| beta | Entry pre fix is generally ignored for alphabetical reference, look for main portion of word. (18 Nov 1997) |
|---|---|
| beta (1)-anticollagenase | <chemical> A serum protein inhibitor (26 Jun 1999) |
| beta 2-microglobulin | An 11 kD protein associated with the outer membrane of many cells including lymphocytes. It is the small subunit of the MHC class I molecule. Association with beta 2-microglobulin is generally required for the transport of class I heavy chains from the endoplasmic reticulum to the cell surface. Beta 2-microglobulin is present in small amounts in serum, csf, and urine of normal people, and to a much greater degree in the urine and plasma of patients with tubular proteinaemia, renal failure, or kidney transplants. (12 Dec 1998) |
| beta alcoholism | Jellinek's term for the physical complaints associated with excessive use of alcohol, such as polyneuropathy, gastritis, and liver cirrhosis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| beta angle | The angle formed by a line connecting the bregma and hormion meeting the radius fixus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| beta blockers | A class of drugs that block the action of adrenaline (a beta adrenergic substance) and can relieve stress to the heart muscle. Beta blockers are often used to slow the heart rate or lower the blood pressure. (12 Dec 1998) |
| beta cell | 1. <pathology> Cells of the pancreas within discrete endocrine islands (Islets of Langerhans) embedded in the major exocrine tissue of vertebrate pancreas. The B or beta cells (originally distinguished by differential staining from A, C and D), are responsible for synthesis and secretion of insulin, a hormone that controls the level of glucosein the blood. 2. Also refers to the beta cells of the anterior lobe of hypophysis. These are a population of functionally diverse cell's that contain basophilic granules and secrete hormones such as ACTH, lipotropin, thyrotropin, and the gonadotropins. Synonym: basophil cell of anterior lobe of hypophysis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| beta conformation | A polypeptide chain (often a secondary structure of a protein) arranged as along zig-zag. (09 Oct 1997) |
| beta emission | <radiobiology> Form of nuclear decay where a neutron splits into a proton plus electron plus neutrino set. The proton stays in the nucleus but the electron (beta ray) is ejected. (09 Oct 1997) |
| beta error | The statistical error (said to be of the second kind or type II) made in testing when it is concluded that something is negative when it really is positive. Beta error is often referred to as a false negative. (12 Dec 1998) |
| beta fibres | Nerve fibre's having conduction velocities of about 40 m/sec. (05 Mar 2000) |
| beta granule | A granule of a beta cell. (05 Mar 2000) |
| beta hcg | <radiology> Human chorionic gonadotrophin, beta subunit, 1800 mIU / ml (2nd I.S.), gestational sac should be seen in IUP, doubles every 24-48 hrs in normal IUP, slower rise in ectopic pregnancy (12 Dec 1998) |
| beta interferon | A protein liberated by fibroblasts in response to a viral infection. (27 Sep 1997) |
| beta limit | <radiobiology> if the plasma pressure in a tokamak becomes too high, the so-called ballooning modes become unstable and lead to a loss of confinement (sometimes catastrophic, sometimes not). The exact value at which this occurs depends strongly on the magnetic field B, the plasma minor radius a, and the toroidal plasma current I, such that maximum value of the normalised beta, beta_N=betaBa/I, is around 4% (with B in Teslas, a in metres, and I in Mega-amperes). The exact value depends on details of the plasma shape, the plasma profiles, and the safety factor. Synonym: troyon limit. (09 Oct 1997) |