| persistent vegetative state | A persistent loss of upper cortical function that may follow acute (e.g., infections, toxins, trauma or vascular) events or chronic (e.g., degenerative) events. The patient is bedridden and nutritional support is completely passive, either parenteral or via nasogastric tube. The patient does not require respiratory support or circulatory assistance for survival and is in a state of chronic wakefulness without awareness which may be accompanied by spontaneous eye opening, grunts or screams, brief smiles, sporadic movement of facial muscles and limbs. While the eyes blink upon stimulation, they do not do so in response to visual threats. Some patients chew or clamp their teeth. Urinary and faecal incontinence is universal. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| convulsive state | <disease, neurology> The paroxysmal transient disturbances of brain function that may be manifested as episodic impairment or loss of consciousness, abnormal motor phenomena, psychic or sensory disturbances or perturbation of the autonomic nervous system. Symptoms are due to paroxysmal disturbance of the electrical activity of the brain. On the basis of origin, epilepsy is idiopathic (cryptogenic, essential, genetic) or symptomatic (acquired, organic). On the basis of clinical and electroencephalographic phenomenon, four subdivisions are recognised: 1. Grand mal epilepsy (major epilepsy, haut mal epilepsy) subgroups: generalised, focal (localised), jacksonian (rolandic) 2. Petit mal epilepsy 3. Psychomotor epilepsy (temporal lobe epilepsy, psychic, psychic equivalent or variant) subgroups: psychomotor proper (tonic with adversive or torsion movements or masticatory phenomena), automatic (with amnesia) and sensory (hallucinations or dream states or d굁. Vu) 4. Autonomic epilepsy (diencephalic), with flushing, pallor, tachycardia, hypertension, perspiration or other visceral symptoms. Synonym: epilepsia. Origin: Gr. Epilepsia = seizure (14 May 1997) |
| post-ictal state | A period of confusion, lethargy and deep breathing that may last for 15 minutes to several hours after the cessation of a generalised seizure. (27 Sep 1997) |
| post-steady state | Any period of time, particularly in an enzyme-catalyzed reaction, after the steady-state interval; e.g., when the rate of product formation is declining in an enzyme-catalyzed reaction. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pre-steady state | Those conditions and the time interval prior to establishment of steady state. (05 Mar 2000) |
| hospitals, state | Hospitals controlled by agencies and departments of the state government. (12 Dec 1998) |
| singlet state | A transient, excited state of a molecule (e.g., of chlorophyll, upon absorbing light) that can release energy as heat or light (fluorescence) and thus return to the initial (ground) state; it may alternatively assume a slightly more stable, but still excited state (triplet state), with an electron still dislocated as before but with reversed spin. (05 Mar 2000) |
| hypnoid state | A drowsy or sleeplike state artificially induced by a hypnotist in individuals of higher than average levels of suggestibility. See: hypnosis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| hypnotic state | <procedure> A state of heightened awareness and focused concentration that can be used to manipulate the perception of pain. (16 Dec 1997) |
| hypometabolic state | A rare state of reduced metabolism with symptoms resembling hypothyroidism but with some tests for thyroid gland function normal; also used to describe the reduced metabolic activity seen in true hypothyroidism. (05 Mar 2000) |
| solid-state detector | A detector that uses a crystalline scintillating material rather than an ionization chamber to detect or measure radiation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| solid state laser | <radiobiology> A laser using a transparent substance (crystalline or glass) as the active medium, doped to provide the energy states necessary for lasing. The pumping mechanism is the radiation from a powerful light source, such as a flashlamp. The ruby, Nd-YAG, and Nd:glass lasers are solid-state lasers. (09 Oct 1997) |
| standard state | <chemistry> The most stable form of a substance at 298 K and 1 atmosphere of pressure. (09 Jan 1998) |
| state | <chemistry> The condition of the system at a given time, it is usually defined by an equation which is called an equation of state. (09 Jan 1998) |
| state dentistry | Control, direction and financing of the total dental care of the population by a national government. (12 Dec 1998) |