Glossary

Author: Glossary

  • Cholera vaccine

    A vaccine prepared from killed or inactivated Vibrio cholerae.  

  • Bacterial vaccine

    A suspension of killed or attenuated bacteria; used for injection into the body to produce active immunity to the same organism. A bacterial emulsion, whether containing killed, live, or weakened bacteria, employed to boost the immunity of a patient afflicted with an infection caused by the same microorganism.  

  • Adsorbed anthrax vaccine

    A cell-free, aluminum hydroxide-adsorbed vaccine, administered to raise protective antibodies against Bacillus anthracis. Bacillus anthracis causes anthrax and has been used in biological warfare.  

  • Mass vaccination

    The use of vaccines during an outbreak of a communicable disease in an attempt to prevent an epidemic. In the U.S. mass vaccinations are sometimes carried out in schools and hospitals during meningitis or hepatitis epidemics.  

  • Catch-up vaccination

    The immunization of unvaccinated children at the most convenient times (e.g., on the first day of school) rather than at the optimal time for antibody production. Because many children miss vaccines at regularly scheduled times, catch-up immunization offers unvaccinated children, their families, and the communities in which they live a second opportunity for disease prevention…

  • Antitumor vaccination

    The injection of tumor associated antigens (e.g., from melanomas or other solid tumors) into cancer patients in an attempt to raise a long-lasting and effective immune response against the tumor. The tumor antigen is often presented to the vaccinee in the presence of dendritic cells, in order to improve the presentation of the antigen and…

  • U wave

    In the electrocardiogram, a low amplitude deflection that follows the T wave. It is exaggerated in hypokalemia and with digitalis use, and negative in ventricular hypertrophy.  

  • Uvuloptosis

    A relaxed and pendulous condition of the palate.  

  • Uvula vesicae

    A median projection of mucous membrane of the urinary bladder located immediately anterior to the orifice of the urethra.  

  • Uvula vermis

    A small, triangular elevation on the vermis of the cerebellum of the brain.