| toxic shock syndrome | <syndrome> A blood-borne bacterial infection caused by the genus Staphylococcus. Usually effects menstruating females under the age of thirty and was associated in the past with the use of a particular type of tampon (no longer used). Common symptoms include: fever, chills, vomiting, sore throat, headache and decreased urine output. Progression of disease can result in lowering of blood pressure (shock) and renal failure. Treatment includes hospitalisation and intravenous antibiotics emergently. (27 Sep 1997) |
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| toxic substances | A chemical or mixture of chemicals that presents a high risk of injury to human health or to the environment. (05 Dec 1998) |
| toxic tetanus | Tonic spasms caused by strychnine or other tetanic. Synonym: toxic tetanus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| epidermal necrolysis, toxic | An exfoliative disease of skin seen primarily in adults and characterised by flaccid bullae and spreading erythema so that the skin has the appearance of being scalded. It results primarily from a toxic reaction to various drugs, but occasionally occurs as a result of infection, neoplastic conditions, or other exposure. (12 Dec 1998) |
| absolute unit | A unit whose value is constant regardless of place or time and not derived from dependent on gravitation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| alexin unit | The smallest amount (highest dilution) of complement that will cause haemolysis of a unit of red blood cells in the presence of a haemolysin unit. Synonym: alexin unit. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Allen-Doisy unit | The quantity of oestrogen capable of producing in a spayed mouse a characteristic change in the vaginal epithelium, namely, disappearance of leukocytes and appearance of cornified cells, as determined by a vaginal smear; equal approximately to one-half of an estrone unit. Synonym: mouse unit. (05 Mar 2000) |
| amboceptor unit | haemolysin unit |
| androgen unit | The androgenic activity of 100 ug (0.1 mg) of crystalline androsterone as assayed by the comb growth response in capons. (05 Mar 2000) |
| antigen unit | The smallest amount of antigen that, in the presence of specific antiserum, will fix 1 complement unit. (05 Mar 2000) |
| antitoxin unit | A unit expressing the strength or activity of an antitoxin; in general, determined with reference to a preserved standard preparation of antitoxin. See: L doses. (05 Mar 2000) |
| antivenene unit | The amount of antivenum which, injected in the ear vein, will protect 1 g weight of rabbit against a fatal dose of snake venom. (05 Mar 2000) |
| atomic mass unit | <chemistry> One-twelfth the mass of a neutral atom of the most abundant isotope of carbon. (16 Dec 1997) |
| Bethesda unit | A measure of inhibitor activity: the amount of inhibitor that will inactivate 50% or 0.5 unit of a coagulation factor during the incubation period. Origin: Bethesda, MD (05 Mar 2000) |
| biological standard unit | A specific quantity of biologically active reference material (antibiotic, antitoxin, enzyme, hormone, vitamin, etc.). (05 Mar 2000) |