Dictionary

diabetes, brittle See diabetes, labile.

diabetes, bronze Diabetes mellitus that occurs as a result of damage to the pancreas from iron deposition of hemochromatosis. See also diabetes mellitus; hemochromatosis.

diabetes, childhood Type 1 diabetes. See also diabetes, type 1.

diabetes, gestational A diabetic condition that appears during pregnancy and usually goes away after the birth of the baby. Gestational diabetes is best controlled by dietary adjustment. Gestational diabetes can cause birth complications. One complication is macrosomia, in which the baby is considerably larger than normal due to large deposits of fat; such a baby…

diabetes, insulin-dependent Type 1 diabetes. See also diabetes, type 1.

desensitization, allergy See allergy desensitization.

designer drug A drug, typically a psychoactive drug, whose structure is a modification of a preexisting drug in order to bypass existing drug laws and regulations for the purpose of marketing. Designer drugs are dangerous, as their toxic effects and pharmacology have not been properly evaluated. They are outlawed by the US Controlled Substances Act….

designer estrogen An engineered drug that possesses some, but not all, of the actions of estrogen. Also known as selective estrogen-receptor modulator (SERM). For example, raloxifene (brand name: Evista) is classified as a designer estrogen because, like estrogen, it prevents bone loss and lowers serum cholesterol; however, it does not stimulate the endometrial lining of…

desmoid tumor A benign soft-tissue tumor that does not spread to other parts of the body. Desmoid tumors occur most often in young adults, and they usually involve the limbs or trunk, but they can also arise in the abdomen or thorax. Desmoid tumors are very difficult to remove because they adhere tenaciously to surrounding…

desmoid tumor, cortical A tumor that arises in embryonic tissue.

desmoplasia The growth of fibrous or connective tissue anywhere in the body.

desmoplastic reaction A reaction that is associated with some tumors and is characterized by the pervasive growth of dense fibrous tissue around the tumor. The formation of scar tissue (adhesion) within the abdomen after abdominal surgery is another type of desmoplastic reaction.