Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0015672 (fatigue)
 51,768 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

A case of a 71-year-old male with ectopic adrenocorticotropic polypeptide (ACTH)-producing thymic carcinoid tumor presenting Cushing's syndrome was reported. This patient had symptoms of fatigue and a polyposia for 2 years before a mediastinal tumor was detected. Chest computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrated an anterior mediastinal mass, and serum ACTH and cortisol level revealed very high. Secretion of cortisol was not inhibited in an 8-mg dexamethazone suppression test. We diagnosed ectopic ACTH-producing tumor, and performed complete excision of the thymus including thymic tumor. Histologically, the tumor demonstrated typical carcinoid with the positivity of ACTH immunostaining. After the operation, ACTH and cortisol levels were reduced and the clinical symptoms were improved rapidly. We have concluded that it is important to control serum perioperative cortisol level for the prevension of morbidity.
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PMID:[Thymic carcinoid tumor with Cushing syndrome]. 1826 53

A 36-year-old male was admitted to our hospital because of adrenal insufficiency. About one month before admission, he was diagnosed as pulmonary tuberculosis and started anti-tuberculosis therapy with isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide. On the tenth day, general fatigue, abdominal pain, nausea and diarrhea developed, and laboratory examination showed hyponatremia [126 mEq/l]. Enhanced CT on admission revealed bilateral adrenal mass-like enlargement, and further examination showed high level of plasma ACTH, and low level of cortisol. These findings led to a diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency caused by adrenal tuberculosis. He was treated with hydrocortisone and his signs and symptoms rapidly improved. We suppose adrenal insufficiency became clinically apparent because rifampicin reduced half-life of serum cortisol. Interestingly we observed rapid increase and decrease in size of bilateral adrenal glands on CT scan during the course.
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PMID:[A case of adrenal tuberculosis complicated with acute exacerbation of adrenal insufficiency during the initial phase of anti-tuberculosis therapy for pulmonary tuberculosis]. 1832 35

Interferon (IFN)-alpha has been used to investigate pathways by which innate immune cytokines influence the brain and behavior. Accordingly, the impact of IFN-alpha on diurnal secretion of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hormones was assessed in 33 patients eligible for treatment with IFN-alpha plus ribavirin for hepatitis C. In addition, the relationship between IFN-alpha-induced HPA axis changes and proinflammatory cytokines and behavior was examined. Plasma ACTH and cortisol as well as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin-6 and their soluble receptors, were measured hourly between 0900 and 2100 hours at baseline and following approximately 12 weeks of either no treatment (n=13) or treatment with IFN-alpha/ribavirin (n=20). Plasma IFN-alpha was also measured at each visit. Depression and fatigue were assessed using the Montgomery-Asberg depression rating scale and the multidimensional fatigue inventory. Compared to no treatment, IFN-alpha/ribavirin administration was associated with significant flattening of the diurnal ACTH and cortisol slope and increased evening plasma ACTH and cortisol concentrations. Flattening of the cortisol slope and increases in evening cortisol were correlated with increases in depression (r=0.38, P<0.05 and r=0.36, P<0.05, respectively) and fatigue (r=0.43, P<0.05 and r=0.49, P<0.01, respectively). No relationship was found between immune and HPA axis measures, although increases in plasma IFN-alpha, TNF-alpha and soluble TNF-alpha receptor2 were independently correlated with behavioral endpoints. These data indicate that chronic exposure to innate immune cytokines may contribute to the altered diurnal HPA axis activity and behavior found in medically ill individuals. However, given the lack of correlation between HPA axis and immune measures, the mechanism by which chronic cytokine exposure influences HPA axis function remains to be determined.
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PMID:Interferon-alpha effects on diurnal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity: relationship with proinflammatory cytokines and behavior. 1852 Oct 89

There is anecdotal evidence that athletes use the banned substance Synacthen because of its perceived benefit with its associated rise in cortisol. To test the performance-enhancing effects of Synacthen, eight trained cyclists completed two, 2-day exercise sessions separated by 7-10 days. On the first day of each 2-day exercise session, subjects received either Synacthen (0.25 mg, TX) or placebo (PLA) injection. Performance was assessed by a 20-km time trial (TT) after a 90-min fatigue period on day 1 and without the fatiguing protocol on day 2. Plasma androgens and ACTH concentrations were measured during the exercise bouts as well as the rate of perceived exertion (RPE). Spot urines were analyzed for androgens and glucocorticoids quantification. Basal plasma hormones did not differ significantly between PLA and TX groups before and 24 h after the IM injection (P > 0.05). After TX injection, ACTH peaked at 30 min and hormone profiles were significantly different compared to the PLA trial (P < 0.001). RPE increased significantly in both groups as the exercise sessions progressed (P < 0.001) but was not influenced by treatment. The time to completion of the TT was not affected on both days by Synacthen treatment. In the present study, a single IM injection of synthetic ACTH did not improve either acute or subsequent cycling performance and did not influence perceived exertion. The investigated urinary hormones did not vary after treatment, reinforcing the difficulty for ACTH abuse detection.
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PMID:No variation of physical performance and perceived exertion after adrenal gland stimulation by synthetic ACTH (Synacthen) in cyclists. 1858 98

Mutation in the orphan nuclear receptor DAX-1 gene causes X-linked adrenal hypoplasia congenita (AHC). Affected male children classically suffer a salt-losing crisis and adrenal insufficiency in their early infancy or, in some rare exceptions, with late-onset subtype. We report here a patient manifesting late-onset adrenal hypoplasia congenita caused by the premature truncation of the C-terminus of the DAX-1 molecule, which is essential for its function as a transcriptional repressor. A 12-year-old boy was referred to us after being afflicted with generalized skin pigmentation for about 3 years, fatigue and headache. Primary adrenal insufficiency was determined on the basis of a low plasma cortisol level (3.9 microg/dl) despite an extremely high ACTH level (1200 pg/ml). Replacement therapy with hydrocortisone and fludorocortisone acetate was initiated soon thereafter. Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism was confirmed at the age of 18 years, at which time sexual infantilism had become apparent. Direct sequencing of the peripheral lymphocyte-derived DNA revealed a novel 1033del13 mutation on the ligand-binding domain of the NR0B1 (DAX-1) gene, which generated a premature stop codon truncating the C-terminus. This mutation was considered de novo since we could not find it in his mother. This case demonstrates that even a truncated protein lacking the major functional domain of DAX-1 can present late-onset and latent adrenal failure.
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PMID:Late-onset adrenal hypoplasia congenita caused by a novel mutation of the DAX-1 gene. 1860 30

Interactions among the immune, nervous and endocrine systems, which are mediated by hormones, neuropeptides, neurotransmitters, cytokines and their receptors, appear to play an important role in modulating host susceptibility and resistance to inflammatory disease. The neuroendocrine system has two main components: the central and the peripheral. The central compartment is located in the locus ceruleus, the brainstem centers of the autonomic system and the paraventricular nucleus; the peripheral mainly consists of the sympathetic/adrenomedullary system, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA), the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, and the neuroendocrine tissue located in several organs throughout the body. Hormones and neuropeptides may influence the activities of lymphoid organs and cells via endocrine and local autocrine/paracrine pathways or alter the function of different cell types in target organs. Recent studies highlighted alterations of the neuroendocrine system in systemic autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjogren's syndrome (SS). SS, a prototype autoimmune disorder, has a wide clinical spectrum, extending from organ involvement (autoimmune exocrinopathy) to systemic disease and B cell lymphoma. In SS, several functions of the neuroendocrine system are impaired. First, the HPA axis appears to be disturbed, since significantly lower basal ACTH and cortisol levels were found in patients with SS and were associated with a blunted pituitary and adrenal response to ovine corticotropin-releasing factor compared to normal controls. Second, HPG axis is also involved, since lack of estrogens is associated with human disease and the development of autoimmune exocrinopathy in several experimental models. Finally, exocrine glands are enriched with neuroendocrine-related molecules, adjacent to local autoimmune lesions. Certain clinical manifestations of the disease, including the sicca manifestations, easy fatigue, fibromyalgia and psychological disturbances can be very well explained by mechanisms directly related to disturbances of the neuroendocrine axis. On the other hand, the molecular and biochemical effects of the inflammatory molecules or cell-to-cell interaction, observed during the local or systemic autoimmune injury with cells and mediators of the neuroendocrine system, are largely unexplored.
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PMID:Neuroendocrine dysfunction in Sjogren's syndrome. 1866 98

Bilateral adrenalectomy is the standard treatment for Cushing's syndrome (CS) related to ACTH-independent bilateral macronodular hyperplasia (AIMAH), although it imposes life-long adrenal insufficiency. This study reports a clinical case in order to discuss the clinical interest of pharmacological beta-blockade of illegitimate membrane receptors and unilateral adrenalectomy as alternatives to bilateral adrenalectomy for treatment of CS due to AIMAH. Evidence for cortisol stimulation by upright posture and insulin-induced hypoglycemia in a patient with CS related to AIMAH led us to try beta-blockers as a therapeutic test and then as a first line treatment. Thus, a 3-day beta-blocker test (320 mg/d propranolol) induced normalization of cortisol secretion, with return of hypercortisolism at the end of the test. A long term treatment with 320 mg/d propranolol allowed sustained normalization of cortisol secretion and progressive disappearance of Cushingoid features but after 8 months the patient complained of Raynaud's syndrome and fatigue. Lowering propranolol dosage or switching to atenolol was less efficient to reduce cortisol levels. Unilateral adrenalectomy was then performed as a second line treatment, leading to normalisation of the 24h urinary cortisol without adrenal insufficiency. Long term control of blood pressure and glycemia were observed during a 7-year follow-up without beta-blocker. In conclusion, a 3-day propranolol test may identify patients with AIMAH who can benefit from a long term beta-blocker treatment. In case of intolerance to beta-blocking agents, unilateral adrenalectomy may allow for long term control of Cushing's syndrome related to AIMAH without adrenal insufficiency.
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PMID:Adrenal Cushing's syndrome due to bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia: prediction of the efficacy of beta-blockade therapy and interest of unilateral adrenalectomy. 1956 7

Small-cell carcinoma (SCC) of neuroendocrine type is an uncommon tumor of the endometrium. No previous report has documented Cushing's syndrome due to ectopic ACTH production by SCC of the endometrium. We describe a 56-year-old Japanese woman with SCC of the endometrium and multiple lung metastases presenting as Cushing's syndrome. The patient was referred to our hospital because of general fatigue with facial and leg edema, and multiple nodular lesions in the bilateral lungs on chest X-ray examination. A physical examination revealed that the patient had moon face, buffalo hump, and truncal obesity. Endocrinological examinations confirmed ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome. Thoracic computed tomography imaging showed multiple nodular lesions in the bilateral lungs. Abdominal magnetic resonance imaging suggested a malignant tumor of the uterus. The patient received a lung tumor biopsy and surgical hysterectomy. The endometrial carcinoma was histologically a SCC admixed with endometrioid adenocarcinoma. The SCC of the endometrium showed immunoreactivity for pro-opiomelanocortin, ACTH, and vimentin, but not for thyroid transcription factor-1. The lung biopsy specimen had the same features. These findings indicated that the SCC originated from the endometrium, and the ectopic ACTH-producing tumor caused Cushing's syndrome. This study provides the evidence that SCC of endometrial origin was an ectopic ACTH-producing tumor causing Cushing's syndrome.
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PMID:Small-cell carcinoma of the endometrium presenting as Cushing's syndrome. 1983 52

We herein report on an 80-year old male patient with a history of muscle weakness, fatigue and weight loss since several months. Because of a pathologic synacthen test in combination with decreased levels of ACTH, we diagnosed a secondary chronic adrenal insufficiency. Because of a normochromic, normocytic, and hypo-proliferative anemia, bone marrow puncture was performed, showing an anemia of chronic disease. We initiated hydrocortisone and anemia and patients' symptoms were fully reconstituted.
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PMID:[Fatigue and anemia]. 1995 73

One of the main mechanisms of chronic fatigue syndrome development involves disturbances of interaction between the immune and neuroendocrine systems. The adequate experimental model for the search of these mechanisms is induction of fatigue in animals via the single intraperitoneal administration of synthetic double-stranded RNA - Poly I : C. Investigation of alterations in cytotoxic and proliferation activities of splenocytcs, the intensity of immunomodulatory cytokines signaling via the sphingomyelin pathways in membrane P2 fraction of the brain cortex, as well as the activity of hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal (HP A) axis in the dynamics of chronic fatigue syndrome in rats has performed. Inhibition of both cytotoxic and proliferative activities of splenocytes during the period of fatigue development has been shown. Priority data concerning the suppression of the activity of neutral sphingomyelinase (nSMase) - the key enzyme of the sphingomyelin cascade - in membranes ofthe cells from the brain cortex on the 3d day after Poly I : C administration to rats have been obtained. It was found that Poly I : C injection to rats led to disturbed HPA axis functions which was manifested by decreased corticosterone concentration in standard functional assays with ACTH and hydrocortisone administration. It is suggested that disturbances in interaction between the immune and neuroendocrine systems during development of chronic fatigue syndrome, including alterations in HPA axis activity, are realized both on the level of changes in the activity of immune-competent cells and immediately on membranes of the brain cells.
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PMID:[Cellular and molecular mechanisms of interaction between the neuroendocrine and immune systems under chronic fatigue syndrome in experiment]. 2014 Oct 43


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