thalidomide

Thân thiện

Definition

Noun: 1. A pharmaceutical drug: A sedative and hypnotic drug, originally prescribed in the late 1950s and early 1960s to treat conditions like morning sickness and anxiety. 2. A teratogenic agent: This drug was withdrawn from global sale after it was discovered to cause severe birth defects, notably phocomelia (malformation of limbs), when taken during pregnancy. Its mechanism of harm involves the inhibition of angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels), which is crucial for fetal development.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Thalidomide was once marketed as a safe treatment for morning sickness.
  • The tragic consequences of thalidomide led to major reforms in drug testing and regulation.
  • Research into thalidomide has provided significant insights into the process of angiogenesis.

Advanced Usage

• Historical and regulatory context: The word is almost exclusively used in historical, medical, ethical, or regulatory contexts. It serves as a seminal case study in pharmacology, medical ethics, and the importance of rigorous drug safety testing, particularly for pregnant women.
  • The thalidomide disaster is a cornerstone lesson in medical history.
• Modern therapeutic use: In controlled settings, and its derivatives are used to treat certain modern conditions, such as erythema nodosum leprosum (a complication of leprosy) and multiple myeloma (a type of blood cancer), due to its immunomodulatory and anti-angiogenic properties. This usage is always under strict supervision due to the known risks.
  • Due to its severe risks, thalidomide is prescribed under a strict risk-management program.

Variants and Related Words

• Thalidomide disaster / scandal (noun phrase): Refers to the historical event and its consequences in the 1960s.
• Thalidomide survivor (noun phrase): An individual born with birth defects caused by the drug.
• Teratogen (noun): A broader term for any agent that can cause birth defects. is a specific, infamous example of a teratogen.

Synonyms

• Sedative-hypnotic (noun, in its original use context): A drug that calms or induces sleep.
• Teratogen (noun): A substance that causes developmental malformations.

Related Terms and Concepts

• Phocomelia (noun): A congenital malformation, characterized by shortened or absent limbs, famously associated with exposure.
• Angiogenesis inhibitor (noun phrase): A substance that blocks the formation of new blood vessels. This is the pharmacological property of that causes its teratogenic effects and is exploited in its modern cancer treatments.
• Teratogenicity (noun): The capability of causing birth defects.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a sedative and hypnotic drug; withdrawn from sale after discovered to cause severe birth defects because it inhibits angiogenesis