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Biotin
Biotin A water-soluble B-complex vitamin involved in carbon dioxide transfer and therefore essential to the metabolism of carbohydrate and fat. A balanced diet usually contains enough biotin. Foods with high biotin levels include nuts, cereals, green leafy vegetables and milk. Biotin deficiency, which is characterized by hair loss and a scaly red rash, can occur with prolonged intravenous feeding or the frequent consumption of raw egg whites which contain a biotin antagonist called avidin. Biotin supplementation is recommended during pregnancy because the biotin requirement rises during pregnancy and a substantial number of pregnant women become biotin depleted. Extra biotin is also needed during long-term anticonvulsant treatment which depletes biotin.
RELATED TERMS--------------------------------------
Vitamin
Any of many organic substances that are vital in small amounts to the normal functioning of the body. Vitamins are found in food, produced by the body, and manufactured synthetically; along with minerals, they are known as micronutrients.
Essential
1. Something that cannot be done without. 2. Required in the diet, because the body cannot make it. As in an essential amino acid or an essential fatty acid. 3. Idiopathic. As in essential hypertension.
Metabolism
The chemical activity that occurs in cells, releasing energy from nutrients, or using energy to create other substances, such as proteins.
Carbohydrate
One of the three main classes of foods and a source of energy. Carbohydrates are mainly sugars and starches that the body breaks down into glucose (a simple sugar that the body can use to feed its cells). The body also uses carbohydrates to make a substance called glycogen that is stored in the liver and muscles for future use. If the body does not have enough insulin or cannot use the insulin it has, which are the basic problems in most forms of diabetes, then the body will not be able to use carbohydrates for energy the way it should.
Fat
A major energy source for animals and humans. Fat contains nine calories per gram.
Balanced
Study trial in which a particular type of subject is equally represented in each study group.
Diet
In nutrition, the diet is the sum of the food consumed by a body. Proper nutrition for a human requires vitamins, minerals, proteins, and fuel in the form of carbohydrates and fats. Imbalances between the consumed fuels and expended energy results in either starvation or excessive reserves of adipose tissue, or body fat
Biotin
A water-soluble B-complex vitamin involved in carbon dioxide transfer and therefore essential to the metabolism of carbohydrate and fat. A balanced diet usually contains enough biotin. Foods with high biotin levels include nuts, cereals, green leafy vegetables and milk. Biotin deficiency, which is characterized by hair loss and a scaly red rash, can occur with prolonged intravenous feeding or the frequent consumption of raw egg whites which contain a biotin antagonist called avidin. Biotin supplementation is recommended during pregnancy because the biotin requirement rises during pregnancy and a substantial number of pregnant women become biotin depleted. Extra biotin is also needed during long-term anticonvulsant treatment which depletes biotin.
Rash
A reddish spot or patch of irritated skin. Rashes can be caused byillnesses, allergies, and heat and are usually temporary.
Intravenous
Introducing a fluid into the bloodstream through a vein (usually in the patient's forearm).
Consumption
"1. Using up. 2. Wasting of the body; especially used in reference to advanced tuberculosis."
Antagonist
"In biochemistry, an antagonist acts against and blocks an action. For example, insulin lowers the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood, whereas another hormone called glucagon raises it; therefore, insulin and glucagon are antagonists. An antagonist is the opposite of an agonist which stimulates an action. Antagonists and agonists are key players in pharmacology and in the chemistry of the human body."
Anticonvulsant
A medication used to control (prevent) seizures (convulsions) or stop an ongoing series of seizures. There are a large number of anticonvulsant drugs today including, but not limited to: phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin), carbamazepine, ethosuximide (Zarontin), clonazepam (Klonopin), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), and midazolam (Versed). Anticonvulsant drugs taken during pregnancy put the baby at risk of major birth defects -- growth retardation, microcephaly (a small head) and deformities of the face and fingers -- a condition known as anticonvulsant embryopathy.
SIMILAR TERMS--------------------------------------
Biotechnology
The fusion of biology and technology. Biotechnology is the application of biological techniques to product research and development. In particular, biotechnology involves the use by industry of recombinant DNA, cell fusion, and new bioprocessing techniques. Biotechnology is expected to become increasingly important in the 21st century.
Bioterrorism
"Terrorism using biologic agents. Biological diseases and the agents that might be used for terrorism have been listed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (the CDC). The list includes a sizable number of ""select agents"" -- potential weapons whose transfer in the scientific and medical communities is regulated to keep them out of unfriendly hands."
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Biopsy, stereotactic needle
See: Stereotactic needle biopsy.
Biosafety
The application of knowledge, techniques and equipment to prevent personal, laboratory and environmental exposure to potentially infectious agents or biohazards. Biosafety defines the containment conditions under which infectious agents can be safely manipulated. The objective of containment is to confine biohazards and to reduce the potential exposure of the laboratory worker, persons outside of the laboratory, and the environment to potentially infectious agents.
Biosafety level
A specific combination of work practices, safety equipment, and facilities which are designed to minimize the exposure of workers and the environment to infectious agents. The biosafety levels are: Level 1 -- This level applies to agents that do not ordinarily cause human disease.Level 2 -- This level is appropriate for agents that can cause human disease, but whose potential for transmission is limited. Level 3 -- This level applies to agents that may be transmitted by the respiratory route which can cause serious infection. Level 4 -- This level is used for the diagnosis of exotic agents that pose a high risk of life-threatening disease, which may be transmitted by the aerosol route and for which there is no vaccine or therapy.
Biotechnology
The fusion of biology and technology. Biotechnology is the application of biological techniques to product research and development. In particular, biotechnology involves the use by industry of recombinant DNA, cell fusion, and new bioprocessing techniques. Biotechnology is expected to become increasingly important in the 21st century.
Bioterrorism
"Terrorism using biologic agents. Biological diseases and the agents that might be used for terrorism have been listed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (the CDC). The list includes a sizable number of ""select agents"" -- potential weapons whose transfer in the scientific and medical communities is regulated to keep them out of unfriendly hands."
Biotin
Bipolar disease
Manic-depressive disease. See: Bipolar disorder.
Bird flu
See: Avian influenza.
Birt Hogg Dube syndrome
See: Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome.
Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome
An inherited condition in which benign tumors develop in hair follicles on the head, chest, back, and arms. These tumors are called fibrofolliculomas. Other characteristic skin abnormalities are trichodiscomas and acrochordons. A trichodiscoma is a tumor of the hair disc while an acrochordon is a skin tag. People with this syndrome are at increased risk for developing colon or kidney cancer as well as spontaneous pneumothorax due to lung cysts.
Birth cohort
A group of people born during a particular period or year.
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