| tuberculoid leprosy | A benign, stable, and resistant form of the disease in which the lepromin reaction is strongly positive and in which the lesions are erythematous, insensitive, infiltrated plaques with clear-cut edges. Synonym: nodular leprosy, smooth leprosy. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| lazarine leprosy | An acute form occurring in pure diffuse lepromatous leprosy presenting irregularly shaped, intensely erythematous, tender plaques, especially of the legs, with tendency to ulceration and scarring. Synonym: lazarine leprosy, Lucio's leprosy phenomenon. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lepromatous leprosy | A form of leprosy in which nodular cutaneous lesions are infiltrated, have ill-defined borders, and are bacteriologically positive; the lepromin test is negative, i.e., the immunologic mechanism of the patient is not responsive to the Mycobacterium leprae infection. (05 Mar 2000) |
| leprosy | <infectious disease> Caused by Mycobacterium leprae, an obligate intracellular parasite that survives lysosomal enzyme attack by possessing a waxy coat. Leprosy is a chronic disease associated with depressed cellular (but not humoral) immunity, the bacterium requires a lower temperature than 37쵣 and thrives particularly in peripheral Schwann cells and macrophages. Only humans and the nine banded armadillo are susceptible. (18 Nov 1997) |
| leprosy bacillus | A species of gram-positive, aerobic bacteria that causes leprosy in man. Its organisms are generally arranged in clumps, rounded masses, or in groups of bacilli side by side. (12 Dec 1998) |
| leprosy, borderline | A form of leprosy in which there are clinical manifestations of both principal types (lepromatous and tuberculoid). The disease may shift toward one of these two polar or principal forms. (12 Dec 1998) |
| leprosy, lepromatous | A chronic communicable infection which is a principal or polar form of leprosy. This disorder is caused by mycobacterium leprae and produces diffuse granulomatous skin lesions in the form of nodules, macules, or papules. The peripheral nerves are involved symmetrically and neural sequelae occur in the advanced stage. (12 Dec 1998) |
| leprosy, tuberculoid | A principal or polar form of leprosy in which the skin lesions are few and are sharply demarcated. Peripheral nerve involvement is pronounced and may be severe. Unlike lepromatous leprosy (leprosy, lepromatous), the lepromin test is positive. Tuberculoid leprosy is rarely a source of infection to others. (12 Dec 1998) |
| Lucio's leprosy | An acute form occurring in pure diffuse lepromatous leprosy presenting irregularly shaped, intensely erythematous, tender plaques, especially of the legs, with tendency to ulceration and scarring. Synonym: lazarine leprosy, Lucio's leprosy phenomenon. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Lucio's leprosy phenomenon | An acute form occurring in pure diffuse lepromatous leprosy presenting irregularly shaped, intensely erythematous, tender plaques, especially of the legs, with tendency to ulceration and scarring. Synonym: lazarine leprosy, Lucio's leprosy phenomenon. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Abbe test plate | <equipment> A long, wedge-shaped coverslip about 0.20 mm thick at one end and 0.10 to 0.12 mm at the other end coated chemically with a silver film on which are ruled horizontal lines. at each variation in thickness of 0.01 mm there are vertical lines. By means of oblique illumination and by focusing on different portions of the plate, it is possible to determine the optimum coverslip thickness for any objective and also, for microscopes with drawtubes, the tube length for best objective performance. The approximate freedom from spherical and chromatic aberrations can also be estimated. Small isolated bits of silver near the edges of the lines form good objects for the star test (05 Aug 1998) |
| acetone test | A test for ketonuria; the suspected urine is shaken up with a few drops of sodium nitroprusside, and strong ammonia water is then gently poured over the mixture; if acetone is present, a magenta ring forms at the line of contact; tablets containing sodium nitroprusside and alkali are now more commonly used. (05 Mar 2000) |
| achievement test | A standardised test used to measure acquired learning, e.g., competence in a specific subject area such as reading or arithmetic, in contrast to an intelligence test which is a useful index of potential ability or learning. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acidified serum test | Lysis of the patient's red cells in acidified fresh serum, specific for paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria. Synonym: Ham's test. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acid loading test | <nephrology> This is a test used in the diagnosis of renal tubular acidosis. The patient takes ammonium chloride capsules for 3 days to acidify the blood (lower blood pH). A sample of the urine and the blood is then collected and the results are interpreted. (27 Sep 1997) |