Glossary Of Terms Used In Health Research
There are 309 entries in this glossary which are continually being updated.All
| TERM | DEFINITION |
|---|---|
| ABSTRACT |
A very brief summary of the research study and its results or of the research proposal. It should tell you what the study tried to show, how the researchers went about it, and the main results that they found. |
| ACR CRITERIA |
The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) has determined a set of outcome criteria for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This set uses seven measures:
If a patient improves 20% or more regarding the amount of tender and swollen joints (criteria 1 and 2) and improves 20% or more regarding at least three of the other five criteria, we talk about an ACR20-response. Improvements of at least 50% or at least 70% are indicated as ACR50-response and ACR70-response. See: Felson et al. “The ACR preliminary core set of disease activity measures for RA clinical trials” in: Arthritis Rheum 1993;36:729-40. And: Felson et al. “ACR preliminary definition of improvement in RA” in: Arthritis Rheum 1995;38:727-35. |
| ADENINE |
One of the four nitrogenous bases in DNA and RNA. This base pairs with thymine. |
| ADVERSE REACTION |
(Adverse Event, Adverse Effect.) An unwanted effect caused by the administration of drugs. Onset may be sudden or it develops over time (See Side Effects.) |
| ADVISORY COMMITTEE |
A group of researchers, policy makers, healthcare professionals and service users who make decisions about research strategy and funding. |
| ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT GROUPS |
Organizations and groups that actively support participants and their families with valuable resources, including self-empowerment and survival tools. |
| AIMS |
Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale. Includes: pain, psychological functions and physical functions. First published: Meenan RF, Gertman PM, Mason JM. “Measuring health status in arthritis: the AIMS”, Arthritis Rheum 1980;23:146-153. |
| AIMS-2 |
A revised and expanded version of the AIMS. It has a priority function section limited to a choice of 3 of the areas covered by the AIMS2 scales. Lit: Meenan RF et al. "AIMS2. The content and properties of a revised and expanded AIMS health questionnaire”, Arthritis Rheum 1992; 35:1-10. |
| ALLELE |
A variant of a gene. An example is the gene for blossom color in many species of flower—a single gene controls the color of the petals, but there may be several different versions (or alleles) of the gene. One version might result in red petals, while another might result in white petals. The resulting color of an individual flower will depend on which two alleles it possesses for the gene and how the two interact. |
| AMINO ACIDS |
The small organic molecules that are joined together to form proteins. |
| ANTI-TNFα (ANTI-TUMOUR NECROSIS FACTOR) |
TNFα is a protein made by the body’s immune system that is involved in infections and cancer. It plays a key role in the development of inflammation which in a disease such as rheumatoid arthritis can eventually lead to irreversible joint damage. It was first discovered many years ago in experiments on cancer, where it was found to cause cancer cells to die, and so it was called Tumour Necrosis (i.e. the death of a piece of bone or tissue) Factor. In patients with rheumatoid arthritis, treatment with anti-TNF or a molecule that blocks TNF binding to its target diminishes the level of TNFα and the amount of inflammation. Whilst the results of using these drugs, are encouraging, they are not suitable for everyone. |
| ANTIBODY |
A protein produced by the body’s immune system that recognizes and helps fight infections and other foreign substances in the body. |
| ANTICODON |
The three nitrogenous bases complementary to a codon, located on tRNA, used to match the correct amino acids. |
| ANTINUCLEAR ANTIBODY (ANA) |
An antibody found in the blood of patients that reacts with a part of the nucleus of a cell . It is a part of a reaction by the body against itself which is called autoimmunity. It could be indicative of an autoimmune disease such as lupus, scleroderma rheumatoid arthritis or MCTD (Mixed Connective Tissue Disease). |
| APPROVED DRUGS |
In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - (in Canada, the Therapeutic Products Directorate [TPD] of Health Canada) - must approve a substance as a drug before it can be marketed. The approval process involves several steps including pre-clinical laboratory and animal studies, clinical trials for safety and efficacy, filing of a New Drug Application by the manufacturer of the drug, FDA (in Canada, TPD) review of the application, and FDA (in Canada, TPD) approval/rejection of application. |
