| allergy shots | See Allergy desensitization. (12 Dec 1998) |
|---|---|
| allergy skin test | Test done on the skin to identify the allergy substance (allergen) triggering the allergic reaction. A small amount of the suspected allergy substance is placed on the skin. The skin is then gently scratched through the small drop with a special sterile needle. If the skin reddens and, more importantly, swells, then allergy to that substance is probable. (12 Dec 1998) |
| allergy testing | <investigation> A common method of screening a patient for potential allergies. May be given as a patch or a skin test (injection). (27 Sep 1997) |
| Allescheria boydii | A species of fungus that causes eumycotic mycetoma and pseuallescheriasis; its conidial (asexual) state is Scedosporium apiospermum. Synonym: Allescheria boydii. (05 Mar 2000) |
| allesthesia | Synonym: allochiria. Origin: G. Allos, other, + aisthesis, sensation (05 Mar 2000) |
| allethrin | <chemical> Synthetic analogs of the naturally occuring insecticide cinerin, jasmolin, and pyrethrin. Pharmacological action: insecticide. Chemical name: Cyclopropanecarboxylic acid, 2,2-dimethyl-3-(2-methyl-1-propenyl)-, 2-methyl-4-oxo-3-(2-propenyl)-2-cyclopenten-1-yl ester (12 Dec 1998) |
| allethrins | Allethrolone esters of chrysanthemum-monocarboxylic acids and synthetic analogs of pyrethrins, which are pyrethrolone esters of the same acids; viscous liquids, insoluble in water, that can be absorbed by lungs, skin, and mucous membranes and may cause liver and kidney injury, with lung congestion; used as an insecticide. (05 Mar 2000) |
| allethrolone | 2-Methyl-4-oxo-3-(2-propenyl)-2-cyclopentenol;an analog of pyrethrolone (2-propenyl replacing the 2,4-pentadienyl group) used in allethrins. (05 Mar 2000) |
| alleviate | 1. To lighten or lessen the force or weight of. "Should no others join capable to alleviate the expense." (Evelyn) "Those large bladders . . . Conduce much to the alleviating of the body [of flying birds]" (Ray) 2. To lighten or lessen (physical or mental troubles); to mitigate, or make easier to be endured; as, to alleviate sorrow, pain, care, etc.; opposed to aggravate. "The calamity of the want of the sense of hearing is much alleviated by giving the use of letters." (Bp. Horsley) 3. To extenuate; to palliate. "He alleviates his fault by an excuse." (Johnson) Synonym: To lessen, diminish, soften, mitigate, assuage, abate, relieve, nullify, allay. To Alleviate, Mitigate, Assuage, Allay. These words have in common the idea of relief from some painful state; and being all figurative, they differ in their application, according to the image under which this idea is presented. Alleviate supposes a load which is lightened or taken off; as, to alleviate one's cares. Mitigate supposes something fierce which is made mild; as, to mitigate one's anguish. Assuage supposes something violent which is quieted; as, to assuage one's sorrow. Allay supposes something previously excited, but now brought down; as, to allay one's suffering or one's thirst. To alleviate the distresses of life; to mitigate the fierceness of passion or the violence of grief; to assuage angry feeling; to allay wounded sensibility. Origin: LL. Alleviare, fr. L. Ad + levis light. See Alegge, Levity. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| alleviation | 1. The act of relieving, or the state of being relieved; the removal, or partial removal, of any evil, or of anything oppressive or burdensome, by which some ease is obtained; succor; alleviation; comfort; ease; redress. "He seec the dire contagion spread so fast, That, where it seizes, all relief is vain." (Dryden) 2. Release from a post, or from the performance of duty, by the intervention of others, by discharge, or by relay; as, a relief of a sentry. "For this relief much thanks;;tis bitter cold." (Shak) 3. That which removes or lessenc evil, pain, discomfort, uneasiness, etc.; that which gives succor, aid, or comfort; also, the person who relieves from performance of duty by taking the place of another; a relay. 4. A fine or composition which the heir of a deceased tenant paid to the lord for the privilege of taking up the estate, which, on strict feudal principles, had lapsed or fallen to the lord on the death of the tenant. 5. The projection of a figure above the ground or plane on wwhich it is formed. Relief is of three kinds, namely, high relief (altorilievo), low relief, (basso-rilievo), and demirelief (mezzo-rilievo). See these terms in the Vocabulary. 6. The appearance of projection given by shading, shadow, etc, to any figure. 7. The height to which works are raised above the bottom of the ditch. 8. <physics> The elevations and surface undulations of a country. Relief valve, a valve arranged for relieving pressure of steam, gas, or liquid; an escape valve. Synonym: Alleviation, mitigation, aid, help, succor, assistance, remedy, redress, indemnification. Origin: OE. Relef, F. Relief, properly, a lifting up, a standing out. See Relieve, and cf. Basrelief, Rilievi. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| allheal | A name popularly given to the officinal valerian, and to some other plants. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| alliance | 1. The state of being allied; the act of allying or uniting; a union or connection of interests between families, states, parties, etc, especially between families by marriage and states by compact, treaty, or league; as, matrimonial alliances; an alliance between church and state; an alliance between France and England. 2. Any union resembling that of families or states; union by relationship in qualities; affinity. "The alliance of the principles of the world with those of the gospel." (C. J. Smith) "The alliance . . . Between logic and metaphysics." (Mansel) 3. The persons or parties allied. Synonym: Connection, affinity, union, confederacy, confederation, league, coalition. Origin: OE. Aliaunce, OF. Aliance, F. Alliance, fr. OF. Alier, F. Allier. See Ally, and cf. LL. Alligantia. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| allied health occupations | Occupations of medical personnel who are not physicians, and are qualified by special training and, frequently, by licensure to work in supporting roles in the health care field. These occupations include, but are not limited to, medical technology, physical therapy, physician assistant, etc. (12 Dec 1998) |
| allied health personnel | Health care workers specially trained and licensed to assist and support the work of health professionals. Often used synonymously with paramedical personnel, the term generally refers to all health care workers who perform tasks which must otherwise be performed by a physician or other health professional. (12 Dec 1998) |
| allied health professional | An individual trained to perform services in the care of patients other than a physician or registered nurse; includes a variety of therapy technicians (e.g., pulmonary), radiology technicians, physical therapists, etc. (05 Mar 2000) |