Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0234215 (discomfort)
 24,445 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Anorexia is one of the most common symptoms in advanced cancer and is a frequent cause of discomfort for cancer patients and their families. The pathogenesis of cancer anorexia is multi-factorial and involves most of the hypothalamic neuronal signalling pathways modulating energy homeostasis. It is considered to be the result of a failure of usual appetite and satiety signals. Loss of appetite can arise from decreased taste and smell of food, as well as from dysfunctional hypothalamic signalling pathways and cytokine production. Cytokines in particular, appear to play a key role in energy balance through persistent activation of the melanocortin system and inhibition of the neuropeptide Y pathway. The imbalance between anorexigenic and orexigenic peptides leads to suppression of appetite, and increased satiety and satiation associated with marked weight loss and decline in physical performance. High levels of serotonin also appear to contribute to these effects and recent findings implicate corticotropin-releasing factor in the pathogenesis of cancer anorexia as well. Despite significant advances in our understanding of the regulation of food intake and energy expenditure, few effective therapies are available. A better appreciation of the molecular and neuronal mechanisms that control body weight homeostasis may lead to the development of new therapies for improving the survival and quality of life of these patients.
 ...
PMID:Anorexia in cancer: role of feeding-regulatory peptides. 1681 4

How to treat patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) who do not respond to pharmacotherapy is an unsolved problem. Psychotherapy, which has been reported on in previous studies, is available only in specific centers. We describe in this study a novel and simple psychotherapy; that is, the fasting therapy (FT) for treatment of patients with IBS. Of 84 inpatients with IBS, 58 patients who still had moderate to severe IBS symptoms after 4-week basic treatment were investigated retrospectively. Of the 58 patients enrolled in this study, 36 underwent FT, whereas the remaining 22 received a consecutive basic treatment (control therapy). There were no significant differences in the 4-point severity scales of gastrointestinal and psychological symptoms between the 2 groups before the start of FT. The basic treatment consisted of pharmacotherapy and brief psychotherapy, whereas the FT consisted of 10 days of starvation followed by 5 days of refeeding. Changes in scores of symptoms before and after each treatment were analyzed. FT significantly improved 7 out of the 10 symptoms assessed; that is, abdominal pain-discomfort (p < .001), abdominal distension (p < .001), diarrhea (p < .001), anorexia (p = .02), nausea (p < .01), anxiety (p < .001), and interference with life in general (p < .001). However, the control therapy significantly improved only 3 out of the 10 symptoms assessed; that is, abdominal pain-discomfort (p = .03), abdominal distension (p < .01), and interference with life (p = .01). Our results suggest that FT may have beneficial effects on intractable patients with IBS.
 ...
PMID:Effects of fasting therapy on irritable bowel syndrome. 1707 71

A male giant anteater (Myrmecophage tridactyla) was treated twice for tongue tip constrictions. Clinical signs were partial anorexia, soft stool, bleeding from the mouth, and intermittent lingual discomfort. In the first presentation, wood fibers constricting the distal part of the tongue were detected by endoscopy and were removed. In the second presentation, bands of collagenous fibers were identified and resected. Dietary elements were responsible for both cases: elongated wood fibers were present in peat, which was included as a supplement to improve stool consistency, and collagenous fibers originated from fascias of lean meat, which served as a protein source in this diet. Preventive measures included sieving of the peat to eliminate long fibers and grinding of the meat, respectively, prior to diet presentation. A homogenous diet, utilizing cellulose rather than peat and dry cat food rather than meat, will avoid tongue tip constriction as described in these cases.
 ...
PMID:Recurrent tongue tip constriction in a captive giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla). 1746 93

The aim of the study was to investigate the safety of adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) administration at home in pre-terminal cancer patients. Included were patients with cancer for whom medical treatment options were restricted to supportive care, who had a life expectancy of less than 6 months, a World Health Organization performance status 1 or 2, and suffered from at least one of the following complaints: fatigue, anorexia or weight loss >5% over the previous 6 months. Side effects were registered systematically on a standard form according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Common Toxicity Criteria. Fifty-one patients received a total of 266 intravenous ATP infusions. Of these, 11 infusions (4%) were given at the lowest dose of 20 microg kg(-1) min(-1), 85 infusions (32%) at 25-40 microg kg(-1) min(-1), and 170 (64%) at the highest dose of 45-50 microg kg(-1) min(-1) ATP. The majority of ATP infusions (63%) were without side effects. Dyspnea was the most common side effect (14% of infusions), followed by chest discomfort (12%) and the urge to take a deep breath (11%). No symptoms of cardiac ischemia occurred in any of the infusions. All side effects were transient and resolved within minutes after lowering the ATP infusion rate. Side effects were most frequent in the presence of cardiac disorders. We conclude that ATP at a maximum dose of 50 microg kg(-1) min(-1) can be safely administered in the home setting in patients with pre-terminal cancer.
 ...
PMID:Intravenous ATP infusions can be safely administered in the home setting: a study in pre-terminal cancer patients. 1778 87

Although knowledge of intestinal parasites predates Hippocrates, the Hippocratic Corpus provides the first scientific observations about the clinical perception and treatment of helminthic diseases. These observations follow the scientific principles of Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, who relied on knowledge and observation. This article is based on a systematic study of the Hippocratic texts, and presents observations on diseases caused by intestinal parasites with respect to regularity of appearance, patient age, symptoms, and treatment. Three types of helminths are described: "helmins strongyle" (roundworm), "helmins plateia" (flatworm), and "ascaris" (which corresponds to Enterobius vermicularis). Helminthic diseases primarily appear during childhood, well after teething. The described systemic symptoms include weakness, sickness, discomfort, tiredness, anorexia, and emotional instability; gastrointestinal symptoms include change in bowel movements, vomiting, and colic pain in the epigastrium. We identified several accounts of cases of helminthic diseases in the Hippocratic texts. Of particular interest are the descriptions of a helminth emerging from a fistula in the navel region and the surgical treatment of helminthic diseases, reinforced by being described on a dedicatory inscription at the Asclepion in Epidaurus. We finally encountered the use of powerful purgatives as antihelminthics, which have been widely used, even into the 21st century.
 ...
PMID:From the roots of parasitology: Hippocrates' first scientific observations in helminthology. 1791 92

Peptic ulcer disease usually occurs in the stomach and proximal duodenum. The predominant causes in the United States are infection with Helicobacter pylori and use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Symptoms of peptic ulcer disease include epigastric discomfort (specifically, pain relieved by food intake or antacids and pain that causes awakening at night or that occurs between meals), loss of appetite, and weight loss. Older patients and patients with alarm symptoms indicating a complication or malignancy should have prompt endoscopy. Patients taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs should discontinue their use. For younger patients with no alarm symptoms, a test-and-treat strategy based on the results of H. pylori testing is recommended. If H. pylori infection is diagnosed, the infection should be eradicated and antisecretory therapy (preferably with a proton pump inhibitor) given for four weeks. Patients with persistent symptoms should be referred for endoscopy. Surgery is indicated if complications develop or if the ulcer is unresponsive to medications. Bleeding is the most common indication for surgery. Administration of proton pump inhibitors and endoscopic therapy control most bleeds. Perforation and gastric outlet obstruction are rare but serious complications. Peritonitis is a surgical emergency requiring patient resuscitation; laparotomy and peritoneal toilet; omental patch placement; and, in selected patients, surgery for ulcer control.
 ...
PMID:Peptic ulcer disease. 1795 71

Ingestion of high levels of rapidly fermented carbohydrates after parturition often leads to the production of excessive quantities of organic acids that may exceed the buffering capacity of the rumen and cause pH to drop. Ruminal acidosis results in animal discomfort, anorexia, depression, decreased digestibility, and decreased milk production. In the present study, we examined the effects of daily addition of cells of a newly isolated strain of Prevotella bryantii (25A) to the rumen of 12 ruminally cannulated cows in early lactation. This strain was selected based on earlier in vitro studies that indicated its ability to grow rapidly, compete for starch, and produce organic acids other than lactate. After calving, all cows received increasing amounts of an energy-dense diet containing barley grain, corn silage, and grass silage in a 40:60 forage-to-concentrate ratio. Animals were blocked according to milk production from their previous lactation. Treatments (control and P. bryantii) were distributed among cows within the same block. Cows were fed once a day. Six cows were given a daily dose of P. bryantii (2 x 10(11) cells/dose), administered directly with a syringe through the rumen cannula, from 3 wk prepartum up to 7 wk postpartum. Rumen fluid was sampled before feeding and at 2 and 3 h postfeeding on wk 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7 postpartum. Feed intake and milk yield were recorded daily and milk composition was recorded 2 d/wk, up to wk 7 of lactation. Feed intake was similar between control and treated cows. Prevotella bryantii did not change milk production, but milk fat tended to be greater in treated cows compared with control cows (3.9 vs. 3.5%). Rumen pH was similar between the 2 groups and differed across sampling times, being higher before feeding (6.3) as opposed to 2 h (5.9) and 3 h (5.7) postfeeding. Rumen lactate concentration was similar before feeding between control and treated cows; however, 2 to 3 h after feeding, lactate concentration was lower in cows receiving P. bryantii compared with control cows (0.7 vs. 1.4 mM). This difference was maintained throughout the experimental period. Concentration of NH(3)-N was greater in treated cows than in control cows (174 vs. 142 mg/L). Acetate (65.5 vs. 57.8 mM), butyrate (12.7 vs. 10.5 mM), and branched-chain C4 fatty acid (0.90 vs. 0.75 mM) concentrations were greater in postfeeding samples of treated cows compared with control cows. Supplementing early-lactating cows with P. bryantii 25A increased ruminal fermentation products and milk fat concentration. Because signs of subacute ruminal acidosis were not observed in either treated or control cows, no conclusions can be made about possible protection against acidosis by P. bryantii.
 ...
PMID:Prevotella bryantii 25A used as a probiotic in early-lactation dairy cows: effect on ruminal fermentation characteristics, milk production, and milk composition. 1876 12

The genus Achillea consists of about 140 perennial herbs native to the Northern hemisphere. Traditional indications of their use include digestive problems, liver and gall-bladder conditions, menstrual irregularities, cramps, fever, wound healing. The Commission E approves its internal use for loss of appetite and dyspeptic ailments (gastric catarrh, spastic discomfort), externally it is used in form of sitz bath or as a compress against skin inflammation, slow healing wounds, bacterial or fungal infections. In the last decades, pharmacological studies became intensive, although human clinical investigations are still rare. Recent findings have confirmed several traditional uses. The largest number of data accumulated for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. There are positive results on the analgesic, anti-ulcer, choleretic, hepatoprotective and wound healing activities. First results on other interesting therapeutical areas - antihypertensive, antidiabetic, antitumor, antispermatogenic activities -need confirmation. Yarrow can be used also as an insect repellent. Contact dermatitis as adverse effect may be connected to sesquiterpenes. The diversity and complexity of the effective compounds of yarrow species explains the broad spectrum of their activity. According to the literature the pharmacological effects are mainly due to the essential oil, proazulenes and other sesquiterpene lactones, dicaffeoylquinic acids and flavonoids. Synergistic actions of these and other compounds are also supposed. Achillea species have different chemical and therapeutical values. Despite of numerous data, correct evaluation of the results is difficult because of missing generally accepted taxonomical nomenclature. The used chemical-analytical methods and bio-assays are utmost diverse, making the comparison complicated. Further research on the activity is needed using exactly defined plant material, standardized methods and chemical analysis.
 ...
PMID:Biological activities of yarrow species (Achillea spp.). 1907 97

Modafinil, a wakefulness-promoting agent unrelated to classical sympathomimetic stimulants, has been studied in a total of 933 children and adolescents as a treatment for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Several studies, including three double-blind, placebo-controlled studies with intent-to-treat analyses, have demonstrated the efficacy of modafinil film-coated tablets in reducing symptoms of ADHD and associated problem behaviors in children and adolescents. Modafinil is generally well tolerated, with adverse events (such as insomnia, headache, loss of appetite, weight loss, and gastrointestinal discomfort) that are generally mild to moderate, rarely leading to medication discontinuation. To minimize treatment-emergent side effects, titration to the target dose of 355-425 mg once a day should take place over 2-3 weeks. Due to reports of skin rash (including one case of possible erythema multiforme/Stevens Johnson Syndrome during pivotal studies), additional studies have been requested to better evaluate the risks of developing severe cutaneous adverse reactions.
 ...
PMID:A review of modafinil film-coated tablets for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents. 1930 May 63

A 7-mo-old female cougar (Puma concolor) was presented with a 2-wk history of anorexia and a 1-wk history of regurgitation. Barium contrast esophagogram and gastroesophagoscopy revealed the presence of a segmental intraluminal esophageal stricture in the middle third of the esophagus. The stricture was potentially secondary to a previous anesthetic episode. Three endoscopic balloon dilations allowed increasing the luminal diameter to a size that enabled the cougar to eat food softened with water without any signs of discomfort or regurgitation. Two months after being discharged, the cougar was doing well, had gained weight and was eating horsemeat softened with water.
 ...
PMID:Esophageal stricture in a cougar (Puma concolor). 1956 81


<< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next >>