Glossary of Medical Terms

In medicine, the state of having the right amount of acid and base in the blood and other body fluids. Keeping a normal acid-base balance is important for the body to work the way it should. Also called acid-base equilibrium.

In medicine, the state of having the right amount of acid and base in the blood and other body fluids. Keeping a normal acid-base equilibrium is important for the body to work the way it should. Also called acid-base balance.

The process of making or becoming an acid. An acid is a substance that gives off hydrogen ions in water and forms salts by combining with certain metals.

Describes the amount of acid in a substance. An acid is a chemical that gives off hydrogen ions in water and forms salts by combining with certain metals. Acidity is measured on a scale called the pH scale. On this scale, a pH value of 7 is neutral, and a pH value of less than 7 to 0 shows increasing acidity.

A substance that is used in the prevention of cancer and in the treatment of psoriasis. It belongs to the family of drugs called retinoids.

A substance that has been studied in the treatment of some types of cancer. ACN53 is a weakened adenovirus that carries the p53 gene into tumor cells, causing them to die. It is a type of gene therapy. Also called rAd/p53, recombinant adenovirus-p53, and SCH-58500.

A disorder of the skin in which oil glands and hair glands become inflamed.

A skin condition that causes small, raised, acne-like bumps to form, usually on the face, scalp, chest, and upper back. The bumps on the affected skin are usually red and filled with pus and may crust over. They may also become painful, tender, and itchy. Sometimes, the affected skin becomes infected. Acneiform dermatitis may be caused by an infection or by treatment with certain drugs, including some anticancer drugs, such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors. Also called acneiform eruption and acneiform rash.

A skin condition that causes small, raised, acne-like bumps to form, usually on the face, scalp, chest, and upper back. The bumps on the affected skin are usually red and filled with pus and may crust over. They may also become painful, tender, and itchy. Sometimes, the affected skin becomes infected. Acneiform eruption may be caused by an infection or by treatment with certain drugs, including some anticancer drugs, such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors. Also called acneiform dermatitis and acneiform rash.

A skin condition that causes small, raised, acne-like bumps to form, usually on the face, scalp, chest, and upper back. The bumps on the affected skin are usually red and filled with pus and may crust over. They may also become painful, tender, and itchy. Sometimes, the affected skin becomes infected. Acneiform rash may be caused by an infection or by treatment with certain drugs, including some anticancer drugs, such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors. Also called acneiform dermatitis and acneiform eruption.