| AST | <enzyme> A liver enzyme that plays a role in protein metabolism, like ALT (see). Elevated serum levels of AST are a sign of liver damage from disease or drugs. Synonym: serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase. (13 Jan 1998) |
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| astacins | <enzyme> Astacin, a zinc endopeptidase from crayfish (Astacus), is the prototype for the astacin family of metallo endopeptidases. Family includes BMP1, Meprin A, Stromelysin 1 and thermolysin. (18 Nov 1997) |
| astacus | <zoology> A genus of crustaceans, containing the crawfish of fresh water lobster of Europe, and allied species of western North America. See Crawfish. Origin: L. Astacus a crab, Gr. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| astarte | <marine biology> A genus of bivalve mollusks, common on the coasts of America and Europe. Origin: Gr. A Phoenician goddess. (19 Mar 1998) |
| astasia | Inability, through muscular incoordination, to stand. Origin: G. Unsteadiness, from a-priv. + stasis, standing (05 Mar 2000) |
| astasia-abasia | The inability to either stand or walk in a normal manner; the gait is bizarre and is not suggestive of a specific organic lesion; often the patient sways wildly and nearly falls, but recovers at the last moment; a symptom of hysteria-conversion reaction. Synonym: Blocq's disease. (05 Mar 2000) |
| astatic | <physics> Having little or no tendency to take a fixed or definite position or direction: thus, a suspended magnetic needle, when rendered astatic, loses its polarity, or tendency to point in a given direction. <physics> Astatic pair, a pair of magnetic needles so mounted as to be nearly or quite astatic, as in some galvanometers. Origin: Pref. A- not + static. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| astatine | <chemical> Astatine. A radioactive halogen with the atomic symbol at, atomic number 85, and atomic weight 210. Its isotopes range in mass number from 200 to 219 and all have an extremely short half-life. Astatine may be of use in the treatment of hyperthyroidism. Chemical name: Astatine (12 Dec 1998) |
| asteatodes | Diminished or arrested secretion of the sebaceous glands. Synonym: asteatodes. Origin: G. A-priv. + stear (steat-), fat (05 Mar 2000) |
| asteatosis | Diminished or arrested secretion of the sebaceous glands. Synonym: asteatodes. Origin: G. A-priv. + stear (steat-), fat (05 Mar 2000) |
| asteatosis cutis | Dry, scaly integument with decrease in sebaceous secretion. (05 Mar 2000) |
| astel | <chemical> An arch, or ceiling, of boards, placed over the men's heads in a mine. Origin: OE. Astelle piece of wood, OF. Astele splinter, shaving, F. Attelle, astelle: cf. L. Astula, dim. Of assis board. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| astemizole | <drug> This is a non-sedating drug used to treat allergies, its a histamine H1-receptor antagonist. (09 Oct 1997) |
| aster | <cell biology> Star shaped cluster of microtubules radiating from the polar microtubule organising centre at the start of mitosis. (18 Nov 1997) |
| asteraceae | The single, large family of flowering plants in the order asterales. The family is also known as compositae. (12 Dec 1998) |
| ALT:AST ratio | The ratio of serum alanine aminotransferase to serum aspartate aminotransferase; elevated serum levels of both enzymes characterise hepatic disease; when both levels are abnormally elevated and the ALT:AST ratio is greater than 1.0, severe hepatic necrosis or alcoholic hepatic disease is likely; when the ratio is less than 1.0, an acute non-alcoholic hepatic condition is favoured. (05 Mar 2000) |
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