| two-sided | 1. Having two sides only; hence, double-faced; hypocritical. 2. <biology> Symmetrical. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| two-step exercise test | A test used mainly for coronary insufficiency; significant depression of RS-T in the electrocardiogram is considered abnormal and suggests coronary insufficiency. (05 Mar 2000) |
| two-step procedure | <surgery> When surgical biopsy and breast surgery are performed in two separate surgeries. (09 Oct 1997) |
| two-stream amplifier | <radiobiology> Microwave amplifier based on the two-stream instability. (09 Oct 1997) |
| two-stream instability | <radiobiology> Instability which can develop when a stream of particles of one type has a velocity distribution with its peak well separated from that of another type of particle through which it is flowing. A stream of energetic electrons passing through a cold plasma can, for example: excite ion waves which will grow rapidly in magnitude at the expense of the kinetic energy of the electrons. (09 Oct 1997) |
| two-sympathin theory | A theory, now obsolete, advanced by Cannon and Rosenblueth that two different types of substances (sympathin E and I) diffuse into circulation when adrenergic nerves are stimulated, although the mediator itself is the same. (05 Mar 2000) |
| two-tail test | A statistical test based on the assumption that the data are distributed in both directions from some central value. (05 Mar 2000) |
| two-way catheter | A catheter with two lumens, allowing irrigation and aspiration. Synonym: two-way catheter. (05 Mar 2000) |
| accelerated phase of leukaemia | Refers to chronic myelogenous leukaemia that is progressing. The number of immature, abnormal white blood cells in the bone marrow and blood is higher than in the chronic phase, but not as high as in the blast phase. (12 Dec 1998) |
| acceleration phase | <cell biology, cell culture> A period of increasing growth before the log phase in a culture of microbes. After the culture is started on a medium, at first there is no growth (the lag phase) and then the microbes start to gradually grow (acceleration phase) until they reach a constant maximum rate of growth (log phase). (15 Jan 1998) |
| acute-phase protein | <haematology> These plasma proteins (in addition to fibrinogen) increase 25% or more in response to inflammation and injury are under direct control of interleukin-6 (IL-6) (hepatocyte-stimulating factor). Other proteins which increase are ceruloplasmin, C3 and C4 which increase 50% or more; alpha-1 acid glycoprotein, alpha-1 antitrypsin, haptoglobin and fibrinogen (the major determinant of viscosity 1 ) which increase two- to fourfold; C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A which increase several hundred-fold. Despite long-held clinical opinion to the contrary, available data indicate that neither ESR nor measurement of specific acute-phase reactants are useful in excluding underlying infection or inflammation regardless of the pretest probability. These proteins are secreted into the blood in increased or decreased quantities by hepatocytes in response to trauma, inflammation, or disease. They can serve as inhibitors or mediators of the inflammatory processes. Certain acute-phase proteins have been used to diagnose and follow the course of diseases or as tumour markers. See also: amyloid, c-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, viscosity. (25 Jun 1999) |
| acute-phase reaction | <immunology, rheumatology> Refers to the changes in synthesis of certain proteins within the serum during an inflammatory response, which provides rapid protection for the host against microorganisms via non-specific defense mechanisms. It consists of fever, an increase in inflammatory humoral factors, and an increased synthesis by hepatocytes of a number of proteins or glycoproteins usually found in the plasma; the reaction is mediated by endogenous pyrogens, the hypothalamus, adrenal hormones, and other factors. (12 Jul 2000) |
| anal phase | In psychoanalytic personality theory, the stage of psychosexual development, occurring when a child is between 1 and 3 years, during which activities, interests, and concerns are centreed around the anal zone. (05 Mar 2000) |
| aqueous phase | The water portion of a system consisting of two liquid phase's, one mainly water, the other a liquid immiscible with water (e.g., benzene, ether). (05 Mar 2000) |
| blast phase | Refers to advanced chronic myelogenous leukaemia. In this phase, the number of immature, abnormal white blood cells in the bone marrow and blood is extremely high. Also called blast crisis. (12 Dec 1998) |