| acid etching, dental | Pretreatment of tooth surfaces with etching agents, usually phosphoric acid, to increase the adhesion of various resin systems. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| acid-fast | <microbiology> A term used to denote bacteria that are not decolorised by acid-alcohol after having been stained with dyes such as basic fuchsin. The presence of acid fast organisms can be found in cultures that contain mycobacteria or some of the nocardiae. (12 Jul 2000) |
| acid-fast stain | <technique> A staining technique used to determine the cell wall property of a microorganism. After stained with dye such as hot carbolfuschin, an acid-fast organism, (for example Mycobacterium species) will retain the colour in its cell wall after being washed with acid-alcohol. (13 Nov 1997) |
| acid fuchsin | A mixture of the sodium salts bi-and trisulfonic acids of rosanilin and pararosanilin; used as an indicator dye and for staining of cytoplasm and collagen. Synonym: rubin S, rubine. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acid gland | One of the gastric gland's secreting the hydrochloric acid of the gastric juice. Synonym: oxyntic gland. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acid hydrolysis | A chemical process in which acid is used to convert cellulose or starch to sugar. (05 Dec 1998) |
| acidic amino acid | An Amino acid with a second acid moiety, e.g., glutamic acid, aspartic acid, cysteic acid. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acid indigestion | Indigestion resulting from hyperchlorhydria; often used by the laity as a synonym for pyrosis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acid intoxication | Poisoning by acid products (beta-oxybutyric acid, diacetic acid, or acetone) formed as a result of faulty metabolism (e.g., uncontrolled diabetes mellitus) or by acids introduced from without; marked by epigastric pain, headache, loss of appetite, constipation, restlessness, and an odour of acetone in the breath, followed by air hunger, coma, and collapse. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acid loading test | <nephrology> This is a test used in the diagnosis of renal tubular acidosis. The patient takes ammonium chloride capsules for 3 days to acidify the blood (lower blood pH). A sample of the urine and the blood is then collected and the results are interpreted. (27 Sep 1997) |
| acid maltase | A hydrolase removing terminal alpha-1,4-linked d-glucose residues from nonreducing ends of chains, with release of beta-d-glucose. Synonym: acid maltase, amyloglucosidase, gamma-amylase, glucoamylase. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acid oxide | An acid anhydride; an oxide of an electronegative element or radical; it can combine with water to form an acid. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acid perfusion test | <gastroenterology, investigation> A test used to diagnosis gastrooesophageal reflux disease. This investigation requires that the patient swallow 3 tiny tubes into the stomach. A mixture of hydrochloric acid (like stomach acid) and saline are alternatively injected into the tubes. The patient then reports any symptoms they may have. Some patients may vomit. (13 Nov 1997) |
| acid phosphatase | <enzyme> An enzyme that catalyses the conversion of an orthophosphoric monoester and water to an alcohol and orthophosphate. Chemical name: Orthophosphoric-monoester phosphohydrolase (acid optimum) Registry number: EC 3.1.3.2 (12 Dec 1998) |
| acid phosphatase test for semen | A screening test for semen by determining acid phosphatase content; because seminal fluid contains high concentrations of acid phosphatase, while other body fluids and extraneous foreign materials have very low concentrations, high values of acid phosphatase on vaginal aspirate or lavage, or on wash fluid from stains, render positive identification of semen, even if the male is aspermic. (05 Mar 2000) |