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A T and R
Assessment, treatment and rehabilitation services for older people provided by hospitals. |
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Abdominal obesity
Accumulation of fat around the abdomen. This form of obesity is most associated with adverse health outcomes. |
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Ablation
Removal or excision of part of the body. |
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ACE (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme) inhibitor
A drug used in the treatment of hypertension and heart failure. |
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Acetylator status
Term used to describe the liver processing of isoniazid. |
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Active tuberculosis
This is diagnosed on the basis of microbiological, clinical and/or radiological evidence. Tuberculin reaction is usually positive. The disease process is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (usually M. tuberculosis or rarely M. bovis). The individual with active TB may or may not be infectious to others. When appropriate, histological features consistent with a TB granuloma would aid diagnosis. The diagnosis is unquestionable only if M. tuberculosis is cultured. |
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Activities of daily living (ADL)
This refers to the basic elements of personal care such as eating, washing and showering, grooming, walking, standing up from a chair and using the toilet. Instrumental ADL activities extend to non-personal care items such as shopping, cooking, gardening and driving. |
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Acupuncture
A Chinese therapeutic process where needles are used to stimulate acupucture points along meridians to enhance the healing process. |
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Added sugars
These are the sugars added to foods in production/processing. 'Added' sugars do not refer to sugars naturally occuring in fruits. 'Added' sugars have been defined as 'free sugars' by the WHO/FAO. 'Free sugars' refers to all monosaccharides and disaccharides added to foods by the manufacturer, cook or consumer plus sugars naturally occurring in honey, syrups and fruit juices'. |
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Adenoma
A non-cancerous growth in the lining of a bowel which can progress to cancer. Same as adenomatous polyp. |
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Adenomatous polyp
See adenoma. It is thought that a majority of CRCs develop from pre-existing adenomatous polyps; however, only a minority of adenomatous polyps are thought to progress to cancer. |
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Adjustment disorder
A psychological response to an identifiable stressor of greater than generally expected intensity but not meeting criteria for specific depressive or anxiety disorders. It is characterised by symptoms of depressed mood and/or anxiety symptoms. |
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ADL
Activities of Daily Living |
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Aerobic exercise
Exercise in which there is repetitive movement of large muscle groups. This exercise leads to increase in the uptake of oxygen. Hence in the term “aerobic”. The term in the past has been applied to high intensity exercise but it has now been broadened to include exercise that leads to increased oxygen uptake. |
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AFB
Acid-fast bacilli - the group of bacteria (almost exclusively mycobacteria) that are demonstrated microscopically through their positive reaction in stains such as Ziehl-Neelsen. |
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Affect
Observed emotional state, as identified by facial expressions, gestures and tone of voice, which are outwardly observable to others. |
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AFM
Acid-fast microscopy - the microscopic examination of smears of clinical material stained by one of the acid-fast stains. |
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AGREE assessment tool
Appraisal of Guidelines Research and Evaluation. A questionnaire to aid in the quality appraisal/ assessment of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. |
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AHA
American Heart Association. |
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AIDS
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome - represents the late clinical stage of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It most often results in progressive damage to the immune and other organ systems, including the central nervous system. |
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Alexander technique
A CAM therapy: a method purporting to improve ease and freedom of movement, balance and co-ordination; and to teach constructive self-awareness. Also used for rehabilitation, pain management and stress relief. |
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Algorithm
A flowchart or diagram representing decision points and alternative (treatment) pathways to achieve an objective or set of objectives. |
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ALP
Alkaline phosphatase. |
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ALT
Alanine transaminase. |
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Amaurosis fugax
Transient monocular or partial blindness. |
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Ambivalence
Simultaneous positive and negative feelings or attitudes towards a person, thing, action or event. For example, in the case of suicidal feelings a person may simultaneously wish to die and fear the pain of dying. |
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Amino acids
An organic compound containing an amino group and a carboxyl group. Amino acids are fundamental constituents of all proteins. |
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Aminophylline
A theophylline-related bronchodilator. |
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Amplicon
Product of nucleic acid amplification methods. The nucleic sequence of an amplicon can be sequenced to ensure it is the sequence targeted in the assay. |
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ANA
Antinuclear Antibody |
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Analgesia
The relief of pain without loss of consciousness. |
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Anastomosis
The connection of normally separate parts of the body, for example, connecting healthy sections of colon or rectum after cancerous or diseased sections of the bowel have been surgically removed. |
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Anergy
Diminished reactivity to all antigens. This may take the form of diminished immediate hypersensitivity, or diminished delayed hypersensitivity to skin tests, or both. |
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Aneurysm
A weakness in a wall of an artery, vein, or the heart, causing dilatation of that part. |
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Angina
Heaviness or tightness in the chest, which may spread to the arms, neck, jaw, face or back, due to inadequate blood supply for demands of the heart muscle. |
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Angina pectoris
Heaviness or tightness in the chest which may spread to the arms, neck, jaw, face or back due to the inadequate blood supply to meet the demands of the heart muscle commonly during effort or emotion and which is eased by rest or use of glycerin trinitrate. |
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Angiogram
An x-ray picute of the blood vessels which shows where the arteries are narrowed and how narrow they have become. |
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Angiography
An x-ray technique to visualise the lumen of an artery, using radio-opaque dye. |
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Anhedonia
Loss of interest in and withdrawal from regular and pleasurable activities, often associated with depression. |
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Ankle Brachial Index (ABI)
Ankle Brachial Index (ABI), also known as Winsor Index, Ankle Arm Index and Ankle Brachial Pressure Index. Ratio of ankle systolic BP over brachial systolic BP. Normal range 1.0-1.2. Less tha 1.0 indicates degree of arterial insufficiency. |
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Anticholinergics
Agents that inhibit the cholinergic (parasympathetic) system. |
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Anticoagulation
Action by drugs to reduce the tendency of blood to coagulate, thereby reducing the risk of thrombosis. The most commonly used anticoagulant for people with AF is warfarin. |
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Antidiuretic
An agent that suppresses urine formation. |
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Antileukotriene agents
Selective leukotriene receptor antagonists. |
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Antioxidants
Any substance that prevents or delays damage of cells or genetic material by free radicals such as reactive oxygen and reactive nitrogen compounds. Vegetables, fruits, nuts and oilseeds are high in the antioxidant vitamins C and E and betacarotene, phytochemicals found in foods, such as the catechins in tea or the phenols in wine also act as antioxidants. |
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Antiplatelet agent/drug
Act against or destroy blood platelets. Blood plateletes help blood clotting. |
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Antithrombotic
Used against or tending to prevent thrombosis. |
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Anti-tuberculosis
Therapeutically effective against TB. Synonym: anti-tuberculous. |
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Anxiety (common)
An unpleasant feeling of fear and apprehension accompanied by physiological rousal (eg, tension, increased heart rate, sweaty palms). |
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Anxiety (disorder)
Mental disorders in which fear, worry and tension are the primary problem. The fear is recognised by the person as excessive, and may result in behaviours to reduce or escape from the fear, such as avoidance (eg, agoraphobia) or ritualistic behaviour (found in obsessive compulsive disorder). |
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Aphasia
Inability to communicate through language, i.e. speech and signals, and at times to comprehend speech (global aphasia). |
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Arrhthymias
Abnormal heart rhthym which may be permanent, intermittent or transient. |
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Arrhythmia
An abnormal heart rhythm that may be permanent, intermittent or transient. |
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Arthroplasty
Plastic surgery of a joint or of joints; the formation of movable joints. |
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ASA
American Stroke Association. |
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Aspiration
Using a needle to remove blood and fluid from an acutely swollen and painful knee. |
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Assessment [of needs]
A process to detect and identify needs for treatment, support or other intervention. |
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Assessor
Person who performs an assessment. cf rater |
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AST
Aspartate transaminase. |
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Asymptomatic
Literally, showing no symptoms. Within the context of this guideline, however, someone is said to be asymptomatic if they have not sought or been referred for help or treatment for the problem. |
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Asymptomatic (general)
No noticeable symptoms. |
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Asymptomatic/Symptomatic
"Asymptomatic" refers to people who have no symptoms, that is, no symptoms of prostate cancer. "Symptomatic" means symptoms of the disease are present. Early prostate cancer usually will not produce any symptoms - though benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which is more common, will do so. |
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Asystole
Cardiac standstill. |
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Atherosclerosis
The condition in which plaques containing cholesterol and other materials form in the inner linings of large and medium sized arteries leading to localised thickening. |
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ATM
Atypical mycobacteria - synonyms: non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) and mycobacteria other than tuberculosis (MOTT). NTM is the preferred term in New Zealand. A heterogeneous group of mycobacterial species of environmental origin, most of which are potentially pathogenic for humans, given favourable circumstances. |
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Atopy
A tendency to respond to allergic stimuli, probably familial (ie. with a genetic basis). This response can be localised to one bodily area or generalised and may include: rash, itching, hives, swelling, difficulty breathing, and/or low blood pressure. |
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Atrial fibrillation
Rapid, irregular contractions of the heart. |
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Atrioventricular node
An area of specialised cardiac muscle that receives the cardiac impulse from the sinoatrial node and conducts it to the atrioventricular bundle, Purkinje fibres and walls of the ventricles. Located in the septal wall between the left and right atria. |
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Atrium (n)/ atrial (v)
One of two upper chambers of the heart. The right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the superior and inferior vena cava and the coronary sinus, while the left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the pulmonary viens. |
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Attributable risk
The level of risk that is casually related to a particular factor or variable. |
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Auscultation
Listening for heart rate sounds, often with a stethoscope. |
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Autosomal dominant
An autosome is any chromosome that is not a sex chromosome; autosomal dominant is a dominant gene carried on an autosome. |
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