection).
basal
refers to the base or lowest level.
basal cell
a skin cell located in one of the innermost layers of the skin.
basal cell epithelioma (bce)
basal cell skin cancer which appears as a pink raised patch with a necrosed center; left untreated, the lesion may invade deeper tissues. In otherwise healthy people BCE tends to occur on areas of the body exposed to the sun, but in HIV-infected people it may occur on unexposed areas.
basal ganglion (plural ganglia)
a cluster of nerve tissue, primarily composed of neuron cell bodies, deep within the brain.
basal metabolic rate
the body's resting level of energy expenditure. Individuals with a chronic infection often have an elevated basal metabolic rate.
base line
a line used as a base for measurement. In HIV Disease, a base line is the results of several lab tests used to monitor the effectiveness of drugs. (Commonly -- but incorrectly -- spelled as a single word: baseline)
baseline
an initial or known value (e.g., CD4 cell count, HIV viral load) to which later measurements can be compared.
base-pairing
the process by which a nucleic acid base matches up with its complementary counterpart during replication of genetic material. Adenine (A) pairs with thymine (T) or uracil (U); cytosine (C) pairs with guanine (G).
basic fibroblast growth factor (bfgf)
a cytokine that promotes blood vessel proliferation, which is essential for the development of Kaposi's sarcoma and other neoplasms.
basophil
a type of white blood cell (granulocyte) that releases chemicals in allergic reactions; basophils that leave the bloodstream become mast cells in the tissues.
b-cell (b-lymphocyte)
an immune system white blood cell that carries out the humoral (TH2) immune response. B-cells are produced in the bone marrow and mature into plasma cells that produce antibodies. B-cells are influenced by various cytokines and interactions with T-cells and other immune system components. Contrast with T-cell.
b-cells

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Common term for B-lymphocytes cells.
bcg
see Bacille Calmette-Guerin.
bdna
abbreviation,  See branched DNA assay.
beck depression index
a written self-report questionnaire used to measure clinical depression.
benign
refers to a mild, non-lethal illness, especially a non-cancerous neoplasm. Contrast with malignant.
beta carotene
a reddish-orange antioxidant pigment found in dark yellow or orange fruits and vegetables. Beta carotene is a precursor of Vitamin A that is stored in the liver and converted as needed.
beta interferon
see interferon
beta-2 microglobulin (b2m)
a cell surface protein that is released into the bloodstream when cells die. Elevated blood levels of B2M are associated with immune activation and HIV replication. Levels below 3 mg/liter are considered normal; levels above 5 mg/liter indicate a high risk of HIV disease progression.
bhap
bisheteroarlypiperazine, a class of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor antiviral drugs (e.g., atevirdine, delavirdine).
bhcg
see human chorionic gonadotropin.
bias
a false association that results from to the failure to account for some skewing or influencing factor, or a tendency for the observed results to deviate from the "true" results. Bias distorts results in a particular direction. For example, if an investigator in a clinical trial believes the drug under study to be effective and knows which participants are receiving the drug, bias may influence his/her observations in favor of positive results.
biaxin
brand name of clarithromycin.
bid
pharmaceutical abbreviation,  twice a day.
bilateral
occurring on both sides (e.g., of the body).
biliary system
a digestive subsystem that is important for the digestion of fats. Bile is produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder until needed.
bilirubin
a reddish-yellow compound that occurs naturally in bile, blood, and urine.. Too much bilirubin indicates there may be a liver problem. [C33H36O6N4]
bioavailability
the degree a drug or nutrient is available to the body. Bioavailability is influenced by how much the substance is absorbed and circulated.
bioelectrical impedence analysis (bia)
a method of measuring lean body mass (muscle) and estimating cell mass. BIA measures electrical resistance and capacitative reactance, and uses these values to calculate phase angle.
bioflavonoid (vitamin p)
an antioxidant substance (e.g., rutin, esculin) derived from plants that has a variety of biological activities
biohazard
a danger to humans, animals or the environment caused by a biological agent or condition.
biological response modifier (brm)
an immunomodulator; an agent (e.g., cytokine, thymic hormone) that enhances or restores immune function.
biomicroscopy
see colposcopy.
biopsy
the study of tissue taken from a living body or organism, especially in the search for disease. A biopsy is often as simple as cutting off a small amount of skin, but other cases are more invasive.
biotechnology
industrial processes that involve the use of biological systems or their products (e.g., monoclonal antibodies, recombinant proteins produced by genetically engineered bacteria).
birg587
see nevirapine.
bitter melon (momordica charantia)
a plant with a long tradition of medicinal use in Asia. The plant is a source of MAP 30, a protein that shows anti-HIV activity in vitro
blastogenesis
the production and maturation of new lymphocytes in response to challenge by an infectious agent (e.g., bacterium, virus).
blastomycosis
An infectious disease caused by a fungus, usually in the lungs. It can spread to the skin, bone or other tissues.
blinding
a method of conducting clinical trials so that some or all of the participants do not know whether subjects are taking active drug or placebo. Blinding is done to reduce bias in drug trials. See also double-blind.
blood chemistry panel
a set of tests (e.g., SMA 12, SMA 14, SMA 20) that evaluate the level of chemical components (e.g., glucose, albumin, enzymes, electrolytes) in the blood.
blood transfusion
the infusion of blood or blood components into an individual for the treatment of a medical condition (e.g., anemia, loss of blood due to injury). Transfused blood may be homologous (from a donor) or autologous (previously stored blood from the recipient).
blood volume
the amount of blood circulating throughout the body in the vascular system. Normal adult blood volume is about 5 liters. Blood volume must be maintained to ensure the proper functioning of the heart, kidneys and other organs.
blood-brain barrier
a membrane separating brain tissue from circulating blood. In HIV treatment, it usually refers to the difficulty of getting drugs from the blood stream to penetrate into the central nervous system. HIV is active in brain tissue. The drug AZT (zidovudine, Retrovir? crosses the blood-brain barrier better than any other anti-HIV drug currently approved in the United States.
bloodwork
laboratory tests that measure properties of the blood.
b-lymphocytes
Also called B-cells -- blood cells derived from bone marrow and the spleen. They are able to detect foreign objects and produce antibodies. B-cells are activated by T-lymphocytes.
body cell mass
muscle and organ tissue.
body fluids
a group of fluids made within the body, usually blood, saliva, semen, and urine.
body mass index (bmi)
a measure of mass that is calculated as weight divided by height squared.
bone marrow
See marrow
bone marrow transfer (bmt)
a graft of bone marrow from one individual to another to reconstitute the recipient's damaged immune system. See also adoptive immune transfer.
booster
a subsequent dose given some time after initial administration of a vaccine or drug to enhance or restore its effectiveness.
botanical
a medicine or therapy prepared from plants; herbal medicine.
botulism
life-threatening food poisoning caused by the presence of botulinus toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. Cases in humans are usually associated with raw or improperly preserved foods, especially cured meats. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness, vision problems and headache; severe cases may progress to symmetrical paralysis.
bovine

refers to cattle; derived from cattle.
bovine hyperimmune colostrum
a compound derived from the colostrum (early breast secretions) of cows. Colostrum contains high levels of immunoglobulins.
bowenoid papulosis
a dysplastic disorder involving tissue changes in the anogenital region, including reddish raised or flat lesions. Bowenoid papulosis is associated with human papillomavirus, especially HPV type 16; if left untreated it may progress to squamous cell carcinoma.
brain stem
the lower part of the brain where the brain connects to the spinal cord. The brain stem is responsible for many motor and sensory functions, especially automatic functions such as maintenance of posture.
branched dna assay
a kind of test indicating the amount of HIV (or viral load) in the blood. (commonly abbreviated bDNA)
branched-chain dna assay (bdna, quantiplex hiv rna
an test that measures the amount of virus (viral load) in plasma or tissue using a chemical signal, visible as light, that is produced by viral RNA.
breakthrough
refers to a condition that has developed despite measures to prevent it (e.g., PCP that occurs while taking a prophylactic drug).
broad-spectrum antibiotic
an antibiotic drug that is active against a range of different bacteria.
bronchial lavage (broncho-alveolar lavage)
a procedure in which the bronchial tubes are rinsed; the resulting fluid can then be analyzed (e.g., for disease-causing organisms).
bronchiole
a small branch of the bronchial tubes or airway.
bronchitis
acute or chronic inflamation of the branched part of the trachea -- the tubes going into the left and right lungs. In some cases, this is considered an AIDS-defining condition in the United States.
bronchodilation
opening or expanding the bronchial tubes. Bronchodilating drugs can reduce coughing, wheezing and/or shortness of breath, and may help prevent coughing if given prior to therapy with aerosolized pentamidine.
bronchoscopy
procudure for examining the respiratory tract using a thin, flexible tube through the mouth and into the lungs.
bronchospasm
an involuntary contraction of the bronchial tubes, which may lead to breath difficulty.
bronchus (plural bronchi; adjective bronchial)
the airway tubes that lead from the trachea or windpipe to the alveolar sacs in the lungs. Bronchi are the larger tubes; bronchioles are the smallest tubule branches.
buccal
relating to the cheek, especially the membranes lining the inside of the cheek.
buffer
something that lessens or absorbs an impact. A buffered drug is commonly a tablet that has been coated with a substance that prevents stomach upset.
bulimia
an eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed by forced purging by means of self-induced vomiting or use of laxatives.
burkitt's lymphoma
a cancer of the lymph system that is associated with the Epstein-Barr virus.
buyers' club
a non-profit organization that sells drugs, vitamins, nutritional supplements and other therapies for HIV/AIDS. Many buyer's clubs sell drugs that are not FDA-approved and therefore not available in pharmacies.
bv-ara-u
see sorivudine.
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