| diphtheritic conjunctivitis | A severe conjunctival inflammation caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae and characterised by an infiltrating membrane which on removal leaves a raw surface. Synonym: membranous conjunctivitis. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| diphtheritic enteritis | Enteritis with the formation of a membrane or a false membrane. See: pseudomembranous enterocolitis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| diphtheritic membrane | The false membrane forming on the mucous surfaces in diphtheria. (05 Mar 2000) |
| diphtheritic neuropathy | A rapidly developing peripheral neuropathy caused by a toxin elaborated by Corynebacterium diphtheriae. (05 Mar 2000) |
| diphtheritic paralysis | <otolaryngology> Paralysis affecting the uvula most frequently, but also any other muscle, due to toxic neuritis; usually appears in the second or third week following the beginning of the attack of diphtheria. Synonym: diphtheritic paralysis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| diphtheritic ulcer | An ulcer covered with a gray adherent membrane, caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae. (05 Mar 2000) |
| diphtheritis | <infectious disease> An acute infectious disease caused by toxigenic strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae, acquired by contact with an infected person or a carrier of the disease, which is usually confined to the upper respiratory tract. It is characterised by the formation of a tough membrane (false membrane or pseudomembrane) attached firmly to the underlying tissue that will bleed if forcibly removed. In the most serious infections the membrane begins in the tonsillar (faucial) area on one tonsil and may spread to involve the other tonsil, uvula, soft palate and pharyngeal wall, from where it may extend to the larynx, trachea and bronchial tree and may cause bronchial obstruction and death by hypoxia. Diphtheria also occurs in a cutaneous form and may rarely involve the eyes, middle ear, buccal mucosa, genitalia and umbilical stump, usually secondarily. Systemic effects, chiefly myocarditis and peripheral neuritis, are caused by the exotoxin produced by C. Diphtheriae. Synonym: Bretonneau's angina. Origin: Gr. Diphthera = leather (18 Nov 1997) |
| diphtheroid | 1. One of a group of local infections suggesting diphtheria, but caused by microorganisms other than Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Synonym: Epstein's disease, false diphtheria, pseudodiphtheria. 2. Any microorganism resembling Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Origin: diphtheria + G. Eidos, resemblance (05 Mar 2000) |
| diphtherotoxin | The toxin of diphtheria. (05 Mar 2000) |
| diphthine methyltransferase | <enzyme> Catalyses the transfer of three methyl groups from 5-adenosylmethionine to 2-(3-carboxy-3-aminopropyl)histidine (cg-1 precursor) to the amino group on carbon 3 of the side chain to form diphthine, a post-translational modified histidine Registry number: EC 2.1.1.- Synonym: met-ef-2 methyltransferase (26 Jun 1999) |
| diphthong | Origin: L. Diphthongus, Gr.; = twice + voice, sound, fr. To utter a sound: cf. F. Diphthongue] A coalition or union of two vowel sounds pronounced in one syllable; as, ou in out, oi in noise; called a proper diphthong. A vowel digraph; a union of two vowels in the same syllable, only one of them being sounded; as, ai in rain, eo in people; called an improper diphthong. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| diphycercal | <anatomy> Having the tail fin divided into two equal parts by the notochord, or end of the vertebral column; protocercal. See Protocercal. Origin: Gr. Double (= twice + to produce) + tail. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| diphygenic | <zoology> Having two modes of embryonic development. Origin: Gr. Of doubl from + -genic. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| diphyllobothriasis | An infection caused by the fish tapeworm, Diphyllobothrium latum, one of the giant tapeworm species. Humans may get infected after eating undercooked fish that contain tapeworm larvae. Fish tapeworms are more common in cold, fresh water lakes such as the Great Lakes area. The adult worm grows in the intestine to lengths up to 30 feet. Segments of the worm and blood may occasionally be passed in the stools. Infection can also lead to vitamin B12 deficiency. Diagnosis is via microscopic examination of the stools. Treatment is with single dose niclosamide. (27 Sep 1997) |
| diphyllobothrium | A genus of tapeworm containing several species which occurs in the intestine of fish, birds, and mammals including man. Infection in humans is usually by eating uncooked fish. The larval stage is known as sparganum. (12 Dec 1998) |