Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0020672 (hypothermia)
 17,327 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

In view of the close structural similarity between the pro-opiocortin fragment, gamma-MSH, and ACTH/MSH-type peptides, the behavioural profile of gamma-MSH was explored. Attention was first focused on behavioural procedures in which ACTH/MSH-related neuropeptides have been found effective. It was found that gamma-MSH and ACTH-like neuropeptides had opposite effects on avoidance behaviour. In this respect the activity of gamma-MSH resembles that of opiate antagonists rather than that of beta-endorphin. Accordingly, ACTH(1-24) induced excessive grooming which is blocked by opiate antagonists and is attenuated by gamma-MSH. In addition, gamma-MSH injected into the periaqueductal grey matter of the brainstem of opiate-naive rats elicited symptoms reminiscent of those seen after opiate withdrawal. Gamma-MSH attenuated several effects of intracerebroventricularly administered beta-endorphin (e.g. antinociception, hypothermia, alpha-MSH release) and decreased the acquisition of heroin self-administration. Although gamma-MSH at rather high doses displaced naloxone from its specific binding sites in brain homogenates, it did not interfere with beta-endorphin-induced effects on in vitro muscle preparations (guinea-pig ileum; rat rectum). Interestingly, gamma-MSH induced relaxation of the rat rectum in vitro. It is postulated that gamma-MSH may attenuate beta-endorphin-induced effects by acting via gamma-MSH receptor sites (functional antagonism), although a pharmacological antagonism cannot be excluded as yet.
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PMID:Gamma-melanotropin and brain function. 626 81

We prospectively investigated non-invasive selective brain cooling (SBC) in patients with severe traumatic brain injury. Sixty-six in-patients were randomized into three groups. In one group, brain temperature was maintained at 33 - 35 degrees C by cooling the head and neck (SBC); in a second group, mild systemic hypothermia (MSH; rectal temperature 33 - 35 degrees C) was produced with a cooling blanket; and a control group was not exposed to hypothermia. Natural rewarming began after 3 days. Mean intracranial pressure 24, 48 or 72 h after injury was significantly lower in the SBC group than in the control group. Mean serum superoxide dismutase levels on Days 3 and 7 after injury in the SBC and MSH groups were significantly higher than in the control group. The percentage of patients with a good neurological outcome 2 years after injury was 72.7%, 57.1% and 34.8% in the SBC, MSH and control groups, respectively. Complications were managed without severe sequelae. Non-invasive SBC was safe and effective.
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PMID:Effects of selective brain cooling in patients with severe traumatic brain injury: a preliminary study. 1660 24