| serum response factor | Transcription factor that binds to the serum response element upstream of the site of transcription initiation of genes such as c fos. (18 Nov 1997) |
|---|---|
| serum shock | Anaphylactic or anaphylactoid shock caused by the injection of antitoxic or other foreign serum. (05 Mar 2000) |
| serum sickness | A hypersensitivity response (type III) to the injection of large amounts of antigen, as might happen when large amounts of antiserum are given in a passive immunisation. The effects are caused by the presence of soluble immune complexes in the tissues. (18 Nov 1997) |
| serum therapy | Treatment of an infectious disease by injection of an antitoxin or serum containing specific antibody. Synonym: serum therapy. (05 Mar 2000) |
| serum TIBC | <biochemistry, haematology> A test that measures indirectly the transferrin level in the bloodstream. Transferrin is a protein that carries iron in the body. Normal values are 240 to 450 mcg/dl. This test is used to evaluate anaemia. Greater than normal total iron binding capacity can be seen in: iron deficiency anaemia, late pregnancy and polycythaemia vera. Lower than normal total iron binding capacity can be seen in cirrhosis, sickle cell anaemia, hypoproteinaemia, pernicious anaemia and haemolytic anaemia. The use of birth control pills can lead to increased total iron binding capacity measurements. Acronym: TIBC (12 Jan 1998) |
| serum transferrin | <protein> A protein that carries iron in the bloodstream. The percentage of transferrin that has iron bound to it is increased in situations of iron overdose and in the disease haemochromatosis. Serum transferrin is decreased in cases of protein deficiency. (27 Sep 1997) |
| serum-fast | 1. Pertaining to a serum in which there is little or no change in the titre of antibody, even under conditions of treatment or immunologic stimulation. 2. Resistant to the destructive effect of sera. Synonym: serofast. (05 Mar 2000) |
| serumal | Relating to or derived from serum. (05 Mar 2000) |
| serumal calculus | A greenish or dark brown calcareous deposit on the tooth, usually apical to the gingival margin. Synonym: haematogenetic calculus. Synonym: subgingival calculus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| serval | <zoology> An African wild cat (Felis serval) of moderate size. It has rather long legs and a tail of moderate length. Its colour is tawny, with black spots on the body and rings of black on the tail. Origin: Cf. F. Serval. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| servaline | <zoology> Related to, or resembling, the serval. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| servation | The use or function of an organ. (05 Mar 2000) |
| serve | 1. To work for; to labour in behalf of; to exert one's self continuously or statedly for the benefit of; to do service for; to be in the employment of, as an inferior, domestic, serf, slave, hired assistant, official helper, etc.; specifically, in a religious sense, to obey and worship. "God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit." (Rom. I. 9) "Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter." (Gen. Xxix. 18) "No man can serve two masters." (Matt. Vi. 24) "Had I but served my God with half the zeal I served my king, he would not in mine age Have left me naked to mine enemies." (Shak) 2. To be subordinate to; to act a secondary part under; to appear as the inferior of; to minister to. "Bodies bright and greater should not serve The less not bright." (Milton) 3. To be suitor to; to profess love to. "To serve a lady in his beste wise." (Chaucer) 4. To wait upon; to supply the wants of; to attend; specifically, to wait upon at table; to attend at meals; to supply with food; as, to serve customers in a shop. "Others, pampered in their shameless pride, Are served in plate and in their chariots ride." (Dryden) 5. Hence, to bring forward, arrange, deal, or distribute, as a portion of anything, especially of food prepared for eating; often with up; formerly with in. "Bid them cover the table, serve in the meat, and we will come in to dinner." (Shak) "Some part he roasts, then serves it up so dressed." (Dryde) 6. To perform the duties belonging to, or required in or for; hence, to be of use to; as, a curate may serve two churches; to serve one's country. 7. To contribute or conduce to; to promote; to be sufficient for; to satisfy; as, to serve one's turn. "Turn it into some advantage, by observing where it can serve another end." (Jer. Taylor) 8. To answer or be (in the place of something) to; as, a sofa serves one for a seat and a couch. 9. To treat; to behave one's self to; to requite; to act toward; as, he served me very ill. 10. To work; to operate; as, to serve the guns. 11. To bring to notice, deliver, or execute, either actually or constructively, in such manner as the law requires; as, to serve a summons. To make legal service opon (a person named in a writ, summons, etc); as, to serve a witness with a subpoena. 12. To pass or spend, as time, especially. Time of punishment; as, to serve a term in prison. 13. To copulate with; to cover; as, a horse serves a mare; said of the male. 14. To lead off in delivering (the ball). 15. To wind spun yarn, or the like, tightly around (a rope or cable, etc) so as to protect it from chafing or from the weather. See Serving. To serve an attachment or a writ of attachment, to read it to the defendant, or to leave an attested copy at his usual place of abode. To serve one out, to retaliate upon; to requite. "I'll serve you out for this." . To serve one right, to treat, or cause to befall one, according to his deserts; used commonly of ill deserts; as, it serves the scoundrel right; To serve one's self of, to avail one's self of; to make use of. "I will serve myself of this concession." (Chillingworth) To serve out, to distribute; as, to serve out rations. To serve the time or the hour, to regulate one's actions by the requirements of the time instead of by one's duty; to be a timeserver. "They think herein we serve the time, because thereby we either hold or seek preferment." (Hooker) Synonym: To obey, minister to, subserve, promote, aid, help, assist, benefit, succor. Origin: OE. Serven, servien, OF. & F. Servir, fr. L. Servire; akin to servus a servant or slave, servare to protect, preserve, observe; cf. Zend har to protect, haurva protecting. Cf. Conserve, Desert merit, Dessert, Observe, Serf, Sergeant. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| Servetus | (ServetServide) Miguel, Spanish anatomist and theologian, 1511-1553. See: Servetus' circulation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Servetus' circulation | An obsolete eponym for the pulmonary circulation. (05 Mar 2000) |