Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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Warm autoagglutinin
An IgG class autoantibody that is activated at a temperature of 37°C. These antibodies damage the membranes on the patient’s own red blood cells, which results in their destruction by the spleen, producing an autoimmune hemolytic anemia. The source of the autoantibodies is unclear in 50% of the cases. In the other 50% of patients,…
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Cold autoagglutinin
An IgM class autoantibody that is activated only when the temperature falls below 100°C. These antibodies may destroy the patient’s red blood cells and are one cause of autoimmune hemolytic anemia. They are found in the serum of patients (esp. those older than 50 years) with atypical (e.g., mycoplasma) pneumonia, infectious mononucleosis, cytomegalovirus infections, mumps, and…
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Autoagglutinin
A substance present in an individual’s blood that agglutinates that person’s red blood cells.
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Autoactivation
Activation of an organ or an enzyme by its own secretion.
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Spectrum disorder autism
A synonym for pervasive developmental disorder, i.e., the group of illnesses known as “classical” autism, Asperger’s disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder (regressive autism), and Rett syndrome.
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Regressive autism
Autism that develops in a child after normal development during the first 24-30 months of life.
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Authorization
Permission, especially official permission.
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Authority gradient
The perceived difference in status between different members of an organization. It is a barrier to effective communication and a potential source of both interpersonal resentment and organizational error. Authority gradients exist in health care organizations when one member of a team, e.g., a medical assistant, feels he or she cannot broach an important safety…
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Autacoid
A term originally used by the British physiologist Edward Sharpey-Shafer as a substitute for the word hormone.
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Austin flint murmur
A presystolic or late diastolic heart murmur best heard at the apex of the heart. It is present in some cases of aortic insufficiency. It is thought to be due to the vibration of the mitral valve caused by the backward-flowing blood from the aorta meeting the blood flowing in from the left atrium.
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