2009

opiate – a drug that comes from the opium poppy. Opiates include heroin, codeine and morphine.

open label – this means that a patient in a trial knows which treatment they are taking.

oesophagus – part of the gut between the throat and the stomach.

null hypothesis – in a study this sometimes just refers to the hypothesis, but more specifically it refers the idea that any difference between 2 study groups has only occurred by chance.

nucleus – the central part of some cells that contains DNA.

NHL (Non-Hodgkins lymphoma) – a type of lymph cancer. Cancer: lymphoma and sarcoma

nausea – the feeling that you want to be sick (a feeling of wanting to vomit).  Nausea section in the side effect guide.

natural history – the pattern a disease follows if it is not treated. The natural history of HIV includes very high viral load in the first weeks or months of infection (seroconversion), a drop in CD4 counts that then recovers, …

NASBA (nucleic acid sequence based amplification) – a type of viral load test.

resistance – when the genetic structure of an organism (virus, bacteria, fungi etc) changes in a way that stops a drug from working. See mutation. Changing treatment and drug resistance.

mutation – a change in the genetic structure of an organism (including a virus like HIV). See resistance. Changing treatment and drug resistance.

multi-disciplinary – a team approach to care, involving several different professionals.

morbidity – medical term for illness.

mortality – medical word for death or dying.

monotherapy – using only one drug.

MSM – men who have sex with men.

mixed feeding – combination of breastfeeding and bottle feeding.

mitochondria – energy producing factories that live inside other cells.

mL (millilitre) – a measure of a volume of liquid. 1000 millititres = 1 litre.

mg (milligram) – abbreviation for milligram. 1000 milligrams = 1 gram.