| bipolar lead | A record obtained with two electrodes placed on different regions of the body, each electrode contributing significantly to the record; e.g., a standard limb lead. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| bipolar neuron | A neuron that has two processes arising from opposite poles of the cell body. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bipolar psychosis | A mental disorder characterised by one or more episodes of mania (manic depression) which is usually accompanied by one or more episodes of depression (major depressive episode). See: endogenous depression, manic-depressive. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bipolar taxis | An obsolete term for repositioning of a retroverted uterus by making traction on the cervix in the vagina, and pushing up the fundus by the finger in the rectum. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bipolar version | Turning of the baby in utero, performed by the hands acting upon both extremities of the foetus; it may be external version or combined version. Synonym: bipolar version. (05 Mar 2000) |
| midget bipolar cells | Bipolar cell's in the inner nuclear layer of the retina that synapse with individual cone cell's in the outer plexiform layer; other larger bipolar cell's in the inner nuclear layer synapse with both rod and cone cell's; the axons of both types synapse in the inner plexiform layer with the dendrites of the ganglion cell's. (05 Mar 2000) |
| depression, bipolar | Formerly called manic- depressive illness. Not nearly as prevalent as other forms of depressive disorders, bipolar disorder involves cycles of depression and elation or mania. Sometimes the mood switches are dramatic and rapid, but most often they are gradual. When in the depressed cycle, you can have any or all of the symptoms of a depressive disorder. When in the manic cycle, any or all symptoms listed under mania may be experienced. Mania often affects thinking, judgment, and social behaviour in ways that cause serious problems and embarrassment. For example, unwise business or financial decisions may be made when an individual is in a manic phase. Bipolar disorder is often a chronic recurring condition. (12 Dec 1998) |
| disease, bipolar | A type of depressive disease, formerly called manic-depressive illness. Not nearly as prevalent as other forms of depressive disorders. Bipolar disorder involves alternating cycles of depression and elation or mania. Sometimes the mood switches are dramatic and rapid, but most often they are gradual. Mania often affects thinking, judgment, and social behaviour in ways that cause serious problems and embarrassment. For example, unwise business or financial decisions may be made when an individual is in a manic phase. Bipolar disorder is often a chronic recurring condition. (12 Dec 1998) |
| benign familial chorea | A rare, nonprogressive movement disorder characterised by chorea and athetosis appearing in early childhood, most commonly manifested as gait ataxia and upper limb coordination. Intellect is unaffected. Probably autosomal-dominance inheritance with incomplete penetrance. (05 Mar 2000) |
| benign familial chronic pemphigus | Recurrent eruption of vesicles and bullae that become scaling and crusted lesions with vesicular borders, predominantly of the neck, groin, and axillary regions; autosomal dominant inheritance, presenting in late adolescence or early adult life. Synonym: Hailey-Hailey disease. (05 Mar 2000) |
| benign familial icterus | Mild jaundice due to increased amounts of unconjugated bilirubin in the plasma without evidence of liver damage, biliary obstruction, or haemolysis; thought to be due to an inborn error of metabolism in which the excretion of bilirubin by the liver is defective, ascribed to decreased conjugation of bilirubin as a glucuronide or impaired uptake of hepatic bilirubin. Synonym: benign familial icterus, constitutional hepatic dysfunction, Gilbert's disease, Gilbert's syndrome, Hebra's disease. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cancer, breast, familial | A number of factors have been identified that increase the risk of breast cancer. One of the strongest of these risk factors is the history of breast cancer in a relative. About 15-20% of women with breast cancer have such a family history of the disease, clearly reflecting the participation of inherited (genetic) components in the development of some breast cancers. Dominant breast cancer suceptibility genes, including BRCA1 and BRCA2, appear responsible for about 5% of all breast cancer. (12 Dec 1998) |
| paralysis, familial periodic | An autosomal dominant trait marked by recurring attacks of rapidly progressive flaccid paralysis. There are three types: I, associated with a fall in serum potassium levels (hypokalaemic periodic paralysis); II, associated with a rise therein (hyperkalaemic periodic paralysis, called also adynamia episodica hereditaria); and III, with normal levels (normokalaemic periodic paralysis). (12 Dec 1998) |
| pemphigus, benign familial | Rare hereditary disease characterised by recurrent eruptions of vesicles and bullae mainly on the neck, axillae, and groin. It exhibits autosomal dominant inheritance and is unrelated to pemphigus vulgaris though it closely resembles that disease. (12 Dec 1998) |
| chronic familial icterus | <haematology> A hereditary disorder that leads to a chronic haemolytic anaemia due to an abnormality in the red blood cell membrane. This disorder is caused by a defective gene. Red cells are resistant to stress and rupture easily. Infants may appear jaundiced and pale. Fatigue, weakness and shortness of breath are other symptoms that may be seen in older patients. The spleen may also be enlarged. Treatment includes splenectomy (removal of the spleen). After this is accomplished the life-span of the red blood cells returns to normal. (27 Sep 1997) |