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STD Related Terms

- I -

  • Immune Deficiency

  • A breakdown or inability of certain parts of the immune system to function, thus making a person susceptible to certain diseases that they would have not contracted with a healthy immune system. Immune deficiencies may be temporary or permanent and be triggered by genetic mutation, therapy with immune-suppressive drugs (as during organ transplants) or an infection such as HIV.

  • Immune System

  • The body's complicated natural defense against disruption caused by invading microbes and cancers. There are two aspects of the immune system's response to disease: innate and acquired. The innate part of the response is mobilized very quickly in response to infection and does not depend on recognizing specific proteins or antigens (see) foreign to an individual's normal tissue. It includes complement, macrophages, dendritic cells and granulocytes. The acquired, or learned, immune response arises when dendritic cells and macrophages present pieces of antigen to lymphocytes, which are genetically programmed to recognize very specific amino acid sequences. The ultimate result is the creation of cloned populations of antibody-producing B-cells and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (see) primed to respond to a unique pathogen.

  • Immunity

  • Protection against disease. Immunity can be achieved for hepatitis B through vaccination. Vaccines which can provide immunity from herpes and HPV are being tested.

  • Immunocompetent

  • Refers to an immune system capable of developing a normal protective response when confronted with invading microbes or cancer.

  • Immunocompromised

  • Refers to an immune system in which the response to infections and tumors is subnormal.

  • Immunosuppression

  • Weakening of the immune response that occurs with HIV infection as well as with some antiviral or anticancer treatments.

  • Immunotherapy

  • Treatment aimed at reconstituting an impaired immune system. Examples of experimental immunotherapies for AIDS include passive hyperimmune therapy (PHT), IL-2 and therapeutic vaccines.

  • In Vitro

  • Refers to laboratory experiments conducted in cell cultures grown in an artificial environment, for example in a test tube or culture plate.

  • In Vivo

  • Refers to studies conducted within humans or animals, in a living, natural environment.

  • Inflammation

  • The body's response to tissue injury or infection which occurs in the affected tissues and adjacent blood vessels. The blood vessels' permeability is increased, and the area becomes heavily populated with white blood cells. Signs of inflammation are redness, swelling, pain, and sometimes loss of function. Not all of these signs are necessarily present in any given case.

  • Informed Consent

  • The ability of people receiving experimental therapies to make competent decisions about their medical care. Patients are provided with an 'informed consent form,' which indicates the potential risks, benefits and alternatives to the therapy in question. If a clinical trial is involved, the trial protocol also is outlined, especially what participants will experience. After reading the informed consent form, individuals sign it to indicate that they understand its contents and agree to proceed with therapy under the conditions it outlines.

  • Interferon

  • A type of biological therapy, treatment that can improve the body's natural response to disease. It slows the rate of growth and division of cancer cells, causing them to become sluggish and die.

  • Intraepithelial

  • Within the layer of cells that forms the surface or lining of an organ.

  • Intravenous (IV)

  • Injected directly into a vein.

  • Intravenous Pyelogram

  • A series of x-rays of the kidneys and bladder. The x-rays are taken after a dye that shows up on x-ray film is injected into a vein. Also called IVP.

  • Invasive Cervical Cancer

  • Cancer that has spread from the surface of the cervix to tissue deeper in the cervix or to other parts of the body.


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STD Terms


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