AIDS Glossary

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AIDS Glossary

s.o.s.: pharmaceutical abbreviation, if needed (si opus sit)
safer sex: sexual activities that reduce or eliminate the exchange of body fluids that can transmit HIV (e.g., semen, vaginal or cervical fluid), often by means of barriers (e.g., latex condoms, gloves, dental dams).
salmonella septicemia: Recurrent salmonella septicemia is considered an AIDS-defining condition in the United States.
salmonellosis: infection caused by Salmonella, bacteria commonly found in raw meat, poultry, eggs and raw or unpasteurized milk products. The 3 forms of salmonellosis in humans are typhoid fever, septicemia (blood poisoning) and acute gastroenteritis, which can cause severe diarrhea and death if untreated.
salpingitis: inflammation of the fallopian tubes. See also pelvic inflammatory disease.
salvage therapy: emergency treatment with an experimental drug of an illness that has not responded to standard therapy.
saquinavir (invirase): a protease inhibitor drug, the first in its class to be FDA-approved for the treatment of HIV disease. Current practice favors the use of saquinavir in combination therapy (e.g., with nucleoside analog drugs) to avoid the development of drug-resistant virus.
sarcoma: a malignant tumor of the skin or soft tissues.
sc: pharmaceutical abbreviation, subcutaneous
scabies: infection with the parasitic mite Sarcoptes scabieri, which causes an intensely itchy rash due to an inflammatory hypersensitivity reaction. Female mites burrow into the skin and lay eggs; the larvae live under the skin causing the itching and rash. The rarer Norwegian scabies results in thick crusts on the skin. Scabies is highly contagious and may be transmitted by household or sexual contact. Infestation may be treated using an insecticide such as permethrin (Elimite) or lindane (Kwell).
scid: see severe combined immunodeficiency.
scid mouse: a mouse that lacks key immune system components. SCID mice are used as animal models in the study of transplantation and immune system disorders. SCID-hu mice have had their absent immune system replaced by human immune system components, allowing their use in the study of human immune disorders.
sclerosis: a hardening of tissue (e.g., liver, artery walls), due to cumulative damage, mineral deposition or other causes.
scotoma: and area of blurred or reduced vision.
scrotum: the external pouch underneath the penis that contains the testes.
scurvy: a disease caused by a lack of vitamin C characterized by anemia and lesions of the skin and mucous membranes.
seborrhea (seborrheic dermatitis): an overproduction of sebum (oil) by the sebaceous glands leading to an itchy red rash often accompanied by encrusted patches. Seborrhea typically occurs on the skin of the scalp, face, ears, chest or genitals. Seborrheic dermatitis is believed to be associated with a Pityrosporum fungus.
secondary infection: infection with a second or subsequent infectious organism during the course of an initial infection with another organism.
secondary prophylaxis: preventive treatment for a subsequent occurrence (relapse) of a disease. Contrast with primary prophylaxis.
second-line treatment: the second preferred therapy for a particular condition used when the patient fails or cannot tolerate the side effects of first-line treatment.
secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (slpi): a protein found in saliva that binds to white blood cells and blocks HIV infection.
sed rate: see erythrocyte sedimentation rate.
sedative: a drug that reduces mental activity and excitement.
selenium: a metallic trace element that combines with glutathione to form a major cellular antioxidant.
senescence: loss of function that accompanies aging.
sensitivity: the ability of an organism to be affected by a drug or other agent (e.g., a virus is sensitive to AZT if AZT is able to prevent viral replication). Sensitivity also refers to a statistical measure of the accuracy of a screening test, i.e., how likely a test is to label as positive those who have a disease or condition. Contrast with specificity.
sensory ganglion (plural ganglia): a cluster of nerve cells that connect the sensory periphery (skin, mucous membranes, muscle tissues, tendons, blood vessel walls, internal organ tissue) with the central nervous system.
sensory neuropathy: damage or necrosis of the sensory nerves, resulting in numbness, tingling or pain in the extremities. Sensory neuropathy is distinguishable from motor neuropathy, which may result in weakness and/or loss of motor coordination.
sepsis: the presence of pathogenic organism or their toxins in the blood or tissues. Symptoms include a sudden drop in blood pressure and changes in heart rate.
septic arthritis: infection in a joint.
septic shock: a condition characterized by a decrease in blood pressure along with symptoms of septicemia.
septicemia: the physiological response to the presenceof bacteria in the blood. Symptoms include increased cardiac and respiratory rates, and fluctuations in body temperature. See also septic shock.
septra: brand name of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazol (TMP-SMX).
sequelae: conditions resulting from a disease or injury.
seroconversion: the development of antibodies against a microorganism; the change in a person's antibody status from negative to positive.
serology (adjective serologic): the branch of medicine concerned with serum, the clear fluid portion of blood; also refers to tests that measure components in the serum, including antibodies and antigens.
seronegative: having a blood test that does not indicate infection with a microorganism (e.g., HIV), either by the presence of antibodies or antigen.
seropositive: having a blood test result which indicates infection with an organism (e.g., HIV). A test may detect either antibodies to an organism (antibody positive) or the organism or its proteins (antigen positive).
seroprevalence: the rate of HIV-infected individuals in a given population as measured by blood antibody tests, that is, the number of infected individuals divided by the total number in the population.
seroreversion: the change in serostatus from positive to negative. Seroreversion occurs in infants whose antibody status changes once they have lost maternally transmitted antibodies.
serostatus: the presence or absence of an organism in the blood. Serostatus may be measured by the presence of antibodies against an organism (antibody status) or by the presence of the organism itself (antigen status). If antibodies or organisms are present, a person is said to be seropositive; if not, they are said to be seronegative.
serostim

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serotonin: a neurotransmitter that has many effects, including blood vessel constriction and smooth muscle stimulation.
serum: the fluid, non-cellular portion of blood that remains after coagulation; lymphatic fluid.
severe combined immunodeficiency (scid): a condition, often genetic, in which more than one component of the immune system is compromised or dysfunctional, leaving an individual prone to a range of opportunistic illnesses and cancers.
sexually transmitted disease (std, venereal diseas: a disease (e.g., gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydiasis) that is transmitted through sexual contact.
sgot (serum oxaloacetic transaminase, aspartate tr: see transaminase.
sgpt (serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, alanine: see transaminase.
shedding: release of infectious particles (e.g., bacteria, viruses) into the environment, for example by sneezing, by fecal excretion or from an open lesion.
shigellosis: infection caused by Shigella bacteria. Shigellosis can cause digestive disturbances ranging from mild diarrhea to severe dysentery.
shingles: a viral infection -- called herpes zoster by doctors -- consists of painful blisters on the skin that follow nerve pathways.
shock: a condition characterized by the depression of mental and physical functioning, for example due to an injury or an allergic reaction.
si: syncytium-inducing strain of HIV. See syncytium.
side effect: adverse reaction; an allergic response to a drug. Many of the drugs used to fight HIV Disease cause adverse reactions in a small number of people. Some side effects are minor, and others go away after a few days. A few are truly nasty and require quick medical attention. If you think you are having an adverse reaction to a drug, contact your doctor immediately.
sigmoid: an S-shaped bend in the colon near the rectum.
sigmoidoscopy: examination of the sigmoid colon (the lower transverse part of the colon) with a lighted flexible viewing tube. See also proctoscopy.
sil: see squamous intraepithelial lesion.
simian immunodeficiency virus (siv): a viral infection endemic to African green monkeys and able to infect various primates. SIV is similar to HIV-2.
single-agent therapy: see monotherapy.
sinus: a hollow cavity. See also paranasal sinuses.
sinusitis: acute or chronic inflammation or infection of the paranasal sinuses (cavities behind the forehead and cheekbones), which may be characterized by nasal congestion and discharge, fever and headache. Sinusitis may be caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi, or may be allergy-related. Treatment includes decongestants, antibiotics and surgical drainage.
siv: see simian immunodeficiency virus.
sj?ren's syndrome: an autoimmune disorder characterized by dryness of the mucous membranes, enlarged salivary glands and facial lesions; the syndrome may also be associated with pancreatitis and kidney disease.
slim disease: an term for AIDS used in parts of Africa, so called because of the wasting effects of the disease.
slpi: see secretory leukoctye protease inhibitor.
sodium: a trace element that is essential to many bodily processes including neural transmission.
soluble: capable of being dissolved.
soluble cd4: a recombinant molecule that is analogous to a small portion of the CD4 molecule. Soluble CD4 binds with the HIV gp120 protein and renders it incapable of binding to and infecting cells with the CD4 receptor.
solvent: an agent that dissolves.
somatostatin (octreotide acetate, sandostatin): a pituitary hormone that inhibits the production of growth hormone and is use to treat diarrhea.
somatotropin: see human growth hormone.
sorivudine (bv-ara-u, bravavir): an antiviral drug used for the treatment of herpes simplex and varicella-zoster virus infection.
spasticity: a condition characterized by increased muscle tone, exaggerated reflexes and increased resistance to passive movement.
specific immunity: immunity directed against specific antigens. There are two types, TH1 or cellular and TH2 or humoral (antibody-based) immunity. Contrast with non-specific immunity.
specificity: a statistical measure of the accuracy of a screening test, i.e., how likely a test is to label as negative those who do not have a disease or condition. Contrast with sensitivity.
speculum: an instrument used to enlarge the opening of a canal or cavity (e.g., vagina, rectum, ear) in order to facilitate examination.
spermicide: an agent (e.g., Nonoxynol 9) that immobilizes or kills spermatozoa; spermicides are also often used to kill HIV and other organisms.
sphincter: a muscle that controls the opening of a duct or orifice (e.g., anal sphincter).
spike: a protein protrusion on the envelope of a virus; HIV spikes are composed of the glycoprotein gp120.
spinal marrow: See marrow
spinal tap: see lumbar puncture.
spindle cell: an unusually shaped cell found in Kaposi's sarcoma lesions.
spirochete: a class of bacteria that have a spiral or corkscrew-like appearance when seen under the microscope.
spleen (adjective splenic): an organ of the lymphoid system located in the abdominal cavity. The spleen is a blood-producing organ in children, and stores and disposes of red blood cells and platelets throughout life. The spleen is a reservoir for macrophages and is an important part of the immune system.
splenectomy: surgical removal of the spleen, which may leave the patient with a compromised immune system. Splenectomy may be performed to treat thrombocytopenia (low platelet levels).
splenomegaly: enlargement of the spleen.
splice: to join together cut edges, especially of genes or other cellular components.
sporanox: brand name of itraconazole.
spore: an early, latent reproductive stage of plants, fungi and some microorganisms.
sporotrichosis: infection with Sporothrix schenckii, a diffuse cutaneous disease seen in immunocompromised people.
sputum stain (sputum smear): a diagnostic test (e.g., for tuberculosis) that uses mucus from the bronchial tubes.
spv-30: a drug derived from the European boxwood tree that is under study as an anti-HIV therapy. SPV-30 may decrease levels of IL-2 and TNF-alpha.
squamo-columnar junction: the site where squamous cells lining mucous membranes meet columnar cells (e.g., on the uterine cervix). Such an area is a common site for dysplasia.
squamous cell: a flat, thin cell that comprises the surface of the skin and the linings of the esophagus, vagina and rectum.
squamous intraepithelial lesion (sil): abnormal growth of squamous cells. SIL particularly refers to abnormal cell changes at the squamo-columnar junction of the uterine cervix. Low-grade SIL is considered a precancerous condition. See also cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.
ss: pharmaceutical abbreviation, one half (semis)
standard deviation: a statistical measure of variance. Ninety-five percent of a range of values lie within 2 standard deviations of a mean value.
standard of care: the level of care which all persons with a particular illness should receive; the level below which care would be considered substandard.
standard therapy: a therapy that is FDA-approved for a specific condition and is widely used as first-line treatment for that condition.
staphylococcus: a type of bacteria that cause various infections. Staphylococcus aureus is commonly present on the skin and mucous membranes, especially those of the nose and mouth; it can cause pus-containing lesions such as boils, carbuncles and abscesses. Other strains are associated with food poisoning and toxic shock syndrome.
stat.: pharmaceutical abbreviation, immediately (statim)
state-of-the-art care: the highest level of care available for a particular illness.
statistical significance: the probability that an observed outcome of an experiment or trial is due to chance alone. In general, a result of a clinical trial is considered statistically significant if there is a less than 5% probability that the difference observed would occur by chance alone if the treatments being compared were equally effective (e.g., a p-value of less than .05).
stavudine: see d4T.
std: abbreviation, sexually transmitted disease.
stem cell: a precursor cell from which blood cells are derived. As they mature, stem cells evolve into various types of red and white blood cells and platelets. Stem cells are located in the bone marrow, the site of blood cell production. Stem cells divide rapidly and are vulnerable to chemotherapy and radiation.
stenosis: narrowing or tightening of an opening or passage in the body.
sterility: inability to reproduce. Sterilization is the process of surgically altering the reproductive organs (e.g., cutting the fallopian tubes or vas deferens) as a permanent method of contraception.
steroid: a natural occuring compound (fat-soluble and having a 17-cargon-atom ring as a basis), including many hormones and vitamin precursors.
stevens-johnson syndrome: an unusual, severe reaction characterized by blistering and sloughing of the mucous membranes; the visceral organs may also be involved, and the condition can be fatal. The syndrome may result from the use of certain medications such as TMP-SMX.
stomatitis: a swelling of the throat. This is an adverse reaction to some drugs, expecially ddC.
strain: a specific genetic variant of a particular organism. Many microorganisms have stronger and weaker strains, drug-sensitive and drug-resistant strains, etc. See also subtype.
streptomycin: an antibiotic used in combination therapy for tuberculosis and other infections. Side effects include nausea, dizziness, kidney toxicity and hearing loss.
study: see trial.
subclinical infection: a low-grade asymptomatic infection.
subcortical: pertaining to structures in the interior of the brain. Subcortical dementia is a loss of mental, physical and/or emotional function due to organic disease of the brain's deep structures.
subcutaneous: an drug injection given just under the skin.
subgroup analysis: the selection of a smaller group (e.g., based on demographic characteristics, clinical status) out of a larger study for further analysis.
sublingual: under the tongue.
subtype (clade): a phylogenetically distinct strain of a microorganism. There are at least 11 subtypes of HIV-1 classified into 2 groups: group M (containing subtypes A through J) and group O. Subtype B is predominant in the U.S. There are 5 known subtypes of HIV-2 (A-E). See also strain.
subunit: a piece or small part of a larger unit.
sulfa drug (sulfonamide): a class of sulfur-containing antibiotic drugs (e.g., sulfadiazine) which cause sensitivity or adverse reactions in many people.
superantigen: a viral or bacterial antigen that triggers an immune response from a large number of immune cells (e.g., T-cells) which express a variety of different major histocompatibility (MHC) molecules.
superoxide dismutase: a naturally occurring cellular antioxidant that is part of the mechanism by which immune system cells kill or deactivate invading microorganisms.
supplemental new drug application: a subsequent applicant that is made after a drug is initially approved to request approval for additional or altered indications.
suppository: a tablet or troche that is inserted into the rectum or vagina.
suppression: the cessation of detectable viral replication in a person's blood.
suppressor t-cell: see T-suppressor cell.
surrogate marker: a marker or sign that can serve in place of a clinical endpoint such as such as the disease progression or death. Surrogate markers for HIV disease may virologic (e.g., viral load), immunologic (e.g., CD4 cell count) or clinical (e.g., weight loss).
surrogate markers: evidence of a condition. The most common HIV tests look for HIV antibodies instead of the actual virus. Those antibodies (or footprints) indicate the virus is present. Surrogate markers are used when they are easier to find than the actual organism.
susceptible: vulnerable to or potentially able to contract a disease. Also refers to a microorganism that is vulnerable to the effects of a drug. Contrast with resistant.
suspension: a solution; a substance dissolved in a liquid.
sustiva: generic name "efavirenz". Sustiva is an anti-HIV drug in the class known as non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors or NNRTIs.
sx: medical abbreviation for symptom.
symmetric: occurring in the same parts on opposite sides of the body (e.g., right leg and left leg).
symptom: a departure from normal function, sensation, or appearance. A symptom is often an indication that a disease is present.
symptom (adjective symptomatic): any perceptible change in the anatomy or function of the body that indicates the presence of a disease or condition.
syn-: prefix, together.
synapse: a small gap between neurons or between neurons and effector cells (e.g., muscle cells) where neural transmission takes places. Typically, a neurotransmitter is released into the gap (synapse) by a neuron and taken up by cells on the other side.
syncytium (plural syncytia): a mass or clump of cells that fuse together to form one "giant cell." In HIV infection syncytium formation can may lead to direct cell-to-cell infection. Strains of HIV are classified as either syncytium-inducing (SI) or non-syncytium-inducing (NSI). SI strains tend to infect T-cells, whereas NSI strains tend to infect macrophages.
syndrome: a set of symptoms or disease manifestations that occur together and characterize a specific condition.
synergism: The action of two or more substances to create an effect that none of the individual substances are capable of. For example, two drugs have synergism when one of the drugs makes the other drug more effective.
synergy (synergism): an interaction between agents (e.g., drugs) that produces an effect greater than the combined effects of the same agents used separately.
syngenic: refers to a transfer of blood or tissues from an individual with the same genotype (i.e., an identical twin). Contrast with allogenic.
syphilis: a sexually transmitted infectious disease caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum. Stages of syphilis are primary (a nonpainful chancre in the mouth or anogenital area), secondary (a generalized rash, including the palms and soles, which occurs several weeks to a year later), a dormant stage in which the spirochetes remain in the body without causing symptoms, and tertiary (which may affect many organs including the brain, leading to dementia [neurosyphilis] and death). In immunocompromised persons, syphilis may be progress more rapidly and be resistant to treatment. Penicillin is the usual treatment.
systemic: affecting the whole body. Contrast with localized.
systemic lupus erythematosus: an autoimmune disease of unknown cause characterized by swelling in many parts of the body, leading to blood vessel disorders, skin lesions, arthritis, nerve dysfunction and kidney dysfunction.