Human health and medicine

CA3 pyramidal cell

CA3 pyramidal cell: principal excitatory neuron of hippocampal CA3, also called cornu ammonis 3 pyramidal neuron. Defined by ~12,000 recurrent collateral synapses per rat cell, mossy fiber input, Schaffer collateral output to CA1, burst firing, and roles in pattern completion and memory.

CA46

CA46 (CA-46, CVCL_1101, ATCC CRL-1648) is an EBV-negative human Burkitt lymphoma cell line from a male patient's ascites, carrying t(8;14) MYC-IGH fusion and homozygous TP53 p.Arg248Gln, secreting IgM kappa.

CabACC trial

CabACC (NCT03257891) is a phase II, single-arm, open-label Italian trial of cabazitaxel 25 mg/m2 every 3 weeks, maximum 6 cycles, as second/third-line therapy for advanced adrenocortical carcinoma progressing after EDP-M chemotherapy.

CABANA trial

CABANA (NCT00911508) was a 2204-patient, 126-center randomized trial comparing catheter ablation with drug therapy in atrial fibrillation; primary composite endpoint was not significantly reduced (HR 0.86).

Cabazitaxel

Cabazitaxel (Jevtana, XRP6258) is a Sanofi taxane microtubule inhibitor approved by the FDA in June 2010 with prednisone for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer after docetaxel, based on the TROPIC trial.

CABER trial

CABER (NCT04543643) is a phase 3 randomized open-label trial by Tianjin Second People's Hospital testing carvedilol plus berberine versus carvedilol alone for varices progression in HBV/HCV cirrhosis, 288 participants, 12 months, status unknown.

CABO-LA study

CABO-LA (NCT05835635) is an observational study by Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile in Santiago evaluating satisfaction, acceptance, and quality of life in 50 virologically suppressed Chilean HIV patients switching from oral therapy to long-acting injectable cabotegravir plus rilpivirine over 72 weeks.

Cabotegravir

Cabotegravir (Vocabria, Apretude, Cabenuva) is an HIV-1 integrase strand transfer inhibitor from ViiV Healthcare, given as a 600 mg intramuscular injection every 2 months for PrEP and with rilpivirine for HIV treatment.

Sep 29, 2026

Cabozantinib/nivolumab regimen

The cabozantinib/nivolumab regimen combines the oral kinase inhibitor cabozantinib (Cabometyx) with the PD-1 inhibitor nivolumab (Opdivo), approved in 2021 for first-line advanced renal cell carcinoma.

CACH syndrome

CACH syndrome, or vanishing white matter (VWM), a rare autosomal recessive leukodystrophy from EIF2B1-5 mutations causing eIF2B dysfunction, chronic decline, and fever- or trauma-triggered deterioration, onset 2-5 years classically.

Cachexia

Cachexia, also called wasting syndrome, is an inflammation-driven loss of skeletal muscle and fat in cancer, heart failure, COPD, and kidney disease, not reversible by feeding alone; no FDA-approved drugs exist, anamorelin is Japan-only, and ponsegromab (anti-GDF-15) is the leading pipeline agent.

CADASIL

CADASIL (cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy) is the most common hereditary cerebral small vessel disease, an autosomal dominant NOTCH3 disorder causing mid-adult lacunar stroke, migraine with aura, cognitive decline, and dementia, diagnosed by genetic testing or skin biopsy showing GOM.

Cadaver

Cadaver: a dead human body used for dissection, medical education, and research. Sources evolved from executed criminals and unclaimed bodies to donation programs; IFAA 2012 recommends donated bodies only.

Cadazolid

Cadazolid (ACT-179811) is a first-in-class quinoxolidinone antibiotic, an oxazolidinone-fluoroquinolone hybrid developed by Actelion for Clostridium difficile infection; it inhibits protein synthesis but failed non-inferiority in one phase 3 IMPACT trial and was abandoned.

CADDS

CADDS (contiguous ABCD1 DXS1357E deletion syndrome) is a rare X-linked recessive neonatal disorder from deletion of ABCD1 and BCAP31 on Xq28, causing cholestasis, hypotonia, elevated VLCFA, and death before age one.

Cadonilimab

Cadonilimab (AK104, 开坦尼), Akeso's tetravalent PD-1/CTLA-4 bispecific antibody with Fc-null design; first dual immune checkpoint bispecific approved (NMPA, June 2022) for cervical cancer, later gastric cancer.

Caduceus as a symbol of medicine

Caduceus as a symbol of medicine: the two-snake winged staff of Hermes, adopted by the US Army Medical Corps in 1902, versus the true medical emblem, the single-snake rod of Asclepius.

CAEC trial

CAEC trial (NCT03070262), The Efficacy and Safety of Caffeic Acid for Esophageal Cancer: phase 3 randomized double-blind placebo-controlled Chinese trial of oral caffeic acid 300 mg three times daily in 240 advanced ESCC patients, targeting GASC1/KDM4C; no results posted.

CAENLVLTELPMA trial

CAENLVLTELPMA (NCT07372014) is a phase 4, quadruple-masked randomized trial at Mexico City's Conde de Valenciana eye institute testing nepafenac 0.1% plus lubricant versus lubricant alone for epiphora from punctal stenosis in 68 adults over eight weeks.

Caerphilly Heart Disease Study

Caerphilly Heart Disease Study (Caerphilly Prospective Study, CaPS): prospective cohort of 2,512 South Wales men aged 45–59 begun 1979, run with the Speedwell study, studying ischemic heart disease, lipids, lifestyle, cognition, and dementia over decades of follow-up.

Caesarean section

Caesarean section (C-section): surgical delivery of a baby through abdominal and uterine incisions, elective or emergency. Global rate rose from 6% (1990) to 21% (2018); most frequent major abdominal surgery worldwide.

Café au lait spot

Café au lait spot (café-au-lait macule, CALM): a common flat light-to-dark brown birthmark present at birth or in early childhood. Solitary spots are benign; six or more suggest NF1 or Legius, McCune-Albright, and related syndromes.

Caffeine

Caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine, methyltheobromine, theine) is a methylxanthine alkaloid and the world's most consumed psychoactive drug, acting as an adenosine receptor antagonist, metabolized by CYP1A2, with a 2.5-4.5 hour adult half-life.

Caffeine intoxication

Caffeine intoxication is acute toxicity from excessive caffeine, defined by DSM-IV at over 250 mg with stimulant symptoms; severe poisoning follows gram doses, serum levels above 15 mg/L, and is treated supportively or with hemodialysis.

Caffeine-induced anxiety disorder

Caffeine-induced anxiety disorder (ICD-11 6C48.40) is anxiety arising during or soon after caffeine intoxication or withdrawal, not explained by a primary anxiety disorder; risk rises sharply above 400 mg.

Caffey disease

Caffey disease, or infantile cortical hyperostosis (OMIM 114000), is a rare autosomal dominant COL1A1-related bone dysplasia of infancy causing painful subperiosteal hyperostosis, chiefly of the mandible, resolving by age two.

Caficrestat

Caficrestat (AT-001) is an orally active, highly selective aldose reductase inhibitor from Applied Therapeutics tested in the Phase 3 ARISE-HF trial for diabetic cardiomyopathy; the primary endpoint was not met.

CAGE questionnaire

CAGE questionnaire: four-item alcoholism screening test (Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener) by Ewing, JAMA 1984; score 2+ positive; now superseded by AUDIT and SASQ in US guidelines.

Cajal-Retzius cell

Cajal-Retzius cells, also called CR cells, are transient reelin-secreting neurons of the developing cerebral cortex marginal zone, named after Ramón y Cajal and Retzius; they direct inside-out cortical layering and die by apoptosis after development.