| NPIC | neurogenic peripheral intermittent claudication |
|---|---|
| PAD | pain and distress; patient surface axis depth; percutaneous abscess drainage; percutaneous automated... |
| PAO | peak acid output; peripheral airway obstruction; plasma amine oxidase; polyamine oxidase; pulmonary ... |
| PAW | peripheral airways; pulmonary artery wedge |
| PB | British pharmacopeia [Pharmacopoeia Britannica]; paraffin bath; Paul-Bunnell [antibody]; periodic br... |
| reminder system | <psychology> Systems used to prompt or aid the memory. The systems can be computerised reminders, colour coding, telephone calls, or devices such as letters and postcards. (12 Dec 1998) |
|---|---|
| cell-free system | <cell culture, molecular biology> Any system in which a normal cellular reaction is reconstituted in the absence of cells for example in vitro translation systems that will synthesise protein from mRNA using a lysate of rabbit reticulocytes or wheat germ. A fractionated cell extract that maintains a biological function. A subcellular fraction isolated by ultracentrifugation or other separation techniques must first be isolated so that a process can be studied free from all of the complex side reactions that occur in a cell. The cell-free system is therefore widely used in cell biology. (12 Dec 1998) |
| renal portal system | An arterial portal system, in which efferent glomerular arterioles receive blood from the capillaries of the renal glomeruli and carry it to the peritubular capillary plexus surrounding the proximal and distal convoluted tubules. Synonym: hypothalamohypophysial portal system. (05 Mar 2000) |
| p blood-group system | A blood group related to the abo, lewis and I systems. at least five different erythrocyte antigens are possible, some very rare, others almost universal. Multiple alleles are involved in this blood group. (12 Dec 1998) |
| renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system | The hormones, renin, angiotensin, and aldosterone work together to regulate blood pressure. A sustained fall in blood pressure causes the kidney to release renin. This is converted to angiotensin in the circulation. Angiotensin then raises blood pressure directly by arteriolar constriction and stimulates adrenal gland to produce aldosterone which promotes sodium and water retention by kidney, such that blood volume and blood pressure increase. (05 Mar 2000) |
| renin-angiotensin system | <physiology> A system consisting of renin, angiotensin-converting enzyme, and angiotensin II. Renin, an enzyme produced in the kidney, acts on angiotensinogen, an alpha-2 globulin produced by the liver, forming angiotensin I. The converting enzyme contained in the lung acts on angiotensin I in the plasma converting it to angiotensin II, the most powerful directly pressor substance known. It causes contraction of the arteriolar smooth muscle and has other indirect actions mediated through the adrenal cortex. (25 Jun 1999) |
| centimeter-gram-second system | The scientific system of expressing the fundamental physical units of length, mass, and time, and those units derived from them, in centimeters, grams, and seconds; currently being replaced by the International System of Units based on the meter, kilogram, and second. (05 Mar 2000) |
| reproductive system | In women, the organs that are directly involved in producing eggs and in conceiving and carrying babies. (12 Dec 1998) |
| pedal system | Efferent fibres connecting the forebrain with more caudal structures. (05 Mar 2000) |
| glycogen debranching enzyme system | 1,4-alpha-d-glucan-1,4-alpha-d-glucan 4-alpha-d-glucosyltransferase/dextrin 6 alpha-d-glucanohydrolase. An enzyme system having both 4-alpha-glucanotransferase (ec 2.4.1.25) and amylo-1,6-glucosidase (ec 3.2.1.33) activities. As a transferase it transfers a segment of a 1,4-alpha-d-glucan to a new 4-position in an acceptor, which may be glucose or another 1,4-alpha-d-glucan. As a glucosidase it catalyses the endohydrolysis of 1,6-alpha-d-glucoside linkages at points of branching in chains of 1,4-linked alpha-d-glucose residues. Amylo-1,6-glucosidase activity is deficient in glycogen storage disease type III. (12 Dec 1998) |
| respiratory system | The organs that are involved in breathing. These include the nose, throat, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs. (12 Dec 1998) |
| respiratory system abnormalities | Congenital structural abnormalities of the respiratory system. (12 Dec 1998) |
| respiratory system agents | Drugs used for their effects on the respiratory system. (12 Dec 1998) |
| reticular activating system | <physiology> A physiological term denoting that part of the brainstem reticular formation that plays a central role in the organism's bodily and behavorial alertness. It extends as a diffusely organised neural apparatus through the central region of the brainstem into the subthalamus and the intralaminar nuclei of the thalamus; by its ascending connections it affects the function of the cerebral cortex in the sense of behavioural responsiveness; its descending (reticulospinal) connections transmit its activating influence upon bodily posture and reflex mechanisms (e.g., muscle tonus), in part by way of the gamma motor neurons. See: reticular formation. Synonym: non-specific system. (05 Mar 2000) |
| reticuloendothelial system | The phagocytic system of the body, including the fixed macrophages of tissues, liver and spleen. Rather old fashioned term that is coming back into use, mononuclear phagocyte system is probably better when only phagocytes are meant. (18 Nov 1997) |