Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
-
Helper T-lymphocytes
White blood cells that are a major contributor to the immune system’s inflammatory response against myelin.
-
Heel-knee-shin test
A test of coordination in which the person is asked, with eyes closed, to place one heel on the opposite knee and slide it up and down the shin.
-
Glucocorticoid hormones
Steroid hormones that are produced by the adrenal glands in response to stimulation by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) from the pituitary. These hormones, which can also be manufactured synthetically (prednisone, prednisolone, methylprednisolone, betamethasone, dexamethasone), serve both an immunosuppressive and an anti-inflammatory role in the treatment of MS exacerbations: they damage or destroy certain types of T-Iymphocytes…
-
Gadolinium-enhancing lesion
A lesion appearing on magnetic resonance imagery (MRI), following injection of the chemical compound gadolinium, that reveals a breakdown in the blood-brain barrier. This breakdown of the blood-brain barrier indicates either a newly active lesion or the re-activation of an old one.
-
Flexor spasm
Involuntary, sometimes painful contractions of the flexor muscles, which pull the legs upward into a clenched position. These spasms, which last 2 to 3 seconds, are symptoms of spasticity. They often occur during sleep, but can also occur when the person is in a seated position.
-
Failure to store
A type of neurogenic bladder dysfunction in MS resulting from demyelination of the pathways between the spinal cord and brain. Typically seen in a small, spastic bladder, storage failure can cause symptoms of urinary urgency, frequency, incontinence, and nocturia.
-
Failure to empty
A type of neurogenic bladder dysfunction in MS resulting from demyelination in the voiding reflex center of the spinal cord. The bladder tends to overfill and become flaccid, resulting in symptoms of urinary urgency, hesitancy, dribbling, and incontinence.
-
Extensor spasm
A symptom of spasticity in which the legs straighten suddenly into a stiff, extended position. These spasms, which typically last for several minutes, occur most commonly in bed at night or on rising from bed.
-
Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis
Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis is an autoimmune disease resembling MS that has been induced in some genetically susceptible research animals. Before testing on humans, a potential treatment for MS may first be tested on laboratory animals with EAE in order to determine the treatment’s efficacy and safety.
-
Expanded fisability status scale
A part of the Minimal Record of Disability that summarizes the neurologic examination and provides a measure of overall disability. The EDSS is a 20-point scale, ranging from 0 (normal examination) to 10 (death due to MS) by half-points. A person with a score of 4.5 can walk three blocks without stopping; a score of…
Got any book recommendations?