Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0033774 (pruritus)
 14,546 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Scabies was first found in a 71-year-old female who had been diagnosed as having leukemic transformation of primary myelofibrosis and had undergone treatment for the disease. She was admitted to the hospital in December 1986, because of abdominal fullness and a generalized subcutaneous tumor that proved to be myeloblastoma. For treatment of the underlying disease, the regimen of the combination of vindesine, cyclophosphamide, 6-mercaptopurine, and prednisolone was selected. She developed cardiac failure and fell into a coma one month after starting the anticancer therapy. She was put on artificial respiration and on additional steroid therapy as well. Dexamethasone was administrated at 16 mg/day. Since the myeloblastomas found on admission regressed, the steroid therapy was continued. She was in coma for a few days before her skin lesions turned red and formed a grayish crust in the lower abdominal region. Several days later, the doctor responsible for the treatment of this patient developed pruritus and exanthema on both arms, and soon many nurses in the same hospital-ward developed similar symptoms. At approximately the same time, the patient with myelofibrosis was diagnosed as having Norwegian scabies: the crusted skin lesions revealing many Sarcoptes scabiei mites. Two doctors (2/18), 17 nurses (17/19) and 3 other patients (3/51) were found to have contracted scabies, and we recognized the hospital spread of the infection. The first patient was isolated in a private room, and we avoided direct contact with her. The persons with scabies were treated with crotamiton liniment. The first scabies patient died of cardiac failure 1 month after falling into a coma.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
 ...
PMID:[Hospital spread of scabies from an immunocompromised patient with Norwegian scabies]. 176 99

The antiemetic effect of graded, single high-dose intravenous dexamethasone was studied in 27 patients receiving combination chemotherapy with either doxorubicin (50 mg/m2) or cis-platinum (100 mg/m2). A total of 57 cycles were individually evaluated, utilizing a detailed rating system. Nausea and vomiting did not occur in 20 of 57 cycles; in 17, the chemotherapy was doxorubicin-based, and in 3 it was cis-platinum-based. Of the 37 cycles associated with nausea and vomiting, 32 contained cis-platinum and 5 doxorubicin. The average dexamethasone dosages for doxorubicin and platinum-containing combinations were 40 and 95 mg/m2, respectively. Side effects included a dose-dependent sensation of perineal pruritus (11 patients, 17 cycles) lasting for several minutes, and subjective feelings of increased appetite and well-being. Dexamethasone administered intravenously 15 min prior to chemotherapy in a dose of 40 mg/m2 apparently provides highly effective antiemetic protection for patients receiving treatment cycles containing doxorubicin; however, for patients receiving regimens containing cis-platinum, the antiemetic effect of dexamethasone as a single agent is limited.
 ...
PMID:Single, high-dose intravenous dexamethasone as an antiemetic in cancer chemotherapy. 351 Apr 10

We examined whether azelastine would inhibit itch-associated responses of mice to mosquito allergy. Repeated injections of mosquito salivary gland extract increased scratching and sensory nerve activity. Azelastine inhibited the increased scratching and nerve activity, while terfenadine was without effects. Dexamethasone did not affect the increased scratching. Azelastine suppressed high K(+)-induced increase in intracellular free Ca(2+) in primary cultures of mouse sensory neurons. Direct inhibition by azelastine of sensory neurons may be at least involved in the anti-pruritic effect of azelastine. Histamine, substance P, and leukotriene B(4) may not play a key role in the itching of mosquito allergy.
 ...
PMID:Inhibitory effect of azelastine on allergic itch-associated response in mice sensitized with mosquito salivary glands extract. 1268 51

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is characterized by troublesome maternal pruritus, elevated serum bile acids (> or =10 micromol/L) and increased fetal risk. Recently we determined a cutoff level of serum bile acids, > or =40 micromol/L, to be associated with impaired fetal outcome. We have now studied the effects of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and dexamethasone on pruritus, biochemical markers of cholestasis, and fetal complication rates in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. For this purpose, 130 women with ICP were randomly allocated to UDCA (1 g/day for three weeks), or dexamethasone (12 mg/day for 1 week and placebo during weeks 2 and 3), or placebo for 3 weeks. Pruritus and biochemical markers of cholestasis were analyzed at inclusion and after 3 weeks of treatment. Fetal complications (spontaneous preterm delivery; asphyxial events; and meconium staining of amniotic fluid, placenta, and membranes) were registered at delivery. An intention-to-treat analysis showed significant reduction of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (P = .01) and bilirubin (P = .002) in the UDCA group only. In a subgroup analysis of ICP women with serum bile acids > or =40 micromol/L at inclusion (n = 34), UDCA had significant effects on pruritus (-75%), bile acids (-79%), ALT (-80%), and bilirubin (-50%) as well, but not on fetal complication rates. Dexamethasone yielded no alleviation of pruritus or reduction of ALT and was less effective than UDCA at reducing bile acids and bilirubin. In conclusion, 3 weeks of UDCA treatment improved some biochemical markers of ICP irrespective of disease severity, whereas significant relief from pruritus and marked reduction of serum bile acids were only found in patients with severe ICP.
 ...
PMID:Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy: a randomized controlled trial comparing dexamethasone and ursodeoxycholic acid. 1631 69

Itching is the most important problem in many allergic and inflammatory skin diseases especially in atopic dermatitis. However, animal models for allergic dermatitis useful for the study of itching have rarely been established. We established a mouse allergic dermatitis model involving frequent scratching behavior by repeated painting with 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) acetone solution onto the mouse skin, and comparatively examined the effects of tacrolimus and dexamethasone on the dermatitis and associated scratching behavior. Repeated DNFB painting caused typical dermatitis accompanied by elevated serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) and frequent scratching behavior. An apparent thickening of the epidermis and dermis, and the significant accumulation of inflammatory cells were observed. Increased interferon (IFN)-gamma mRNA expression and the induction of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5 mRNA expression were also observed in the skin lesion. The scratching behavior was inhibited by dibucaine and naloxone. Although tacrolimus reduced the increased expression of IFN-gamma and IL-4 mRNA, dexamethasone potently depressed that of IFN-gamma, IL-4 and IL-5 mRNA. Dexamethasone inhibited the accumulation of lymphocytes and eosinophils, although tacrolimus did not. Both drugs failed to inhibit the elevation of serum IgE levels. Tacrolimus significantly inhibited the scratching behavior that was associated with the inhibition of nerve fiber extension into the epidermis, whereas dexamethasone failed to have any effect. The mouse dermatitis model seems to be beneficial for the study of itching associated with allergic dermatitis, such as atopic dermatitis, and tacrolimus seems to exhibit an anti-itch effect through the inhibition of nerve fiber extension at least in part.
 ...
PMID:Inhibition of scratching behavior associated with allergic dermatitis in mice by tacrolimus, but not by dexamethasone. 1691 37

Itching is the most important problem in atopic dermatitis and tacrolimus has been suggested to attenuate the itching by topical application. However, the anti-itch mechanism of tacrolimus has not been well elucidated. In the present study, an allergic dermatitis accompanied by frequent scratching behaviors was induced by repeated paintings with 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) acetone solution onto the mouse ear and the effects of tacrolimus and dexamethasone on the dermatitis and associated scratching behavior were comparatively examined. Repeated DNFB paintings caused a typical dermatitis accompanied by elevated serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) and frequent scratching behaviors. Both tacrolimus and dexamethasone given topically for 10 days before the final challenge significantly inhibited the ear swelling and reduced the expression of interferon-gamma mRNA. Dexamethasone inhibited the accumulation of eosinophils completely, although tacrolimus did not. Both drugs did not affect the elevation of serum IgE levels. Tacrolimus significantly inhibited the scratching behavior, whereas dexamethasone failed to affect it. Repeated DNFB challenge depleted substance P in the dermis. Treatment with tacrolimus before the final challenge completely inhibited the recovery of substance P content, whereas dexamethasone facilitated the recovery. DNFB-induced ear swelling and scratching behavior were significantly inhibited by FK888, a tachykinin NK(1) receptor antagonist. Therefore, substance P seems to participate in the induction of ear swelling and scratching behavior upon final challenge with DNFB, and depletion of substance P by tacrolimus in the dermis contributes to its inhibition of ear swelling and scratching behavior at least in part.
 ...
PMID:Depletion of substance P, a mechanism for inhibition of mouse scratching behavior by tacrolimus. 1981 45

Dexamethasone has been widely used before general anesthesia induction. However, previous studies have found that a pre-induction bolus dose of dexamethasone sometimes causes perineal pruritus. We hypothesized that an appropriate prolongation of the injection time might suppress dexamethasone-induced perineal pruritus. Four hundred patients requiring general anaesthesia were randomly allocated into four groups: group I receiving 2 ml dexamethasone (5 mg/ml); group II receiving 4 ml dexamethasone (2.5mg/ml); group III receiving 10 ml dexamethasone (1 mg/ml); and group IV receiving 20 ml dexamethasone (0.5 mg/ml). Dexamethasone was diluted with 0.9% sodium chloride. The injection time of dexamethasone was 5s in groups I, II and III; while the injection time of dexamethasone was 30s in group IV. Occurrence of perineal pruritus was significantly reduced in Group IV (0% vs 38%, 32% and 12% in Groups I, II and III, respectively, p < 0.05). The incidence was higher in females than in males (p < 0.05). The duration of perineal pruritus was longer in females than in males in groups I, II and III (p < 0.05). We conclude that the dilution of dexamethasone to 0.5 mg/ml with 0.9% sodium chloride combined with prolonged injection time to 30 s eliminates dexamethasone-induced perineal pruritus.
 ...
PMID:The effect of dilution and prolonged injection time on dexamethasone-induced perineal pruritus. 2334 66

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is the pregnancy induced liver disorder causing intense itching of palm, sole or even whole body especially in the evening at late second and third trimester. This disease is categorized into mild and severe ICP according to raised level of LFT including serum level of bile acid and cholic acid. ICP has less morbidity to mother but significant risk to fetus in uterus. The predisposing element to cause intense pruritus is because of high amount of bile acid in maternal serum. Toxic bile acids affect fetal cardiomyocytes retained in fetus body causing sudden intrauterine fetal death. ICP is commonly found in winter months and mostly itching of body occurs in the evening after sunset. Fetus in uterus is unsafe if mother's bile acid exceeds normal value. ICP is successfully treated with Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), S-adenosyl methionine (SAME), Dexamethasone and vitamin K.
 ...
PMID:Clinical grading of intrahepatic cholestasis pregnancy. 2436 72