Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0042961 (volvulus)
 4,305 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 8 onchocerciasis patients, treated or not with ivermectin, were analyzed for phenotypic cell surface markers. A significant increase (P < .05) in gamma/delta T cells expressing the V delta 1 chain compared with normal and endemic controls was detected in all patients. PBMC populations from onchocerciasis patients were not expanded after restimulation with Onchocerca volvulus antigens in vitro, but both V delta 1 and V delta 2 T cells from normal donors were increased significantly in response to O. volvulus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (P < .05), respectively. Frozen sections of all 5 onchocerca nodules tested demonstrated an increased number of CD3+ cells in the vicinity of the adult worm, in all cases expressing the alpha/beta T cell receptor and in 2 patients also expressing the gamma/delta T cell receptor; 60% of T cells expressed the activation marker Ki67. These data suggest that O. volvulus provides ligands to V delta 1 T cells.
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PMID:Onchocerca volvulus provides ligands for the stimulation of human gamma/delta T lymphocytes expressing V delta 1 chains. 822 57

Chronic helminth infection induces a type-2 cellular immune response. In contrast to this, mycobacterial infections commonly induce a type-1 immune response which is considered protective. Type-2 responses and diminished type-1 responses to mycobacteria have been previously correlated with active infection states such as pulmonary tuberculosis and lepromatous leprosy. The present study examines the immune responses of children exposed to both the helminth parasite Onchocerca volvulus and the mycobacterial infections, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and M. leprae. Proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and production of IL-4 in response to both helminth and mycobacterial antigen (PPD) decreased dramatically with increasing microfilarial (MF) density. Although interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production strongly correlated with cellular proliferation, it was surprisingly not related to MF density for either antigen. IL-4 production in response to helminth antigen and PPD increased with ascending children's age. IFN-gamma and cellular proliferation to PPD were not related to age, but in response to helminth antigen were significantly higher in children of age 9-12 years than children of either the younger age group (5-8 years) or the older group (13-16 years). Thus, there was a MF density-related down-regulation of cellular responsiveness and age-related skewing toward type 2 which was paralleled in response to both the helminth antigen and PPD. This parasite-induced immunomodulation of the response to mycobacteria correlates with a previous report of doubled incidence of lepromatous leprosy in onchocerciasis hyperendemic regions. Moreover, this demonstration that helminth infection in humans can modulate the immune response to a concurrent infection or immunological challenge is of critical importance to future vaccination strategies.
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PMID:Onchocerciasis modulates the immune response to mycobacterial antigens. 1046 56

An 18-month-old neutered male domestic shorthair cat, domiciled in the southwest of France, was first presented having suffered for a few days from dysorexia and vomiting. Abdominal palpation revealed lymph node enlargement. Cytological examinations of a fine needle aspirate demonstrated granulomatous inflammation with many non-staining elements consistent with mycobacteria. Diagnosis was confirmed by culture and polymerase chain reaction and Mycobacterium avium subspecies was isolated. Treatment was initiated with marbofloxacin, rifampicin and cefoxitin. There was a rapid clinical improvement. The cat suddenly died 2 months later. The main hypothesis is the administration of an inappropriate combination therapy that leads to the development of mycobacterial resistance. A volvulus and acute peritonitis secondary to the significant enlargement of a mesenteric lymph node were present at necropsy. Histopathological analysis of mesenteric lymph node, liver and spleen revealed multicentric granulomatous and severely necrotic lesions with numerous Ziehl-Neelsen positive intracytoplasmic elements.
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PMID:Disseminated Mycobacterium avium subspecies infection in a cat. 2103 43

Leprosy, or Hansen's disease, is caused by infection with Mycobacterium leprae. It is a rare diagnosis within the continental United States. We present the case of a 13-year-old immigrant from the Marshall Islands who presented with recurrent nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain which are found to be due to intermittent gastric volvulus. Gastric volvulus is also exceedingly rare, with less than 8 pediatric cases on average per year. During her second hospitalization for recurrent acute gastrointestinal issues, nonspecific skin lesions were biopsied, revealing infection with M. leprae. The patient did not exhibit classic symptoms of leprosy but did have prominent skin changes including diffuse nodules. This case explores the pathophysiology connecting leprosy to volvulus, discussing the possible role of an inflammatory response to infection in causing gastric volvulus. The finding of lepromatous leprosy may have been unrelated but was fortuitous, as early intervention will result in avoidance of debilitating peripheral neuropathy and eventual disfiguration from Hansen's disease. This case highlights the importance of considering rare causes of gastric outlet obstruction including gastric volvulus and of considering leprosy in the differential for patients with unusual skin lesions or paresthesias who have a history of living or traveling in endemic areas.
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PMID:A 13-Year-Old with Coexistence of Gastric Volvulus and Leprosy: A Case Report of Two Rare Entities. 3018 47