| adjustment | 1. The act of adjusting, or condition of being adjusted; act of bringing into proper relations; regulation. "Success depends on the nicest and minutest adjustment of the parts concerned." (Paley) 2. Settlement of claims; an equitable arrangement of conflicting claims, as in set-off, contribution, exoneration, subrogation, and marshaling. 3. The operation of bringing all the parts of an instrument, as a microscope or telescope, into their proper relative position for use; the condition of being thus adjusted; as, to get a good adjustment; to be in or out of adjustment. Synonym: Suiting, fitting, arrangement, regulation, settlement, adaptation, disposition. Origin: Cf. F. Ajustement. See Adjust. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| adjustment disorders | Maladaptive reactions to identifiable psychosocial stressors occurring within a short time after onset of the stressor. They are manifested by either impairment in social or occupational functioning or by symptoms (depression, anxiety, etc.) that are in excess of a normal and expected reaction to the stressor. (12 Dec 1998) |
| social adjustment | Those types of relationships which involve the accommodation of the individual to circumstances in his social environment for the satisfaction of his needs or motives. (12 Dec 1998) |
| occlusal adjustment | Selective grinding of occlusal surfaces of the teeth in an effort to eliminate premature contacts and occlusal interferences; to establish optimal masticatory effectiveness, stable occlusal relationships, direction of main occlusal forces, and efficient multidirectional patterns, to improve functional relations and to induce physiologic stimulation of the masticatory system; to eliminate occlusal trauma; to eliminate abnormal muscle tension; to aid in the stabilization of orthodontic results; to treat peridontal and temporomandibular joint problems; and in restorative procedures. (12 Dec 1998) |
| non-direct transmission | <epidemiology> A mode of transmission that differs in some mysterious way from indirect transmission. (05 Dec 1998) |
| direct | 1. Straight, in a straight line. 2. Performed immediately and without the intervention of subsidiary means. Origin: L. Directus (18 Nov 1997) |
| direct acrylic restoration | A direct resin restoration of autopolymerizing acrylic. (05 Mar 2000) |
| direct agglutination | A general term for techniques which use the agglutination (macroscopic clumping) of particulate reagents as an indicator of the presence of an antigen-antibody reaction. Examples (haemagglutination, latex agglutination and coagglutination) follow. (05 Mar 2000) |
| direct B-cell | Lymphocytes responding to a small range of antigens by antibody production without any requirement for T-cells. The antigens include flagellin and pokeweed mitogen. (18 Nov 1997) |
| direct bilirubin | Conjugated bilirubin = Direct bilirubin. Bilirubin that has been chemically attached to a glucuronide in the liver. The bilirubin that is excreted into the bile by the liver and stored in the gallbladder or transferred to the duodenum. Normal direct bilirubin is 0 to 0.3 mg/dl. Greater than normal values can be seen in bile duct obstruction, cirrhosis, Crigler-Najjar syndrome, Dubin-Johnson syndrome and hepatitis. (27 Sep 1997) |
| direct bone impression | An impression of denuded bone, used in the construction of subperiosteal denture implants. (05 Mar 2000) |
| direct composite resin restoration | A direct restoration made by inserting a plastic mix of auto or light-polymerised resins in a cavity prepared in a tooth. Synonym: direct composite resin restoration. (05 Mar 2000) |
| direct contamination | <dentistry> Direct contact with impurities or germs. (for example by a patient sneezing on the assistant.) (08 Jan 1998) |
| direct Coombs' test | A test for detecting sensitised erythrocytes in erythroblastosis foetalis and in cases of acquired immune haemolytic anaemia: the patient's erythrocytes are washed with saline to remove serum and unattached antibody protein, then incubated with Coombs' anti-human globulin (usually serum from a rabbit or goat previously immunised with human globulin); after incubation, the system is centrifuged and examined for agglutination, which indicates the presence of so-called incomplete or univalent antibodies on the surface of the erythrocytes. (05 Mar 2000) |
| direct current | (DC) Electric current which travels continuously in the same direction over a sustained period of time, contrast with AC (Alternating Current) which oscillates as a function of time. (09 Oct 1997) |