C
Acronyms, Abbreviations, and Glossary
ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
AH
aryl-hydrocarbon hydroxylase receptor
CDC
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
DNA
deoxyribonucleic acid
DOD
Department of Defense
EAE
experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
EPA
Environmental Protection Agency
ER
estrogen RNA
ERKO
estrogen-receptor knockout
HHS
Department of Health and Human Services
IOM
Institute of Medicine
HLA
histocompatibility
LH
luteinizing hormone
mRNA
messenger RNA
MS
multiple sclerosis
NCHS
National Center for Health Statistics
NCRR
National Center for Research Resources
NHANES
National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
NIEHS
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
NIH
National Institutes of Health
NIOSH
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
NRC
National Research Council
ORWH
Office for Research on Women's Health, NIH
RNA
ribonucleic acid
SES
socioeconomic status
TCDD
herbicide 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin
VA
Department of Veterans Affairs
WHI
Women's Health Initiative
Glossary
Environment
is comprised of all chemical, physical, and biological features of the earth than can affect or be affected by human activities.
Environmental exposure
occurs in a variety of ways: in different settings (e.g., the home, the workplace), through different routes (e.g., foods), because of different activities (e.g., chores, hobbies), or because of unique or critical times in the lifespan.
Gender
is used when referring to the social expression of living with one or two X chromosomes.
Gender differences
are primarily determined by non-biologic factors, such as social roles, but influenced by sex-steroid hormone metabolism, anatomy, immunologic function, and genetic influences.
Genes
are the fundamental physical and functional unit of heredity. A gene is an ordered sequence of nucleotides located in a particular chromosome that encodes a specific functional product.
"knockout" mice
are experimental mice created by disrupting (knocking out) the function of a specific gene.
MAP-2 kinase
is an enzyme that transduces growth factor pathways.
Multiple sclerosis
is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that attacks the myelin sheath surrounding nerve fibers in the brain and the spinal cord.
Mutation
is a permanent, transmissible change in the DNA sequence. It can be an insertion or deletion of genetic material or an alteration in the original information.
Polymorphisms
are naturally occurring variations in a DNA sequence. Polymorphisms are useful markers because they allow researchers to distinguish between DNA of different origins.
Sex
is generally used to designate the chromosomal or biologic phenomena linked to having one or two X chromosomes. Normal females have two X chromosomes, while normal males have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome.
Susceptibility
is the state of being readily affected or acted upon by the environment. The impact depends on exposure and the individual's ability to respond.
TCDD
is the herbicide 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, a known carcinogen and hormone disrupter in rats.
Transgenic mice
are mice that have a foreign gene introduced into their cells.