| immune sera | Serum that contains antibodies. It is obtained from an animal that has been immunised either by antigen injection or infection with microorganisms containing the antigen. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| immune serum | Blood serum containing antibodies. (14 Nov 1997) |
| immune serum globulin | A sterile solution of globulin's that contains many antibodies normally present in adult human blood; a passive immunizing agent frequently used for prophylaxis against hepatitis A. (05 Mar 2000) |
| immune suppression | Suppression of the immune response by some compound or agent. (05 Mar 2000) |
| immune surveillance | <immunology> The hypothesis that lymphocyte traffic ensures that all or nearly all parts of the vertebrate body are surveyed by visiting lymphocytes in order to detect any altered self material, for example mutant cells. (18 Nov 1997) |
| immune system | <immunology> The body system, made up of many organs and cells, that defends the body against infection, disease and foreign substances. The immune system is often stimulated in specific ways to fight cancer cells. (16 Dec 1997) |
| immune thrombocytopenia | Thrombocytopenia associated with antiplatelet antibodies. See: isoimmune neonatal thrombocytopenia, autoimmune neonatal thrombocytopenia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| immune thrombocytopenic purpura | <haematology> A low number of platelets in the blood, which is common in people with HIV, but often resolves as immune deficiency worsens. HIV-related ITP usually does not have serious consequences. Its cause has not been definitely determined. Treatment with AZT frequently alleviates the condition. (09 Oct 1997) |
| immune tolerance | The specific failure of a normally responsive individual to make an immune response to a known antigen. It results from previous contact with the antigen by an immunologically immature individual (foetus or neonate) or by an adult exposed to extreme high-dose or low-dose antigen, or by exposure to radiation, antimetabolites, antilymphocytic serum, etc. (12 Dec 1998) |
| tetanus immune globulin | <protein> A protein antibody to tetanus toxin, given as passive immunity for those lacking any prior tetanus vaccination. (27 Sep 1997) |
| zoster immune globulin | A globulin fraction of pooled plasma from individuals who have recovered from herpes zoster; used prophylactically and therapeutically for varicella. (05 Mar 2000) |
| adhesion phenomenon | A phenomenon manifested by the adherence of antigen-antibody-complement complex to "indicator cells" (microorganisms, platelets, leukocytes, or erythrocytes), the reaction being sensitive and specific for the antigen and antibody in the complex. Synonym: erythrocyte adherence phenomenon, immune adherence phenomenon, red cell adherence phenomenon. (05 Mar 2000) |
| AFORMED phenomenon | As induced pulsus alternans progresses, a state in which alternating heart depolarisations fail to eject any blood, thus allowing longer diastolic filling; the subsequent beat is then able to produce a significant ejection; at high rates the cardiac minute volume and blood pressure may appear normal. Origin: Alternating, failure of response, mechanical, to electrical depolarisation (05 Mar 2000) |
| all-or-nothing phenomenon | <physiology> Refers to the phenomenon where the strength of a nerve impulse is not dependent on the strength of the stimulus. Instead, there is a threshold level of stimulus strength that must be reached before the nerve will fire an impulse (at full capacity). Below the threshold, the nerve will not fire at all. <cardiology> It also refers to the same phenomenon observed in the heart muscle, which will either contract fully or not at all. <psychology> In studies of behaviour, it refers to the same phenomenon where a behavioural stimulus will either produce a complete response or no response at all. Also called all-or-nothing principle, all-or-none law, all-or-none responsiveness, etc. (15 Nov 1997) |
| Anrep phenomenon | Homeometric autoregulation of the heart whereby cardiac performance improves as the afterload (aortic pressure) is increased. (05 Mar 2000) |