Author: Glossary

Of stem cells, having the ability to differentiate into several types of specialized cells.  

A test to diagnose any of several causes of excessive daytime sleepiness. Causes include insomnia, narcolepsy, and obstructive sleep apnea.  

Any skin test, but especially a tuberculin test, in which the material is placed on the skin and multiple superficial punctures are produced under the material, thus allowing the material to enter the skin,  

Developmental anomalies of two or more systems in the fetus. These may be caused by chromosome and genetic abnormalities, or by teratogens including certain drugs and chemicals. In attempting to determine the etiology, it is important to obtain a complete family history and history of exposure to known teratogens and infectious diseases.  

One of several inherited syndromes caused by a defect in tumor suppressor genes that produces benign and malignant tumors of many endocrine glands. Angiofibromas and collagenomas of the skin also are common findings. This group of diseases has been classed according to the glands affected. In MEN type I (MEN I), there are tumors of…

A method of isolating viable sperm from men previously thought to be sterile for in vitro fertilization. The patient ejaculates three or four times in a 24-hr period, and the semen is collected and concentrated. The small number of sperm isolated from the specimens can be used to impregnate the man’s partner.  

A lack of expected therapeutic response to several disease-specific pharmaceutical agents, especially antibiotics. In cancer therapy, resistance to a wide range of unrelated drugs may occur after resistance to a single agent has developed.  

The association of multiple physical symptoms with prolonged or recurrent exposures to low levels of environmental pollutants. Clinical research has failed to establish the precise nature of the syndrome, its causes, the functional limitations it may cause, or the best course of treatment. Many hypotheses have been suggested: some proponents of the syndrome believe that…

The condition of having carried one or more fetuses to viability, regardless of whether the infants were alive at birth.  

Formed of or possessing many lobules.