Category: F

Abnormal deposits of brown, black, or blue pigment in areas of skin exposed to constant use or vigorous rubbing.  

Any field within complementary and alternative medicine that lacks basic scientific credibility, i.e., lacks a reasonable explanation. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, reiki and therapeutic touch are examples of frontier medicine.  

Psychotropic medication administered to treat the mental illness or incompetence of an individual deemed too violent, oppositional, paranoid, or disorganized to agree to be treated. It is sometimes used in helping prepare mentally ill individuals for trial.  

The ability of the developing lung to oxygenate and ventilate effectively outside the womb. The readiness of the fetal lung can be assessed with several invasive (e.g., amniocentesis) and noninvasive (e.g., ultrasound) tests, all of which have some shortcomings. Some tests on amniotic fluid include: measurements of surfactant; phosphatidylglycerol; the lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio; and the number…

Manual stimulation of a boggy postpartum uterus to generate effective contractions, express clots, and limit postpartum hemorrhage. To relax the patient’s abdominal muscles, the birth attendant places the patient in the lithotomy position. Cupping the dominant hand around the fundus and placing the other hand just above the pubic symphysis to support the lower uterine…

A substance, such as carmine, ingested to mark the beginning and end of fecal collection periods.  

Malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum. It is more prevalent in the tropics. Symptoms are more severe than in other types but it runs a shorter course without relapses. The most critical type of malaria is caused by the parasitic microorganism known as Plasmodium falciparum.  

In a newborn, birth weight above the 90th percentile on the intrauterine growth curve.  

A B-cell, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma found in adult and elderly patients. It results from a translocation of an oncogene from chromosome 14 to chromosome 18 [t(14;18)]. Most instances of this lymphoma are indolent, that is, slowly growing.  

Interstitial lung disease that results from the inhalation of airborne nylon fibers at work. Nylon fibers, which can cause inflammatory damage to the lungs, are used in making products for upholstery, automobiles, carpet, and apparel.