| syndrome, toxic shock | A grave condition occurring predominantly in menstruating women using tampons, toxic shock is characterised by a highly toxic state (with sudden high fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle aching) followed by low blood pressure (hypotension) which can lead to shock (and death). There may be a rash resembling sunburn with peeling of skin. The channing laboratory in boston under dr. Edw. Kass discovered that toxic shock was due to a toxin produced by staph (staphylococcus) aureus bacteria growing under conditions with little or no oxygen. The syndrome occurs rarely in women not using tampons and in men. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| systolic shock | The abnormally palpable impact, appreciated by a hand on the chest wall, of an accentuated first heart sound. (05 Mar 2000) |
| diastolic shock | The abnormally palpable impact, appreciated by a hand on the chest wall, of an accentuated third heart sound. (05 Mar 2000) |
| distributive shock | <physiology> A form of shock (low oxygen delivery to the tissues) that results from a decline in vascular tone. This net result is pooling of unoxygenated blood in the tissues. (11 Jan 1998) |
| double-shock sound | Applied by J. B. Bouillaud to describe the cadence of a split-second heart sound, or of the second sound followed by an opening snap or early third heart sound. Synonym: double-shock sound. Origin: Fr. Drum-beat (05 Mar 2000) |
| drosophila heat-shock protein | <protein> Proteins which are immediately produced when the Drosophila fruit fly is exposed for a short time to extreme heat or other stress, such as toxic substances or alcohol. (09 Oct 1997) |
| insulin shock | A severe condition that occurs when the level of blood glucose (sugar) drops quickly. The signs are shaking, sweating, dizziness, double vision, convulsions, and collapse. Insulin shock may occur when an insulin reaction is not treated quickly enough. See: hypoglycaemia. (09 Oct 1997) |
| insulin shock treatment | Formerly used treatment for serious mental disorders in which the patient was given insulin to induce a seizure; supplanted by electroshock therapy. (05 Mar 2000) |
| irreversible shock | Shock that has progressed beyond the stage when it will respond to transfusion or other form of treatment, and recovery is impossible. (05 Mar 2000) |
| oligaemic shock | Shock associated with pronounced fall in blood volume, sometimes resulting from increased permeability of blood vessels. (05 Mar 2000) |
| osmotic shock | Passage of solvent into a membrane bound structure due to osmosis, causing rupture of the membrane. A method of lysing cells or organelles. (18 Nov 1997) |
| electric shock | A sudden violent impression caused by the passage of a current of electricity through any portion of the body. (05 Mar 2000) |
| electrohydraulic shock wave lithotripsy | Destruction of calculi (urinary tract or other) by fragmentation using shock waves sent transcutaneously. (05 Mar 2000) |
| toxic shock | See toxic shock syndrome. (12 Dec 1998) |
| toxic shock syndrome | <syndrome> A blood-borne bacterial infection caused by the genus Staphylococcus. Usually effects menstruating females under the age of thirty and was associated in the past with the use of a particular type of tampon (no longer used). Common symptoms include: fever, chills, vomiting, sore throat, headache and decreased urine output. Progression of disease can result in lowering of blood pressure (shock) and renal failure. Treatment includes hospitalisation and intravenous antibiotics emergently. (27 Sep 1997) |