Copy of `mondofacto - Online Medical Dictionary`

The wordlist doesn't exist anymore, or, the website doesn't exist anymore. On this page you can find a copy of the original information. The information may have been taken offline because it is outdated.

mondofacto - Online Medical Dictionary Category: Health and Medicine > Medical Dictionary Date & country: 26/01/2008, UK Words: 116197

immunoglobulins, epsilon-chain
Heavy chains found in the fab and fc fragments of IgE and having a molecular weight of approximately 72 kD. They contain about 550 amino acid residues arranged in five domains and about three times more carbohydrate than the heavy chains of IgA, IgD, and IgG. ... (12 Dec 1998) ...

immunoglobulins, fab
Antigen-binding fragments composed of one entire light chain and about half of one of the heavy chains, linked to each other by disulfide bonds. Fab contains the antigen binding site which is part of the variable region of the immunoglobulin molecule. ... (12 Dec 1998) ...

immunoglobulins, fc
Crystallizable fragments composed of the carboxy-terminal halves of both heavy chains linked to each other by disulfide bonds. Fc fragments are responsible for the effector functions of antibodies (complement fixation, binding to cell membranes, and placental transport). ... (12 Dec 1998) ...

immunoglobulins, gamma-chain
Heavy chains found in the fab and fc fragments of IgG and having a molecular weight of approximately 51 kD. They contain about 450 amino acid residues arranged in four domains and an oligosaccharide component covalently bound to the fc fragment. The gamma chains of the four IgG subgroups are not identical, but resemble each other more closely than …

immunoglobulins, heavy-chain
Major components of immunoglobulin molecules. They are the larger of the two types of polypeptide chains responsible for the biological and immunological properties of the different immunoglobulins. They differ according to the class of ig from which they were isolated, contain 450 to 600 amino acid residues per chain, and have molecular weights of …

immunoglobulins, intravenous
Immunoglobulin preparations used in intravenous infusion, containing primarily IgG. They are used to treat a variety of diseases associated with decreased or abnormal immunoglobulin levels including paediatric aids, primary hypergammaglobulinaemia, scid, cytomegalovirus infections in transplant recipients, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, kawasaki sy …

immunoglobulins, j-chain
The immunoglobulin fragments found in the light chain fractions of secretory IgA and polymeric IgM in a ratio of one j chain per one IgA dimer or one IgM pentamer. It is a polypeptide with a molecular weight of about 17 kD and probably serves either to bind the components of the globulins together or to transfer the globulins across membranes. ... ( …

immunoglobulins, kappa-chain
One of the light chains of the immunoglobulins with a molecular weight of approximately 22 kD. They constitute about 60% of all light chains and can be recognised serologically as well as by their specific amino acid sequence. ... (12 Dec 1998) ...

immunoglobulins, lambda-chain
One of the light chains of the immunoglobulins with a molecular weight of approximately 22 kD. They constitute about 40% of all light chains and can be recognised serologically as well as by their specific amino acid sequence. ... (12 Dec 1998) ...

immunoglobulins, light-chain
Polypeptide chains, consisting of 211 to 217 amino acid residues, isolated from immunoglobulins and having a molecular weight of approximately 22 kD. There are two major types of light chains, kappa and lambda. In man they are found in a ratio of 60% to 40%, respectively. Both chains consist of linear repeating, similar, but not identical, segments …

immunoglobulins, mu-chain
Heavy chains found in the fab and fc fragments of IgM and having a molecular weight of approximately 72 kD. They contain about 57 amino acid residues arranged in five domains and have more oligosaccharide branches and a higher carbohydrate content than the heavy chains of IgG. ... (12 Dec 1998) ...

immunoglobulins, surface
Immunoglobulins bound to the surface of lymphocytes. ... (12 Dec 1998) ...

immunohematology
That division of haematology concerned with immune, or antigen-antibody reactions and with related changes in the blood. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

immunohistochemistry
Histochemical localization of immunoreactive substances using labelled antibodies as reagents. ... (12 Dec 1998) ...

immunolocalization
Refers to use of immunological techniques, including specific antibody, to identify the location of molecules or structures within cells or tissues. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

immunologic
<immunology> Pertaining to immunology. ... (18 Nov 1997) ...

immunologic and biological factors
A collective grouping for biologically active substances that play a role in the functioning of the immune system and those that show biological or physiological activity. ... (12 Dec 1998) ...

immunologic capping
The process by which lymphoid cell surface immunoglobulin receptors, when exposed to bivalent anti-ig antibodies, collect in patches and form a cap at one pole of the cell. The caps may then be endocytosed or shed into the environment in the form of antigen-antibody complexes. Capping has also been induced by lectins and antigens. ... (12 Dec 1998)< …

immunologic deficiency syndromes
Syndromes in which there is a deficiency or defect in the mechanisms of immunity, either cellular or humoral. ... (12 Dec 1998) ...

immunologic diseases
Disorders caused by abnormal or absent immunologic mechanisms, whether humoral, cell-mediated or both. ... (12 Dec 1998) ...

immunologic factors
Biologically active substances whose activities affect or play a role in the functioning of the immune system. ... (12 Dec 1998) ...

immunologic high dose tolerance
Induction of tolerance by exposure to large amounts of protein antigens. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

immunologic memory
<immunology> The ability to rapidly produce large quantities of specific immune cells after subsequent exposure to a previously encountered antigen. ... (09 Oct 1997) ...

immunologic pregnancy test
A general term for test's for detection of increased human chorionic gonadotropin in plasma or urine by immunologic techniques including latex particle agglutination, haemagglutination inhibition, radioimmunoassay, and radioreceptor assays. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

immunologic surveillance
The theory that T-cells monitor cell surfaces and detect structural changes in the plasma membrane and/or surface antigens of virally or neoplastically transformed cells. ... (12 Dec 1998) ...

immunologic tests
Diagnostic techniques involving the demonstration or measurement of an immune response, including antibody production or assay, antigen-antibody reactions, serologic cross-reactivity, delayed hypersensitivity reactions, or heterogenetic responses. ... (12 Dec 1998) ...

immunologic tolerance
Lack of immune response to antigen. Theories of tolerance induction include clonal deletion and clonal anergy. In clonal deletion, the actual clone of cells is eliminated whereas in clonal anergy the cells are present but nonfunctional. ... Synonym: immunological tolerance, immunotolerance, nonresponder tolerance. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

immunological
Pertaining to immunology. ... (18 Nov 1997) ...

immunological competence
Synonym for immunocompetence ... <immunology> The bodys ability to develop an immune response to infection or disease. Immunocompetence is measured to see how well the body can fight off certain disease. Many cancer patients become immunocompromised, where their immune system is not as strong as a healthy person's. ... (16 Dec 1997) ...

immunological deficiency
Synonym for immunodeficiency ... Inabillity to mount a normal immune response. Immunodeficiency can be due to a genetic disease or acquired as in aids due to HIV. ... (12 Dec 1998) ...

immunological disease
<immunology> Any illness, such as an allergy, that is caused by the action of antibodies. ... (09 Oct 1997) ...

immunological enhancement
Synonym for immunoenhancement ... In immunology, the potentiating effect of specific antibody in establishing and in delaying rejection of a tumour allograft; aside from antibody, non-specific substances may also act to enhance immune response. ... Synonym: immunological enhancement. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

immunological mechanism
The groups of cells (chiefly lymphocytes and cells of the reticuloendothelial system) that function in establishing active acquired immunity (induced sensitivity, allergy). ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

immunological memory
<immunology> The systems responsible for the situation where reactions to a second or subsequent exposure to an antigen are more extensive than those seen on first exposure (but See immunological tolerance. ... The memory is best explained by clonal expansion and persistence of such clones following the first exposure to antigen. ... (18 Nov 19 …

immunological network
<immunology> The concept due to Jerne that the entire specific immune system within an animal is made up of a series of interacting molecules and cell surface receptors, based on the idea that every antibody combining site carries its own marker antigens or idiotypes and that these in turn may be recognised by another set of antibody combinin …

immunological paralysis
Lack of specific antibody production after exposure to large doses of the antigen; immunological paralysis disappears when the antigen is eliminated. ... See: immunologic tolerance. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

immunological surveillance
<immunology> The hypothesis that lymphocyte traffic ensures that all or nearly all parts of the vertebrate body are surveyed by visiting lymphocytes in order to detect any altered self material, for example mutant cells. ... (18 Nov 1997) ...

immunological tolerance
<immunology> Specific unresponsiveness to antigen. Self tolerance is a process occurring normally early in life due to suppression of self reactive lymphocyte clones. ... Tolerance to foreign antigens can be induced in adult life by exposure to antigens under conditions in which specific clones are suppressed. Note that tolerance is not the sa …

immunologically activated cell
An immunocyte that is in an elevated state of reactivity capable of carrying out an immune response, in contradistinction to an immunologically competent cell. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

immunologically competent cell
A small lymphocyte capable of being immunologically activated by exposure to a substance that is antigenic (immunogenic) for the respective cell; activation involves either the capacity to produce antibody or the capacity to participate in cell-mediated immunity. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

immunologically privileged sites
Sites where allografts are not readily rejected, probably because these particular areas have poor lymphatic drainage. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

immunologist
<specialist> A specialist practiced in the treatment of allergic disease and those disease processes that involve dysfunction of the immune system. ... (27 Sep 1997) ...

immunology
<study> A subfield of biology that deals with the study of antigens and the immuneprocess and how humans and higher animals fight off disease. ... (09 Oct 1997) ...

immunomagnetic separation
A cell-separation technique where magnetizable microspheres or beads are first coated with monoclonal antibody, allowed to search and bind to target cells, and are then selectively removed when passed through a magnetic field. Among other applications, the technique is commonly used to remove tumour cells from the marrow of patients who are to unde …

immunomodulator
<immunology> A drug such as interleukin-2 that alters, suppresses or strengthens the bodys immune system. ... (09 Oct 1997) ...

immunomodulatory
1. Capable of modifying or regulating one or more immune functions. ... 2. An immunological adjustment, regulation, or potentiation. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

immunopathology
<study> A branch of medicine that deals with the study of how the body fights offdisease and the study of immunodeficiencydiseases. ... (09 Oct 1997) ...

immunoperoxidase
Analogous to indirect fluorescent antibody in that antibody presence is identified on antigenic substrates visually. However, in the indirect immunoperoxidase instead of fluorescent dye-antibody conjugates, enzyme-antibody conjugates (principally peroxidase enzymes) are reacted with their corresponding substrates to produce a product which can be s …

immunoperoxidase technique
An immunologic test that utilises antibodies chemically conjugated to the enzyme peroxidase. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

immunophenotyping
Process of classifying cells of the immune system based on structural and functional differences. The process is commonly used to analyze and sort T-lymphocytes into subsets based on CD antigens by the technique of flow cytometry. ... (12 Dec 1998) ...

immunophilin
<protein> Generic term for intracellular protein that binds immunosuppressive drugs such as cyclosporin, FK506, rapamycin. ... Both cyclophilin and the receptor for FK506 are peptidyl prolyl cis trans isomerases rotamases). Immunophilins are thought to interact with calcineurin. ... (18 Nov 1997) ...

immunopotentiation
Enhancement of the immune response by increasing its rate or prolonging its duration. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

immunopotentiator
Any of a wide variety of specific or non-specific substances which on inoculation enhances or augments an immune response. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

immunoprecipitation
<immunology> The precipitation of a multivalent antigen by a bivalent antibody, resulting in the formation of a large complex. The antibody and antigen must be soluble. Precipitation usually occurs when there is near equivalence between antibody and antigen concentrations. ... (18 Nov 1997) ...

immunoproliferative disorders
Disorders characterised by abnormal proliferation of primary cells of the immune system or by excessive production of immunoglobulins. ... (12 Dec 1998) ...

immunoproteins
Blood proteins whose activities affect or play a role in the functioning of the immune system. ... (12 Dec 1998) ...

immunoradiometric assay
<immunology> A test that measures the concentration of antigens in a specimen throughserological analysis that involves mixing radioactive antibodies with the antigen in question. ... (09 Oct 1997) ...

immunoreaction
An immunologic reaction, especially in vitro between antigen and antibody. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

immunoreactive
Denoting or exhibiting immunoreaction. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

immunoregulation
<immunology> The various processes by which antibodies may regulate immune responses. at a simple level, secreted antibody neutralises the antigen with which it reacts thus preventing further antigenic stimulation of the antibody producing clone. ... at a more complex level, anti-idiotype antibodies can be shown to develop against the first an …

immunoselection
1. Selective death or survival of foetuses of different genotypes depending on immunologic incompatibility with the mother. ... 2. The survival of certain cells depending on their surface antigenicity. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

immunosensors
An antibody that serves as the biological component of a biosensor. Biosensors typically have a biological component and a detection component. ... The biological component confers selectivity on the sensor, and the detection component turns it into a recognisable 'signal.' Immunosensors detect the tiny changes in mass that occur when an antibody bi …

immunosorbent
An antibody (or antigen) used to remove specific antigen (or antibody) from solution or suspension; commonly used with reference to antibody bound to a particulate substance such as a dextran polymer used to remove soluble antigen (e.g., insulin) from solution. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

immunosorbent techniques
Techniques for removal by adsorption and subsequent elution of a specific antibody or antigen using an immunosorbent containing the homologous antigen or antibody. ... (12 Dec 1998) ...

immunosorbents
An insoluble support for an antigen or antibody used to adsorb the homologous antibody or antigen from a mixture; the adsorbed entity may then be eluted in pure form for assay or analysis; many different substances are used, among them sepharose, glutaraldehyde, copolymers of anhydrides, polyacrylamides, etc. ... (12 Dec 1998) ...

immunosuppressant
<immunology, pharmacology> An agent capable of suppressing immune responses. ... (18 Nov 1997) ...

immunosuppressed
<immunology> Condition of having a lowered resistance to disease. May be a temporary result of lowered white blood cells from chemotherapy administration. ... (09 Oct 1997) ...

immunosuppression
<immunology> This occurs when T and/or B clones of lymphocytes are depleted in size or suppressed in their reactivity, expansion or differentiation. ... It may arise from activation of specific or non-specific T suppressor lymphocytes of either T or B clones or by drugs that have generalised effects on most or all T or B lymphocytes. ... Cyclos …

immunosuppressive
1. Denoting or inducing immunosuppression. ... Synonym: immunosuppressant. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

immunosuppressive agent
<immunology, pharmacology> Any chemotherapeutic agent which also has the effect of suppressing the immune system. most often these agents will reduce the absolute number of white blood cells in the bloodstream. ... (27 Sep 1997) ...

immunosuppressive agents
Agents that suppress immune function by one of several mechanisms of action. Classical cytotoxic immunosuppressants act by inhibiting DNA synthesis. Others may act through activation of suppressor T-cell populations or by inhibiting the activation of helper cells. While immunosuppression has been brought about in the past primarily to prevent rejec …

immunosuppressive drugs
Drugs that block the bodys ability to fight infection or foreign substances that enter the body. A person receiving an organ transplant is given these drugs to stop the body from rejecting the new organ or tissue. Cyclosporin is a commonly used immunosuppressive drug. ... (09 Oct 1997) ...

immunosurveillance
Theory that holds that the immune system eliminates tumour cells that arise spontaneously. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

immunosympathectomy
<procedure> Inhibition of development of sympathetic ganglia induced in newborn animals by injection of antiserum specific for the protein which selectively enhances growth of sympathetic neurons. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

immunotherapeutic
<immunology> A therapeutic approach to treat disease by stimulating or enhancing the bodys immune response against the disease. ... (16 Dec 1997) ...

immunotherapy
<immunology> Treatment of disease by stimulating the bodys own immune system. This is a type of therapy currently being researched as a treatment for cancer. ... (16 Dec 1997) ...

immunotherapy, active
Active immunization where vaccine is administered for therapeutic or preventive purposes. This can include administration of immunopotentiating agents such as bcg vaccine and corynebacterium parvum as well as biological response modifiers such as interferons, interleukins, and colony-stimulating factors in order to directly stimulate the immune sys …

immunotherapy, adoptive
Form of adoptive transfer where cells with antitumour activity are transferred to the tumour-bearing host in order to mediate tumour regression. The lymphoid cells commonly used are lymphokine-activated killer (lak) cells and tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (til). This is usually considered a form of passive immunotherapy. ... (12 Dec 1998) ...

immunotherapy, allergy
Stimulation of the immune system with gradually increasing doses of the substances to which a person is allergic, the aim being to modify or stop the allergy war (by reducing the strength of the IgE and its effect on the mast cells). This form of treatment is very effective for allergies to pollen, mites, cats, and especially stinging insects (e.g. …

immunotolerance
Synonym for immunologic tolerance ... Lack of immune response to antigen. Theories of tolerance induction include clonal deletion and clonal anergy. In clonal deletion, the actual clone of cells is eliminated whereas in clonal anergy the cells are present but nonfunctional. ... Synonym: immunological tolerance, immunotolerance, nonresponder tolerance …

immunotoxic
<immunology> This refers to any substance which damages the immune system. ... (09 Oct 1997) ...

immunotoxin
<immunology> Any toxin that is conjugated to either an immunoglobulin or Fab fragment directed against a specified antigen. Thus if the antigen is borne by a particular type of cell, such as a tumour cell, the toxin may be targetted at the specified cell by the immunological reaction. ... (18 Nov 1997) ...

immunotoxins
Semisynthetic conjugates of various toxic molecules, including radioactive isotopes and bacterial or plant toxins, with specific immune substances such as immunoglobulins, monoclonal antibodies, and antigens. The antitumour or antiviral immune substance carries the toxin to the tumour or infected cell where the toxin exerts its poisonous effect. …

immunotransfusion
An indirect transfusion in which the donor is first immunised by means of injections of an antigen prepared from microorganisms isolated from the recipient; later, the donor's blood is collected, defibrinated, and then administered to the patient; the latter is then presumably passively immunised by means of antibody formed in the donor, e.g., anti …

immure
1. To wall around; to surround with walls. ... 2. To inclose whithin walls, or as within walls; hence, to shut up; to imprison; to incarcerate. 'Those tender babes Whom envy hath immured within your walls.' (Shak) 'This huge convex of fire, Outrageous to devour, immures us round.' (Milton) ... Origin: Pref. Im- in + mure: cf. F. Emmurer. ... Source: W …

immutable
Not mutable; not capable or susceptible of change; unchangeable; unalterable. 'That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation.' (Heb. Vi. 18) 'Immutable, immortal, infinite, Eternal King.' (Milton) ... Origin: L. Immutabilis; pref. Im- not + mutabilis mutable. See Mutable. ... Source: Webst …

imolamine
4-[2-(Diethylamino)ethyl]-5-imino-3-phenyl-d2-1,2,4-oxadiazoline;used for relief of angina pectoris. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

imp
1. A shoot; a scion; a bud; a slip; a graft. ... 2. An offspring; progeny; child; scion. 'The tender imp was weaned.' (Fairfax) ... 3. A young or inferior devil; a little, malignant spirit; a puny demon; a contemptible evil worker. 'To mingle in the clamorous fray Of squabbling imps.' (Beattie) ... 4. Something added to, or united with, another, to le …

imp dehydrogenase
<enzyme> An enzyme that catalyses the dehydrogenation of inosine 5'-phosphate to xanthosine 5'-phosphate in the presence of NAD.05. ... Chemical name: IMP:NAD+ oxidoreductase ... Registry number: EC 1.1.1.205 ... (12 Dec 1998) ...

IMP-aspartate ligase
Synonym for adenylosuccinate synthase ... <enzyme> A carbon-nitrogen ligase. During purine ribonucleotide biosynthesis, this enzyme catalyses the synthesis of adenylosuccinate from GTP, imp, and aspartate with the formation of orthophosphate and GDP. ... Chemical name: IMP:L-aspartate ligase (GDP-forming) ... Registry number: EC 6.3.4.4 ... (12 D …

impact fusion
<radiobiology> Fusion approach where a fuel projectile is acclerated and impacted into either a stationary target or another projectile. ... This is valuable for scientific purposes but not a candidate for a fusion energy source because the likelihood of fusion occurring in a single collision is too low. Multiple accelerated pellets colliding …

impact resistance
The ability of a lens for eyewear to withstand impact without shattering or breaking, i.e., of a 3/8 -inch steel ball dropped 50 feet; criteria for determination of impact resistance are specified by U.S. Regulations. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

impacted foetus
A foetus which, because of its large size or narrowing of the pelvic canal, has become wedged and incapable of spontaneous advance or recession. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

impacted fracture
A fracture in which one of the fragments is driven into the cancellous tissue of the other fragment. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

impacted teeth
<dentistry> Teeth that have not fully erupted into their normal position. ... (15 Nov 1997) ...

impacted tooth
<dentistry> A tooth which is within the alveolus (the tooth socket within the alveolar bone of the jaw) and is prevented from erupting into its normal position. ... (27 Sep 1997) ...

impaction
1. <surgery> The driving of one fragment of bone into another so that the fragments are not movable upon each other; as, impaction of the skull or of the hip. ... 2. <medicine> An immovable packing;, a lodgment of something in a strait or passage of the body; as, impaction of the foetal head in the strait of the pelvis; impaction of food …

impaction, dental
Teeth pressing together. For example, molar teeth (the large teeth in the back of the jaw) can be impacted, cause pain and require pain medication, antibiotics, and surgical removal. ... (12 Dec 1998) ...

impaired glucose tolerance
Blood glucose (sugar) levels higher than normal but not high enough to be called diabetes. People with impaired glucose tolerance may or may not develop diabetes. ... Other names (no longer used) for impaired glucose tolerance are borderline, subclinical, chemical, or latent diabetes. ... (30 Mar 1998) ...

impairment
A physical or mental defect at the level of a body system or organ. The official WHO definition is: any loss or abnormality of psychological, physiological or anatomical structure or function. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...