This page defines terms in the way they are used on this site.

Adsorption
Process of becoming bound to a surface.

Amyloid protein
A structural protein within cells that has the ability to aggregate into fibrils.

Antigen-antibody complex
An immune complex formed from the integral binding of an antibody to an antigen or antigens. The action of immune complexes varies from individual to individual, perhaps genetically.  It appears that immune complexes can have structures that make them bind to specific tissue components in such places as articulating joints, bronchiolar structures, Islets of Langerhans, or colder regions of the body such as the skin.  The conjunction of antigen and antibody normally triggers the complement reaction process.

Atopy
In the original definition of this term there is the principle that symptoms ‘are out of place’ or ‘without place’.  In modern interpretation there is a fashionable link to genetic predisposition.  I have considered the idea of placelessness to refer to the link between cause and symptom and use the term to describe disease symptoms that have arisen through immune system corruption by environmental or nurturing influences.

Autologous transfer
A transplant of cells or tissue from one part of a body to that same individual.

Basal lamina
The layer of a basement membrane directly in contact with epithelial cells.

Basement membrane
The extracellular layer of fibres and gels to which an epithelial layer of cells are attached and which bounds the epithelium from associated tissues.

Cavies
Another word for Guinea Pigs – rodents native to South America.

Complement reaction or cascade
When antibodies become attached to their specific antigen the antigen-antibody complex formed serves as a focus for a series of reactions designed to immobilise and destroy an invading organism.  This is the complement reaction/cascade.  When the reaction is in response to ingested antigens, the response will give rise to destructive inflammation of gut and local tissue.  This pattern of complement reactions forms the basis of many allergy symptoms and type I diabetes.  Localisation of inflammation may result from the antigen-antibody complex being selectively adherent to particular tissue components.

Dermis
Layer of skin tissue beneath the epidermis.

Enantiomers
Enantiomers are optical isomers or mirror image copies of a chemical compound

Enterovirus
A type of virus transmitted through oral, nasal, or faecal contact.  Enteroviruses include polio.

Epigenetics, epigenes
Epigenes control the expression of genes. Epigenetics refers to external modifications to DNA that cause genes to be active or inactive. These modifications do not change the DNA sequence however.

Foods of bovine origin
Foods deriving from dairy products or beef, including but not limited to cow’s milk and its products, beef, gelatine, dripping, casein, whey, Bovril ™, etc.

Haematopoietic
Relating to the production of blood cells.

Ischaemia
Restriction of blood supply.

Isomer
An isomer is a compound with the same molecular formula as another molecule, but with a different chemical structure.

Lumen
An enclosed space such as that enclosed by a tube or gut wall.

Microchimeric
Including a small percentage of cells from another individual.  Microchimerism may be due to transplacental transfer of cells between mother and fetus or between two twins.

Narcoleptic
Narcolepsy is a neurological condition most characterized by a tendency to fall asleep involuntarily during daytime.

Proteolytic
protein digesting substance – usually an enzyme.

Psychosomatic
Bodily symptoms caused by mental stress

Somatic
Relating to the body, as distinct from the mind.

Somatopsychic
mental symptoms caused by bodily illness

Transplacental transfer
Carried across the placenta to or from the developing foetus.

Ungulate
Hoofed mammal.

Villi
Simple, finger-like projections of the endoderm of the small intestine extending about 1 mm and including blood capillaries to assist absorption of digested foods and lipids by increasing the surface area of the gut.  Villus type structures also exist at the interface of vascular systems in the placenta.