| PA | panic attack; pantothenic acid; paralysis agitans; paranoia; passive aggressive; pathology; patient'... |
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| PC | avoirdupois weight [Lat. pondus civile]; packed cells; paper chromatography; paracortex; parent cell... |
| PG | paregoric; parotid gland; pentagastrin; pepsinogen; peptidoglycan; Pharmacopoeia Germanica; phosphat... |
| PP | diphosphate group; emphysema [pink puffers]; near point of accommodation [Lat. punctum proximum]; pa... |
| PV | pancreatic vein; papillomavirus; paraventricular; paravertebral; pemphigus vulgaris; peripheral vasc... |
| plasma cell leukaemia | An unusual disease characterised by leukocytosis and other signs and symptoms that are suggestive of leukaemia, in association with diffuse infiltrations and aggregates of plasma cells in the spleen, liver, bone marrow, and lymph nodes, and the presence of considerable numbers of plasma cells in the circulating blood; the total number of leukocytes in the latter may range from normal levels to 80,000 or 90,000 per cu mm, and 5 to 90% may be plasma cells; multiple myelomas are observed in some examples of plasma cell leukaemia, but discrete nodules are not formed in bone. Although there are other clinicopathologic differences in the two conditions, they may be phases of the same basic process. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| plasma cell mastitis | A condition of the breasts characterised by tumourlike indurated masses containing numerous plasma cells, usually resulting from mammary duct ectasia; although clinically resembling malignant disease (attachment to skin and enlargement of axillary lymph nodes), it is not neoplastic. (05 Mar 2000) |
| plasma cell myeloma | Cells resemble mature or immature plasma cells with nuclei that appear cleaved or resemble immunoblasts. The tumour cells are CD19- , CD20- , CD22- and SIg- , but are also cIg+ and CD38+. The Ig heavy and light chain genes can be translocated or deleted. These neoplasms are often disseminated BM tumours of adults and progress to multiple myeloma. (05 Mar 2000) |
| plasma cells | Special white blood cells that produce antibodies. (12 Dec 1998) |
| plasma containment | <physics> In physics experiments or nuclear fusion experiments, operation is intended to prevent, in an effective and sufficiently prolonged manner, the particles of a plasma from striking the walls of the container in which this plasma is produced. Plasma confinement is a fundamental requirement for obtaining net energy from a fusion plasma. The reason is that scattering (hence diffusion) is at least an order of magnitude more probable than fusion reactions. Hence, without confinement, the plasma fuel would disperse before enough fusion reactions could take place. (31 Dec 1997) |
| plasma exchange | Removal of plasma and replacement with various fluids, e.g., fresh frozen plasma, plasma protein fractions (ppf), albumin preparations, dextran solutions, saline. Used in treatment of autoimmune diseases, immune complex diseases, diseases of excess plasma factors, and other conditions. (12 Dec 1998) |
| plasma expander | Artificial plasma extender. (18 Nov 1997) |
| plasma factor X | <chemical> Storage-stable blood coagulation factor acting in the intrinsic pathway. Its activated form, ixa, forms a complex with factor viii and calcium on platelet factor 3 to activate factor x to xa. Deficiency of factor ix results in christmas disease (haemophilia b). Chemical name: Blood-coagulation factor IX (12 Dec 1998) |
| plasma fibronectin | A circulating a2-glycoprotein that functions as an opsonin, mediating reticuloendothelial and macrophage clearance of fibrin microaggregates, collagen debris, and bacterial particulates, protecting microvascular perfusion and lymphatic drainage. (05 Mar 2000) |
| plasma focus | <radiobiology> The Plasma Focus is another device which depends on the pinch effect. Possible applications include both fusion and plasma propulsion, as well as other plasma research. In essence the plasma focus is generated by discharge of a current across the ends of two coaxial insulated conducting pipes. The Plasma Focus caused a huge stir when they generated copious neutrons, until it was discovered that the source of the neutrons was knockoffs from deuterium due to pinch accelerated electrons or ions. Plasma focus is sort of a point version of the Zpinch. (09 Oct 1997) |
| plasma frequency | <radiobiology> The natural collective oscillation frequency of a charge species (electrons, ions, etc.) in a plasma, in the absence of (or at least parallel to) a magnetic field. Also known as Langmuir or Langmuir-Tonks frequency. See: electrostatic waves, plasma oscillations. (09 Oct 1997) |
| plasma hydrolysate | An artificial digest of protein derived from bovine blood plasma prepared by a method of hydrolysis sufficient to provide more than half of the total nitrogen present in the form of alpha-amino nitrogen; used when high protein intake is indicated and cannot be accomplished through ordinary foods. See: protein hydrolysate. (05 Mar 2000) |
| plasma kallikrein | <protein> A plasma serine protease with an apple domain. (18 Nov 1997) |
| plasma labile factor | <chemical> Heat- and storage-labile plasma glycoprotein which accelerates the conversion of prothrombin to thrombin in blood coagulation. Factor v accomplishes this by forming a complex with factor xa, phospholipid, and calcium (prothrombinase complex). Deficiency of factor v leads to owren's disease. Chemical name: Blood-coagulation factor V (12 Dec 1998) |
| plasma layer | The layer of the bloodstream in the capillary vessels, next to the wall of the vessel, that flows slowly and transports the white blood cells along the layer wall, while in the centre the flow is rapid and transports the red blood cells. Synonym: plasma layer, Poiseuille's space, sluggish layer. (05 Mar 2000) |