diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis A form of degenerative arthritis characteristically associated with flowing calcification along the sides of the vertebrae of the spine. Abbreviated DISH. DISH commonly includes inflammation (tendonitis) and calcification of the tendons at their points of attachment to bone. Anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, can be helpful in relieving both pain…
differentiation 1 The process by which cells become progressively more specialized; a normal process by which cells mature. Cells early in development have the potential to develop into many different types of tissues of the body. Differentiation occurs so the specific body tissues can form. Once developed into a specific cell type, the cell has…
differential diagnosis Knowledge gained through weighing the probability of one disease against the probability of other diseases that might account for a patient’s illness. For example, the differential diagnosis of a runny nose includes allergic rhinitis (hay fever), the abuse of nasal decongestants, and the common cold. Abbreviated DDX. See also diagnosis.
dietitian A person trained in the design and management of the diet in health and disease as, for example, in diabetes.
diethylstilbestrol The earliest synthetic form of the female hormone estrogen. Abbreviated DES. DES was widely prescribed between 1940 and 1971 to prevent miscarriages. The use of DES during pregnancy declined and was halted when it was found that, when given during the first 5 months of pregnancy, DES can interfere with the development of the…
dietary supplement A substance that can be added to the diet, usually in pill, liquid, or powder form, ostensibly to promote health. Dietary supplements range from natural weight-gain concoctions used by body-builders, to joint pain relievers, vitamins, herbs, minerals, and salts that claim health benefits. Many dietary supplements are harmless when taken as directed, and…
diet, DASH See DASH diet.
diet Food and drink. A specific diet can be prescribed for medical reasons according to a certain type, volume, and timing. For examples, specific diets are commonly prescribed for persons affected by hypoglycemia, gout, celiac disease, dermatitis herpetiformis, lactose intolerance, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, heart disease, kidney disease, and difficulty in swallowing.
dicentric chromosome See chromosome, dicentric.
diathesis An elegant term for a predisposition or tendency. For example, hemorrhagic diathesis means a tendency to bleed.
diathermy See cauterization.
diastolic Referring to the time when the heart is in a period of relaxation and dilation (expansion), which is called diastole. Diastolic pressure is the minimum arterial pressure during relaxation and dilation of the ventricles of the heart when the ventricles fill with blood. In a blood pressure reading, the diastolic pressure is typically the…