Medicine, PRE-SUR
Humans have long sought to find cures for the ailments and injuries that befall them. This has led to a long history of diverse attempted treatments, including herbal remedies, leeching, hydrotherapy, acupuncture, homeopathy, and more, all the way up to the most recent science-based treatments that have come into use during the development of today's modern medicine. Medical research and the study of the causes of disease have led to rapid and significant advances in medicine, improving both the efficacy of treatments and our understanding of illnesses and how they operate. The importance of preventive medicine has grown, and the field of medicine has become increasingly specialized as medical disciplines and branches such as endocrinology, immunology, psychiatry, radiology, epidemiology, and nanomedicine have emerged.
Medicine Encyclopedia Articles By Title
preventive medicine, efforts directed toward the prevention of disease, either in the individual or in the community......
primaquine, synthetic drug used in the treatment of malaria, an infection caused by the protozoan parasite Plasmodium......
probenecid, drug used in the treatment of chronic gout, a disorder that is characterized by recurrent acute attacks......
procaine hydrochloride, synthetic organic compound used in medicine as a local anesthetic. Introduced in 1905 under......
progesterone, hormone secreted by the female reproductive system that functions mainly to regulate the condition......
ProMED-mail, global Internet-driven reporting network used to warn of potential outbreaks of infectious disease......
promethazine, synthetic drug used to counteract the histamine reaction, as in allergies. Promethazine, introduced......
Prontosil, trade name of the first synthetic drug used in the treatment of general bacterial infections in humans.......
propofol, anesthetic drug used to induce and maintain general anesthesia and to sedate patients for certain medical......
prosthesis, artificial substitute for a missing part of the body. The artificial parts that are most commonly thought......
prosthodontics, dental specialty concerned with restoration and maintenance of oral function, appearance, and comfort......
protease inhibitor, class of antiretroviral drugs used to treat HIV retrovirus infection in AIDS patients. Protease......
protein-bound iodine test, laboratory test that indirectly assesses thyroid function by measuring the concentration......
proteinuria, presence of protein in the urine, usually as albumin. Protein is not normally found in the urine of......
proton pump inhibitor, any drug that suppresses the secretion of gastric acid by inhibiting an enzyme in the parietal......
Prozac, trade name of fluoxetine hydrochloride, first of the class of antidepressant medications called selective......
psilocin, hallucinogenic principle contained in any of various psilocybin mushrooms, notably the two Mexican species......
psilocybin, hallucinogenic principle that occurs in any of various psilocybin mushrooms, including the two Mexican......
psychedelic drug, any of the so-called mind-expanding drugs that are able to induce states of altered perception......
psychiatry, the science and practice of diagnosing, treating, and preventing mental disorders. The term psychiatry......
psychoanalysis, method of treating mental disorders, shaped by psychoanalytic theory, which emphasizes unconscious......
psychodrama, group psychotherapeutic technique in which patients more or less spontaneously dramatize their personal......
psychopharmacology, the development, study, and use of drugs for the modification of behaviour and the alleviation......
psychosurgery, the treatment of psychosis or other mental disorders by means of brain surgery. The first such technique......
psychotherapy, any form of treatment for psychological, emotional, or behaviour disorders in which a trained person......
psychotropic drug, in pharmacology, any agent that induces changes in awareness, behaviour, mood, perception, or......
public health, the art and science of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting physical and mental health,......
public health dentistry, dental specialty concerned primarily with prevention of dental decay and of periodontal......
pulmonary function test, procedure used to measure various aspects of the working capacity and efficiency of the......
pulse, rhythmic dilation of an artery generated by the opening and closing of the aortic valve in the heart. A......
qi, in Chinese philosophy, medicine, and religion, the psychophysical energies that permeate the universe. Early......
quarantine, the separation and restriction of travel of humans or other animals that may have come into contact......
quinidine, drug used in the treatment of abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmia) and malaria. Obtained from the bark......
quinine, drug obtained from cinchona bark that is used chiefly in the treatment of malaria, an infection caused......
radial keratotomy (RK), a surgical procedure to correct nearsightedness (myopia). The technique was first developed......
radiation therapy, the use of ionizing radiation (high-energy radiation that displaces electrons from atoms and......
radiology, branch of medicine using radiation for the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Radiology originally......
rapamycin, drug characterized primarily by its ability to suppress the immune system, which led to its use in the......
recombinant DNA, a segment of DNA that is generated by combining genetic material from at least two different species.......
recreation therapy, use of recreation by qualified professionals (recreation therapists) to promote independent......
regenerative medicine, the application of treatments developed to replace tissues damaged by injury or disease.......
rehabilitation robot, any automatically operated machine that is designed to improve movement in persons with impaired......
rehabilitation, medical and vocational, use of medical and vocational techniques to enable a sick or handicapped......
Reiki, spiritual healing technique and form of alternative medicine first developed and popularized in early 20th-century......
remdesivir, antiviral drug that is active against SARS-CoV-2, the cause of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).......
reserpine, drug derived from the roots of certain species of the tropical plant Rauwolfia. The powdered whole root......
respiratory therapy, medical profession primarily concerned with assisting respiratory function of individuals......
Rhône-Poulenc SA, former French chemical manufacturer and leading producer of organic chemicals, synthetic fibres,......
rimantadine, drug used to treat infections caused by influenza type A virus, the most common cause of influenza......
risperidone, antipsychotic drug used primarily in the treatment of schizophrenia but also in managing manic or......
Ritalin, a mild form of amphetamine used in the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a......
robotic surgery, in medicine, the use of machines guided by doctors to perform surgical procedures. The word robot......
RU-486, first trade name for mifepristone, a synthetic steroid drug prescribed for inducing abortion during the......
Rubin’s test, diagnostic method for determining whether the fallopian tubes in the human female are occluded. (The......
Sackler family, American family, owner of the pharmaceutical company Purdue Pharma. Although the family is well......
safe sex, practices that reduce the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, especially AIDS, during......
Saint Bartholomew’s Hospital, oldest hospital in London. It lies just southeast of the Central Markets in the Smithfield......
sangoma, highly respected healer among the Zulu people of South Africa who diagnoses, prescribes, and often performs......
Sanofi-Aventis, French pharmaceutical company founded in 2004 through the merger of Sanofi-Synthélabo SA and a......
Schick test, method for determining susceptibility to diphtheria; it laid the basis for inoculation against the......
scopolamine, alkaloid drug obtained from a number of plants of the family Solenaceae, including nightshade, henbane,......
Scottish Enlightenment, the conjunction of minds, ideas, and publications in Scotland during the whole of the second......
sedative-hypnotic drug, chemical substance used to reduce tension and anxiety and induce calm (sedative effect)......
seizure, sudden, uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain. Seizures produce a wide range of symptoms, including......
semaglutide, drug used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and to aid weight loss in persons who are severely overweight.......
semen analysis, laboratory examination of a sample of seminal fluid, usually consisting of the determination of......
sensitivity and specificity, two measures used to determine the validity of a test, typically in a clinical setting......
sensitivity training, psychological technique in which intensive group discussion and interaction are used to increase......
serological test, any of several laboratory procedures carried out on a sample of blood serum (the clear liquid......
sex therapy, form of behaviour modification or psychotherapy directed specifically at difficulties in sexual interaction.......
sexology, interdisciplinary science that focuses on diverse aspects of human sexual behavior and sexuality, including......
shock therapy, method of treating certain psychiatric disorders through the use of drugs or electric current to......
Siddha medicine, traditional system of healing that originated in South India and is considered to be one of India’s......
silicone breast implant, prosthesis made from a polymer gel contained within a flexible casing that is used for......
silver nitrate, caustic chemical compound, important as an antiseptic, in the industrial preparation of other silver......
single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), imaging technique used in biomedical research and in diagnosis.......
skin graft, transplantation of healthy skin from one area of the body to cover and heal a large wound or burn in......
skin test, introduction of a specific test substance into the skin of an individual, either by injection or by......
smallpox vaccine, preparation of vaccinia virus given to prevent smallpox. Vaccinia virus is a type of poxvirus......
smart drug, any of a group of pharmaceutical agents used to improve the intellectual capacity of persons suffering......
smelling salts, any of several different preparations of ammonia-based product and other ingredients used to revive......
Snellen chart, chart used to measure visual acuity by determining the level of visual detail that a person can......
somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), technique in which the nucleus of a somatic (body) cell is transferred to......
sore throat, painful inflammation of the passage from the mouth to the pharynx or of the pharynx itself. A sore......
spa, spring or resort with thermal or mineral water used for drinking and bathing. The name was taken from a town......
speech therapy, therapeutic treatment to correct defects in speaking. Such defects may originate in the brain,......
sphygmomanometer, instrument for measuring blood pressure. It consists of an inflatable rubber cuff, which is wrapped......
What is spironolactone used for? Spironolactone is a diuretic drug that is used to treat conditions related to......
sports medicine, medical and paramedical supervision, of athletes in training and in competition, with the goal......
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, one of the leading pediatric hospitals and health care charities in the......
statin, drug that acts to lower cholesterol levels by inhibiting the enzyme HMG-CoA (5-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme......
stereotaxic surgery, a three-dimensional surgical technique that enables lesions deep within tissues to be located......
sterilization, in medicine, surgical procedure for the permanent prevention of conception by removing or interrupting......
stethoscope, medical instrument used in listening to sounds produced within the body, chiefly in the heart or lungs.......
stimulant, any drug that excites any bodily function, but more specifically those that stimulate the brain and......
streptomycin, antibiotic synthesized by the soil organism Streptomyces griseus. Streptomycin was discovered by......
sulfa drug, any member of a group of synthetic antibiotics containing the sulfanilamide molecular structure. Sulfa......
suramin, synthetic drug used in the treatment of sleeping sickness (African trypanosomiasis), a disease caused......
surgeon general of the United States, supervising medical officer of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned......
surgery, branch of medicine that is concerned with the treatment of injuries, diseases, and other disorders by......