Category: F

The ability to perform activities of daily living, including bathing, dressing, and other independent living skills, such as shopping and housework. Many functional assessment tools are available to quantify functional ability.  

When the eye looks at a specific point or object, that point is seen clearly. Other objects within a large area away from this fixation point can also be seen, but less clearly. The area that can be seen around the fixation point, without moving the eye, is known as the field of vision. The…

A species of gram-negative, rod-shaped bacteria occurring among the normal flora of the human mouth, colon and reproductive tract. Occasionally, fusobacterium is isolated from abscesses occurring in the lungs, abdomen and pelvis. One variety occurs in patients with Vincent’s angina (trench mouth). A genus of gram-negative, non-spore forming bacilli that is part of the resident flora…

These infections, also called mycoses, are common and particularly affect the skin or mucosal membranes in, for example, the mouth, anus or vagina. Fungi consist of threadlike hyphae which form tangled masses or mycelia common mould. In what is called dermatophyte (multicellular fungi) fungal infection of the hair, nails and skin, these hyphae invade the…

A steroidal aromatase inhibitor recently introduced for the treatment of patients with advanced postmenopausal breast cancer. It is better tolerated than non-steroidal aromatase inhibitors and acts by blocking the conversion of androgens to oestrogens in peripheral tissue.  

A means of encouraging excretion via the kidneys of a compound by altering the pH (acidity) and increasing the volume of the urine. Forced diuresis is occasionally used after drug overdoses, but is potentially dangerous and so only suitable where proper intensive monitoring of the patient is possible. Excretion of acid compounds, such as salicylates,…

Also termed idiopathic diffuse-pain syndrome and non-restorative sleep disorder.  

A group of drugs, also known as thrombolytics, with the ability to break down the protein fibrin the prime constituent of blood clots. They are used to disperse blood clots that have formed in the vessels of the circulatory system. The group includes streptokinase, alteplase and reteplase. The drugs work by activating plasminogen to form…

A visualising technique enabling the operator to examine the internal organs with the minimum of disturbance or damage to the tissues. The procedure has transformed the management of, for example, gastrointestinal disease. In chest disease, fibreoptic bronchoscopy has now replaced the rigid wide-bore metal tube which was previously used for examination of the tracheobronchial tree.…

A procedure in which cells for example, from the pancreas are taken from an aborted fetus and then transplanted into the malfunctioning organ (pancreas) of an individual with a disorder of that organ (in this case, diabetes). The cells from the fetus are intended to take over the function of the host’s diseased or damaged…