| amorphous insulin zinc suspension | Sterile suspension of insulin in buffered water for injection, modified by the addition of zinc chloride such that the solid phase of the suspension is amorphous; it contains 40 or 80 units per ml; the duration of action is equivalent to that of insulin injection. Synonym: amorphous insulin zinc suspension, semilente insulin. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| anti-insulin | A factor, usually an antibody, which antagonises the action of insulin. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anti-insulin antibody | A serologic blood test that is used to detect antibodies to insulin. This test is performed in insulin dependent diabetics who exhibit insulin resistance. The presence of antibodies denotes a positive result. (27 Sep 1997) |
| 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) |
| biphasic insulin | <protein> A type of insulin that is a mixture of intermediate- and fast-acting insulin. (09 Oct 1997) |
| 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) |
| receptors, insulin | Cell surface proteins that bind insulin and trigger intracellular changes which influence the behaviour of cells. The best understood physiological consequence of insulin receptor activation is increased transport of glucose into most cells, which controls the rate of carbohydrate metabolism. The insulin receptor is a multifunctional protein complex that has intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity and is capable of autophosphorylation. (12 Dec 1998) |
| receptors, insulin-like-growth factor I | Specific proteins on or in cells to which insulin-like growth factor I (somatomedin c) binds and thereby modifies the function of the cells. These receptors contain transmembrane and cytosolic domains, bind igf-I preferentially, and have high-affinity sites for igf-II. The alpha-subunit has a mw of 130 kD and the beta subunit possesses tyrosine kinase activity. (12 Dec 1998) |
| receptors, insulin-like-growth-factor II | Specific proteins on or in cells to which insulin-like growth factor II and mannose-6-phosphate bind and thereby modify the function of the cells. These receptors have a mw of 250 kD and possess no tyrosine kinase activity. (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) |
| germ-free isolator | A chamber which has absolutely no microorganisms whatsoever living in it, where a germ-free animal can be born and raised. An artificial barrier surrounding a living facility for germ-free animals, which keeps out all microorganisms. (09 Oct 1997) |
| germ-free life | Animals not contaminated by or associated with any foreign organisms. (12 Dec 1998) |
| carrier-free | A substance in which a radioactive or other tagged atom is found in every molecule; the highest possible specific activity. (05 Mar 2000) |
| gibbs free energy | The total amount of energy which is either used up or released during a chemical reaction. Gibbs free energy (delta G) = (delta H) - t (delta s): where (delta H) is the change in enthalpy, calculated by adding up the amount of energy released or used up to break or form chemical bonds during the reaction, t is the temperature at which the reaction took place, and (delta S) is the change in entropy, or amount of disorder, that occurs in the molecules involved during the reaction. (09 Oct 1997) |