FIELD T- 1 

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It will be noted that Symbol 3 is defined as the ultimate degree of the action coded by Symbol 

 2. Thus, in this case, two symbols are provided for the action of diminishing the state or process 

 in Field T-2, one for any degree short of complete abolition or prevention (Symbol 2) and one for 

 complete abolition or prevention (Symbol 3). This is basically the reason for having the two sets of 

 symbols, (1), J, K, and L and (2) M, N, and 0. If Symbols 3, J, K, and L were not included in Field 

 T-l, all diminishing effects on states or processes in Field T-2 would necessarily have to be 

 evaluated on the basis of the degree of diminution (Symbols 2, M, N, and 0) and total abolishment 

 could only be evaluated as a high degree of diminution . 



9. Symbols 4 and 5; increase (or decrease), followed by the reverse action, decrease (or 

 increase), on the biological state or process coded in Field T-2 



The occurrence of this phenomenon as an action of test compounds and the use of Symbols 4 

 and 5 is relatively infrequent. When such a two-phased response is demonstrated, the CBCC coder 

 aiways constructs a code line with Field T-l coded with Symbol 4 or 5; if some circumstance makes 

 apparently important the coding of an evaluation of only one phase of such a response (the increase 

 or decrease phase), this must be done by a second code line with Field T- 1 coded appropriately with 

 Symbol 1 or 2 and a full explanation in the written abstract that this was only one phase of the response. 



There is an evaluation problem (Fields X and Y) when the biological response to the test 

 compound is characterized by reversing and when this reversal is indicated in Field T-l by Symbol 4 

 or 5. When Symbol 4 or 5 is used in Field T-l , evaluation (Field Y) must never be made only on one 

 phase of the response (i. e. , on only the increase or only the decrease), but it must be made on the 

 total response. This is possible with Criterion 62, if the percentage of individuals showing this 

 characteristic reversal of response is determined (but not if the percentage measure is one of percentage 

 of degree of increase and percentage of decrease); evaluation is possible also with the dosage criteria, 

 51, 52, and 53 (dose size vs. percentage of individuals showing the response with its characteristic 

 reversal), or with Criterion 01. Evaluation might conceivably be possible with Criterion 13 or 54, if 

 a time measure is the criterion and if evaluation is based on the total duration of response, both 

 Increase and decrease, but the CBCC has established a practice of never using Criterion 13 or 54 

 when Field T-l is coded with Symbol 4 or 5; see Division 1 of the Specific Directions and Explanations 

 for Field U. In other words, evaluation can not be made on the basis of any quantitative measure of 

 only one of the phases of the response which involves two phases, if Field T-l is coded with Symbol 

 4 or 5 to indicate the two-phased nature of the action. 



10. Symbol 6; alteration of a biological state or activity (coded in Field T-2) whose alterations 

 by a test compound are not appropriately expressed as an increase or decrease (Symbols 1, 2, 

 3, 4, or 5). Effects on physiological processes which disrupt the continuity or the periodicity 

 of the process in a more complex way than simple increase, decrease, abolishment, or 

 increase/decrease followed by reversal 



A confusion in concept of the definition of Symbol 6 leads to occasional coding errors. This 

 difficulty lies in misinterpreting the definition ("irregular", "fluctuating") to be a way of coding test 

 results which indicate only that a physiological process was altered, but which do not indicate how 

 it was altered (e. g. , increased, decreased, stopped, made irregular). The CBCC has OMITTED coding 

 data in which the action is not described except to say that some action (undefined) occurred altering 

 the biological state or process coded in Field T-2. 



When it is clear, however, that the action of the test compound has been to cause a physio- 

 logical process to proceed irregularly (i. e. , when it is clear that the altered physiological process 

 does not follow its normal "regular" pattern, and the alteration is not a simple acceleration, simple 

 slowing, abolishment, or a simple reversal), Symbol 6 should be used in Field T-l. 



A number of Field T-2 items define normal biological balances . The disruption of a balance or 

 of a normal proportion can not be expressed by the terms "increase" or "decrease". I. e. , a balance 

 or proportion can not be increased or decreased; only one of the balanced components can be increased 

 or decreased to disrupt the balance. Therefore, when the entry in Field T-2 refers to a balance 

 (nitrogen balance, Symbol F171; blood cell proportion, Symbol 852; and acid-base balance, Symbol 

 884), it is necessary to use Symbol 6 in Field T-l to express the test compound's effect on it. 



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