Glossary

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.  This is is a commonly used  technique to detect the  presence of a protein, peptide, or antibodies such as would be present due to an infective agent.  It uses an antibody against these proteins, peptides or antibodies that binds to them.  Bound to the assay’s antibody is an enzyme that reacts to the binding allowing identification of the binding event, thus identifying the presence of targeted  agent (such as the infective organism).

epithelial membrane antigen – an antigen for which an immunohistochemical stain has been developed and called by the same name. This antigen is a marker for maturation of the membrane along the epithelial cell line and is useful in differentiating small-cell, anaplastic carcinomas from lymphomas.

Material injected into a blood vessel to embolize or thrombose it.

ElectroMyoGraphy

Encephalomyosynangiosis: A surgical technique used to treat an area of the brain with poor blood supply such as can occur in Moyamoya Disease.  The technique consists of laying muscle with good blood supply directly onto the surface of the area of the brain with poor blood supply.

ETS2 Repressor Factor. A Protein Coding gene related to  cellular pathways involved in response to cellular stimuli or to cellular senescence. Mutations in this gene have been related to craniosynostosis.

A pathway involved in DNA transcription. ERK (extracelluar signalling-regulated kinases) and MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinases) are protein switches that act by phosphorylating proteins in cascade that ends in proteins being transcribed by DNA.

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate – the degree of sedimentation of red blood cells in a specimen of blood containing an anticoagulant over a one hour period reported as mm/hr. This is a non-specific measure for inflammation.

Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy. Refers to the use of an endoscope to create a passage from the third ventricle of the brain to the external spinal fluid spaces immediately underlying it. Used to treat hydrocephalus.

Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy Success Score – a calculated score based on the patient’s age, etiology of the hydrocephalus and whether or not the patient’s hydrocephalus has been previously treated with a shunt. Age of less than 1 month, hydrocephalus due to an infection and a history of previous shunting predict the least likelihood of success (0%) while an age of greater than 10 years, hydrocephalus sue to an obstruction at the level of the aqueduct of Sylvius and no previous shunting predicts the highest likelihood of success (90%).