[HOME]
[FUN SITE]
Good Sites
A_
B_
C_
D_
E_
F_
G_
H_
I_
J_
K_
L_
M_
N_
O_
P_
Q_
R_
S_
T_
U_
V_
W_
X_
Y_
Z_
Other_
Back to AIDS Prevention Home
AIDS Glossary
- r
- abbreviation for recombinant.
- radiation
- electromagnetic rays, including X-rays and ultraviolet light.
- radical
- a highly reactive molecule that may pass intact from one compound to another but does not normally exist in a free state. See also free radical.
- radioimmunoassay
- a procedure for detecting antigens or antibodies using radioactive-labeled complement proteins.
- radiology
- a branch of medicine concerned with the use of X-rays to diagnose and/or treat disease.
- radiotherapy (radiation therapy)
- the use of radiation, most often X-rays, to treat cancer or other diseases.
- randomized trial
- an experiment arranged to produce a chance distribution of subjects into different treatment or control arms. Randomization is done to cancel out the influence of factors that are not under study. With successful randomization, the chance of one individual being placed in a given study arm is independent of the placement of others, and the only differences between the groups are those intended by the experimenter (e.g., different drugs taken).
- rantes
- a chemokine protein that affects HIV activity. RANTES is believed to act in conjunction with 2 other chemokines, MIP-1-alpha and MIP-1-beta.
- rational drug design
- the design (often computer-aided) of drugs to interact with specific molecular or cellular targets.
- rau
- recurrent aphthous ulcers. See aphthous ulcer.
- rbc
- red blood cell.
- rd
- Registered Dietitian.
- rda
- see recommended daily allowance.
- reactivation
- the return of a previously latent (inactive) infection to an active, pathogenic state.
- receptor
- a specific protein-binding site on a cell's surface or interior. When chemical messengers bind to receptors, various cellular functions are activated or inhibited. Many drugs exert their effects by binding to receptors and altering normal cellular communication. Viruses enter cells by fusing with receptors on the cell surface, often in conjunction with MHC molecules and/or co-receptors.
- rechallenge
- to administer the same substance (e.g., pathogenic organism, drug) a second or subsequent time. Rechallenge may be done after vaccination to determine whether a vaccine was effective.
- recombinant
- produced by genetic engineering. Recombinant products are designated by a lower-case r (e.g., rHGH).
- recombinant dna
- genetically engineered DNA (e.g., new DNA produced by joining pieces of DNA from different sources).
- recommended daily allowance (rda)
- the amount of a nutrient that is recommended each day to avoid deficiency diseases. RDA are established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in conjunction with the FDA.
- reconstitution
- rebuilding and restoring to functionality (e.g., reconstitution of a damaged immune system).
- recrudescence
- a new outbreak or active replication of a pathogenic organism after a period of inactivity.
- rectum (adjective rectal)
- the lower part of the large intestine where feces are stored.
- recurrent
- returning or occurring repeatedly.
- red blood cell
- see erythrocyte.
- refractory
- resistant to treatment.
- regimen
- see dosage regimen.
- rehydration
- replacement of lost fluids.
- reiter's syndrome (reactive arthritis)
- an autoimmune disorder characterized by the simultaneous occurrence of arthritis, urethritis (inflammation of the urethra) and conjunctivitis (inflammation of the outer membrane of the eye). The syndrome may occur following other diseases such as chlamydiasis or salmonellosis.
- relapse
- recurrence of disease symptoms following a period of improvement.
- relative risk (rr)
- a measure of comparative risk of developing a disease or condition. Statistically, RR is the chance that a person receiving an exposure will develop a condition compared to the chance that a non-exposed person will develop the same condition.
- remission
- an abatement in the severity of disease symptoms; a period of time during which symptoms are reduced or eliminated.
- renal
- relating to the kidneys.
- renal failure
- kidney failure.
- repletion
- replenishment (e.g., of deficient nutrients).
- replication
- duplication or reproduction.
- replicative enzyme
- an enzyme that is necessary to the reproductive process. Replicative enzymes of HIV include reverse transcriptase, protease and integrase.
- rescue medication
LINKS: ....Medical Dictionary
....Stress Management
....Brain Food
....Bird Flu Info
....AIDS/HIV
....Your Memory Enhancer
....Brain Facts
....Neurotech
....Success Tips
....World Travel Guide
....Boston Tour Guide
....Dynamic South Korea
....Makeup.Fashion
....Allergy Info
- a strong, short-acting analgesic given to control acute episodes of breakthrough pain in a patient on a continuous pain management regimen.
- reservoir
- a site where an infectious agent collects and multiplies (e.g., macrophages and lymph nodes are believed to be reservoirs for HIV).
- resistance
- the ability of a microorganism to mutate or change its structure in such a way that it loses its sensitivity to a drug; a resistant organism can function and replicate despite the drug's presence. Contrast with susceptible. See also cross-resistance.
- respiratory
- relating to the process of breathing.
- reticuloendothelial system
- a system that helps the body fight infection and eliminate cellular debris by the action of phagocytic cells (e.g., macrophages), Kupffer cells in the liver and reticular cells of the spleen, bone marrow and lymph nodes.
- retina
- a light-sensitive membrane lining the inner eyeball. Images are formed on the retina before being transmitted to the brain on the optic nerve.
- retinal detachment
- a condition in which a layer of the retina separates from the underlying epithelium, allowing vitreous fluid to seep behind it. The condition may lead to loss of vision.
- retinitis
- inflamation of the retina which can lead to blindness. In HIV Disease, retinitis is commonly caused by CMV. CMV-related retinitis is considered an AIDS-defining condition in the United States when there is some loss of vision.
- retinoic acid (retin-a, tretinoin)
- a form of vitamin A that stimulates rapid cell turnover and is used to treat severe acne. Tretinoin gel is an experimental treatment for Kaposi's sarcoma.
- retinopathy
- any non-inflammatory disease of the retina. Retinopathy is common in people with diabetes.
- retrospective study
- a study based on the medical records of patients, looking backward in time at events that happened in the past. A retrospective cohort study uses the records of a specific group of patients. Contrast with prospective study.
- retrovir
- brand name of AZT.
- retrovirus
- a retrovirus -- such as HIV -- replicate using an enzyme (reverse transcriptase) to copy RNA into DNA. Most cells have DNA in their natural state and transcribe to RNA (ribonucleac acid) during replication. A retrovirus does things backwards -- RNA, not DNA, is its natural genetic state.
- rev
- a gene of HIV; also the protein produced by the gene, which regulates the construction of the structural components of HIV and is necessary for the production of new virus particles.
- reverse transcriptase
- an enzyme capable of copying RNA into DNA during the HIV replication cycle. Several anti-HIV drugs -- such as AZT, ddI, ddC -- are chemicals that act against the reverse transcriptase enzyme.
- reverse transcriptase (rt)
- a viral enzyme that allows a retrovirus to translate its genetic material (in the form of RNA) into DNA, which is then integrated into the chromosomes of the host cell.
- reverse transcriptase inhibitor (rti)
- a drug that blocks retroviral replication by interfering with the reverse transcriptase enzyme. RTI drugs are not effective after a cell has already been infected. RTI drugs include nucleoside analogs (e.g., AZT, ddI, 3TC, d4T) and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (e.g., nevirapine, delavirdine).
- reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction te
- a sensitive assay of HIV viral load.
- rheumatology (adjective rheumatological)
- the study of various conditions (e.g., arthritis, polymyositis) involving pain or other disorders of the joints.
- rhinitis
- inflammation of the nasal membranes characterized by sneezing, runny nose and watering eyes. Rhinitis is a common manifestation of an allergic reaction.
- rhinovirus
- one of a large family of viruses that commonly cause respiratory illnesses (e.g., the common cold) characterized by nasal congestion and sore throat, but little or no fever.
- riboflavin (vitamin b2)
- see vitamin B.
- ribonucleic acid (rna)
- a single-stranded nucleic acid that encodes genetic information. RNA is made up of sequence of 4 chemical building blocks (nucleotides) -- adenine, cytosine, guanine and uracil. RNA is involved in the transcription of genetic information; the information encoded in DNA is translated into messenger RNA (mRNA), which controls the synthesis of new proteins. RNA takes the place of DNA in retroviruses such as HIV. The presence of HIV RNA in the plasma indicates that the virus is actively replicating.
- ribonucleotide reductase
- a viral enzyme which cuts ribonucleotides in order to create deoxyibonucleotides, the building blocks of DNA. Ribonucleotide reductase is essential for DNA replication. Drugs (e.g., hydroxyurea) that inhibit ribonucleotide reductase may enhance the activity of nucleoside analogs drugs.
- ribozyme
- RNA with enzymatic activity that can break down (cleave) and piece together (splice) genetic material (DNA or RNA), thus modifying the genetic instructions it carries. Ribozymes (e.g., hairpin ribozyme) are used as "molecular scissors" in genetic engineering.
- rifabutin (mycobutin)
- an oral drug used as prophylaxis and treatment for tuberculosis and Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) disease. Side effects may include rash, fever, gastrointestinal distress, liver and kidney toxicity and bone marrow suppression leading to leukopenia.
- rifampin
- a drug used in combination treatment for tuberculosis and under study for treatment of MAC. Side effects may include orange-colored body fluids, rash, nausea, fever and liver toxicity.
- rimming (analingus)
- oral-anal sex; sexual contact between one person's tongue and/or mouth and another person's anus.
- ritonavir (norvir, formerly abt-538)
- a protease inhibitor drug approved for the treatment of HIV disease. Current practice favors the use of ritonavir in combination therapy (e.g., with nucleoside analog drugs) to avoid the development of drug-resistant virus.
- rn
- registered nurse.
- rna
- see ribonucleic acid.
- roentgenogram
- a picture produced using X-rays.
- rom
- see rupture of membranes.
- roseola
- see exanthem.
- rpr test
- rapid plasma reagin, a blood test for syphilis infection. See also FTA-ABS, VDRL test.
- rt
- see reverse transcriptase.
- rt-pcr
- see reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction test.
- ru-486 (mifepristone)
- a progesterone antagonist drug that has abortifacient (abortion inducing) activity and may inhibit HIV replication.
- rupture
- a break or tear of an organ or soft tissues.
- rupture of membranes (rom)
- the breaking open of the amniotic sac surrounding the fetus prior to the start of labor and delivery.
- rx
- medical abbreviation for prescription.
- ryan white care act
- legislation passed in 1990 to provide funding for services for people with HIV/AIDS. Separate titles of the act provide funds for various geographic regions and specific types of services (e.g., drugs).
|
|