Tetra Health Dictionary

The most common form of cyanotic congenital heart disease. The tetralogy consists of stenosis of the pulmonary valve (see PULMONARY STENOSIS); a defect in the septum separating the two ventricles (see VENTRICLE); the AORTA over-riding both ventricles; marked HYPERTROPHY of the right ventricle. Surgery is required to remedy the defects.... tetralogy of fallot

PARALYSIS of the body’s four limbs, also called quadriplegia.... tetraplegia

A group of broad-spectrum ANTIBIOTICS which include oxytetracycline, tetracycline, doxycycline, lymecycline, minocycline, and demeclocycline.

All the preparations are virtually identical, being active against both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria (see GRAM’S STAIN). Derived from cultures of streptomyces bacteria, their value has lessened owing to increasing resistance to the group among bacteria. However, they remain the treatment of choice for BRUCELLOSIS, LYME DISEASE, TRACHOMA, PSITTACOSIS, Q FEVER, SALPINGITIS, URETHRITIS and LYMPHOGRANULOMA INGUINALE, as well as for infections caused by MYCOPLASMA, certain rickettsiae (see RICKETTSIA) and CHLAMYDIA. Additionally they are used in the treatment of ACNE, but are not advised in children under 12 as they may produce permanent discoloration of the teeth. Tetracyclines must not be used if a woman is pregnant as the infant’s deciduous teeth will be stained.... tetracyclines

(CCl) A colourless, poisonous, volatile chemical with a characteristic odour that is present in some home dry-cleaning fluids and industrial solvents. It can cause dizziness, confusion, and liver and kidney damage if it is inhaled or swallowed.... carbon tetrachloride

See tetralogy of Fallot.... fallot’s tetralogy

A drug used to test the functioning of the adrenal glands. Tetracosactide is a chemical analogue of the natural hormone corticotrophin (ACTH). stimulates the cortices of the adrenal glands to secrete hormones such as cortisol. To diagnose a disorder of the adrenal glands, a tetracosactide injection is given and the blood cortisol level measured. Failure of the level to rise indicates an abnormality.... tetracosactide

Lam.

Family: Salvadoraceae.

Habitat: Peninsular India, Orissa, West Bengal.

English: Mistletoe Berrythorn.

Siddha/Tamil: Mulchangan.

Folk: Kundali.

Action: Root—diuretic (used in Siddha medicine for dropsy and rheumatism). Leaves—stimulant (used in rheumatism); expectorant, antispasmodic (used in cough and asthma); given to women after confinement. Bark—antiperiodic, astringent, expectorant.

The leaves contain the alkaloids az- imine, azcarpine and carpine. EtOH (50%) extract of aerial parts exhibited spasmogenic activity.... azima tetracantha

(Linn.) Taub.

Family: Fabaceae; Papilionaceae.

Habitat: Cultivated throughout India, particularly in Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Orissa.

English: Cluster bean, Guar.

Ayurvedic: Kshudra Shimbi, Gorakshaphalini, Guaar, Gwaalin.

Unani: Guaar phali.

Action: Laxative, antibilious. Gum—hypoglycaemic, hypolipi- daemic, appetite depressor (weight loss not observed), reduces glyco- suria during gum supplementation.

The administration of Guar gum (15 g/day) with normal diet for 6 weeks produced significant reduction in plasma, total cholesterol and LDL-choles- terol. The gum (10 g daily) is reported to decrease blood-glucose level in normal and diabetic volunteers. The supplementation of the gum in the diet of insulin-dependent diabetics failed to improve the long-term diabetic control, but significantly reduced serum cholesterol levels.

Taking Guar gum orally with meals was found to lower post-prandial glucose levels in patients with type 1 diabetes. (Am J clin Nutr, 56, 1992, 10561060.)

Oral administration of an ethanol extract of powdered pods has shown significant antiulcer, antisecretory and cytoprotective effects on various experimentally-induced gastric lesions in rats.

Guarmeal contains galactomannan, 3-epikatonic acid and a saponin.... cyamopsis tetragonoloba

See TETRALOGY OF FALLOT.... fallot’s tetralogy

Linn.

Synonym: R. canescens L.

Family: Apocynaceae.

Habitat: Abundant in moist and warm regions of West Bengal, particularly in 24 Parganas and Howrah, and Kerala (as a weed).

Folk: Badaa Chaand.

Action: Root—sedative, hypotensive. Plant juice, mixed with castor oil, is applied to skin diseases and to destroy parasites.

The plant contains a number of alkaloids, including rauvolscine, aj- malicine, canescine, reserpine, pseu- doyohimbine; yohimbine, corynan- thene, raunescine, iso-raunescine and recanescine.

The major alkaloid is rauwolscine (alpha-yohimbine), present in the root bark (0.1%), stem bark (0.2%) and leaves (0.5%).

The roots are often used as a substitute or adulterant of those of R. serpentina, though the reserpine content of the dried root was found to be comparatively low (0.03-0.05%).

Family: Linaceae.

Habitat: The Himalayas from Kashmir to Sikkim; commonly grown in gardens.

English: Winter-Flax, Yellow Flax.

Ayurvedic: Baasanti.

Folk: Abai (Maharashtra).

Action: Plant—used for the treatment of paralysis in Bihar. The crushed leaves and stems are applied to wounds infested with maggots.... rauvolfia tetraphylla

Roxb.

Family: Salicaceae.

Habitat: Throughout the greater part of India, along the banks of rivers and streams.

English: Indian Willow.

Ayurvedic: Jalavetasa, Naadeya, Niketan, Baishi.

Siddha/Tamil: Attupalai.

Folk: Vaanira, Vaalunja.

Action: Dried leaves—antiinflammatory, given in rheumatism, swellings, piles. Bark—febrifuge.

The bark is reported to contain 6.5% tannin, also salicin A.... salix tetrasperma

A drug used mainly to control disorders of movement in HUNTINGTON’S CHOREA and similar disorders. It probably acts by reducing DOPAMINE at the NERVE endings, thus slowing neural transmissions.... tetrabenazine

Planch.

Synonym: Vitis capreolata D. Don.

Family: Vitaceae.

Habitat: From Garhwal to Bhutan, up to an altitude of 2,600 m.

Folk: Charchari (Nepal).

Action: Alcoholic extract of aerial parats, when injected intramuscularly in rats, showed anticancer activity.

The plant was found toxic to adult albino mice.... tetrastigma serrulatum

Merrill.

Synonym: T. assa DC.

Family: Dilleniaceae.

Habitat: Assam.

Siddha/Tamil: Anaittichal. (A related species T. laevis Vahl, is found in the forests of Kerala.)

Action: Leaves—an infusion of shoots is given in pulmonary haemorrhages and is used as a gargle in aphthae.

The leaves yielded beta-sitosterol, lupeol, betulin and betulinic acid.

T. laevis (Vennelvalli, Piripul) also possesses similar properties. A decoction of leaves, mixed with rice-gruel, is given for the treatment of aphthae.... tetracera indica

Murr.

Synonym: T. tetragonioides (Pall.) O. Kuntze.

Family: Tetragoniaceae.

Habitat: Cultivated in the hills of North Bengal, Shillong and other hill stations, and in the Deccan, in Mysore.

English: New Zealand Spinach.

Folk: Chikesoppu (Karnataka).

Action: Used as a substitute for Spinacia oleracea, as a rich source of calcium, phosphorus, iron and vitamins A, B and C. Given in pulmonary and intestinal affections.

The shoots of the plant contain saponin, but the seeds do not. The saponin has low toxicity which disappears on boiling the leaves. A sample of the plant contained 1.2% oxalic acid, combined as calcium oxalate which is higher than found in common spinach. Losses of phosphorus and iron on cooking are also reported to be high.

The roots, leaves and immature fruits gave positive reaction for the presence of alkaloids. Cerebroside has been synthesized.... tetragonia expansa

A group of antibiotic drugs commonly used to treat bronchitis, acne, syphilis, gonorrhoea, nongonococcal urethritis, and certain types of pneumonia.

If taken with milk, tetracyclines are not absorbed effectively into the intestines.

Possible side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, worsening of kidney disorders, rash, and itching.

Tetracyclines may discolour developing teeth and are therefore not usually prescribed for children under age 12 or pregnant women.... tetracycline drugs

the combination of major acne, *pilonidal sinus, chronic scalp *folliculitis, and *hidradenitis suppurativa.... follicular occlusion tetrad

(amethocaine) n. a potent local anaesthetic applied to the skin before intravenous injections or the insertion of a cannula. It is also applied as eye drops before eye operations.... tetracaine

n. (in genetics) 1. the four cells resulting from meiosis after the second telophase. 2. the four chromatids of a pair of homologous chromosomes (see bivalent) in the first stage of meiosis.... tetrad

n. a congenital abnormality in which there are only four digits on a hand or foot.... tetradactyly

n. see cannabis.... tetrahydrocannabinol

n. see thyroxine.... tetraiodothyronine