Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0002871 (anemia)
 52,094 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Hypogonadism in male hemodialysis patients has been previously reported. However, its precise pathogenesis has not yet been clarified. Mepitiostane and nandrolone decanoate are anabolic steroids prescribed for uremic anemia, and those may possibly exacerbate uremic gonadal damage. We studied the influences of these steroids on male gonadal function. Seventy-six hemodialysis patients were selected and examined for levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicular stimulating hormone (FSH), total testosterone, and prolactin. Twenty-three patients who received anabolic steroids showed lower testosterone values (205.2 +/- 35.6 ng/dl) than did patients without these steroids (449.7 +/- 21.3 ng/dl). Gonadotropins and prolactin showed no significant differences between the patients with and without the steroids. The testosterone values of three patients with mepitiostane increased after they stopped taking steroids. One patient suffering from complete aspermia recovered (sperm count: 0/ml to 1300 x 10(4)/ml) after discontinuation of mepitiostane and administration of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). This clinical study suggests that some anabolic steroids play a role in uremic hypogonadism; thus mepitiostane or its analogues should be carefully prescribed for young male patients.
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PMID:Anabolic steroid-associated hypogonadism in male hemodialysis patients. 280 60

On the basis of results obtained with other malignancies, the usefulness of serum ferritin as a tumor marker in the diagnosis of testicular tumors was studied. In 68 patients with malignant testicular tumors and 22 patients with benign testicular processes, serial determinations of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-HCG), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and serum ferritin were performed. The serum ferritin values showed no relationship to tumor stage, and no difference in nonseminomatous and seminomatous tumors. In particular, no diagnostic improvement was achieved in those cases in which the conventional markers AFP and beta-HCG were unsuccessful (falsely negative results). Furthermore, serum ferritin values were influenced by hepatic factors and anemia, so that serum ferritin - on the basis of the present material-could not be considered a useful tumor marker in testicular malignancies. Further studies on the determination of carcinofetal isoferritin and other new tumor markers are warranted.
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PMID:Ferritin - another tumor marker for testicular malignancies. 616 31

An anemia-inducing substance was isolated from the human placenta and designated placental anemia-inducing factor (PAIF). An amount of 2.8 mg was purified from about 70 total placentas (total wet weight, 42 kg). PAIF caused hemolysis of human erythrocytes in vitro and reduced the number of erythrocytes in rabbits to 80% of that in the control by i.v. administration of 27 micrograms/kg of body weight. PAIF is a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of about 20,000 and containing about 56% sugar. Radioimmunoassay using 125I-labeled PAIF and antiserum revealed a common antigenicity with crude anemia-inducing substance in sera from patients with cancer. No cross-reactions were observed between PAIF and alpha-fetoprotein, carcinoembryonic antigen, Australia antigen, human chorionic gonadotropin, or human placental lactogen. The level of anemia-inducing factor in normal serum was less than 100 ng/ml, whereas 43 of 63 cancer patients (68.3%) had over 100 ng/ml of serum anemia-inducing factor. Anemia-inducing factor assay may provide a means of detection and aid in the treatment of malignant diseases.
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PMID:Purification of an anemia-inducing factor from human placenta and its application to diagnosis of malignant neoplasms. 737 Oct

Environmental factors that influence placental development are of particular interest because of the reported association between adult hypertension, low birthweight, and large placental size. Maternal anaemia is one environmental factor that is associated with an increase in placental size at birth. We have examined the relation between haematological status and plasma concentrations of chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and placental lactogen (hPL) in 175 women at about 10 weeks of pregnancy. There were significant negative correlations between maternal haemoglobin concentration and the levels of hCG (p = 0.03) and hPL (p = 0.02). Although 21% of women had low iron stores (ferritin < 13 micrograms/L), no relation was found between serum ferritin and the two placental hormones. There was no association between plasma volume (calculated from maternal weight and height) and hCG or hPL concentrations. We conclude that our observations reflect an influence of the maternal environment on the placenta. The fact that negative correlations with placental hormone concentrations exist across the normal haemoglobin range suggest that they reflect a normal aspect of placental development. We speculate that placental growth is, in part, determined by maternal factors that prevail before conception. One possibility is that these factors modify angiogenesis within the trophoblastic villi.
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PMID:Relation between maternal haemoglobin and placental hormone concentrations in early pregnancy. 747 35

Male hypogonadism is characterised by androgen deficiency and infertility. Hypogonadism can be caused by disorders at the hypothalamic or pituitary level (hypogonadotropic forms) or by testicular dysfunction (hypergonadotropic forms). Testosterone substitution is necessary in all hypogonadal patients, because androgen deficiency causes slight anemia, changes in coagulation parameters, decreased bone density, muscle atrophy, regression of sexual function and alterations in mood and cognitive abilities. Androgen replacement comprises injectable forms of testosterone as well as implants, transdermal systems, sublingual, buccal and oral preparations. Transdermal systems provide the pharmacokinetic modality closest to natural diurnal variations in testosterone levels. New injectable forms of testosterone are currently under clinical evaluation (testosterone undecanoate, testosterone buciclate), allowing extended injection intervals. If patients with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism wish to father a child, spermatogenesis can be initiated and maintained by gonadotropin therapy (conventionally in the form of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) or, more recently, purified or recombinant follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)). Apart from this option, patients with disorders at the hypothalamic level can be stimulated with pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Both treatment modalities have to be administered on average for 7-10 months until pregnancy is achieved. In individual cases, treatment may be necessary for up to 46 months. Testosterone treatment is interrupted for the time of GnRH of gonadotropin therapy, but resumed after cessation of this therapy.
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PMID:Hormone substitution in male hypogonadism. 1077 95

Intraplacental choriocarcinoma is very rare, and is usually found only after maternal and fetal metastatic disease is identified. The purpose of this case report is to review the incidence and findings of intraplacental choriocarcinoma. A term placenta was investigated because the newborn was born with severe anemia (Hb 3.0 g/dL). A 2 cm nodule was noted on the surface of the amniotic membrane and grossly resembled an infarction. The tumor was examined microscopically with immunohistochemical staining for the alpha- and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (alpha-hCG, beta-hCG) subunits, human placental lactogen (hPL) and Ki-67. Microscopically, the tumor consisted of necrotic areas with proliferation of atypical trophoblastic cells and destruction of the villi and capillaries. The cells were positive for the alpha-hCG, beta-hCG subunits, hPL and Ki-67, consistent with intraplacental choriocarcinoma. The mother and newborn were investigated for the presence of metastatic disease. Computed tomography scans and magnetic resonance imaging of the mother and infant were negative for metastatic disease. Choriocarcinoma, limited only to the placenta with no evidence of metastatic disease is very rare. Primary intraplacental choriocarcinoma may frequently be overlooked or missed, and choriocarcinoma may possibly arise in the placenta more often than in retained or persistent trophoblast following pregnancy.
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PMID:Intraplacental choriocarcinoma with fetomaternal transfusion. 1079 92

Only about half of patients with a poor-prognosis non-seminomatous germ-cell tumours can achieve a cure. The aim of this phase II study was to assess the efficacy and toxicity of a dose-dense alternating chemotherapy regimen in this subset of patients. High volume non-seminomatous germ-cell tumours was defined as follows: at least two sites of non pulmonary metastases, an extragonadal primary tumour, a serum human chorionic gonadotropin level higher than 10 000 mIU x ml(-1), or a alpha-foetoprotein level higher than 2000 mIU ml(-1). Patients who fulfilled these criteria were treated with the so-called BOP-CISCA-POMB-ACE regimen (bleomycin, vincristine, and cisplatin; cisplatin, cyclophosphamide, and doxorubicin; cisplatin, vincristine, methotrexate, and bleomycin; etoposide, dactinomycin, and cyclophosphamide) plus granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. A total of 58 patients were enrolled. Patients were retrospectively classified according to the International Germ-Cell Cancer Consensus Group classification; 38 patients (66%) had poor-prognosis disease and 19 patients (33%) had intermediate-prognosis. Patients received a median of 2.5 courses (range 0.25 to five courses) of the BOP-CISCA-POMB-ACE regimen. Forty-two patients (72.4%) had a complete response to therapy. With a median follow-up time of 31 months, the 3-year progression-free survival rate was 71% (95% confidence interval, 60 to 84%) and the 3-year overall survival rate was 73% (95% confidence interval: 62 to 86%). The 3-year PFS rates were 83% (95% confidence interval: 68 to 100%) in the intermediate-prognosis group and 65% (95% confidence interval: 51 to 82%) in the poor-prognosis group. Early side effects included mainly grade 4 haematologic toxicity (neutropaenia in 79% of patients, thrombocytopaenia in 69%, anaemia in 22%), grade 4 stomatitis (19%), and four early deaths (7% of patients), at least partially related to toxicity. The dose-dense BOP-CISCA-POMB-ACE regimen is highly active in patients with non-seminomatous germ-cell tumours classified as intermediate-prognosis or poor-prognosis according to the International Germ-Cell Cancer Consensus Group. Because outcomes with this regimen compare favourably with outcome after standard therapy, dose-dense chemotherapy should be further investigated in this subset of patients.
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PMID:Alternating dose-dense chemotherapy in patients with high volume disseminated non-seminomatous germ cell tumours. 1208 4

Choriocarcinoma is a malignant growth of trophoblastic cells characterized by secretion of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Infantile choriocarcinoma is a very rare tumor, which is a complication of gestational choriocarcinoma and usually had very poor prognosis before chemotherapy was used. We report 1 new case as well as a review of the literature since 1945. Our case report describes the successful treatment by chemotherapy of a newborn with cerebral metastasis. Several features are important: Infantile choriocarcinoma occurs in infants aged 0 to 6 months. Anemia, hepatomegaly and hemorrhagic syndromes are the main symptoms with sometimes cerebral, cutaneous or ear-nose and throat localisations. But diagnosis can be difficult when clinical symptoms are poor. The main diagnostic criterion is a very high plasmatic or urinary level of hCG or beta-hCG in the newborn. Histological pattern is not mandatory for diagnosis. Thoracoabdominal CT scan and cerebral MRI are necessary to find metastases. Recommended treatment is chemotherapy and surgery is discussed when a tumoral residue remains. Post-treatment surveillance is based on clinical and radiological examination as well as negativation of beta-hCG. Choriocarcinoma occurring simultaneously in mother and child have been reported. Therefore it is necessary to assay maternal serum beta-hCG when infantile choriocarcinoma is disclosed and to assay serum beta-hCG in the newborn when the mother has gestational choriocarcinoma. Infantile choriocarcinoma is a very chemosensitive tumor and is thereby potentially curable. Early diagnosis is the most important prognostic factor.
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PMID:[Infantile choriocarcinoma: an uncommon and curable tumor]. 1627 51

Erythropoietin, or Epo, is a hematopoietic cytokine that promotes erythropoiesis, and recombinant human Epo has been used in the treatment of anemia in various chronic diseases. Here, we have constructed novel Epo derivatives with prolonged half-lives by adding peptides to the carboxy terminus of Epo without using linkers. The fused peptides were selected from the carboxy terminal region of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) or human thrombopoietin (hTpo), which promote the proper folding, secretion, and stabilization of bioactive glycoproteins. Addition of these peptides did not interfere with secretion or receptor binding, and significantly increased the in vivo half-life of human Epo, as measured by intravenous administration in rats. The plasma half-life of the Epo constructs was longest when the carboxy terminal 28 aa of the beta subunit of hCG was added (Epo-CGC), a half-life that was slightly longer than NESP (Aranesp), which is the most effective Epo product in current clinical use. The transformation of four Ser glycosylation sites to Ala on the CGC sequence also lengthened the plasma half-life of Epo, indicating that the in vivo stabilizing effect of the hCG peptide was due to both structures within the peptide itself and its O-glycosylations. The application of the carboxy terminal half of hTpo also resulted in remarkably reduced elimination of the Epo chimera (Epo-TpC), possibly due to protection by the TpC sequence. The in vivo hematopoietic activity of Epo derivatives in mice was consistent with their pharmacokinetic profiles. Therefore, these derivatives with prolonged half-lives may provide opportunities for developing new Epo therapeutics with less frequent administration.
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PMID:The prolonged half-lives of new erythropoietin derivatives via peptide addition. 1631 54

Human erythropoietin (EPO) is a glycoprotein hormone secreted from the kidney and controls red blood cell production. EPO has a wide clinical use in the treatment of anemia associated with renal disease, certain chronic diseases, and anemia related to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. One major issue regarding the clinical use of EPO is its relatively short half-life due to its clearance by glomerular filtration. Thus, the therapeutic protocol used in the treatment of patient-required frequent injections of EPO. To address this issue, we constructed a chimeric gene that contains the sequence of the carboxyl-terminal peptide (CTP) of human chorionic gonadotropin-beta subunit bearing four O-linked oligosaccharide recognition sites and the coding sequence of human EPO cDNA. Fusing the CTP to the carboxyl-terminal of EPO did not affect secretion, receptor binding affinity, or in vitro bioactivity. However, both in vivo potency and half-life of EPO-CTP were significantly enhanced. A single injection dose (660 IU/kg) of EPO wild-type administered once a week had no significant effect on haematocrit levels. However, EPO-CTP administered as 660 IU/kg once a week was effective as well as the same total dose of EPO wild-type administered as 220 IU/kg three times a week. This may emphasize the importance of sustained blood levels rather than total dose of administration for in vivo bioactivity. These data established the rationale for using this chimera as a long-acting EPO analog. The therapeutic efficacy of EPO-CTP analog needs to be established in higher animals and human clinical trials.
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PMID:Development of a long-acting erythropoietin by fusing the carboxyl-terminal peptide of human chorionic gonadotropin beta-subunit to the coding sequence of human erythropoietin. 1764 Oct


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