Annual Report - Acronyms and Glossary

Acronyms

AHMAC

Australian Health Ministers' Conference

AIDS

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

APEC

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

COAG

Council of Australian Governments

GM

Genetically Modified

GP

General Practice or General Practitioner

HECS

Higher Education Contribution Scheme

HIV

Human Immunodeficiency Virus

OECD

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

UNESCO

United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization

WHO

World Health Organization

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Glossary

Abdominal aortic aneurysm	A distended and weakened area in the wall of the abdominal aorta .
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia	A rapidly progressing cancer of the blood affecting a type of white blood cell known as lymphocytes.
Anabolic steroid	A type of steroid hormone that stimulates the production of protein and thus is used clinically to promote the growth and repair of body tissues.
Anti-coagulant	Medications used as blood-thinners to prevent blood clots and to maintain open blood vessels.
Antiretroviral therapy	A therapy which stops or suppresses the activity of a retrovirus. Examples of retroviruses include HIV and influenza.
Average Staffing Level	The average number of employees receiving salary/wages (or compensation in lieu of salary/wages) over a financial year, with adjustments for casual and part-time employees to show the full-time equivalent.
Chemotherapy	The treatment of disease by chemical agents, for example the use of drugs to destroy cancer cells.
Chronic myeloid leukaemia	A type of leukaemia which is initially slowly progressing. It is characterised by the presence of large numbers of abnormal mature granulocytes (a type of white blood cell that attacks and destroys foreign substances) circulating in the blood.
Colonoscopy	Examination of the interior of the colon using a flexible viewing instrument.
Coronavirus	A type of virus so named because it look s like a corona or halo when viewed under a microscope.
Dementia	The loss of mental processing ability, including communication, abstract thinking, judgement and physical abilities, such that it interferes with daily living; for example, short-term memory loss.
Dengue virus	A mosquito-borne species of virus which causes a fever and sometimes dangerous haemorrhaging in humans.
Dialysis	A medical procedure that uses a machine to filter waste products from the bloodstream and restore the blood's normal constituents.
Double balloon enteroscopy	An endoscopic technique used to visualise the small bowel.
Endoluminal grafting	Involves inserting a graft/stent/prosthesis using a catheter, via a peripheral artery, to the site of an aneurysm. The graft is expanded and secured in place to restore a more normal blood flow channel through the aorta.
Endoscopic ultrasound	Ultrasound performed with a probe introduced into the digestive tract to enable better imaging of internal organs, especially for diagnosis or staging of cancer.
Epidemiology	The study of the determinants (risk factors) and distribution of disease among populations.
Faecal occult blood test	A test that detects tiny amounts of blood, often released from bowel cancers or their precursors (polyps or adenomas) into the bowel motion.
Hysteroscopic sterilization	A method to render a female incapable of reproduction, using a hysteroscope; an endoscope used to visually inspect and/or treat the canal of the uterine cervix and cavity of the uterus.
Intravenous Immunoglobulin	A blood product of antibodies administered through a vein to treat patients with immune deficiencies and inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Each treatment requires extracts from over a thousand blood donations.
Islet cell transplantation	In islet cell transplantation, insulin-producing beta cells (islets) are taken from a donor's pancreas and transferred into a person with diabetes. Once transplanted, the donor islets begin to make and release insulin, actively regulating the level of glucose in the blood.
Lymphoedema	Lymphoedema occurs when the lymphatic system is unable to properly transport fluids and waste products from body tissues. If not removed, this results in fluids and toxins building up in the tissues, which can lead to major swelling of the patient's arms and legs. This can significantly affect a patient's quality of life.
Mesothelioma	Malignant tumour of the mesothelium, usually of lung, caused by exposure to asbestos fibres.
Metastatic	Spread of a disease from the tissue of origin to another part of the body.
Morbidity	The incidence of disease in a specified population group.
Multiple myeloma	A cancer of the plasma cells in bone marrow.
Nanomaterial	Materials with features smaller than one tenth of a micrometre.
Narcotics	Any derivative, natural or synthetic, of opium or morphine or any substance that has their effects.
Opal fuel	A low-aromatic petrol developed to combat the rising use of petrol as an inhalant in remote Indigenous Australian communities.
Osteoporosis	A reduction in the amount of bone mass, leading to fractures after minimal trauma.
Outcomes	Outcomes, as used in the Australian Government's Outcomes and Outputs Framework, are the intended or proposed results, consequences or impacts of government actions on the Australian community.
Outputs	The goods or services produced by individual Australian Government agencies for other persons, agencies or organisations.
Palliative care	Treatment aimed at relieving symptoms and pain rather than affecting a cure.
Papillomavirus	A DNA-based virus that infects the skin and mucous membranes of humans and a variety of animals.
Perfluorinated chemical	An inert chemical substance with a high oxygen carrying capacity that has been emulsified with surfactants and transfused to temporarily transport oxygen in the blood.
Performance indicators	A concise list of indicators, which are used to measure agency effectiveness in achieving the Government's objectives.
Perinatal	The period shortly before and after birth. Defined as beginning with the completion of the 20th to 28th week of gestation and ending seven to 28 days after birth.
Platelet	A disk-shaped structure found in the blood of all mammals and chiefly known for its role in blood coagulation.
Polyp	A growth protruding from a mucus membrane.
Portfolio Budget Statements	Statements prepared by portfolios to explain the Budget appropriations in terms of outcomes and outputs.
Positron Emission Tomography	A nuclear medicine technology that uses short-lived radioisotopes to enable the non-invasive imaging of metabolic functions within the body. The technology's main application is in the staging of various cancers and the monitoring of cancer therapies.
Prophylaxis	Preventative treatment.
Psychostimulant	An agent with antidepressant or mood elevating properties.
Radiation oncology	The study and discipline of treating malignant disease with radiation. The treatment is referred to as radiotherapy or radiation therapy.
Retinopathy	Degenerative, non-inflammatory condition of the retina.
Salmonellosis	Disease caused by infection with Salmonella bacteria.
Listeriosis	Disease caused by infection with Listeria bacteria.
Tuberculosis	Disease cause by infection with bacteria called mycobacteria tuberculosis.
Vector	An organism transmitting germs or other agents of disease.

AHMAC	Australian Health Ministers' Conference
AIDS	Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
APEC	Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
COAG	Council of Australian Governments
GM	Genetically Modified
GP	General Practice or General Practitioner
HECS	Higher Education Contribution Scheme
HIV	Human Immunodeficiency Virus
OECD	Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
UNESCO	United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization
WHO	World Health Organization