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Tachycardia: An abnormally rapid resting heart beat or pulse rate (over
100/min)
Tactile: Pertaining to the sense of touch.
Tannins:
Any of a large group of
plant-derived compounds. Tannins tend to be bitter tasting and may function
in pigment formation and plant protection.
Target
cell: A cell whose activity is affected by a particular hormone.
Tetany:
A condition of prolonged and
painful spasms of the voluntary muscles, especially the fingers and toes
(carpopedal spasm) as well as the facial musculature.
Tertile:
One third of a sample or
population.
Thalassemia major:
Beta thalassemia is a genetic
disorder that results in abnormalities of the globin (protein) portion of
hemoglobin. An individual who is homozygous for the beta thalassemia gene
(has two copies of the beta thalassemia gene) is said to have thalassemia
major. Infants born with thalassemia major develop severe anemia a few
months after birth, accompanied by pallor, fatigue, poor growth, and
frequent infections. Blood transfusions are used to treat thalassemia major
but cannot cure it.
Thalassemia minor:
Individuals who are
heterozygous for the beta thalassemia gene (carry one copy of the beta
thalassemia gene) are said to have thalassemia minor or thalassemia trait.
These individuals are generally healthy but can pass the beta thalassemia
gene to their children and are said to be carriers of the beta thalassemia
gene.
Threshold:
The point at which a
physiological effect begins to be produced, for example, the degree of
stimulation of a nerve which produces a response or the level of a chemical
in the diet that results in a disease.
Thyroid:
A butterfly-shaped gland in
the neck that secretes thyroid hormones. Thyroid hormones regulate a number
of physiologic processes, including growth, development, metabolism, and
reproductive function.
Thyroid follicular cancer:
A cancer of the thyroid gland
that constitutes about 30% of all thyroid cancers. It has a greater rate of
recurrence and metastases (spreading to other organs) than thyroid papillary
cancer.
Thyroid papillary cancer:
The most common form of
thyroid cancer, which most often affects women of childbearing age. Thyroid
papillary cancer has a lower rate of recurrence and metastases (spreading to
other organs) than thyroid follicular cancer.
Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN):
Intravenous (I.V.) feeding
that provides patients with essential nutrients when they are too ill to eat
normally.
Transcription:
(DNA or transcription); the
process by which one strand of DNA is copied into a complementary sequence
of RNA.
Transcription factor:
Generally a protein that
functions to initiate, enhance, or inhibit the transcription of a gene.
Transcription factors can regulate the formation of a specific protein
encoded by a gene.
Transient ischemic attack (TIA):
Sometimes called a small or
mini stroke. TIAs are caused by a temporary disturbance of blood supply to
an area of the brain, resulting in a sudden, brief (usually less than 1
hour) disruptions in certain brain functions.
Translation:
(RNA translation) process by
which the sequence of nucleotides in a messenger RNA molecule directs the
incorporation of amino acids into a protein.
Trauma:
An injury or wound.
Tremor:
Trembling or shaking of all or
a part of the body.
Triglycerides:
A triglyceride consists of
three molecules of fatty acid combined with a molecule of the alcohol
glycerol. Triglycerides serve as the backbone of many types of lipids
(fats). Triglycerides are the major form of fat in our diets and are also
produced by the body.
Tuberculosis:
An infection caused by
bacteria called mycobacteria tuberculosis. Many people infected with
tuberculosis have no symptoms because it is dormant. Once active,
tuberculosis may cause damage to the lungs and other organs. Active
tuberculosis is also contagious and is spread through inhalation. Treatment
of tuberculosis involves taking antibiotics and vitamins for at least 6
months.
Typhoid:
An infectious disease, spread
by the contamination of food or water supplies with the bacteria called
salmonella typhi. Food and water can be contaminated directly by sewage or
indirectly by flies or poor hygiene. Though rare in the U.S., it is common
in some parts of the world. Symptoms include fever, abdominal pain,
diarrhea, and a rash. It is treated with antibiotics and intravenous fluids.
Vaccination is recommended to those traveling to areas where typhoid is
common. |
