Allogenic :
when describing transplantation biology, the donating individual is of the same species, but not one's self
Angina or Angina pectoris :
chest pain & pressure due to coronary heart disease
Angiogenesis :
the development of new blood vessels
Angiography :
see Coronary Angiography
Angioplasty :
a procedure in which a special catheter with an inflatable balloon at one end is used to open blocked coronary arteries; technically termed percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) (also called balloon angioplasty)
Antianginal Agents :
the drugs that help reduce the number and severity of anginal attacks, by either dilating or widening the arteries so that more blood can flow to the heart, or by reducing the heart's demand for oxygen
Aorta :
the main artery in the body
Arrhythmia :
An irregularity of the heartbeat
Arteries :
the blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body
Arteriosclerosis :
the buildup of fatty deposits (plaque) in blood vessels, leading to the gradual narrowing of those vessels and restricted blood flow
Atherectomy :
a procedure in which special cutting or grinding tools scrape plaque buildup around the artery walls
Atherosclerosis :
a type of arteriosclerosis in which the vessels that supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart become clogged with plaque, a fatty substance, and calcium, depriving the heart muscle of the oxygen it needs for normal functioning
Autologous transplant :
Transplanted tissue derived from the intended recipient of the transplant. Such a transplant helps avoid complications of immune rejection.
Biologics :
A classification of products derived from lining sources, such as humans, animals, bacteria and viruses. Vaccines, immune globulin and anti-toxins are biologics.
Canadian Heart Association Classification of Angina (CCS) :
an internationally-recognized system to classify severity of angina by class
The classification of angina pain using the CCS is:
- No angina: no symptoms, even with strenuous exertion
- Class I: angina pain results from strenuous exertion; normal activity does not cause pain
- Class II: slight limitation of normal activity
- Class III: marked limitation of normal activity
- Class IV: any physical activity accompanied by pain; pain may be present at rest
Cardiac Catheterization :
a procedure using special tubing (catheters) to study the heart's chambers and vessels
Cardiomyocytes :
mature, differientiated heart muscle cells
Cholesterol :
a fatty substance that can accumulate in arteries leading to arthrosclerosis
Chondrocytes :
mature, differentiated cartilage cells
Chromosomes :
composed chiefly of DNA, they are the carrier of genes, the hereditary information
Congestive Heart Failure :
a common form of heart failure that causes fluid retention leading to congestion in the lungs and edema, especially in the legs and feet
Coronary Angiography, or Coronary Catheterization :
a diagnostic test in which contrast dye is injected into the coronary arteries to visualize and measure the degree of coronary artery disease and vessel blockage
Coronary Arteries :
arteries supplying blood to the muscular walls of the heart
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery (CABG) :
surgery to repair or replace blocked arteries and improve blood supply to the heart muscle; commonly known as bypass surgery, it involves the use of a vein (usually from the leg), or a chest artery to form a bridge to bring blood beyond the obstruction of the affected coronary artery
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) or coronary artery disease (CHD) :
the narrowing of the coronary arteries sufficiently to prevent adequate blood supply to the heart muscle; usually caused by atherosclerosis, and may progress to the point where the heart muscle is damaged due to lack of blood supply
Differentiate :
to undergo a cellular progression to a more specialized type
Diffuse Disease :
denotes blockage throughout several sites in a coronary artery
Distal Disease :
denotes blockage in the narrow sections of a coronary artery
Diuretics :
Medications that help the kidneys eliminate salt and water from the bloodstream and increase the rate of urine formation. Commonly referred to as water pills, these medications reduce the amount of fluid patients retain.
Drug Eluting Stent :
a stent coated with medication to help prevent reclosure of the coronary arteries (see stent)
Echocardiogram :
video or still frame recording of ultrasound waves that depict some of the structures of the heart or some of the blood flow within the heart
Electrocardiogram :
recording of the electrical impulses of the heart (also called ECG or EKG)
Embryo :
the early stages of development in an organism
Embryogenesis :
the process of embryo formation
End-Stage Coronary Artery Disease :
coronary artery disease for which drugs remain the only treatment option; characterized by unrelenting angina pain,severely restricted lifestyle; see also coronary artery disease
Feeder Layers of Irradiated Mouse Fibroblasts :
mouse cells which have been treated to prevent their division, but which produce important growth factors allowing ES cells to repopulate
Fibroblast Cells :
the cells that give rise to connective tissue
Gene Targeting :
the insertion of DNA into specific sites or genes within the genome of selected cells to alter gene expression for therapeutic applications
Genome :
the genetic material (complete set of chromosomes) of an organism
Genomic Technology :
the sequencing genes and their expression products
Growth Factors :
a group of substances produced by the body that stimulates the survival, proliferation, differentiation and function of specific cells or tissues in the body
Heart Attack :
see Myocardial Infarction
Heart-Lung Machine :
a mechanical pump that maintains circulation during heart surgery by shunting blood away from the heart, oxygenating it, and returning it to the body
Heart Failure :
a syndrome in which the heart isn't able to pump enough blood to meet the demands of the body
Hematopoietic :
pertaining to the formation of blood cells
HES Cells :
human embryonic stem cells; they are immortal (self-renewing), telomerase positive, and pluripotent
Homologous Recombination :
a process whereby a specific gene sequence within the genome is replaced with a related gene sequence using the cellular recombination enzymes
Hypertension :
high blood pressure
In Vitro :
performed in an artificial environment such as a test tube
In Vivo :
performed in a living organism
Infarction :
death of living cells because of insufficient blood supply
Inner Cell Mass :
cluster of cells within the blastocyst from which HES cells are derived
Ischemia :
deficiency of oxygen in a tissue due to obstruction of a blood vessel, temporary damage to living cells due to insufficient blood supply
Ischemic Heart Disease :
Another name for coronary artery disease or coronary hear disease caused by narrowing of the coronary arteries and decreased blood flow to the heart
Islet Cells :
cells of the pancreas that produce and secrete insulin; degeneration of islet cells is the cause of Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus
Karyotype :
the chromosomal characteristics of a cell
Keratinocytes :
cells that synthesize keratin as in the skin, hair, and nails
Myocardial Infarction :
death of the heart muscle due to insufficient blood supply, usually due to clot obstructing blood flow (lay term: heart attack)
Myocardial Ischemia :
decreased blood flow to the heart caused by constriction or obstruction of an artery
Myocardium :
the muscle of the heart
Neovascularization :
the creation of new pathways for blood supply
Nitrates:
A form of vasodilator. Nitroglycerin is a commonly prescribed nitrate.
Nitroglycerin :
medication used to treat angina pain
Non-Invasive Procedure :
a procedure in which instruments do not enter the body (e.g. an electrocardiogram or echocardiogram)
Patent :
open and unobstructed, often in reference to flow through a blood vessel
PEARL :
an ancronym for Port Enabled Angina Relief with Laser, the PEARL products allow the use of minimally invasive heart surgery for TMR therapy
Percutaneous :
pertains to any medical procedure where access to inner organs or other tissue is done via needle-puncture of the skin, rather than by using an "open" approach where inner organs or tissue are exposed
Percutaneous Myocardial Channeling (PMC) :
A percutaneous version of TMR performed under local anesthesia by a cardiologist in a cardiac catheterization laboratory. Under investigation in the US, it is hoped PMC will provide the same degree of angina pain relief as the surgical versions of TMR.
Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA or balloon angioplasty) :
a non-invasive procedure in which a catheter (a thin, flexible tube) with a deflated balloon at the tip is maneuvered into a narrow artery and inflated to open a blocked artery and allow more blood to reach the heart muscle
Perfusion :
delivery of blood to the heart
Plaque :
fatty deposits that build up on the inner walls of blood vessels, leading to the gradual narrowing of these vessels throughout life
Pluripotent :
ability to develop into multiple cell types including all three embryonic lineages forming the body organs, nervous system, skin, muscle, and skeleton
Port-Access :
a method of entering the chest cavity through small incisions or ports
Prinzmetal's angina :
an unusual and uncommon form of angina caused by total blockage of coronary arteries due to spasm in which pain is experienced at rest rather than during activity
R Wave :
the point at which the heart is most electrically insensitive
Refractory :
a medical term referring to a patient who is unresponsive to a certain medicine or treatment
Revascularization :
establishes blood flow again to previously restricted regions of the heart
Severe Combined Immunodeficient (SCID) Mice :
mice with the majority of their immune defenses not functioning
Small-Vessel Disease :
denotes blockage in arteries which are unusually small; frequently seen in women, persons of small stature and diabetics
Stent :
a tube inserted into an abnormally narrowed or closed artery that serves to keep the artery open and maintain flow
Telomerase :
enzyme composed of a protein and an RNA template which synthesizes telomeric DNA at the ends of chromosomes and confers replicative immortality to cells
Telomeres :
the ends of chromosomes
Teratoma :
non-malignant tumor consisting of diffferent types of tissue caused by the growth of embryonic stem cells at an abnormal site in the body
Thoracoscopic :
minimally invasive surgery using an instrument fitted with a lighting system and camera, designed to access the chest cavity and allow treatment under visual control through ssmall puncture in the chest wall between the ribs
Thoracotomy :
surgical incision in the chest wall
Thrombolysis :
dissolving a blood clot (thrombus) in a blood vessel
Thrombus :
blood clot
Totipotent :
ability of a cell to give rise to all cells and tissues in the body including the reproductive organs
Transmyocardial Revascularization (TMR) :
a therapeutic medical laser product in by which cannels are created into oxygen-deprived heart muscle to ease angina pain and stimulate new blood vessel growth
Trap Door :
potentially less invasive CABG method currently under investigation; involves a three-inch incision under the left breast (versus the usual 12-inch incision through the breastbone); trap door style CABG is also performed on a beating heart, eliminating the need for a heart-lung machine
Undifferentiated :
having no limited or specialized function or structure, as in stem cells
Vasodilators :
Medications that widen or relax the walls of blood vessels to allow the heart to work less. ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, nitrates and calcium channel blockers are vasodilators.
Ventricles :
the pumping chambers of the heart (left and right)
Zygote :
cell formed by union of two gametes male and female germ cells