Category: I

A gas that acts as a highly effective anesthetic agent when inhaled. Because isoflurane works rapidly, it can be used to begin, or induce, anesthesia, as well as maintain general anesthesia during surgery. Isoflurane is easily eliminated by the body and poses little risk to the liver and kidneys, which flush medications from the body.…

Uncontrolled, purposeless motions. Tremor (involuntary, rhythmic muscle movement caused by alternate contraction and relaxation of the muscles) is the most common involuntary movement disorder. Others include chorea (involuntary, purposeless, rapid, jerking movements), athetosis (slow, writhing, continuous movements of the extremities), ballismus (involuntary, irregular, and uncontrollable flinging and jerking movements), and tics (involuntary, repetitive muscle movements,…

A drug being studied that has not been approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration. Under certain circumstances, the use of investigational drugs is permitted for the treatment of serious or life threatening conditions for which no alternative treatment exists. Four requirements must be met before an investigational drug can be used to…

Also called Whipple disease, a rare disorder of the digestive system. Intestinal lipodystrophy is due to a bacterial infection. Its symptoms usually include abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, joint pain, swollen lymph nodes, abnormal pigmentation, anemia, fever, and malabsorption of nutrients. Intestinal lipodystrophy most commonly affects middle-aged men. Treatment requires the long-term administration of antibiotics.…

Research studies designed to determine the effectiveness of treatment in individuals with a particular disease or condition. The group being studied is known as the target population. The target population is divided into subgroups, one or more of which receives the treatment under study, while the others receive no treatment or the standard treatment. At…

Proteins produced by the immune system that react against insulin. Insulin antibodies sometimes develop in people who take insulin made from pork or beef. The antibodies attack this insulin because it is different from human insulin or because it contains impurities. Insulin antibodies prevent the insulin from functioning properly and may produce an allergic reaction…

An essential ethical and legal element in clinical research stipulating that a person who participates in a clinical research project must be given all available, relevant information about the research before he or she makes the decision to participate. Informed consent is common practice in all clinical trials and has been required by law since…

A drug used to treat Crohn disease, a chronic inflammation of the small intestine and bowel, and rheumatoid arthritis. Infliximab (Remicade) works by neutralizing tumor necrosis factor, a substance involved in the inflammatory process. It is only given by injection and is prescribed in people whose condition has not been helped by other medications. An…

A medication used to bring on (induce) the loss of pain and consciousness consciousness in general anesthesia. In some cases, the induction agent is given through a small tube in the vein of the arm or hand of a person. Sometimes, the patient inhales the medication as a gas.  

The state of being unable to move independently as a result of disability or disease. Immobile persons must rely on caregivers to help them change position frequently in order to prevent problems such as pressure sores. Immobility, which can result from various factors such as illness, injury, or post major surgery, leads to reduced physical…