the first stage of the research process
basic science - in which researchers work to identify a technology that will limit or prevent the disease process, in a lab with animals or cell cultures
the second stage of the research process
small number of human subjects to determine if the therapy is safe for humans
the third stage of the research process
takes place if the results of the previous research are positive; the majority of therapies do not make it to this point
usually double blind studies
biopsy
excision of very small amounts of living tissues
diagnosis
refers to the identification of a specific disease through evaluation of signs and symptoms, lab tests, or other tools
etiology
concerns the causative factors in a particular disease, may be multiple causative factors
idiopathic
cause of the disease is unknown
iatrogenic
a treatment, a procedure, or an error may cause a disease
predisposing factors
encompass the tendencies that promote development of a disease in an individual
indicates high-risk for the disease
prophylaxis
a measure designed to preserve health and prevent the spread of disease
prevention
closely linked to etiology and predisposing factors for a specific disease
pathogenesis
development of the disease or the sequence of events involved in the tissue changes related to the specific disease process
onset
may be sudden and obvious or acute or insidious
acute disease
indicates a short-term illness that develops quickly with marked signs such as high fever or severe pain
chronic disease
often a milder condition that develops gradually but that persists for a long time and usually causes more permanent tissue damage
subclinical
exists in some conditions in which pathologic changes occur but the patient exhibits no obvious manifestations, perhaps because of the great reserve capacity of some organs
latent
initial stage with no clinical signs are evident, characterizes some diseases, in infectious diseases this stage may be referred to as the incubation period
prodromal
comprises the time in the early development of a disease when one is aware of a change in the body but the signs are nonspecific
manifestations
clinical evidence effects of a disease, the signs and symptoms, of disease
signs
objective indicators of disease that are obvious to someone other than the affected individual
symptoms
subjective feelings, such as pain or nausea
lesion
the term used to describe a specific local change in the tissue
syndrome
a collection of signs and symptoms
often affecting more than one organ
diagnostic tests
laboratory tests that assist in the diagnosis of a specific disease
the appropriate tests are ordered based on patient's manifestations
remissions
a period or condition in which the manifestations of the disease subside, either permanently or temporarily
exacerbation
a worsening in the severity of the disease or in its signs/symptoms
precipitating factor
a condition that triggers an acute episode, such as a seizure in an individual with a seizure disorder
therapy
therapeutic interventions are treatment measures used to promote recovery or slow the progress of a disease
sequelae
are the potential unwanted outcomes in the primary condition
convalescence
the period of recovery and return to the normal healthy state, it may last for several days or months
prognosis
the probability or likelihood for recovery or other outcomes
morbidity
indicates the disease rates within a group; this term is sometimes used to indicate the functional impairment that certain conditions such as stroke cause within a population
mortality
figure indicate the relative number of deaths resulting from a particular disease
autopsy
performed after death to determine the exact cause of death
epidemiology
the science of tracking the pattern or occurrence of disease
occurrence
tracked by recording two factors: the incidence and the prevalence
epidemics
occur when there are a higher than expected number of cases of an infectious disease within a given area
communicable
diseases are infections that can be spread from one person to another
notifiable diseases
must be reported by the physician to certain designated authorities
atrophy
refers to a decrease in the size of cells, resulting in a reduced tissue mass
hypertrophy
refers to an increase in the size of individual cells, resulting in an enlarged tissue mass
hyperplasia
defined as an increased number of cells resulting in an enlarged tissue mass
metaplsia
occurs when one mature cell type is replaced by a different mature cell type
may result in deficit of vitamin A
dysplasia
tissue in which the cells vary in size and shape, large nuclei are frequently present, and the rate of mitosis is increased
anaplasia
refers to cells that are undifferentiated with variable nuclear and cell structures and numerous mitotic figures
neoplasia
new growth
tumor
apoptosis
programmed cell death
necrosis
refers to the death of one or more cells or a portion of tissue or organ as a result of irreversible damage and not a programmed cellular event
ischemia
a decreased supply of oxygenated blood to a tissue or organ, owing to circulatory obstruction
hypoxia
reduced oxygen in the tissue
anaerobic
metabolism occurs in the cell in the absence of oxygen
pyroptosis
certain types of intracellular microorganisms induce a type of cell death
lysis
dissolution of the cell
lysosomal
destructive enzymes
inflammation
swelling, redness, and pain
morphologic
structural
liquefaction necrosis
refers to the process by which dead cells liquefy under the influence of certain cell enzymes
coagulative necrosis
occurs when the cell proteins are altered or denatured, and the cells retain some form for a time after death
fat necrosis
occurs when fatty tissue is broken down into fatty acids in the presence of infection or certain enzymes
caseous necrosis
a form of coagulation necrosis in which a thick, yellowish, "cheesy" substance forms
infraction
the term applied to an area of dead cells resulting from lack oxygen
gangrene
an area of necrotic tissue, usually associated with a lack or loss of blood supply that is followed by invasion of bacteria