Colchicine Written by NCI Thesaurus v.07.09d   

Definition of Colchicine An alkaloid isolated from Colchicum autumnale with anti-gout and anti-inflammatory activity. The exact mechanism of action by which colchicines exerts its effect has not been completely established. Colchicine binds to tubulin, thereby interfering with the polymerization of tubulin, interrupting microtubule dynamics, and disrupting mitosis. This leads to an inhibition of migration of leukocytes and other inflammatory cells, thereby reducing the inflammatory response to deposited urate crystals. Colchicine may also interrupt the cycle of monosodium urate crystal deposition in joint tissues, thereby also preventing the resultant inflammatory response. Overall, colchicine decreases leukocyte chemotaxis/migration and phagocytosis to inflamed areas, and inhibits the formation and release of a chemotactic glycoprotein that is produced during phagocytosis of urate crystals. Colchicine is from the group Colchicine-Site Binding Agent Other Names for Colchicine Colchicine (S)-N-(5,6,7,9-Tetrahydro-1,2,3,10-tetramethoxy-9-oxobenzo[a]heptalen-7-yl)acetamide COLCHICINE Source NCI Thesaurus License

 

< Prev		Next >

Common Diseases

Diabetes - disease and management information, including diagnosis, typical treatment plans and diabetes supplies.

Medical Careers

The US job market has stayed hot for health care providers. Whether you believe that a provider shortage is in the offing or that the ratio of physicians-to-patients is too high, physician jobs and nursing jobs abound.

A wide variety of medical jobs can be found in the netdoc health care job listings. Particular strengths include permanent and locum tenens physician jobs, nursing jobs across the US, and radiology positions.

Other resources include physician salary information, medical career guidance, and the ability to post physician jobs.

Medical Specialties

For specialty salary and job information, see medical specialty pages like cardiology, OB/Gyn,  and internal medicine specialty pages. Practice tools, like Psychiatry EMR and software for other specialties are available through individual specialty pages.

Medical dictionary