Hepatitis C Glossary: R

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RA: Rheumatoid Arthritis
Radiation Effects: Effects of ionizing and nonionizing radiation upon living organisms, organs and tissues, and their constituents, and upon physiologic processes. It includes the effect of irradiation on drugs and chemicals
Radiation Therapy: Treatment to kill cancer cells with high energy rays from x-rays or other sources
Radiography: X-ray
Radiological: X-ray related
Ranitidine: Drug used to control ulcer pain and to aid in the healing of peptic ulcers by cutting down on the amount of acid the stomach secretes
Rate: The number of events happening divided by the length of time over which they happen. A rate of change is the amount of change happening in a interval divided by the length of the interval
Rate of infection: Degree of speed or progression of an epidemic
RBC: Red Blood Cell, Red Blood Count
RBC (Red Blood Cell) Count: The RBC count is most useful as raw data for calculation of the erythrocyte indices MCV and MCH. Decreased RBC is usually seen in anemia of any cause with the possible exception of thalassemia minor, where a mild or borderline anemia is seen with a high or borderline-high RBC. Increased RBC is seen in erythrocytotic states, whether absolute (polycythemia vera, erythrocytosis of chronic hypoxia) or relative (dehydration, stress polycthemia), and in thalassemia minor [see "Hemoglobin," below, for discussion of anemias and erythrocytoses]. Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, MCV (Mean Corpuscular Volume), MCH (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin), MCHC (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration). Strictly speaking, anemia is defined as a decrease in total body red cell mass. For practical purposes, however, anemia is typically defined as hemoglobin
RBV: Ribavirin
RCT: Rrandomized Controlled Ttrial
RDA: Recommended Daily Allowance
RDW - Red cell Distribution Width: Red cell distribution width is a numerical expression which correlates with the degree of anisocytosis (variation in volume of the population of red cells). Some investigators feel that it is useful in differentiating thalassemia from iron deficiency anemia, but its use in this regard is far from universal acceptance. The RDW may also be useful in monitoring the results of hematinic therapy for iron-deficiency or megaloblastic anemias. As the patient's new, normally-sized cells are produced, the RDW initially increases, but then decreases as the normal cell population gains the majority
RE: Regional Eneritis
Reactive Oxygen Species: (ROS) Molecules including free radicals and other oxygen species
Reabsorption: Absorbing again
Reagent: Reactive substance
Rebefacient: Substance used externally that causes redness of the skin
Rebound Acid Secretion: Return of acid secretion when the effect of antacid is gone. Rebound effect may be more severe than before treatment
Rebound Congestion: Return of congestion when the effect of medication is gone. Rebound effect may be more severe than before treatment
Receptor: A specific molecule on the surface of a cell which is used by a virus for attachment
Receptor Site: Structure of protein on the outside of the cell membrane - receptor sites allow cells to identify each other and serve as attachment points for biological substances that produce a alterations in cell function. Viruses use receptor sites to identify a host cell and attach to it
Recombinant: Produced from more than one source. Relating to or exhibiting genetic recombination, Relating to or containing recombinant DNA. Produced by recombinant DNA technology. An individual exhibiting recombination
Recombinant DNA: DNA chain that has been altered through insertion of a new sequence using bioengineering. Genetically engineered DNA prepared in vitro by cutting up DNA molecules and splicing together specific DNA fragments usu. from more than one species of organism
Reconstitution: Regeneration, continuous repair of progressive destruction of tissues.
Returning a substance to its original form or state
Recreational Drugs: Illegal drugs such as cocaine, heroin, marijuana, speed, crank, LSD, crack
Recrudescence: Reappearance of disease in a host whose infection has been quiescent
Rectum: Extreme lower end of the large intestine leading to the anus
Rectus Muscles: Two abdominal muscles that run from the lower ribs to the pelvis on either side of the midline and are responsible for maintaining abdominal tone
Recurrent: Recurring, returning, turning back in its course
Red Blood Cell: Any of the hemoglobin-containing cells that carry oxygen to the tissues and are responsible for the red color of blood
Red Clover: Used as a antibiotic, appetite suppressant, blood purifier, and relaxant
Red Raspberry: Rich in iron and nutrients, used to treat anemia
Red Root: Ceanothus Americanus--Exhibits astringent, antispasmodic, antisyphilitic expectorant and sedative properties. Used to treat asthma, chronic bronchitis, consumption, dysentery, and whooping cough, also as a mouth wash and gargle, and as an injection in gleet, gonorrhea, and leucorrhoea
Reducers: Compounds such as antioxidants that accept electrons
Reducing Agent: (Reductant) The electron donor in an oxidation-reduction reaction
REE: Resting Energy Expenditure
Reference: Of known potency and used as a standard in the biological assay of a sample of the same drug of unknown strength
Reflux: Return flow, when liquid backs up into the esophagus from the stomach. Backward flow
Reflux Esophagitis: Inflammation of the esophagus because of the backwash of stomach contents into the esophagus
Refractory: Not responding to treatment
Refrigerant: Substance capable of cooling body temperature or allaying thirst
Regurgitation: Backward flow of gastric juice, gas, or small amounts of food from the stomach to the mouth
Rehmannia Root: A demulcent, laxative, provides energy, stops bleeding, and strengthens the immune system. Used to treat anemia, fatigue, and to promote the healing of broken bones
Reishi Mushroom: Also called Ling-Zhi. Used as a sedative and tonic. Used to lower cholesterol, prevent blood clots, help prevent the growth of tumors, Arthritis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Diabetes, Hypertension, Nervous exhaustion and Liver disorders
Rejection: an immune response against grafted tissue, which, if not successfully treated, results in failure of the graft to survive
Relapse: Return of the symptoms of disease after the disease was thought to be cured
Relative Risk: The proportion of diseased people amongst those exposed to the relevant risk factor divided by the proportion of diseased people amongst those not exposed to the risk factor. This should be used in those cohort studies where those with and without disease are followed to observe which individuals become diseased.
Remission: Partial or complete disappearance of the symptoms of a disease. This may be naturally occurring or as the result of therapy
Renal: Kidney related
Renin: Enzyme
Release: The stage of viral replication at which virus particles escape the infected cell
Replicated: Folded over or backward; folded back upon itself; as, a replicate leaf or petal; a replicate margin of a shell
Replication: Duplication. A turning back of a part so as to form a duplication. The process of duplicating or reproducing, as the replication of an exact copy of a polynucleotide strand of DNA or RNA. Replicatio means a fold backwards
Reproductive Ratio--Basic reproductive ratio: Ro, a dimensionless parameter which encapsulates the biological details of different transmission mechanisms. For microparasites, Ro, is defined as the average number of secondary cases of infection to which one primary case gives rise throughout its infectious period if introduced into a defined population consisting solely of susceptible individuals. Effective reproductive ratio - R, The number of secondary cases (microparasites) or female offspring (macroparasites) produced in a host population not consisting entirely of susceptible individuals (microparasites) or within which density dependent constraints limit parasite population growth (macroparasites)
Research: Careful, a diligent search, a close searching, studious inquiry or examination
Resection: Removal of any part of the body. Whatever is removed is said to have been resected
Resistance: The reduction, due to genetic selection, of susceptibility of a parasite or its vector to chemotherapy. The ability of a host to resist a pathogen
Respirations: Breaths; the act of inhaling and exhaling
Response Rate: Percentage of treated patients who respond positively to medical treatment
Restorative: Substance that helps to bring a person to consciousness or back to normal vigor, Out of alpha series
Retard: Delay
Retardation: Delaying
Retinopathy: Eye disorder that does not cause inflammation but results from changes in the eye (retinal) blood vessels
Retraction: Moving backwards. Drawing back, the condition of being drawn back
Retransplantation: Due to organ rejection or transplant failure, some patients need another transplant and return to the waiting list.
Re-treatment: Starting treatment again after the patient has had a relapse of a disease or did not respond to the first treatment
Retrobulbar: Behind a link
Retrograde: Backwards
Retrospective Study: A study in which people are enrolled and then have their history of risks, infections or disease measured
Retrovaccination: The inoculation of a cow with human vaccine virus
Retroviridae: Viruses with a single stranded RNA genome (Class VI). On infecting a cell the virus generates a DNA replica by action of its virally coded reverse transcriptase. Oncovirinae are one of three subclasses of retroviruses, the others being Lentivirinae and Spumavirinae
Retroviral Vector: See Retroviridae. Retroviral vectors are used in the genetic modification of cells as a means of introducing foreign DNA into the genome. For example: retroviral vector 's encoding histochemical markers (reporter genes) are used in the study of neural cell lineage in vertebrates. Retroviral vector's may contain the bacterial lacZ gene that encodes for the enzyme _ galactosidase. When the retrovirally infected cells divide, they replicate the foreign DNA. Progeny of infected cells will therefore express the protein and can then be detected histochemically
Retrovirus: Any of a family of RNA viruses containing reverse transcriptase in the virion. Retroviruses proliferate by a process that is the reverse of normal viruses. Reverse transcriptase enables the virus to convert viral RNA into DNA. This reverses the normal process of transcription where DNA is converted into RNA
Reverse Transcriptase: RNA directed DNA polymerase. Enzyme first discovered in retroviruses, that can construct double stranded DNA molecules from the single stranded RNA templates of their genomes. Reverse transcription now appears also to be involved in movement of certain mobile genetic elements, such as the Ty plasmid in yeast, in the replication of other viruses such as Hepatitis B and possibly in the generation of mammalian pseudogenes
Reye's Syndrome: An acute disease in children characterized by vomiting, hepatic injury with fatty vacuolization, central nervous system damage, and hypoglycemia
RF: Rheumatoid Factor; Rheumatic Fever
Rhagade: Lines
Rheumatic Syndrome: Symptoms resembling a rheumatic disease, such as arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis: Disease involving joints and other tissues. Results in crippling joint deformities
Rhinovirus: Virus that causes the common cold
RHL: Right Hepatic Lobe
Rhubarb Root: Considered a mild laxative that produces a soft stool 6-10 hours after ingestion. Works well in children because of its mild action
RI: Regional Ileitis
RIBA: Recombinant Immunoblot Assay--Assay that verifies the presence of Hepatitis C antibodies in the bloodstream
Ribavirin: Drug initially used in the treatment of asthma. Now being used in the treatment of Hepatitis C in conjuction with Interferon. An antiviral medicine
Riboflavin: Vitamin B-2. A B-complex vitamin that acts as a coenzyme that activates the breakdown and utilization of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Essential for cellular oxidation and necessary for healthy skin and eyes. Helps in the formation of antibodies & red blood cells; is necessary for the maintenance of good vision, nails & hair; alleviates eye fatigue, promotes general health. A deficiency of Riboflavin may result in bloodshot eyes, cracks & sores in the mouth & lips, dermatitis, digestive disturbances, itching & burning eyes, purplish tongue, retarded growth, trembling, sluggishness, and oily skin
Ribosome: One of the minute granules free in the cytoplasm or attached to the endoplasmic reticulum of a cell, containing a high concentration of RNA. The cell's factories.- They are the place where all protein synthesis occurs. Messenger RNA (mRNA) messages from the nucleus are translated by the ribosomes, which build the encoded proteins. the spherical structure in a cell that assembles proteins after being fed the genetic instructions by mRNA
Rift Valley Fever: Febrile disease resembling dengue. It is caused by a mosquito-borne arbovirus
Right Lymphatic Duct: A short vessel that receives lymph from the right side of the head, neck, and thorax, the right arm, right lung, right side of the heart, and convex surface of the liver and that discharges it into the right subclavian vein at its junction with the right internal jugular vein
Rigidity: Stiffness
Rigors: Muscle rigidity or stiffness
Ringer's Solution: An intravenous solution consisting of salt, potassium, and calcium boiled in water used to treat dehydration
Risk Factor: A habit, trait, or condition in a person that is associated with an increased chance (or risk) for developing a disease. Smoking, I.V. drug use, tattoos, needle sticks etc are considered "Risk Factors"
Risk Reduction: Behaviors or ways used to lessen the chance of getting a disease
RLQ: Right Lower Quadrant
RNA: See RNA--Ribonucleic Acid
RNA Editing: Specific alterations of RNAs, for example C_V changes that are not coded for in the genes
RNA Life: A hypothetical life form lacking DNA and protein which may have existed on early earth and in which RNA served both a genetic coding and a catalytic function
RNA Plasmid: dsRNA found in yeasts, also called killer factors. Their nomenclature is uncertain and some scientists consider them viruses
RNA Polymerase: An enzyme that polymerise ribonucleotides in accordance with the information present in DNA
RNA Primase: An RNA polymerase that synthesises a short RNA primer sequence to initiate DNA replication
RNA Primer: The primer sequence synthesised by RNA Primase
RNA Processing: Modifications of primary RNA trancripts including splicing, cleavage, base modification, capping and the addition of poly A tails
RNA -- Ribonucleic Acid: Genetic material similar to DNA. It often acts as a ‘message’ that is delivered to cells, prompting them to change and prepare for reproduction. Molecules found in all cells which translate DNA genetic information into protein. RNA is much less stable than DNA, and mutates frequently during its reproduction. For this reason, all life forms (with the exception some viruses) use it only as a temporary messenger molecule to carry information that is permanently stored in DNA. A nucleic acid found in all living cells. Plays a role in transferring information from DNA to the protein-forming system of the cell
RNA Splicing: The removal of introns from primary RNA transcripts
RNA Splicing Pattern: The combination of DNA sequences copied from a gene by messenger RNA. The mRNAs transcribed from a single gene may splice together different parts of the sequence of the gene
RNA, Transfer, Amino Acyl: Intermediates in protein biosynthesis. The compounds are formed from amino acids, ATP and transfer RNA, a reaction catalyzed by aminoacyl tRNA synthetase. They are key compounds in the genetic translation process
RNA Tumor Virus: Oncovirinae. The family of retroviruses (Retroviridae) that can cause tumours. They are enveloped by membrane derived from the plasma membrane of the host cell, from which they are released by budding without lysing the cell. Within each virion is a pair of single stranded RNA molecules. Replication involves a DNA intermediate made on an RNA template by the enzyme reverse transcriptase
RNA Virus: Specialized set of viruses that use RNA, rather than DNA, for the storage of their genetic information. One of the reproductive substances found in the body which rejuvenates cellular activity
Rose Hips: Good for all infections and bladder problems, helps combat stress
Rosemary: Rosemary oil is a strong antioxidant, contributes substantially to the calming and soothing of tense nerves and muscles. Rosemary leaf is used as an analgesic, headache remedy, muscle stimulant and antimalarial, aids digestion and relieves cramps. Large doses of rosemary oil and other rosemary preparations can put pregnancy at risk. Avoid using rosemary oil in any amount if you are pregnant. Small doses can cause stomach, kidney and intestinal problems, and large amounts can be poisonous. If you're pregnant, avoid using the herb altogether medicinally, although it's okay to use as a seasoning
Round Ligament: A fibrous cord resulting from the obliteration of the umbilical vein of the fetus and passing from the navel to the notch in the anterior border of the liver and along the undersurface of that organ
Route of transmission: Route or way that a disease is transmitted
Routinely: Usually
RP: Resting Pressure
RQ: Respiratory Quotient
RR: Renin Release, Relative Risk
RRR: Renin-release Rate
RUOQ: Right Upper Outer Quadrant
RUQ: Right Upper Quadrant

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