Glossary

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

A

Actin Cytoskeleton – A Cell's Backbone

Albuminuria – Loss of Protein Albumin in the Urine

Apoptosis – Programmed Cell Death

ACE I (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor) – group of medications used to treat high blood pressure

ARB (angiotensin type II receptor blocker) – medications used to relax blood vessels lowering blood pressure

Actinin – a protein, mutations in the gene can result in FSGS

B

Bowman’s Capsule – on the other side of the glomerular Filter

Basic Science – scientific research that involves understanding the changes that take place in cells and molecules

Blind Trial – a trial in which the patient does not know whether they are receiving the experimental drug or a control

D

  Diuretic – “Water Pill” Dialysis – Filtering the blood when the kidney has stopped working

DNA – Desoxyribo-Nucleic Acid contains the genetic code Diuretic – a drug that is used in the treatment of high blood pressure and elevates the rate of urination

Double-blind trial – a trial in which neither the patient nor the doctor knows whether the patient is receiving the experimental drug or a control End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) – Total Kidney Failure

E

 Enzymes – Molecular Machines Edema – accumulation of fluid in the tissues of the body

F

 Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) – When Kidney Filters Become Hardened or Scarred

Foot Process Effacement – Consequence of Podocyte Injury

FSGS Biobank – a repository for samples of blood, urine and kidney biopsies as well as data to be used for research

Fat1 – protein expressed in different parts of the body including the kidney that may play a role in the cause of Nephrotic Syndrome

Focal Adhesion Kinases (FAK) – proteins associated with podocytes

G

 Genome – The Entirety of the Genetic Code

Glomerular Filtration Barrier – Filter Membrane of the Kidney

Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) – Measuring Kidney Filtration Performance

Glomerulus – Where Filtration Takes Place

Galactos – a simple nontoxic sugar normally produced in the body and has been evaluated for a possible role in treatment of FSGS

Glomerular Disease – Disease that affects kidney function by attacking the glomeruli, the units in the kidney where blood is filtered

Gene variants – A gene with mutational differences

H

Hemoglobin – A Pick-Up for Oxygen

Hematuria – Blood in the Urine

Hic-5 – a protein thought to be associated with kidney filtration

Hyperlipidimia – Presence of an abnormally high level of lipids or fat in the blood

Hypercholesterolemia – The presence of an abnormal amount of cholesterol in the blood

Hypertension – high blood pressure

Histology – the microscopic study of tissues

I

 Idiopathic Disease – Diseases that Occur Without a Known Cause

Ion Channels – Proteins that form pores in membranes of all biological cells, and control the entry and exit of ions into and out of the cell

Immune system – The system in the body that protects the body from foreign substances and pathogenic organisms

In vitro – An artificial environment outside of the living organism

In vivo – Within the living organism

IgA Nephropathy – An autoimmune disease that affects the kidneys

K

Kidney Biopsy – Obtaining Small Pieces of Kidney Tissue for Microscopic Examination

Kidney Filtration – What the Kidneys Are and What They Do

Kidney Function – Assessing the Function of the Kidney Filter Apparatus Kidney Failure – The inability of the kidneys to function appropriately, to filter or excrete wastes

Kidney Ultrafiltration – Primary Urine is the Result

N

Nephron – Basic Functional Unit of the Kidney

Nephrotic Syndrome – A Set of Symptoms – Not a Disease Itself

Nucleus – A Cell’s Brain

Nephropathy – A disease affecting the kidneys

P

Pathogenesis – Development of a disease and the factors that lead to that disease

Podocytes – Key Cells Involved in Kidney Filtration

Protein – Essential for Life

Proteinuria – Large Amounts of Protein in the Urine

Proteomics – Studying Proteins on the Grand Scale

Prednisone – A steroid medication and immunosuppressant used in the treatment of Nephrotic Syndrome

Placebo – An inactive medication given in a clinical study to the control group on experiments examining the efficacy of medications

Permeability factor – Compounds in the blood that can enhance the leakage of proteins into the urine

Plasmapheresis – The removal of blood through a catheter, components of the blood are then treated and returned back to the body

Pathology – A branch of medicine that evaluates samples of tissues for the presence of abnormalities

S

Signaling – Cellular Signal Transduction

Slit Diaphragm – Making up the Pores of the Kidney Filter Membrane

Systemic Disease – Affecting Multiple Parts of the Body

Steroid-dependent – Patients who respond to steroid treatment but are unable to taper off treatment

Steroid-resistant – Patients who do not respond to steroid treatment

Steroid-responsive – Patients who respond to steroid treatment

Secondary FSGS – FSGS caused by or associated with another medical condition

T

Tubules – Where Reabsorbing Takes Place

TRCP channels (Transient Receptor Potential Cation channel) – An ion channel, mutations here have been associated with genetic forms of FSGS

Translational science – Scientific research that translates discoveries from basic research into applications that can help people

Tacrolimus – An immunosuppressive medication used to prevent rejection of an organ transplant

U

Urinary Space – On the other side of the Glomerular Filter II

Urine Biomarkers – Groups of different urine proteins that can be used to discriminate between different diseases