Serial transverse enteroplasty
Abbreviated STEP. A surgical procedure designed to treat the short bowel syndrome. STEP is based on the idea that stapling V-shapes into alternating sides of the bowel will decrease its width and increase its length. A cutting stapler is used on alternate sides of the remaining small bowel to create a zigzag passageway.
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- SERM
Selective estrogen-receptor modulator.
- Seroconversion
The development of detectable antibodies in the blood that are directed against an infectious agent. Antibodies do not usually develop until some time after the initial exposure to the agent. Following seroconversion, a person tests positive for the antibody when given tests that are based on the presence of antibodies, such as ELISA.
- Serositis
Inflammation of the serous tissues of the body (the tissues that line the lungs, heart, abdomen, and inner abdominal organs).
- Serotonin
A neurotransmitter that is involved in the transmission of nerve impulses. Serotonin can trigger the release of substances in the blood vessels of the brain that in turn cause the pain of migraine. Serotonin is also key to mood regulation; pain perception; gastrointestinal function, including perception of hunger and satiety; and other physical functions.
- Serotype
The kind of microorganism as characterized by serologic typing (testing for recognizable antigens on the surface of the microorganism).