| designer drugs | Drugs designed and synthesised, often for illegal street use, by modification of existing drug structures (e.g., amphetamines). Of special interest are mptp (a reverse ester of meperidine), mda (3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine), and mdma (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine). Many drugs act on the aminergic system, the physiologically active biogenic amines. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| designer oestrogen | An engineered drug that possesses some, but not all, of the actions of oestrogen. Designer oestrogens are selective oestrogen-receptor modulators (SERMs). For example, raloxifene (trade name Evista) is classified as a SERM because it prevents bone loss (like oestrogen) and lowers serum cholesterol (like oestrogen) but (unlike oestrogen) does not stimulate the endometrial lining of the uterus. (12 Dec 1998) |
| estrogen | <endocrinology, hormone> A generic term for oestrus producing steroid compounds, the female sex hormones. In humans, oestrogen is formed in the ovary, possibly the adrenal cortex, the testis and the foetoplacental unit, it has various functions in both sexes. It is responsible for the development of the female secondary sex characteristics and during the menstrual cycle it acts on the female genitalia to produce an environment suitable for the fertilization, implantation and nutrition of the early embryo. Oestrogen is used in oral contraceptives and as a palliative in cancer of the breast after menopause and cancer of the prostate, other uses include the relief of the discomforts of menopause, inhibition of lactation and treatment of osteoporosis, threatened abortion and various functional ovarian disorders. (18 Nov 1997) |
| estrogen 2-hydroxylase | <enzyme> Same enzyme for hydroxylation in 2 or 4 position Registry number: EC 1.14.99.- Synonym: estrogen 4-hydroxylase, ethinylestradiol 2-hydroxylase (26 Jun 1999) |