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