| 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) |
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| 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) |
| contrast agent | A substance that is introduced into or around a structure and, because of the difference in absorption of X-rays by the contrast medium and the surrounding tissues, allows radiographic visualisation of the structure. (18 Nov 1997) |
| sclerosing agent | A compound which acts by irritation of the veinous intimal epithelium; used in the treatment of varicose veins. (05 Mar 2000) |
| high osmolar contrast agent | Ionic water-soluble iodinated contrast media. Synonym: high osmolar contrast medium. (05 Mar 2000) |
| psychotropic agent | A chemical compound that influences the human psyche. (05 Mar 2000) |
| slow channel-blocking agent | calcium channel-blocking agent |
| narcotic analgesic agent | <pharmacology> Medications that relieve pain but have addictive potential if used regularly. Examples include: meperidine, morphine, propoxyphene, codeine, hydrocodone, oxycodone, hydromorphone, nalbuphine, butorphanol and heroin. (27 Sep 1997) |
| neuroleptic agent | Any of a family of drugs producing sedation and tranquilization (e.g., chlorpromazine, haloperidol). See: antipsychotic agent. Synonym: neuroleptic. (05 Mar 2000) |
| neuromuscular blocking agent | A group of drugs that prevent motor nerve endings from exciting skeletal muscle. They act either by competing for the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, (like D-tubocurarine, mivacurium and pancuronium), or by first stimulating the postjunctional muscle membrane and subsequently desensitizing the muscle endplates to the acetylcholine (like succinylcholine or decamethonium); used in surgery to produce paralysis and facilitate manipulation of muscles. (05 Mar 2000) |
| nondepolarising neuromuscular blocking agent | A compound that paralyzes skeletal muscle primarily by inhibiting transmission of nerve impulses at the neuromuscular junction rather than by affecting the membrane potention of motor endplate or muscle fibres. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Norwalk agent | A strain of epidemic gastroenteritis virus that appears to be related to the calciviruses. Origin: Norwalk, Ohio, where first implicated in disease (05 Mar 2000) |