| BEIR | biological effects of ionizing radiation |
|---|---|
| BFB | biological feedback; bronchial foreign body |
| BHL | bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy; biological half-life |
| BI | background interval; bacterial or bactericidal index; base-in [prism]; basilar impression; Billroth ... |
| BIBRA | British Industrial Biological Research Association |
| oxygen debt | The extra oxygen (compared with its usual oxygen intake at rest) an organismconsumes after a period of strenouousphysical activity. (09 Oct 1997) |
|---|---|
| oxygen deficit | The difference between oxygen uptake of the body during early stages of exercise and during a similar duration in a steady state of exercise; sometimes considered as the formation of the oxygen debt. (05 Mar 2000) |
| oxygen dependent killing | One of the most important bactericidal mechanisms of mammalian phagocytes involves the production of various toxic oxygen species (hydrogen peroxide, superoxide, singlet oxygen, hydroxyl radicals) through the metabolic burst. Although anaerobic killing is possible, the oxygen dependent mechanism is crucial for normal resistance to infection and a defect in this system is usually fatal within the first decade of life (chronic granulomatous disease). See: myeloperoxidase, chemiluminescence. (18 Nov 1997) |
| oxygen deprivation theory of narcosis | That narcotics inhibit oxidation, which causes the cell to be narcotised. (05 Mar 2000) |
| oxygen derived free radicals | An atom or atom group having an unpaired electron on an oxygen atom, typically derived from molecular oxygen. For example, one-electron reduction of O2 produces the superoxide radical, O2-; other examples include the hydroperoxyl radical (HOO-), the hydroxyl radical (HO-), and nitric oxide (NO-). (05 Mar 2000) |
| oxygen effect | Enhancement of radiosensitivity of cells in a high concentration of oxygen. (05 Mar 2000) |
| oxygen electrode | A sensitive method to detect oxygen consumption, involves a PTFE (Teflon) membrane. (18 Nov 1997) |
| oxygen inhalation therapy | Inhalation of oxygen aimed at restoring toward normal any pathophysiologic alterations of gas exchange in the cardiopulmonary system, as by the use of a respirator, nasal catheter, tent, chamber, or mask. (12 Dec 1998) |
| oxygen isotopes | Stable oxygen atoms that have the same atomic number as the element oxygen, but differ in atomic weight. O-17 and 18 are stable oxygen isotopes. (12 Dec 1998) |
| oxygen poisoning | A body disturbance resulting from breathing high partial pressures of oxygen; characterised by visual and hearing abnormalities, unusual fatigue while breathing, muscular twitching, anxiety, confusion, incoordination, and convulsions; although the mechanism for development of the condition is obscure, a disruption of enzymatic activity is likely, perhaps as a result of free radical formation. Synonym: oxygen poisoning. (05 Mar 2000) |
| oxygen radical | <chemistry> Any oxygen species that carries an unpaired electron (except free oxygen). Examples are the hydroxyl radical and the superoxide anion. These radicals are very powerful oxidizing agents and cause structural damage to proteins and nucleic acids. They mediate the damaging effects of ionising radiation. (18 Nov 1997) |
| oxygen radioisotopes | Unstable isotopes of oxygen that decay or disintegrate emitting radiation. O atoms with atomic weights 13, 14, 15, 19, and 20 are radioactive oxygen isotopes. (12 Dec 1998) |
| oxygen tent | A transparent enclosure, suspended over the bed and enclosing the patient, used to supply a high concentration of oxygen. (05 Mar 2000) |
| oxygen therapy | Treatment in which an increased concentration of oxygen is made available for breathing, through a nasal catheter, tent, chamber, or mask. (05 Mar 2000) |
| oxygen toxicity | A body disturbance resulting from breathing high partial pressures of oxygen; characterised by visual and hearing abnormalities, unusual fatigue while breathing, muscular twitching, anxiety, confusion, incoordination, and convulsions; although the mechanism for development of the condition is obscure, a disruption of enzymatic activity is likely, perhaps as a result of free radical formation. Synonym: oxygen poisoning. (05 Mar 2000) |