| tumor | 1. <oncology> An abnormal mass of tissue that results from excessive cell division that is uncontrolled and progressive, also called a neoplasm. Tumours perform no useful body function. They may be either benign (not cancerous) or malignant. 2. Swelling, one of the cardinal signs of inflammations, morbid enlargement. Origin: L. Tumere = to swell (12 May 1997) |
|---|---|
| tumor marker | <investigation, oncology> A substance in the body that usually indicates the presence of cancer. These markers are usually specific to certain types of cancer and are usually found in the blood or other tissue samples. Examples are alphafetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotropin, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). They may be indicators of tumour stage and grade as well as useful for monitoring responses to treatment and predicting recurrence. Many chemical groups are represented including hormones, antigens, amino and nucleic acids, enzymes, polyamines, and specific cell membrane proteins and lipids. (18 Jul 2002) |
| tumor necrosis factor | <cytokine> Originally described as a tumour inhibiting factor in the blood of animals exposed to bacterial lipopolysaccharide or Bacille Calmette-Guerin. Preferentially kills tumour cells in vivo and in vitro, causes necrosis of certain transplanted tumours in mice and inhibits experimental metastases. Human Tumour Necrosis factor alpha is a protein of 157 amino acids and has a wide range of pro inflammatory actions. Usually considered a cytokine. Synonym: cachectin. Acronym: TNF (13 Nov 1997) |
| activated fatty acid | A fatty acyl-coenzyme A thiol ester. (05 Mar 2000) |
| branched-chain fatty-acid-kinase | <enzyme> From anaerobic spirochete ma-2 Registry number: EC 2.7.2.14 Synonym: isovalerate kinase, 2-methylbutyrate kinase, isobutyrate kinase (26 Jun 1999) |
| branched-chain fatty acid synthetase | <enzyme> Analogous to fatty acid synthetase complex but starting with a branched chain keto acid; from bacillis subtilis Registry number: EC 2.3.1.- Synonym: bcfa synthetase (26 Jun 1999) |
| volatile fatty acid number | An index of the volatile acid content of a fat; the number of milliliters of 0.1 n KOH required to neutralise the soluble volatile fatty acids in 5 g of fat that has been saponified, acidified to liberate the fatty acids, and then steam-distilled. Synonym: volatile fatty acid number. (05 Mar 2000) |
| monounsaturated fatty acids | A fatty acid chain with at least two empty spaces that could be hydrogenated (have a hydrogen atom added). Saturated (hydrogenated) fatty acids are a greater health risk for the development of atherosclerotic vascular disease. (27 Sep 1997) |
| polyenoic fatty acid isomerase | <enzyme> Catalyses conversion of arachidonic acid and 5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoic acid to 5,7,9,14-eicosatetraenoic acid and 5,7,9,14,17-eicosapentaenoic acid, respectively Registry number: EC 5.3.3.- Synonym: pfi enzyme (26 Jun 1999) |
| saturated fatty acid | A fatty acid, the carbon chain of which contains no ethylenic or other unsaturated linkages between carbon atoms (e.g., stearic acid and palmitic acid); called saturated because it is incapable of absorbing any more hydrogen. (05 Mar 2000) |
| saturated fatty acids | In eukaryotic membranes refers to stearic, palmitic and myristic acids, that are linear aliphatic chains with no double bonds. Prokaryotes have numerous branched chain saturated fatty acids. (18 Nov 1997) |
| xenobiotic medium chain fatty acid - coenzyme A ligase | <enzyme> Partial amino acid sequence of enzyme from bovine liver mitochondria given I first source; has high sequence homology to human and rat sa protein Registry number: EC 6.2.1.- Synonym: xl-i ligase, xl-i carboxylic acid - CoA ligase (26 Jun 1999) |
| delta-13 fatty acid desaturase | <enzyme> Involved in sex pheromone biosynthesis from palmitic acid in the moth thaumetopoea pityocampa, acts in conjunction with an 11-desaturase Registry number: EC 1.14.99.- Synonym: delta-13 desaturase (26 Jun 1999) |
| delta-22 fatty acid desaturase | <enzyme> Involved in ergosterol biosynthesis Registry number: EC 1.14.99.- Synonym: ergosta-5,7-dien-3 beta-ol delta-22 desaturase (26 Jun 1999) |
| diethenoid fatty acid | A fatty acid containing two double bonds, e.g., linoleic acid. (05 Mar 2000) |