Category: B

Atropa belladonna (deadly nightshade) is a relatively rare plant and severe poisoning is not common. The berries, which are black, ripen from August to October and are the most commonly ingested part of the plant. However, all parts of the plant are toxic. The berries contain atropine and other unidentified alkaloids, the leaves hyoscine and atropine,…

Bather’s itch, also called schistosome dermatitis, is the term given to a blotchy rash on the skin occurring in those bathing in water which is infested with the larvae of certain trematode worms known as schistosomes. The worm is parasitic in snails. The skin rash is caused by penetration of the skin by the free-swimming…

The term commonly applied to prominent ears. The condition may be familial, but this is by no means the rule. In the first few months of life it may be possible to correct bat ears with appropriate splints but in later life, if the condition is an embarrassment, surgery (otoplasty) may be advised.  

Grey matter near the base of the cerebral hemispheres, consisting of the corpus striatum (caudate nucleus and lenticular nucleus [globus pallidus and putamen]), claustrum, and amygdaloid nucleus. The basal ganglia are involved in the subconscious regulation of voluntary movement, and disorders in this region cause dyskinesias. A mass of gray matter beneath the third ventricle…

Substances, usually silicone-based, applied to the skin before work to prevent damage by irritants. They are also used in medicine for the prevention of bedsores and napkin rashes, for example. A topical compound for limiting or preventing contact with irritants such as allergens, parasites, or toxins. A protective cream is applied to the skin to…

A test performed by ENT surgeons (otorhinolaryngologists) to test the efficiency of the balancing mechanism (the vestibular apparatus) by introducing hot or cold air or water into the ear canal.  

This stands for the British Association of Cancer United Patients and their families and friends. It was founded by Dr Vicky Clement-Jones after she was treated for ovarian cancer. It became fully operational on 31 October 1985 — merging since with Macmillan Cancer Support. The aim is to provide an information service to cancer patients…

Two nucleotide bases on different strands of the DNA molecule that bond together.  

Each of the four chemical units that, by their order in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecules, control the genetic codes. The “bases” are the four amino acids; adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C).  

A group of eight bits, which is a common unit of information used by digital computers. A single byte, sometimes referred to as an eight-bit “word,” can represent any one of 256 different values, since each bit can represent one of two values, and 2 taken to the power of 8 equals 256. Most computer…