Human health and medicine

Myotonia fluctuans

Myotonia fluctuans, also called exercise-induced delayed-onset myotonia, is a rare autosomal dominant SCN4A (Nav1.4) sodium channel myotonia with fluctuating stiffness after exercise and potassium ingestion, no weakness or cold sensitivity.

Myotonia permanens

Myotonia permanens, a severe persistent form of potassium-aggravated myotonia, is an autosomal dominant SCN4A (Nav1.4) sodium channelopathy with childhood-onset continuous myotonia, respiratory risk, and the G1306E variant frequent in Chile.

Myotonic disorders

Myotonic disorders (myotonic syndromes) are inherited or acquired muscle disorders with delayed relaxation after contraction. They include myotonic dystrophy types 1 and 2 (Steinert disease, PROMM) and nondystrophic myotonias such as myotonia congenita.

Myotonic dystrophy

Myotonic dystrophy (Steinert's disease, DM1/DM2) is an autosomal dominant multisystem muscular dystrophy caused by CTG (DMPK) or CCTG (CNBP) repeat expansions producing toxic RNA that sequesters MBNL splicing factors; no approved disease-modifying therapy exists.

MyPlate

MyPlate was the USDA's plate-shaped icon for the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2011 to 2026, replacing MyPyramid; four quadrants (fruits, vegetables, grains, protein) plus dairy, retired January 2026 for RealFood.gov.

Myringoplasty

Myringoplasty is a surgical procedure that repairs a perforated eardrum by placing a graft over the defect, without opening the middle ear, to improve hearing and prevent infection.

Myringotomy

Myringotomy, or tympanotomy, is a surgical incision in the eardrum to drain middle ear fluid or ventilate the ear, often with a tympanostomy tube (grommet). First recorded in 1649; reintroduced by Schwartze and Politzer in the 19th century.

Myron Allukian Jr

Myron Allukian Jr. is an American dental public health specialist who was Boston's dental director for 34 years, led water fluoridation in Boston, and served as APHA president.

Myron S. Magen

Myron S. Magen (born 1926) is an American pediatrician and osteopathic medical educator, founding dean of the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine from 1970 to 1990.

Mysophobia

Mysophobia (germaphobia), morbid fear of contamination, coined by Hammond in 1879; classified as a specific phobia, often co-occurring with contamination OCD, treated with exposure and response prevention.

Myxedema

Myxedema: severe, full-blown adult hypothyroidism and its mucinous nonpitting skin swelling; named by Ord (1873/1878), described by Gull (1874); includes myxedema coma (25-50% mortality) and pretibial myxedema of Graves' disease.

Myxoedema coma

Myxoedema coma (myxedema coma, MC): life-threatening decompensated severe hypothyroidism with altered mental status, hypothermia, and multiorgan failure; mortality about 20-60%, treated with thyroid hormone and glucocorticoids.

Myxofibrosarcoma

Myxofibrosarcoma (MFS), formerly myxoid malignant fibrous histiocytoma, is a malignant soft tissue sarcoma of the elderly, mainly in the extremities, with myxoid stroma, curvilinear vessels, high local recurrence (10–61%), and complex karyotype.

Myxopapillary ependymoma

Myxopapillary ependymoma (MPE), ICD-O 9394/1, is a CNS WHO grade 2 ependymoma of the conus medullaris, cauda equina, and filum terminale in adults, with over 90% long-term survival and recurrence reduced by gross-total resection.

N-of-1 trial

An N-of-1 trial is a randomized, usually blinded multiple-crossover experiment in a single patient, named by Gordon Guyatt and colleagues in a 1986 New England Journal of Medicine paper.

Nab-paclitaxel regimen

Nab-paclitaxel is a chemotherapy regimen of paclitaxel bound to albumin nanoparticles, FDA approved in 2005 for metastatic breast cancer and later for lung and pancreatic cancer.

Nabilone

Nabilone (Cesamet) is a synthetic THC analogue and CB1/CB2 partial agonist approved in Canada (1981) and the US (1985) for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting; Schedule II, common effects drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth.

Nabothian cyst

Nabothian cyst (mucinous retention cyst, nabothian follicle): a benign mucus-filled bump on the cervix caused by blocked cervical glands in the transformation zone, usually a few millimeters to 4 cm, asymptomatic, and requiring no treatment.

Nabumetone

Nabumetone (Relafen) is a nonacidic naphthylalkanone NSAID prodrug for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, converted hepatically to active 6MNA with a 24-hour half-life, allowing once-daily dosing.

Nadifloxacin

Nadifloxacin (Acuatim, Nadoxin, OPC-7251) is a topical fluoroquinolone antibiotic for acne and superficial bacterial skin infections; it inhibits bacterial DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV, is active against MRSA, and was developed by Otsuka.

Nadofaragene firadenovec

Nadofaragene firadenovec (Adstiladrin, rAd-IFNα/Syn3) is a nonreplicating adenoviral gene therapy delivering interferon alfa-2b, FDA approved December 2022 for BCG-unresponsive non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer with carcinoma in situ, dosed intravesically every 3 months.

Nadroparin calcium

Nadroparin calcium (Fraxiparine) is a porcine-derived low molecular weight heparin, mean MW 4.5 kDa, anti-Xa/anti-IIa ratio 3.2:1, given subcutaneously for VTE prophylaxis, VTE treatment, hemodialysis, and unstable angina.

Nadya Suleman

Nadya (Natalie) Suleman, 'Octomom', American woman who bore the first surviving octuplets on January 26, 2009 via IVF with 12 embryos transferred by Dr. Michael Kamrava; mother of 14, later counselor and Lifetime documentary subject.

Oct 20, 2026

Naegeli-Franceschetti-Jadassohn syndrome

Naegeli-Franceschetti-Jadassohn syndrome (Naegeli syndrome, NFJS) is a rare autosomal dominant ectodermal dysplasia caused by KRT14 mutations, marked by absent fingerprints, reticulate hyperpigmentation that fades after puberty, hypohidrosis, and enamel defects.

Naegleriasis

Naegleriasis, or primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), is a rare, nearly always fatal brain infection caused by Naegleria fowleri, the brain-eating ameba, acquired when contaminated warm freshwater enters the nose; fewer than 10 US cases yearly, 167 cases 1962-2024 with four survivors.

Nafamostat

Nafamostat (FUT-175, Futhan, nafamostat mesylate/mesilate) is a short-acting synthetic serine protease inhibitor approved in Japan and Korea for pancreatitis, DIC, and extracorporeal anticoagulation, and investigated against COVID-19 via TMPRSS2 inhibition.

Nafarelin

Nafarelin (Synarel) is a synthetic GnRH agonist decapeptide nasal spray treating central precocious puberty and endometriosis; initial LH/FSH stimulation followed by reversible pituitary desensitization lowers sex steroid output.

Nafcillin

Nafcillin is a semisynthetic, penicillinase-resistant penicillin used to treat infections caused by penicillinase-producing staphylococci, and remains a first-line therapy for methicillin-susceptible S. aureus infections despite higher adverse-event rates than cefazolin.

Nafithromycin

Nafithromycin (WCK 4873, brand Miqnaf) is a lactone ketolide antibiotic by Wockhardt for community-acquired bacterial pneumonia; approved in India January 2025, 800 mg once daily for 3 days, non-inferior to moxifloxacin.