| amyloid tumour | A localised form of amyloidosis in which amyloid occurs as masses or nodules beneath the skin or mucous membranes, e.g., in the larynx. Synonym: amyloid tumour, focal amyloidosis. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| beta-amyloid | <protein> The protein which forms thick deposits, or plaques, in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease, a disease where memory skills gradually deteriorate with age. (13 Nov 1997) |
| cerebral amyloid angiopathy | <pathology> A condition where there is a deposition of amyloid (insoluble protein) in the walls of the arteries which supply the brain. This results in an increased risk of dementia and-or intracerebral haemorrhage. Cerebral amyloidosis or cerebral amyloid angiopathy, is a complication of primary amyloidosis. Origin: Gr. Pathos = disease (27 Sep 1997) |
| serum amyloid | In secondary amyloidosis the fibrils deposited in tissues are unrelated to immunoglobulin light chains (in contrast to the situation in primary amyloidosis) and are made of amyloid A protein (AA protein). This is derived from serum amyloid A (SAA) that is the apolipoprotein of a high density lipoprotein and an acute phase protein. Partial proteolysis converts SAA into the pleated sheet configuration of the amyloid fibrils. Amyloid P protein is also found as a minor component of the fibrils (in both primary and secondary amyloidosis) and is derived from serum amyloid P that has similarity to C-reactive protein. The physiological role remains obscure. (18 Nov 1997) |
| serum amyloid P component | Precursor of amyloid component P, found in basement membrane. Member of the pentraxin family. See: serum amyloid. (18 Nov 1997) |
| islet amyloid peptide | <hormone, protein> Peptide of 37 amino acids that selectively inhibits insulin stimulated glucose uptake in muscle. Structurally related to calcitonin gene-related peptide. (15 Oct 1997) |
| familial amyloid neuropathy | <neurology> A disorder in which various peripheral nerves are infiltrated with amyloid and their functions disturbed, an abnormal prealbumin is also formed and is present in the blood; characteristically, it begins during mid-life and is found largely in persons of Portuguese descent. Other rare clinical types occur. Inheritance: autosomal dominant. Synonym: familial amyloidosis, hereditary amyloidosis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| adipose degeneration | Abnormal formation of microscopically visible droplets of fat in the cytoplasm of cells, as a result of injury. Synonym: adipose degeneration, steatosis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| adiposogenital degeneration | A disorder characterised primarily by obesity and hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism in adolescent boys; dwarfism is rare, and when present is thought to reflect hypothyroidism. Visual loss, behavioural abnormalities, and diabetes insipidus may occur. Frohlich's syndrome often is used synonymously for this disorder, although the original case involved a pituitary tumour; most cases are thought to result from hypothalamic dysfunction in areas regulating appetite and gonadal development. The most common causes are pituitary and hypothalamic neoplasms. Synonym: adiposis orchica, adiposogenital degeneration, adiposogenital dystrophy, adiposogenital syndrome, hypophysial syndrome, hypothalamic obesity with hypogonadism. Origin: L. Fr. G. Dys-, bad, + trophe, nourishment (05 Mar 2000) |
| age-related macular degeneration | A common macular degeneration beginning with drusen of the macula and pigment disruption and sometimes leading to severe loss of central vision. (05 Mar 2000) |
| albuminous degeneration | An obsolete terms for cloudy swelling. (05 Mar 2000) |
| angiolithic degeneration | Calcareous degeneration of the walls of the blood vessels. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ascending degeneration | Retrograde degeneration of an injured nerve fibre; i.e., toward the nerve cell of the fibre, degeneration cephalad to a spinal cord lesion. (05 Mar 2000) |
| atheromatous degeneration | Focal accumulation of lipid material (atheroma) in the intima and subintimal portion of arteries, eventually resulting in fibrous thickening or calcification. (05 Mar 2000) |
| axonal degeneration | A type of peripheral nerve fibre response to insult, wherein axon death and subsequent breakdown occurs, with secondary breakdown of the myelin sheath associated; caused by focal injury to peripheral nerve fibres; often referred to as wallerian degeneration. Synonym: axon degeneration. (05 Mar 2000) |