Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0000727 (acute abdomen)
 3,084 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Remodeling by its very nature implies synthesis and degradation of extracellular matrix components (such as elastin, collagen, and connexins). Most of the vascular matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) are latent because of the presence of constitutive nitric oxide (NO). However, during oxidative stress peroxinitrite (ONOO-) activates the latent MMPs and instigates vascular remodeling. Interestingly, in mesenteric artery, homocysteine (Hcy) decreases the NO bio-availability, and folic acid (FA, an Hcy-lowering agent) mitigates the Hcy-mediated mesentery artery dysfunction. Dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase-2 (DDAH-2) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) increases NO production. The hypothesis was that the Hcy decreased NO bio-availability, in part, activating MMP, decreasing elastin, DDAH-2, eNOS and increased vasomotor response by increasing connexin. To test this hypothesis,the authors used 12-week-old C57BJ/L6 wild type (WT) and hyperhomocysteinemic (HHcy)-cystathione beta synthase heterozygote knockout (CBS+/-) mice. Blood pressure measurements were made by radio-telemetry. WT and MMP-9 knockout mice were administered with Hcy (0.67 mg/ml in drinking water). Superior mesenteric artery and mesenteric arcade were analyzed with light and confocal microscopy. The protein expressions were measured by western blot analysis. The mRNA levels for MMP-9 were measured by RT-PCR. The data showed decreased DDAH-2 and eNOS expressions in mesentery in CBS-/+ mice compared with WT mice. Immuno-fluorescence and western blot results suggest increased MMP-9 and connexin-40 expression in mesenteric arcades of CBS-/+ mice compared with WT mice. The wall thickness of third-order mesenteric artery was increased in CBS-/+ mice compared to WT mice. Hcy treatment increased blood pressure in WT mice. Interestingly, in MMP-9 KO, Hcy did not increase blood pressure. These results may suggest that HHcy causes mesenteric artery remodeling and narrowing by activating MMP-9 and decreasing DDAH-2 and eNOS expressions, compromising the blood flow, instigating hypertension, and acute abdomen pain.
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PMID:Mesenteric vascular remodeling in hyperhomocysteinemia. 2107 54

Crystal jelly balls are used for decorative purpose in homes and offices. They swell on contact with water. We managed a patient with a clinical diagnosis of acute abdomen. At surgery, there was fecal peritonitis and three ileal perforations caused by previously ingested decorative crystal balls.
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PMID:Decorative crystal balls causing intestinal perforation. 2189 72

Systemic childhood polyarteritis nodosa (C-PAN) is a rare primary vasculitis involving medium or small sized arteries. Abdominal angina is an important and serious complication of PAN, occurring usually 15 to 30 min after food intake, and particularly in adult patients. However, to our knowledge, this involvement as the first manifestation of C-PAN was not described. Therefore, we reported herein two C-PAN cases that fulfilled the new criteria for this vasculitis. These patients were young boys that had malignant arterial hypertension and recurrent post-prandial cramping with acute abdomen. Both of them were submitted to laparotomy that revealed multiple and diffuse intestinal necrosis. One of our cases had a severe post-prandial cramping, even after drinking water, and the laparotomy evidenced multiple intestinal perforations. In spite of use of antihypertensive therapies, immunosuppressive agents (corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide and/or methotrexate) and intravenous immunoglobulin, they died possibly due to severe and disseminated activity disease. In conclusion, we described herein the first two fatal cases of C-PAN that presented severe abdominal pain as initial manifestation. We suggest that the diagnosis of PAN should be considered in patients under acute abdominal angina with no apparent etiology.
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PMID:Severe intestinal involvement as initial manifestation of systemic childhood polyarteritis nodosa: report of two cases. 2341 78


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