Category: B

  • Baruch’s law

    The theory that water has a sedative effect when its temperature is the same as that of the skin and a stimulating effect when it is below or above the skin temperature.  

  • Bartter’s syndrome

    Hyperplasia of the juxtaglomerular cells of the kidney, hypokalemic alkalosis, and hyperaldosteronism without a rise in blood pressure. It usually occurs in children and may be accompanied by growth retardation. Etiology is unknown. Affected patients are treated with potassium supplements and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or potassium-sparing diuretics.  

  • Bartonella quintana

    The species previously known as Rochalimaea quintana; it is spread by the body louse. During World War I, it caused epidemics of trench fever in battlefield troops. Together with B. henselae, it may cause bacillary angiomatosis, bacillary peliosis, and other inflammatory diseases. Treatment includes oral antibiotics.  

  • Bartonella henselae

    A species that, together with B. quintana, causes acute and persistent bacteremia and localized tissue infection, which may lead to bacillary angiomatosis, bacillary peliosis, and other inflammatory responses. This infection can occur in immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals but is seen most frequently in patients with HIV infection. B. henselae, previously named Rochalimaea henselae, is the…

  • Bartonella elizabethae

    The organism previously known as Rochalimaea elizabethae. It causes an infection that has been identified most often in immunocompromised patients with HIV infection. It has been implicated as a cause of bacteremia and endocarditis.  

  • Bartlett-Biedel syndrome

    An inherited cause of obesity that usually manifests itself in childhood. It is caused by a mutation in a single gene.  

  • Barth’s syndrome

    A rare X-linked disorder in which affected boys have reduced muscle tone, cardiomyopathy, learning disabilities, a low white blood cell count, and a diminished ability to fight infections.  

  • Bartholin’s cyst

    Cyst commonly formed in chronic inflammation of Bartholin’s glands. Large ducts of the sublingual salivary gland. They parallel Wharton’s duct.  

  • Bartholin abscess

    An abscess that develops when Bartholin’s glands become occluded in an acute inflammatory process. Bartholin’s abscesses occur when pus accumulates in one or both of the Bartholin’s glands, which are situated on either side of the vulva (the folds of tissue surrounding the vaginal opening). These abscesses form due to bacterial infection of the glands.…

  • Barthel index

    A widely used functional assessment of activities of daily living. It assesses a person’s ability to perform feeding, transfers, personal grooming and hygiene, toileting, walking, negotiating stairs, and controlling bowel and bladder functions.