Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:3.1.1.7 (acetylcholinesterase)
 28,390 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The electric surface charge of erythrocytes in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) was analyzed by means of a fully automated cell electrophoretic instrument (Parmoquant-L). The electrophoretic mobility of PNH erythrocytes decreased significantly and showed a broader pattern. After a blood transfusion, erythrocytes of PNH patients showed a bimodal pattern because of the emergence of the higher mobility peak corresponding to normal erythrocytes. However, the next day after transfusion, this new peak disappeared. Furthermore, the next day after administration of Prednisolone, the main peak of the mobility pattern shifted to the higher side, and after treatment for 7 days, the pattern showed several peaks and tended to disperse. Reticulocytes had higher complement lysis sensitivity, lower cholinesterase activity and lower electric surface charge, and it was shown that PNH erythrocytes consisted of 2 populations. Studies on the electrophoretic mobility patterns of PNH erythrocytes under various conditions can be useful in understanding the properties of erythrocyte membrane surfaces.
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PMID:Changes in electrophoretic mobility pattern of erythrocytes in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. 362 55

Dexamethasone (50 microgram/kg) significantly increased the LD50 of d-tubocurarine (d-TC) when administered i.p. simultaneously with d-TC. Choline (50 and 100 mg/kg) gave some protection against the lethal effects of d-TC and the cholinesterase inhibitors neostigmine (250 microgram/kg) and physostigmine (1000 microgram/kg) provided full protection against doses of d-TC twice the LD50. The blocking effect of d-TC (75 microgram/kg) on the sciatic nerve-tibialis anterior muscle preparation was antagonized by dexamethasone. Prednisolone delayed the occurrence of a complete neuromuscular block caused by d-TC in the phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparation, and antagonized the effect of d-TC on short tetanic contractions. d-TC (5 mumol/l) inhibited the [14C]choline uptake in the endplate-rich region of the rat diaphragm during stimulation. This inhibition was antagonized by dexamethasone as well as by physostigmine. The incorporation of radioactive choline into acetylcholine was inhibited in the presence of d-TC (15 mumol/l), and both dexamethasone and physostigmine counteracted this inhibition. It is concluded from these experiments that d-TC very probably has an effect on the choline carrier system. These experimental results support the hypothesis that glucocorticoids may improve reduced muscle performance by direct presynaptic effects at the neuromuscular junction.
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PMID:Effects of corticosteroids on neuromuscular blocking actions of d-tubocurarine. 720 16

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disorder of neuromuscular transmission that is primarily caused autoantibodies specific to the neuromuscular junction and is characterized by fatigability and weakness of the striated muscles. Immunosuppression is the mainstay of treatment for MG, and patients with MG are currently treated with immunomodulating or immunosuppressive agents. This review summarizes the current situation and perspective of medical therapy for MG, focusing on mechanisms of action and clinical application of corticosteroids and different classes of immunomodulating or immunosuppressive drugs used for MG. Immunosuppressive treatment is indicated for patients with disabling weakness, not sufficiently managed with cholinesterase inhibitors. Prednisolone (PSL) is used in the great majority of patients. Tacrolimus and cyclosporine are the first-line immunosuppressants, whereas azathioprine is a conventional but less frequently used medication in Japan. The incidence of late- and elderly-onset MG is reported to be increasing. The risk of complications in corticosteroid treatment appears to depend on drug dosage, treatment duration, and patients' characteristics, and the serious side effects should be increased in late- and elderly- onset MG. Although nonspecific, current immunosuppressive treatment is highly effective in most MG patients, the need for prolonged administration and unwanted effects are still relevant limitations to its use.
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PMID:[Immunosuppressive / immunomodulating therapies in myasthenia gravis-at present and in the near future]. 2174 44