| "allergen"
|
means
a foreign substance that leads to allergies by prompting
an immune response.
|
| "allergy"
|
means
a state of abnormal and individual hypersensitivity
acquired through exposure to a particular allergen.
|
| "analogue"
|
means,
in reference to drugs, a compound that has an altered
molecular structure from that of its parent compound.
Useful analogues of existing drugs may be more potent
and/or have fewer side-effects.
|
| "antihistamine"
|
means
any of various compounds that counteract histamine in
the body and that are used for treating allergic reactions
(as hay fever) and cold symptoms.
|
| "asthma"
|
means
a condition marked by recurrent attacks of breathlessness,
with wheezing due to spasmodic constriction of the bronchi.
|
| "auto-immune
diseases" |
are
diseases in which an individual's immune system develops
inappropriate responses to their own cells or tissues.
|
| "bronchi"
|
means
the major air passages of the lungs.
|
| "bronchospasm" |
means causing constriction of the bronchi.
|
| "cAMP"
|
means
Adenosine 3':5' - cyclic monophosphate - a second messenger
in certain cell signalling pathways.
|
| "chemokines"
|
means
a family of chemicals that attract cells to the site
of inflammation.
|
| "clinical
trials" |
means organized studies with human participants designed
to provide statistically relevant clinical data for
determining the efficacy and safety of new therapeutic
agents, diagnostics and medical devices.
|
| "compound"
|
means
a chemical molecule intended to be used as a therapeutic
agent.
|
| "contignasterol"
|
means
a natural compound isolated from the marine sponge Petrosia
contignata.
|
| "corticosteroids" |
means any of the hormones produced by the adrenal cortex
and their synthetic equivalents.
|
| "cytokines"
|
means
a diverse group of biologically active protein molecules
released by cells in response to activation or injury
that participate in the immune and/or inflammatory response.
|
| "DMARDs"
|
means
disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs.
|
| "DNA"
|
is
a double strand of deoxyribonucleic acid - the molecule
that is the carrier of the genetic codes and the constituent
of chromosomes found in all cells of the body.
|
| "edema"
|
means
the accumulation of excess fluid in a fluid compartment.
This accumulation can occur in the cells or in the intercellular
spaces within tissues.
|
| "efficacy"
|
means
the ability of a drug to achieve the desired effects.
|
| "eosinophils"
|
means
a type of white blood cell involved in inflammatory
responses. High levels of these cells accumulate in
the lungs during asthma or an ongoing allergic reaction.
|
| "etiology"
|
means
the science of the causes of disease.
|
| "FDA"
|
means
the United States Food and Drug Administration, the
government agency which regulates the development, manufacture,
use and sale of pharmaceutical drugs in the U.S.
|
"GMP"
|
means
Good Manufacturing Practices - a code of manufacturing
practices followed by the pharmaceutical industry that
provides a high level of certainty and assurance in
a production and quality control operation.
|
| "cGMP" |
means current Good Manufacturing Practices.
|
| "glucocorticoid" |
means
a form of corticosteroid commonly used as a therapeutic
for anti-inflammatory diseases and as an immunosupressant.
|
| "histamine"
|
means
a specific chemical that stimulates the constriction
of smooth mucscle in the bronchioles by binding to the
H1 receptor.
|
| "histopathology"
|
means
examination of changes of the structure and composition
as a result of disease or damage.
|
| "hyper-responsiveness"
|
means
increased magnitude of effect to a fixed stimulus.
|
| "immunomodulatory"
|
means
a selective suppression of specific immune responses.
|
"immunosuppressive"
|
means
completely suppressing the immune response.
|
| "IND"
|
means
Investigational New Drug application; a required regulatory
filing made to the FDA or TPP prior to entering human
clinical trials in their respective jurisdictions.
|
| "inhibitor"
|
means
having the effect of preventing or prohibiting a specific
reaction.
|
| "in
vitro" |
is
used to describe a biological process taking place outside
a living organism, such as in a test-tube or other artificial
environment.
|
| "in
vivo" |
is used to describe a biological reaction or process
that occurs within a living body.
|
| "leukocyte" |
means
a white cell whose chief function is to fight infection
and repair injured tissues. Leukocytes leave the blood
at the site of injury or inflammation.
|
"leukotrienes"
|
means
any of a group of compounds derived via lipoxygenase
enzymes from arachidonic acid that are potent mediators
of inflammation.
|
| "LSAIDs"
|
means
Leukocyte Selective Anti-inflammatory Drugs.
|
| "macrophages"
|
means
mononuclear leukocytes that occur in tissues such as
blood vessels, bronchi, etc., during chronic diseases.
|
| "molecule"
|
means
a group of atoms bonded together to form a stable composition
of matter.
|
| "multiple
sclerosis" |
means
a demyelinating disease marked by patches of hardened
tissue in the brain or the spinal cord and associated
especially with partial or complete paralysis and jerking
muscle tremor.
|
"NDA"
|
means a new drug application filed with the FDA.
|
"PDE"
|
means
phosphodiesterase, an intracellular enzyme that regulates
the levels of cyclic AMP, an important second messenger
that regulates cellular function.
|
| "PDE4"
|
means
phosphodiesterase 4, a key form of phosphodiesterase
found in many inflammatory cells (i.e. neutrophils,
monocytes, lymphocytes).
|
| "PCT" |
means
the Patent Co-operation Treaty, a single international
application that specifies those jurisdictions that
are party to the PCT in which patent protection is ultimately
to be sought. The PCT application effectively creates
a bundle of separate territorial applications but no
patent can be granted directly from the PCT application.
|
| "pharmacodynamic"
|
means
the study of the mechanism of action of drugs and the
biochemical and physiological effects.
|
"pharmacokinetic"
|
means
the study of the movement of drugs in the body including
processes of absorption, distribution, localization
in tissues, biotransformation and excretion.
|
| "pharmacology" |
means the science that deals with the origin, nature,
chemistry, effects and uses of drugs.
|
| "pharmacophore"
|
means
a molecular scaffold or structure used as the basis
for drug development.
|
| "Phase
I trials" |
means
initial clinical studies in humans, using small doses
and a limited number of volunteer participants to assess
safety, metabolism and excretion of a drug or drug combination.
|
| "Phase
IIa trials" |
means
clinical studies in patients to further assess the safety
and efficacy of a drug or drug combination in a non-comparative
manner.
|
| "Phase
IIb trials" |
means extended clinical studies in patients beyond Phase
IIa trials to further assess the safety and efficacy
of a drug or drug combination in a non-comparative manner.
|
"Phase
III trials"
|
means randomized and controlled clinical studies in
patients designed to evaluate the comparative safety
and efficacy of a drug or drug combination. Also, the
principal data used by regulatory agencies to approve
or reject a product licensing application.
|
| "placebo"
|
means
an inert substance causing no effect used as a comparator
in a pre-clinical study and clinical trial.
|
| "pre-clinical
studies" |
means
studies that evaluate compounds in disease models that
mimic the human disease condition.
|
| "prostalandins" |
means any of a group of naturally occurring, chemically
related, long-chain unsaturated hydroxy fatty acids
that, among other biological effects, control inflammation.
|
| "provigil" |
Prescribed medication to treat sleep apnea.
|
| "psoriasis"
|
means
a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin characterized
by circumscribed red patches covered with white scales.
|
| "receptor"
|
means
a binding site located on the membrane of a cell or
within a cell that responds to a specific molecule or
substance, producing some effect within the cell.
|
| "receptor
antagonist" |
means
a molecule that binds to a cellular receptor for a substance
blocking the action of that substance without producing
any physiological effect itself.
|
| "respirology"
|
means
the study of breathing on the body.
|
| "rheumatoid
arthritis" |
means
a usually chronic disease of unknown cause that is characterized
especially by pain, stiffness, inflammation, swelling,
and sometimes destruction of joints.
|
| "RNA" |
is a single strand of ribonucleic acid normally made
by transcription from a DNA molecule and is primarily
associated with the synthesis of proteins.
|
| "steroid" |
means a complex molecule containing a specific arrangement
of carbon atoms in four interlocking rings (three rings
contain six carbon atoms each, the fourth contains five).
Steroids are important in body chemistry. Among them
are the male and female sex hormones, such as testosterone
and estrogen, and the hormones of the adrenal glands,
including glucocorticoids which are involved in regulation
of proteins, carbohydrates and lipids.
|
| "tachykinin"
|
means
one of several mediators of inflammation.
|
| "T-cells"
|
are
white blood cells that originate in the thymus gland.
T-cells play a pivotal role in both humoral and cellular
immunity. They are key components of the acquired immune
system.
|
| "TPP"
|
means
the Therapeutics Products Program Health Canada - the
government agency that regulates the development, production,
quality, safety and efficacy of biological and pharmaceutical
products in Canada.
|
| "toxicology" |
means the science or study of poisons.
|
| "transcription"
|
means
the process by which information contained within the
DNA is transferred to a newly synthesized RNA molecule.
|
| "Tramadol"
|
A commonly used pain relief medication, fairly safe with limited side effects.More here
|
