| RF | radial fiber; radio frequency; receptive field; regurgitant fraction; Reitland-Franklin [unit]; rela... |
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| RVF | renal vascular failure; Rift Valley fever; right ventricular failure; right visual field |
| LCO | low cardiac output |
| LCOS | low cardiac output syndrome |
| LOS | length of stay; Licentiate in Obstetrical Science; lipo-oligosaccharide; low cardiac output syndrome... |
| left ventricular failure | <cardiology> A disorder where the left side of the heart fails to pump blood effectively. This results in a back flow (and pressure) and congestion of blood into the lungs. The causes of this condition include, valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathy, anaemia, hyperthyroidism, atrial myxoma, drug toxicity and congenital heart disease. Risk factors include diabetes, alcoholism, obesity and smoking. Symptoms include increasing shortness of breath with activity and while lying flat. Other symptoms include cough, palpitations, fatigue, decreased urine production and waking in the middle of the nigh with difficulty breathing. Complications include pulmonary oedema, arrhythmias and pleural effusion. (27 Sep 1997) |
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| liver failure | A condition of severe end-stage liver dysfunction that is accompanied by a decline in mental status that may range from confusion (hepatic encephalopathy) to unresponsiveness (hepatic coma). Other features include a mousy odour to the breath, difficulty with balance and walking, tremor and impaired speech. (27 Sep 1997) |
| liver failure, acute | A form of liver failure with rapid onset. It is often induced by the toxic effect of drugs and various toxic substances in experimental studies in animals and in clinical states in humans. If coma ensues, the constellation of neurological symptoms is referred to as hepatic encephalopathy. (12 Dec 1998) |
| back pain, low | Symptoms in the low back can relate to the bony lumbar spine, discs between the vertebrae, ligaments around the spine and discs, spinal cord and nerves, muscles of the low back, internal organs of the pelvis and abdomen, and the skin covering the lumbar area. The low back, or lumbar area, functions in structural support, movement, and protection of certain body tissue. (12 Dec 1998) |
| blood sugar, low | The sugar here is glucose. Low blood glucose constitutes hypoglycaemia. Hypoglycaemia is only significant when it is associated with symptoms. It has many causes including drugs, liver disease, surgical absence of the stomach, pre-diabetes, and rare tumours that release excess insulin. (12 Dec 1998) |
| very low density lipoprotein | <biochemistry> A lipoprotein substances (combination of a fat and a protein) which acts as a carrier for cholesterol and fats (particularly triglycerides) in the bloodstream. Elevations in very low density lipoprotein in the bloodstream are associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. Acronym: VLDL (18 Nov 1997) |
| Castellani-Low sign | <clinical sign> A fine tremor of the tongue observed in sleeping sickness. (05 Mar 2000) |
| mean lower low water | <marine biology> The average height of the lower low waters over a 19-year period. For shorter periods of observations, corrections are applied to eliminate known variations and reduce the result to the equivalent of a mean 19-year value. (09 Oct 1997) |
| mean low water | <marine biology> The average height of the low waters over a 19-year period. For shorter periods of observations, corrections are applied to eliminate known variations and reduce the result to the equivalent of a mean 19-year value. All low-water heights are included in the average where the type of tide is either semidiurnal or mixed. Only the lower low-water heights are included in the average where the type of tide is diurnal. So determined, mean low water in the latter case is the same as mean lower low water. (09 Oct 1997) |
| placenta, low | Location of the placenta in the lower part of the uterus (womb) so that the placenta partially or completely covers the cervix. Also known as a placenta previa. (12 Dec 1998) |
| heparin, low-molecular-weight | <chemical> Heparin fractions with a molecular weight usually between 4000 and 6000 kD. These low-molecular-weight fractions are effective antithrombotic agents. Their administration reduces the risk of haemorrhage, they have a longer half-life, and their platelet interactions are reduced in comparison to unfractionated heparin. They also provide an effective prophylaxis against postoperative major pulmonary embolism. Pharmacological action: anticoagulant, fibrinolytic agent. (12 Dec 1998) |
| infant, low birth weight | An infant having a birth weight of 2500 gm. (5.5 lb.) or less but infant, very low birth weight is available for infants having a birth weight of 1500 grams (3.3 lb.) or less. (12 Dec 1998) |
| infant, very low birth weight | An infant having a birth weight of 1500 grams (3.3 lb.) or less. (12 Dec 1998) |
| ear, low-set | A minor anomaly involving an ear situated down below its normal location. Technically, the ear is low-set when the helix (of the ear) meets the cranium at a level below that of a horizontal plane through both inner canthi (the inside corners of the eyes). The presence of 2 or more minor anomalies in a child increases the probability that the child has a major malformation. (12 Dec 1998) |
| kininogen, low-molecular-weight | A protein, molecular weight 50 kD, located in various normal tissues. Upon cleavage by kallikrein or other kallikreins, it forms kallidin. Kallidin, in turn, is converted into bradykinin. (12 Dec 1998) |