| 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) |
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| 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) |
| metabolic craniopathy | <syndrome> Hyperostosis frontalis interna in elderly women, with obesity and neuropsychiatric disorders of uncertain cause; at least sometimes familial. Synonym: metabolic craniopathy, Stewart-Morel syndrome. (05 Mar 2000) |
| metabolic detoxication, drug | Reduction of pharmacologic activity or toxicity of a drug or other foreign substance by a living system, usually by enzymatic action. It includes those metabolic transformations that make the substance more soluble for faster renal excretion. (12 Dec 1998) |
| metabolic disease | Generic term for diseases caused by an abnormal metabolic process. It can be congenital due to inherited enzyme abnormality (metabolism, inborn errors) or acquired due to disease of an endocrine organ or failure of a metabolically important organ such as the liver. (12 Dec 1998) |
| metabolic encephalopathy | Encephalopathy characterised by memory loss, vertigo, and generalised weakness, due to metabolic brain disease including hypoxia, ischemia, hypoglycaemia, or secondary to other organ failure such as liver or kidney. (05 Mar 2000) |
| metabolic equivalent | The oxygen cost of energy expenditure measured at supine rest (1 MET = 3.5 ml O2 per kg of body weight per minute); multiples of MET are used to estimate the oxygen cost of activity, e.g., 3 to 5 METs for light work; more than 9 METs for heavy work. (05 Mar 2000) |
| metabolic indican | 1. <chemistry> A glucoside obtained from woad (indigo plant) and other plants, as a yellow or light brown sirup. It has a nauseous bitter taste, a decomposes or drying. By the action of acids, ferments, etc, it breaks down into sugar and indigo. It is the source of natural indigo. 2. <physiology> An indigo-forming substance, found in urine, and other animal fluids, and convertible into red and blue indigo (urrhodin and uroglaucin). Chemically, it is indoxyl sulphate of potash, C8H6NSO4K, and is derived from the indol formed in the alimentary canal. Synonym: uroxanthin. See: Indigo. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| metabolic mucinosis | Diffuse or pretibial myxoedema, lichen myxoedematosus, gargoylism, secondary mucinosis, degeneration in tumours, localised mucinosis, follicular, papular, plaque-like, focal, and myxoid or synovial cyst. Origin: mucin + G. -osis, condition (05 Mar 2000) |