Digit Health Dictionary

A radiological technique for detecting osteoporosis (see BONE, DISORDERS OF) in which a beam of X-rays is directed at the bone-area under investigation – normally the spine and hip – and the CALCIUM density measured. If the calcium content is low, preventive treatment can be started to reduce the likelihood of fractures occurring.... quantitative digital radiography

See: FOXGLOVE. ... digitalis

Ehrh.

Habitat: Native to Europe. Now cultivated mainly in Kashmir (Yarikhah), also occurs wild.

English: Grecian Foxglove.

Ayurvedic: Hritpatri, Tilapushpi (non-classical). (Yellow var.)

Action: See D. purpurea.

Earlier, the herb was used to treat ulcers, boils, abscesses, headaches and paralysis. William Withering, an 18th century English country doctor, explored the plant's hidden properties. His work led to the production of digoxin, a life-saving medicine.

Safety of the herb cannot be established due to variable amounts of cardiac glycosides. The powder is toxic at 520 mg.... digitalis lanata

Linn.

Family: Scrophulariaceae.

Habitat: Native to West Europe. Cultivated in Tangmarg and Kishtawar in Kashmir, Darjeeling and the Nilgiris.

English: Digitalis, Foxglove.

Ayurvedic: Hritpatri, Tilapushpi (non-classical). (Purple var.)

Action: Main source of digoxin for the pharmaceutical industry. Digitalis glycosides increase the force of contraction of heart without increasing the oxygen consumption and slow the heart rate when auricular fibrillation is present. To be used only under strict medical supervision.

Not used as a herbal drug.... digitalis purpurea

Linn.

Synonym: I. paniculata R. Br. Burm. I. mauritiana Jacq.

Family: Convolvulaceae.

Habitat: Tropical India in moist regions.

English: Milky Yam.

Ayurvedic: Kshira-vidaari, Kshir- valli, Payasvini, Swaadukandaa, Ikshukandaa, Gajavaajipriyaa, Kan- dapalaasha, Bhuumikuushmaanda.

Siddha: Paalmudukkan kizhangu.

Folk: Bilaaikanda. Bhuin Kakhaaru (Orissa).

Action: Cholagogue, galactagogue, alterative, demulcent, purgative. Resin from root—uses similar to Jalap. Flour of raw rhizome is given in enlargement of liver and spleen, also for menorrhagia, debility and fat accumulation.

Rhizomes gave taraxerol acetate and beta-sitosterol. Fresh leaves contain 6.3 mg/100 g of carotene.

Vidaari is equated with Pueraria tuberosa DC. (Fabaceae). Dry pieces of Dioscorea pentaphylla Linn. are sold as Vidaari Kanda.

Dosage: Tuber—3-6 g powder. (CCRAS.)... ipomoea digitata

A group of drugs that are extracted from plants belonging to the foxglove family.

They are used to treat heart conditions, most commonly atrial fibrillation.

Those most frequently used are digitoxin and digoxin.... digitalis drugs

See angiography.... digital subtraction angiography

A long-acting digitalis drug used to treat heart failure and certain types of arrhythmia.... digitoxin

adj. 1. (in anatomy) relating to a digit. 2. (in radiology) relating to or utilizing *digitization.... digital

see hearing aid.... digital hearing aid

an image made up of *pixels. Each pixel has numbers (digits) to describe its position and shade on the *grey scale. The more shades available, described by the number of computer bits required to store the shade of grey, the more accurately the image represents the original tissue contrast. An 8-bit computer image shows 28 (256) possible shades of grey, close to the maximum the human eye can differentiate. 12-bit (4096 levels of grey) images are of much higher quality and take up more memory. They can be manipulated more easily by computer using image enhancement techniques. Compare analogue image.... digital image

n. the administration of a derivative of *digitalis to a patient with heart failure until the optimum level has been reached in the heart tissues. At this stage the control of heart failure should be adequate and there should be few side-effects. The process of digitalization may take several days.... digitalization

(DR) an alternative to film radiography, by acquiring X-ray images from a large number of individual X-ray detectors on a matrix in a digital format directly. This contrasts with *computerized radiography, in which an *analogue image is taken and then put into a reader to be converted into a *digital image. The technique allows the storage of images and their subsequent retrieval, manipulation, and interpretation using computers (see PACS).... digital radiography

(DSI) the production of static images using an *image intensifier, usually during a fluoroscopic examination. The images can be stored digitally (see digitization) and either transferred to photographic film or viewed on a TV monitor.... digital spot imaging

a radiological technique that enhances visualization of blood vessels (see angiography). A digitized image is taken before the contrast medium (a ‘mask’) is injected, and this is subtracted by computer from the images taken after contrast injection. Only the blood vessels remain on the image. The technique enables blood-vessel anatomy and blood supply to an organ to be demonstrated more clearly. The quality of the image is very dependent on the patient remaining still, since movement causes severe loss of image (movement *artifact). The technique can also be used in nuclear medicine using two different tracers to look for parathyroid gland tumours.... digital subtraction

n. (in radiology) the conversion of an *analogue image to a *digital image. The image is broken down to pixels and numerical values assigned to each pixel for its position and to describe its shade on the *grey scale. This allows storage, electronic manipulation, and transfer via computer links of any images, including radiographs or CT, MRI, or ultrasound scans.... digitization

the trading name of the *Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) since 1 August 2016. It is the national provider of information, data, and IT systems for commissioners, analysts, and clinicians for the National Health Service (England). It also runs the *NHS Choices website.... nhs digital