| humoral | <physiology> Of, relating to, proceeding from or involving a bodily humour now often used of endocrine factors as opposed to neural or somatic. (18 Nov 1997) |
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| humoral antibodies | <immunology> Antibodies which are secreted by B lymphocytes circulating in the blood, in response to antigens found in body fluids. (06 Mar 1998) |
| humoral doctrine | The ancient Greek theory of the four body humors (blood, yellow and black bile, and phlegm) that determined health and disease. The humors were associated with the four elements (air, fire, earth, and water), which in turn corresponded to a pair of the qualities (hot, cold, dry, and moist). A proper and evenly balanced mixture of the humors was characteristic of health of body and mind; an imperfect balance resulted in disease. Temperament of body or mind also was supposed to be determined, e.g., sanguine (blood), choleric (yellow bile), melancholic (black bile), or phlegmatic (phlegm). Synonym: fluidism, humoralism, humorism. (05 Mar 2000) |
| humoral immune response | <immunology> Those immune responses mediated by antibody. (06 Mar 1998) |
| humoral immunity | <immunology> A form of immunity whereby B lymphocytes and plasma cells produce antibodies to foreign agents (antigens) and stimulate T lymphocytes to attack them (cellular immunity). These antibodies also stimulate the release of chemical mediators (for example interferon, complement) which enhance antigen destruction. (06 Mar 1998) |
| humoral pathology | The thesis that disorders in the fluids of the body, especially the blood, are the basic factors in disease. (05 Mar 2000) |
| humoral theory | The ancient Greek theory of the four body humors (blood, yellow and black bile, and phlegm) that determined health and disease. The humors were associated with the four elements (air, fire, earth, and water), which in turn corresponded to a pair of the qualities (hot, cold, dry, and moist). A proper and evenly balanced mixture of the humors was characteristic of health of body and mind; an imperfect balance resulted in disease. Temperament of body or mind also was supposed to be determined, e.g., sanguine (blood), choleric (yellow bile), melancholic (black bile), or phlegmatic (phlegm). Synonym: fluidism, humoralism, humorism. (05 Mar 2000) |
| accelerated reaction | A response occurring in a shorter time than expected; the cutaneous manifestations occurring during the period between the second and tenth day following smallpox vaccination; because it is intermediate between a primary reaction and an immediate reaction, it is regarded as evidence of some degree of resistance. Synonym: vaccinoid reaction. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acid reaction | Any test by which an acid reaction is recognised such as the change of blue litmus paper to red, an excess of hydrogen ions over hydroxide ions in aqueous solution indicated by a pH value less than 7 (at 22캜). Compare: dissociation constant of water. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acute-phase reaction | <immunology, rheumatology> Refers to the changes in synthesis of certain proteins within the serum during an inflammatory response, which provides rapid protection for the host against microorganisms via non-specific defense mechanisms. It consists of fever, an increase in inflammatory humoral factors, and an increased synthesis by hepatocytes of a number of proteins or glycoproteins usually found in the plasma; the reaction is mediated by endogenous pyrogens, the hypothalamus, adrenal hormones, and other factors. (12 Jul 2000) |
| acute situational reaction | An acute emotional reaction related to extreme environmental stress. Synonym: acute situational reaction. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acute stress reaction | A sudden bout of anxiety that is often accompanied by the features of hyperventilation (tingling around mouth and in fingertips, rapid breathing, faintness or fainting). (27 Sep 1997) |
| addition reaction | <chemistry> Any reaction in which two chemicals combine to form a single chemical. (15 Jan 1998) |
| adverse drug reaction reporting systems | Systems developed for collecting reports from government agencies, manufacturers, hospitals, physicians, and other sources on adverse drug reactions. (12 Dec 1998) |
| adverse reaction | Any undesirable or unwanted consequence of a preventive, diagnostic, or therapeutic procedure or regimen. (05 Mar 2000) |