| blood plasma | <haematology> Acellular fluid in which blood cells are suspended. Serum obtained by defibrinating plasma (plasma derived serum) lacks platelet released factors and is less suitable to support the growth of cells in culture. (13 Oct 1997) |
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| blood plasma fractions | Portions of the blood plasma as separated by electrophoresis or other technique. (05 Mar 2000) |
| blood plastid | Any basic, morphologic unit in the biologic composition of blood, e.g., an erythrocyte. (05 Mar 2000) |
| blood platelets | Non-nucleated disk-shaped cells formed in the megakaryocyte and found in the blood of all mammals. They are mainly involved in blood coagulation. (12 Dec 1998) |
| blood poisoning | See: septicaemia, pyaemia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| blood pool imaging | Nuclear medicine study using a radionuclide that is confined to the vascular compartment. (05 Mar 2000) |
| blood porphyrin level | A test which is used to measure red blood cell porphyrin levels. Porphyrins are pigments found in both animal and plant life. This test is useful in evaluating any number of porphyrin disorders (involving the various porphyrins) of red blood cells. Increased levels of coproporphyrins can indicate congenital erythropoietic porphyria or sideroblastic anaemia. Increased protoporphyrins may be seen in infection, thalassaemia, sideroblastic anaemia, iron deficient anaemia, increased erythropoiesis and lead poisoning. Increased uroporphyrins may indicate congenital erythropoietic porphyria or erythropoietic protoporphyria. (27 Sep 1997) |
| blood pressure | <cardiology, physiology> The force that the circulating blood exerts on the walls of the arteries. This measurement is divided into systolic (pressure during contraction of the heart) and diastolic (pressure during relaxation phase). Blood pressure varies with age and sex of the individual. A rough rule of thumb for normal systolic pressure is 100 + Age of individual. In children 2 x (age) + 80 = systolic BP The diastolic pressure should be roughly 2/3 the systolic pressure. (27 Sep 1997) |
| blood pressure determination | Techniques for measuring blood pressure. (12 Dec 1998) |
| blood pressure, high | High blood pressure (hypertension) is a repeatedly elevated blood pressure exceeding 140 over 90 mmHg. High blood pressure is also called the silent killer. Chronically high blood pressure can cause blood vessel changes in the back of the eye (retina), thickening of the heart muscle, kidney failure, and brain damage. No specific cause for high blood pressure is found in 95% of patients. High blood pressure is treated with salt restriction, regular aerobic exercise, and medications. (12 Dec 1998) |
| blood pressure monitoring, ambulatory | Method in which prolonged blood pressure readings are made while the patient undergoes normal daily activities. It allows quantitative analysis of the high blood pressure load over time, can help distinguish between types of hypertension, and can assess the effectiveness of antihypertensive therapy. (12 Dec 1998) |
| blood pressure monitors | Devices for continuously measuring and displaying the arterial blood pressure. (12 Dec 1998) |
| blood products | Biopharmaceutical products purified from human blood, such as the blood clotting factor VIII used to treat haemophiliacs. (Recombinant factor VIII is also on the market.) The term also refers to biopharmaceuticals that act on blood or the cells that make blood. These products are often produced by the cells themselves, but in such tiny amounts that extracting them from blood is impractical, and so they are genetically engineered. (14 Nov 1997) |
| blood protein electrophoresis | Electrophoresis applied to blood proteins. (12 Dec 1998) |
| blood proteins | The hundreds of different proteins present in blood plasma, including carrier proteins (such as serum albumin, transferrin, and haptoglobins), fibrinogen and other blood coagulation factors, complement components, immunoglobulins, enzyme inhibitors, precursors of substances such as the angiotensins and bradykinin, and many other types of proteins. (12 Dec 1998) |