Acute

Having or experiencing a rapid onset and short but severe course; "acute appendicitis"; "the acute phase of the illness"; "acute patients"

Anaphylaxis

Hypersensitivity reaction to the ingestion or injection of a substance (a protein or drug) resulting from prior contact with a substance

Antibodies

Antibodies (also known as immunoglobulins, abbreviated Ig) are gamma globulin proteins that are found in blood or other bodily fluids of vertebrates, and are used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects, such as bacteria and viruses

Antigen

Any substance (as a toxin or enzyme) that stimulates an immune response in the body (especially the production of antibodies)

Ataxia

Inability to coordinate voluntary muscle movements; unsteady movements and staggering gait

Atrophy

Atrophy is the partial or complete wasting away of a part of the body. Causes of atrophy include poor nourishment, poor circulation, loss of hormonal support, loss of nerve supply to the target organ, disuse or lack of exercise or disease intrinsic to the tissue itself.

Autoimmune disease

A disease in which autoantibodies or lymphocytes attack other molecules, cells, or tissues within the body; the body launches an immune response against its own tissue. Psoriasis is widely believed to be an autoimmune disease, as is psoriatic arthritis.

Axon

Long nerve fiber that conducts away from the cell body of the neuron

Brainstem

The part of the brain continuous with the spinal cord and comprising the medulla oblongata and pons and midbrain and parts of the hypothalamus

Biological response modifers (BRMs)

Also known as BRM's, are substances that the human body produces naturally, as well as something that scientists can create in a lab. These substances arouse the body's response to an infection. Some of these are used to treat arthritis, cancer, and some other diseases

Black box warning

Black box warnings are designed to highlight special problems, particularly those that are serious, and to give health care professionals a clear understanding of a potential medical complication associated with a drug

Central nervous system (CNS)

This system consists of the brain and spinal cord, where many bodily functions are controlled, many sensations are processed and signals are sent to different parts of the body. Functions affected by the CNS include muscle control, eyesight, breathing and memory.

Cerebellum

A major division of the vertebrate brain; situated above the medulla oblongata and beneath the cerebrum in humans.

Cerebral cortex

The grey, folded, outermost layer of the cerebrum that is responsible for higher brain processes such as sensation, voluntary muscle movement, thought, reasoning, and memory

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), Liquor cerebrospinalis, is a clear bodily fluid that occupies the subarachnoid space and the ventricular system around and inside the brain. In essence, the brain "floats" in it.

Cerebrum

Anterior portion of the brain consisting of two hemispheres; dominant part of the brain in humans.

Chronic

Being long-lasting and recurrent or characterized by long suffering; "chronic indigestion"; "a chronic shortage of funds"; "a chronic invalid

Cognition

Cognition is a term referring to the mental processes involved in gaining knowledge and comprehension, including thinking, knowing, remembering, judging and problem-solving. These are higher-level functions of the brain and encompass language, imagination, perception and planning.

Cognitive difficulties

Cognitive problems, also referred to as cognitive deficits or dysfunction, occur when a person has difficulties processing information, including mental tasks such as attention, thinking, and memory.

Cognitive impairment

A brain disorder in which thinking abilities are mildly impaired. Individuals with mild cognitive impairment are able to function in everyday activities but have difficulty with memory -- trouble remembering the names of people they met recently, remembering the flow of a conversation, and a tendency to misplace things.

Coordination

The loss of ones ability to coordinate their movements.

Cortisone

A glucocorticoid that has various metabolic and anti-inflammatory effects in the body.

Cytokines

Any of several regulatory proteins, such as the interleukins and lymphokines, that are released by cells of the immune system and act as intercellular mediators in the generation of an immune response.

Deep tendon reflexes

A brisk contraction of a muscle in response to a sudden stretch induced by a sharp tap by a finger or rubber hammer on the tendon of insertion of the muscle.

Demographic information

Of or relating to demography.

Demyelination

Demyelination is the term used for a loss of myelin, a substance in the white matter that insulates nerve endings.

Disability

Disability is a term used to indicate a person's limited ability.

Disease-modifying therapy

The disease-modifying drugs are considered by physicians to represent a significant advance for the management of MS.

Dosage

A specified quantity of a therapeutic agent, such as a drug or medicine, prescribed to be taken at one time or at stated intervals.

Dose Titration

A titration dosing regimen for the administration of controlled release tramadol analgesic to patients.

Dysfunction

Any disturbance in the function of an organ or body part

Dysmetria

Disturbance of the power to control the range of movement in muscular action.

EDSS

The Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) gauges the extent of a person's disability by measuring the level of neurologic impairment.

Efficacy (Effectiveness)

The pragmatic question of whether an intervention works in routine clinical care relates to effectiveness

Electrical impulses

A wave of excitation transmitted through tissues and especially nervefibers and muscles that results in physiological activity or inhibition

Electromyography (EMG)

Electromyography (EMG) is a test that checks the health of the muscles and the nerves that control the muscles.

Evoked potentials

An electrical response in the brainstem or cerebral cortex that is elicited by a specific stimulus.

Exacerbation

Exacerbation may refer to an increase in the severity of a disease or its signs and symptoms

Foot drop

The term foot drop describes a condition that presents a limp-like, weak foot that causes difficulty when walking.

Gadolinium

A very rare metallic element useful for its sensitivity to electromagnetic resonance, among other things. Traces of it can be injected into the body to enhance the MRI pictures.

Genetic factors In multiple sclerosis (MS)

Genetic factors may play a role in causing the disease. This means that there may be an increased risk of the disease if a close family member has MS.

Helper T lymphocytes

A type of white blood cell produced by the thymus gland whose presence is necessary for normal levels of antibodies to be produced by B lymphocytes, both in the body (in vivo) and in experimental situations (in vitro).

Hemiparesis

Hemiparesis is muscle weakness on only one side of the body. When hemiparesis happens as a result of a stroke, it commonly involves muscles in the face, arm, and leg.

Hemiplegia

Severe or complete loss of motor function on one side of the body. This condition is usually caused by BRAIN DISEASES that are localized to the cerebral hemisphere opposite to the side of weakness.

Immune system

The system that protects the body from disease by producing antibodies

Immunoglobulin

A protein produced by plasma cells and lymphocytes and characteristic of these types of cells. Immunoglobulins play an essential role in the body's immune system

Immunomodulatory

Having the ability to alter or regulate  immune functions.

Immuno-suppression

Immunosuppression involves an act that reduces the activation or efficacy of the immune system.

Incidence

The frequency with which something, such as a disease, appears in a particular population or area.

Inflammation

Inflammation is a response of a tissue to injury, often injury caused by invading parasites

Insulin

Insulin is a hormone that lowers the level of glucose (a type of sugar) in the blood.

Interferon

A protein in the body produced by the immune system which are involved in defending the body against foreign agents, such as viruses. Interferons are used to treat various diseases including hepatitis.

Intravenous

A drug, nutrient solution, or other substance administered into a vein.

Lesion

An injury or other change in an organ or tissue of the body tending to result in impairment or loss of function

Leukocyte

A type of immune cell. Most leukocytes are made in the bone marrow and are found in the blood and lymph tissue. Leukocytes help the body fight infections and other diseases.

Lymphocyte

Lymphocytes (monomorphonuclear lymphocytes) are cells present in the blood and lymphatic tissue. Lymphocytes are derived from the stem cells from which all blood cells arise.

Macrophage

A type of white blood that ingests (takes in) foreign material. Macrophages are key players in the immune response to foreign invaders such as infectious microorganisms

Malaise

A condition of general bodily weakness or discomfort, often marking the onset of a disease.

MHC Class II

Modulato Major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC II) molecules are targeted to endocytic compartments, known as MIIC, by the invariant chain (Ii) that is degraded upon arrival in these compartments.

MRI

The MRI, an abbreviation for magnetic resonance imaging, uses magnetic signals to create image "slices" of the human body.

Monoclonal antibodies

A monoclonal antibody is an antibody that is produced artificially from a single cell clone and therefore consists of a single type of immunoglobulin

Motor neurons

In vertebrates, motor neurons (also called motoneurons) are efferent neurons that originate in the spinal cord and synapse with muscle fibers to facilitate muscle contraction and with muscle spindles to modify proprioceptive sensitivity.

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a nervous system disease that affects your brain and spinal cord. It damages the myelin sheath, the material that surrounds and protects your nerve cells

Muscle tone

Muscle tone refers to the amount of tension or resistance to movement in a muscle. Muscle tone is what enables us to keep our bodies in a certain position or posture.

Myelin

As part of the nervous system, myelin lines nerve fibers to protect and insulate neurons. Myelin aids in the quick and accurate transmission of electrical current carrying data from one nerve cell to the next.

Myelin basic protein

Myelin basic protein (MBP) is a protein believed to be important in the process of myelination of nerves in the central nervous system (CNS).

Myelitis

Myelitis is an inflammation of the medulla oblongata of the brain. It is a disease of the spinal cord in which there is demyelination.

Myelogram

A myelogram uses a special dye (contrast material) and X-rays (fluoroscopy) to make pictures of the bones and the fluid-filled space (subarachnoid space) between the bones in your spine (spinal canal).

Necrosis Necrosis is death of body tissue. It occurs when there is not enough blood flowing to the tissue, whether from injury, radiation, or chemicals.

Nerve

A nerve is an enclosed, cable-like bundle of peripheral axons (the long, slender projections of neurons). A nerve provides a common pathway for the electrochemical nerve impulses that are transmitted along each of the axons.

Nerve block

A blocking of the passage of impulses along a nerve, especially by administration of a local anesthetic.

Nerve fibers

A threadlike process of a neuron, especially the prolonged axon that conducts nerve impulses.

Nervous system

The system of cells, tissues, and organs that regulates the body's responses to internal and external stimuli.

Neurodegeneration

Selective degeneration of neurons; may be entire neuron (neuronopathy) or restricted to the axon (axonopathy); may also be central, or peripheral, or central and peripheral.

Neurogenic

Originating in the nerves or nervous tissue:

Neurologist

A neurologist is a medical doctor or osteopath who has trained in the diagnosis and treatment of nervous system disorders, including diseases of the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and muscles.

Neurology

The branch of medicine that deals with the nervous system and its disorders.

Neuron

Neurons are the specialized cells that make up the body's nervous system.

Neuropsychologist

A neuropsychologist is an individual with a PhD or PsyD who received general training in psychology as well as specific training in neuropsychology

Neuro-psychologist

A neuropsychologist is an individual with a PhD or PsyD who received general training in psychology as well as specific training in neuropsychology

Occupational therapist

Occupational therapists help patients improve their ability to perform tasks in living and working environments

Oligoclonal bands

A diagnostic sign indicating abnormal levels of certain antibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid

Optic atrophy

Optic nerve atrophy is tissue death of the nerve that carries the information regarding sight from the eye to the brain.

Optic nerve

The optic nerve (also known as cranial nerve II) is a continuation of the axons of the ganglion cells in the retina.  There are approximately 1.1 million nerve cells in each optic nerve.  The optic nerve, which acts like a cable connecting the eye with the brain, actually is more like brain tissue than it is nerve tissue.

Optic neuritis

Optic neuritis is defined as inflammation of the optic nerve. It is one of the causes of acute loss of vision associated with pain

Paraparesis

Weakness of the lower extremities

Paraplegia

Complete paralysis of the lower half of the body including both legs, usually caused by damage to the spinal cord.

Paresis

Paresis refers to the condition of partial paralysis.

Paresthesia

Paresthesia is the condition commonly known as "pins and needles," where part of the body - typically a foot or hand - begins to tingle and becomes numb, or "falls asleep."

Placebo

A substance containing no medication and prescribed or given to reinforce a patient's expectation to get well.

Placebo effect

The beneficial effect in a patient following a particular treatment that arises from the patient's expectations concerning the treatment rather than from the treatment itself.

Plaque

A semi-hardened accumulation of substances from fluids that bathe an area.

Pregnancy category B

Either animal-reproduction studies have not demonstrated a fetal risk but there are no controlled studies in pregnant women or animal-reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect (other than a decrease in fertility) that was not confirmed in controlled studies in women in the first trimester (and there is no evidence of a risk in later trimesters).

Pregnancy category C

Either studies in animals have revealed adverse effects on the fetus (teratogenic or embryocidal or other) and there are no controlled studies in women or studies in women and animals are not available. Drugs should be given only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

Pregnancy category D

There is positive evidence of human fetal risk, but the benefits from use in pregnant women may be acceptable despite the risk (e.g., if the drug is needed in a life-threatening situation or for a serious disease for which safer drugs cannot be used or are ineffective.)

Prevalence

Prevalence and incidence are both terms that are commonly used to refer to measurements of disease frequency.

Prognosis

A prediction of the probable course and outcome of a disease.

Pseudo exacerbation

A temporary aggravation of disease symptoms, resulting from an elevation in body temperature or other stressor (e.g., an infection, severe fatigue, constipation), that disappears once the stressor is removed

Reconstitution

A type of regeneration in which a new organ forms by the rearrangement of tissues rather than from new formation at an injured surface.

Reflex

A reaction that is involuntary. The corneal reflex is the blink that occurs with irritation of the eye. The nasal reflex is a sneeze

Relapse

A return of disease symptoms after recovery had apparently been achieved or the worsening of an apparently recovering patient's condition.

Relapsing Forms of MS

The official international definition of a relapse is a period in which a person with MS experiences an acute worsening of function that lasts for at least 24 hours, usually lasting for several days or weeks, followed by an improvement that lasts for at least one month.

Remission

A period during which symptoms of disease are reduced (partial remission) or disappear (complete remission).

Remyelination

Remyelination in the central nervous system, originally thought to occur rarely, if ever, is now an established phenomena in multiple sclerosis patients

Sclerosis

Sclerosis is a pathological term meaning the "morbid thickening and hardening of a tissue

Spasticity

A state of increased tone of a muscle (and an increase in the deep tendon reflexes).

Spinal cord

A major part of the central nervous system which conducts sensory and motor nerve impulses to and from the brain

Stance ataxia

An inability to stand upright due to disturbed coordination of the involved muscles, which results in swaying and a tendency to fall in one or another direction.

Subcutaneous

That term means beneath the skin and refers to the connective tissues and adipose tissues that are between the skin and above the muscles. Other terms that mean the same thing are hypodermis and superficial fascia.

Subcutaneous injection

A subcutaneous (sub-Q) injection is a shot that delivers medicine into the layer of fat between the skin and the muscle.

Suppressor T lymphocytes thymus-dependent lymphocytes

Those that pass through or are influenced by the thymus before migrating to tissues; they are responsible for cell-mediated immunity and delayed hypersensitivity.

T cell

A type of white blood cell that is of key importance to the immune system and is at the core of adaptive immunity, the system that tailors the body's immune response to specific pathogens. The T cells are like soldiers who search out and destroy the targeted invaders.

Transverse myelitis

Transverse myelitis (TM) is an uncommon neurological syndrome caused by inflammation (a protective response which includes swelling, pain, heat, and redness) of the spinal cord, characterized by weakness, back pain, and bowel and bladder problems. It affects one to five persons per million.

Vertigo

The sensation of movement; a sensation as if the external world were revolving around an individual (objective vertigo) or as if the individual were revolving in space (subjective vertigo).

Virus

A submicroscopic infectious agent that is unable to grow or reproduce outside a host cell. It is non-cellular but consisting of a core of DNA or RNA surrounded by a protein coat.

Visual acuity Sharpness of vision

Specially as tested with a Snellen chart. Normal visual acuity based on the Snellen chart is 20/20.

White blood cell

One of the cells the body makes to help fight infections.

White matter

Whitish nerve tissue of the brain and spinal cord, consisting chiefly of medullated nerve fibers