Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0024523 (malabsorption)
 7,319 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Scleroderma is an uncommon complex disease. The onset is slow and the progress is chronic. The main pathophysiological changes vary; they affect blood vessels, connective tissue, collagen fibres, cause fibrin deposition and inflammatory reactions. There may be early oedema and a wide spectrum of organic involvement. Clinically, all the fibril-containing and connective tissue organs can be attacked in various degrees. The most common organ manifestations are the Raynaud's phenomenon in the arms and hands, vascular fibrosis, stiff and hard facial skin, restriction of joint movement by pericapsular hardening, calcium deposition and capsular rigidity. In the gastrointestinal tract muscle atrophy, collagen and connective tissue damage are common, especially at the cardia. Malabsorption may occur. Progressive pulmonary fibrosis leads to cor pulmonale and respiratory insufficiency. The liver, kidneys and the endocrine glands are, however, seldom involved. Therapeutic trials have been performed using many different groups of drugs: vasodilatating agents, corticosteroids, drugs found experimentally to influence connective tissue, thyroxine and a variety of anti-rheumatic agents. In the last decade best short-term clinical results have been achieved with penicillamine, some vasodilators, chlorambucil and in recent years with cyclofenil a potent anti-oestrogen, which has marked connective tissue and collagen metabolism influencing properties. Good therapeutic effects without serious side effects have been achieved.
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PMID:Scleroderma (progressive systemic sclerosis, PSS); pathophysiological, clinical and pharmacological aspects of the syndrome. 75 10

Cystic fibrosis is the most common fatal inherited disease of Caucasians. At present, cystic fibrosis accounts for most cases of chronic progressive pulmonary disease and for many other clinical features in the first three decades of life. Thus, it is a challenge to both pediatricians and internists, particularly chest physicians. The diagnosis is based on the triad of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pancreatic insufficiency, and increased levels of electrolytes in the sweat. The cardinal test for confirmation of the diagnosis is the "sweat test," which is an excellent discriminant for cystic fibrosis, even in adults. Ancillary features of cystic fibrosis may be of diagnostic assistance (eg, nasal polyposis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa in sputum, azoospermia, and others). Treatment of the pulmonary disease must be emphasized. Choice of antibiotics should be based on the results of sputum culture, but P aeruginosa is the most common pathogen. Removal of secretions by regular postural drainage and percussion is an integral part of the program. Pneumothorax, massive hemoptysis, cor pulmonale, and other complications may be encountered. Sinusitis is almost universal, and nasal polyposis is frequently present. Pancreatic insufficiency occurs in over 80 percent of the patients with cystic fibrosis and may result in intestinal malabsorption. Massive salt loss through the sweat in hot weather, a distinctive type of biliary cirrhosis without jaundice, gallbladder abnormalities, cholelithiasis, and diabetes mellitus also may be found. Of special importance are intestinal obstructive complications (meconium ileus in newborn infants with cystic fibrosis and intestinal obstruction due to fecal accumulation or intussusception in adults). Azoospermia is present in 95 percent of men and there is reduced fertility in women; however, pregnancy does occur in cystic fibrosis. This chronic and ultimately fatal disease produces a predictable set of psychosocial complications.
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PMID:Diagnosis and treatment of cystic fibrosis. An update. 637 70

Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal-distrophy (APECED) is a rare autosomal recessive disease, which is mainly characterized by the association of many autoimmune diseases, with a classic triad including chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis, hypoparathyroidism and adrenocortical failure. Its clinical spectrum has significantly enlarged in the last years and other non-classic components have been recently described. Aim of this review was to alert pediatricians to these novel clinical aspects of this syndrome, that have been recently included among the autoimmune APECED manifestations: a) chronic lung disease, that may evolve to cor pulmonale and terminal respiratory failure; b) chronic inflammatory demyelinating polineuropathy, with progressive muscular weakness of both arms and legs and sensory loss; c) gastrointestinal dysfunction, with recurrent diarrhea, malabsorption and steatorrhea or chronic constipation. For each of these novel components of APECED, specific autoantibodies against either lung autoantigens or peripheral nerves or tryptophan hydroxylase have been just recently identified.
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PMID:APECED syndrome in childhood: clinical spectrum is enlarging. 2550 18