Medical Dictionary Definitions A-Z List
Medical Dictionary Definitions A - Z - «I»:
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Index case
Index case: A person who first draws attention to their family.
For example, if my eye doctor discovers I have glaucoma and subsequently other cases of
glaucoma are found in my family, I am the index case. Also called the propositus (if male)
or proposita (if female)....
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Index, body mass (BMI)
Index, body mass (BMI): An index that relates
body weight to height. The body mass index (BMI) is obtained by dividing a person's weight in kilograms (kg) by their height in meters (m) squared.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) now defines normal weight, overweight, and obesity according to t...
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Indian Health Service (IHS)
Indian Health Service (IHS): A part of the U.S. Public Health Service within the US Department of Health and Human Services, the Indian Health Service (IHS) is responsible for providing federal health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives.
The IHS is the principal federal health care prov...
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Indian meal moth
Indian meal moth: See: Meal moth....
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Indicate
Indicate: In medicine, to make a treatment or procedure advisable because of a particular condition or circumstance. For example, certain medications are indicated for the treatment of hypertension during pregnancy while others are contraindicated....
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Indication
Indication: 1. In medicine, a condition which makes a particular treatment or procedure advisable. CML (chronic myeloid leukemia) is an indication for the use of Gleevec (imatinib mesylate).
2. A sign or a circumstance which points to or shows the cause, pathology, treatment, or outcome of an attac...
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Indifferent gonad
Indifferent gonad: In embryonic life, the gonad in males
and females is initially identical. This gonad is said to be
"indifferent" before it differentiates into a definitive testis or
ovary. An indifferent gonad becomes a testis if the embryo has a Y
chromosome, but if the embryo has no Y chrom...
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Indirect immunofluorescence assay
Indirect immunofluorescence assay: A laboratory test used to detect antibodies in serum or other body fluid. The specific antibodies are labeled with a compound that makes them glow an apple-green color when observed microscopically under ultraviolet light....
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Indolent lymphoma
Indolent lymphoma: A lymphoma that tends to grow and spread slowly, in contrast to an aggressive lymphoma which tends to grow and spread quickly. Indolent lymphomas include chronic lymphocytic lymphoma and follicular small cleaved cell lymphoma. Also called low-grade lymphoma....
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Induced abortion
Induced abortion: An abortion that is brought about intentionally. Also called an artificial or therapeutic abortion. As opposed to a spontaneous abortion (a miscarriage)....
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Induced disease by proxy
Induced disease by proxy: See: Munchhausen syndrome by proxy....
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Induced menopause
Induced menopause (and "menopause, induced"):
Menopause induced
by an unusual event, such as occurs when the ovaries are damaged by radiation,
chemotherapy or other medications; or as occurs when the ovaries are surgically
removed (by bilateral oophorectomy).
Induced menopause is distinct from...
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Induction therapy
Induction therapy: Treatment designed as a first step toward reducing the number of cancer cells. Often just referred to as induction.
Induction may be followed by consolidation therapy and maintenance therapy. Consolidation is given to consolidate the gains obtained, further diminish the number o...
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Induration
Induration: Localized hardening of soft tissue of the body. The area becomes firm, but not as hard as bone....
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Industrial health
Industrial health: A branch of public health concerned with the health and well-being of workers. Its aims are to eliminate hazards and reduce industrial fatigue in the workplace....
