Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

Grafting of corneal tissue taken from the patient’s other eye.  

An antibody that causes dissolution of cells of the individual from which it was obtained and of other individuals of the same species.  

A syringe that contains a spring-loaded needle with a preloaded dose of medication. When placed against the body with a stabbing motion, the device activates and administers a calculated dose of medication. Commonly used for self-administration of epinephrine (to mitigate anaphylaxis); by migraine sufferers (to achieve prompt relief of headache); or by military and emergency…

Returning blood or body fluids from blood vessels, cavities, or surgical fields to the patient.  

Self-regulation of a biochemical, enzymatic, genetic, metabolic, or pharmacological process.  

A theory of aging, originally proposed by Dr. Ray Walford, in which aging is thought to occur because antibodies develop, attack, and destroy the normal cells in the body. According to this theory, a progressive deficiency in immunological tolerance results in the inability to distinguish self from foreign structures.  

Destruction of the adrenal cortex by circulating autoantibodies. The disease is more common in women than in men; its cause is unknown. In industrialized countries it is the most common cause of Addison’s disease. The adrenal medulla is spared. Patients with autoimmune adrenalitis often have other autoimmune conditions, especially thyroiditis, vitiligo, and pernicious anemia.  

Treatment by withdrawal and injection intramuscularly of one’s own blood. The therapeutic approach of treating a disease by extracting a portion of the patient’s own blood and then injecting it into a muscle.  

A test of the rate of hemolysis of sterile defibrinated whole blood incubated at 37°C. Normal cells hemolyze at a certain rate, but red blood cells from persons with certain types of disease (such as hereditary spherocytosis) hemolyze at a faster rate.  

Hemolysis of one’s blood cells by one’s own serum.