| LPF | leukocytosis-promoting factor; leukopenia factor; lipopolysaccharide factor; localized plaque format... |
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| MIF | macrophage inhibitory factor; melanocyte[-stimulating hormone]-inhibiting factor; maximum inspirator... |
| MRF | Markov random field; medical record file; melanocyte-[stimulating hormone]-releasing factor; mesence... |
| NF | nafcillin; National Formulary; nephritic factor; neurofibromatosis; neurofilament; neutral fraction;... |
| RF | radial fiber; radio frequency; receptive field; regurgitant fraction; Reitland-Franklin [unit]; rela... |
| Fas-activated serine-threonine kinase | <enzyme> Phosphorylates tia-1 during fas-mediated apoptosis; contains proline-rich sh3-binding domains; mw 60-63 kD; genbank x86779 Registry number: EC 2.7.10.- Synonym: fast kinase (26 Jun 1999) |
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| killer cells, lymphokine-activated | Cytolytic lymphocytes with the unique capacity of killing natural killer (nk)-resistant fresh tumour cells. They are interleukin-2-activated nk cells that have no MHC (major histocompatibility complex) restriction or need for antigen stimulation. Lak cells are used for adoptive immunotherapy in cancer patients. (12 Dec 1998) |
| fluorescence-activated cell sorter | <technique> Flow cytometry is an emerging technique which holds great promise for the separation, classification and quantitation of blood cells and antibodies which affect blood cells. Complex computerised instruments are used to pass a monocellular stream of cells, platelets or other microscopic particulate elements through a beam of laser light. The cells are categorised first by size and then computer analysed to sort the mixture of cellular elements into cell type by size. Cells are labelled with fluorescent dye and then passed, in suspending medium, through a narrow dropping nozzle so that each cell is in a small droplet. A laser based detector system is used to excite fluorescence and droplets with positively fluorescent cells are given an electric charge. Charged and uncharged droplets are separated as they fall between charged plates and so collect in different tubes. The machine can be used either as an analytical tool, counting the number of labelled cells in a population or to separate the cells for subsequent growth of the selected population. Further sophistication can be built into the system by using a second laser system at right angles to the first to look at a second fluorescent label or to gauge cell size on the basis of light scatter. The great strength of the system is that it looks at large numbers of individual cells and makes possible the separation of populations with, for example: particular surface properties. Tabulation of counted data in conjunction with size analysis enables determination of relative percentages of each specific cellular subset for which monoclonal antibody conjugates are utilised, even when the size of the cell is identical to other subset species. Flow cytometry is a slightly imprecise but common term for the use of the Fluorescence-activated Cell Sorter (FACS). (01 Dec 1998) |
| fluorescence-activated cell sorting | <technique> A technique for separating and sorting cells marked with a fluorescent label based on how much they fluoresce at a particular wavelength. (12 Jan 1998) |
| light-activated resin | A resin which uses visible or ultraviolet light to excite a photoinitiator which interacts with an amine to form free radicals and initiate polymerization. Used mainly in restorative dentistry. Synonym: light-activated resin. (05 Mar 2000) |
| accelerator factor | <chemical> Heat- and storage-labile plasma glycoprotein which accelerates the conversion of prothrombin to thrombin in blood coagulation. Factor v accomplishes this by forming a complex with factor xa, phospholipid, and calcium (prothrombinase complex). Deficiency of factor v leads to owren's disease. Chemical name: Blood-coagulation factor V (12 Dec 1998) |
| acetate replacement factor | <biochemistry> 1,2 dithiolane 3 valeric acid. Regarded as a coenzyme in the oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex of the citric acid cycle. Involved generally in oxidative decarboxylations of _ keto acids. A growth factor for some organisms. (18 Nov 1997) |
| adrenal weight factor | A postulated substance of adenohypophysial origin responsible for maintenance of the weight of the adrenal cortex. (05 Mar 2000) |
| adrenocorticotropic releasing factor | Hormone produced by hypothalamus that causes pituitary to secrete adrenocorticotropic hormone. (05 Mar 2000) |
| a-factor | <molecular biology> A protein which is found in the bacterial genus Streptomyces that helps start the production of streptomycin and the process of morphological differentiation. It is used in biotechnology to induce these functions in mutant strains of Streptomyces that cannot produce it themselves. (09 Feb 1998) |
| angiogenesis factor | Substance causing proliferation of new blood vessels. It is found in tissues with high metabolic requirements, such as the retina, and in certain cancers. The factor is also released by hypoxic macrophages at the edges or outer surfaces of wounds and initiates revascularization in wound healing. (12 Dec 1998) |
| animal protein factor | <biochemistry> Member of the water soluble B vitamin group, important in the proper function of the nervous system and important in proper carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism. (27 Sep 1997) |
| antialopecia factor | A member of the vitamin B complex necessary for growth of yeast and of mice, absence from the diet causes hair loss and dermatitis in mice. (27 Sep 1997) |
| antianaemic factor | <biochemistry> Member of the water soluble B vitamin group, important in the proper function of the nervous system and important in proper carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism. (27 Sep 1997) |
| antiberiberi factor | Synonym: thiamin. (05 Mar 2000) |