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AIDS Glossary
- l drug
- a group of experimental non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor drugs.
- labia
- lips; the rounded folds of skin that surround the vaginal and urethral openings in the female.
- lactation
- milk production.
- lactobaccilus acidophilus
- bacteria that make up part of the normal flora of the human intestine, mouth and vagina. Some types of yogurt contain acidophilus and may help restore normal bacterial balance.
- lak cell
- see lymphokine-activated killer cell.
- lamivudine
- See 3TC
- langerhans cell
- a type of dendritic cell in the skin and mucous membranes that transports antigens to the lymph nodes.
- laparoscopy
- a procedure in which a small, lighted instrument is inserted through an abdominal incision for the purpose of diagnosis, biopsy or surgery.
- large simple trial (lst)
- a trial that includes a large number (typically several thousand) people and extends over a long period of time. LST have broad eligibility criteria, simple enrollment procedures, collect minimal data, and use major illness or death as endpoints. LST are intended to study treatments under "real world" conditions of use.
- latency
- being present but not evident. In HIV Disease, the virus is present for years before any symptoms appear. During this period of latency, the virus is still active and damaging the immune system.
- latency (adjective latent)
- the state in which a pathogenic organism is present in the body but not actively replicating or causing illness.
- lateral
- pertaining to the side (as opposed to the midline) of the body.
- late-stage disease
- advanced progression of a disease. Late-stage HIV disease occurs 5-10 or more years after initial HIV infection, and is characterized by low CD4 cell counts, high viral load levels, wasting syndrome and possibly the presence of multiple opportunistic infection symptoms.
- lav
- see lymphadenopathy-associated virus.
- lavage
- the washing out of an organ or cavity, for example to obtain a sample for diagnosis.
- ld
- see lethal dose.
- lean body mass
- muscle and organ tissue.
- leep
- see loop electrocautery excision procedure.
- legionellosis (legionnaire's disease)
- an upper-respiratory tract infection caused by Legionella bacteria, which are widely distributed in nature and may be spread via contaminated water supplies. Infection is often acquired nosocomially (in a hospital).
- leishmaniasis
- an infection caused by the protozoan parasite Leishmania that infects and lives inside human macrophages. The parasite is transmitted by sandflies. The infection is characterized by lesions on exposed parts of the body, and may be fatal if left untreated.
- lentinan
- an extract from the shiitake mushroom that has been used in Japan as an adjunct to cancer therapy. Lentinan may stimulate immune functions such as natural killer cell activity and cytokine production.
- lentivirus
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- a subfamily of retroviruses that includes HIV. Lentiviruses kill cells and are associated with chronic, slow-developing diseases.
- leprosy (adjective lepromatous)
- a disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, characterized by skin lesions and necrosis. There are 2 forms of leprosy, lepromatous and tuberculoid.
- lesion
- a wound or injury.
- lethal dose (ld)
- a measure of the lethality or toxicity of an agent. The LD50 is the amount of a microorganism or a substance which will kill 50% of the subjects to which it is administered.
- leucovorin (leucovorin calcium)
- a derivative of folic acid, a member of the vitamin B complex. Leucovorin protects cells from the cytotoxic effects of certain drugs (e.g., dapsone, trimetrexate) and is used to prevent drug-induced anemia.
- leukemia
- a group of diseases involving an abnormal production of white blood cells.
- leuko-, leuk-, leuco-, leuc-
- prefix, white.
- leukocyte
- white (actually colorless) blood cell.
- leukocytosis
- abnormally high number of white blood cells.
- leukopenia
- abnormally low number of white blood cells.
- leukoplakia
- see oral hairy leukoplakia.
- leukopoiesis
- formation and development of white blood cells.
- leukotriene
- a chemical compound in leukocytes that mediates allergic and inflammatory reactions.
- levofloxacin
- a broad-spectrum quinolone antibiotic used to treat respiratory infections.
- lip
- abbreviation, lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia.
- lipid
- a fat.
- lipogenesis
- production of lipids (fats).
- lipopolysaccharide (lps, endotoxin)
- a molecule composed of fat and sugar. LPS is produced by certain bacteria and makes up part of their cell wall. When the bacteria die, the toxin is released, leading to the release of cytokines resulting in symptoms of chills, fever and possibly shock.
- lipoprotein
- a compound composed of protein and fats.
- liposomal daunorubicin (dox-sl)
- a liposomal form of daunorubicin used to treat Kaposi's sarcoma.
- liposome (lipid vesicle)
- a spherical fat particle suspended in a liquid. Liposomes are used to carry drugs or other substances to cells or tissues, allowing them to remain active longer in the body and have a less detrimental effect on the liver.
- listeriosis
- A serious -- sometimes fatal -- bacterial disease [Listeria (L.monocytogenes)] that looks like severe encephalitis but with paralysis. This is considered an AIDS-defining condition in the United States.)
- live-attenuated virus
- an altered live used in vaccines to provoke an immune response. Live-attenuated vaccines may induce longer-lasting protection that whole-killed virus, but involves some risk of back-mutation to the original, more virulent wild-type.
- liver (adjective hepatic)
- a large organ in the upper abdominal cavity that cleanses toxins and dead cells from the blood and is important in metabolic transformation of various substances. The liver is responsible for excreting drugs and alcohol from the body, and many drugs can be toxic to the liver.
- liver enzyme
- a protein produced by the liver (e.g., SGOT, SGPT) that catalyzes various physiological reactions. Abnormally high levels of liver enzymes in the blood may indicate liver damage or disease. See also transaminase.
- liver function test (lft)
- a blood test that measures levels of liver enzymes to indicate how well the liver is working and whether it might be inflamed or damaged.
- localized
- affecting a specific bodily site, organ or system. Contrast with systemic.
- locus (plural loci)
- a place or site.
- log
- a measure based on the logarithmic scale that refers to quantities in factor of 10. A log change is an exponential or 10-fold increase or decrease (e.g., 10 to 100 is a 1-log increase; 1,000,000 to 10,000 is a 2-log decrease. Changes in viral load are often expressed in logs.
- long terminal repeat (ltr)
- a segment of the HIV gene that must be activated to "turn on" viral replication.
- longitudinal
- refers to a study that follows participants over an extended period of time.
- long-term nonprogressor (ltnp)
- an individual who has been infected with HIV for several years (7-10 or more) but does not exhibit immune system decline or have opportunistic diseases. About 10% of persons with HIV disease seem to be LTNP. LTNP typically have a strong cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response, minimal lymph node damage and a relatively low viral load. LTNP may have unusually strong immune responses, may be infected with a weakened strain of HIV, or may have protective genetic factors.
- long-term survivor (lts)
- an individual who has been infected with HIV for several years (typically 7-10 or more years). The term long-term survivor may include both long-term nonprogressors and individuals who live for many years with a damaged immune system and/or opportunistic infections.
- loop electrosurgical excision procedure (leep, loo
- use of a heated wire loop to remove a cone-shaped wedge from the bottom of the uterine cervix for biopsy. The procedure is similar to a cone biopsy, but is generally faster and heals more rapidly.
- loperamide (imodium ad)
- an anti-diarrhea drug.
- low-dose oral interferon-alpha (kemron)
- a form of the cytokine interferon-alpha that is administered in low doses under the tongue.
- ltr
- see long terminal repeat.
- ltr inhibitor
- a substance that interferes with the long terminal repeat of the HIV gene, thus inhibiting viral replication.
- lumbar puncture (spinal tap)
- the insertion of a needle into the subarachnoid space of the spinal column to remove cerebrospinal fluid for diagnosis, or to inject medications or anesthesia.
- lupus
- see systemic lupus erythematosus.
- luteinizing hormone (lh)
- a hormone that stimulates the maturation and release of ova (eggs) in females, and the production of testosterone by Leydig cells of the testes in males.
- lymph
- a clear or yellowish fluid containing white blood cells and some red blood cells that travels through the lymphatic system. The lymph system helps remove bacteria and some proteins from tissues. It also transports fat to the intestines.
- lymph gland
- another name for lymph node
- lymph node
- an oval or round body located in the lymphatic system (all over the body) that supplies lymphocytes to the blood stream and removes bacteria from the body.
- lymph node (lymph gland)
- a small, bean-sized organ located throughout the body, with concentrations in the neck, groin and armpits. Lymph nodes filter out antigens and are the site of antigen presentation and immune activation. The lymph nodes are a reservoir site for HIV.
- lymphadenopathy
- inflammation (swelling) of lymph nodes caused by numerous conditions, including flu, mononucleosis, lymphoma, and primary HIV infection.
- lymphadenopathy-associated virus (lav)
- an early name for the virus now known as HIV.
- lymphatic system
- interconnected system of spaces and glands by which lymph (fluid) circulates in the body.
- lymphatic system (adjective lymphoid)
- a network of capillary-like vessels, ducts, nodes and organs that help maintain the fluid environment of the body and coordinate immune responses. Two major lymphatic vessels return fluid to the vascular system. The lymphoid organs include the lymph nodes, spleen, thymus, tonsils and adenoids.
- lymphoblastosis
- the production of lymphocytes.
- lymphocyte
- a T-cell or B-cell, white blood cells responsible for immune defense.
- lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia
- a kind of pneumonia common in children with HIV Disease.
- lymphocytopenia
- reduced numbers of white blood cells (e.g., CD4 cells).
- lymphoid interstitial pneumonia (lip)
- a rare type of pneumonia that particularly affects children with AIDS.
- lymphokine
- a chemical messenger (e.g., interferon, interleukin) produced by lymphocytes that directs and regulates immune responses by stimulating macrophages, killer cells and other lymphocytes.
- lymphokine-activated killer cell (lak cell)
- a type of lymphocyte (neither a T-cell nor a B-cell) that has cytotoxic activity against a broad range of cells and is not MHC-restricted.
- lymphoma
- cancer of the lymphatic system
- lymphopenia
- a decreased number or proportion of lymphocytes in the blood.
- lymphoproliferative
- refers to the proliferation or replication of lymphocytes.
- lysis
- rupture and destruction. May refer to rupture of a cell or to the breakdown of a molecule or compound (e.g., hydrolysis).
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