| immunity, mucosal | Nonsusceptibility to the pathogenic effects of foreign microorganisms or antigenic substances as a result of antibody secretions of the mucous membranes. Mucosal epithelia in the gastrointestinal, respiratory, and reproductive tracts produce a form of IgA (IgA, secretory) that serves to protect these ports of entry into the body. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| immunity, natural | The capacity of a normal organism to remain unaffected by microorganisms and their toxins. It results from non-specific mechanisms such as genetic endowment, naturally occurring antiviral and bactericidal substances, phagocytosis, and constitutional factors such as body temperature, oxygen tension, and age. (12 Dec 1998) |
| infection immunity | The paradoxical immune status in which resistance to reinfection coincides with the persistence of the original infection. Synonym: concomitant immunity. (05 Mar 2000) |
| innate immunity | This includes local barriers to infection such as skin, stomach acid, mucous, the cough reflex, enzymes in tears and saliva and skin oils. (27 Sep 1997) |
| local immunity | A natural or acquired immunity to certain infectious agents, as manifested by an organ or a tissue, as a whole or in part. (05 Mar 2000) |
| benign familial chorea | A rare, nonprogressive movement disorder characterised by chorea and athetosis appearing in early childhood, most commonly manifested as gait ataxia and upper limb coordination. Intellect is unaffected. Probably autosomal-dominance inheritance with incomplete penetrance. (05 Mar 2000) |
| benign familial chronic pemphigus | Recurrent eruption of vesicles and bullae that become scaling and crusted lesions with vesicular borders, predominantly of the neck, groin, and axillary regions; autosomal dominant inheritance, presenting in late adolescence or early adult life. Synonym: Hailey-Hailey disease. (05 Mar 2000) |
| benign familial icterus | Mild jaundice due to increased amounts of unconjugated bilirubin in the plasma without evidence of liver damage, biliary obstruction, or haemolysis; thought to be due to an inborn error of metabolism in which the excretion of bilirubin by the liver is defective, ascribed to decreased conjugation of bilirubin as a glucuronide or impaired uptake of hepatic bilirubin. Synonym: benign familial icterus, constitutional hepatic dysfunction, Gilbert's disease, Gilbert's syndrome, Hebra's disease. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cancer, breast, familial | A number of factors have been identified that increase the risk of breast cancer. One of the strongest of these risk factors is the history of breast cancer in a relative. About 15-20% of women with breast cancer have such a family history of the disease, clearly reflecting the participation of inherited (genetic) components in the development of some breast cancers. Dominant breast cancer suceptibility genes, including BRCA1 and BRCA2, appear responsible for about 5% of all breast cancer. (12 Dec 1998) |
| paralysis, familial periodic | An autosomal dominant trait marked by recurring attacks of rapidly progressive flaccid paralysis. There are three types: I, associated with a fall in serum potassium levels (hypokalaemic periodic paralysis); II, associated with a rise therein (hyperkalaemic periodic paralysis, called also adynamia episodica hereditaria); and III, with normal levels (normokalaemic periodic paralysis). (12 Dec 1998) |
| pemphigus, benign familial | Rare hereditary disease characterised by recurrent eruptions of vesicles and bullae mainly on the neck, axillae, and groin. It exhibits autosomal dominant inheritance and is unrelated to pemphigus vulgaris though it closely resembles that disease. (12 Dec 1998) |
| chronic familial icterus | <haematology> A hereditary disorder that leads to a chronic haemolytic anaemia due to an abnormality in the red blood cell membrane. This disorder is caused by a defective gene. Red cells are resistant to stress and rupture easily. Infants may appear jaundiced and pale. Fatigue, weakness and shortness of breath are other symptoms that may be seen in older patients. The spleen may also be enlarged. Treatment includes splenectomy (removal of the spleen). After this is accomplished the life-span of the red blood cells returns to normal. (27 Sep 1997) |
| chronic familial jaundice | <haematology> A hereditary disorder that leads to a chronic haemolytic anaemia due to an abnormality in the red blood cell membrane. This disorder is caused by a defective gene. Red cells are resistant to stress and rupture easily. Infants may appear jaundiced and pale. Fatigue, weakness and shortness of breath are other symptoms that may be seen in older patients. The spleen may also be enlarged. Treatment includes splenectomy (removal of the spleen). After this is accomplished the life-span of the red blood cells returns to normal. (27 Sep 1997) |
| chronic familial polyneuritis | Inflammation of nerves related to infiltration by amyloid. (05 Mar 2000) |
| mixed hyperlipoproteinaemia familial | Type 5 hyperlipidemia, elevations of VLDL and chylomicrons found in plasma. Synonym: mixed hyperlipidemia. (05 Mar 2000) |