| Clark's level | The level of invasion of primary malignant melanoma of the skin; limited to the epidermis, I; into the underlying papillary dermis, II; to the junction of the papillary and reticular dermis, III; into the reticular dermis, IV; into the subcutaneous fat, V. The prognosis is worse with each successive deeper level of invasion. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| cohb level | A blood test which is performed on an arterial specimen and is a measurement of the amount of carbon monoxide which is present and bound to haemoglobin. This is an important test to diagnosis carbon monoxide toxicity (smoke inhalation). Normal carboxyhaemoglobin may be from 3% to as high as 12% in heavy smokers. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning begin at about 20% carboxyhaemoglobin. (27 Sep 1997) |
| white level | <microscopy> Also reference white level. The IEEE scale, or voltage level, of the video picture signal that corresponds to a specified maximum limit for white peaks. (05 Aug 1998) |
| window level | The CT number setting in Hounsfield units of the midpoint of the window width, which is the gray scale of the image; a typical window level for imaging the lungs if -500; for the abdomen, 0. (05 Mar 2000) |
| hearing level | The measure of the status of hearing as read directly on the hearing loss scale of an audiometer; described in decibels as a deviation from a standard value for zero on the audiometer. (05 Mar 2000) |
| serum iron level | A test that measures the amount of iron (Fe ++) in the blood. The test is performed when iron deficiency is suspected. Normal serum iron is 60 to 170 mcg/dl. Increased levels may be seen in the following: haemochromatosis, haemolysis, haemolytic anaemia, hepatitis, liver necrosis, haemosiderosis, iron poisoning and lead toxicity. Lower than normal levels are seen in chronic GI blood loss, iron deficiency anaemia, insufficient dietary iron, malabsorption, chronic heavy menstrual bleeding, nephrosis and late pregnancy. (27 Sep 1997) |
| substrate-level phosphorylation | Synthesis of high-energy phosphate bonds through reaction of inorganic phosphate with an activated (usually) organic substrate. (09 Oct 1997) |
| no-observed-adverse-effect level | The highest dosage administered that does not produce toxic effects. The noael will depend on how closely dosages are spaced (lowest-observed-adverse-effect level and no-observed-effect level) and the number of animals examined. The ultimate objective is usually to determine not the "safe" dosage in laboratory animals but the "safe" dosage for humans. Therefore, the extrapolation most often required of toxicologists is from high-dosage studies in laboratory animals to low doses in humans. (casarett and doull's toxicology: the basic science of poisons, 4th ed) (12 Dec 1998) |
| organic level | The amount of organic matter prescribed to be left after logging. (05 Dec 1998) |
| trophic level | <biology> Stage in a food chain or web leading from primary producers (lowest trophic level) through herbivores to primary and secondary carnivores (consumers- highest level). (09 Oct 1997) |
| lactate level | A test that measures the amount of lactic acid in the blood. Lactic acid is an intermediate product of carbohydrate metabolism and is derived mainly from muscle cells and red blood cells. Exercise will normally raise lactic acid levels. Conditions of oxygen deprivation (for example shock, heart failure, lung disease) will trigger anaerobic metabolism within muscle tissue resulting in lactic acid build up in the tissues. Normal lactic acid levels are 4.5 to 19.8 mg/dl. (27 Sep 1997) |
| lactic acid level | <investigation> A test that measures the amount of lactic acid in the blood. (25 Jun 1999) |
| free calcium level | <biochemistry> The ionised calcium represents the calcium (Ca++) that is the metabolically active calcium. Normal values for ionised calcium in the bloodstream should be 4.4 to 5.3 mg/dl for adults and 4.4 to 6.0 mg/dl for children. Elevations may be seen in hyperparathyroidism, metastatic bone tumour, milk-alkali syndrome, multiple myeloma, Paget's disease, sarcoidosis, PTH-secreting tumours (paraneoplastic syndrome) and vitamin D intoxication. Lower than normal values may be seen in hypoparathyroidism, malabsorption, osteomalacia, pancreatitis, renal failure, rickets and vitamin D deficiency. (27 Sep 1997) |
| level of aspiration | <psychology> The degree or quality of performance (exhibited in a testing situation) which an individual desires to attain or feels he can achieve. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anvil sound | In cases of a large pulmonary cavity or of pneumothorax, a clear metallic sound obtained by striking a coin, held against the chest, by another coin, or by flicking the chest wall with one's fingernail; the sound is heard on auscultating the chest wall on the same side anteroposteriorly. Synonym: anvil sound, bell sound, coin test. (05 Mar 2000) |