25,729 articles
BARI2D trial
BARI 2D (Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation 2 Diabetes), an NHLBI-funded 2x2 factorial randomized trial of 2,368 patients with type 2 diabetes and stable coronary disease, comparing revascularization versus medical therapy and insulin-sensitizing versus insulin-providing glycemic strategies.
Bariatric surgery
Bariatric surgery, also called metabolic or weight-loss surgery, changes the digestive system to treat obesity. Main procedures are sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass; it improves type 2 diabetes and other obesity-related conditions.
Bariatrics
Bariatrics, also called bariatric medicine or metabolic and bariatric surgery, is the medical field treating obesity through medical weight management and digestive-system operations such as gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy, distinguished from general weight-loss advice by surgical indications based on BMI thresholds.
Baricitinib
Baricitinib (Olumiant) is an oral JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor, first FDA-approved systemic treatment for severe alopecia areata (June 2022), also used for rheumatoid arthritis and COVID-19; dosed 2 or 4 mg daily.
Barium enema
A barium enema is a radiographic exam in which barium sulfate instilled through the rectum coats the colon for X-ray imaging, used to detect polyps, cancer, and inflammatory disease.
Baroreceptor
Baroreceptor: stretch-sensing mechanoreceptor nerve ending in the carotid sinus, aortic arch, and cardiopulmonary circulation; fires via PIEZO, ENaC, ASIC, and TRP channels to the medullary baroreflex, buffering arterial blood pressure.
Baroreflex
Baroreflex (baroreceptor reflex): homeostatic reflex by which carotid sinus and aortic arch baroreceptors oppose blood pressure changes via autonomic adjustments; BRS measurement methods and clinical prognostic use.
Baroreflex activation therapy
Baroreflex activation therapy (BAT, Barostim by CVRx) is an implanted carotid sinus stimulation device that reduces sympathetic outflow; FDA-approved for symptomatic HFrEF (NYHA III, LVEF ≤35%, NT-proBNP <1600) after the BeAT-HF trial.
Baroreflex failure
Baroreflex failure, also called afferent baroreflex failure, is loss of the baroreflex blood pressure buffer, usually from neck radiation or surgery, causing hypertensive surges, orthostatic hypotension, and labile hypertension.
Barotrauma
Barotrauma: tissue injury from pressure differences across gas-filled body spaces during flying, diving, or hyperbaric therapy; ear barotrauma (airplane ear, otic barotrauma) is the most common form.
Barre (exercise)
Barre (exercise): low-impact fitness format blending ballet, Pilates, yoga, and strength training. Created by dancer Lotte Berk in London in 1959 after a back injury; brought to New York in 1971; now a global studio trend.
Barrett adenocarcinoma
Barrett adenocarcinoma, also called adenocarcinoma arising in Barrett's mucosa, is esophageal adenocarcinoma developing from Barrett metaplastic epithelium via dysplasia; linked to GERD, obesity, smoking, and male sex.
Barrett ulcer
A Barrett ulcer is a chronic peptic ulcer that develops within the metaplastic columnar epithelium lining the esophagus in Barrett's esophagus, a complication of chronic reflux disease.
Barrett's esophagus
Barrett's esophagus, also called columnar-lined esophagus, is metaplastic columnar epithelium replacing distal esophageal squamous lining, caused by chronic GERD and the only known precursor to esophageal adenocarcinoma, managed by endoscopic surveillance and ablation.
Barrier Contraception
Barrier contraception: condoms, diaphragm, cervical cap, sponge, and spermicides that block or kill sperm. Typical-use failure 13–22%; condoms add STI protection; caps and diaphragms are fitted, spermicide-based devices.
Barrier cream
Barrier cream (barrier preparation): a topical cream, paste, ointment, or spray applied to skin to protect against irritants and water loss, used in occupational dermatitis, diaper rash, and stoma care; evidence of prevention is low quality and it is not a glove substitute.
Barry Sherman
Barry Sherman (Bernard Sherman, 1942–2017), Canadian billionaire who founded generic drug maker Apotex in 1974; known for patent litigation, philanthropy, and his unsolved December 2017 murder with wife Honey in Toronto.
Barthel index
The Barthel index (BI) is a clinical scale scoring a patient's independence in ten basic activities of daily living, from 0 to 100, used in rehabilitation and geriatric medicine.
Bartholin's cyst
Bartholin's cyst: a fluid-filled lump near the vaginal opening caused by blockage of a Bartholin gland duct, affecting about 2% of women; treated by Word catheter, marsupialization, or excision, with biopsy after age 40.
Bartholin's gland
Bartholin's gland (greater vestibular gland): one of two pea-sized vulvar glands, named for Caspar Bartholin the Younger, that secrete lubricating mucus; their ducts often form cysts and abscesses.
Bartonella bacilliformis infection
Bartonella bacilliformis infection, or Carrion's disease / South American bartonellosis, is a sand fly-transmitted biphasic illness in the Andes: acute Oroya fever with severe anemia (untreated fatality over 80% in outbreaks) and chronic verruga peruana, treated with antibiotics.
Bartsocas-Papas syndrome
Bartsocas-Papas syndrome, also known as lethal popliteal pterygium syndrome, is a rare autosomal recessive disorder marked by severe knee webbing, fused eyelids, facial clefts, and genital anomalies, often lethal prenatally or in infancy.
Basal body temperature
Basal body temperature (BBT) is the resting body temperature used in fertility awareness; progesterone raises it 0.5-1 degree F after ovulation, but it confirms ovulation only after it occurs, limiting contraceptive effectiveness.
Basal ganglia
Basal ganglia (basal nuclei): interconnected subcortical brain nuclei (caudate, putamen, globus pallidus, subthalamic nucleus, substantia nigra) that modulate voluntary movement via direct and indirect striatal pathways; dysfunction causes Parkinson disease, Huntington disease, and dystonia.
Basal-cell carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma of skin (BCC), also called basal cell cancer, is the most common skin cancer, arising in the lower epidermis, driven by Hedgehog pathway mutations and UV exposure, rarely metastasizing, treated mainly by excision or Mohs surgery.
Basanta Tilaka Rasa
Basanta Tilaka Rasa (Vasantatilaka Rasa, बसन्त तिलक रस) is a classical Ayurvedic herbo-mineral rasa shastra formulation of bhasmas, mercury, and herbs, dosed 125–250 mg twice daily per the Ayurvedic Formulary of India for fever, cough, asthma, anemia, and heart disease.
Basavarajiyam
Basavarajiyam (Basavarajeeyam), an 18th-century bilingual Sanskrit-Telugu Ayurvedic compendium by Basavaraju of Andhra, in 25 chapters covering pulse diagnosis, rasa preparations, and disease treatment still used in Telangana.
Base excess
Base excess, also called base deficit or standard base excess, is a measure of the metabolic component of an acid–base disorder, reported with arterial blood gas results since 1960.
BASEL-PMI study
BASEL-PMI (NCT02573532) is a prospective multicenter study from University Hospital Basel screening high-risk noncardiac surgery patients for perioperative myocardial injury, defining PMI by absolute troponin rise and reporting etiology-specific mortality.
Basic life support
Basic life support (BLS): lay and professional emergency care for cardiac arrest, respiratory arrest, and choking, built on recognition, calling for help, high-quality CPR, and AED use, per 2025 AHA and ERC guidelines.