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An alphabetical listing of General terms and items. 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

DA   Dental Assistant (also CDA) DAC   DAC, in accounting, is an acronym for Deferred Acquisition Costs. DATA (singular DATUM)   Factual information, especially results of an experiment or clinical trial. DATA AND SAFETY MONITORING BOARD (DSMB)   A group of experts that evaluates clinical trials for safety and ethics. DSMBs typically examine interim data as a trial progresses and determine whether it should be stopped or allowed to continue. DC   Doctor of Chiropractic DCH   Diploma in Child Health DChO   Doctor of Ophthalmic Surgery DCP   Diploma in Clinical Pathology or Diploma in Clinical Psychology DDR   Diploma in Diagnostic Radiology DDS   Doctor of Dental Surgery DDSc   Doctor of Dental Science Debulking   The surgical removal of the excess skin and subcutaneous tissue are removed from a seriously enlarged, stage 3 lymphedema affected limb. Since this procedure does not improve the lymph flow in the affected area, it is no longer commonly performed. DECOMPENSATED CIRRHOSIS   See cirrhosis. DECOMPENSATION   A failure of the liver to compensate for damage or injury; decrease or breakdown of liver function. Decongestants   Medications used to relieve the stuffy-nose symptoms of IgE-mediated allergies. Decongestants should be used judiciously; overuse exacerbates the problem (see Allergies). Dehydration   To be in the state of having lost water or fluids from the body or moisture from the skin and mucous membranes. Delayed Onset   The time between becoming "at risk" for lymphedema and the onset of symptoms. DELIRIUM   A state of mental confusion, typically acute and rapid in onset, that may be caused by factors including disease, drug use, or high fever. DELTA HEPATITIS   See hepatitis D. DEMATIACEOUS   A fungus having brown or black melanotic pigment in the cell wall. Back to top DEMENTIA   Chronic loss of mental capacity. Dementia may involve progressive deterioration of thinking, memory, and motor function, and may also be associated with personality changes and psychological symptoms such as depression. DEMOGRAPHICS   The characteristics of a population (e.g., sex, race, age). Dendrites   The parts of a neuron that receive signals sent via neurotransmitters from other neurons (see Anxiety). DENTAL DAM   A flat square of latex or plastic, traditionally used for dental surgery, that can be used to protect against the spread of sexually transmitted diseases during oral sex. DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID (DNA)   A double-stranded nucleic acid that encodes genetic information. DNA is made up of four chemical building blocks (nucleotides) Dependent Edema   Swelling in the arms or legs that occurs in patients with impaired mobility due to causes such as paralysis, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, or the effects of a stroke. DEPRESSION (DYSTHYMIA)   A mood disorder characterized by prolonged sadness or grief. DERMATOMYCOSIS   An infection of hair, skin and nails caused by the keratinophilic fungi of the genera Trichophyton, Microsporum and Epidermophyton which infect hair, skin and nails. DERMATOPHYTE   Infection of hair, skin and nails caused by fungi other than dermatophytes. DETOXIFICATION   Removal of toxic (poisonous) substances. Detoxification of the blood is an important function of the liver. Detrusor Instability   Involuntary contractions of the detrusor muscle while the bladder is filling, resulting in urgency, frequency, or sometimes incontinence (see Urinary Incontinence). Detrusor Muscle   The layer of involuntary muscle in the bladder wall; during urination, it contracts to squeeze urine out of the bladder into the urethra (see Urinary Incontinence). DEXA / DXA   DXA (Dual x-ray absorptiometry) is a reference method for determination of bone density, lean and fat mass. DEXA Bone Scan   A means of measuring the bone density to detect osteoporosis at a much earlier stage as compared to a standard X-ray. DEXA stands for dualenergy X-ray absorption i.e. X-ray absorption at two different quantum energies or wavelengths. DFHom   Diploma from a Faculty of Homeopathy DHg, DHy, DHyg, DrHyg   Doctor of Hygiene Diabetes   A disorder in which blood glucose (sugar) levels are elevated (see Hypertension). DIABETES MELLITUS (DM)   A disease caused by insufficient insulin production or lack of responsiveness to insulin. Type 1 (insulin-dependent or juvenile-onset) diabetes results from an inability of the body to produce insulin. Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent or adult-onset) diabetes occurs later is life and is associated with decreased insulin production or insulin resistance. Diabetic Ketoacidosis   A dangerous condition in which the blood becomes acidic due to a buildup of ketones; it arises during severe insulin deficiency (see Diabetes). Diabetic Retinopathy   A degenerative eye disorder in which small blood vessels in the retina initially leak and subsequently become blocked. Very fragile new vessels develop, but they ultimately bleed and cause scarring (see Diabetes). Back to top Diagnosis   The identification of a disease. DIALYSIS   A method for filtering waste from the blood that replaces the function of the kidneys that are not working properly. DIARRHEA   Frequent, loose bowel movements. Diarrhea may be caused by a variety of factors, including microorganisms and as a side effect of certain drugs. Persistent diarrhea can lead to dehydration and inadequate nutrient absorption. Diastolic Blood Pressure   The pressure in the arteries while the heart is refilling with blood between beats; the second and lower of the two numbers obtained when blood pressure is measured (see Cardiovascular Health). Diastolic Pressure   The second (bottom) reading of a blood pressure measurement, which reflects the pressure in the arteries between heartbeats (see Hypertension). Diathermy   Physical therapy using high-frequency electric current, ultrasound, or microwave to deliver heat to muscles and ligaments (see Arthritis). DICHOTOMOUS   A type of branching of hyphae that is repetitious without pattern; the branches are approximately equal in size and equal the stem from which they originated. DIETITIAN   A medical professional specializing in dietetics, the study of nutrition and the use of special diets to prevent and treat disease. DIGESTIVE SYSTEM   The organs (mouth, pharyrnx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and anus) associated with ingestion and digestion of food. DIMORPHIC   Having two forms. Dip   Diplomate or Diploma DipBact   Diploma in Bacteriology DipChem   Diploma in Chemistry DipClinPath   Diploma in Clinical Pathology DipMicrobiol   Diploma in Microbiology DipPhys Or DPhys   Diploma in Physiotherapy DipSocMed   Diploma in Social Medicine Disability   In the context of health experience, a disability is a restriction or lack (resulting from an impairment) of ability to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal. DISCORDANT   Not having the same serostatus, for example a couple in which one partner is HCV positive and the other is HCV negative. Disorder   A synonym for disease. Back to top Distal   Situated furthest from the beginning of a body structure. The foot is the distal end of the leg; the hand is the distal end of the arm. DIURETIC   An agent that increases loss of water from the body through urination. Diverticula   Finger-shaped pouches protruding off the colon that often develop with age (see Digestive Health). Diverticulitis   When diverticula become inflamed (see Digestive Health). DLM(ASCP)   Diplomate in Laboratory Management by the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Registry DM   See diabetes mellitus. DMD   Doctor of Dental Medicine DMT   Doctor of Medical Technology DN   Doctor of Nursing DNA   See deoxyribonucleic acid. DNC   Dermatology Nurse Certified by the Dermatology Nurses' Association (DNA) DNE   Doctor of Nursing Education DNS Or DNSc   Doctor of Nursing Science DO   Doctor of Optometry DON   Director of Nursing Dopamine   A neurotransmitter that affects movement and influences thought processes, possibly affecting motivation and reward (see Depression). Dorsal Kyphosis   An abnormal front-to-back curvature of the mid-to-upper spine that can result from compression fractures of vertebrae. Commonly called dowager's hump (see Osteoporosis). DOS Or DOSc   Doctor of Ocular Science DOSAGE   The amount of a drug that is given at one time. DOSE-RANGING TRIAL   A clinical trial in which different doses of a drug are compared to determine which dosage has the best balance of effectiveness and acceptable side effects. Back to top DOSHA   One of the three bodily humors (vata, pitta, and kapha,) recognized in Ayurvedic medicine. DOUBLE-BLIND   See blinding. Double-blinded   A doubled-blinded trial produces more objective and unbiased results because neither the research investigators nor the study participants know who is receiving the investigational drug and who is receiving the placebo Dowager's Hump   A hump in the upper back (thoracic kyphosis) in an elderly woman with osteoporosis. DP   Doctor of Pharmacy (also PharmD and PD) DPH   Doctor of Public Health DPhC   Doctor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry DPHN   Doctor of Public Health Nursing DPM   Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (also DP) DrMed   Doctor of Medicine (also MD) NOTE DrPH   Doctor of Public Health DRUG INTERACTION   A phenomenon that occurs when multiple drugs are taken together or drugs are taken with certain herbs or foods. Drug interactions may enhance or reduce the action of a drug and may increase its side effects. Dry-powder Inhaler   A device for delivering inhaled medication that works differently from a metered-dose inhaler. With a dry-powder inhaler, an aerosol of medicine is created by the force of inhalation rather than by a chemical propellant (see Asthma). DSc   Doctor of Science Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA)   A test in which x-rays limited to two different energies are used to measure bone density and produce an image of the bone; the preferred screening test for osteoporosis (see Menopause, Osteoporosis). Duct   A channel in the breast that carries milk from the lobule to the nipple during lactation (see Breast Cancer). Duodenitis   Inflammation of the duodenum (see Digestive Health). Duodenum   The first part of the small intestine. An ulcer on its inner lining is called a duodenal ulcer. DVM   Doctor of Veterinary Medicine DVMS   Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Back to top DVR   Doctor of Veterinary Radiology DVS Or DVSc   Doctor of Veterinary Science DX   Abbreviation for diagnosis. Dysentery   An infectious disease of the intestine that causes bloody, mucus-filled diarrhea, which can be accompanied by abdominal pain or cramps, fever, and dehydration from excessive diarrhea. It is caused by enteric infections, usually with Shigella, and can sometimes trigger reactive arthritis. DYSFUNCTION   Lack or loss of normal function. Dysphagia   Difficulty swallowing (see Digestive Health). DYSPLASIA (adjective DYSPLASTIC)   Abnormal cell or tissue growth. DYSTHYMIA   See depression. Back to top