Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
See 
arthritis,
systemic-onset juvenile rheumatoid.
juxta-
Prefix meaning near, nearby, or close, as
in juxtaspinal (near the spinal column) and juxta-
vesicular (near the bladder).
juxtaarticular
Near a joint. For example, a juxta-
articular fracture is a break near a joint.
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juxtaposition
See 
apposition.
juxtapyloric
Near the pylorus, the muscular area
at the junction of the stomach and the first part of
the small intestine. For example, a juxtapyloric
ulcer is located near the pylorus.
juxtaspinal
Near the spinal column. For exam-
ple, juxtaspinal abscess lies adjacent to the spinal
column.
juxtavesicular
Near the bladder.
juxtaposition
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K
The symbol for potassium, the major positive
ion (cation) found inside cells. A proper level of
potassium is essential for normal cell function. An
abnormal increase in potassium (hyperkalemia) or
an abnormal decrease in potassium (hypokalemia)
can profoundly affect the nervous system and the
heart and, if extreme, can be fatal.
kala-azar
A chronic and potentially fatal para-
sitic disease of the viscera (the internal organs, par-
ticularly the liver, spleen, bone marrow, and lymph
nodes) due to infection by the parasite Leishmania
donovani. Leishmania donovani is transmitted by
sandfly bites in parts of Asia (primarily India),
Africa (primarily Sudan), and South America (pri-
marily Brazil). Kala-azar can cause no or few symp-
toms but typically it is associated with fever, loss of
appetite, fatigue, enlargement of the liver, spleen,
and nodes; and suppression of the bone marrow.
Kala-azar also increases the risk of other secondary
infections. The term “kala-azar” comes from India
where it is the Hindi for black fever. The disease
is also known as Indian leishmaniasis, visceral
leishmaniasis, leishmania infection, dumdum
fever, black sickness, and black fever. See also
Leishmania; leishmaniasis.
Kaposi sarcoma
A relatively rare type of skin
malignancy that tends to affect elderly people and
those with an abnormal immune system, as in AIDS.
Kaposi sarcoma is caused by human herpesvirus 8
(HHV-8), which may be transmitted via kissing.
Kaposi sarcoma is a highly vascular (angioblastic)
tumor of the skin, characterized by soft purplish
plaques and papules that form nodules, which typi-
cally start on the feet and ankles and then slowly
spread across the skin of the legs, hands, and arms.
In AIDS patients, these tumors can also develop
internally and cause severe internal bleeding. The
treatment depends on the severity of the tumor. Low
dosages of radiation therapy can be effective in
treating mild cases of Kaposi sarcoma. However,
in more severe cases, anticancer drugs may be used
to slow the spread of the tumor. The Kaposi sar-
coma tumor was first described in 1872 by the der-
matologist Moritz Kaposi Kohn. See also 
AIDS; HIV;
sarcoma.