Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0036572 (seizures)
 80,221 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Steroid hormones, i.e., corticosteroids, estrogens, androgens and progestogens are formed in the adrenal cortex, male gonads, and the female placenta. Relatively little is known of their influence on behavior and their neuroendocrine function. On the cellular level, the rate of increase of RNA message to produce albumen and avidin is directly proportionate to the presence of steroids and their amount. Corticosteroid receptors are found in the thymus, liver, spleen and heart. The brain has receptors both for the corticosteroids and the sex hormones. These receptors are scattered throughout different regions of the brain, but the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasome is found only in the pituitary which accounts for its role in stopping the secretion of ACTH. Testosterone undergoes metabolic changes in the brain, affecting behavior. The A chain undergoes an enzyme reduction to 5aDHT and androstandiol. Following enzyme changes, the A chain of male testosterone can become female estradiol. Laboratory tests prove that sexual behavior in males is affected only by those androgens that can convert to estrogens, while in females it is dependent on the conversion of testosterone to estrogen. Lately psychiatrists have become very interested in the catechol estrogens, fairly new metabolites of estradiol which are produced in the hypothalamus and contain 2 hydroxyl groups (as compared with the 1 hydroxyl in estrogens). Catechol estrogens block estradiol receptors, behaving like antiestrogens. Researchers are investigating the possibility of signaling the desired neural messages without the concomitant effects that estrogen produces, through using catechol estrogens. They are examining this natural derivative of estradiol which may affect among others: sexual behavior, maturity, depression, migraines, and epileptic seizures.
 ...
PMID:[Steroid hormones and the activity of the central nervous system]. 38 16

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus-induced central nervous system disease is characterized by death during a seizure approximately seven days after intracerebral inoculation. This process is mediated by thymus dependent lymphocytes, sensitized against viral antigens. Various forms of immunosuppressive treatment prevent the seizure death and produce persistently infected survivors. In this study, anticonvulsant treatment (particularly diazepam treatment) of LCM virus infected mice prolonged survival without affecting viral replication, or suppressing immune responsiveness. This prolongation of life did not lead to a reversal of pathologic processes and there were no survivors. However, anticonvulsant treatment permitted study of more advanced stages of the choriomeningitis than has previously been possible.
 ...
PMID:Anticonvulsant prolongation of survival in adult murine lymphocytic choriomeningitis. I. Drug treatment and virologic studies. 83 20

Originally described and most frequently reported in association with the kidney, the malignant rhabdoid tumor (MRT) is a highly aggressive neoplasm with distinctive morphologic features. Extrarenal sites reported for this neoplasm include the liver, thymus, and various soft tissue sites. Young infants are affected with rare exceptions. We report the case of a 3-month-old boy who presented with hyperirritability and increasing head size over several weeks. The patient died following a two-week hospital stay marked by development of seizures, paralysis, and apnea. At autopsy, significant findings were limited to the central nervous system. The subarachnoid space contained neoplasm throughout, with multiple areas of parenchymal invasion. A predominating intraparenchymal mass was present in the inferior cerebellum contiguous with the neoplasm in the subarachnoid space and probably represented the site of origin. Microscopically, the neoplasm was composed of a highly cellular monomorphic population of polygonal cells with roughly ovoid vesicular nuclei and conspicuous nucleoli. Variable amounts of cytoplasm were present, and many cells contained a single, well-demarcated eosinophilic hyaline globule adjacent to the nucleus. Ultrastructurally, the cytoplasmic globules were composed of whorled aggregates of intermediate filaments. Immunoperoxidase studies confirmed that the filaments were composed, at least in part, of vimentin. The morphologic and immunohistochemical features are diagnostic of MRT, an entity of unknown histogenesis that has not been reported previously as a primary neoplasm of the CNS.
 ...
PMID:Malignant rhabdoid tumor of the central nervous system. 303 Sep 22

Developing rats were exposed to PCBs via provision of diets containing 0.02 (no PCB added), 2.5, 26, or 269 ppm Aroclor 1254 to sperm-positive female rats from mating to weaning of their pups. Provision of the 269 ppm diet decreased the number of impregnated rats that delivered a litter and lowered pup birth weight, and most pups died within 7 days of birth. Pregnancy success, pup birth weight, and dam body weight and food intake were not altered in the 2.5 and 26 ppm conditions. Preweaning pup growth was reduced in the 26 ppm condition and slightly reduced in the 2.5 ppm condition. The ontogeny of negative geotaxis, auditory startle, and air righting was delayed in pups from the 26 ppm condition. Pups in the 2.5 ppm condition had slightly delayed development of auditory startle. PCB exposure did not affect the duration of forepaw suspension or age at eye opening. Maximal electroshock seizure tests on postweaning rats showed that perinatal PCB exposure decreased seizure severity of both the 2.5 and 26 ppm groups as indicated by increased durations of forelimb and hindlimb flexion and decreased duration of hindlimb extension. PCB exposure increased pup liver weights at birth and dam and pup liver weights at weaning. Spleen and thymus weights were lower in PCB-exposed pups, while brain weights were unaffected. Analytical determination of PCB levels in brain showed greater maternal transfer of PCBs during lactation than during gestation. Elevated PCB levels were detectable in brains of perinatally exposed adult rats. The results indicate that perinatal PCB exposure of rats alters neurobehavioral and somatic ontogeny.
 ...
PMID:Neurobehavioral and somatic effects of perinatal PCB exposure in rats. 311 73

We describe 2 brothers with a malformation syndrome consisting of agenesis of the corpus callosum, cutaneous hypopigmentation, bilateral cataract, cleft lip and palate, and combined immunodeficiency. The clinical history of both patients was characterized by severe psychomotor retardation, seizures, recurrent severe respiratory infections, and chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis. The children died of bronchopneumonia at age 2 and 3 years, respectively. Immunological investigations showed, in one sib studied, skin anergy to recall antigens, profound depletion of T4+ lymphocytes, and serum IgG2 deficiency. Necropsy showed agenesis of the corpus callosum, hypoplasia of the cerebellar vermis, and profound hypoplasia of the thymus and of the peripheral lymphoid tissue. The distinctive features of these sibs appear to define a previously undescribed hereditary MCA/MR syndrome. The clinical and pathological findings seem to indicate, as a pathogenetic mechanism, a defect involving the embryonic organization of the central nervous system and of the immune system.
 ...
PMID:Agenesis of the corpus callosum, combined immunodeficiency, bilateral cataract, and hypopigmentation in two brothers. 334 62

Motor impairments and seizures are frequent neurologic sequelae of excess lead exposure in children. To evaluate the relative significance of such symptoms in an animal model, Long-Evans rats were lead-exposed from parturition to weaning by adulteration of the dams' drinking water with 0.02% or 0.2% lead acetate. Ontogeny of swimming ability from 6 through 24 days of age was not altered by postnatal lead exposure. Rotorod performance was tested on 21, 30, 60, 90, 150 and 440 days of age and was maximal in rats 30 through 150 days of age, with the poorest performance by 440-day-old rats. Rotorod performance was decreased by both levels of lead exposure and this effect was most evident at 60 and 150 days of age. Both levels of lead exposure increased kidney weights of dams at weaning and the 0.2% lead acetate exposure decreased hematocrit of dams. Kidney weights of lead-exposed pups were not increased at 10 days of age, but pups in the 0.2% lead acetate group had increased kidney weights at 20, 90 and 150 days of age. Hematocrit values of pups in the 0.2%, but not in the 0.02%, lead acetate exposure group were decreased at 20 days of age. No effects of lead exposure on hematocrits were found at 10, 90 or 150 days of age. Wet weight of brain, cerebellum, adrenals, spleen and thymus were not altered at any age by postnatal lead treatment. In a second study, Sprague-Dawley rats exposed to lead via dams drinking 0.2% lead acetate throughout gestation and lactation. Pre- and postnatal lead exposure did not alter the ontogeny of electro-shock seizure thresholds in rats tested on 8 through 20 days of age. The results suggest that the lead exposure levels used were at or near a no-effect level for several common neurobehavioral tasks and that kidney weight may be a more discriminative index of excess lead exposure than some simple neurobehavioral indices.
 ...
PMID:Motor development, tissue weights and seizure susceptibility in perinatally lead-exposed rats. 720 May 84

Several reports suggest that the activity of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA-axis) is increased following hypoxia/ischaemia and that this might be associated with increased neuronal vulnerability. The main goal of this study was to examine the effects of down-regulation of the HPA-axis on the hypoxia/ischaemia-induced (1) rise of plasma corticosterone levels, (2) seizures, and (3) brain damage. Down-regulation of the HPA-axis was induced by prolonged corticosterone treatment lasting until 24 h before hypoxia/ischaemia exposure. When compared to 8 days vehicle (sesame oil)-treated animals (CONT), 8 days daily corticosterone (40 mg/animal)-treated animals (CORT) showed significantly reduced adrenal-and thymus weight. Shortly after hypoxia/ischaemia plasma corticosterone levels in CORT animals were significantly reduced (17.30 micrograms/dl +/- 3.50) when compared to CONT animals (54.80 micrograms/dl +/- 7.78). This correlated with the brain damage which is expressed as the ratio between the damaged area and the total area. The total brain damage was significantly less in CORT-treated animals (28% +/- 11%) than in CONT animals (69% +/- 2%). Following hypoxia/ischaemia the number of seizures was significantly reduced in CORT animals (56 +/- 26) when compared to CONT animals (217 +/- 50). We conclude that prolonged corticosterone treatment resulting in down-regulation of the HPA-axis leads to (1) lower plasma corticosterone levels during hypoxia/ischaemia, (2) a reduction in brain damage following hypoxia/ischaemia, and (3) less hypoxia/ischaemia-induced seizures.
 ...
PMID:Down-regulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis reduces brain damage and number of seizures following hypoxia/ischaemia in rats. 749 5

Twenty nine adult SD rats in the experiment were randomly separated into two groups. Nineteen rats of them were intramuscularly injected (i.m.) with Coriaria lactone (CL, 2.5 mg/kg for female rat; 30 mg/kg for male rat) two days a time, continued 28 times, to induce repeated seizures, as the experimental group. The control group (n = 10) was injected with normal saline (N.S.) in the same volume as that of CL. The rats of experimental group were subdivided into a treatment group (n = 9) with SC1001Na (200 mg/kg) and a placebo group (n = 10) receiving N.S. in the same volume as that of SC1001 Na. All rats of repeated seizure were administered once every day for a week. The results indicated that SC1001Na (200 mg/kg) could inhibit in some degree the growth of immune organs (spleen and thymus) and significantly decrease the ADA activity of thymus, cerebrum and cerebellum, suggesting that the antiepileptic mechanism of SC1001Na is probably related with the decreased activity of ADA and the increased adenosine level in brain.
 ...
PMID:[Effect of SC1001-sodium on ADA activity of the thymus, spleen and brain in repeated seizure rats]. 815 Apr 40

A mother with apparently balanced translocation between chromosomes 4 and 22 gave birth to two children (sib 1 and twin A) with 45,XX,der(4)t(4;22) (p16.3;q11.2)mat,-22 and 45,XY,der(4)t(4; 22(p16.3;q11.2)mat,-22 karyotypes. The mother was a slow learner and required special education. The imbalance in the sibs arose through a 3:1 malsegregation in the mother. The net result was deletions 4p16.3pter and 22q11.2pter. Deletion 4p is associated with Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome (WHS). The 22q11.2 microdeletion is associated with a wide range of overlapping phenotypes including DiGeorge syndrome (DGS), velocardiofacial syndrome (VCFS), conotruncal facial abnormality, and sporadic or familial cardiac defect. Fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) was performed. Cosmid probes D4S96, which maps to 4p16.3, and D22S75, which maps to 22q11.2, were used. In the mother, the translocation breakpoints were proximal to D4S96 on chromosome 4 and distal D22S75 on chromosome 22. The two sibs had deletions of a D4S96 and a D22S75 probe loci. Sib 1, a 2 1/2 year old girl, has multiple congenital abnormalities and profound developmental delay. The craniofacial features were generally of WHS. Hypoplasia of the thymus hypocalcaemia, and seizures in early infancy, which are clinical features of DGS, were also observed. Twin A was one of a pair of dizygotic twins. He had multiple congenital abnormalities and died soon after birth.
 ...
PMID:Two sibs with Wolf-Hirschhorn and DiGeorge deletions resulting from an unbalanced chromosome rearrangement, 45,XX/XY, der(4)t(4;22) (p16.3;q11.2) mat,-22. 893 40

We report the inactivation, via homologous recombination, of two of the three active mouse alkaline phosphatase genes, i.e., embryonic (EAP) and tissue nonspecific (TNAP). Whereas expression of the EAP isozyme was abolished in all tissues that express EAP developmentally (such as the preimplantation embryo, thymus, and testis), the EAP knock-out mice show no obvious phenotypic abnormalities. They reproduce normally and give birth to live offspring, indicating the nonessential role of EAP during embryonic development. Mice deficient in the TNAP gene mimic a severe form of hypophosphatasia. These TNAP-/- mice are growth impaired, develop epileptic seizures and apnea, and die before weaning. Examination of the tissues indicates abnormal bone mineralization and morphological changes in the osteoblasts, aberrant development of the lumbar nerve roots, disturbances in intestinal physiology, increased apoptosis in the thymus, and abnormal spleens. Our results indicate that, in the mouse, TNAP appears not to be essential for the initial events leading to bone mineral deposition but that TNAP seems to play a role in the maintenance of this process after birth. The other phenotypic manifestations may be a consequence of the lack of TNAP in the developing neural tube between stages E8.5 and E13.5 of embryogenesis. We hypothesize that the autonomic nervous system is compromised in these TNAP-/- mice.
 ...
PMID:Inactivation of two mouse alkaline phosphatase genes and establishment of a model of infantile hypophosphatasia. 905 46


1 2 3 Next >>