| pellet | 1. A pilule, or very small pill. 2. A small rod-shaped or ovoid dosage form that is sterile and is composed essentially of pure steroid hormones in compressed form, intended for subcutaneous implantation in body tissues; serves as a depot providing for the slow release of the hormone over an extended period of time. Origin: Fr. Pelote; L. Pila, a ball (05 Mar 2000) |
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| pellet implantation | Intramuscular or subcutaneous insertion of an active therapeutic agent in pellet form to provide protracted absorption at a rate slower than subcutaneous or intramuscular injection and as a means of providing a sustained therapeutic effect without repeated administration. (05 Mar 2000) |
| rice-water stool | A watery fluid containing whitish flocculi, discharged from the bowel in cholera and occasionally in other cases of serous diarrhoea. (05 Mar 2000) |
| rotavirus stool test | <investigation> A test which detects the presence of rotavirus in the stool. This virus is a common cause of childhood gastroenteritis. (17 Dec 1997) |
| stool | <botany> A plant from which layers are propagated by bending its branches into the soil. Origin: L. Stolo. See Stolon. <agriculture> To ramfy; to tiller, as grain; to shoot out suckers. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| stool culture | A test used to identify pathogenic organisms in the stools that may be responsible for gastroenteritis. Often performed in cases of unexplained diarrhoea. May indicate bacterial, viral or parasitic disease. Cultures are also helpful in assisting the selection an appropriate antibiotic agent. See: Traveler's Diarrhoea. (27 Sep 1997) |
| stool guaiac test | <investigation> A chemical test measures the presence of fresh or decomposed blood. Blood may arise from bleeding anywhere along the gastrointestinal tract, from the mouth to the anus. An easy to perform colourmetric test. (27 Sep 1997) |
| stool smear | A microscopic slide preparation that is used to identify pathogenic micro-organisms within a stool specimen. (27 Sep 1997) |
| stool test | A test to see whether there is blood in the bowel movement. Also called a faecal occult blood test: a test to check for hidden blood in stool. (faecal refers to stool. Occult means hidden.) (12 Dec 1998) |
| fatty stool | A stool containing excessive amounts of fat. (05 Mar 2000) |