| anti-inflammatory agent, non-steroidal | Anti-inflammatory agents that are not steroids. In addition to anti-inflammatory actions, they have analgesic, antipyretic, and platelet-inhibitory actions. They are used primarily in the treatment of chronic arthritic conditions and certain soft tissue disorders associated with pain and inflammation. They act by blocking the synthesis of prostaglandins by inhibiting cyclooxygenase, which converts arachidonic acid to cyclic endoperoxides, precursors of prostaglandins. Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis accounts for their analgesic, antipyretic, and platelet-inhibitory actions; other mechanisms may contribute to their anti-inflammatory effects. Certain nsaids also may inhibit lipoxygenase enzymes or phospholipase c or may modulate T-cell function. (ama drug evaluations annual, 1994, p 1814-5) (12 Dec 1998) |
|---|---|
| anti-inflammatory agent, steroidal | Steroidal agents capable of suppressing or counteracting the inflammatory process by acting on body mechanisms, without directly antagonizing the causative agents. (12 Dec 1998) |
| anti-inflammatory agent, topical | Anti-inflammatory agent that are applied to the skin and whose pharmacological effect only occurs at the area of application. (12 Dec 1998) |
| antinematodal agent | Substances used in the treatment or control of nematode infestations. They are used also in veterinary practice. (12 Dec 1998) |
| antineoplastic agent | Agents inhibiting or preventing the growth of neoplasms, checking the maturation and proliferation of malignant cells. (12 Dec 1998) |
| antineoplastic agent, alkylating | A class of drugs that differs from other alkylating agents used clinically in that they are monofunctional and thus unable to cross-link cellular macromolecules. Among their common properties are a requirement for metabolic activation to intermediates with antitumour efficacy and the presence in their chemical structures of n-methyl groups, that after metabolism, can covalently modify cellular DNA. The precise mechanisms by which each of these drugs acts to kill tumour cells are not completely understood. (12 Dec 1998) |
| antineoplastic agent, combined | The use of two or more chemicals simultaneously or sequentially in the drug therapy of neoplasms. The drugs need not be in the same dosage form. (12 Dec 1998) |
| antineoplastic agent, hormonal | Antineoplastic agent that are used to treat hormone-sensitive tumours. Hormone-sensitive tumours may be hormone-dependent, hormone-responsive, or both. A hormone-dependent tumour regresses on removal of the hormonal stimulus, by surgery or pharmacological block. Hormone-responsive tumours may regress when pharmacologic amounts of hormones are administered regardless of whether previous signs of hormone sensitivity were observed. The major hormone-responsive cancers include carcinomas of the breast, prostate, and endometrium; lymphomas; and certain leukaemias. (12 Dec 1998) |
| antineoplastic agent, phytogenic | Agents, obtained from higher plants that have demonstrable cytostatic or antineoplastic activity. (12 Dec 1998) |
| antipsychotic agent | A functional category of neuroleptic drugs that are helpful in the treatment of psychosis and have a capacity to ameliorate thought disorders (e.g., chlorpromazine, haloperidol). See: neuroleptic. Synonym: antipsychotic, major tranquilliser. (05 Mar 2000) |
| antithyroid agent | <pharmacology> Medications which suppress thyroid function. Examples include methimazole and propylthiouracil. (13 Jan 1998) |
| bacteriostatic agent | Any agent that inhibits or retards bacterial growth. Synonym: bacteriostatic agent. (05 Mar 2000) |
| beta-adrenergic blocking agent | A class of drugs that compete with beta-adrenergic agonists for available receptor sites; some compete for both b1 and b2 receptors (e.g., propranolol) while others are primarily either b1 (e.g., metoprolol) or b2 blockers; used in the treatment of a variety of cardiovascular diseases where beta-adrenergic blockade is desirable. Synonym: beta-adrenergic receptor blocking agent, beta-adrenoreceptor antagonist, beta-blocker. (05 Mar 2000) |
| beta-adrenergic receptor blocking agent | A class of drugs that compete with beta-adrenergic agonists for available receptor sites; some compete for both b1 and b2 receptors (e.g., propranolol) while others are primarily either b1 (e.g., metoprolol) or b2 blockers; used in the treatment of a variety of cardiovascular diseases where beta-adrenergic blockade is desirable. Synonym: beta-adrenergic receptor blocking agent, beta-adrenoreceptor antagonist, beta-blocker. (05 Mar 2000) |
| biological agent | <microbiology> A disease-causing microorganism or virus, or other toxic biological matter, which is used as a weapon during war. (21 Mar 1998) |