Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0007095 (carcinoid)
 6,990 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Seventeen patients with malignant carcinoid tumour, ten of whom had the malignant carcinoid syndrome, were treated with recombinant alpha-2b interferon by subcutaneous injection (3 MU per dose) three times per week for a median of 12 weeks (range 4-48). No objective tumour responses were observed; however, there was a greater than 50% reduction in 24-hour urinary 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (5-HIAA) excretion in four of ten patients (40%) with elevated pretreatment levels. Five of ten patients (50%) with flushing, five of seven patients (71%) with diarrhoea and both patients with wheezing experienced relief of symptoms. Three of four patients (75%) with weight loss as their only problem experienced weight gain. Responses occurred within the first eight weeks of treatment, but were generally of short duration. Toxicity occurred in all patients, and consisted mainly of fever, chills, anorexia, fatigue and weight loss. Four patients ceased therapy due to toxic reactions. Although interferon has activity against carcinoid tumours, its benefits are short-lived and toxicity limits its use with increasing dose. Patients with carcinoid syndrome appear to achieve the best therapeutic response, and it is likely that low doses (9-20 million IU weekly) are as effective as higher doses (36-72 million IU weekly).
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PMID:Recombinant alpha-2b interferon in patients with malignant carcinoid tumour. 172 59

From cumulative reported data the sensitivity of [131I]metaiodobenzylguanidine (131I-MIBG) scintigraphy of carcinoids appears to be greater than 60%; at our Institute 131I-MIBG scintigrams were positive in 51 of 70 patients with metastatic carcinoid. Twenty patients with symptomatic, metastatic disease have received 7.4 GBq doses of 131I-MIBG for palliation. Most of these patients had multiple large metastases showing no response to other therapies. No objective response (greater than 50% tumor volume reduction) was ever observed; however, 13 patients were relieved of symptoms, such as flushes, diarrhea, anorexia and pain. Palliation in some of these patients was meaningful and long lasting. Possible explanations for a palliative effect in the absence of objective remission are discussed. Treatment with escalating doses of stable MIBG (up to 80 mg) in 9 patients does not support the hypothesis that the palliation is due to a purely pharmacological effect. Palliation might be explained by the observation that carcinoid liver metastases may present both as hot and cold lesions; 131I-MIBG therapy will thus target exclusively at metabolically active metastases, which are responsible for the patient's symptoms.
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PMID:Role of [131I]metaiodobenzylguanidine therapy in carcinoids. 172 78

We are presenting 20 cases of carcinoid tumors of the digestive system. We shall evaluate: age, sex, localization and histopathology, symptomatology, therapeutics and evolution. Appendicular carcinoids were the most frequent: 13 cases. All were chance findings in the histopathological examination of surgically resected appendix in eight acute appendicitis and in four laparotomies for other reasons. Histologically the classic pattern predominated, with formation of cellular nidus, with the cells being argentaffin. These characteristics permit classifying them as tumors derived from the embrionary middle intestine. No appendicular carcinoid developed metastasis. The extirpation was always curative, partially due to the small size and to the facility of obstructing the appendicular lumen. Four cases were gastric carcinoids. Their cells grouped forming trabeculas or were arranged irregularly, being negative for argyrophil and argentic tinction (tumors derived from the cephalic intestine). Two of them presented associated peptic ulcer (histamine implication). The two remaining ones came for studies related to asthenia, anorexia and weight loss, and in both cases hepatic metastasis without carcinoid syndrome were found. Two less frequent localizations were Meckel's diverticulum and ampulla of Vater. The latter developed hepatic metastasis without carcinoid syndrome. The only carcinoid syndrome was found in a patient who died due to adult respiratory distress without having localized the primary tumor.
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PMID:[20 cases of carcinoid tumors of the digestive system]. 209 Jan 72

Twenty-seven patients with metastatic carcinoid tumor, 24 of whom had the malignant carcinoid syndrome, were treated with recombinant leukocyte A interferon at a planned dose of 24 x 10(6) U/m2. Twenty percent of patients with measurable tumor experienced an objective regression and 39% of those with the carcinoid syndrome experienced a reduction of more than 50% in urine 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5HIAA) excretion. Flushing was partially or completely relieved in 65% of patients and diarrhea was relieved in 33%. Regrettably, these favorable treatment effects were transient in nature, with objective regressions persisting for a median of only 7 weeks and hormonal responses for a median of only 4 weeks. Any therapeutic gain experienced by these patients seemed to be outweighed by the frequency and severity of toxic reactions, which consisted primarily of chills and fever, fatigue, anorexia, weight loss, leukopenia, and abnormalities of liver function. Whereas other interferons, administration by alternative dosages and regimens, or incorporation of interferons into drug combinations may merit future study, we cannot recommend recombinant leukocyte A interferon, administered by the methods we employed, for routine therapy of the carcinoid tumor or syndrome.
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PMID:Therapy of metastatic carcinoid tumor and the malignant carcinoid syndrome with recombinant leukocyte A interferon. 273 23

A 36 year old woman was admitted to the hospital in November 1983 because of her inability to walk. For 3 months prior to admission, she took oral contraceptives (OCs) as a treatment for amenorrhea. 2 months prior to admission, she had general malaise, anorexia, and unsteady gait. 1 month before her admission, tingling and numbness began in the fingertips and spread up to the forearms, a tight feeling around the waist developed, and walking became ataxic. On admission to the hospital, she was thin and pale with greying hair. Her mind was clear and there were no abnormalities of the cranial nerves. Her extremities were hypotonic but not wasted. Slight muscle weakness of the hands and feet was noted. There was myokymia in both legs. Deep tendon reflexes of the extremities were absent. The plantar responses were extensor and lack of coordination in the extremities was noted. There was a definite glove and stocking type of hypesthesia to pinprick and cotton wool. Vibration sense was decreased below T11 and lost in both legs. There was a marked loss of position sense to passive movement in the legs and some impairment in the hands. Laboratory examination revealed mild magaloblastic anemia, elevated LDH, borderline low concentration of vitamin B12 in the serum, increased excretion of methylmalonate in the urine, achylia, positive antiparietal cell antibody and positive anti-intrinsic factor antibody. Cyanocobalamin absorption by the Schilling test was 5.6% after intrinsic factor, 11.3%. The diagnosis of pernicious anemia was made. Upper gastrointestinal studies showed typical carcinoid tumors of the stomach. Cerebrospinal fluid was normal. Peripheral nerve conduction studies demonstrated normal or slightly decreased motor conduction velocities and absent sensory action potential. Sural nerve biopsy was performed. Myelinated fibers were moderately decreased in number to 5554/mm squared and pronounced loss of large myelinated fibers was demonstrated in fiber histogram. Teased method of the single fiber showed mainly axonal degeneration. Anemia and neurologic function improved rapidly with parenteral hydroxocobalamin therapy and 1 month after treatment commenced, she was able to walk without assistance. The clinical significance of peripheral nerve involvement of subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord was discussed, as the peripheral nerve affection is only poorly understood in contrast to the myelopathy. This was followed by discussion of the possible effect of the OCs and gastric carcinoid to neurological manifestation of pernicious anemia. (author's modified)
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PMID:[Subacute combined degeneration of spinal cord. Significance of peripheral nerve involvement]. 401 64

Twenty-one patients with liver metastases of various histologies (predominantly colorectal carcinoma) underwent Infusaid pump implantation for long-term hepatic arterial 5-fluorodeoxyuridine (5-FUdR) infusion. Patients received 5-FUdR infusion on a 2-wk cycle alternating with a 2-wk saline--heparin infusion. A dosage of 0.2-0.3 mg/kg/day (average 0.23 mg/kg/day) was infused for a cumulative 5-FUdR administration of 1940 days. Six patients (29%) responded to therapy (five colorectal, one carcinoid); median response duration was 6 mo. Median survival for the treated group was 17 mo from diagnosis of liver metastases and 13 mo from pump implantation. Median survival among the six responding patients was 15 mo from diagnosis of liver metastases and 11 mo from pump implantation. Comparison of survival from the diagnosis of liver metastases of the treated group to ten patients found ineligible for the study by virtue of extrahepatic metastases revealed no significant difference in median (18 mo for ineligible group) or overall survival. However, median survival for the treated group after pump implantation (13 mo) was significantly better than the median survival of the ineligible group after evaluation for this study (4 mo). Toxicities of therapy included fatigue, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, toxic hepatitis, epigastric pain, and diarrhea. No patients died of toxicity, but six patients required hospitalization for management of pain or vomiting. No serious technical complications developed in any patient except separation of the infusion catheter at its junction with the pump in one patient, necessitating pump replacement for continuation of therapy. These survival data suggest identification of new anticancer agents for hepatic arterial infusion.
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PMID:Long-term hepatic arterial infusion of 5-fluorodeoxyuridine for liver metastases using an implantable infusion pump. 619 74

The prognosis and the quality of life of patients with carcinoid tumors is related either to symptoms from the substances secreted or to progressive tumor growth. Medical treatment with cytotoxic agents is of marginal value for increasing life expectancy and reducing clinical symptoms. Recent studies with interferon have shown interesting results. In the present investigation, 22 patients with carcinoid tumors and syndrome were treated with recombinant interferon alpha-2a (r-IFN alpha-2a) at the dose of 6 x 10(6) IU intramuscularly daily for 8 weeks and three times weekly thereafter. The primary tumor was localized in the foregut (n = 11), midgut (n = 7), hindgut (n = 1), and unknown site (n = 3). Most cases had liver metastasis. Seventeen patients had elevated 5-hydroxyindoloacetic acid (5-HIAA) excretion and 5 had flushing and/or diarrhea as the only clinical manifestation. Six cases presented a complete syndrome (flushing, diarrhea and 5-HIAA excretion). Control of symptoms was obtained in 80% and a 5-HIAA level reduction in 58% of the patients. The interferon treatment was more effective for control of the carcinoid syndrome than for control of tumor growth. The treatment was well tolerated and fever, myalgia, anorexia and fatigue were the most frequent side-effects.
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PMID:Treatment of carcinoid syndrome with recombinant interferon alpha-2a. 768 66

A previously healthy man had a carcinoid tumor that caused obstruction and dilatation of the appendiceal lumen, with subsequent inflammation of the appendix. He had acute pain in the lower right abdomen, loss of appetite, constipation, pyrexia, and an increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate without leukocytosis. Although his clinical signs and symptoms subsided, the persistent pathologic finding of a large dilated appendix at examination with ultrasound warranted surgery, which, with microscopy, established the correct diagnosis.
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PMID:Appendicitis caused by carcinoid tumor. 851 20

Signalment, clinical and ultrasonographic findings from 16 dogs with histologically confirmed gastric epithelial neoplasia were reviewed. The most common clinical findings were vomiting, anorexia and weight loss. Hematemesis and melena were uncommon findings. Ten (10/16) dogs were female and there were four Chows. The most common ultrasonographic findings were transmural thickening of the gastric wall associated with altered wall layering. A poorly echogenic lining often was noted on the innermost and/or the outermost portions of the gastric wall, separated by a more echogenic central zone. The distribution of these changes was variable. This ultrasonographic feature, called pseudolayering, was present in 14 dogs. It was believed to most likely correlate to the unevenly layered tumor distribution noted histopathologically. The maximum wall thickening ranged from 1 cm to 2.7 cm. Regional lymphadenopathy was identified ultrasonographically in 15 dogs. Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy or automated microcore biopsy, endoscopic biopsy, surgical biopsy or necropsy resulted in the diagnosis of carcinoma in 15 dogs and of carcinoid tumor in one dog. The results of this study suggested that ultrasonography was a useful tool for the detection and diagnosis of canine gastric epithelial neoplasia. Furthermore, ultrasonography can assist in obtaining diagnostic samples and in clinical staging of the tumor.
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PMID:Ultrasonography of canine gastric epithelial neoplasia. 971 Jan 39

In the article we discuss the role of serotonin in maintaining homeostasis paying special attention to the endocrinological aspect of the matter. It has been proved that it contributes to hypothalamus and hypophysis secretion regulation and interferes with paracrine activity in digestive and reproductive system. It is also an important constituent of platelets and takes part in aggregation and coagulation. It is known to be an atherogenic factor and to act as a growth stimulator for blood cells. It can be produced in exceed amounts by neoplasm or be released by activated thrombocytes during stress or coagulation. The influence of this hormone on the most of regulation mechanisms seems obvious. Presence of many different receptors as well as their number in all the structures of mammalian body makes it possible to use a range of agonists and antagonists in research concerning psychiatric diseases (e.g. bulimia, anorexia, depression), Alzheimer disease, migraine, hypertension, carcinoid related syndrome, multiple endocrine neoplasms and pre-menstrual syndrome. The promising results enable to use some of the modifiers in their clinical treatment though more research is needed for fully satisfactory effects.
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PMID:[Serotonin--structure, activity and clinical significance]. 1009 81


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