| minimal lethal dose | <pharmacology> The minimal dose of a toxic substance or infectious agent that is lethal, as assayed in various experimental animals (e.g., the least amount of diphtheria toxin that, on an average, kills a 250-g guinea pig within 96 hours after subcutaneous inoculation). When followed by a subscript (generally "MLD50"), denotes the minimal dose that is lethal to a certain percentage (e.g., 50%) of animals so assayed, LD05. See: lethal dose. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| minimal medium | <cell culture> The simplest tissue culture medium that will support the proliferation of normal cells. (18 Nov 1997) |
| minimal reacting dose | The minimal dose of a toxic substance causing a reaction, as manifested in the skin of a series of susceptible test animals; the assay is based on the development of a characteristic, minimal but definite, "standard," focal inflammation (congestion and oedema, induration, degenerative changes, and desquamation of epidermal cells). (05 Mar 2000) |
| minimal-change disease | <nephrology> A disorder of the kidneys which largely affects the glomerulus, the blood filtering structure. This disorder is one common cause of nephrotic syndrome, minimal glomerular changes, in children affecting 2 to 3 children per 100,000 population under age 16 in the USA. Minimal change disease is also seen rarely in adults. The cause is unknown but may be related to an autoimmune illness. It is marked by oedema, albuminuria, and an increase in cholesterol in the blood, but otherwise with fairly good renal function. Tubular epithelium is vacuolated by cholesterol droplets, but the glomeruli show only that the foot processes of the glomerular epithelial cells are fused, probably secondary to the proteinuria; the cause of the increased glomerular permeability to plasma protein is unknown. Risk factors include a history for a immune disorder, recent immunisation or a bee sting. Diagnosis is made by renal biopsy. Treatment include systemic corticosteroids which are usually quite effective in curing this disease. Other medications include chlorambucil and cyclophosphamide. In most cases, a moderate protein diet (1 gram protein per Kg body weight per day) will be recommended. Salt (sodium) restriction can be helpful to reduce swelling and vitamin D is usually supplemented. Synonym: lipoid nephrosis (27 Sep 1997) |
| minimal-change nephrotic syndrome | <nephrology> A disorder of the kidneys which largely affects the glomerulus, the blood filtering structure. This disorder is one common cause of nephrotic syndrome, minimal glomerular changes, in children affecting 2 to 3 children per 100,000 population under age 16 in the USA. Minimal change disease is also seen rarely in adults. The cause is unknown but may be related to an autoimmune illness. It is marked by oedema, albuminuria, and an increase in cholesterol in the blood, but otherwise with fairly good renal function. Tubular epithelium is vacuolated by cholesterol droplets, but the glomeruli show only that the foot processes of the glomerular epithelial cells are fused, probably secondary to the proteinuria; the cause of the increased glomerular permeability to plasma protein is unknown. Risk factors include a history for a immune disorder, recent immunisation or a bee sting. Diagnosis is made by renal biopsy. Treatment include systemic corticosteroids which are usually quite effective in curing this disease. Other medications include chlorambucil and cyclophosphamide. In most cases, a moderate protein diet (1 gram protein per Kg body weight per day) will be recommended. Salt (sodium) restriction can be helpful to reduce swelling and vitamin D is usually supplemented. Synonym: lipoid nephrosis (27 Sep 1997) |
| minimise | To reduce to the smallest part or proportion possible. Expressed as a number, degree or extent. To reduce to the smallest possible, to reduce to a minimum. Origin: Minimized; Minimizimg. (22 Sep 2002) |
| minimize | minimize |
| minimum | <statistics> The smallest amount or lowest limit. (12 Jan 1998) |
| minimum light | Threshold of visual sensation, the minimal light intensity evoking a visual sensation. Synonym: achromatic threshold, minimum light threshold. (05 Mar 2000) |
| minimum light threshold | Threshold of visual sensation, the minimal light intensity evoking a visual sensation. Synonym: achromatic threshold, minimum light threshold. (05 Mar 2000) |
| minimum protein requirement | <nutrition> The age-dependent amount of protein required daily in the diet. (05 Mar 2000) |
| minimum temperature | In bacteriology, denoting a temperature below which growth will not take place. (05 Mar 2000) |
| minimus | 1. A being of the smallest size. 2. <anatomy> The little finger; the fifth digit, or that corresponding to it, in either the manus or pes. Origin: L. See Minim. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| minimyosin | <protein> Form of myosin isolated from Acanthamoeba, only 180 kD, but capable of binding to actin. (18 Nov 1997) |
| miniplacental alkaline phosphatase | <enzyme> Engineered human placental alkaline phosphatase; miniplap 208 has the same n- and c-terminal signal peptides as placental alkaline phosphatase Registry number: EC 3.1.3.- Synonym: miniplap, miniplap 208 (26 Jun 1999) |