| starch-iodine test | A test for sweating in which iodine in oil is painted on the skin, followed by dusting with a starch powder which turns blue-black in the presence of iodine and moisture. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| bile acid tolerance test | A sensitive test of hepatic dysfunction; following oral administration of labelled or unlabelled bile acid, the measured fractional disappearance rate or 10-minute retention is measured. (05 Mar 2000) |
| galactose tolerance test | A liver function test, based on the ability of the liver to convert galactose to glycogen, measured by the rate of excretion of galactose following ingestion or intravenous injection of a known amount; normally, less than 3 g appear in the urine within 5 hours after the ingestion of 40 g. (05 Mar 2000) |
| glucose tolerance test | <chemical pathology, investigation> A special test where the blood glucose is measure in intervals after a glucose-rich meal is taken, a test used for diagnosing diabetes. (27 Sep 1997) |
| xylose tolerance test | <investigation> This test measures the intestine's ability to absorb the simple sugar, D-xylose. This is an indicator for whether or not nutrients are being absorbed properly in the intestine. This test is often used to evaluate persistent diarrhoea, weight loss, malnutrition and cases of suspected malabsorption. Abnormal results may be seen in the following conditions: Crohn's disease, Giardiasis, hookworm infestation, radiation enteritis, celiac sprue, viral gastroenteritis and Whipple's disease. (27 Sep 1997) |
| oral lactose tolerance test | A test for lactose deficiency; the plasma glucose response to an oral lactose load is measured as in the (oral) glucose tolerance test. (05 Mar 2000) |
| test, glucose tolerance | After fasting, a specific amount (100 grams) of glucose is given by mouth, and the blood levels of this sugar are measured every hour. Normally, the blood glucose should return to normal within 2 to 2 1/2 hours. The gtt is considered a classic test of carbohydrate metabolism. It is much used in the diagnosis of diabetes. The gtt depends on a number of factors including the ability of the intestine to absorb glucose, the power of the liver to take up and store glucose, the capacity of the pancreas to produce insulin, and the amount of active insulin. (12 Dec 1998) |
| alant starch | <protein> A polysaccharide of variable molecular weight (around 5 kD), that is a polymer of fructofuranose. Widely used as a marker of extracellular space, an indicator of blood volume in insects (by measuring the dilution of the radio label) and in food for diabetics. (18 Nov 1997) |
| animal starch | <biochemistry> Branched polymer of D glucose (mostly _(1-4) linked, but some _(1-6) at branch points). Size range very variable, up to 10exp5 glucose units. Major short term storage polymer of animal cells and is particularly abundant in the liver and to a lesser extent in muscle. In the electron microscope glycogen has a characteristic asterisk or star appearance. (18 Nov 1997) |
| cassava starch | A starch from the root of Janipha manihot and other species of J. (family Euphorbiaceae), plants of tropical America; an easily digested starch, free of irritant properties. Synonym: cassava starch. Origin: Braz. Tipioca (05 Mar 2000) |
| moss starch | <chemistry> A substance isomeric with starch, extracted from several species of moss and lichen, especially. From Iceland moss. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| soluble starch | A high-molecular-weight, water-soluble dextrin produced by the partial acid hydrolysis of starch; useful in iodimetry, as it gives an easily visible purple-black end point in the presence of free iodine. (05 Mar 2000) |
| starch | <biochemistry> Storage carbohydrate of plants, consisting of amylose (a linear _(1-4) glucan) and amylopectin (an _(1-4) glucan with _(1-6) branch points). Present as starch grains in plastids, especially in amyloplasts and chloroplasts. (18 Nov 1997) |
| starch-eating | A morbid craving for starch. Synonym: starch-eating. Origin: amylo-+ G. Phago, to eat (05 Mar 2000) |
| starch equivalent | The amount of oxygen consumed in the combustion of a given weight of fat as compared with that consumed in the combustion of an equal weight of starch; the figure is about 2.38, that for starch being taken as 1. (05 Mar 2000) |