| brain-derived neurotrophic factor | <growth factor> Small basic protein purified from pig brain, a member of the family of neurotrophic factors that also includes Nerve Growth Factor and neurotrophin 3. In contrast to nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor is predominanantly (though not exclusively) localised in the CNS. It supports the survival of primary sensory neurons originating from the neural crest and ectodermal placodes that are not responsive to NGF. In the brain brain-derived neurotrophic factor has a trophic action on retinal, cholinergic, and dopaminergic neurons, and in the peripheral nervous system it acts on both motor and sensory neurons. Acronym: BDGF (12 Dec 1998) |
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| brain diseases, metabolic | Metabolic disorders which lead to pathological changes and/or functional deviations of the brain. (12 Dec 1998) |
| brain-heart infusion agar | A medium used for the isolation of fastidious microorganisms, especially fungi. (05 Mar 2000) |
| brain herniation | A condition that occurs when the brain is under abnormally increased pressure. The increased intracranial pressure forces the brain downward inside the skull. This results in typical neurologic manifestations (coma, paralysis and a unilateral dilated pupil). May occur secondary to head injury, primary or metastatic brain tumour, bacterial meningitis and brain abscess. Brain herniations may involve different portions of the brain such as the cerebellum (cerebellar herniation), uncus (uncal herniation) and transtentorial herniation of the cerebrum. (27 Sep 1997) |
| brain injury | Acute injuries to the brain, general or unspecified. (12 Dec 1998) |
| brain iron | <radiology> Normal, Infant: NONE, Adult: globus pallidum, substantia nigra, red nucleus, dentate nucleus, Aging: (adult) and putamen, Degenerative disease, Parkinson disease: putamen, SN compacta, Huntington disease: caudate, putamen, Alzheimer disease: cerebral cortex, Hallervorden-Spatz disease, MS: thalamus, putamen, Others, AVM: malformation and rim, Bleed: rim macrophages, Haemorrhagic CVA: gyral / basal ganglia MRI: low T1 and T2 signal (12 Dec 1998) |
| brain laceration | Gross tearing of neural tissue. (05 Mar 2000) |
| brain lipid | Impure cephalin possessing marked haemostatic action when locally applied. (05 Mar 2000) |
| brain mantle | Origin: L. See Pall the garment. 1. A large, square, woolen cloak which enveloped the whole person, worn by the Greeks and by certain Romans. It is the Roman name of a Greek garment. 2. A band of white wool, worn on the shoulders, with four purple crosses worked on it; a pall. The wool is obtained from two lambs brought to the basilica of St. Agnes, Rome, and blessed. It is worn by the pope, and sent to patriarchs, primates, and archbishops, as a sign that they share in the plenitude of the episcopal office. Befoer it is sent, the pallium is laid on the tomb of St. Peter, where it remains all night. 3. <zoology> The mantle of a bivalve. See Mantle. The mantle of a bird. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| brain metastases | <oncology, radiology> 10% of intracranial mass lesions are metastasis, 10-38% of patients with systemic cancer have brain metastasis: adults: lung, breast, GU tract, colon/rectum, melanoma, sinuses. children: neuroblastoma, embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, Wilms tumour. Location: most in middle cerebral artery distribution at the cortex, 20% in posterior fossa. See also: haemorrhagic metastasis. (08 Mar 2000) |
| brain murmur | <neurology> Sounds produced by intracranial aneurysms or arterial venous aneurysms in congenital dysplastic angiomatosis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| brain natriuretic peptide | <hormone, protein> Brain peptide that induces diuresis, related to atrial natriuretic peptide. (18 Nov 1997) |
| brain neoplasm | Neoplasms of the part of the central nervous system contained within the cranium. (12 Dec 1998) |
| brain oedema | Brain swelling due to increased volume of the extravascular compartment from the uptake of water in the neuropile and white matter. See: brain swelling. Synonym: brain oedema. (05 Mar 2000) |
| brain potential | <physiology> The electrical charge of the brain as compared to a point on the body; the potential may be steady (DC potential) or may fluctuate at specific frequencies when recorded against time, giving rise to the electroencephalogram. (05 Mar 2000) |