Medical Dictionary Definitions A-Z List
Medical Dictionary Definitions A - Z - «M»:
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Mesothelin
Mesothelin: A protein attached to the cell surface that is thought to have a role in cell-adhesion and possibly in cell-to-cell recognition and signalling. Mesothelin is so named because it is made by mesothelial cells. A monoclonal antibody, which recognises mesothelin, binds to the surface of cell...
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Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma: A malignant tumor of the mesothelium. The
mesothelium is the thin lining on the surface of the body cavities
and the organs that are contained within them. Most mesotheliomas
begin as one or more nodules that progressively grow to form a solid
coating of tumor surrounding the lung,...
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Messenger RNA
Messenger RNA: The key intermediary in gene expression, translating the DNA's genetic code into the amino acids that make up proteins. Messenger RNA is abbreviated mRNA....
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Met
Met: Methionine. See also: Amino acid symbols....
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Metabolic
Metabolic: Relating to metabolism, the whole range of biochemical processes that occur within us (or any living organism). Metabolism consists of anabolism (the buildup of substances) and catabolism (the breakdown of substances).
The term "metabolic" is often used to refer specifically to the break...
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Metabolic diseases, inherited
Metabolic diseases, inherited: Also called inborn errors of metabolism, these are heritable (genetic) disorders of biochemistry. Examples include albinism, cystinuria (a cause of kidney stones), phenylketonuria (PKU), and some forms of gout, sun sensitivity, and thyroid disease. These are only a ver...
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Metabolic rate, basal
Metabolic rate, basal: A measure of the rate of
metabolism. For example, someone with an overly active thyroid will have an elevated basal
metabolic rate....
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Metabolic syndrome
Metabolic syndrome: A constellation of conditions that place people at high risk for coronary artery disease. These conditions include type 2 diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, and a poor lipid profile with elevated LDL ("bad") cholesterol, low HDL ("good") cholesterol, elevated triglycerides. ...
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Metabolism
Metabolism: The whole range of biochemical processes that occur within an organism. Metabolism consists both of anabolism and catabolism (the buildup and breakdown of substances, respectively). The biochemical reactions are known as metabolic pathways and involve enzymes that transform one substance...
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Metabolism, inborn error of
Metabolism, inborn error of: A heritable disorder
of the biochemistry of the4 body. Examples of inborn errors of metabolism include
albinism, cystinuria (a cause of kidney stones), phenylketonuria
(PKU), and some forms of gout, sun sensitivity, and thyroid disease.
These are only a very few of ...
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Metabolomics
Metabolomics: The global analysis of metabolites, small molecules generated in the process of metabolism. See also: Metabonomics....
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Metabonomics
Metabonomics: The study of metabolic responses to drugs, environmental changes and diseases. Metabonomics is an extension of genomics (concerned with DNA) and proteomics (concerned with proteins). Following on the heels of genomics and proteomics, metabonomics may lead to more efficient drug discove...
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Metacarpals
Metacarpals: Five cylindrical bones extending from the wrist to
the fingers. ...
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Metacentric chromosome
Metacentric chromosome: A chromosome with arms of
equal length. ...
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Metagene
Metagene: A pattern of gene expression. Not an actual gene.
"We identified aggregate patterns of gene expression (metagenes) that associate with lymph node status and recurrence, and that are capable of predicting outcomes in individual patients with about 90% accuracy." (Lancet 2003; 361: 1590) ...
