Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0017160 (gastroenteritis)
 11,398 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The present paper further links nervous-endocrine-immune systems by describing influences of SP on the immune system, and more specifically, on macrophage function. We have discussed how macrophages are important to immune responses in that much of cellular and humoral responses depend on macrophage function. Macrophages are sensitive to stress in that cold-water stress causes increased cytokine production, either spontaneously (IL-1), or after induction with LPS (IL-6, TNF alpha). Increased cytokine levels (IL-1, IL-6) may induce acute phase reactants in the liver, which is presumably the mechanism operative in the studies indicating increases in acute phase reactants after certain stressors in animals. SP is a likely candidate to affect immune function. Previous data show that macrophages from various species have receptors for and respond to SP in vitro. SP stimulates phagocytic and chemotactic capacity, as well as increased cytokine, PGE2, and thromboxane B2 production. SP is also involved in neurogenic inflammation and is likely to be involved in the pathogenesis of several inflammatory diseases. Present data indicate SP's involvement in macrophage responses to stress. We have shown that stress induced differential SP receptor binding to peritoneal macrophages, although the precise nature of binding differences has not yet been clearly elucidated. Stress also induces more immunoreactive SP in the peritoneal fluid that bathes the peritoneal macrophages. We hypothesize that the two events, altered SP binding and concomitant increased ligand, are causally related. In addition to other correlational data showing concomitant increased SP binding plus ligand concentrations, there is more direct evidence that SP ligand may induce SP receptor expression since the SP antagonist, CP-96,345, prevents the induction of SP receptor mRNA in the staphylococcal toxin A-induced gastroenteritis (C. Pothoulakis and S. E. Leeman, personal communication). Further supporting our notion for a causal relationship we have found the elimination of SP in vivo (via capsaicin pretreatment) reduced SP binding, as has been previously reported. We have also examined the role of SP on stress-induced altered macrophage function in vitro. SP greatly enhanced the LPS-induced macrophage TNF alpha production from stressed animals; in contrast, it produced relatively little effect on macrophages from control animals. Capsaicin pretreatment diminished the enhanced cytokine production in response to stress, such that levels of TNF alpha and IL-6 approximated those of control mice. Taken together, past and present data suggest that (1) stress may initiate, or at least contribute to, an inflammatory response, and that (2) SP is involved in the macrophage stress response. SP has long been known to be involved in inflammatory processes; our data further suggest its role in mediating stress-induced cytokine alterations.
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PMID:Substance P and stress-induced changes in macrophages. 859 23

Of 1,500 different types of Norwegian mushrooms, 60-100 are considered poisonous. Fatal intoxications occur very infrequently. Lack of knowledge of picking and preparing mushrooms and accidental or deliberate consumption are recognised causes of mushroom poisoning. Delayed onset of symptoms (> 5-6 hrs) indicates serious poisoning, and these patients must be admitted to hospital. Cytotoxic toxins (e.g. amatoxin, orellanin) cause serious damage to the visceral organs (liver, kidney) and require intensive treatment, including hemoperfusion. Neurotoxic toxins may cause dramatic, but less harmful peripheral or central symptoms affecting the peripheral and central nervous systems, including hallucinations. Some mushrooms cause gastroenteritis of low clinical significance within a few hours after consumption. Interaction between mushrooms and alcohol may lead to a disulfiram-like effect. Induced vomiting and activated charcoal are important initial therapeutic measures. The precise history of the patient and the collecting of mushroom remnants, including vomitus, may help to identify the particular mushroom. In Norway, the National Poison Information Centre may be contacted for further advice.
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PMID:[Poisonous mushrooms, mushroom poisons and mushroom poisoning. A review]. 941 93