Glossary of Bio-Medical Terms

Q

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Q beta Replicase

MS = An enzyme that catalyzes the replication of the RNA of coliphage Q beta. EC 2.7.7.-.

UI = D011777

 

Q Fever

AN = caused by Coxiella burnetii

MS = An acute infectious disease caused by COXIELLA BURNETTI. It is characterized by a sudden onset of fever, headache, malaise, and weakness. In humans, it is commonly contracted by inhalation of infected dusts derived from infected domestic animals.

UI = D011778

 

Q-Sort

MS = A personality assessment technique in which the subject or observer indicates the degree to which a standardized set of descriptive statements actually describes the subject. The term reflects "sorting" procedures occasionally used with this technique.

UI = D011779

 

Qatar

UI = D011780

 

Quackery

MS = The fraudulent misrepresentation of the diagnosis and treatment of disease.

UI = D011781

 

Quadriplegia

AN = paralysis of all 4 limbs

MS = Paralysis of all four limbs.

UI = D011782

 

Quadruplets

AN = human only: for animals use LITTER SIZE; relation to PREGNANCY: Manual 28.17.4

UI = D011783

 

Quail

AN = GEN or unspecified; prefer COLINUS & COTURNIX; note JAPANESE QUAIL see COTURNIX; IM; qualif permitted; diseases: coord IM with BIRD DISEASES (IM)

UI = D011784

 

Quality Assurance, Health Care

AN = DF: QUAL ASSUR CATALOG: /geog /form

MS = Activities and programs intended to assure or improve the quality of care in either a defined medical setting or a program. The concept includes the assessment or evaluation of the quality of care; identification of problems or shortcomings in the delivery of care; designing activities to overcome these deficiencies; and follow-up monitoring to ensure effectiveness of corrective steps.

UI = D011785

 

Quality Control

AN = NIM; no qualif

MS = A system for verifying and maintaining a desired level of quality in a product or process by careful planning, use of proper equipment, continued inspection, and corrective action as required. (Random House Unabridged Dictionary, 2d ed)

UI = D011786

 

Quality Indicators, Health Care

MS = Norms, criteria, standards, and other direct qualitative and quantitative measures used in determining the quality of health care.

UI = D019984

 

Quality of Health Care

AN = IM CATALOG: /geog /form

MS = The levels of excellence which characterize the health service or health care provided based on accepted standards of quality.

UI = D011787

 

Quality of Life

MS = A generic concept reflecting concern with the modification and enhancement of life attributes, e.g., physical, political, moral and social environment.

UI = D011788

 

Quality-Adjusted Life Years

AN = DF: note short X ref

MS = A measurement index derived from a modification of standard life-table procedures and designed to take account of the quality as well as the duration of survival. This index can be used in assessing the outcome of health care procedures or services. (BIOETHICS Thesaurus, 1994)

UI = D019057

 

Quantitative Trait

AN = in genetics, a phenotype: "quantitative inheritance such as skin pigmentation"

MS = A characteristic showing quantitative inheritance such as skin pigmentation in man. (From A Dictionary of Genetics, 4th ed)

UI = D019655

 

Quantum Theory

MS = The theory that the radiation and absorption of energy take place in definite quantities called quanta (E) which vary in size and are defined by the equation E=hv in which h is Planck's constant and v is the frequency of the radiation.

UI = D011789

 

Quarantine

AN = human or animal; /vet permitted

MS = Restriction of freedom of movement of individuals who have been exposed to infectious or communicable disease in order to prevent its spread; a period of detention of vessels, vehicles, or travelers coming from infected or suspected places; and detention or isolation on account of suspected contagion. It includes government regulations on the detention of animals at frontiers or ports of entrance for the prevention of infectious disease, through a period of isolation before being allowed to enter a country. (From Dorland, 28th ed & Black's Veterinary Dictionary, 17th ed)

UI = D011790

 

Quartz

AN = a form of silicon dioxide

MS = Quartz (SiO2). A glassy or crystalline form of silicon dioxide. Many colored varieties are semiprecious stones. (From Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed)

UI = D011791

 

Quebec

AN = a province of eastern Canada

MS = A province of eastern Canada. Its capital is Quebec. The region belonged to France from 1627 to 1763 when it was lost to the British. The name is from the Algonquian quilibek meaning the place where waters narrow, referring to the gradually narrowing channel of the St. Lawrence or to the narrows of the river at Cape Diamond. (From Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, 1988, p993 & Room, Brewer's Dictionary of Names, 1992, p440)

UI = D011792

 

Queensland

AN = a state of Australia

MS = A state in northeastern Australia. Its capital is Brisbane. Its coast was first visited by Captain Cook in 1770 and its first settlement (penal) was located on Moreton Bay in 1824. The name Cooksland was first proposed but honor to Queen Victoria prevailed. (From Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, 1988, p996 & Room, Brewer's Dictionary of Names, 1992, p441)

UI = D011793

 

Quercetin

AN = a flavone widely distributed in plants

MS = 2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-3,5,7-trihydroxy-4H-1-benzopyran-4- one. Aglucon of quercetrin, rutin, and other glycosides. It is widely distributed in the plant kingdom, especially in rinds and barks, clover blossoms, and ragweed pollen.

UI = D011794

 

Questionnaires

AN = coord IM with specific subject or group (IM)

MS = Predetermined sets of questions used to collect data - clinical data, social status, occupational group, etc. The term is often applied to a self-completed survey instrument.

UI = D011795

 

Quinacrine

AN = an antimalarial & antinematodal agent

MS = N(4)-(6-Chloro-2-methoxy-9-acridinyl)-N(1),N(1)-diethyl-1,4-pentanediamine. An acridine derivative formerly widely used as an antimalarial but superseded by chloroquine in recent years. It has also been used as an anthelmintic and in the treatment of giardiasis and malignant effusions. It is used in cell biological experiments as an inhibitor of phospholipase A2.

UI = D011796

 

Quinacrine Mustard

AN = a fluorescent stain for chromosomes; D25-26 qualif

MS = 2-Methoxy-6-chloro-9-[4-bis(beta-chloroethyl)amino-1-methylbutylamino]acridine. Nitrogen mustard analog of quinacrine used primarily as a stain in the studies of chromosomes and chromatin. Fluoresces by reaction with nucleic acids in chromosomes.

UI = D011797

 

Quinaldines

UI = D011798

 

Quinazolines

UI = D011799

 

Quinestrol

AN = "used in estrogen replacement ther"

MS = 3-(Cyclopentyloxy)-19-nor-17 alpha-pregna-1,3,5(10)-trien-20-yn-17-ol. The 3-cyclopentyl ether of ETHINYL ESTRADIOL. After gastrointestinal absorption, it is stored in adipose tissue, slowly released, and metabolized principally to the parent compound. It has been used in estrogen replacement therapy. (From AMA Drug Evaluations Annual, 1992, p1011)

UI = D011800

 

Quinic Acid

MS = An acid which is found in cinchona bark and elsewhere in plants. (From Stedman, 26th ed)

UI = D011801

 

Quinidine

MS = An optical isomer of quinine, extracted from the bark of the Cinchona tree and similar plant species. This alkaloid dampens the excitability of cardiac and skeletal muscles by blocking sodium and potassium currents across cellular membranes. It prolongs cellular action potential, and decreases automaticity. Quinidine also blocks muscarinic and alpha-adrenergic neurotransmission.

UI = D011802

 

Quinine

AN = an antimalarial; /biosyn permitted if by plant

MS = An alkaloid derived from the bark of the cinchona tree. It is used as an antimalarial drug, and is the active ingredient in extracts of the cinchona that have been used for that purpose since before 1633. Quinine is also a mild antipyretic and analgesic and has been used in common cold preparations for that purpose. It was used commonly and as a bitter and flavoring agent, and is still useful for the treatment of babesiosis. Quinine is also useful in some muscular disorders, especially nocturnal leg cramps and myotonia congenita, because of its direct effects on muscle membrane and sodium channels. The mechanisms of its antimalarial effects are not well understood.

UI = D011803

 

Quinolines

AN = do not confuse with QUINOLIZINES nor with QUINOLONES nor its X ref QUINOLINONES

UI = D011804

 

Quinolinic Acid

AN = a tryptophan metabolite found in neurodegen dis

MS = 2,3-Pyridinedicarboxylic acid. A metabolite of tryptophan with a possible role in neurodegenerative disorders. Elevated CSF levels of quinolinic acid are significantly correlated with the severity of neuropsychological deficits in patients who have AIDS.

UI = D017378

 

Quinolinic Acids

UI = D011805

 

Quinolinium Compounds

AN = DF: QUINOLINIUM CPDS

UI = D011806

 

Quinolizines

AN = do not confuse with QUINOLINES

UI = D011807

 

Quinolones

AN = do not confuse with QUINOLINES

MS = Quinolines which are substituted in any position by one or more oxo groups. These compounds can have any degree of hydrogenation, any substituents, and fused ring systems.

UI = D015363

 

Quinone Reductases

MS = NAD(P)H:(quinone acceptor) oxidoreductases. A family that includes three enzymes which are distinguished by their sensitivity to various inhibitors. EC 1.6.99.2 (NAD(P)H DEHYDROGENASE (QUINONE)) is a flavoprotein which reduces various quinones in the presence of NADH or NADPH and is inhibited by dicoumarol. EC 1.6.99.5 (NADH dehydrogenase (quinone)) requires NADH, is inhibited by AMP and 2,4-dinitrophenol but not by dicoumarol or folic acid derivatives. EC 1.6.99.6 (NADPH dehydrogenase (quinone)) requires NADPH and is inhibited by dicoumarol and folic acid derivatives but not by 2,4-dinitrophenol.

UI = D011808

 

Quinones

MS = Hydrocarbon rings which contain two ketone moieties in any position. They can be substituted in any position except at the ketone groups.

UI = D011809

 

Quinoxalines

UI = D011810

 

Quinpirole

AN = a dopamine recept agonist

MS = A dopamine D2/D3 receptor agonist.

UI = D019257

 

Quintuplets

AN = human only; for animals use LITTER SIZE; relation to PREGNANCY: Manual 28.17.4

UI = D011811

 

Quinuclidines

UI = D011812

 

Quinuclidinyl Benzilate

AN = an affinity label in animal exper; DF: note short X ref

MS = A high-affinity muscarinic antagonist commonly used as a tool in animal and tissue studies.

UI = D011813

 

Quipazine

AN = a serotonin agonist & antidepressant

MS = A pharmacologic congener of serotonin that contracts smooth muscle and has actions similar to those of tricyclic antidepressants. It has been proposed as an oxytocic.

UI = D011814

 

Quisqualic Acid

AN = a glutamate agonist; from the plant name Quisqualis chinensis (Latin quis = who? + qualis = what kind?)

MS = alpha-Amino-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-oxadiazolidine-2-propanoic acid. An agonist at two subsets of excitatory amino acid receptors, ionotropic receptors that directly control membrane channels and metabotropic receptors that indirectly mediate calcium mobilization from intracellular stores. The compound is obtained from the seeds and fruit of Quisqualis chinensis.

UI = D016318