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)

In many cases of chronic intractable pain without any discernible causes, when both Western medical treatment and acupuncture treatment failed to eliminate the pain, this pain is often due to the unrecognized presence of viral or bacterial infection. Even effective anti-viral or bacterial agents often fail to eliminate or inhibit the infection, as these drugs may also fail to reach the most painful area where often unrecognizable circulatory disturbances co-exist. Using the Bi-Digital O-Ring Test Molecular Identification Method, we were able to localize substance P and thromboxane B2 (a good indicator of the presence and degree of circulatory disturbances) in the painful area along with virus or bacteria. Based on the Bi-Digital O-Ring Test localization method for specific substances or microbes, the author has successfully treated cases of chronic intractable pain by the combination of anti-viral or bacterial agents with either manual acupuncture, electro-acupuncture or transcutaneous electrical stimulation through a pair of surface electrodes. Among a variety of infections, the most common cause of severe intractable pain was herpes simplex virus, and the most common bacterial cause of intractable pain of moderate degree was campylobacter. In addition, chlamydia was a very common cause of mild intractable pain. When peripheral nerve fibers are hypersensitive from nerve injury due to viral infection, in addition to the drug therapy for infection, use of Vitamin B1 25 mg., 2 times a day for an average adult often accelerates recovery time. As an anti-viral agent for the herpes virus family, the author found that EPA (Omega 3 fish oil, Eicosa Pentaenoic Acid, C20:5 omega 3), at doses between 180 mg. and 350 mg (depending upon body weight) 4 times a day for 2 to 6 weeks, without prescribing the common anti-viral agent Acyclovir, often eliminated the symptoms due to viral infection including all well-known types of the herpes virus, such as herpes simplex virus, Epstein-Barr virus, and cytomegalovirus. Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus are usually not associated with intractable severe pain, but they are often associated with a recurrent burning or itching sensation and they can cause intractable frequent muscle twitching. Viruses belonging to the herpes family almost always exist between the midline of one side of the spinal cord and the midline of the front of the body where these nerves from the spinal cord end and the same virus is localized only on one side of the body at the same spinal level.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
 ...
PMID:Treatment of acute or chronic severe, intractable pain and other intractable medical problems associated with unrecognized viral or bacterial infection: Part I. 197 80

In the present experiments the role of unmyelinated sensory fibres in the mechanism of cutaneous inflammatory reactions under normal and pathological conditions has been studied in man and animals. Dye leakage responses to histamine, serotonin, compound 48/80, bradykinin and substance P were significantly reduced, while neurogenic inflammation was completely abolished in rats treated neonatally with capsaicin, as studied quantitatively by the Evans blue technique. Neurogenic inflammation could also be elicited by mustard oil in normally innervated human skin, but not in skin areas affected by herpes zoster or in a patient suffering from congenital analgesia. Repeated topical treatment of the skin with capsaicin (local desensitization) abolished the neurogenic inflammatory response for several days. Chemical pain sensitivity was strongly reduced, and thresholds for warmth and heat pain sensations were significantly elevated. Local capsaicin desensitization of the skin prevented whealing, flare and itch in patients with acquired cold and heat urticaria. The findings indicate that peptide-containing sensory nerves are involved in the mediation of chemogenic and heat pain, and possibly itch, and are responsible for initiation of the neurogenic inflammatory response. The results also provide direct evidence of the involvement of these particular sensory nerves in the modulation of the permeability-increasing effects of putative mediators of acute inflammatory reactions. It is concluded that, through modulation of cutaneous vascular reactions, peptidergic sensory nerves may play a hitherto unrecognized role in the pathomechanism of certain diseases of human skin.
 ...
PMID:The modulation of cutaneous inflammatory reactions by peptide-containing sensory nerves. 241 73

We have measured plasma extravasation in response to stimulation of the rat hind footpad with wool fabric. The stimulus was delivered using a constantly weighted disc of wool rotating at 4 revolutions per minute for 30 min on the base of blisters induced by vacuum. The protein content of prestimulated blister base perfusate was 38 +/- 2 micrograms/ml in a 30-min collection. With stimulation this increased to 80 +/- 10 micrograms/ml (P less than 0.001; Student's paired t-test). No increase in plasma extravasation was observed in adult animals pretreated as neonates with capsaicin indicating that the plasma extravasation observed was neurogenically mediated. Plasma extravasation was also observed with substance P added to the perfusate. The threshold for substance P-induced plasma extravasation was 2 X 10(-11) mol/30 min. These results suggest that neurogenic inflammation induced by the mechanical stimulus of wool fabric may be mediated by substance P. This reaction may be involved in wool-induced prickle and itch noted in some individuals.
 ...
PMID:Neurogenic inflammation caused by wool fabric in the rat; possible mediation by substance P. 242 92

To study the nasal response to serotonin, 14 asymptomatic hay fever patients received intranasal serotonin in increasing doses. Itching and the number of sneezes were noted, and the amount of secretion was measured and assayed for substance P. Nasal airway resistance was recorded by active posterior rhinomanometry. Serotonin induced a dose-dependent increase in nasal itching, number of sneezes and secretion. Substance P was found in 41 of 42 secretions. The median concentration was 10.3 pmol/l (range 0-28.9), and increased parallel to increasing doses of serotonin (P less than 0.001).
 ...
PMID:Nasal challenge with serotonin in asymptomatic hay fever patients. 244 28

Eight patients with intensely pruritic lesions of chronic idiopathic prurigo nodularis and three patients with neurodermatitis circumscripta were investigated using the indirect immunofluorescence method. Results showed similarities in epidermal hyperplasia but not in nerve proliferation and neuropeptide immunoreactivity. Increased numbers of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P immunoreactive nerve fibre bundles were detected in specimens taken from prurigo nodularis lesions, but no increased immunoreactivity could be seen in specimens taken from patients having neurodermatitis circumscripta compared to normal skin. The neuropeptides, CGRP and substance P, may be responsible for the intense itching of prurigo nodularis lesions.
 ...
PMID:Calcitonin gene-related peptide immunoreactivity in prurigo nodularis: a comparative study with neurodermatitis circumscripta. 247 15

Adults with atopic dermatitis (AD), with respiratory atopy only and healthy non-atopic controls were given intradermal injections of substance P (SP), neurokinin A (NKA), neurotensin (NT), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and histamine into the normal-appearing skin on the back. The weal and flare responses were evaluated after 3, 5 and 15 min and the areas calculated using an automatic image analyser. With the three different concentrations used (1, 3 and 30 pmols) a statistically significant (P less than 0.05) reduction in both the weal and flare response to SP, NKA, NT and histamine and a reduced flare to CGRP was observed only in AD patients. Among those with AD there was no uniformity of response to the individual neuropeptide and in general the more severely affected showed a lower reactivity. Dose-response relationships were evaluated for SP and NT (10-320 pmols) in AD and healthy controls. In AD dose-response curves and time-course relationships were similar to controls, but at significantly reduced levels. The itch response to the neuropeptides and histamine was not different in atopics and controls. We suggest that this hyporesponsiveness in AD is the result of natural tachyphylaxis of the target structures (mast cells and blood vessels) and possibly due to a higher availability of neuropeptides in the skin or to a primary abnormal sensitivity of the blood vessels and mast cells to these peptides.
 ...
PMID:Skin reactivity to neuropeptides in atopic dermatitis. 261 Nov 20

Several non-opioid regulatory peptides have been described in normal human skin localized both in neural fibres and in cellular elements. These include substance P, neurokinin A, neurotensin, calcitonin gene-related peptide, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, peptide histidine methionine, neuropeptide Y, somatostatin, galanin and atrial natriuretic peptide. In the present review the morphological aspects and distribution of peptidergic nerves in normal human skin are presented. The main functional roles on nociception, pruritus, cutaneous blood flow and sweat production are discussed in regard to neuropeptides. The relationships between neuropeptides, mast-cells and neurogenic inflammation are discussed in detail. Pathological conditions are reported in which an alteration in the peptidergic control might be of importance in their pathogenesis. Some working hypothesis are discussed.
 ...
PMID:[Neuropeptides and the skin: morphological, functional and physiopathological aspects]. 268 Sep 14

In spite of the research that has been performed, pruritus remains a poorly understood sensation. It is important to remember that the majority of information presented here is derived from observations of human subjects. One can only speculate as to how much of this information can be extrapolated to pruritus in animals. Pruritus is closely intertwined with pain and touch. Pain and pruritus sensations are carried on A delta and C fibers, ascend on the lateral spinothalamic tract, and terminate in various brain centers, including the thalamus and the cortex. The gate control theory of pain and pruritus describes the substantia gelatinosa cells as "swinging gates" to modify peripheral input and result in stimulation of higher centers. Central factors reduce or amplify the perception of these cutaneous sensations. Histamine is the classic mediator of pruritus, although it is still unknown whether a final common mediator of pruritus exists. Numerous other mediators include proteases, peptides, substance P, opiate peptides, prostaglandins, and leukotrienes. These may have pruritic properties directly, or may act as histamine liberators to cause pruritus.
 ...
PMID:Pathophysiology of pruritus. 305 50

The term hyper-reactivity defines an inadequate reaction of the nose to normal airborne stimuli that are harmless to most of the population. In such cases the nose always shows exactly the same symptoms, irrespective of whether the rhinitis is allergic (IgE- or cell-mediated) or nonspecific (vasomotor). These symptoms include sneezing, nasal obstruction, hypersecretion, and itching of the nose. The vascular supply of the nose consists of capacitance vessels (veins, venules, sinusoids), resistance vessels (arteries, arterioles), and exchange vessels (capillaries of fenestrated types). Drug and mediator effects may be directed to different nasal vessel systems. The autonomic innervation of the nose is complex. Some neuropeptides have been demonstrated, in addition to the classical neurotransmitters of the sympathetic and parasympathetic system. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is found in adrenergic fibers, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in cholinergic neurones; substance P (SP), calcitonin-gene-related peptide (CGRP) and neurokinine (NKA) are found in sensory nerves. The possible significance of the different neurotransmitters and mediators in nasal hyperreactivity is discussed.
 ...
PMID:[Current aspects of nasal hyperreactivity]. 306 18

Pruritus, whealing and axon-reflex erythema appeared in human skin after intradermal injection of (i) several peptides with a putative transmitter function, i.e. vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) (10(-7)--10(-4) M), [Gln4]-neurotensin (10(-7)--10(-4) M), neurotensin (10(-5)--10(-4) M) and secretin (10(-5)--10(-4) M), which were compared with substance P (10(-7)--10(-5) M) previously shown to be one of the most potent histamine liberators when administered intradermally in humans; (ii) the basic polypeptide protamine (10(-7)--10(-4) M); and (iii) histamine (0.3-10 micrograms/ml) and the histamine liberator compound 48/80 (0.3-10 micrograms/ml). The reactions were inhibited in a dose-related manner by the antihistamine mepyramine, indicating that the peptide-induced responses were mediated by released histamine. This was further confirmed by the histamine release observed when the peptides were incubated with rat peritoneal mast cells. In human skin, VIP was more potent than the other neuropeptides and had roughly the same potency as substance P. The two adjacent basic amino-acid residues and the amide substitution of the terminal C-group of VIP, in addition to its strong net basic charge, may explain its potency as a histamine releaser.
 ...
PMID:Studies on pruritogenic and histamine-releasing effects of some putative peptide neurotransmitters. 616 9


<< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next >>