interaction
(int‵er-ak'shŏn 
)
[inter- + action]
Alternating, reciprocating, or mutual influence or effect.
dielectric i.Determination of the quantity of the electrical polarity or dipole moment of a molecule.
SEE: dipole.
Variant: drug-drug interaction
The combined effect of drugs taken concurrently. The result may be antagonism or synergism and may be lethal in some cases. It is important for the patient, pharmacist, physician, and nurse to be aware of the potential interaction of drugs that are prescribed as well as those that the patient may be self-administering.Many patients, esp. older adults, may take several medicines each day. The chances of developing an undesired drug interaction increase rapidly with the number of drugs used.
food and drug i.The effect of nutrients on the absorption, distribution, metabolism or excretion of medications. For example, alkaloids in potatoes may influence the effects of anesthetics; excess intake of vegetables rich in vitamin K may interfere with the action of anticoagulants; prolonged use of antacids may cause phosphate depletion; consumption of grapefruits or grapefruit juice may influence the half-life of some antiretroviral drugs.
patient-ventilator i.The complex link between a patient's neurologically mediated control of breathing (and the elasticity and resistance of his or her airways) and the pressures and volumes of gases injected into the patient by a mechanical ventilator.
SEE: patient-ventilator dyssynchrony.
photoelectric i.The absorption of a photon by matter from its source of emission, producing a photoelectron and a K shell vacancy. The K shell vacancy is then filled by a cascade of electrons, each of which produces a characteristic photon. In clinical radiology, photoelectric absorption causes image contrast and increases the patient's exposure to scattered radiation.