| AHF | acute heart failure; American Health Foundation; American Hepatic Foundation; American Hospital Form... |
|---|---|
| AIF | anemia-inducing factor; anti-inflammatory; anti-invasion factor |
| BCF | basophil chemotactic factor; bioconcentration factor; breast cyst fluid |
| BPF | bradykinin-potentiating factor; bronchopulmonary fistula; burst-promoting factor |
| BSF | back scatter factor; B-cell stimulatory factor; busulfan |
| neurotrophic factor | A molecule, usually a protein, that will facilitate the growth or repair of nerve cells. (14 Nov 1997) |
|---|---|
| Streptococcus lactis R factor | 10-formylpteroic acid;a folic acid factor for certain bacteria. Synonym: SLR factor, Streptococcus lactis R factor. (05 Mar 2000) |
| neutrophil activating factor | <cytokine> A cytokine that activates neutrophils and attracts neutrophils and T-lymphocytes. It is released by several cell types including monocytes, macrophages, T-lymphocytes, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and keratinocytes by an inflammatory stimulus. Il-8 is a member of the beta-thromboglobulin superfamily and structurally related to platelet factor 4. Acronym: IL-8 (12 Dec 1998) |
| neutrophil chemotactant factor | <cytokine> A cytokine that activates neutrophils and attracts neutrophils and T-lymphocytes. It is released by several cell types including monocytes, macrophages, T-lymphocytes, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and keratinocytes by an inflammatory stimulus. Il-8 is a member of the beta-thromboglobulin superfamily and structurally related to platelet factor 4. Acronym: IL-8 (12 Dec 1998) |
| stringent factor | The gene product (an enzyme) that is crucial to the cellular response of decreased ribosome production as a result of amino acid starvation. See: stringent response. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Stuart-Prower factor | <chemical> Storage-stable glycoprotein blood coagulation factor that can be activated to factor xa by both the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways. A deficiency of factor x, sometimes called stuart-prower factor deficiency, may lead to a systemic coagulation disorder. Chemical name: Blood-coagulation factor X (12 Dec 1998) |
| nuclear factor 1 | See: CTF. (18 Nov 1997) |
| sulfation factor | <protein> Peptide hormone (4 kD) that is produced in the liver and is released in response to somatotropin. Somatomedin stimulates the growth of bone and muscle and also influences calcium, phosphate, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. See: insulin like growth factor. (18 Nov 1997) |
| sun protection factor | A number on a scale (from 2 upwards) for rating sunscreens. Sunscreens with an spt of 15 or higher provide the best protection from the sun's harmful rays. (12 Dec 1998) |
| decapacitation factor | A factor, postulated to be present in epididymal fluid and seminal plasma, that prevents the capacitation of spermatozoa. (05 Mar 2000) |
| decay accelerating factor | <biochemistry, protein> Plasma protein that regulates complement cascade by blocking the formation of the C3bBb complex (the C3 convertase of the alternate pathway). Widely distributed in tissues but deficient in paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria. (18 Nov 1997) |
| suppressor factor | <immunology> Factors released by T suppressor cells. See: suppressor mutation, ochre suppressor, opal suppressor. (19 Jan 1998) |
| diabetogenic factor | Rarely used term for a factor in crude extracts of the anterior lobe of the hypophysis that produces degenerative changes in the islet cells of the pancreas and causes permanent diabetes. (05 Mar 2000) |
| diffusing factor | <enzyme> Enzyme that degrades hyaluronic acid, found in lysosomes. (18 Nov 1997) |
| direct lytic factor of cobra venom | A polypeptide of 62 residues; action on cells is similar to that of melittin in that it promotes disruption of membranes; used as an investigational antirheumatic agent. Synonym: cobra toxin, direct lytic factor of cobra venom. (05 Mar 2000) |