| optimum | The best or most suitable; e.g., denoting the dose of a remedy likely to give most benefit with fewest side effects, the temperature or pH at which an enzyme has maximal activity. Origin: L. Ntr. Sing. Of optimus, best (05 Mar 2000) |
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| optimum dose | The dose of a drug or radiation that will produce the desired effect with minimum likelihood of undesirable symptoms. (05 Mar 2000) |
| optimum pH | <biochemistry> The pH at which an enzyme has maximum potency and efficiency. (09 Oct 1997) |
| optimum temperature | The temperature at which any operation, such as the culture of any special microorganism, is best carried on. (05 Mar 2000) |
| blood coagulation | The sequential process by which the multiple coagulation factors of the blood interact, ultimately resulting in the formation of an insoluble fibrin clot; it may be divided into three stages: stage 1, the formation of intrinsic and extrinsic prothrombin converting principle; stage 2, the formation of thrombin; stage 3, the formation of stable fibrin polymers. (12 Dec 1998) |
| blood coagulation factor inhibitors | Substances, usually endogenous, that act as inhibitors of blood coagulation. They may affect one or multiple enzymes throughout the process. As a group, they also inhibit enzymes involved in processes other than blood coagulation, such as those from the complement system, fibrinolytic enzyme system, blood cells, and bacteria. (12 Dec 1998) |
| blood coagulation factors | Endogenous substances, usually proteins, that participate in the blood coagulation process. (12 Dec 1998) |
| blood coagulation tests | Laboratory tests for evaluating the individual's clotting mechanism. (12 Dec 1998) |
| coagulation | 1. <haematology> The process of clot formation. 2. <chemistry> The solidification of a sol into a gelatinous mass, an alteration of a disperse phase or of a dissolved solid which causes the separation of the system into a liquid phase and an insoluble mass called the clot or curd. Coagulation is usually irreversible. 3. <surgery> The disruption of tissue by physical means to form an amorphous residuum, as in electrocoagulation and photocoagulation. Origin: L. Coagulatio (18 Nov 1997) |
| coagulation factor | <haematology> Group of plasma protein substances (Factor I-XIII) contained in the plasma, which act in concert to bring about blood coagulation. Many of the factors contain EGF like domains. (29 Sep 1997) |
| coagulation factor XI | <haematology> A plasma serine protease with an apple domain. (18 Nov 1997) |
| coagulation necrosis | A type of necrosis in which the affected cells or tissue are converted into a dry, dull, fairly homogeneous eosinophilic mass without nuclear staining, as a result of the coagulation of protein as occurs in an infarct; microscopically, the necrotic process involves chiefly the cells, and remnants of histologic elements (e.g., elastin, collagen, muscle fibres) may be recognizable, as well as "ghosts" of cells and portions of cell membranes; may be caused by heat, ischemia, and other agents that destroy tissue, including enzymes that would continue to alter the devitalised cellular substance. (05 Mar 2000) |
| coagulation profile | A test which measures the speed of blood coagulation at different steps of the coagulation pathway. (27 Sep 1997) |
| coagulation time | The time required for blood to coagulate; prolonged in haemophilia and in the presence of obstructive jaundice, some anaemias and leukaemias, and some of the infectious diseases. Synonym: clotting time. (05 Mar 2000) |
| coagulation vitamin | An obsolete term for vitamin K. (05 Mar 2000) |