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You are here:: About Roche; > Glossary

Glossary

Starting with A for "ACE inhibitor" and continuing through to Y for "Yolk Sac Tumour", we give you succinct explanations for scientific and medical terms in clear and simple words.

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

Early lesions

Name for the flat deposits of fat in the innermost layer of the vessels of adolescents, which is regarded as the first sign of arteriosclerosis.

ECG

Abbreviation for electrocardiography or electrocardiogram.

Echocardiography

also known as ultrasound cardiography or heart sonography

Procedure used in ultrasound diagnosis of the heart with impulse echo, continuous ultrasound or a combination of the two, sometimes also with administration of contrast medium. It is possible to evaluate the form and movements of the walls of the heart and heart valves and to measure the thickness of the heart walls and heart cavities and areas of valve opening. The cardiac output per minute can be measured, with information on the direction, velocity and quality of blood flow. In stress echocardiography, the heart rate is increased by drug treatment or exercise and possible changes in the movements of the heart wall (resulting from inadequate perfusion) are assessed, depending on the degree of stress.

edema

swelling caused by excess fluid in body tissues

Electrocardiogram

Abbreviated as ECG

Illustration of the electrical activity of the heart which is recorded during electrocardiography.

Electrocardiography

Abbreviated as ECG

Procedure to measure the electrical activity of the heart, which is recorded from the surface of the body, from the heart itself or from the oesophagus, as a curve known as the electrocardiogram. The oscillations of the curve correspond to the individual phases of the cardiac cycle. The curves arise as the sum of the intensities and direction of the conduction in the individual heart muscle fibres and nerve fibres. Electrocardiography permits conclusions about cardiac rhythm and heart rate (number of cycles per minute), position of the heart and abnormalities in the formation, propagation and regression of electrical excitation of heart muscle. This also provides indirect information on changes in the shape of the heart. Cf. stress echocardiography.

electrolytes

ions or molecules that carry an electrical charge when dissolved in water; major ions present in blood plasma and tissue fluids include sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, bicarbonate, sulphate and phosphate

Electron Therapy

Electron therapy is a form of radiotherapy. It offers the advantage that the depth to which the beam penetrates into the tissue is adjustable and that the dose beyond the therapeutic range rapidly drops.

ELISA

Abb. for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Laboratory and diagnostic method for the detection of specific molecules which is based on the natural reaction between antigen and antibody. Specific antigens or antibodies are used which react with the substance to be detected (e.g. in the tissue being examined). These so-called antigen-antibody complexes can be visualised as colours. ELISA is used, for example, in the detection of specific antibodies in blood in autoimmune disease.

Emaciation

Doctors speak of emaciation when someone loses a great deal of weight and when his weight is more than 15% under the minimum for his age and height. Possible causes include malnutrition and various diseases.

Embolism

Acute displacement of a blood vessel by a structure which has reached the blood stream and been transported there (so-called embolism).

Mode of origin
1. Venous Embolism; Formed in a vein in the systemic circulation, particularly in the legs. The embolism passes through the right heart and into a lung artery, leading to a pulmonary embolism. 2. Arterial embolism; These mostly originate in the left heart, particularly a blood clot in the left atrium. They originate more rarely in the aorta or other large arteries. The arteries most often affected are those serving the brain (either within or outside the brain), leg arteries, renal arteries and spleen and intestinal arteries. The consequences include stroke, acute arterial occlusion, particular in the intestine, or a renal embolus.

Forms
1. Embolism from a displaced blood clot (thrombus, thromboembolism); 2. Embolism from displaced cells of the body; 3. Bacterial embolism, in which bacteria are displaced during blood poisoning; 4. Gas embolism: These are mostly air or nitrogen embolisms in divers; 5. Fat embolisms, e.g. from bone marrow after bone fracture; 6. Amniotic fluid embolisms; 7. Foreign body embolisms; 8. Cholesterol crystal embolisms (released from the vessel wall).

Embolus

Structure which is transported in the blood circulation, is not soluble in blood plasma, and which forms an embolism. Cf. thrombus

Embryofetopathia diabetica

Prenatal abnormality in development as a result of unrecognised, badly regulated or deregulated maternal diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes).

Origin
As a result of diabetes, the transfer of glucose is increased from the mother to the foetus through the placenta. This leads to an increase in foetal insulin levels, which then cause functional immaturity (e.g. lungs and liver) and to so-called insulin overfeeding, which means an increase in the size of the organs and of the foetus (large-for-date baby).

Consequences
Possible consequences include a tendency to premature birth, placental failure, death of the foetus during pregnancy or in the course of birth, a difficult birth as the result of excessively broad shoulders and regulation problems such as low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) or calcium deficiency (hypocalcaemia). In the long term there is a tendency to pathological overweight and cardiovascular disease.

Prevention and Therapy
Timely and optimal metabolic regulation of the mother. Birth at the calculated date of birth.

end-stage renal disease (ESRD)

a condition in which a persons kidney function is no longer adequate to sustain life; individuals with ESRD require dialysis therapy or a kidney transplant in order to survive

Endemic Disease

Permanent occurrence of a disease in a restricted area. Cf. epidemic, pandemic.

endocrine glands

structures in the body that secrete hormones into the blood; the five major endocrine glands are the pituitary, the gonads, the adrenals, the thyroid and the parathyroids

endogenous

originating in the body

English disease

see rickets.

Enzymes

Enzymes are so-called biocatalysts. They are macromolecules, mostly proteins, which catalyse chemical reactions in biological systems, which means that they accelerate the reactions without being consumed themselves. The acceleration of chemical reactions by at least a factor of 10 and the reduction of free energy make it possible for chemical reactions to occur at body temperature. In principle, enzymes can catalyse reactions in both directions. As however there is a sequence of metabolic reactions, the product is removed and the equilibrium is displaced, so that the reactions run in one direction.
Enzymes can be inhibited by an excess of starting material of product, by poisons, metal ions or by other means. The names established by the International Nomenclature Committee in the Enzyme Catalogue are binding for the naming of enzymes. The names are mostly based on the type of reaction and substrate. The names of enzymes end in -ase.

Epidemic

Very frequent occurrence of a disease, particularly an infectious disease, in a restricted area and time. Explosive epidemics exhibit a rapid increase and decrease in the number of patients (water and milk epidemics); with tardive epidemics, the number of patients rise and fall slowly (contact epidemics). Cf. endemic disease, pandemic.

Epithelioma

Benign or malignant tumour from epithelial cells, cells which cover the inner or outer surfaces of the body, such as skin, bladder or intestine. Epithelioma include papilloma, adenoma, epithelial cysts and carcinoma.

equilibrium

a state of balance

Erectile disturbance

also known as erectile dysfunction or erectile impotence

Lack of erection of the penis during sexual excitement. Classified as primary dysfunction (which is always present) or secondary dysfunction (which is spontaneous and depends on the situation). Although temporary erectile dysfunction is mostly due to psychological factors, long-term dysfunction often has organic causes. Risk factors include type 2 diabetes, type 1 diabetes, high blood fat concentrations (hyperlipidaemia), high blood pressure (hypertension) and nicotine consumption.

Causes
1. Deficient blood supply, for instance in arteriosclerosis or diabetic microangiopathy; 2. Lack of insulation of the spongy body against blood run-off; 3. Nerve damage, for instance in multiple sclerosis, diabetic polyneuropathy, nerve injury after operations to the pelvis; 4. Hormonal imbalance, such as deficiency in testosterone.

Ergometry

see stress electrocardiography

Ergotherapy

General term for occupational and physiotherapy for various conditions, including osteoporosis, stiff shoulder, stroke, diseases of the spine, etc.. Ergotherapy may be related to various medical disciplines, such as neurology, orthopaedics, paediatrics, psychiatry and psychosomatic medicine. The aim of the therapy is the preservation, restoration or improvement of the independence of the patient. Ergotherapy starts with and is based on the abilities of the patient which are still present. Ergotherapy supports independent activity and this improves self-confidence.

erythrocytes

red blood cells

erythroid progenitors

precursor cells (CFUE and BFUE) in the bone marrow that eventually develop into red blood cells

erythropoiesis

the process of producing red blood cells by the stem cells in the bone marrow

erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs)

synthetic forms of erythropoietin developed using recombinant DNA technology

erythropoietin

a hormone produced primarily by the kidneys that acts on the bone marrow to stimulate red blood cell production

Essential fatty acids

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (linoleic and linolenic acids), which humans have to take up in food, as they cannot be produced in the body. They are required, for example, for the biosynthesis of arachidonic acid, an essential component of the cell membrane. Essential fatty acids occur in plant and fish oils. A deficiency in essential fatty acids as a result of defective nutrition can lead to skin changes (horny skin, hair loss), a decrease in blood platelets (which are necessary for coagulation) and growth disturbances. Cf. omega fatty acids.

etiology

the cause or origin of a disease or disorder as determined by medical diagnosis

excipient

an inactive or inert substance that is added to a drug formulation to provide stability or bulk

Excision

Cutting out tissue sections, e.g. in the operation of benign or malignant tumours or removing wound tissue.

Exercise electrocardiography

Abbreviated as exercise ECG

Measurement of physical power, mostly on a stationary bicycle. An electrocardiogram is taken before, during and after exercise, which should be reproducible and dosed as exactly as possible.

Uses
Mostly for the diagnosis of coronary heart disease

Contraindications
Angina pectoris or pathological changes in the ECG at rest, malignant hypertension, advanced heart failure, fresh myocardial infarction.

Glossary entries: Roche and Walter de Gruyter, Berlin

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