| case | 1. An instance of disease with its attendant circumstances. Compare: patient. 2. A box or container. Origin: L. Casus, an occurrence Borderline case, a patient, whose clinical findings are suggestive, but not fully convincing, of a specific diagnosis. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| case-control study | <epidemiology> A study in which the risk factors of people with a disease are compared with those without a disease. It is an epidemiological method that begins by identifying persons with the disease or condition of interest (the cases) and compares their past history of exposure to identified or suspected risk factors with the past history of similar exposures among persons who resemble the cases but do not have the disease or condition of interest (the controls). The relationship of an attribute to the disease can therefore be examined by comparing affected and non-affected individuals with regard to the frequency or levels of the attribute in each group. (05 May 2002) |
| case fatality rate | The proportion of individuals contracting a disease that die of that disease. (05 Mar 2000) |
| case fatality ratio | The mortality rate of a disease, usually expressed per 100 cases. (05 Mar 2000) |
| case management | A traditional term for all the activities which a physician or other health care professional normally performs to insure the coordination of the medical services required by a patient. It also, when used in connection with managed care, covers all the activities of evaluating the patient, planning treatment, referral, and follow-up so that care is continuous and comprehensive and payment for the care is obtained. (12 Dec 1998) |
| index case | A person who first draws attention to their family. For example, if my eye doctor discovers i have glaucoma and subsequently other cases of glaucoma are found in my family, i am the index case. Also called the propositus (if male) or proposita (if female). (12 Dec 1998) |
| organizational case studies | Descriptions and evaluations of specific health care organizations. (12 Dec 1998) |
| trial case | In refraction, a box containing lenses for testing. (05 Mar 2000) |
| fly-case | <entomology> The covering of an insect, especially. The elytra of beetles. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| army worm | <zoology> A lepidopterous insect, which in the larval state often travels in great multitudes from field to field, destroying grass, grain, and other crops. The common army worm of the northern United States is Leucania unipuncta. The name is often applied to other related species, as the cotton worm. The larva of a small two-winged fly (Sciara), which marches in large companies, in regular order. See Cotton worm, under Cotton. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| galley-worm | <zoology> A chilognath myriapod of the genus Iulus, and allied genera, having numerous short legs along the sides; a milliped or "thousand legs." See Chilognatha. Origin: Prob. So called because the numerous legs along the sides move rhythmically like the oars of a galley. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| Manson's eye worm | A widely distributed spiruroid nematode parasite found under the nictitating membrane in the eye of turkeys, chickens, peafowl, quail, and grouse; larvae develop to the infective stage in cockroaches. Synonym: Manson's eye worm. (05 Mar 2000) |
| meal worm | The larva of beetles of the genus Tenebrio; both larvae and adults are important pests, destroying flour, meal, and other cereal products; they are also intermediate hosts of nematodes of the genus Gongylonema, and of various tapeworms of the genus Hymenolepis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| grugru worm | <zoology> The larva or grub of a large South American beetle (Calandra palmarum), which lives in the pith of palm trees and sugar cane. It is eaten by the natives, and esteemed a delicacy. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| worm | 1. A creeping or a crawling animal of any kind or size, as a serpent, caterpillar, snail, or the like. "There came a viper out of the heat, and leapt on his hand. When the men of the country saw the worm hang on his hand, they said, This man must needs be a murderer." (Tyndale (Acts xxviii. 3, 4)) "'T is slander, Whose edge is sharper than the sword, whose tongue Outvenoms all the worms of Nile." (Shak) "When Cerberus perceived us, the great worm, His mouth he opened and displayed his tusks." (Longfellow) 2. Any small creeping animal or reptile, either entirely without feet, or with very short ones, including a great variety of animals; as, an earthworm; the blindworm. <zoology> Specifically: Any helminth; an entozoon. Any annelid. An insect larva. Same as Vermes. 3. An internal tormentor; something that gnaws or afflicts one's mind with remorse. "The worm of conscience still begnaw thy soul!" (Shak) 4. A being debased and despised. "I am a worm, and no man." (Ps. Xxii. 6) 5. Anything spiral, vermiculated, or resembling a worm; as: The thread of a screw. "The threads of screws, when bigger than can be made in screw plates, are called worms." (Moxon) A spiral instrument or screw, often like a double corkscrew, used for drawing balls from firearms. <anatomy> A short revolving screw, the threads of which drive, or are driven by, a worm wheel by gearing into its teeth or cogs. <medicine> Worm abscess A worm wheel. Worm gearing. Worm gearing, gearing consisting of a worm and worm wheel working together. Worm grass. <botany> A tincture prepared from dried earthworms, oil of tartar, spirit of wine, etc. Worm wheel, a cogwheel having teeth formed to fit into the spiral spaces of a screw called a worm, so that the wheel may be turned by, or may turn, the worm; called also worm gear, and sometimes tangent wheel. Origin: OE. Worm, wurm, AS. Wyrm; akin to D. Worm, OS. & G. Wurm, Icel. Ormr, Sw. & Dan. Orm, Goth. Waorms, L. Vermis, Gr. A wood worm. Cf. Vermicelli, Vermilion, Vermin. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |