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

A case is reported of a former woman astronaut candidate who withstood the rigors of the preliminary physical examinations for this position. Some years later, she sustained a subarachnoid hemorrhage from an arteriovenous malformation in the right parieto-occipital area, which was successfully excised. Postoperatively, she had a marked visual deficit, from which she completely recovered within 3 months. The development of psychomotor seizures 5 months later was due to probable scarring in the right parieto-occipital region of the cerebral cortex, the interpretive area for orientation of body image in space, which had been supplied by the clipped right anterior and posterior cerebral arteries feeding the arteriovenous anomaly. These seizures have been well controlled on anticonvulsants. A lesion in the temporoparieto-occipital region due to a hemorrhage from a ruptured arteriovenous anomaly, resulting in the disabling symptoms of disorientation or loss of body image due to impairment of the interpretive cortex, could be devastating to the pilot and a mission. This case raises the question of an automatic use of the CT brain scan in screening potential space candidates, and even the consideration of a percutaneous femoral four-vessel arteriogram in all, or possibly selected, candidates. Most neurosurgeons and neuroradiologists probably would consider the risks of the latter procedure too great to justify its use for fear of permanent complications to the space candidate.
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PMID:Ruptured arteriovenous anomaly in a former woman astronaut candidate. 44 78

Nineteen patients with advanced cancer were entered into a phase I clinical trial of Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) which was designed to determine the pharmacokinetic profile, safety, and maximal tolerated dose (MTD) of the recombinant human cytokine in vivo. TNF was administered by continuous infusion for 24 hours followed by pharmacokinetics and a 120-hour infusion repeated every 3 weeks. The initial dose was 40 micrograms/m2 and was ultimately escalated to 200 micrograms/m2. A total of forty 5-day cycles were administered to 18 of these patients; and all were evaluable for toxicity. Toxicities in this trial included fever, chills, rigors, hypotension, headaches, seizures, lethargy, weight loss, and malaise. At all dose levels, but more significantly at the highest doses, hematological toxicities were observed and grade 3 neurotoxicity (headache and confusion), and hypotension were noted. Two patients expired during the study, and this was felt to be related to septic episodes. Because of these severe toxicities, 160 micrograms/m2 was defined as the MTD. At 160 micrograms/m2 peak serum levels occurred within 5-20 minutes of initiation and were not detectable 1 hour later. No anti-tumor responses were observed. No measurable plasma levels of TNF were observed with the administration of doses of 80 micrograms/m2. This dose level could be further studied in phase II studies alone and in combination with other agents, utilizing a continuous infusion schedule.
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PMID:A phase I pharmacokinetic study of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor administered by a 5-day continuous infusion. 142 28

Besides general complications of immunosuppression such as increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections or malignancy, individual immunosuppressive agents are associated with specific side effects. Nephrotoxicity is the major side effect of cyclosporine (CsA). Various attempts have been made to minimize this toxicity, such as monitoring drug blood levels, modifying the protocol, and coadministering other agents. Other side effects caused by CsA are hepatotoxicity, hyperkalemia, hypertension, tremor, gum overgrowth, and hirsutism. Azathioprine (AZA) causes dose-related bone marrow suppression, commonly leading to leukopenia. Careful monitoring of complete blood cell count and dosage adjustment according to white blood cell count are usually adequate to prevent serious leukopenia. The side effects of corticosteroids are numerous and include slow wound healing and de novo insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Many complications are dose related, and with low dosage or discontinuation of steroids, their frequency rapidly decreases. Antilymphoblast and antithymocyte globulins (P-ALG) are foreign antibodies and may cause allergic-type reactions such as fever, chill, and hypotension. The initial side effect of monoclonal antibody (muromonab-CD3, OKT3) is similar to that of P-ALG. It includes high fever, shaking chills, headache, rigors, and hypotension. To prevent it, acetaminophen, an antihistamine, and a steroid usually are administered before injection. Because this agent is also associated with high frequency of pulmonary edema, it should not be given to any patient who has more than 3% body weight gain during the week prior to therapy. In rare case, it causes aseptic meningitis or encephalopathy, which is manifested by fever, severe headache, and seizure.
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PMID:Complications associated with immunosuppressive therapy and their management. 174 17

Three integrated night vision goggle (NVG) helmets from different manufacturers were evaluated under high-G conditions. Structural and operational integrity, as well as neck forces in pounds, were determined via instrumented manikin testing before human exposure with the helmets during sustained +Gz. Results of the manikin testing showed that the helmets could withstand the rigors of high-G, and that predicted forces (using helmet weights and centers-of-gravity) matched those obtained experimentally from load cells in the x-axis of the manikin's neck. After manikin testing, 10 subjects were randomly exposed to four different high-G profiles on the Dynamic Environmental Simulator (DES) man-rated centrifuge located at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH: gradual onset to +8 Gz, a simulated aerial combat maneuver (SACM) profile, and two +4 Gz profiles, one with the mask dangling from the helmet and the other with the mask removed. Fit assessments were conducted before high-G exposure, and one helmet was affected significantly by failure of fit. The degree of migration of the NVG intensified image away from the eyes was affected most by the following helmet characteristics: design of the nape strap, size of the NVG image provided by each helmet system, goodness of helmet fit, and the use of the mask as a stabilizer. Although neck strength of each subject was measured and compared to the degree of head stability while wearing each helmet, no effects were found. However, subjects were not allowed to perform fast, high-amplitude head movements in the centrifuge for safety reasons.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Evaluation of integrated night vision goggle (NVG) helmets under sustained +Gz. 772 74

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) plays a central role in the immune system, partly by stimulating the production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and other cytokines by lymphocytes. In preclinical studies, recombinant interleukin-1 (rIL-1 beta) has shown antitumor activity. We conducted a phase II trial to evaluate the efficacy of rIL-1 in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). rIL-1 beta was given at a dose of 50 ng/kg i.v. daily for 5 days on a 28-day schedule. Nineteen patients were registered; 16 completed two cycles and were evaluable for response. There were no complete or partial responses to treatment. Toxicity was generally mild and typically involved grades I and II fever, rigors, hypotension, and weight gain. Severe neurologic toxicity was seen in two patients, grade IV seizures were seen in one, and grade III somnolence was seen in another. Analysis of soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2r) levels revealed an increase from a mean pretreatment level of 4,567 pg/ml to a mean of 6,124 pg/ml posttreatment (p < 0.001). The mean pretreatment IL-6 level was 51 pg/ml, increased to 84 pg/ml posttreatment (p < 0.05). Patients with bulky disease had higher sIL-2r levels, and patients with tumor fevers had higher IL-6 and sIL-2r levels than patients without fever did. A neutrophilic leukocytosis and a mild thrombocytosis were observed in response to rIL-1 beta administration. We conclude that rIL-1 beta in this dose and schedule is inactive in metastatic RCC.
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PMID:Phase II trial of recombinant interleukin-1 beta in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. 783 20