| 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) |
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| Bittner agent | <virology> Earlier name, now superseded, for the mouse mammary tumour virus. (18 Nov 1997) |
| blister agent | <chemistry, pharmacology> Refers to a chemical or agent that causes blisters. (09 Oct 1997) |
| blocking agent | A class of drugs that inhibit (block) a biologic activity or process, such as axonal conduction or transmission, or ions across a cell membrane; frequently called "blockers." (05 Mar 2000) |
| bronchoconstrictor agent | Agents causing the narrowing of the lumen of a bronchus or bronchiole. (12 Dec 1998) |
| cardiotonic agent | Agents that have a tonic effect on the heart or increase cardiac output. They may be glycosidic steroids related to digitalis products, sympathomimetic, or other drugs and are used after myocardial infarcts, cardiac surgery, in shock, or in congestive heart failure. (12 Dec 1998) |
| cariogenic agent | Substances conducive to the production of dental caries. (12 Dec 1998) |
| cariostatic agent | Substances that inhibit or arrest dental caries formation. (12 Dec 1998) |
| ganglionic blocking agent | An agent that impairs the passage of impulses in autonomic ganglia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| reducing agent | A molecule that donates an electron in an oxidation-reduction reaction. (09 Oct 1997) |
| reovirus-like agent | <virology> Genus of the Reoviridae having a double layered capsid and 11 double stranded RNA molecules in the genome. They have a wheel like appearance in the electron microscope and cause acute diarrhoeal disease in their mammalian and avian hosts. Probably the most important cause of severe dehydrating diarrhoea in children under three years of age worldwide. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, low-grade fever and diarrhoea. Aggressive fluid replacement is generally required. (27 Sep 1997) |
| chemotherapeutic agent | Chemotherapeutic agents are those medications that are used to treat various forms of cancer. These medications are given in a particular regimen over a period of weeks. most chemotherapeutic medications have the ability to directly kill cancer cells. For this same reason, these medications can suppress the bone marrow to some degree, lowering white blood cell counts. This results in a condition known as immunosuppression and can place the patient at an increased risk of infection. Examples include busulphan, cisplatin, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, daunorubicin, doxorubicin, melphalan, vincristine, vinblastine and chlorambucil. See: immunosuppressive agents. (27 Sep 1997) |
| chimpanzee coryza agent | <virology> This RNA virus is a member of the Paramyxoviridae family and is a major pathogen in the upper and lower respiratory tract in both infants and younger children. Respiratory syncytial virus manifestations include bronchiolitis, pneumonia and croup. Acronym: RSV (27 Sep 1997) |
| cholinergic agent | An agent that mimics the action of the parasympathetic nervous system (e.g., methacholine). (05 Mar 2000) |
| cholinergic parasympathomimetic agent | <pharmacology> A chemical substance that causes the release of choline (acetylcholine) from parasympathetic nerve endings. (15 Jan 1998) |