| coombs' reaction | An immunological lab test to detect antibodies which attack the red blood cells of its own body (called autoantibodies). The test is important to the diagnosis of certain blood disorders. The test first reacts red blood cells with serum from the test individual, then with antibodies to the autoantibodies. If the autoantibodies exist, they will bind to the red blood cells. When the antibodies to the autoantibodies are added, they will bind the autoantibodies (still attached to the red blood cells) and cause the red blood cells to clump together. Large clumps of red blood cells indicate that the autoantibodies exist, absence of the clumps indicates that they don't. (09 Oct 1997) |
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| Coombs' serum | Serum from a rabbit or other animal previously immunised with purified human globulin to prepare antibodies directed against IgG and complement; used in the direct and indirect Coombs' tests. Synonym: Coombs' serum. (05 Mar 2000) |
| coombs' test | Haemagglutination test in which coombs' reagent (antiglobulin, or anti-human globulin rabbit immune serum) is added to detect incomplete (non-agglutinating, univalent, blocking) antibodies coating erythrocytes. The direct test is applied to red cells which have been coated with antibody in vivo (e.g., in haemolytic disease of newborn, autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, and transfusion reactions). The indirect test is applied to serum to detect the presence of antibody (e.g., in detection of incompatibility in cross-matching tests, detection and identification of irregular antibodies, and in detection of antibodies not identifiable by other means). (12 Dec 1998) |
| Coombs, Carey | <person> English physician, 1879-1932. See: Coombs murmur. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Coombs, Robin | <person> English veterinarian and immunologist, *1921. See: Gell and Coombs reactions, Coombs' serum, Coombs' test, direct Coombs' test, indirect Coombs' test. (05 Mar 2000) |
| coonhound paralysis | A polyradiculoneuritis of dogs (especially raccoon-hunting breeds) following a raccoon bite and characterised by weakness, hindlimb hyporeflexia, and a flaccid symmetrical tetraplegia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Cooper's fascia | H;one of the coverings of the spermatic cord, formed of delicate connective tissue and of muscular fibres derived from the internal oblique muscle (cremaster muscle). See: aponeurosis of internal abdominal oblique muscle. Synonym: fascia cremasterica, Cooper's fascia, Scarpa's sheath. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Cooper's hernia | A femoral hernia with two sacs, the first being in the femoral canal, and the second passing through a defect in the superficial fascia and appearing immediately beneath the skin. Synonym: bilocular femoral hernia, Hey's hernia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Cooper's herniotome | A slender bistoury with short cutting edge for dividing the constricting tissues at the neck of a hernial sac. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Cooper's ligaments | Well developed retinacula cutis that extend from the fibrous stroma of the mammary gland to the overlying skin. Synonym: ligamenta suspensoria mammae, Cooper's ligaments, suspensory ligaments of Cooper. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Cooper, Sir Astley Paston | <person> English anatomist and surgeon, 1768-1841. See: Cooper's fascia, Cooper's hernia, Cooper's herniotome, Cooper's ligaments, suspensory ligaments of Cooper. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cooperative behaviour | The interaction of two or more persons or organizations directed toward a common goal which is mutually beneficial. An act or instance of working or acting together for a common purpose or benefit, i.e., joint action. (12 Dec 1998) |
| cooperative enzyme | <enzyme> An enzyme that exhibits the property of cooperativity. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cooperative phenomena | <radiobiology> The effects of interacting particles acting collectively, rather than individually. Includes plasma oscillations, turbulence, and instabilities. (Plasmas are distinguished from collections of individual particles in that they exhibit cooperative phenomena in which the plasma participates as a unified entity.) Early fusion researchers who devised fusion schemes based upon theories where plasmas acted as merely a collection of individual particles (and therefore sought to confine only individual particles) often found themselves frustrated at the ability of plasma cooperative phenomena (such as magnetohydrodynamic instabilities) to thwart their efforts. (09 Oct 1997) |
| cooperativity | Phenomenon displayed by enzymes or receptors that have multiple binding sites. Binding of one ligand alters the affinity of the other site. Both positive and negative cooperativity are known, positive cooperativity gives rise to a sigmoidal binding curve. Cooperativity is often invoked to account for nonlinearity of binding data, although it is by no means the only possible cause. (18 Nov 1997) |