| open-label trial | A study in which both researchers and participants know what drug a person is taking and at what dose. (09 Oct 1997) |
|---|---|
| open lung biopsy | <investigation, procedure, surgery> A procedure which involves the removal of a small specimen of lung tissue for microscopic analysis via a surgical incision in the chest wall. This test can be used to identify a variety of lung cancers, lung infections and lung diseases. (21 Mar 1998) |
| open pneumothorax | A free communication between the atmosphere and the pleural space either via the lung or through the chest wall. Synonym: sucking wound. (05 Mar 2000) |
| open pollination | Pollination by wind, insects, or other natural mechanisms. (09 Oct 1997) |
| open reading frame | <molecular biology> A reading frame in a sequence of nucleotides in DNA that contains no termination codons and so can potentially translate as a polypeptide chain. (18 Nov 1997) |
| open reading frames | Reading frames where successive nucleotide triplets can be read as codons specifying amino acids and where the sequence of these triplets is not interrupted by stop codons. (12 Dec 1998) |
| open reduction of fractures | Reduction by manipulation of bone, after incision in skin and muscle over the site of the fracture. (05 Mar 2000) |
| open skull fracture | A fracture with laceration of overlying scalp and/or mucous membrane. Synonym: compound skull fracture. (05 Mar 2000) |
| open system | A system that exchanges energy and materials with the outside environment. (09 Oct 1997) |
| open tuberculosis | Pulmonary tuberculosis, tuberculous ulceration, or other form in which the tubercle bacilli are present in the excretions or secretions; in the lung, usually the result of cavity formation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| open wound | A wound in which the tissues are exposed to the air. (05 Mar 2000) |
| fractures, open | Fractures in which there is an external wound communicating with the break of the bone. (12 Dec 1998) |
| Abbott's method | A method of treatment of scoliosis by use of a series of plaster jackets applied after partial correction of the curvature by external force. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Abell-Kendall method | A standard method for estimation of total serum cholesterol involving saponification of cholesterol ester by hydroxide, extraction with petroleum ether, and colour development with acetic anhydride-sulfuric acid; the method avoids interference by bilirubin, protein, and haemoglobin. (05 Mar 2000) |
| activated sludge method | A method of sewage disposal in which the sewage is treated with 15% bacterially active, liquid sludge, which is produced by repeated vigorous aeration of fresh sewage to form floccules or sediment; when this flocculation process is complete, the resulting activated sludge contains large numbers of bacteria, together with yeasts, molds, and protozoa, which actively effect the oxidation of organic compounds; this mixture is piped to a sedimentation tank, the effluent from which is completely treated sewage. (05 Mar 2000) |