| CEF | centrifugation extractable fluid; chick embryo fibroblast; constant electric field |
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| CF | calcaneal fibular [ligament]; calcium leucovorin; calf blood flow; calibration factor; cancer-free; ... |
| CGGE | constant gradient gel electrophoresis |
| CH | constant domain of H chain |
| CIC | cardioinhibitor center; circulating immune complex; clean intermittent catheterization; completely i... |
| immunoglobulin constant region | That region of the immunoglobulin (antibody) molecule that is invariable in its amino acid sequence within any class of immunoglobulins. It confers the biological specificity to the ig and is grossly species specific. It comprises the c-terminus half of the light chains and three quarters or more of the heavy chains, all of the fc fragment, and the c-terminus half of the fab fragment. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| time constant | That part of a circuit that determines the time interval over which the rate of electrical events will be averaged; in pulmonary physiology, the factors determining rate of flow in the airways. (05 Mar 2000) |
| transformation constant | <physics, radiobiology> The fraction of the amount of a radionuclide that undergoes transition per unit time. Formally: Lamda=dP/dt Where dP is the probability of a given nucleus undergoing spontaneous nuclear transition in the time interval dt. (16 Dec 1997) |
| equilibrium constant | <chemistry> The ratio of the reverse and forward rate constants for a reaction of the type: A + B = AB at equilibrium the equilibrium constant (K) equals the product of the concentrations of reactants divided by the concentration of product and has dimensions of concentration. Kd = (concentration A.concentration B) / (concentration AB). The affinity constant (Ka) is the reciprocal of the equilibrium constant. Dimension: moles per litre. In general the concept of Kd is more readily understood than that of Ka, for example: in considering the conversion of A to AB by the binding of ligand B, the Kd = B when A = AB. Thus Kd is equal to the ligand concentration which produces half maximal conversion (response). (10 Jan 1998) |
| universal gas constant | <radiobiology> R = 8.314 x 10^7 ergs per degree C per mole. (09 Oct 1997) |
| flotation constant | Characteristic sedimentation behaviour of a lipoprotein fraction of plasma in a centrifugal field in a medium of appropriate density, achieved by adding a salt or D2O to the plasma. Synonym: negative S, Svedberg of flotation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| law of constant numbers in ovulation | The number of ova discharged at each ovulation is nearly constant for any given species. (05 Mar 2000) |
| a1-trypsin inhibitor | A glycoprotein that is the major protease inhibitor of human serum, is synthesised in the liver, and is genetically polymorphic due to the presence of over 20 alleles; individuals appropriately homozygous are deficient in a1-trypsin and are predisposed to pulmonary emphysema and juvenile hepatic cirrhosis because of alterations in the amino acid and sialic acid components of the glycoprotein. A1-Antitrypsin also inhibits thrombin. Synonym: a1-trypsin inhibitor, human a1-proteinase inhibitor. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ACE inhibitor | <pharmacology> A group of antihypertensive medications that work by inhibiting an enzyme (angiotensin-converting enzyme) that is important in the regulation of blood pressure. Studies have also indicated that it may help prevent or slow the progression of kidney disease in patients with diabetes. Examples include: captopril, ramipril, enalapril, losartan potassium, bepridil and lisinopril. (12 Mar 1998) |
| aldose reductase inhibitor | <pharmacology> A class of drugs being studied as a way to prevent eye and nerve damage in people with diabetes. Aldose reductase is an enzyme that is normally present in the eye and in many other parts of the body. It helps change glucose (sugar) into a sugar alcohol called sorbitol. Too much sorbitol trapped in eye and nerve cells can damage these cells, leading to retinopathy and neuropathy. Drugs that prevent or slow (inhibit) the action of aldose reductase are being studied as a way to prevent or delay these complications of diabetes. (09 Oct 1997) |
| angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor | <pharmacology> A class of drugs used in the treatment of hypertension and heart failure. They exert their haemodynamic effect mainly by inhibiting the renin-angiotensin system and produce a reduction of peripheral arterial resistance. They also modulate sympathetic nervous system activity and increase prostaglandin synthesis. They cause mainly vasodilation and mild natriuresis without affecting heart rate and contractility. (14 Aug 2000) |
| aromatase inhibitor | Drugs, such as aminoglutethimide, that inhibit aromatase, an enzyme used in the synthesis of oestrogens. (05 Mar 2000) |
| beta-lactamase inhibitor | <pharmacology> Drugs such as clavulanic acid, which are used to inhibit bacterial beta-lactamases; often used with a penicillin or cephalosporin to overcome drug resistance. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Bowman-Birk inhibitor | A polypeptide that will inhibit both trypsin and chymotrypsin. (05 Mar 2000) |
| C1 esterase inhibitor | An a2-neuraminoglycoprotein that inhibits the enzymatic activity of C1 esterase, the activated first component of complement. A deficiency of this inhibitor results in a lack of inhibition of C1r and C1s leading to uncontrolled activation of the complement cascade and oedema. (05 Mar 2000) |