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Subject: GLOSSARY (c)
Date: November 1989 from BETA #3 and BETA #4 (17 items)

cachexia:

Profound and marked state of general ill health and malnutrition.

candidiasis:

A fungal infection, usually of the moist cutaneous areas of the body, including the skin, mouth, esophagus (candida esophagitis) and respiratory tract.

CDC:

The Centers for Disease Control.

CD4:

A protein embedded in the cell surface of T helper cells and certain other cells. HIV invades these cells by first attaching to the CD4 receptor. This term also refers to an experimental, genetically engineered drug that acts as a "decoy" that "tricks" HIV into attaching to it instead of infecting new cells.

central nervous system:

The brain and spinal cord with their nerves and end organs that control voluntary acts.

chromosomes:

A threadlike structure in the nucleus of a cell that contains genetic information encoded by DNA.

clinical:

Based on observation of the condition of patients and their symptoms, as opposed to blood work or other laboratory tests. coma:

A state of unconsciousness in which movement and mental processes are impaired. People in deep coma cannot be aroused by external stimulus.

compassionate use:

A program in which people who are seriously ill can have their physicians request access to an experimental drug from the manfacturer. Very few drugs are available through this program.

cortex:

The external part of an organ, such as the brain, kidney, or adrenal gland.

corticosteroid:

Any of a number of steroid substances obtained from the cortex of the adrenal gland, or any synthetic substitute. Corticosteroids are immunosuppressive and HIV infected individuals should be cautious about taking them.

cranial nerves:

Twelve pair of nerves in the brain.

creatine phosphokinase (CPK):

An enzyme essential to muscle contraction that is abnormally elevated in the blood in certain conditions.

cryptococcal meningitis:

A fungal infection that affects the three membranes (meninges) surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms include severe headache, vertigo, nausea, anorexia, sight disorders and mental deterioration.

cryptosporidiosis; cryptosporidial diarrhea:

Caused by a parasite and characterized by chronic, profuse, watery diarrhea, accompanied by a fever, marked weight loss and enlarged lymph nodes.

cytokines:

Naturally occurring proteins that regulate or modify the growth of specific cells.

cytomegalovirus (CMV):

a herpes virus. An opportunistic infection that can cause blindness and be fatal in AIDS patients. ("Sight- threatening" refers to the later stage of CMV that is considered to be an immediate threat to a patient's vision. "Peripheral CMV retinitis" refers to the early stages of the disease, which can become sight- threatening if left untreated.)