Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

A medication or another agent that kills viruses or inhibits their capability to reproduce.

An agent that kills a virus or that suppresses its ability to replicate and, hence, inhibits its capability to multiply and reproduce. For example, amantadine (Symmetrel) is a synthetic antiviral. It acts by inhibiting the multiplication of the influenza A virus. It was used to lessen the severity of the disease, particularly in individuals at high-risk such as those…

Antibodies created in the blood of a horse or sheep when the animal is injected with snake venom. Antivenin acts by neutralizing snake venom that has entered the body. Also called antivenom, snake antivenin, or snake antivenom. Other spellings: antivenom

An antibody produced in response to and capable of neutralizing a specific biologic toxin such as those that cause diphtheria, gas gangrene, or tetanus. Antitoxins are used prophylactically and therapeutically.

A drug directed against the thyroid gland. The antithyroid drugs include carbimazole, methimazole, and propylthiouracil (PTU). These drugs are used to treat hyperthyroidism (overactivity of the thyroid gland) in order to reduce the excessive thyroid activity before surgery and to treat and maintain patients not having surgery. Carbimazole, its active metabolite methimazole, and propylthiouracil all act by inhibiting the enzyme thyroid peroxidase…

An antibody directed against the thyroid gland, a gland which produces thyroid hormones (such as, for example, thyroxine and triiodothyronine). Antithyroid antibodies can be associated with inflammation of the thyroid gland and affect its function. Antithyroglobulin and antimicrosomal antibodies are examples of antithyroid antibodies. Testing for antithyroid antibodies in the blood is useful in the…

An antibody directed against thyroglobulin which is a key protein in the thyroid gland essential to the production of thyroid hormones (thyroxine and triiodothyronine). Antithyroglobulin antibodies can damage the thyroid gland and affect its function. Testing for antithyroglobulin antibodies in the blood is useful in the diagnosis of some thyroid and other disorders. Conditions in…

An immunosuppressive agent that selectively destroys T lymphocytes. Antithymocyte globulin is the gamma globulin fraction of antiserum from animals that have been immunized against human thymocytes. It is a polyclonal antibody. The uses of this drug include the prevention and treatment of transplant rejection, aplastic anemia, and other conditions in which immunosuppression may be indicated. Pretreatment with this…

A medication that relieves, prevents, or lowers the incidence of muscle spasms, especially those of smooth muscle such as in the bowel wall.

A pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others and inability or unwillingness to conform to what are considered to be the norms of society. The disorder involves a history of chronic antisocial behavior that begins before the age of 15 and continues into adulthood. The disorder is manifested by a…