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adjuvant

 
Dictionary: ad·ju·vant   (ăj'ə-vənt) pronunciation
 
n.
  1. A pharmacological agent added to a drug to increase or aid its effect.
  2. An immunological agent that increases the antigenic response.

[From Latin adiuvāns, adiuvant-, present participle of adiuvāre, to help. See aid.]


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Dental Dictionary: adjuvant
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(aj′əvənt)
n

In a prescription, an auxiliary active ingredient that supports the action of the basic drug. See also basis.

 
Veterinary Dictionary: adjuvant
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1. assisting or aiding.
2. a substance that aids another, such as an auxiliary remedy. Commonly used in reference to substances, commonly mineral oil or alum, added to vaccines to enhance antigenicity. See also freund's complete adjuvant.

 
Obscure Words: adjuvant
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[F. fr. L]  /AH juh vant/
1) serving to aid or contribute : auxiliary
2) assisting in the prevention, amelioration, or cure of disease
 
Word Tutor: adjuvant
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pronunciation

IN BRIEF: n. - An additive that enhances the effectiveness of medical treatment adj. - Enhancing the action of a medical treatment; Furnishing added support.

Tutor's tip: In the military, an "adjutant" is an assistant to the commanding officer. An "adjuvant" is a substance added to a drug to increase it's effectiveness.

 
Wikipedia: Adjuvant
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Adjuvants are pharmacological or immunological agents that modify the effect of other agents (e.g., drugs, vaccines) while having few if any direct effects when given by themselves. Types of adjuvants include:

See also

  • Combination therapy, where two medications are used to treat a condition, but the increased efficacy not necessarily relying upon interactions between the two

 
 

 

Copyrights:

Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Dental Dictionary. Mosby's Dental Dictionary. Copyright © 2004 by Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Veterinary Dictionary. Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary 3rd Edition. Copyright © 2007 by D.C. Blood, V.P. Studdert and C.C. Gay, Elsevier. All rights reserved.  Read more
Obscure Words. © 2008 by Michael A. Fischer http://home.comcast.net/~wwftd Read more
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Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Adjuvant" Read more