Virtual Medical Centre

A calorie is a measure of the amount of energy released from food when the body breaks it down. These calories are used by the body as "fuel" to help it perform its functions, such as breathing and circulating blood.

Different foods contain different amounts of calories, depending on the amount of carbohydrates, proteins, fats and alcohol they contain.

• Carbohydrates and proteins provide 4 calories per gram.
• Fat provides 9 calories per gram.
• Alcohol provides 7 calories per gram.

The nutritional calorie is sometimes called a kilocalorie (kcal), or just a calorie (cal). To avoid confusion, units of energy for food are sometimes given in kilojoules. One calorie is approximately equal to 4.184 kJ.

• Gastric hyperacidity
• Heartburn
• Gastritis
• Hiatus hernia
• Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD)
• Peptic ulcers
• Stomach upset
• Also a good source of calcium.

Cancidas is used to treat invasive candidiasis including candidaemia, oesophageal candidiasis and invasive aspergillosis, when other antifungal treatments have not worked or when other antifungal treatments have not been tolerated. It is also used if persistent fever following chemotherapy is not reduced by treatment with an antibiotic.

Cardiac dysrhythmia refers to any abnormality in the rate, regularity, or sequence of cardiac activation

The carpus refers to the wrist, which is located on the proximal part of the hand and consists of eight small bones, known as carpals, which are linked together by ligaments.

A carrier is someone who does not have a disease, but has one copy of a faulty, disease-causing gene. For example, the children of parents who are both carriers of a cystic fibrosis (CF) disease gene, are at risk of inheriting the disease.

Carrier screening can identify carriers of disease genes.

In cartilaginous joints the union between the bones occurs via cartilage. There are two main categories of cartilaginous joints, Primary cartilaginous joints and Secondary cartilaginous joints.

For further infomation: anatomy- joints

• Blurry vision
• Colours that seem faded
• Glare
• Not being able to see well at night
• Double vision
• Frequent prescription changes in your eye wear

Cell cultures are developed in a lab. Cell cultures are lines of a certain cell strain that are grown in the lab for experimentation. This allows scientists to experiment on cells without any danger to a living organism. For example, before a drug can be tested in animals the effect it has on cell cultures must be investigated.  

The cell membrane is the surface of a cell. The membrane holds the cell together and provides protection to the cell. Only certain molecules can pass through the cell membrane and into the cell.

Chilblain occurs when a person is exposed to cold and wet conditions for a long time. Joints become inflamed and swollen. Symptoms intially involve itchiness around the inflamed joints. As the condition worsens, the joints become very painful.

Chiropractic therapy involves manipulating the vertebrae of the spine.

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis. It is asymptomatic in 85–90% of women, but may also lead to genital discharges and infections (e.g. pelvic inflammatory disease). It can cause blindness in a neonate born to a woman with asymptomatic chlamydia.

Cholestatic hepatitis is a condition characterised by inflammation of the liver. It is often associated with a reaction to medication.

Chromatopsia is a condition in which objects appear to be abnormally coloured or tinged with colour.

Chronic bronchitis is a relatively common disease of the lungs. It is defined clinically as daily cough, productive of sputum, for greater than three months for at least two consecutive years. It is often associated with impairment in lung function and thus classified as part of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Chronic rejection is a type of rejection that appears months or years after successful transplantation, and is the major cause of long term graft loss.

The circadian rhythm is a 24-hour cycle of physiological, biochemical and behavioural processes that occur in the body, which are synchronised with the external light/dark cycles of the environment known as Zeitgebers or 'time givers'. When there is time change such as during air travel, the body needs time to adapt and re-synchronise the circadian rhythm with the external Zeitgebers of the new time zone, thus giving rise to the symptoms of jet lag.

In relation to human health, circulatory collapse refers to the collapse of the circulatory system which transports blood from the heart, through the body and back.

Male circumcision is the process of surgically removing a male's foreskin.

Cisplatin is a type of drug used in chemotherapy. It is most commonly used to treat testicular, bladder, lung, oesophagus, stomach and ovarian cancers.

Classical conditioning is the process of conditioning a desired behavioural response to a specific stimulus. The classic example is the story of Pavlov's dog. Everytime just before Pavlov feed his dog he rang a bell, after doing this for a couple of weeks Pavlov would ring the bell without giving his dog food and he observed that his dog would salivate as he was anticipating the food. This concept is used in behavioural therapy to alter people's maladaptive behaviours.

Clinically based health programs are run from health facilities by health professionals. They typically focus on providing biomedical interventions (e.g. vaccinations or treatments).

Coeliac disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the small bowel. It usually affects the first part of the small bowel (duodenum and jejunum), but can affect the entire small bowel in some people.

Cognitive functioning is our ability to "think". It includes working memory, problem solving and attention.

Coitus interruptus, also known as withdrawal, is a contraceptive method in which intercourse is interrupted before the man ejaculates, so that he can withdraw his penis from his partner's vagina. In doing so, he prevents sperm from entering his partner's uterus and thus prevents pregnancy. Coitus interuptus is one of the least effective contraceptive methods. However, it provides far greater protection from pregnancy than not using any contraception at all.

More on male reproductive system.

More on female reproductive system.

Colonic polyps are small mushroom-shaped growths found in the mucosa of the colon. They are usually benign but can be cancerous.

Colonoscopy is a common procedure that allows examination of the inner surface of the colon (large intestine) by means of a colonoscope; a flexible, tubular instrument that has a special light at its end and an equipment channel in the centre.

Community based health programs are based within a specific community, usually a community identified as having a high risk of a particular condition (e.g. STIs). Community based programs typically aim to involve the target group in program planning and design, and empower them to gain greater control over their health.

Comorbidities are conditions that co-exist with or are additional to an initial diagnosis. For example, diseases that are either caused by or contributed to by obesity include diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnoea, and arthritis.

The complement system is part of both the innate and acquired immune systems. It is a group of enzymes that can both directly kill bacteria, and coat them, signalling for them to be eaten by cells such as macrophages and neutrophils.

Congenital conditions are conditions which are present in a baby at birth.

In the field of medicine, a contraindication is a factor – for example, a pre-existing medical condition or another medication being used – which increases the risk of of a particular treatment. Treatments are not usually administered if there are contraindications.

The copper intrauterine device (IUD) is the older, original form of intrauterine contraceptive devices which is inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancy. It consists of a polyethylene plastic T shaped frame with copper wire coiled around the stem and arms. It also has a plastic monofilament thread attached at the end of the stem which hangs from the cervix into the vagina and assists in placement and removal. The copper contained within the IUD is toxic to sperm and thus prevents fertilisation of the egg.

For more information on this form of contraception see Intrauterine Device (IUD)

Cortical cataracts are a type of cataract most commonly seen in individuals with diabetes. They begin growing on the outside of the eye's lens and work their way inwards.

Corticosteroids are a class of drugs used to treat a range of inflammatory conditions and disorders of the immune system. They work by suppressing the inflammatory response and the immune system. They are used in diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, eczema, inflammatory bowel disease and lupus.

Corticosteroids are not to be confused with anabolic steroids, which are used to increase body mass.

Cosopt is used to lower raised pressure in the eye and to treat glaucoma.

Counter-conditioning/aversion is a technique used to discourage negative behaviours. The concept is to pair an aversive stimulus with a negative behaviour so eventually that behaviour will be avoided. One example is trying to stop a child from sucking their thumb; by putting a foul tasting nailpolish on their fingers everytime they suck their thumb they will have a horrible taste in their mouth. After they have experienced this taste a number of times they will avoid it and not suck their thumb. Eventually they will stop the behaviour all together and the nailpolish will be unnecessary. This is a technique involved in behaviour therapy.

Cryopreservation is a procedure in which cells or tissues are preserved by freezing at very low temperatures.

Cryptorchidism is the failure of the testes to descend into the scrotum.

Cytochrome P450 enzymes (or CYP450) is an enormous and varied superfamily of hemoproteins. Human CYP450s metabolise thousands and thousands of substances, either found residing in the body or from the outside environment. These enzymes can be found in many organs in the human body; the most studied being the liver CYP450 enzymes which are involved in metabolising toxic compounds and drugs.