| bergylt | <zoology> The Norway haddock. See Rosefish. Origin: Etymol. Uncertain. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| beriberi | <disease> An endemic form of polyneuritis (nerve inflammation), due to an unbalanced diet, with a deficiency of vitamin B1(thiamin). Common in those who chronically abuse alcohol. (11 Jan 1998) |
| beriberi heart | Heart disease due to thiamine deficiency that may be epidemic or sporadic as characterised by cardiac metabolic damage and myocardial failure, often of the "high output" type, with oedema (except in "dry" beri) and polyneuritis. The term is derived from Singhalese, "I am unable." (05 Mar 2000) |
| Berk Sharp technique | <molecular biology, procedure> A technique of genetic mapping in which mRNA is hybridised with single stranded DNA and the nonhybridised DNA then digested with S1 nuclease, the residual DNA that hybridised with the messenger is then characterised by restriction mapping. (18 Nov 1997) |
| Berkefeld filter | A bacterial filter used in 1891, made of earth known as Kieselguhr taken from the name of the mine in Hanover, Germany, from which the earth was found. Ground water at this mine had a clear blue colour suggesting the use of the earth as a filter. Origin: Berkefield, name of owner of the mine from which the material to make the filter was taken (05 Mar 2000) |
| berkelium | <chemical> Berkelium. A man-made radioactive actinide with atomic symbol bk, atomic number 97, and atomic weight 247. Its valence can be +3 or +4. Twelve isotopes have been produced with mass numbers 240-251. Chemical name: Berkelium (12 Dec 1998) |
| Berlin blue | Fe4(Fe(CN)6)3; ferric ferrocyanide;a dye used to colour injection masses for blood vessels and lymphatics, and in staining of siderocytes. Synonym: Prussian blue. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Berlin's oedema | Retinal oedema after blunt trauma to the globe. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Berlin, Rudolf | <person> German ophthalmologist, 1833-1897. See: Berlin's oedema. (05 Mar 2000) |
| berloque dermatitis | Berlock dermatitis, a type of photosensitization resulting in deep brown pigmentation on exposure to sunlight after application of bergamot oil and other essential oils in perfume. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bermuda | A british colony in the western north atlantic ocean about 640 miles east southeast of cape hatteras, north carolina. It comprises a group of about 300 islands of which only about 20 are inhabited. It is called also the bermuda islands or the bermudas. It was named for the spanish explorer juan bermudez who visited the islands in 1515. (12 Dec 1998) |
| bermuda grass | <botany> A kind of grass (Cynodon Dactylon) esteemed for pasture in the Southern United States. It is a native of Southern Europe, but is now wide-spread in warm countries. Synonym: scutch grass, and in Bermuda, devil grass. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| berna fly | <zoology> A Brazilian dipterous insect of the genus Trypeta, which lays its eggs in the nostrils or in wounds of man and beast, where the larvae do great injury. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| Bernard Soulier syndrome | <haematology, syndrome> A congenital disorder where the platelets lack receptors which allow them to adhere to the walls of blood vessels. The genetic deficiency in platelet membrane glycoprotein Ib allows platelets to aggregate normally (c.f. Glanzmann's thrombasthenia) but they do not stick to collagen of sub endothelial basement membrane. The net result is a platelet function disorder that causes a prolonged bleeding time. Symptoms include nosebleeds, easy bruising, heavy menstrual periods, bleeding gums and increased post-operative bleeding. Avoidance of aspirin, anti-inflammatories or any other agents which can cause bleeding is critical. (06 Oct 1997) |
| bernard syndrome | <syndrome> A complex of abnormal findings, namely sinking in of one eyeball, ipsilateral ptosis (drooping of the upper eyelid on the same side) and miosis (constriction of the pupil of that eye) together with anhidosis (lack of sweating) and flushing of the affected side of the face. Due to paralysis of certain nerves (specifically, the cervical sympathetic nerves). Also called Horner-Bernard syndrome, Bernard-Horner syndrome and Horner's ptosis, but best known today as Horner syndrome. (12 Dec 1998) |