| tertiary syphilis | <microbiology> An advanced (stage III) syphilitic infection (Treponema pallidum) affecting nervous structures. Symptoms include ataxia, dementia and tabes dorsalis (staggering gait and postural difficulties). (13 Jan 1998) |
|---|---|
| early latent syphilis | Infection with Treponema pallidum, the organism of syphilis, after the primary and secondary phases have subsided, during the first year after infection, before any manifestations of tertiary syphilis have appeared. (05 Mar 2000) |
| early syphilis | Primary, secondary, or early latent syphilis, before any tertiary manifestations have appeared. (05 Mar 2000) |
| endemic syphilis | Syphilis caused by organisms closely related to Treponema pallidum; spread by personal, but not necessarily venereal, contact; usually acquired in childhood, most common in areas of provery and overcrowding; rare in the United States; includes yaws, pinta and bejel. Synonym: endemic syphilis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| equine syphilis | A disease of horses and donkeys caused by trypanosoma equiperdum. The disease occurs in africa, the americas, and asia. (12 Dec 1998) |
| late benign syphilis | Late syphilis, manifested by serologic evidence of infection, but without any clinical manifestations. (05 Mar 2000) |
| late latent syphilis | Usually infectious in pregnant women only, who may pass the infection on to the foetus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| latent syphilis | Infection with Treponema pallidum, after the manifestations of primary and secondary syphilis have subsided (or were never noticed), before any manifestations of tertiary syphilis have appeared. (05 Mar 2000) |
| late syphilis | Involvement of the cardiovascular or central nervous system, or the development of a gumma in any organ, due to infection with Treponema pallidum; usually several years to 2-3 decades after the initial infection. Synonym: tertiary syphilis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Abbe test plate | <equipment> A long, wedge-shaped coverslip about 0.20 mm thick at one end and 0.10 to 0.12 mm at the other end coated chemically with a silver film on which are ruled horizontal lines. at each variation in thickness of 0.01 mm there are vertical lines. By means of oblique illumination and by focusing on different portions of the plate, it is possible to determine the optimum coverslip thickness for any objective and also, for microscopes with drawtubes, the tube length for best objective performance. The approximate freedom from spherical and chromatic aberrations can also be estimated. Small isolated bits of silver near the edges of the lines form good objects for the star test (05 Aug 1998) |
| acetone test | A test for ketonuria; the suspected urine is shaken up with a few drops of sodium nitroprusside, and strong ammonia water is then gently poured over the mixture; if acetone is present, a magenta ring forms at the line of contact; tablets containing sodium nitroprusside and alkali are now more commonly used. (05 Mar 2000) |
| achievement test | A standardised test used to measure acquired learning, e.g., competence in a specific subject area such as reading or arithmetic, in contrast to an intelligence test which is a useful index of potential ability or learning. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acidified serum test | Lysis of the patient's red cells in acidified fresh serum, specific for paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria. Synonym: Ham's test. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acid loading test | <nephrology> This is a test used in the diagnosis of renal tubular acidosis. The patient takes ammonium chloride capsules for 3 days to acidify the blood (lower blood pH). A sample of the urine and the blood is then collected and the results are interpreted. (27 Sep 1997) |
| acid perfusion test | <gastroenterology, investigation> A test used to diagnosis gastrooesophageal reflux disease. This investigation requires that the patient swallow 3 tiny tubes into the stomach. A mixture of hydrochloric acid (like stomach acid) and saline are alternatively injected into the tubes. The patient then reports any symptoms they may have. Some patients may vomit. (13 Nov 1997) |