| ARRC | Associate of the Royal Red Cross |
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| BC | Bachelor of Surgery [Lat. Baccal-aureus Chirurgiae]; back care; bactericidal concentration; basal ce... |
| BCA | balloon catheter angioplasty; bicinchoninic acid; blood color analyzer; Blue Cross Association; bran... |
| BC/BS | Blue Cross/Blue Shield [plan] |
| BCBSA | Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association |
| immunity, mucosal | Nonsusceptibility to the pathogenic effects of foreign microorganisms or antigenic substances as a result of antibody secretions of the mucous membranes. Mucosal epithelia in the gastrointestinal, respiratory, and reproductive tracts produce a form of IgA (IgA, secretory) that serves to protect these ports of entry into the body. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| immunity, natural | The capacity of a normal organism to remain unaffected by microorganisms and their toxins. It results from non-specific mechanisms such as genetic endowment, naturally occurring antiviral and bactericidal substances, phagocytosis, and constitutional factors such as body temperature, oxygen tension, and age. (12 Dec 1998) |
| infection immunity | The paradoxical immune status in which resistance to reinfection coincides with the persistence of the original infection. Synonym: concomitant immunity. (05 Mar 2000) |
| innate immunity | This includes local barriers to infection such as skin, stomach acid, mucous, the cough reflex, enzymes in tears and saliva and skin oils. (27 Sep 1997) |
| local immunity | A natural or acquired immunity to certain infectious agents, as manifested by an organ or a tissue, as a whole or in part. (05 Mar 2000) |
| American Red Cross | The national Red Cross society of the United States, established by Congress to assist in caring for the sick and wounded, serving as a communications link between members of the U.S. Armed forces and their families, conducting disaster relief and prevention programs, and furnishing other humanitarian services, the largest of which is a network of regional blood centres providing blood and blood products. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anatomy, cross-sectional | Descriptive anatomy based on three-dimensional imaging of the body, organs, and structures using a series of computer multiplane sections, displayed by transverse, coronal, and sagittal analyses. It is essential to accurate interpretation by the radiologist of such techniques as ultrasonic diagnosis, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography. (12 Dec 1998) |
| back cross | <genetics> A crossing of a heterozygous organism and one of its homozygous parents. (09 Oct 1997) |
| blue cross | A prepaid health insurance plan for hospital costs and related services. It usually excludes physicians' services (which are covered under blue shield). (12 Dec 1998) |
| red cross | An international agency providing various humanitarian services. (12 Dec 1998) |
| collision cross-section | <radiobiology> Effective surface area of a particle when it collides with another, describes probability of collisions between the two particles. (09 Oct 1997) |
| cross | 1. Any figure in the shape of a cross formed by two intersecting lines. Synonym: crux. Synonym: crux of heart. 3. A method of hybridization or the hybrid so produced. Origin: F. Croix, L. Crux (05 Mar 2000) |
| cross agglutination | Agglutination by antibodies specific for minor (group) antigens common to several microorganisms, each of which possesses its own major specific antigen. Synonym: cross agglutination. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cross circulation | The circulation in a portion of the body of one individual of blood supplied from another individual. (12 Dec 1998) |
| cross contamination | <dentistry> Passing bacteria or viruses indirectly from one patient to another through the use of improper sterilisation procedures, unclean instruments, or recycling of products. (08 Jan 1998) |