Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0018681 (headache)
 56,091 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Thirty-three patients with metastatic brain neoplasms of various types received glycerol instead of corticosteroids during periods of brain irradiation. In the 25 symptomatic patients, responses from this treatment were seen in those patients whose primary symptom was vomiting (ten of 12 patients), headache (nine of ten), papilledema (five of nine), paralysis (six of eight), confusion (six of seven), and dysphasia (four of six). Glycerol was well tolerated; it did not induce immunosuppression when administered in combination with radiotherapy and chemoimmunotherapy. Further investigation is indicated to compare its efficacy with that of dexamethasone.
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PMID:Glycerol: a successful alternative to dexamethasone for patients receiving brain irradiation for metastatic disease. 68 48

Forty-four patients with metastatic brain neoplasms received glycerol instead of corticosteroids during periods of brain irradiation. Headache, nausea, and vomiting were controlled in more than 90% of symptomatic patients, while paralysis, confusion, and papilledema improved in 55% to 80%. Patients with minimal or no symptoms remained stable. Patients with moderate or severe symptoms had significant improvement during the first week and substantial improvement during the second week of treatment. Glycerol did not induce immunosuppression when administered in combination with radiotherapy and chemoimmunotherapy. Patients with malignant melanoma had longer survival when treated with glycerol instead of corticosteroids.
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PMID:Glycerol: an alternative to dexamethasone for patients receiving brain irradiation for metastatic disease. 699 10

Glycerol is a known agent in the therapy of chronic tic douloureux. It has been used for about 20 years in percutaneous, retrogasserian minimal-invasive rhizotomy, although the pharmacological mechanism of the pain relief involved remains unclear. To investigate glycerol treatment as a possible replacement for invasive approaches in the therapy of chronic cervicogenic headaches, we performed an experimental study on the pathomorphologic action of anhydrous glycerol injection into the second upper cervical dorsal root ganglion (DRG) of rats. Glycerol injections into the second cervical ganglion were investigated light- and electron-microscopically in a series of 40 rats for survival times of up to 30 days. We detected an unspecific overall effect on sensory neurons and satellite cells, as well as on myelinated and unmyelinated axons and Schwann cells. This could be detected after 5 days and sometimes led to degeneration of most of the neurons. Contralateral saline injections as a control showed no morphological effects. The loss of afferent fiber connections to the posterior horn of the myelon could be detected by immunohistochemical labeling of reactive astrocytes. Our results show a glycerol-induced deterioration of the cytoarchitecture of the neurons and their glial satellite cells. The effects on the ganglion cells appear to have been mediated by membrane disturbances and loss of glial integrity. These observations are contrary to previously reported results indicating the specific effect of glycerol on thin myelinated sensory axons.
Cephalalgia 1998 Nov
PMID:Glycerol gangliotomy of the second dorsal cervical root in rats: an experimental study to evaluate a minimal invasive approach for the treatment of the chronic cervicogenic headache. 987 84

1. Nitroglycerine (NG) was discovered in 1847 by Ascanio Sobrero in Turin, following work with Theophile-Jules Pelouze. Sobrero first noted the 'violent headache' produced by minute quantities of NG on the tongue. 2. Constantin Hering, in 1849, tested NG in healthy volunteers, observing that headache was caused with 'such precision'. Hering pursued NG ('glonoine') as a homeopathic remedy for headache, believing that its use fell within the doctrine of 'like cures like'. 3. Alfred Nobel joined Pelouze in 1851 and recognized the potential of NG. He began manufacturing NG in Sweden, overcoming handling problems with his patent detonator. Nobel suffered acutely from angina and was later to refuse NG as a treatment. 4. During the mid-19th century, scientists in Britain took an interest in the newly discovered amyl nitrite, recognized as a powerful vasodilator. Lauder Brunton, the father of modern pharmacology, used the compound to relieve angina in 1867, noting the pharmacological resistance to repeated doses. 5. William Murrell first used NG for angina in 1876, although NG entered the British Pharmacopoeia as a remedy for hypertension. William Martindale, the pharmaceutical chemist, prepared '...a more stable and portable preparation': 1/100th of a grain in chocolate. 6. In the early 20th century, scientists worked on in vitro actions of nitrate-containing compounds although little progress was made towards understanding the cellular mode of action. 7. The NG industry flourished from 1900, exposing workers to high levels of organic nitrites; the phenomena of nitrate tolerance was recognized by the onset of 'Monday disease' and of nitrate-withdrawal/overcompensation by 'Sunday Heart Attacks'. 8. Ferid Murad discovered the release of nitric oxide (NO) from NG and its action on vascular smooth muscle (in 1977). Robert Furchgott and John Zawadski recognized the importance of the endothelium in acetylcholine-induced vasorelaxation (in 1980) and Louis Ignarro and Salvador Moncada identified endothelial-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) as NO (in 1987). 9. Glycerol trinitrate remains the treatment of choice for relieving angina; other organic esters and inorganic nitrates are also used, but the rapid action of NG and its established efficacy make it the mainstay of angina pectoris relief.
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PMID:A short history of nitroglycerine and nitric oxide in pharmacology and physiology. 1077 31

Glycerol is used as a peroral treatment of increased intraocular and intracranial pressure due to its osmotic effect despite the potential increase in blood pressure and blood glucose. We examined the effects of peroral glycerol in diabetic patients and healthy individuals on blood pressure, capillary glucose, and plasma osmolarity. On two separate days, 15 diabetic patients ingested glycerol in doses of 855 and 1710 mg/kg body weight in a randomised, unmasked sequence. Five healthy individuals ingested a dose of 1710 mg/kg body weight. Mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), capillary glucose (CG) and plasma osmolarity (pOSM) were monitored for 180 min. At baseline, the MAP was comparable between the groups of healthy individuals and diabetic patients (p = 0.55), CG was marginal different (p = 0.06), and pOSM values were significantly different (p = 0.007). Following glycerol ingestion, a transient, non-significant increase occurred in blood pressure. Maximal DeltaCG was approximately 1 mM irrespective of the dose and presence of diabetes (p > 0.1). The pOSM response was analysed with a kinetic model and found independent of the presence of diabetes (p = 0.6). The maximal fitted DeltapOSM was 12.7 and 25.3 mOsm/l in the group of diabetic patients after the low and high dose, respectively, reflecting a dose-response relationship. Nausea, fatigue and headache were common side effects. In conclusion, peroral glycerol had similar effects on blood glucose, MAP and pOSM in the diabetic patients and healthy individuals. Specific precautions should not be implemented when treating diabetic patients with a single dose up to 1.7 g/kg body weight. A peak increase of 8% in the pOSM within 1 hr can be expected from this dose.
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PMID:The effects of peroral glycerol on plasma osmolarity in diabetic patients and healthy individuals. 1979 1