| ABS | abdominal surgery; acute brain syndrome; Adaptive Behavior Scale; admitting blood sugar; adult bovin... |
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| AFB | acid-fast bacillus; aflatoxin B; air fluidized bed; aortofemoral bypass |
| BB | bad breath; bed bath; beta blockade, beta blocker; BioBreeding [rat]; blanket bath; blood bank; bloo... |
| BP | Bachelor of Pharmacy; back pressure; barometric pressure; basic protein; bathroom privileges; bed pa... |
| bp | base pair; bed pan; boiling point |
| nail bed | The area of the corium on which the nail rests; it is extremely sensitive and presents numerous longitudinal ridges on its surface. According to some anatomists, the nail bed is the portion covered by the body of the nail, the nail matrix being only the part on which the root of the nail rests. Synonym: matrix unguis, keratogenous membrane, nail matrix, onychostroma. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| fluidised-bed boiler | A large, refractory-lined vessel with an air distribution member or plate in the bottom, a hot gas outlet in or near the top, and some provisions for introducing fuel. The fluidised bed is formed by blowing air up through a layer of inert particles (such as sand or limestone) at a rate that causes the particles to go into suspension and continuous motion. The super-hot bed material increased combustion efficiency by its direct dontact with the fuel. (05 Dec 1998) |
| fracture bed | A narrow, extra-firm bed for treatment of fractures; usually incorporates an overhead frame for traction apparatus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| basal metabolic rate | <biochemistry, biology> The metabolic rate as measured under basal conditions: 12 hours after eating, after a restful sleep, no exercise or activity preceding test, elimination of emotional excitement and occurring in a comfortable temperature. Acronym: BMR (15 Nov 1997) |
| brain diseases, metabolic | Metabolic disorders which lead to pathological changes and/or functional deviations of the brain. (12 Dec 1998) |
| rate, basal metabolic | A measure of the rate of metabolism. For example, someone with an overly active thyroid will have an elevated basal metabolic rate. (12 Dec 1998) |
| metabolic | 1. <biology> Of or pertaining to metamorphosis; pertaining to, or involving, change. 2. <physiology> Of or pertaining to metabolism; as, metabolic activity; metabolic force. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| metabolic acidosis | <biochemistry> A metabolic derangement of acid-base balance where the blood pH is abnormally low. Causes include haemorrhagic shock, cardiogenic shock, severe dehydration, sepsis, toxic ingestion (for example isopropyl alcohol, methanol), alcoholic ketoacidosis, lactic acidosis, renal failure and diabetic ketoacidosis. Respiratory acidosis will occur if the lungs are not ventilating properly. (27 Jun 1999) |
| metabolic alkalosis | <biochemistry> A metabolic derangement where the pH of the blood is abnormally high (basic). This condition may result from hyperventilation, the use of a particular drug, excessive vomiting or dehydration (contraction alkalosis). (27 Jun 1999) |
| metabolic burst | <biochemistry> Response of phagocytes to particles (particularly if opsonise d) and to agonists such as formyl peptides and phorbol esters, an enhanced uptake of oxygen leads to the production, by an NADH dependent system, of hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anions and hydroxyl radicals, all of which play a part in bactericidal activity. Defects in the metabolic burst, as in chronic granulomatous disease, predispose to infection particularly with catalase positive bacteria and are usually fatal in childhood. (27 Jun 1999) |
| metabolic calculus | A stone, usually a renal stone, caused by a metabolic abnormality resulting in increased excretion of a substance of low solubility in urine, such as urate or cystine. (05 Mar 2000) |
| metabolic clearance rate | Volume of biological fluid completely cleared of drug metabolites as measured in unit time. Elimination occurs as a result of metabolic processes in the kidney, liver, saliva, sweat, intestine, heart, brain, or other site. (12 Dec 1998) |
| metabolic coma | Coma resulting from diffuse failure of neuronal metabolism, caused by such abnormalities as intrinsic disorders of neuron or glial cell metabolism, or extracerebral disorders that produce intoxication or electrolyte imbalances. (05 Mar 2000) |
| metabolic cooperation | <cell biology, molecular biology> Transfer between tissue cells in contact of low molecular weight metabolites such as nucleotides and amino acids. Transfer is via channels constituted by the connexons of gap junctions and does not involve exchange with the extracellular medium. First observed in cultures of animal cells in which radio labelled purines were transferred from wild type cells to mutants unable to utilise exogenous purines. (27 Jun 1999) |
| metabolic coupling | <cell biology, molecular biology> Transfer between tissue cells in contact of low molecular weight metabolites such as nucleotides and amino acids. Transfer is via channels constituted by the connexons of gap junctions and does not involve exchange with the extracellular medium. First observed in cultures of animal cells in which radio labelled purines were transferred from wild type cells to mutants unable to utilise exogenous purines. (27 Jun 1999) |