Copy of `Dorland's Medical Dictionary`

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Dorland's Medical Dictionary Category: Health and Medicine > Medical Dictionary Date & country: 31/12/2010, USA Words: 39128

doula
(doo´lә) an aide, usually female, who gives continual physical and emotional support to a woman going through labor and childbirth; sometimes this extends to giving postpartum care.

Down syndrome
(doun) a congenital condition characterized by physical malformations and some degree of mental retardation. Another name for the condition is trisomy 21 syndrome, because it is concerned with a defect in chromosome 21. Specific causes are often not known. There is a relatively high incidence in children of mothers in the old...

Downey cell
any of several atypical lymphocytes seen in infectious mononucleosis. There are three types: type I cells are mature ones with a kidney-shaped or lobulated nucleus and vacuolated, basophilic, foamy cytoplasm; type II cells contain plasmacytoid nuclei with less vacuolated and basophilic cytoplasm; and type III cells have a finer chrom...

downregulation
(doun″reg-u-la´shәn) controlled decrease, particularly decrease in expression of a gene in response to cellular or environmental factors, as by a decrease in transcription of the gene or by destabilization of mRNA, or the reduction in responsiveness of a cell to stimulatory factors after a first exposure, as...

downstream
(doun´strēm) in molecular biology, a term used to denote a region of DNA or RNA that is located to the 3′ side of a gene or region of interest.

doxacurium
(dok″sә-ku´re-әm) a long-acting neuromuscular blocking agent used as the chloride salt as a skeletal muscle relaxant during surgery and endotracheal intubation.

doxapram
(dok´sә-pram) a respiratory stimulant, used as the hydrochloride salt for postanesthesia respiratory depression or for acute respiratory insufficiency associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; administered intravenously.

doxazosin
(dok-sa´zo-sin) a selective alpha-adrenergic blocking agent used as the mesylate derivative as an antihypertensive and in treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia; administered orally.

doxepin
(dok´sә-pin) a tricyclic antidepressant, administered orally as the hydrochloride salt to treat depression, anxiety, chronic pain, peptic ulcer, pruritus, and other conditions.

doxercalciferol
(dok″sәr-kal-sif´әr-ol) a synthetic analogue of vitamin D2, used to reduce levels of circulating parathyroid hormone in treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism associated with chronic renal failure; administered orally or intravenously.

doxorubicin
(dok″so-roo´bĭ-sin) an antitumor antibiotic that binds to DNA, inhibits synthesis of nucleic acids, and inhibits cell division. It has one of the widest spectrums of antitumor activity of any antineoplastic agent and is administered intravenously as the hydrochloride salt.

doxycycline
(dok″se-si´klēn) a broad-spectrum semisynthetic antibiotic, used as the hyclate and calcium salts against a wide range of gram-positive and gram-negative organisms; administered orally or intravenously.

doxylamine
(dok″sil-am´ēn) an antihistamine with sedative and anticholinergic effects; used as the succinate salt in the treatment of nasal, eye, and skin manifestations of allergic reactions, including allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and itching, as an ingredient in cough and cold preparations, and in the short-term...

DP
Doctor of Pharmacy; Doctor of Podiatry.

DPH
Department of Public Health; Diplomate in Public Health; Doctor of Public Health.

DPM
Doctor of Podiatric Medicine.

DPT
diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus; used in reference to triple-antigen immunization against these diseases.

DR
reaction of degeneration.

Dr
Doctor.

dr
dram.

dracunculiasis
(drә-kung″ku-li´ә-sis) infection by nematodes of the genus Dracunculus characterized by pruritic skin vesicles that may ulcerate.

dracunculosis
(drә-kung″ku-lo´sis) dracunculiasis.

Dracunculus
(drә-kung´ku-lәs) a genus of parasitic nematodes. D. medinen′sis is a threadlike worm that is widely distributed in North America, Africa, the Middle East, Indonesia, and India and is frequently found in the subcutaneous and intermuscular tissues of humans and certain other animals.

drag-to gait
a gait with crutches in which the feet are dragged rather than lifted toward the crutches.

drain
(drān) to withdraw liquid gradually. any device by which a channel or open area may be established for exit of fluids or purulent material from a cavity, wound, or infected area. See also wound healing.

drainage
(drān´әj) systematic withdrawal of fluids and discharges from a wound, sore, or cavity.

drainage tube
a tube used in surgery to allow escape of fluids.

dram
(ʒ) (dr) (dram) a unit of weight which, in the apothecaries' system, equals 60 grains, or 1/8ounce; in the avoirdupois system it equals 27.34 grains, or 1/16ounce. fluid dram(fl dr) a unit of capacity (liquid measure) of the apothecaries' system...

Dramamine
(dram´ә-mēn) trademark for preparations of dimenhydrinate or meclizine hydrochloride, antihistamines effective against nausea and vomiting, especially in motion sickness, and vertigo.

Drash syndrome
(drash) Denys-Drash syndrome.

Draw-a-Person test
a commonly used projective test for assessing personality style and psychopathology by interpretation of a drawing of a person done by the subject, based on the assumption that their personality characteristics will be introjected onto the drawing.

drawer tests
(draw´er) drawer signs either of two tests for integrity of the cruciate ligament of the knee: the knee is flexed to a 90° angle; at the femorotibial junction, if the tibia can be drawn too far forward (anterior drawer test) there is rupture of the anterior ligaments and if it can be drawn too far back (posterior drawer ...

dream
(drēm) a mental phenomenon occurring during REM sleep in which images, emotions, and thoughts are experienced with a sense of reality; there are typically four or five such periods a night, with a total duration of about 90 minutes. to experience such a phenomenon.

dream anxiety disorder
nightmare disorder.

dreaming sleep
REM sleep.

drepanocyte
(drep´ә-no-sīt) sickle cell. adj., drepanocyt´ic., adj.

dressing
(dres´ing) any of various materials used for covering and protecting a wound. biologic dressing one used in treatment of a burn or other large denuded area of skin to prevent infection and fluid loss; it may consist of synthetic material or a xenograft, allograft, or autograft ...

dressing forceps
forceps with scissor-like handles for grasping lint, drainage tubes, etc., in dressing wounds.

Dressler syndrome
(dres´lәr) post–myocardial infarction syndrome.

Drew-Smythe catheter
an instrument used for the artificial rupture of the amniotic membranes to induce labor.

DRG
Diagnosis-Related Groups.

drift
(drift) slow movement away from the normal or original position. a chance variation, as in gene frequency from one generation to another; the smaller the population, the greater the chance of random variations. antigenic drift relatively minor changes in the antigenic ...

drifting tooth
wandering tooth.

drill
(dril) a rotating cutting instrument for making holes in hard substances, such as bones or teeth.

drinking test
(for glaucoma) one liter of water is ingested as rapidly as possible into an empty stomach. The intraocular pressure is measured every 15 minutes; a rise of 8 to 15 mm Hg in less than 30 minutes indicates glaucoma. Called also water provocative test.

drip
(drip) the slow, drop-by-drop infusion of a liquid. postnasal drip drainage of excessive mucous or mucopurulent discharge from the postnasal region into the pharynx.

drip chamber
the expanded portion of intravenous tubing into which fluid falls, where the rate of flow can be monitored if necessary. See also intravenous infusion.

drive
(drīv) the force that activates human impulses. to activate or cause to move.

drivenness
(driv´әn-nis) hyperactivity (1). organic drivenness hyperactivity seen in brain-damaged persons. It is cause by injury to the cerebellum.

dromograph
(drom´o-graf) a device for measuring the rate of blood flow.

dromostanolone
(dro″mo-stan´o-lōn) an androgenic anabolic steroid used as the propionate salt for palliative treatment of advanced metastatic breast cancer in postmenopausal women.

dromotropic
(drom″o-tro´pik) affecting conductivity of a nerve fiber.

dronabinol
(dro-nab´in-ol) one of the major active substances in cannabis, used to treat nausea and vomiting in antineoplastic therapy and to treat anorexia associated with weight loss in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; it is subject to abuse because of its psychotomimetic activity.

drooping lily sign
a deformity seen on excretory urography of a duplex kidney, with the forcing of the lower collecting system and ureter outward and downward to resemble the shape of a drooping lily; it is caused by obstruction and dilation of the upper collecting system.

drop
(drop) a minute sphere of liquid as it hangs or falls. to descend or cause to descend. a descent or falling below the usual position.

drop attack
sudden loss of balance without loss of consciousness, usually seen in elderly women.

drop hand
wristdrop.

droperidol
(dro-per´ĭ-dol) a drug of the butyrophenone series, used for its antianxiety, sedative, and antiemetic effects as a premedication prior to surgery and during induction and maintenance of anesthesia, as a postanesthesia antiemetic, and to produce conscious sedation; administered intravenously or intramuscularly. A combina...

droplet infection
airborne infection due to inhalation of respiratory pathogens suspended on droplet nuclei.

droplet nuclei
small particles of pathogen-containing respiratory secretions expelled into the air by coughing and then reduced by evaporation to small, dry particles that can remain airborne for long periods and spread disease by droplet infection.

droplet precautions
a group of transmission-based precautions used when caring for patients who have diseases that spread by droplets or dust particles, such as by coughing, sneezing, or talking or during procedures such as suctioning and bronchoscopy. The diseases include rubella, mumps, diphtheria, and influenza.

dropped beat
absence of one ventricular contraction.

dropper
(drop´әr) a pipet or tube for dispensing liquids in drops.

dropsy
(drop´se) old term for edema. adj., drop´sical, adj. .

drospirenone
(dros-pi´rә-nōn) a spironolactone analogue that acts as a progestational agent; used in combination with an estrogen component as an oral contraceptive.

drowning
(droun´ing) death from suffocation resulting from aspiration of water or other substance or fluid. The liquid prevents breathing; in some cases, the victim's lungs may contain very little water or other liquid.

DrPH
Doctor of Public Health.

drug
(drug) a chemical substance that affects the processes of the mind or body. any chemical compound used in the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of disease or other abnormal condition. a substance used recreationally for its effects on the central nervous system. to administer such ...

drug abuse
the use of a drug or drugs for purposes other than those for which they are prescribed or recommended, involving a pathologic pattern of behavior.

drug allergy
an allergic reaction as a result of unusual hypersensitivity to a drug.

drug alopecia
drug-induced alopecia transient hair loss caused by administration of certain drugs, such as heparin, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and colchicine.

drug dependence
a state in which there is a compulsion to take a drug, either continuously or periodically, in order to experience its psychic effects or to avoid the discomfort of its absence. It is often subdivided into psychological dependence and physiological dependence, although many authorities use the term to refer only to states of ph...

drug disease
a morbid condition due to long-continued use of a drug. in homeopathy, the group of symptoms seen after the administration of a drug for the purpose of proving.

drug fever
febrile reaction to a therapeutic agent, such as a vaccine, antineoplastic, or antibiotic.

drug intolerance
inability to continue taking, or difficulty in continuing to take, a medication because of an adverse side effect that is not immunity-mediated. the state of reacting to the normal pharmacologic doses of a drug with the symptoms of overdosage.

drug resistance
the ability of a microorganism to withstand the effects of a drug that are lethal to most members of its species.

drug therapy
pharmacotherapy.

drug-induced lupus
a syndrome closely resembling systemic lupus erythematosus, precipitated by prolonged use of certain drugs, such as hydralazine, isoniazid, various anticonvulsants, or procainamide.

drug-induced neutropenia
that caused by medications; the most common mechanisms are immunological (formation of antibodies destructive to neutrophils or of immune complexes that bind to neutrophils), followed by inhibition of granulopoiesis and direct damage to bone marrow or precursor cells of the granulocytic series.

drug-induced urticaria
a type of immune-mediated urticaria in reaction to a medication. Called also urticaria medicamentosa.

druggist
(drug´ist) pharmacist.

drum
(drum) tympanic membrane.

Drummond sign
a whiff heard at the open mouth during respiration in cases of aortic aneurysm.

drumstick
(drum´stik) a lobule attached by a slender strand to the nucleus, seen in some polymorphonuclear leukocytes of normal females but not of normal males.

drunkenness
(drung´kәn-nis) alcohol intoxication. a state resembling alcohol intoxication. sleep drunkenness a condition of prolonged transition from sleep to waking, with partial alertness, disorientation, drowsiness, poor coordination, and sometimes excited or violent b...

drusen
(droo´zәn) abnormal growths of hyaline in the Bruch membrane of the choroid of the eye, usually due to aging. rosettes of granules occurring in the lesions of actinomycosis.

dry caries
a type of caries of the joints and ends of bones, seen in tuberculosis.

dry cough
cough without expectoration.

dry eye
dry eye syndrome keratoconjunctivitis sicca.

dry hernia
a hernia in which the sac and its contents have become intimately adherent to each other.

dry ice
(dri īs) carbon dioxide snow.

dry labor
a lay term indicating that in which the amniotic fluid escapes before contraction of the uterus begins.

dry pericarditis
pericarditis not associated with effusion.

dry pleurisy
fibrinous pleurisy.

dry rale
a fine sound associated with any of various interstitial lung diseases, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

dry synovitis
synovitis with little effusion.

dry vomiting
attempts at vomiting, with the ejection of nothing but gas.

drying oil
a type of fixed oil which thickens and hardens on exposure to the air, especially when spread out in a thin layer, being converted to a solid by absorption and reaction with oxygen.

DSM
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

DSM-IV
the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, prepared by the Task Force on Nomenclature and Statistics of the American Psychiatric Association.