| MSF | macrophage slowing factor; macrophage spreading factor; Medicins sans Frontieres [Doctors without Bo... |
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| PTR | patellar tendon reflex; patient termination record; patient to return; peripheral total resistance; ... |
| Q-TWIST | quality-adjusted time without symptoms of disease and subjective toxic effects of treatment |
| SCIWORA | spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality |
| SDT | sensory detection theory; right sacrotransverse [fetal position] [Lat. sacrodextra transversa]; sign... |
| blood substitute | Any material (e.g., human plasma, serum albumin, or a solution of such substances as dextran) used for transfusion in haemorrhage and shock. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| blood substitutes | Substances that can carry oxygen to and carbon dioxide away from the tissues when introduced into the blood stream. They are used to replace haemoglobin in severe haemorrhage and also to perfuse isolated organs. The best known are perfluorocarbon emulsions and various haemoglobin solutions. (12 Dec 1998) |
| blood sugar, high | Elevated levels of blood glucose (hyperglycaemia) can be found in a number of conditions. The hyperglycaemia leads to spillage of glucose into the urine, hence the term sweet urine. (Diabetes mellitus means sweet urine. ) (12 Dec 1998) |
| blood sugar, low | The sugar here is glucose. Low blood glucose constitutes hypoglycaemia. Hypoglycaemia is only significant when it is associated with symptoms. It has many causes including drugs, liver disease, surgical absence of the stomach, pre-diabetes, and rare tumours that release excess insulin. (12 Dec 1998) |
| blood-testis barrier | The membrane in the testis that separates sperm from the bloodstream. (09 Oct 1997) |
| blood-thinner | <haematology, pharmacology> Any substance that prevents blood clotting. Those drugs administered for prophylaxis or treatment of thromboembolic disorders are heparin, which inactivates thrombin and several other clotting factors and which must be administered parenterally and the oral anticoagulants (warfarin, dicumarol and congeners) which inhibit the hepatic synthesis of vitamin K dependent clotting factors. Anticoagulant solutions used for the preservation of stored whole blood and blood fractions are acid citrate dextrose (ACD), citrate phosphate dextrose (CPD), citrate phosphate dextrose adenine (cPDA 1) and heparin. Anticoagulants used to prevent clotting of blood specimens for laboratory analysis are heparin and several substances that make calcium ions unavailable to the clotting process, including EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), citrate, oxalate and fluoride. (18 Nov 1997) |
| blood tumour | Term sometimes used to denote an aneurysm, haemorrhagic cyst, or haematoma. (05 Mar 2000) |
| blood type | The specific reaction pattern of erythrocytes of an individual to the antisera of one blood group; e.g., the ABO blood group consists of four major blood types: O, A, B, and AB. This classification depends on the presence or absence of two major antigens: A or B. Type O occurs when neither is present and type AB when both are present. The blood type is the genetic phenotype of the individual for one blood group system and may be determined using different antisera available for testing. See Blood Groups appendix. (05 Mar 2000) |
| blood urea nitrogen | Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) is a metabolic by product (in the liver) from the breakdown of blood, muscle and protein. Blood urea nitrogen can be measured from a simple venipuncture specimen. Abnormal elevation in the blood urea nitrogen can indicate renal disease, dehydration, congestive heart failure, gastrointestinal bleeding, starvation, shock or urinary tract obstruction (by tumour or prostate gland). Low BUN level can indicate liver disease, malnutrition or a low protein diet. Normal BUN levels should be between 7 and 20 mg/dl (milligrams per decilitre). (27 Sep 1997) |
| blood, urinary | Medically called haematuria, blood in the urine can be microscopic or gross. Evaluating haematuria requires consideration of the entire urinary tract. Tests used for the diagnosis of haematuria include the intravenous pyelogram (IVP), cystoscopy, and urine cytology. Management of haematuria depends upon the underlying cause. (12 Dec 1998) |
| blood-vascular system | The heart and the blood vessels by which blood is pumped and circulated through the body. (12 Dec 1998) |
| blood vessel | <anatomy> All the vessels lined with endothelium through which blood circulates. (18 Nov 1997) |
| blood vessel prosthesis | Prosthesis, constructed of either synthetic or biological material, which is used for the repair of injured or diseased blood vessels. (12 Dec 1998) |
| blood vessel prosthesis implantation | Surgical insertion of synthetic or biological material to repair injured or diseased blood vessels. (12 Dec 1998) |
| blood vessels | Any of the tubular vessels conveying the blood (arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, and veins). (12 Dec 1998) |