q.n.s.
q.n.s. On a lab report, insufficient quantity of sample.
q.i.d.
q.i.d. On a prescription, four times daily. See also Appendix A, “Prescription Abbreviations.”
q.h.
q.h. On a prescription, every hour. See also Appendix A, “Prescription Abbreviations.”
q.d.
q.d. Seen on a prescription, one per day. Also known as quotid. See also Appendix A, “Prescription Abbreviations.”
Q fever
Q fever An infectious disease due to the bacterium Coxiella burnetii whose symptoms include fever, headache, malaise, and pneumonia (interstitial pneumonitis), but not rash. The Q stands for query because the cause of the disease was long a question mark. Q fever is a zoonotic disease and is contracted from cattle, sheep, and goats. Chronic…
q arm of a chromosome
q arm of a chromosome The long arm of a chromosome. All human chromosomes have 2 arms—a short arm and a long arm. By international convention, the short arm is termed p, and the long arm of the chromosome is termed q. For example, if a gene is on 3q12, that gene is on chromosome…
pyuria
pyuria Pus in the urine. Pyuria is a sign of inflammation, often related to infection.
pyrimidine
pyrimidine One of the two classes of bases in DNA and RNA. The pyrimidine bases in DNA are thymine (T) and cytosine (C), and the pyrimidine bases in RNA are thymine (T) and uracil (U). See also purine.
pyrexia
pyrexia See fever.
pyogenic arthritis
pyogenic arthritis Purulent arthritis with pus as a result of infection within the joint. See arthritis, septic.
pyoderma gangrenosum
pyoderma gangrenosum An ulcerating condition of skin that results in heaped borders with a typical appearance. Pyoderma gangrenosum appears to be mediated by the immune system, but the exact cause is unknown. The lesion usually begins as a soft nodule on the skin that then ulcerates. The ulcer enlarges, and the skin at the edge…
pylorus
pylorus The outlet of the stomach.