| nerve fibre | The axon of a nerve cell, ensheathed by oligodendroglia cells in brain and spinal cord, and by Schwann cells in peripheral nerves. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| stress fibre | <physiology> Long bundles of microfilaments made up of actin subunits. They are involved in the attachment of cultured cells to a substratum, the determination of cell shape and may be involved in cellular mobility. They are found in most cells and have been shown to be contractile, have a periodicity reminiscent of the sarcomere and are anchored at one end to a focal adhesion, although sometimes between two focal adhesions. (17 Jul 2002) |
| diabetes and fibre | Soluble fibres (oat bran, apples, citrus, pears, peas/beans, psyllium, etc.) slow down the digestion of carbohydrates (sugars), which results in better glucose metabolism. Some patients with the adult-onset diabetes may actually be successfully treated with a high-fibre diet alone, and those on insulin, can often reduce their insulin requirements by adhering to a high-fibre diet. (12 Dec 1998) |
| dietary fibre | <nutrition> The remnants of plant cell walls that are resistant to digestion by the alimentary enzymes of man. It comprises various polysaccharides and lignins. (12 Dec 1998) |
| diverticulosis/diverticulitis and fibre | High fibre diets help delay the progression of diverticulosis and, at least, reduce the bouts of diverticulitis. (12 Dec 1998) |
| outer cone fibre | Located between the inner segment and the cell body. (05 Mar 2000) |
| T fibre | A fibre that branches at right angles to the right and left; term used to describe the branching patterns of granular cell axons in the molecular layer of the cerebellum. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Kuhne's fibre | Artificial muscle fibre made by filling the intestine of an insect with a growth of myxomycetes; used to demonstrate the contractility of protoplasm. (05 Mar 2000) |
| fibre | A substance found in foods that come from plants (fruits and vegetables) and typically cannot be digested. Also called bulk or roughage. Fibre helps in the digestive process and is thought to lower cholesterol and help control blood glucose. The two types of fibre in food are soluble and insoluble. Soluble fibre, found in beans, fruits, and oat products, dissolves in water and is thought to help lower blood fats and blood glucose. Insoluble fibre, found in whole-grain products and vegetables, passes directly through the digestive system, helping to rid the body of waste products and possibly prevent diseases such as colon cancer. High fibre diets help delay the progression of diverticulosis and, at least, reduce the bouts of diverticulitis. In many cases, it helps reduce the symptoms of the Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) (also called spastic colitis, mucus colitis, and nervous colon syndrome.) It is generally accepted that a diet high in fibre is protective, or at least reduces the incidence, of colon polyps and colon cancer. Soluble fibre substances are effective in helping reduce the blood cholesterol. This is especially true with oat bran, fruits, psyllium and legumes. High soluble-fibre diets may lower cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins ( the 'bad' lipoproteins ) by 8% to 15%. Insoluble fibre retains water in the colon, resulting in a softer and larger stool. It is used effectively in treating constipation resulting from poor dietary habits. Bran is particularly rich in insoluble fibre. Soluble fibres (oat bran, apples, citrus, pears, peas/beans, psyllium, etc.) slow down the digestion of carbohydrates (sugars), which results in better glucose metabolism. Some patients with the adult-onset diabetes may actually be successfully treated with a high-fibre diet alone, and those on insulin, can often reduce their insulin requirements by adhering to a high-fibre diet. (12 Dec 1998) |
| fibre cell | <plant biology> Greatly elongated type of plant cell with very thick lignified wall. Usually dead at maturity, this cell type is specialised for the provision of mechanical strength. Fibre cells and sclereids together make up the tissue known as sclerenchyma. (18 Nov 1997) |
| leukodystrophy with diffuse Rosenthal fibre formation | A metabolic disorder whose onset can be in infancy, adolescence, or adulthood; characterised pathologically by widespread cerebral demyelination with astrocyte and primitive oligodendroglial cell proliferation; refractile Rosenthal fibres result from the degeneration of these proliferating cells; aetiology unknown, but possibly due to a metabolic defect of astrocytes; sex-linked recessive disorder. (05 Mar 2000) |
| receptors, cytoplasmic and nuclear | Proteins in the cytoplasm or nucleus that specifically bind signalling molecules and trigger changes which influence the behaviour of cells. The major groups are the steroid hormone receptors, which usually are found in the cytoplasm, and the thyroid hormone receptors, which usually are found in the nucleus. Receptors, unlike enzymes, generally do not catalyze chemical changes in their ligands. (12 Dec 1998) |
| Remak's nuclear division | <cell biology> An unusual form of nuclear division, in which the nucleus simply constricts, rather like a cell without chromosome condensation or spindle formation. Partitioning of daughter chromosomes is haphazard. Observed in some Protozoa. (18 Nov 1997) |
| Pelger-Huet nuclear anomaly | Congenital inhibition of lobulation in the nuclei of neutrophilic leukocytes; most cells present band or bilobulate appearance, and only an occasional cell is trilobed; it is not associated with disease, but may be confused with leukocyte "shift to left"; autosomal dominant inheritance. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ribonucleoproteins, small nuclear | Highly conserved nuclear RNA-protein complexes that function in RNA processing in the nucleus, including pre-mRNA splicing and pre-mRNA 3'-end processing in the nucleoplasm. The u3 snrnp is localised in the nucleolus, where it aligns into base pairs with the 28s rrna precursor in a still unidentified region and functions in pre-rrna processing. The u7 snrnp aligns into base pairs with a conserved sequence in the 3'-end of histone pre-mRNA and is an essential cofactor for the cleavage that creates the mature nonadenylated 3'-end. (12 Dec 1998) |