Category: N

Any of a class of antiretroviral drugs used to treat patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection. NRTIs prevent transcription of viral RNA to host DNA by interfering with the action of the enzyme reverse transcriptase. Zidovudine, dideoxyinosine, zalcitabine, d4T, and abacavir are NRTIs. An antiretroviral medication that disrupts the activity of HIV reverse transcriptase within…

Any of a class of antiretroviral drugs used to treat patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. NNRTIs bind with and inhibit the activity of reverse transcriptase, an enzyme needed to transcribe viral RNA into the host cell DNA. Examples include nevirapine, delavirdine, and efavirenz.  

The inhibition of enzyme activity resulting only from the concentration of the inhibitor.  

Impotence due to central nervous system lesions, paraplegia, or diabetic neuropathy.  

Hearing loss, or deafness, that is inherited and is not associated with other inherited characteristics.  

Induction of a general immune response with adjuvants, drugs, or vaccines that stimulate the release of interferons or other immune cytokines. Nonspecific immunotherapy differs from specific immunotherapy in that the agents used (e.g., BCG vaccine, Freund’s adjuvant) do not stimulate antibody production for or against (or tolerance to) individual antigens.  

Blood glucose levels less than 40 mg/dl in infants during the first hours of life.  

Low serum calcium levels present in the first days of life, caused by maternal disease (e.g., gestational diabetes or parathyroid disorders), diseases and conditions of the child (e.g., congenital hypoparathyroidism), or treatments given the newborn (transfusion therapy or phototherapy). Common symptoms of low calcium in the newborn are tremors or seizures.  

Hypertrophy caused by an increase in structural elements.  

A type of hydrocephalus with enlarged ventricles of the brain with no increase in the spinal fluid pressure or no demonstrable block to the outflow of spinal fluid. Shunting fluids from the dilated ventricles to the peritoneal cavity may be helpful. The classic triad of symptoms includes disturbances of gait, progressive dementia, and urinary incontinence.…