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)

A 62-year-old woman developed neurologic deficits 7 months after pulmonary lobectomy for alveolar cell carcinoma of the lung. CT scan of the head demonstrated two metastases with marked peritumoral edema. Administration of Decadron, chemotherapy and 3,000 rad cranial radiation resulted in dramatic improvement of dysphasia and right hand paresis. Almost 2 months later, rhythmic, involuntary movements of the left hand developed. There was progression to multifocal seizures, grand mal seizures, postictal depression, status epilepticus, and coma, with death 9 days after onset of the movement disorder. Bronchoalveolar carcinoma was widely disseminated in lungs and bones, and as three metastases in brain. Bland "ischemic" necrosis in a pseudolaminar pattern was present in the neocortex. Innumerable Cowdry type A intranuclear inclusion bodies were seen in neurons, astrocytes, and oligodenodroglia. Immunofluorescence demonstrated Herpes simplex virus type 2 antigen and electron microscopy revealed virions with the morphology of the Herpes group. The case is significant for (1) the concurrence of intracranial metastases and Herpes simplex encephalitis, and (2) the causal agent, Herpes simplex virus type 2. The implication for the clinical neurocientist is the potential in a patient with systemic cancer, for the causation of neurologic complications by more than one factor or mechanism.
 ...
PMID:Herpes simplex type 2 encephalitis concurrent with known cerebral metastases. 22 22

Although Dimer X is said to be a low toxic water soluble contrast medium, epileptic seizures sometimes occur during or after Dimer X ventriculography. The toxicity of this dye was examined in rats and possible prophylactic measures were evaluated. From the results of our experiment it was concluded that Dimer X of low concentration should be used with premedication of Valium and Decadron.
 ...
PMID:Intracisternal dimer X: toxicity and prophylaxis. 98 11

There is an international consensus on the indications of electroconvulsive treatment (ECT): they result in particular from the limitations of antidepressant drug treatment. Even though the global effect of ECT is considered as satisfactory, 10 to 20% of depressed patients eligible for ECT are treatment refractory. This warrants a search for factors predicting efficacy or lack of efficacy of ECT. Predicting factors prior to ECT: Usual clinical criteria, such as the presence of delusional thoughts, are generally classified with endogenous signs of depression. Among biological criteria, EEG data, tests assessing reactivity of autonomous nervous system, plasma measures of catecholamines, calcium and cortisol do not seem relevant parameters. Dexamethasone suppression test and stimulation of TSH by TRH have no more predictive value. Predictive indices during treatment: Empirically clinicians identified a sequence in the response of depressive symptoms, although no conclusion can be drawn from these clinical impressions. Among biological factors some authors stress the importance of the epileptogenic threshold and of measuring plasma levels of peptides released by the posterior lobe of hypophysis. Such data have to be confirmed and their physiopathological value better understood. Actually some parameters representing good therapeutic practices are valued by physicians using ECT: sufficient duration of electrical crisis, total seizure time during the series of electroshocks. Those conceptions are close to the classical emphasis on the adequate number of ECTs and to the discussion on the comparative efficacy of unilateral and bilateral ECT. After ECT most authors shift to antidepressants, although data about medium and long term outcome prediction with this approach are also lacking.
 ...
PMID:[Predictive factors of response to electronarcosis]. 180 65

In rats kainic acid-induced seizures were accompanied by time-dependent cerebral cysteinyl-leukotriene (LT) and prostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha formation. Cysteinyl-LT were identified in the rat brain tissue extracts by their immunoreactive properties and their retention times upon reversed phase HPLC profiling. In perfused blood-free brain tissue contents of LTC4-like material were significantly elevated in cortex, hippocampus, midbrain and hypothalamus at 3 h after kainic acid injection. PGF2 alpha tissue contents were significantly elevated in all brain areas studied with very large amounts in the hippocampus and smaller amounts in the cortex. The cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin significantly inhibited formation of PGF2 alpha in whole brain tissue while leaving unaffected the production of cysteinyl-LT. A dose of indomethacin which nearly completely inhibited cyclooxygenase activity as monitored by cerebral PGF2 alpha contents also tended to aggravate behavioral changes and significantly increased the mortality. Phenidone, a lipoxygenase inhibitor, significantly and dose-dependently inhibited formation of cysteinyl-LT but did not significantly affect PGF2 alpha formation. Seizure activity tended to be attenuated by a higher dose of this compound. Dexamethasone which supposedly inhibits phospholipase A2 activity by induction of lipocortins, did not significantly reduce either cysteinyl-LT or PGF2 alpha biosynthesis. Flunarizine, trifluoperazine and diazepines protected a certain percentage of animals from kainic acid-induced seizures. In rats in which seizures occurred in spite of pretreatment with these compounds, the eicosanoid formation was not inhibited but in the case of flunarizine was even found to be somewhat enhanced.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
 ...
PMID:Cysteinyl-leukotriene production during limbic seizures triggered by kainic acid. 235 80

The histopathological alterations developing in the hippocampus, piriform cortex and thalamus of the rat brain, the blood-brain barrier damage, and the effects of dexamethasone pretreatment on the brain edema were investigated 4 h following intraperitoneal kainic acid administration. The most pronounced Evans Blue extravasation accompanied by increases in the water and sodium contents and a decrease in the potassium content, were observed in the thalamus. Dexamethasone, injected in a dose of 5 mg/kg 2 h before kainic acid administration, reduced considerably the vasogenic edema and neuronal damage in the thalamus, but the cytotoxic edema of the hippocampus and piriform cortex remained unaltered. Kainic acid-induced seizures lead to the development of vasogenic brain edema mainly in the thalamus, as well as to cytotoxic edema in the hippocampus and piriform cortex. The vasogenic edema seems to contribute to the cell damage in the thalamus. Dexamethasone reduces the vasogenic edema and cell damage in the thalamus, possibly by inducing the synthesis of certain protein(s) with antiphospholipase A2 activity.
 ...
PMID:Effects of dexamethasone on brain edema induced by kainic acid seizures. 396 Mar 7

Oncologic emergencies can occur in cancer patients who have a good prognosis. In all of them, the challenge to the clinician is to diagnose and treat before irreversible complications occur. In febrile patients with neutropenia, cultures of body fluids should be obtained and therapy should be started immediately with broad-spectrum antibiotics. If spinal cord compression is suspected, either magnetic resonance spectroscopy or complete myelography can be done to confirm the diagnosis. Prompt workup in cancer patients with headaches or seizures may avoid neurologic consequences. For brain metastases, immediate treatment with dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexone, Hexadrol) is indicated. For hypercalcemia, a number of drugs that inhibit bone resorption, resulting in lower serum calcium levels, are now available. Malignant cardiac tamponade is relatively rare but potentially lethal; emergency pericardiocentesis often results in marked improvement.
 ...
PMID:Oncologic emergencies. Treating acute problems resulting from cancer and chemotherapy. 827 94

Treatment with excitotoxin kainic acid is known to increase the level of messenger RNAs for nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the brain. In this study we have used quantitative in situ hybridization to analyse the effect of glucocorticoids on kainic acid-induced increase of nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor messenger RNA in the rat brain. In adrenalectomized animals, the kainic acid-mediated increase of brain-derived neurotrophic factor messenger RNA in the hippocampus and the cerebral cortex was reduced by 50% compared to sham-operated animals. The increase of nerve growth factor messenger RNA elicited by kainic acid in the dentate gyrus was almost completely abolished in adrenalectomized animals. No significant change was seen in c-fos messenger RNA in the hippocampus of adrenalectomized rat after kainic acid injection compared to sham-operated kainic acid-treated rats, while a three-fold reduction was seen in the cerebral cortex. Dexamethasone injection prior to kainic acid administration potentiated the kainic acid-induced increase of nerve growth factor messenger RNA in the dentate gyrus and the piriform cortex. In contrast, dexamethasone pretreatment did not potentiate the kainic acid-mediated increase of brain-derived neurotrophic factor messenger RNA. We also examined the effect of adrenalectomy and kainic acid injection on tropomyosin receptor kinase B and C messenger RNA, encoding essential components of high-affinity receptor for brain-derived neurotrophic factor/neurotrophin-4 and neurotrophin-3, respectively. Following adrenalectomy no change of tropomyosin receptor kinase B or C messenger RNA was detected in any of the brain regions studied compared to sham-operated animals. The injection of kainic acid caused four-fold and two-fold increases of tropomyosin receptor kinase B messenger RNA in the dentate gyrus and cerebral cortex, respectively, but no change in tropomyosin receptor kinase C messenger RNA in any of these regions. In adrenalectomized animals receiving kainic acid, the level of tropomyosin receptor kinase B messenger RNA was decreased both in the dentate gyrus and cerebral cortex as compared to sham animals treated with kainic acid. Taken together, the data suggest that excitotoxins and glucocorticoids both influence expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and nerve growth factor messenger RNA in the brain, but by two different mechanisms, where the effect of excitotoxin-evoked seizures is modulated by glucocorticoids.
 ...
PMID:Adrenalectomy attenuates kainic acid-elicited increases of messenger RNAs for neurotrophins and their receptors in the rat brain. 834 24

The objective of this study was to assess, in a developing country setting, the effect of dexamethasone therapy on bacterial meningitis outcomes. A prospective double blind placebo controlled trial was conducted in 89 children aged from 2 months to 12 years suffering from bacterial meningitis. Neurological, developmental, and hearing assessments were conducted at one, four, and 12 months after discharge. Forty eight patients received dexamethasone and 41 placebo. Initial antimicrobial drugs used were ampicillin and chloramphenicol. For all patients at the time of admission the mean duration of illness was 5.7 days; 47% had had seizures and 56% had impaired consciousness. Seventeen of 89 (19%) patients died. The mortality for the dexamethasone group was 25% as compared with 12% in the group receiving placebo. Presentation to the hospital after four days of symptoms and with impaired conscious state were independent predictors of death. Of the dexamethasone group survivors, 26.5% had neurological sequelae and 42.3% had hearing impairment, whereas in the placebo group it was 24% and 30% respectively. Altered state of consciousness was a predictor of neurological sequelae. The presence of neurological sequelae and high cerebrospinal fluid protein independently predicted hearing loss. No beneficial effect of dexamethasone was observed on morbidity or mortality of this group of patients with bacterial meningitis. Dexamethasone is therefore not useful in developing countries as adjunctive treatment in patients seriously ill with bacterial meningitis, who present late for treatment and have been partially treated.
 ...
PMID:Dexamethasone and bacterial meningitis in Pakistan. 901 99

Glucocorticoids exacerbate neuronal damage due to hypoxia, ischemia, seizure and hypoglycemia. Because the release of glutamate is closely involved in neuronal damage, the effects of dexamethasone on the ischemia-induced accumulation of extracellular amino acids (aspartate, glutamate, and glycine) were investigated in the gerbil hippocampal CA1 region by a microdialysis-high-performance liquid chromatography procedure in vivo. There were no differences in the extracellular concentrations of amino acids before ischemia between the control group and the dexamethasone (3m microg, i.c.v.)-injected group. The concentration of glutamate reached 246% of that before ischemia within 2.5 min of transient forebrain ischemia. Dexamethasone augmented the increase in glutamate to 508% of that before ischemia. This finding suggests that glucocorticoids aggravate ischemic neuronal damage by causing glutamate to accumulate in the extracellular space.
 ...
PMID:Dexamethasone augments ischemia-induced extracellular accumulation of glutamate in gerbil hippocampus. 965 Aug 49

Previous data indicate that intracerebroventricular administration of agonists for mu- and delta-opioid receptors induces limbic seizures in rats, but no data are reported in rabbits. We found that the mu- and delta-opioid peptides [D-Ala(2)-N,Me-Phe(4)-Gly(5)-ol]enkephalin (DAMGO), beta-endorphin and deltorphin II, induced EEG non-convulsive hippocampal seizures, and changes in hippocampal background EEG, physical parameters and overt behaviour after central administration. Dexamethasone pre-treatment prevented DAMGO-, deltorphin II- and beta-endorphin-induced seizures as well as changes in background EEG, physical parameters and overt behaviour induced by mu-opioid agonists. Dexamethasone antagonism on opioid action was blocked by pre-treatment with a protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide or by the kappa-opioid antagonist nor-binaltorphimine. Our data suggest that dexamethasone influences opioid actions at mu- and delta-receptors via a protein synthesis mechanism involving kappa-opioid receptors.
 ...
PMID:Dexamethasone blocking effects on mu- and delta-opioid-induced seizures involves kappa-opioid activity in the rabbit. 1128 2


1 2 3 Next >>