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)

Tissue hypoxia elicits the production of erythropoietin (Epo), a hormone that stimulates red blood cell production. In young diving mammals, oxygen is stored primarily in the blood, and blood oxygen stores increase significantly during the first weeks of life. In an effort to establish the role of Epo during this period of blood development, this study measured Epo concentration in plasma of 134 harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) pups and adults. Concurrent measurements of hematocrit (Hct), hemoglobin concentration [Hb], and red blood cell (RBC) counts allowed the evaluation of the effect of Epo on blood oxygen store capacity. Erythropoietin and most blood parameters varied with age. At birth, neonatal [Hb], Hct, and RBC were elevated, possibly due to the rapid expansion of plasma volume associated with growth rates of 0.5 kg/day. In contrast, Epo concentration increased from 6.64 +/- 0.83 mU/ml in newborns to 9.53 +/- 0.86 mU/ml in early nursing pups. Erythropoietin concentration remained elevated above newborn and adult concentration (5.71 +/- 0.79 mU/ml) through weaning, suggesting that Epo was responding to tissue hypoxia brought on by early anemia. Since similar changes in erythropoietin have been documented in terrestrial mammals, it appears that Epo plays a similar role in the blood development of harbor seals.
Gen Comp Endocrinol 2006 Jul
PMID:Erythropoietin concentration in developing harbor seals (Phoca vitulina). 1650 Jun 52

Chicken anemia virus (CAV) is an immunosuppressive pathogen of chickens. To further examine the role of viral protein 2 (VP2), which possesses dual-specificity protein phosphatase (DSP) activity, in viral cytopathogenicity and its influence on viral growth and virulence, an infectious genomic clone of CAV was subjected to site-directed mutagenesis. Substitution mutations C87R, R101G, K102D and H103Y were introduced into the DSP catalytic motif and R129G, Q131P, R/K/K150/151/152G/A/A, D/E161/162G/G, L163P, D169G and E186G into a region predicted to have a high degree of secondary structure. All mutant constructs were infectious, but their growth curves differed. The growth curve for mutant virus R/K/K150/151/152G/A/A was similar to that for wild-type virus, a second cluster of mutant viruses had an extended latent period and a third cluster of mutant viruses had extended latent and eclipse periods. All mutants had a reduced cytopathogenic effect in infected cells and VP3 was restricted to the cytoplasm. Mutation of the second basic residue (K102D) in the atypical DSP signature motif resulted in a marked reduction in virus replication efficiency, whereas mutation of the first basic residue (R101G) attenuated cytopathogenicity, but did not reduce replication efficiency. Expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I was markedly downregulated in cells infected with wild-type CAV, but not in those infected with mutants. This study further demonstrates the significance of VP2 in CAV replication and shows that specific mutations introduced into the gene encoding this protein can reduce virus replication, cytopathogenicity and downregulation of MHC I in infected cells.
J Gen Virol 2006 Apr
PMID:Site-directed mutagenesis of the VP2 gene of Chicken anemia virus affects virus replication, cytopathology and host-cell MHC class I expression. 1652 31

Studies of infectious salmon anemia virus (ISAV; genus Isavirus, family Orthomyxoviridae) haemagglutinin-esterase (HE) gene sequences have shown that this gene provides a tool for genotyping and, hence, a tool to follow the dissemination of ISAV. The problem with using only the HE gene is that ISAV has a segmented genome and one segment may not tell the whole story about the origin and history of ISAV from outbreaks. To achieve a better genotyping system, the present study has focused on segment 5, the fusion (F) protein gene, which contains sequence variation at about the same level as the HE gene. The substitution rates of the HE and F gene sequences, based on 54 Norwegian ISAV isolates, are 6.1(+/-0.3)x10(-6) and 8.6(+/-5.0)x10(-5) nt per site per year, respectively. The results of phylogenetic analysis of the two gene segments have been compared and, with the exception of a few cases of reassortment, they tell the same story about the ISAV isolates. A combination of the two segments is recommended as a tool for future genotyping of ISAV. Inserts (INs) of 8-11 aa may occur close to the cleavage site of the precursor F(0) protein in some ISAV isolates. The nucleotide sequence of two of these INs shows 100% sequence identity to parts of the 5' end of the F protein gene, whilst the third IN is identical to a part of the nucleoprotein gene. This shows that recombination is one of the evolutionary mechanisms shaping the genome of ISAV. The possible importance of the INs with respect to virulence remains uncertain.
J Gen Virol 2006 Jul
PMID:Sequence analysis of the fusion protein gene from infectious salmon anemia virus isolates: evidence of recombination and reassortment. 1676 Apr 6

The clinical presentation of lead intoxication may vary widely and in the absence of a high clinical index of suspicion, the diagnosis may be missed. The effects of lead on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and its interaction with calcium-mediated processes explain the heterogenous presentation. In this case report, the diagnosis was finally made when bilateral wrist drop developed on top of abdominal cramps and anemia. Before, ascites raised the suspicion of a tumor. Therefore, each element of the triad of unexplained anemia, abdominal cramps, and bilateral wrist (or foot) drop should lead any physician to consider the diagnosis of lead intoxication. This case also illustrates the importance of a careful and meticulous social history in patient management.
J Gen Intern Med 2006 Jun
PMID:Plumbism or lead intoxication mimicking an abdominal tumor. 1680 30

The existence of spliced mRNA in Chicken anemia virus (CAV) was investigated, as three proteins appeared to be derived from a single 2.0 kb mRNA species. Human Torque teno virus (TTV), which displays a number of genomic similarities to CAV, is known to transcribe three mRNA species, suggesting that CAV may also have multiple mRNAs. Northern analysis of infected chicken MDCC-MSB1 cells revealed a 2.0 kb mRNA 3 h post-infection (p.i.) and additional 1.6, 1.3 and 1.2 kb bands visible at 48 and 72 h p.i. MDCC-MSB1 or COS1 cells transfected with a CAV clone showed similar results. The poly(A)+ RNA of infected cells was subjected to RT-PCR using a suite of CAV-specific primers. The major 2.0 kb RNA reacted with every primer, but the 1.3 and 1.2 kb RNAs only annealed to certain primers. The 2.0 kb mRNA had no deletions or mutations and was capable of encoding all three known CAV proteins. The 1.3 kb RNA had a splice site joining nt 1222 to nt 1814 and encoded head/tail viral protein 1 (VP1) without a frameshift. In addition, the 1.2 kb RNA possessed a splice site joining nt 994 to nt 1095 and encoded several putative, novel proteins with frameshift mutations. These splice sites conformed to the previously described GT-AG splicing rule. One further 0.8 kb RNA species appeared to be derived from a homologous recombination event. Discovery of the presence of spliced mRNA in CAV strengthens the similarity between CAV and TTV.
J Gen Virol 2006 Aug
PMID:Spliced mRNAs detected during the life cycle of Chicken anemia virus. 1684 18

The phenotypic correlates of pathogenicity for Infectious salmon anemia virus (ISAV) in salmonid fishes have not been thoroughly studied to date. In this study, a comparison was made of 13 different strains of ISAV, isolated from different geographical regions between 1997 and 2004, for their infectivity in three fish species [Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)]. When the different virus isolates were used at an approximate inoculum dose of 10(6) TCID(50) in 0.2 ml per fish, it was found that the most virulent strains had an acute mortality phase in Atlantic salmon that started at 10-13 days post-inoculation and lasted for 9-15 days with a cumulative mortality of >/=90 %. These highly pathogenic strains also caused low mortality in rainbow trout, albeit later in infection. Viruses with a more delayed or protracted mortality phase resulting in cumulative mortalities of 50-89 % in Atlantic salmon were considered to be of intermediate pathogenicity and isolates with cumulative mortalities of </=49 % were considered to be of low pathogenicity. On this basis, three of the ISAV isolates showed a high-, eight an intermediate- and two a low-pathogenicity phenotype in Atlantic salmon. Coho salmon were resistant to all ISAV isolates. These results confirmed that there is variation in pathogenicity among ISAV strains for Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout, and that other salmonid species such as coho salmon can carry highly pathogenic strains of ISAV without showing signs of disease. The identified pathogenicity phenotypes may aid in the identification of molecular markers of ISAV virulence.
J Gen Virol 2006 Sep
PMID:In vivo correlates of infectious salmon anemia virus pathogenesis in fish. 1689 4

The anti-neoplastic effect of chicken anemia virus VP3 protein (apoptin) was investigated in vitro in Rous sarcoma virus (RSV)-transformed chicken embryo fibroblast (CEF) cells and in RSV-induced tumours of specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chicks in vivo. The apoptin gene was cloned in the pVAX expression vector and in vitro expression of the recombinant vector pVAX-CAV-VP3 was confirmed. Two groups of SPF chicks, each containing ten chicks, were used. Chicks in groups I and II were inoculated with RSV at 1 day old. Group I served as the control, receiving pVAX vector without insert, and group II received recombinant vector pVAX-CAV-VP3 containing the apoptin gene, on day 10. An in vitro study confirmed that apoptin induced apoptosis in RSV-transformed CEF cells, which was demonstrated by observation of the characteristic changes of apoptosis using the indirect immunofluorescence technique and acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining. In vivo study also indicated that apoptin induced apoptosis and caused tumour regression by an intratumoral-delivery method. Apoptotic changes, such as nuclear condensation, fragmentation of the chromatin and formation of apoptic bodies in the tumour cells, were demonstrated by histopathology and acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining. No apoptotic changes were seen in the tumours of the control group. The results of the present study showed that apoptin had an anti-neoplastic effect in vivo and in vitro in RSV-induced tumours. The anti-neoplastic effect is due to apoptin-induced apoptosis. Further improvements in the dose, delivery method and delivery frequency of the apoptin-expressing recombinant vector could help to develop apoptin as an anti-neoplastic drug.
J Gen Virol 2006 Oct
PMID:Anti-neoplastic effect of chicken anemia virus VP3 protein (apoptin) in Rous sarcoma virus-induced tumours in chicken. 1696 52

The equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) donkey-leukocyte attenuated vaccine (DLV) has been used to protect against equine infectious anaemia (EIA) disease for several decades in China. The attenuated mechanism and immunological protective mechanisms remain to be elucidated. To identify responses that correlate with the protection against disease, we immunized horses with DLV, followed by challenge with an EIAV wild-type strain LN. All vaccinated horses were asymptomatic and had a low level of virus replication (<10 copies ml-1). The expression level of cytokines including gamma interferon, interleukin 2 and 12 in DLV immunized horses was 5-100-fold higher than that in non-vaccinated controls (n=4, P<0.01). After challenge with virulent LN, horses vaccinated with DLV showed lower viral loads (<10(3) copies ml-1) with no temperature increase, except for one transient febrile episode in one animal. In contrast, horses in the non-vaccinated control group experienced much higher viral loads (>10(7) copies ml-1) and intermittent febrile episodes. Cytokine production in the DLV-vaccinated horses increased and attained a plateau level at approximately 50 days post-vaccination, and exceeded 10(7) copies per 10(7) peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) 1-3 months post-challenge. However, non-vaccinated control horses died after several fever episodes (>or=39 degrees C), which coincided with higher viral load (10(6)-10(7) copies ml-1) and lower cytokine production (<10(4) copies per 10(7) PBMCs). The results indicate that high levels of EIAV-specific cytokines induced by the attenuated EIAV vaccine may contribute to the protective immune response against EIA disease.
J Gen Virol 2007 Mar
PMID:Correlation between the induction of Th1 cytokines by an attenuated equine infectious anemia virus vaccine and protection against disease progression. 1732 74

Hepatic encephalopathy and myxedema coma share clinical features: coma, ascites, anemia, impaired liver functions, and a "metabolic" electroencephalogram (EEG). Hyperammonemia, a hallmark of hepatic encephalopathy, has also been described in hypothyroidism. Differentiation between the 2 conditions, recognition of their possible coexistence, and the consequent therapeutic implications are of utmost importance. We describe a case of an 82-year-old woman with a history of mild chronic liver disease who presented with hyperammonemic coma unresponsive to conventional therapy. Further investigation disclosed severe hypothyroidism. Thyroid hormone replacement resulted in gain of consciousness and normalization of hyperammonemia. In patients with an elevated ammonia level, altered mental status, and liver disease, who do not have a clear inciting event for liver disease decompensation, overwhelming evidence of hepatic decompensation, or who do not respond to appropriate therapy for hepatic encephalopathy, hypothyroidism should be considered and evaluated.
J Gen Intern Med 2007 Apr
PMID:Hyperammonemic coma--barking up the wrong tree. 1737 8

We report a case of acute lead poisoning in an adult female who had last been exposed to lead 7 years ago. She presented with abdominal pain, knee pain, and neurological symptoms, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and anemia with basophilic stippling and lead gum lines. Compared to during her recent pregnancy, her lead level had almost tripled in 5 months to 81 mcg/dL. Chelation therapy was initiated and improved the patient's symptoms and lead level significantly. In the absence of any new lead exposure or other reasons for increased bone turnover, this acute lead increase was likely due to skeletal mobilization caused by increased resorption from mineralized tissue during and after her pregnancy. This case report illustrates the seriousness of long-term health effects associated with lead poisoning at a multi-organ level, even years after the initial exposure. Thus, patient care should not be limited to the acute treatment of increased lead levels, but also include prevention of increased mobilization and bone turnover and appropriate patient education. In this context, we review various aspects of lead toxicity, especially during pregnancy and lactation.
J Gen Intern Med 2007 Aug
PMID:Lead poisoning in an adult: lead mobilization by pregnancy? 1756 16


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