Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0023380 (lethargy)
 5,697 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Calcineurin is a Ca(2+)-calmodulin-dependent serine/threonine protein phosphatase that has been implicated in various signaling pathways. Here we report the identification and characterization of calcineurin genes in Caenorhabditis elegans (cna-1 and cnb-1), which share high homology with Drosophila and mammalian calcineurin genes. C. elegans calcineurin binds calcium and functions as a heterodimeric protein phosphatase establishing its biochemical conservation in the nematode. Calcineurin is expressed in hypodermal seam cells, body-wall muscle, vulva muscle, neuronal cells, and in sperm and the spermatheca. cnb-1 mutants showed pleiotropic defects including lethargic movement and delayed egg-laying. Interestingly, these characteristic defects resembled phenotypes observed in gain-of-function mutants of unc-43/Ca(2+)-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) and goa-1/G(o)-protein alpha-subunit. Double mutants of cnb-1 and unc-43(gf) displayed an apparent synergistic severity of movement and egg-laying defects, suggesting that calcineurin may have an antagonistic role in CaMKII-regulated phosphorylation signaling pathways in C. elegans.
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PMID:Calcineurin, a calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase, is involved in movement, fertility, egg laying, and growth in Caenorhabditis elegans. 1222 Nov 32

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) was originally used to describe a reversible, predominantly posterior leukoencephalopathy in patients who had renal insufficiency, hypertension, or who received immunosuppressive therapy. Since PRES is prevalent in children with kidney diseases, awareness and understanding of it is important for practicing pediatric nephrologists. A comprehensive approach to the diagnosis of PRES includes thorough determination of predisposing factors, clinical symptoms, and mandatory appropriate imaging. Unfortunately, the pathophysiology of PRES is still obscure and specificity of radiological examination has not yet been established. Two major predisposing factors, namely hypertension and calcineurin inhibitors, are well recognized. In addition, nephrotic syndrome is a common underlying condition for development of PRES. Frequent symptoms include altered consciousness (coma, stupor, lethargy, confusion), seizure, headache, and visual disturbance. Most of these symptoms usually develop abruptly and resolve within a few weeks after proper management. Cranial magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is the first-line modality of imaging studies for detecting PRES. Diffusion-weighted imaging with quantification of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values by ADC mapping may provide more accurate and specific images in the future.
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PMID:Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in children with kidney diseases. 2155 18

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a clinico-radiological syndrome, composed of symptoms such as headache, seizures, visual disturbances, lethargy, confusion, stupor, focal neurologic findings and radiological findings of bilateral gray and white matter abnormalities suggestive of edema in the posterior regions of the cerebral hemispheres. PRES is associated with significant morbidity and mortality if it is not expeditiously recognized. Magnetic resonance image (MRI) represents the most sensitive imaging technique for recognizing PRES. PRES has been seen in various clinical settings including renal disorders such as acute glomerulonephritis, lupus nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and drug usage such as calcineurin inhibitors. We aimed to present two study cases for such clinical setting. In this report, we present two patients with PRES in whom the primary diagnosis was hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP). Both of them were treated with anticonvulsant and proper antihypertensive drugs. A repeated MRI scan of the head, an ophthalmologic assessment, and a follow-up electroencephalogram produced normal results with no sequelae. Early recognition of PRES as a complication during different diseases and therapies in childhood may facilitate the appropriate treatment, so that intensive treatment should be performed as soon as possible to avoid neurological sequelae.
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PMID:Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome in Henoch-Schonlein Purpura and Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome. 2729 64