Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0042109 (urticaria)
 6,569 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Twenty patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), AIDS-related complex (ARC) or asymptomatic HIV infection (HIV+) were given 20 mcg kg-3 trichosanthin (TCS; 'Compound Q'), a ribosome-inactivating protein with in vitro antiviral activity against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) once every four weeks for up to 12 weeks. With the concurrent administration of prostaglandin inhibitors, the drug was moderately well tolerated, with most subjects experiencing mild arthralgia, hives and malaise. Additionally, four patients experienced neurological complications which resolved spontaneously without intervention. Four of 20 subjects in this open label pilot study showed progressive although transient reductions in viral activity as measured by p-24 antigen level decreases. Subjects also experienced decreases in levels of beta 2-microglobulin. Ten HIV+ and healthy ARC subjects demonstrated improved immunological status as measured by significant increases in percentage of CD4+ cells and augmentations in delayed hypersensitivity reactions. Eight of 20 subjects reported improved appetites and increased energy levels. The group as a whole had a weight gain of 3.2 kg. Eight of 20 subjects who presented with persistent generalized lymphadenopathy exhibited a marked diminution in the size of their lymph nodes after the first treatment. No subject who presented with oral candidiasis experienced an improvement in that condition. We conclude that, in the short term, TCS seems to have the ability to reduce viral activity and improve certain symptoms in healthy ARC patients and HIV + asymptomatics although it may not be able to restore immune competence in persons with advanced AIDS or poor prognosis ARC. Additionally, the drug may pose a special risk for patients with HIV-related dementia.
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PMID:Trichosanthin treatment of HIV-induced immune dysregulation. 157 89

Dysfunction of the NF1 gene coding a RAS GAP is the major cause of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), whereas neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) is caused primarily by dysfunction of the NF2 gene product called merlin that inhibits directly PAK1, an oncogenic Rac/CDC42-dependent Ser/Thr kinase. It was demonstrated previously that PAK1 is essential for the growth of both NF1 and NF2 tumors. Thus, several anti-PAK1 drugs, including FK228 and CEP-1347, are being developed for the treatment of NF tumors. However, so far no effective NF therapeutic is available on the market. Since propolis, a very safe healthcare product from bee hives, contains anticancer ingredients called CAPE (caffeic acid phenethyl ester) or ARC (artepillin C), depending on the source, both of which block the oncogenic PAK1 signaling pathways, its potential therapeutic effect on NF tumors was explored in vivo. Here it is demonstrated that Bio 30, a CAPE-rich water-miscible extract of New Zealand (NZ) propolis suppressed completely the growth of a human NF1 cancer called MPNST (malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor) and caused an almost complete regression of human NF2 tumor (Schwannoma), both grafted in nude mice. Although CAPE alone has never been used clinically, due to its poor bioavailability/water-solubility, Bio 30 contains plenty of lipids which solubilize CAPE, and also includes several other anticancer ingredients that seem to act synergistically with CAPE. Thus, it would be worth testing clinically to see if Bio 30 and other CAPE-rich propolis are useful for the treatment of NF patients.
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PMID:CAPE (caffeic acid phenethyl ester)-based propolis extract (Bio 30) suppresses the growth of human neurofibromatosis (NF) tumor xenografts in mice. 1872 24