Medical Dictionary Definitions A-Z List
Medical Dictionary Definitions A - Z - «B»:
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Biotechnology
Biotechnology: The fusion of biology and technology.
Biotechnology is the application of biological techniques to product research and
development. In particular, biotechnology involves the use by industry of recombinant DNA,
cell fusion, and new bioprocessing techniques. Biotechnology is expected t...
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Bioterrorism
Bioterrorism: Terrorism using biologic agents that are harmful to
humans. Biological diseases and the agents that might be used for terrorism have
been listed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These
agents include viruses, bacteria, rickettsiae (microorganisms that have ...
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Biotherapy
Biotherapy: Treatment to stimulate or restore the ability of the immune (defense) system to fight infection and disease. Biological therapy is thus any form of treatment that uses the body's natural abilities that constitute the immune system to fight infection and disease or to protect the body fr...
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Biotin
Biotin: A water-soluble B-complex vitamin involved in carbon dioxide transfer and therefore essential to the metabolism of carbohydrate and fat. A balanced diet usually contains enough biotin. Foods with high biotin levels include nuts, cereals, green leafy vegetables and milk. Biotin deficiency, w...
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Bipolar disease
Bipolar disease: Manic-depressive disease. See: Bipolar disorder....
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Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder: A mood disorder sometimes called manic-depressive illness or
manic-depression that characteristically involves cycles of depression and elation or mania. Sometimes the mood switches from high to low and back again are dramatic and rapid, but more often they are gradual and slow, a...
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Bipolar I disorder
Bipolar I disorder: Bipolar disorder in someone who has experienced depression and at least one episode of severe mania. Severe mania characteristically causes significant distress or greatly impairs one's work, family, or social life.
Bipolar I disorder is distinct from bipolar II disorder in which...
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Bipolar II disorder
Bipolar II disorder: Bipolar disorder in someone who has experienced depression and at least one episode of
hypomania but not severe mania. Hypomanic episodes characteristically do not cause significant distress or greatly impair one's work, family, or social life.
Bipolar II disorder is distinct fr...
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Bird flu
Bird flu: See: Avian influenza....
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Birt Hogg Dube syndrome
Birt Hogg Dube syndrome: See: Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome....
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Birth assistant
Birth assistant: See: Doula (the first meaning)....
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Birth cohort
Birth cohort: A group of people born during a particular period or year....
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Birth companion
Birth companion: See: Doula (the first meaning)....
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Birth control
Birth control: Birth control is the use of any practices, methods, or devices to prevent pregnancy from occurring in a sexually active woman. Also referred to as family planning, pregnancy prevention, fertility control, or contraception; birth control methods are designed either to prevent fertiliza...
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Birth control, emergency
Birth control, emergency: See: Emergency contraception....
