Medical Glossary

This glossary contains:
19186
medical terms

BLAST




BLAST

Abbreviation for Basic Local Alignment Search Tool, a computer program that identifies homologous genes in different organisms (such as worms, the fruit fly, mice, and humans). Homologous genes are genes in different species that share similar structures and functions.

RELATED TERMS
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Local
In the area of the tumor; confined to one specific area.

Homologous
Of similar structure.

Genes
Basic, functional units of heredity, each occupying a specific place on a chromosome.



SIMILAR TERMS
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Blast phase
Refers to advanced chronic myelogenous leukemia. In this phase, the number of immature, abnormal white blood cells in the bone marrow and blood is extremely high. Also called blast crisis.

Blastocoel
The fluid-filled cavity within the blastula.

Blastocyst
The developmental stage of the fertilized ovum by the time it is ready to implant; formed from the morula and consists of an inner cell mass, an internal cavity, and an outer layer of cells (the trophoblast).

Blastocyst cavity
The fluid-filled cavity within the blastocyst, sometimes referred to as the blastocoel.

Blastocystis hominis
The parasitic organism that causes blastocystosis. See Blastocystosis.

Blastocystis infection
See: Blastocystosis.

Blastocystosis
Infection with Blastocystis hominis, a common microscopic parasite found worldwide. Symptoms may include watery or loose stools, diarrhea, abdominal pain, anal itching, weight loss, and excess gas. Some people have no symptoms. The organism can remain in the intestines for weeks, months, or years. Diagnosis requires finding it in the stool, How Blastocystis is transmitted is unknown, although the number of people infected seems to increase in areas where sanitation and personal hygiene is inadequate. Treatment is with the antibiotics metronidazole or iodoquinol.

Blastokinin
See: Uteroglobin.

Blastoma
"A tumor thought to arise in embryonic tissue. The term ""blastoma"" is commonly used as part of the name for a tumor as, for examples, in glioblastoma and medulloblastoma (types of brain tumors), hepatoblastoma (a liver tumor), nephroblastoma ( Wilms tumor of the kidney), neuroblastoma (a childhood tumor of neural origin), osteoblastoma (a bone tumor) and retinoblastoma (a tumor of the retina)."

Blastomere
A cell from a morula-stage embryo.

Blastomyces dermatitidis
The fungus that causes a disease called blastomycosis.

Blastomycosis
Infection with a fungus called Blastomyces dermatitidis. The infection causes symptoms in about 50% of cases. It usually presents as a flu-like illness with fever, chills, productive cough, myalgia, arthralgia and pleuritic chest pain. Some patients fail to recover and develop chronic pulmonary infection or widespread disseminated infection (affecting the skin, bones, and genitourinary tract). It occasionally affects the meninges which cover the brain and spinal cord.

Blasts
"Immature blood cells. Leukemic blasts do not grow and age normally; they proliferate wildly and fail to mature."

Blastula
Term (often used in lower vertebrates) to describe an early stage in the development of an embryo consisting of a hollow sphere of cells enclosing a fluid-filled cavity called the blastocoel. The term blastula sometimes is used interchangeably with blastocyst.



PREVIOUS AND NEXT TERMS
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Bladder inflammation
"Inflammation of the urinary bladder. Also called cystitis. Can be due to infection from bacteria that ascend the urethra (the canal from the outside) to the bladder. Symptoms include a frequent need to urinate, often accompanied by a burning sensation. As cystitis progresses, blood may be observed in the urine and the patient may suffer cramps after urination. In young children, attempts to avoid the pain of cystitis can be a cause for daytime wetting (enuresis). Treatment includes avoiding irritants, such as perfumed soaps, near the urethral opening; increased fluid intake; and, for infectious cystitis, antibiotics. Untreated cystitis can lead to scarring and the formation of stones when urine is retained for long periods of time to avoid painful urination. "

Bladder pain
Pain from the urinary bladder.

Bladder, overactive
A sudden involuntary contraction of the muscular wall of the bladder causing urinary urgency, an immediate unstoppable need to urinate. It is a form of urinary incontinence (the unintentional loss of urine) and affects about 1 in 11 adults, particularly older adults. Treatment may include pelvic muscle strengthening, behavioral therapy, and medications. Also called urge incontinence.

Blade bone
Familiar term for the scapula, also called the shoulder blade or wing bone, the flat triangular bone at the back of the shoulder.

Blalock-Taussig operation
A pioneering heart operation named after the American surgeon Alfred Blalock (1899-1964) and the pediatric cardiologist Helen B. Taussig (1898-1986).

BLAST

Blast phase
Refers to advanced chronic myelogenous leukemia. In this phase, the number of immature, abnormal white blood cells in the bone marrow and blood is extremely high. Also called blast crisis.

Blastocystis hominis
The parasitic organism that causes blastocystosis. See Blastocystosis.

Blastocystis infection
See: Blastocystosis.

Blastocystosis
Infection with Blastocystis hominis, a common microscopic parasite found worldwide. Symptoms may include watery or loose stools, diarrhea, abdominal pain, anal itching, weight loss, and excess gas. Some people have no symptoms. The organism can remain in the intestines for weeks, months, or years. Diagnosis requires finding it in the stool, How Blastocystis is transmitted is unknown, although the number of people infected seems to increase in areas where sanitation and personal hygiene is inadequate. Treatment is with the antibiotics metronidazole or iodoquinol.

Blastokinin
See: Uteroglobin.

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This dictionary contains 19186 terms.







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