- macrophage
A
white blood cell that roams the body tissues engulfing foreign organisms.
- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Technique
similar to CAT scanning.
- maintenance therapy
Taking
drugs for a period of time after an infection has been treated, to stabilise
the condition or prevent a re-occurrence or deterioration.
- malabsorption
Failure
of the gut to absorb food, resulting in weight loss, diarrhoea and decreased
effectiveness of drugs taken orally.
- malaise
A
general feeling of illness.
- malignant
Tumours
which may grow rapidly, infiltrate surrounding tissues and spread around the
body.
- mane
Latin
term meaning day.
- mathematical models
A range of complex mathematical techniques which aim to simulate a sequence of likely future events, in order to estimate the impact of a health intervention or the spread of an infection.
- mean
A
measure of the ‘average’ value (the sum of the observed values divided by their
number).
- median
The
central value in a data set, with an equal number of values on either side.
- meningitis
Inflammation
of the outer lining of the brain.
- meta-analysis
When the statistical data from all studies which relate to a particular research question and which conform to a pre-determined selection criteria are pooled and analysed together. See also ‘systematic review’.
- metabolism
The
mechanisms which sustain life, turning sugar and fat into energy.
- metabolite
Any
chemical resulting from the process of metabolism.
- microsporidiosis
Infection
with the gut parasite Microsporidia.
- mitochondria
Cellular
compartment involved in energy production.
- mitochondrial toxicity
Mitochondria
are structures in human cells responsible for energy production. When damaged by
anti- HIV drugs, this can cause a wide range of side-effects, including
possibly fat loss.
- modelling study
See
‘mathematical models’.
- monocyte
A
white blood cell that roams the body tissues engulfing foreign organisms.
- monoinfection
Having one infection. Often used in contrast to coinfection, for example when people have both hepatitis B and HIV.
- monotherapy
Taking
a drug on its own, as opposed to in combination with other drugs.
- morbidity
Illness.
- mortality
Death.
- multivariable analysis
Statistical
techniques often used to reduce the impact of confounding factors, in order to
attempt to identify the real association between a factor of interest and an
outcome. See also ‘confounding’.
- multivariate analysis
An
extension of multivariable analysis that is used to model two or more outcomes
at the same time.
- mutation
A
single change in gene sequence.
- myalgia
Muscle
pain.
- mycosis
Any
fungal disease.
- myelotoxic
Damaging
to the bone marrow.
- myopathy
A disease of the muscles.