| A | | AIDS (ACQUIRED IMMUNODEFICIENCY SYNDROME) | | The most severe manifestation of infection caused by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Persons infected with HIV developing AIDS and often have infections of the lungs, brain, eyes, and other organs, and frequently suffer debilitating weight loss, diarrhea, and a type of cancer called Kaposi’s Sarcoma. |
| | Antibody | | A protein molecule produced by the immune system of the human body in response to a foreign body, such as virus and bacteria. |
| | Acute Hepatitis Infection | | Newly infected and suddenly occurring infection. It occurs with a person’s first exposure to the hepatitis B virus. |
| | AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase) | | An enzyme that is released into the blood by the liver and other tissues or organs. It is generally used as a marker for liver or biliary damage. |
| | ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase) | | An enzyme that is released into the blood by damaged liver cell. It is used as a marker for liver cell damage. The ALT test is considered to be a more accurate reflection of liver inflammation than AST because other organs such as the heart can also produce AST. |
| | ACUTE HIV INFECTION | | The period of rapid viral replication immediately following exposure to HIV. It is estimated that about 80 to 90 percent of individuals with primary HIV infection develop an acute syndrome characterized by flu-like symptoms of fever, malaise, lymphadenopathy, pharyngitis, headache, myalgia, and sometimes rash. Following primary HIV infection, seroconversion usually occur within 3 weeks to 3 months and rarely in about 6 months. It was previously thought that HIV was relatively dormant during this phase (acute infection). However, it is now known that during the time of primary infection, high levels of HIV RNA viral load can be documented. |
| | AIDS WASTING SYNDROME | | The involuntary weight loss of 10 percent of baseline body weight plus either chronic diarrhea (two loose stools per day for more than 30 days) or chronic weakness and documented fever (for 30 days or more, intermittent or constant) in the absence of a concurrent illness or condition other than HIV infection that would explain the findings. |
| | ANEMIA | | A lower than normal range of red blood cells due to blood loss or iron deficiency. |
| | ANOREXIA | | The lack or loss of appetite that leads to significant decline in weight.loss. |
| | ANTIGEN | | Any foreign body that stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies (proteins that fight antigens). Antigens are often foreign substances such as bacteria or viruses that invade the body. |
| | ANTIBODIES | | Produces against the foreign body or antigen that destroys or fights against the antigens which occur due to the invasion of foreign body. They are members of a class of proteins known as immunoglobulins, which are produced and secreted by B-lymphocytes in response to stimulation by antigens. An antibody is specific to an antigen. |
| | ADCC (ANTIBODY-DEPENDENT CELL-MEDIATED CYTOTOXICITY) | | An immune response in which antibodies bind to target cells, identifying them for attack by the immune system. |
| | ANTIBODY-MEDIATED IMMUNITY | | Also called humoral immunity. Immunity that results from the activity of antibodies in blood and lymphoid tissue. |
| | ANTITOXINS | | Antibodies that recognize and inactivate toxins produced by certain bacteria, plants, or animals. |
| | ANTIVIRAL | | A substance that destroys a virus or suppresses its replication (i.e., reproduction). Such as antiviral drugs. |
| | ASYMPTOMATIC | | Without having symptoms. Usually it is used in the HIV/AIDS literature to describe a person who has a positive test to one of several tests for HIV antibodies but who shows no clinical symptoms of the disease. |
| | AUTOANTIBODY | | 1. An antibody that is active against some of the tissues of the organism that produced it. 2. An antibody directed against the body’s own tissue. |
| | AUTOIMMUNIZATION | | The induction of an immune response to a body’s own cells (tissue). |
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| B | | BACTERICIDAL | | (Bacteriocidal) Capable of killing bacteria. |
| | BACTERIOSTATIC | | Capable of inhibiting reproduction of bacteria. |
| | BACTERIUM | | A microscopic organism composed of a single cell. Many bacteria can cause disease in humans. |
| | BACULOVIRUS | | A virus of insects used in the production of some HIV vaccines. |
| | BASELINE | | 1. Information gathered at the beginning of a study from which variations found in the study are measured. 2. A known value or quantity with which an unknown is compared when measured or assessed. 3. The initial time point in a clinical trial, just before a volunteer starts to receive the experimental treatment undergoing testing. At this reference point, measurable values such as CD4 count are recorded. Safety and efficacy of a drug are often determined by monitoring changes from the baseline values.
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| | BASOPHIL | | A type of white blood cell, also called a granular leukocyte, filled with granules of toxic chemicals that can digest micro-organisms. Basophils, as well as other types of white blood cells, are responsible for the symptoms of allergy. |
| | BETA 2 MICROGLOBULIN | | Protein tightly bound to the surface of many nucleated cells, particularly those of the immune system. Elevated ?2M levels occur in a variety of diseases. While elevated ?2M is not specific to HIV, there is a correlation between this marker and the progression of HIV disease. |
| | BILIRUBIN | | A red pigment occurring in liver bile, blood, and urine. Its measurement can be used as an indication of the condition of the liver. Bilirubin is the product of the breakdown of hemoglobin in red blood cells. It is removed from the blood and processed by the liver, which secretes it into the digestive tract. An elevated level of bilirubin in blood serum is an indication of liver disease or drug-induced liver impairment. |
| | BINDING ANTIBODY | | As related to HIV infection: An antibody that attaches to some part of HIV. Binding antibodies may or may not adversely affect the virus. |
| | B LYMPHOCYTES (B CELLS) | | One of the two major classes of lymphocytes, B lymphocytes are blood cells of the immune system, derived from the bone marrow and spleen, they are involved in the production of antibodies. During infections, these cells are transformed into plasma cells that produce large quantities of antibody directed at specific pathogens. When antibodies bind to foreign proteins, such as those that occur naturally on the surfaces of bacteria, they mark the foreign cells for consumption by other cells of the immune system. This ransformation occurs through interactions with various types of T cells and other components of
the immune system. In persons living with AIDS, the functional ability of both the B and the T lymphocytes is damaged, with the Tlymphocytes being the principal site of infection by HIV.
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| | BODY FLUIDS | | Any fluid in the human body, such as blood, urine, saliva, sputum, tears, semen, mother’s milk, or vaginal secretions. |
| | BONE MARROW | | The Soft tissue located in the cavities of the bones where blood cells such as erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets are formed. |
| | BONE MARROW SUPPRESSION | | A side effect of many anticancer and antiviral drugs, including AZT, which leads to a decrease in white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. Such reductions in WBC, RBC and platelets result in anemia, bacterial infections, and spontaneous or excess bleeding. |
| | BOOSTER | | A second or later dose of a vaccine given to increase the immune response to the original dose.
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| C | | Chlamydia | | Bacteria that cause sexually transmitted infection and can be transmitted sexually |
| | CBC | | Complete Blood Count. A test that measures the complete picture of the blood, the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, the amount of hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets. Low white blood cell and platelet counts may indicate liver scarring. |
| | CHD | | Coronary Heart Disease |
| | CMP | | Complete Metabolic Panel |
| | | CEA | | Carcinoembryonic Antigen is a tumor marker that is frequently elevated in colorectal cancer, stomach cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer and ovarian cancer. |
| | Calcium | | The most abundant mineral in the human body, has several important functions. Basic component of teeth and bones, essential for cell function, muscle contraction, transmission of nerve impulses and blood clotting.
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| | Cancer | | A group of diseases in which cells grow unrestrained in an organ or tissue in the body, can spread to tissues around it and destroy them or be transported through blood or lymph pathways to other parts of the body. |
| | Carcinogen | | Anything that can cause cancer. |
| | Carcinoma | | Any malignant cell that arises from the epithelial cells or cancer that occurs on the surface or lining of an organ. |
| | Chronic Hepatitis B Infection | | A patient who tests positive for the hepatitis B virus for more than 6 months is considered to have a chronic hepatitis B infection. |
| | CERVICAL CANCER | | A malignant neoplasm of the uterine cervix., usually caused by virus called Human papilloma virus (HPV). |
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| D | | DNA | | Deoxyribonucleic Acid. Responsible for passing genetic information in nearly all organisms. |
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| G | | Gonorrhea | | Common sexually transmitted disease caused by bacteria Nesseria gonorrhea, characterised by painful urination or a discharge from the penis or vagina. |
| | Genital herpes | | An infection caused by the herpes simplex virus, which causes a painful rash of fluid-filled blisters on the genitals, transmitted through sexual contact. |
| | Genital wart | | A growth on the skin in or around the vagina, penis, or anus, transmitted by sexual contact, can cause cancer of the cervix. |
| | Gout | | A disorder marked by high levels of uric acid in the blood, usually experienced as arthritis in one joint or pain. |
| | Glucose | | A sugar that is the main source of energy for the body. |
| | Glucose Tolerance Test | | A test that evaluates the body's response to glucose after a period of fasting, used to making the diagnosis of type 3 diabetes. |
| | Genotype | | A pattern of genetic information that is unique to an individual or group use to determine the mode and duration of treatment. |
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| H | | HDL | | High Density Lipoprotein |
| | HIV | | Human Immunodeficiency virus. The window period for HIV is usually 2 weeks to 3 months, but could be up to 6 months. |
| | Hepatitis A | | A form of hepatitis caused by the hepatitis A virus, usually transmitted by contact with contaminated food or water. |
| | Hepatitis B | | A form of hepatitis (generally more serious than hepatitis A) caused by the hepatitis B virus, which is transmitted through sexual contact or contact with infected blood or body fluids. |
| | Hepatitis C | | A form of hepatitis caused by the hepatitis C virus, which is transmitted through sexual contact or contact with infected blood or body fluids. |
| | Hs CRP | | High sensitive C-Reactive protein |
| | HBV | | Hepatitis B virus - Hepatitis B is a serious disease caused by a virus that attacks the liver. |
| | HCV | | Hepatitis C virus - Hepatitis C is one of the reasons of transmitting through sexual contact or unprotected sex. |
| | | Hepatitis | | Inflammation of the liver, which may be caused by a viral infection, poisons, or the use of alcohol or other drugs. |
| | HSV | | Herpes Simplex Virus caused by sexually transmitted disease. |
| | Hormone | | A chemical produced by a gland or tissue that is released into the bloodstream, controls body functions such as growth and sexual development. |
| | HBV-DNA | | A marker of viral replication. It correlates well with infectivity. It is used to assess and monitor the treatment of patients with chronic HBV infection. |
| | HCC (Hepatocellular Carcinoma) | | A malignant tumor of the liver, otherwise known as liver cancer. Chronic hepatitis B and C infections may increase the risk of developing liver cancer. |
| | Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) | | The surface protein of the hepatitis B virus that is used as a marker to detect infection. If this blood test is positive, then the hepatitis B virus is present. |
| | Hepatitis B Surface Antibody (HBsAb or anti-HBs) | | The antibody formed in response to the surface protein of the hepatitis B virus. It can be produced in response to vaccination or recovery from an actual hepatitis B infection. If this test is positive, then the immune system has successfully developed a protective antibody against the hepatitis B virus that provides long-term immunity. |
| | Hepatitis B Core Antibody (HBcAb or anti-HBc) | | This antibody only refers to a part of the virus itself, it does not provide any protection or immunity against HBV. This test is often used by blood banks to screen blood donations. A positive test indicates a person may have been exposed to the hepatitis B virus, but the result can only be confirmed in relationship to the above two tests. |
| | HBeAg | | A marker of a high degree of HBV infectivity, it correlates with a high level of HBV replication. It is primarily used to help determine the clinical management of patients with chronic HBV infection.
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| I | | Immune System | | The body’s defense mechanism system against invasion by foreign bodies such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, and malignant cells. |
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| L | | LDL | | Low Density Lipoprotein) Cholesterol |
| | Liver Function Tests (LFT’s) | | Refers to a group of blood tests used to check the function of the liver. The tests can be used to diagnose and monitor chronic viral hepatitis as well as other liver diseases. |
| | Liver Enzymes | | Proteins that catalyze chemical reactions needed for bodily functions. Levels of certain enzymes, such as ALT and AST are higher when the liver is injured, as they leak into the bloodstream when the cell is injured or destroyed. |
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| P | | PSA | | Prostate Specific Antigen |
| | Platelets | | Cells that are produced in the bone marrow. Platelets control bleeding by causing the blood to clot. The liver produces the clotting factors involved in this process. If the liver is damaged, then clotting will also be impaired. |
| | Persistent | | A disease or other medical condition that returns or continues over a long period of time. |
| | PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) | | A highly sophisticated molecular method or technique of detecting the presence of hepatitis B virus DNA or hepatitis C virus RNA, HIV-1 and other viruses and bacteria in the blood. This test can be conducted on the same sample of blood obtained with the hepatitis B panel of blood tests, no extra doctor’s visit is needed. |
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| R | | RBC | | Red Blood Cell. Essential blood cell that carries oxygen from the lungs to body tissues. |
| | RNA | | Ribonucleic Acid which helps to decode and process the information contained in DNA. |
| | Risk Factors | | Refers to behaviors and conditions that increase the possibility of an individual developing a disease or getting infection. For example smoking is a risk factor for lung cancer. The illegal drugs are risk factors for acquiring a hepatitis B or C infection or person expose to a infected blood. |
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| S | | Syphilis | | A sexually transmitted disease, caused by bacterium Treponema pallidum initially causes only painless sores on the genitals but can be life-threatening if untreated. |
| | STD | | Sexually transmitted Disease. A disease that is transmitted through sexual contact. |
| | STI | | Sexually Transmitted infection |
| | Symptom | | Any change in the body or its functions, as perceived by the patient, which could indicate the presence of disease and illness. |
| | Seroconversion | | A change in status from antigen positive/antibody negative to antigen negative/antibody positive. For example, seroconversion of e-antigen positive to e-antibody positive indicates a significant decrease in the amount of hepatitis B virus. |
| | Serology | | Refers to the study of serum (the clear portion of a body fluid separted from the blood by centrifugation) for its antibody content. When a person is exposed to a microorganism or viruses such as Hepatitis B or C virus, the body produces specific antibodies against it. |
| | Screening | | Testing blood samples or blood donations for the presence of disease. Before blood donations are accepted, they are screened for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS and other bloodborne pathogens. |
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| T | | Transmission | | The way or method by which a disease and infection can be spread. |
| | Transaminases | | Refers to SGOT or SGPT, which are older terms for the ALT and AST amino transferases (see liver function tests). |
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| U | | Uraemia | | Abnormally high levels of urea in the blood. |
| | Urea | | A waste product of the metabolism of proteins that is formed by the liver and secreted by the kidney. |
| | Ureters | | Awo tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder. |
| | Urethra | | The tube by which urine is released from the bladder. |
| | Urethritis | | Inflammation of the urethra. |
| | Urinary tract | | The system and sructures in the body that are responsible for the production and release of urine, including the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. |
| | Uterus | | The hollow female reproductive organ in which a fertilized egg is implanted and a fetus develops. |
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| V | | Viraemia | | The presence of viruses in the blood. |
| | Viral | | A term describing something related to or caused by a virus. |
| | Viral Hepatitis | | Inflammation of the liver caused by viruses that infect and attack the liver: such as hepatitis A, B, C, D, E, F, and G viruses. |
| | Viral Load | | Measurement of the actual amount of virus in the bloodstream by using a molecular technique PCR. |
| | Viremia | | Refers to the presence or amount of a virus in the bloodstream. |
| | Virus | | A tiny microorganism can not be seen by simple microscope. It is smaller than bacteria, which can invade the body and cause disease. |
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| W | | WBC | | White Blood Cell. A blood corpuscle responsible for maintaining the body's immune system helping prevent and fight infection against invasion by foreign substances such as viruses or bacteria. |
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