Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0013421 (dystonia)
 8,418 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Migraine is a chronic headache disorder manifesting in attacks lasting 4-72 hours. Characteristics of headache are unilateral location, pulsating quality, moderate or severe intensity, aggravation by routine physical activity, and association with nausea, photophobia and phonophobia. The migraine aura is a complex of neurological symptoms, which occurs just before or at the onset of migraine headache. Botulinum toxin A represents a completely new option for patients with chronic pain conditions. Numerous retrospective open-label chart reviews and 4 double-blind, placebo-controlled studies have demonstrated that botulinum toxin type A is significantly effective in migraine prophylaxis and reduces the frequency, severity, and disability associated with migraine headaches. Studies have generally reported a good and consistent efficacy. The differential therapeutic use of botulinum toxin appears to be worth attempting in migraine patients with the following characteristic features: (1) Muscular stress as migraine trigger, e. g., in craniocervical dystonia, pericranial painful muscular trigger points or tender points, oromandibular dysfunction, (2) concurrent chronic tension-type headache with the aggravating factors of muscular stress or oromandibular dysfunction, (3) chronic migraine with frequent migraine attacks on more than 15 days per month for longer than 3 months and if other therapeutic options have been either ineffective or have not been tolerated. The use of the agent does not cause CNS side effects. Migraine patients in particular, often suffer greatly, as a result of the adverse effects of the drugs used, from fatigue, dizziness, reduced concentration, loss of appetite, weight gain, hair loss and changes in libido. These side effects are not known in association with botulinum toxin A. To date, neither organic damage nor allergic complications have been reported. Thus, both the tolerability and the safety of this therapeutic measure are high. The mode of action by which botulinum toxin is effective in migraine prophylaxis is not fully understood and is under investigation. Currently, a number of other randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trials are being conducted to evaluate the efficacy, optimal dosing, and side-effect profile of botulinum toxin type A in the prophylaxis of migraine and other headache entities.
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PMID:Botulinum toxin in migraine prophylaxis. 1499 36

We describe two boys whose distinct and remarkable clinical pictures suggested the possibility of anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antibody encephalitis. Both patients responded to immunotherapy, but neither manifested that antibody. Patient 1 exhibited florid encephalopathy with psychotic manifestations including inappropriate affect, intermittent delirium, visual hallucinations, severe anorexia, agitation, paranoid ideation, and abnormal electroencephalogram results. He responded to intravenous immunoglobulin, with steady improvement over 3 months to almost complete remission for 1 year, followed by a relapse that again responded, more quickly, to intravenous immunoglobulin. A second relapse occurred 1 month later, and again responded to intravenous immunoglobulin. Patient 2 exhibited progressive, severely debilitating limb dystonia that worsened over 1.5 years, with milder psychiatric symptoms including mood instability, aggressiveness, impulsivity, and depression. When he developed thymic hyperplasia 1.5 years into his illness, he underwent a thymectomy, and improved significantly on a regimen of plasmapheresis and intravenous immunoglobulin. Patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of autoimmune encephalitis, but without antibodies, may still respond to immunotherapy.
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PMID:Two patients with an anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antibody syndrome-like presentation and negative results of testing for autoantibodies. 2211 8

The cannabis plant has been known to humanity for centuries as a remedy for pain, diarrhea, and inflammation. Current research has shown cannabis to be a useful remedy for many diseases, including multiple sclerosis, dystonia, and chronic pain. Cannabinoids are used to improve food intake in anorexia of AIDS patients and to prevent vomiting due to cancer chemotherapy. In inflammatory conditions cannabinoids improve pain in rheumatoid arthritis and pain and diarrhea in Crohn's disease. Cannabinoids reduce the size of brain infarct and cardiac reperfusion injury. However, cannabinoid treatment is not free of side effects including euphoria, psychosis, anxiety, paranoia, dependence and abuse. Since the cannabinoid system is involved in many physiological and pathological processes, the therapeutic potential is great. We must not be blind to the opportunity offered to us by medical cannabis just because it is an illicit drug, nor should we be temped by the quick response of patients to the central effect of cannabis. More research is warranted to explore the full potential of cannabis as medicine.
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PMID:[Medical cannabis: the opportunity versus the temptation]. 2235 84

Cannabis has been used as a medicinal plant for thousands of years. As a result of centuries of breeding and selection, there are now over 700 varieties of cannabis that contain hundreds of compounds, including cannabinoids and terpenes. Cannabinoids are fatty compounds that are the main biological active constituents of cannabis. Terpenes are volatile compounds that occur in many plants and have distinct odors. Cannabinoids exert their effect on the body by binding to receptors, specifically cannabinoid receptors types 1 and 2. These receptors, together with endogenous cannabinoids and the systems for synthesis, transport, and degradation, are called the Endocannabinoid System. The two most prevalent and commonly known cannabinoids in the cannabis plant are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol. The speed, strength, and type of effects of cannabis vary based on the route of administration. THC is rapidly distributed through the body to fatty tissues like the brain and is metabolized by the cytochrome P450 system to 11-hydroxy-THC, which is also psychoactive. Cannabis and cannabinoids have been indicated for several medical conditions. There is evidence of efficacy in the symptomatic treatment of nausea and vomiting, pain, insomnia, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, loss of appetite, Tourette's syndrome, and epilepsy. Cannabis has also been associated with treatment for glaucoma, Huntington's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, and dystonia, but there is not good evidence to support its efficacy. Side effects of cannabis include psychosis and anxiety, which can be severe. Here, we provided a summary of the history of cannabis, its pharmacology, and its medical uses.
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PMID:A Brief Background on Cannabis: From Plant to Medical Indications. 3013 15