The Success of Low-Salience Terms
449One example that gives credence to the above claim is that of diabetes
mellitus. The two types of diabetes mellitus that may be assumed to be
known to the general public used to be termed insulin-dependent DM
(juvenile-onset diabetes) resp. non-insulin-dependent DM (adult-onset
diabetes), indicating that those affected with the former type rely on
insulin as treatment and develop the disease at an earlier age than those
afflicted with the latter type, who could also be managed without repeated
insulin injections (generally, the therapy would involve oral drugs). These
terms were adopted at a conference in 1979, alongside type 1 diabetes
mellitus and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Over time, however, it was realised
that some patients with non-insulin-dependent DM would ultimately
require insulin therapy and that led in 1999 to the deprecation of the
analytical terms as preference was given to type 1/type 2 DM. The new
classification was introduced by the World Health Organisation (SkupieĔ,
Maáecki 2007). This example serves to illustrate how changes in the
underlying conceptual content may entail terminological change. Let us
stress at this point that the new names are less informative, but they are
also non-misleading. On a side note, other types of DM exist (mostly
genetic) and their names are more or less analytical.
Another case in point representing a similar sequence of causation is
the naming of the interleukins. The interleukins are substances produced
mainly by leukocytes in order to activate or inhibit specific activities in
other leukocytes and some other cells. They were originally described and
named with regard to their activity (see the underlined components in the
historical names below). A few examples are given below:
Interleukin 6 used to be known as B cell differentiation factor, B
cell stimulatory factor 2, cytotoxic T cell differentiation factor,
hepatocyte stimulating factor, hybridoma plasmacytoma growth
factor or interferon beta 2;
Interleukin 8 was formerly referred to as beta-thromboglobulin-like
protein, emoctakin, granulocyte chemotactic protein 1, lymphocyte-
derived neutrophil-activating factor, monocyte-derived neutrophil-
activating peptide, neutrophil activating peptide 1 and T cell
chemotactic factor;
Interleukin 10 had such historical names as cytokine synthesis
inhibitory factor and T cell growth inhibitory factor.^5(^5) http://abcam.com