| lumbar puncture | A diagnostic procedure where a sterile needle is introduced into the lower spine (L2) to collect cerebrospinal fluid for diagnostic purposes. Chemical analysis, cellular analysis and CSF pressure can all be measured with this procedure. This test can aid in the diagnosis of meningitis, subarachnoid haemorrhage and multiple sclerosis. (27 Sep 1997) |
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| lumbar puncture needle | A needle, provided with a stylet, for entering the spinal canal or cisterna magna, with a bore of at least 1 mm and 40 mm or more in length. (05 Mar 2000) |
| tray | Origin: OE. Treye, AS. Treg. Cf. Trough. 1. A small trough or wooden vessel, sometimes scooped out of a block of wood, for various domestic uses, as in making bread, chopping meat, etc. 2. A flat, broad vessel on which dishes, glasses, etc, are carried; a waiter; a salver. 3. A shallow box, generally without a top, often used within a chest, trunk, box, etc, as a removable receptacle for small or light articles. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| adult | A living organism which has attained full growth or maturity. Origin: L. Adultus = grown up (18 Nov 1997) |
| adult lactase deficiency | Onset of lactase deficiency, with resulting milk intolerance and malabsorption, in adulthood. Inherited forms may not be manifested until adulthood; any process that damages the intestinal lining cells can cause lactase deficiency in adults. (05 Mar 2000) |
| adult medulloepithelioma | <tumour> Malignant hyperplasia of ciliary epithelium with frequent involvement of the pigmented layer. Synonym: adult medulloepithelioma. (05 Mar 2000) |
| adult-onset diabetes | <disease> An often mild form of diabetes mellitus of gradual onset, usually in obese individuals over age 35; absolute plasma insulin levels are normal to high, but relatively low in relation to plasma glucose levels; ketoacidosis is rare, but hyperosmolar coma can occur; responds well to dietary regulation and/or oral hypoglycaemic agents, but diabetic complications and degenerative changes can develop. (05 Mar 2000) |
| adult-onset still's disease | Although Still's disease was first described in children, it is known to begin in adults. See: Still's disease. (12 Dec 1998) |
| adult pseudohypertrophic muscular dystrophy | Muscular dystrophy of late onset, often in the second or third decade, with relatively mild course; X-linked recessive inheritance; perhaps allelic with Duchenne's dystrophy, but milder and not a genetic lethal. Compare: Duchenne dystrophy. Synonym: Becker type tardive muscular dystrophy. (05 Mar 2000) |
| adult respiratory distress syndrome | <chest medicine, syndrome> A clinical syndrome that includes pulmonary insufficiency. It is a descriptive term that is applied to a variety of diffuse infiltrative processes in the lung. Manifestations include severe shortness of breath, rapid breathing and arterial hypoxaemia (low oxygen). Chest X-ray shows bilateral diffuse infiltrates. Treatment most often includes mechanical respiratory support. Causes include toxic gas (chlorine, NO2, smoke) exposure, severe metabolic derangement, gastric acid aspiration, pancreatitis, sepsis and trauma. Acronym: ARDS (12 Jul 2000) |
| adult rickets | <pathology> A condition marked by softening of the bones (due to impaired mineralisation, with excess accumulation of osteoid), with pain, tenderness, muscular weakness, anorexia and loss of weight, resulting from deficiency of vitamin D and calcium. Origin: Gr. Malakia = softness (18 Nov 1997) |
| adult T-cell leukaemia | Lymph nodes show a mixture of small and large atypical cells which are polymorphic and express nuclear pleiomorphism. Adult T-cell leukaemia is caused by HTLV-1 and is rare in the US and Europe but common in Japan. Tumour cells express CD2, CD3, CD5 and lack CD7. The most common chromosome change reported in adult T-cell leukaemia is presence of the 14q + marker (05 Mar 2000) |
| adult T-cell lymphoma | <tumour> An acute or subacute disease associated with a human T-cell virus, with lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, skin lesions, peripheral blood involvement, and hypercalcaemia. Synonym: adult T-cell leukaemia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| adult tuberculosis | Tuberculosis found in adults and characterised by lesions near the apex of an upper lobe, which may cavitate or heal with scarring without spreading to lymph nodes; theoretically, secondary tuberculosis may be due to exogenous reinfection or to reactivation of a dormant endogenous infection. Synonym: adult tuberculosis, postprimary tuberculosis, reinfection tuberculosis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Bernard's puncture | A puncture at a point in the floor of the fourth ventricle of the brain which causes glycosuria. Synonym: Bernard's puncture. (05 Mar 2000) |