Factor ix Health Dictionary

One of two proteins secreted from the lining of the stomach whose sole purpose is (it seems) to cradle B12 in a pre-fitted styrofoam mold and (A) carry it through the Seven Levels of Digestive Hell until it reaches those few absorption sites in the last foot of small intestine that understand its “Special Needs” (sounds either sexually kinky or the airplane dinner label on kosher food for flying Hassidim jewelers) and finally (B) slip it from one protein to the other, and thence into the cell membranes where its is turn handed over to (C) the specialized blood protein that can carry it safely to the final target tissues (3 times out of 4, the bone marrow). Cyanocobalamin (B12) has parts that fall off, radicals that twirl around in five directions on three charge potentials, and is as durable as a 49¢ water pistol. And, if we have an ulcer, chronic enteritis or long-standing steatorrhea, we either get B12 shots (and hope the liver still makes that blood carrier) or walk around with pernicious anemia and a hematocrit of 16.... intrinsic factor

An aspect of personal behaviour or lifestyle, an environmental exposure, or an inborn or inherited characteristic, which, on the basis of scientific evidence, is known to be associated with health-related condition(s) considered important to prevent.... risk factor

A coagulative blood protein that is a constituent of the COAGULATION cascade – an essential component in the clotting of blood. Those people with the inherited disorder, HAEMOPHILIA, have abnormally low amounts of factor VIII and so bleed more when cut. They are treated with a concentrated version to reduce the tendency to bleed.... factor viii

See BLOOD GROUPS.... rh factor

See BLOOD GROUPS.... rhesus factor

Any of various chemicals involved in stimulating new cell growth and maintenance.

Some growth factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor, which stimulates the formation of new blood vessels, are important in the growth and spread of cancers.... growth factor

A chemical, psychological, physiological, social, environmental or genetic factor or conditions that predisposes an individual to the development of a disease or injury.... health risk factor

The study of the interrelationships between humans, the tools they use, and the environment in which they live and work.... human-factor research

(Mayan) The rainbow lady; in mythology, the goddess of the earth, moon, and healing

Ixchell, Ixchelle, Ixchela, Ixchella, Ixchal, Ixchall, Ixchalle, Ixchala, Ixchalla... ixchel

Hard tick (ie tick with a hard dorsal scutum) belonging to the family Ixodidae. Includes amongst others, the genera Amblyomma, Dermacentor, Ixodes Rhipicephalus and Hyalomma.... ixodid

Linn.

Family: Rubiaceae.

Habitat: South-western Peninsular India. Cultivated throughout India.

English: Jungleflame Ixora.

Ayurvedic: Bandhuka, Paaranti.

Siddha/Tamil: Vetchi, Thechii.

Folk: Rukmini, Rangan.

Action: Herb—astringent, antiseptic, blood-purifier, sedative, antileucorrhoeic, antidiarrhoeal, anti-catarrhal. Used in dysmenorrhoea, haemoptysis, bronchitis. Root—astringent, antiseptic (used against scabies and other skin diseases). Flowers—prescribed in dysentery and dysmenorrhoea.

The saponifiable fraction of the petroleum ether extract of roots exhibited anti-inflammatory activity in carrage- enan-induced paw oedema in albino rats.

The leaves contain a triterpenoid, lu- peol, which shows anti-inflammatory activity. The crude alcoholic extract and the ethyl acetate fraction exhibited antigenic activity.

The flowers contain an essential oil (0.5%) which possesses antimicrobial activity. Flower contain leucocyanidin glycoside.

The plant substrate removes heavy metals, such as lead, cadmium and mercury from polluted water.... ixora coccinea

(Blume) DC.

Family: Rubiaceae.

Habitat: Gardens of Kerala and West Bengal.

Action: Leaves, flowers—cytotoxic, antitumour.

The ethanolic, extract of leaves showed cytotoxic activity against Dal- ton's lymphoma, Ehrlich ascites carcinoma and Sarcoma 180 tumour cells in vitro. The flowers have been found to contain antitumour principles, active against experimentally induced tumour models.

Jacaranda acutifolia auct. non-Humb. & Bonpl.

Synonym: J. mimosifolia D. Don J. ovalifolia R. Br.

Family: Bignoniaceae.

Habitat: Cultivated in Indian gardens.

Folk: Nili-gulmohar.

Action: Leaves' volatile oil—applied to buboes. Leaves and bark of the plant—used for syphilis and blennorrhagia. An infusion of the bark is employed as a lotion for ulcers.

The leaves contain jacaranone, ver- bascoside and phenylacetic-beta-glu- coside along with a glucose ester, jaca- ranose. Flavonoid scutellarein and its 7-glucuronide, and hydroquinones were also isolated. Fruits contain beta- sitosterol, ursolic acid and hentriacon- tane; stem bark gave lupenone and beta-sitosterol.

The flowers contain an anthocyanin. In Pakistan, the flowers are sold as a substitute for the Unani herb Gul-e- Gaozabaan.

The lyophylized aqueous extract of the stem showed a high and broad antimicrobial activity against human urinary tract bacteria, especially Pseudomonas sp.

The fatty acid, jacarandic acid, isolated from the seed oil, was found to be a strong inhibitor of prostaglandin biosynthesis in sheep.

J. rhombifolia G. F. W. May., syn. J. filicifolia D. Don is grown in Indian gardens. Extracts of the plant show insecticidal properties.

Several species of Jacaranda are used for syphilis in Brazil and other parts of South America under the names carobin, carabinha etc. A crystalline substance, carobin, besides resins, acids and caroba balsam, has been isolated from them.... ixora javanica

An agent involved in the clotting mechanism of the blood. It helps in the activation of THROMBOPLASTIN in the blood PLASMA (see COAGULATION).... lipoid factor

Andr.

Synonym: I. Parviflora Vahl.

Family: Rubiaceae.

Habitat: West Bengal, Bihar, Western Central and South India.

English: Torchwood Tree.

Ayurvedic: Nevaari, Nevaali, Ishwara, Rangan.

Siddha/Tamil: Shulundu-kora, Korivi.

Action: Flowers—pounded with milk, for whooping cough. Bark—a decoction for anaemia and general debility. Fruit and root—given to females when urine is highly coloured. The leaves contain ixoral and beta- sitosterol. Leaves and flowers gave flavonoids—rutin and kaempferol- 3-rutinoside; stems gave a flavone glycoside, chrysin 5-O-beta-D- xylopyranoside. The aerial parts contain 6,7-dimethoxycoumarin. The seed oil gave capric, lauric, myristic, palmitic, stearic, arachidic, behenic, oleic and linoleic acids.... ixora pavetta

One of the blood proteins that maintains the balance between the blood clotting too easily or too slowly after an injury.

About 5 per cent of the population have an inherited mutation in the gene controlling factor V production, known as factor V Leiden.

They are at increased risk of deep-vein thrombosis (see thrombophilia), particularly if they are taking the oral contraceptive pill or go on long aircraft journeys.... factor v

(CSF) one of a group of substances (haemopoietic growth factors or hormones) that are produced in the bone marrow and stimulate the production of specific blood cells. Genetically engineered granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) stimulates neutrophil production and also limits bone marrow toxicity from chemotherapy.... colony-stimulating factor

(EGFR) a protein on the surface of cells (see receptor) that binds with epidermal *growth factor and is therefore involved in cell division. EGFR is expressed at increased levels in numerous tumours, particularly of the head and neck, and in colorectal cancer, in which it can be a target for antibody therapy with *cetuximab. *Tyrosine kinase inhibitors acting specifically on the EGFR include gefitinib and erlotinib in lung and pancreatic cancer.... epidermal growth factor receptor

n. (in biochemistry) a substance that is essential to a physiological process, often a substance the nature of which is unknown. See also coagulation factors; growth factor.... factor

an inherited mutation in the gene coding for coagulation Factor V, which results in an increased susceptibility to develop venous *thrombosis.... factor v leiden

a *coagulation factor normally present in blood. Deficiency of the factor is inherited, but rarely causes spontaneous bleeding. However, bleeding does occur after surgery or trauma to the blood vessels.... factor xi

n. a genus of widely distributed parasitic ticks. Several species are responsible for transmitting *Lyme disease, *tularaemia, Queensland tick typhus, and *Russian spring-summer encephalitis. The bite of a few species can give rise to a serious paralysis, caused by a toxin in the tick’s saliva.... ixodes

n. any disease caused by the presence of *ticks.... ixodiasis

n. a family of *ticks.... ixodidae

(NGF) a protein (see growth factor), consisting of two polypeptide chains, that is required for the development and longevity of some neurons, including those in the sympathetic nervous system and some central nervous system and sensory neurons. Nerve growth factor is necessary for axon growth and also for initiating new neuronal connections with other cells. The role of NGFs in preventing the degeneration of brain cells is being explored in research into Alzheimer’s disease.... nerve growth factor

(PDGF) see growth factor.... platelet-derived growth factor

(TGF) a protein – a *cytokine – that controls growth, proliferation, and other functions in most cells. It plays a role in asthma and other respiratory diseases and is also involved in diseases elsewhere in the body. There are two classes: TGF-? and TGF-?.... transforming growth factor

(TNF) either of two proteins, TNF-? or TNF-?, that function as *cytokines. Produced by macrophages, monocytes, T lymphocytes, and various other cells, they mediate many responses, including inflammation, and have a marked action against tumour cells. Anti-TNF drugs (see cytokine inhibitor) are used in the treatment of several disorders, especially rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.... tumour necrosis factor

(VEGF) a *growth factor made by both normal cells and their abnormal or malignant counterparts to stimulate new blood vessel formation (see angiogenesis). It can be targeted by a family of drugs known as *angiogenesis inhibitors, which include *bevacizumab.... vascular endothelial growth factor