| niacin | <biochemistry> Member of the water soluble B vitamin group, used in the production of fatty acids, steroids and cholesterol, deficiency is known as pellagra. Has cholesterol-lowering and vasodilating properties. (27 Sep 1997) |
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| niacin deficiency | <biochemistry> A niacin deficiency disease (pellagra) caused by improper diet and characterised by skin lesions, gastrointestinal disturbances and nervousness. Depression, dermatitis, dementia and diarrhoea are common symptoms. (27 Sep 1997) |
| niacin test | A test of the ability of mycobacteria to elaborate niacin; used to distinguish different strains. (05 Mar 2000) |
| carcinoid flush | Periodic hyperaemia (flushing) of the skin of the face and other parts of the body seen in patients with a carcinoid tumour; the mediator has not been identified but it is not serotonin; flush can be precipitated by alcohol, food, stress, or palpation of the liver. (05 Mar 2000) |
| malar flush | Localised hectic flush and warmth of the malar eminences, often occurring in tuberculosis and sometimes seen in rheumatic fever. (05 Mar 2000) |
| hectic flush | Redness of the face associated with a rise of temperature in various fevers. (05 Mar 2000) |
| histamine flush | Vasodilatation and erythema occurring as a result of release of histamine; thought to be a factor in genesis of flush of carcinoid syndrome. (05 Mar 2000) |
| hot flush | <symptom> A sensation of heat and flushing that occurs suddenly. May be associated with menopause or some medications. (09 Oct 1997) |
| flush | <clinical sign> Transient, episodic redness of the face and neck caused by certain diseases, ingestion of certain drugs or other substances, heat, emotional factors or physical exertion. (18 Nov 1997) |
| flush end | <molecular biology> The ends of a blunt-end DNA molecule, where both strands in the double-stranded DNA molecule are even with each other rather than one strand being longer than the other. (09 Oct 1997) |
| flush technique | <procedure> A technique for determining the systolic blood pressure in infants; the elevated limb is milked of blood from the hand or foot proximally; the blood pressure cuff is then inflated above the likely systolic pressure and the limb lowered; the cuff pressure is then gradually released until the blanched limb flushes. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bacteria-free stage of bacterial endocarditis | Endocarditis described prior to the antibiotic era and presumably due to spontaneous healing of the bacterial vegetations. (05 Mar 2000) |
| carbon dioxide-free water | Purified water that has been boiled vigorously for 5 minutes or more. (05 Mar 2000) |
| radical, free | In biochemistry, it is a group of atoms bonded together into an entity that is extremely reactive and shortlived. (a free radical is not a political extremist on parole.) (12 Dec 1998) |
| germ-free animal | An animal which has no microorganisms whatsoever living in or on it. An animal which was born and raised in an isolated environment with no microorganisms in it, such as within a germ-free isolator. (09 Oct 1997) |