Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

histoplasmosis
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Hodgkin’s disease is life-threatening if untreated,
but it has a very high cure rate. Also called
Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Hodgkin’s lymphoma
See 
Hodgkin’s disease.
holandric inheritance
Inheritance of genes on
the Y chromosome. Because only males normally
have Y chromosomes, Y-linked genes can only be
transmitted from father to son.
hole, macular
See 
macular hole.
Holter monitor
A type of portable heart monitor
that is a small electrocardiogram (EKG) device
worn in a pouch around the neck or waist. A Holter
monitor keeps a record of the heart rhythm, typi-
cally over a 24-hour period, and the patient keeps a
diary of activities and symptoms. The EKG recording
is then correlated with the person’s activities and
symptoms. This type of test is useful for identifying
heart disturbances that are sporadic and not readily
identified with a resting EKG.
homeobox gene
A gene containing a short DNA
sequence of about 180 base pairs referred to as a
homeobox. Homeobox genes encode proteins that
bind and regulate the expression of DNA in multi-
cellular organisms. Homeoboxes are present in the
genomes of many organisms from fruit flies to
humans, and they appear to determine when partic-
ular groups of genes are expressed during embry-
onic development. 
homeopath
A person who practices homeopathy.
homeopathy
Founded in the 19th century, a
practice that is based on the concept that disease
can be treated with minute doses of drugs thought
capable of producing in healthy people the same
symptoms as those of the disease being treated. This
principle is similar to the concept behind exposure
therapy for allergies, but the amounts of active med-
ication used in homeopathy are so small as to be
almost undetectable. Scientific studies of homeopa-
thy have returned mixed results. It is considered
alternative medicine in the US.
homo-
Prefix meaning same, as in homology
(similarity in DNA or protein sequences between
individuals or between species) and homosexual (a
person who is sexually attracted to persons of the
same sex). The opposite of homo- is hetero-.