| minimal brain dysfunction | An inability to control behaviour due to difficulty in processing neural stimuli. (12 Dec 1998) |
|---|---|
| radiation damage, bulk | <radiobiology> General term describing changes in chemical and/or metallurgical properties of structure components of fusion reactor caused by atomic displacement and nuclear transmutation events occuring as a result of exposure to a radiation environment (such as the neutrons emitted from a fission or D-T fusion reactor). (09 Oct 1997) |
| radiation damage, surface | <radiobiology> General term describing damage to the surface of the containment structure which directly interfaces with the thermonuclear plasma, includes such phenomena as radiation blistering, charged-particle (or neutron) sputtering, and spallation or exfoliation of layers of the surface. (09 Oct 1997) |
| mitochondrial oxidative damage endonuclease | <enzyme> An 8-oxog-specific DNA endonuclease from rat liver mitochondria; recognises and incises at 8-oxog and abasic acid sites in duplex DNA Registry number: EC 3.1.25.- Synonym: oxidative damage-specific endonuclease, mtode enzyme (26 Jun 1999) |
| damage | 1. Injury or harm to person, property, or reputation; an inflicted loss of value; detriment; hurt; mischief. "He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet and drinketh damage." (Prov. Xxvi. 6) "Great errors and absurdities many commit for want of a friend to tell them of them, to the great damage both of their fame and fortune." (Bacon) 2. The estimated reparation in money for detriment or injury sustained; a compensation, recompense, or satisfaction to one party, for a wrong or injury actually done to him by another. In common-law action, the jury are the proper judges of damages. Consequential damage. See Consequential. Exemplary damages, those given for a violation of a right where no actual loss has accrued. Vindictive damages, those given specially for the punishment of the wrongdoer. Synonym: Mischief, injury, harm, hurt, detriment, evil, ill. See Mischief. Origin: OF. Damage, domage, F. Dommage, fr. Assumed LL. Damnaticum, from L. Damnum damage. See Damn. To ocassion damage to the soudness, goodness, or value of; to hurt; to injure; to impair. "He . . . Came up to the English admiral and gave him a broadside, with which he killed many of his men and damaged the ship." (Clarendon) Origin: Cf. OF. Damagier, domagier. See Damage. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| DNA damage | Drug- or radiation-induced injuries in DNA that introduce deviations from its normal double-helical conformation. These changes include structural distortions which interfere with replication and transcription, as well as point mutations which disrupt base pairs and exert damaging effects on future generations through changes in DNA sequence. If the damage is minor, it can often be repaired (DNA repair). If the damage is extensive, it can induce apoptosis. (12 Dec 1998) |
| minimal | Smallest or least, the smallest possible. Origin: L. Minimus = least (18 Nov 1997) |
| minimal air | The volume of gas that remains in the lungs and cannot be expelled after they have been removed from the body, or after the chest has been opened. (05 Mar 2000) |
| minimal alveolar concentration | The end-alveolar concentration of an inhalation anaesthetic which prevents somatic response to a painful stimulus in 50% of individuals; an index of relative potency of inhalation anaesthetics. Synonym: minimal anaesthetic concentration. (05 Mar 2000) |
| minimal amplitude nystagmus | Nystagmus of so small an amplitude that it is not detected by the usual clinical tests. Synonym: minimal amplitude nystagmus. Origin: micro-+ G. Nystagmos, a nodding (05 Mar 2000) |
| minimal anaesthetic concentration | The end-alveolar concentration of an inhalation anaesthetic which prevents somatic response to a painful stimulus in 50% of individuals; an index of relative potency of inhalation anaesthetics. Synonym: minimal anaesthetic concentration. (05 Mar 2000) |
| minimal-change disease | <nephrology> A disorder of the kidneys which largely affects the glomerulus, the blood filtering structure. This disorder is one common cause of nephrotic syndrome, minimal glomerular changes, in children affecting 2 to 3 children per 100,000 population under age 16 in the USA. Minimal change disease is also seen rarely in adults. The cause is unknown but may be related to an autoimmune illness. It is marked by oedema, albuminuria, and an increase in cholesterol in the blood, but otherwise with fairly good renal function. Tubular epithelium is vacuolated by cholesterol droplets, but the glomeruli show only that the foot processes of the glomerular epithelial cells are fused, probably secondary to the proteinuria; the cause of the increased glomerular permeability to plasma protein is unknown. Risk factors include a history for a immune disorder, recent immunisation or a bee sting. Diagnosis is made by renal biopsy. Treatment include systemic corticosteroids which are usually quite effective in curing this disease. Other medications include chlorambucil and cyclophosphamide. In most cases, a moderate protein diet (1 gram protein per Kg body weight per day) will be recommended. Salt (sodium) restriction can be helpful to reduce swelling and vitamin D is usually supplemented. Synonym: lipoid nephrosis (27 Sep 1997) |
| minimal-change nephrotic syndrome | <nephrology> A disorder of the kidneys which largely affects the glomerulus, the blood filtering structure. This disorder is one common cause of nephrotic syndrome, minimal glomerular changes, in children affecting 2 to 3 children per 100,000 population under age 16 in the USA. Minimal change disease is also seen rarely in adults. The cause is unknown but may be related to an autoimmune illness. It is marked by oedema, albuminuria, and an increase in cholesterol in the blood, but otherwise with fairly good renal function. Tubular epithelium is vacuolated by cholesterol droplets, but the glomeruli show only that the foot processes of the glomerular epithelial cells are fused, probably secondary to the proteinuria; the cause of the increased glomerular permeability to plasma protein is unknown. Risk factors include a history for a immune disorder, recent immunisation or a bee sting. Diagnosis is made by renal biopsy. Treatment include systemic corticosteroids which are usually quite effective in curing this disease. Other medications include chlorambucil and cyclophosphamide. In most cases, a moderate protein diet (1 gram protein per Kg body weight per day) will be recommended. Salt (sodium) restriction can be helpful to reduce swelling and vitamin D is usually supplemented. Synonym: lipoid nephrosis (27 Sep 1997) |
| minimal deviation melanoma | <dermatology, tumour> A malignant melanoma showing less cytologic atypia than is usual in melanoma cells showing asymmetric expansile invasion of the dermis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| minimal dose | <pharmacology> The smallest amount of a drug or physical procedure that will produce a desired physiologic effect in an adult. (05 Mar 2000) |