| thalassaemia minor | Also called thalassaemia trait, thalassaemia minor is the carrier state for beta thalassaemia. People who are carriers (heterozygotes) have just one thalassaemia gene, are said to have thalassaemia minor, and are essentially normal. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| thalassaemia, beta | Also known as thalassaemia major.The clinical picture of this important type of anaemia was first described in 1925 by the paediatrician thomas benton cooley. Other names for the disease are cooley's anaemia and mediterranean anaemia. The name thalassaemia was coined by the nobel prise winning pathologist george whipple and the professor of paediatrics wm bradford at u. Of rochester because thalassa in greek means the sea (like the mediterrranean sea) + -aemia means in the blood so thalassaemia means sea in the blood. Thalassaemia is not just one disease. It is a complex contingent of genetic (inherited) disorders all of which involve underproduction of haemoglobin, the indispensable molecule in red blood cells that carries oxygen. The globin part of normal adult haemoglobin is made up of 2 alpha and 2 beta polypeptide chains. In beta thalassaemia, there is a mutation (change) in both beta globin chains leading to underproduction (or absence) of beta chains, underproduction of haemoglobin, and profound anaemia. The gene for beta thalassaemia is relatively frequent in people of mediterranean origin (for example, from italy and greece). Children with this disease inherit one gene for it from each parent. The parents are carriers (heterozygotes) with just one thalassaemia gene, are said to have thalassaemia minor, and are essentially normal. Their children affected with beta thalassaemia seem entirely normal at birth because at birth we still have predominantly foetal haemoglobin which does not contain beta chains. The anaemia surfaces in the first few months after birth and becomes progressively more severe leading to pallor and easy fatiguability, failure to thrive (grow), bouts of fever (due to infections) and diarrhoea. Treatment based on blood transfusions is helpful but not curative. Gene therapy will, it is hoped, be applicable to this disease. (12 Dec 1998) |
| thalassian | <zoology> Any sea tortoise. Origin: From Gr. The sea. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| thalassic | <geology> Of or pertaining to the sea; sometimes applied to rocks formed from sediments deposited upon the sea bottom. Origin: Gr. The sea. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| thalassinian | <zoology> Any species of Thalaassinidae, a family of burrowing macrurous Crustacea, having a long and soft abdomen. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| thalassography | The study or science of the life of marine organisms. Origin: Gr. Sea. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| thalassophobia | <psychology> Morbid fear of the sea. Origin: G. Thalassa, the sea, + phobos, fear (05 Mar 2000) |
| thalassoposia | Synonym: mariposia. Origin: G. Thalassa, the sea, + posis, drinking (05 Mar 2000) |
| thalassotherapy | The therapeutic use of seaside resorts; includes treatment by sea air, sea voyages, and sea bathing. (12 Dec 1998) |
| thalia | That one of the nine Muses who presided over comedy. One of the three Graces. One of the Nereids. Origin: L, fr. Gr, originally, blooming, luxuriant, akin to to be luxuriant. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| thaliacea | <zoology> A division of Tunicata comprising the free-swimming species, such as Salpa and Doliolum. Origin: NL. See Thalia. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| thalidomide | <drug> Sedative drug that when taken between 3rd and 5th week of pregnancy produced a range of malformations of the foetus, in severe cases complete absence of limbs (amelia) or much reduced limb development (phocomelia). A teratogen. (18 Nov 1997) |
| thallate | <chemistry> A salt of a hypothetical thallic acid. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| thallene | <chemistry> A hydrocarbon obtained from coal-tar residues, and remarkable for its intense yellowish green fluorescence. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| thallic | <chemistry> Of or pertaining to thallium; derived from, or containing, thallium; specifically, designating those compounds in which the element has a higher valence as contrasted with the thallous compounds; as, thallic oxide. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |