Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P01178 (oxytocin)
 15,767 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The author relates her experience in Benin during a 3 and 1/2 year tenure as a nurse under the aegis of the German Development Agency. In Malanville, she was responsible for starting the operating room, caring for hygiene, sterility, and the related training of domestic staff. A septic and aseptic operating room was set up along with a storage room for instruments, a sterilization room, and a changing room. For the operating and surgical station, the following personnel were available: 2 nurses with 3 years of training, 1 nurse with 2 years of training, and 3 orderlies without training. A nurse with 3 years of training was assigned to the author to carry on the project after her departure. The standard of operating care was very low. It took a month to teach the staff what was not sterile. There was a even problem with putting on sterile gloves which required an exercise in patience. There were an average of 5 relatives per patient taking care of the patient and cooking. The undernutrition center for infants had 6 beds with 2 German nurses who administered Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), diphtheria, polio, and tetanus vaccinations. Their activity was strengthened by nutrition counselling and plans for underweight and malnourished children. Abrupt weaning that resulted in harmful diarrhea and vomiting was prevalent. Clinical signs of marasmus and kwashiorkor were frequent. In the middle of 1990, AIDS educators informed students of the public school as well as registered prostitutes about condom use. In the hospital, there were about 900 births per year, and women were asked to follow recommendations for prenatal care, especially to achieve anemia prevention by getting iron tablets. They were urged to deliver in the clinic, not at home assisted by untrained midwives. Oxytocin and syntometrin were available as was a hand-driven, vacuum evacuation pump. This experience made a lasting impression on the author who has resolved to go to another developing country to train traditional birth attendants in midwifery.
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PMID:[In Africa as a nurse]. 161 98

Computerized Chou-Fasman analysis of the secondary structure of human T-cell leukemia viruses (HTLV-I, HTLV-II) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) envelope proteins revealed that only one antigenic epitope (amino acids EAL) is shared by the three viruses. A similar antigenic epitope is also found in human and rat brain hormone vasopressin-neurophysin. If autoantibodies in multiple sclerosis (MS) are made to the epitope EAL, they may cross-react with the envelope proteins of HTVL. It is speculated that in AIDS patients, antibodies to the antigenic epitope EAL of HIV may cross-react with brain vasopressin-neurophysin, leading to a decline in this brain peptide hormone. Thus it is hypothesized that treatment of both MS and AIDS patients with a synthetic polymer containing the amino acids EAL might eliminate the antibodies to vasopressin-neurophysin and thus alleviate some of the clinical symptoms.
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PMID:Multiple sclerosis autoantibodies and antibodies in AIDS may deplete a brain peptide hormone. 341 7

Sixteen freshly isolated varicella-zoster virus (VZV) strains were evaluated in vitro, in parallel with two reference strains expressing a functional thymidine kinase (TK+) (Oka and YS) and two thymidine kinase-deficient mutants (TK-) (07-1 and YS-R), for their susceptibility to a broad range of antiviral compounds. The following compounds were included: acyclovir (ACV), brivudine (BVDU), sorivudine (BVaraU), other BVDU congeners such as BTDU, CTDU, CVDC and CVDU, ganciclovir (GCV), FIAC, araT, araA, araC, foscarnet (PFA), phosphonoacetic acid (PAA), the acyclic nucleoside phosphonates HPMPC, cHPMPC, HPMPA, cHPMPA, HPMPc3A, PMEA and PMEDAP, the N7-isomeric acyclic nucleoside analogue N7AP, penciclovir (PCV), compounds 882C87 and H2G and two oxetanocin derivatives OXT-A and OXT-G. Fourteen of the 16 clinical isolates displayed the following order of decreasing selectivity against VZV: BVaraU > BVDU > CVDU approximately CVDC > H2G > N7AP approximately CTDU approximately BTDU approximately OXT-G approximately 882C87 > ACV > FIAC approximately araT > HPMPC approximately cHPMPC approximately HPMPA approximately HPMPc3A approximately cHPMPA > PCV approximately GCV approximately OXT-A > PMEDAP approximately PMEA > PFA approximately PAA approximately araA > araC. Two VZV strains (isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid of an AIDS patient) that were shown to have a truncated TK were clearly resistant to all the compounds that need the viral TK for their phosphorylation, while sensitivity to the acyclic nucleoside phosphonates, PFA, PAA, OXT-A and araA, remained unchanged. A slight (5- and 10-fold) increase was noted in the 50% inhibitory concentration of N7AP and OXT-G, respectively, for the TK- VZV strains as compared to the TK+ VZV strains. Ganciclovir and FIAC also showed a marked decrease in their activity against these two strains, but this was not as pronounced as for the other viral TK-dependent drugs. From our results, it appears that although acyclic nucleoside phosphonates may not have as favourable a therapeutic index as drugs requiring the viral TK, they should be considered for the treatment of TK- VZV life-threatening infections that are resistant to the viral TK-dependent drugs.
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PMID:Comparative activity of selected antiviral compounds against clinical isolates of varicella-zoster virus. 764 95

According to the World Health Organization, between 1980 and 1985 the total fertility rate was 2.0 in the wealthy countries and 4.1 in the less developed countries. The highest rate was found in Kenya with 8.1. The risk of maternal mortality in connection with pregnancy and childbirth was 1/10,000 in Northern Europe, but 1/21 in Africa. Every year about 500,000 women die because of complications before, during, or after delivery. The maternal mortality rate (30/100,000 live births in Europe) is still 500-800/100,000 in the developing countries, although Tanzania has succeeded in cutting its rate from 450/100,000 to 170/100,000. The main causes of maternal mortality are: 1) unrecognized obstructed labor, 2) postpartum bleeding that could be managed by massaging the uterus, administration of oxytocin or by the manual removal of the placenta, 3) postpartum infections that could be treated by timely administration of antibiotics, 4) preeclampsia that could be detected and treated, and 5) abortion complications requiring effective treatment. Among indirect causes of death is anemia: 66% of pregnant women in developing countries are anemic, compared to 14% in industrialized countries. So far the cause of the reduction of partial immunity against malaria parasites in primiparas has not been explained. A significant percentage of deaths (11-47%) can be traced to unqualified and negligent personnel, especially in the slums and rural areas. Only 52% of deliveries are attended by well-trained health personnel, although in 10% of pregnancies complications arise. Young age is another factor: in 1989 in Tanzania the first pregnancy occurred on the average at age 17.6 years compared to 27 years in England. In the beginning of the 1990s there were an estimated 3 million HIV-infected women, therefore maternal mortality as a consequence of AIDS is going to increase. In high prevalence areas the population growth rate will decline from 3% to 2.4%. Traditional birth attendants could be trained and used effectively to reduce maternal mortality by 3-11% as part of a functioning referral system.
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PMID:[Obstetrics in the Third World]. 811 19

The number of immunocytochemically identified vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OXT) neurons was determined morphometrically in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus of 20 acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients and 10 controls. The AIDS group consisted of 14 homosexual males (age range 25-62 years), four of whom had a probable HIV-1 associated dementia complex, and six non-demented heterosexuals (four males and two females, age range 21-73 years). Ten males without a primary neurological or psychiatric disease served as a control group. The number of OXT-expressing neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of both groups of AIDS patients was approximately 40% lower than that of the controls. In contrast, the three groups showed no significant differences in the number of AVP-expressing neurons in the paraventricular nucleus. Since there were no significant differences in the number of AVP and OXT cells between the homosexual and heterosexual subjects with AIDS, the morphological difference in the paraventricular nucleus seems to be related to AIDS and not to sexual orientation. No inflammatory changes were found in the paraventricular nucleus area. The selective changes in the OXT neurons of the paraventricular nucleus may be the basis for part of the neuroendocrine, autonomic dysfunction or vegetative symptoms in AIDS.
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PMID:Decreased number of oxytocin neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the human hypothalamus in AIDS. 835 9

The human hypothalamus is involved in a wide range of functions in the developing, adult and aging subject and is responsible for a large number of symptoms of neuroendocrine, neurological and psychiatric diseases. In the present review some prominent hypothalamic nuclei are discussed in relation to normal development, sexual differentiation, aging and a number of neuropathological conditions. The suprachiasmatic nucleus, the clock of the brain, shows seasonal and circadian variations in its vasopressin neurons. During normal aging, but even more so in Alzheimer's disease, the number of these neurons decreases. In homosexual men this nucleus is larger than in heterosexual men. The difference between the sexually dimorphic nuclei of men and women arises between the ages of 2-4 to puberty. In adult men this nucleus is twice as large as in adult women. In the process of aging, a sex-dependent decrease in cell number occurs. The vasopressin and oxytocin cells of the supraoptic and paraventricular nucleus are present in adult numbers as early as mid-gestation. Lower oxytocin neuron numbers are found in Prader-Willi syndrome, AIDS and Parkinson's disease. Familial hypothalamic diabetes insipidus is based upon a point mutation in the vasopressin-neurophysin-glycopeptide gene. Parvicellular corticotropin-releasing hormone-containing neurons in the paraventricular nucleus increase in number and are activated during the course of aging. In post-menopausal women, the infundibular or arcuate nucleus contains hypertrophic neurons containing oestrogen receptors. These neurons may be involved in the initiation of menopausal flushes. The nucleus tuberalis lateralis may be involved in feeding behaviour and metabolism. In Huntington's disease the majority of its neurons is lost; in Alzheimer's disease it shows very strong cytoskeletal alterations. Tuberomammillary nucleus neurons contain, e.g., histamine or galanine, and project to the cortex. Strong cytoskeletal changes, as well as plaques and tangles are found in this nucleus in Alzheimer's disease. The various hypothalamic nuclei are probably involved in many functions and symptoms of which only a minority has been revealed.
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PMID:Functional neuroanatomy and neuropathology of the human hypothalamus. 851 84

Recently, a 40% reduction in the total of oxytocin immunoreactive neurons of the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus in AIDS patients was reported. In the present study, we determined whether this decrease is associated with a diminished amount of oxytocin mRNA. We used in situ hybridization combined with densitometric image analysis for the quantitative assessment of oxytocin gene expression in the paraventricular nucleus of a group of AIDS patients (n=10) and a carefully matched control group (n=8). We found no significant difference (P=0.08) in the amount of oxytocin mRNA per total paraventricular nucleus between the two groups. In addition, no significant differences were found in the part of the volume of the paraventricular nucleus that was occupied by hybridized cells (P=0.12) or in the mean signal density (P=0.08). The findings do not support the hypothesis that the extensive decrease in oxytocin immunoreactive neurons of the paraventricular nucleus in AIDS is associated with a decrease in total oxytocin mRNA content in this nucleus. The data are compatible with the suggestion that in AIDS the biosynthesis of oxytocin is changed in an unknown way at the (post)transcriptional level.
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PMID:Estimation of oxytocin mRNA in the human paraventricular nucleus in AIDS by means of quantitative in situ hybridization. 862 99

It is now largely established that the immune and neuroendocrine systems cross-talk by using similar ligands and receptors. In this context, the thymus-hypothalamus/pituitary axis can be regarded as a paradigm of connectivity in both normal and pathological conditions. For example, cytokines and thymic hormones modulate hypothalamic-pituitary functions: (a) interleukin (IL)-1 seems to upregulate the production of corticotropin-releasing factor and by adrenocorticotropin by hypothalamic neurons and pituitary cells, respectively; (b) thymulin enhances LH secretion. Conversely, a great deal of data strongly indicate that the hypothalamic-pituitary axis plays a role in the control of thymus physiology. Growth hormone (GH) for example, enhances thymulin secretion by thymic epithelial cells (TEC), both in vivo and in vitro, also increasing extracellular matrix-mediated TEC/thymocyte interactions. Additionally, gap junction-mediated cell coupling among TEC is upregulated by ACTH. In a second vein, it was shown that GH injections in aging mice increased total thymocyte numbers and the percentage of CD3-bearing cells, as well concanavalin-A mitogenic response and IL-6 production. In addition to mutual effects, thymus-pituitary similarities for cytokine and hormone production have been demonstrated. Cytokines such as IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, interferon-gamma, transforming growth factor-beta and others can be produced by hypothalamic and/or pituitary cells. Conversely, hormones including GH, PRL, LH, oxytocin, vasopressin and somatostatin can be produced intrathymically. Moreover, receptors for various cytokines and hormones are expressed in both the thymus and the hypothalamus/pituitary axis. Lastly, it is noteworthy that a thymus-pituitary connectivity can also be seen under pathological situations. In this regard, an altered HPA axis has been reported in AIDS, human falciparum malaria and murine rabies, that also show a severe thymic atrophy.
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PMID:Immunoneuroendocrine connectivity: the paradigm of the thymus-hypothalamus/pituitary axis. 987 43

Oxytocin receptors (OTRs) are expressed in numerous tissues, including human normal endothelium. Here we investigated the expression and biological significance of OTRs in Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), an intensely angioproliferative disease of possible vascular origin with a prominent inflammatory component. Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization studies showed OTR expression in tumor cells of cutaneous classic and AIDS-related KS lesions. OTR mRNA and protein were also detected on cultured KS-IMM spindle cells by reverse transcription-PCR and immunofluorescence procedures. In these cells, OTR expression was up-regulated by the supernatants of resting CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes through a still unidentified factor. Functionality of OTRs was demonstrated because OT treatment of KS-IMM cells led to a significant increase in cell proliferation, coupled to the increase of intracellular calcium, but did not effect cell migration in vitro or angiogenesis in vivo. In addition, we demonstrated that CD4+ and CD8+ cells produce OT themselves, thus constituting an intralesional source of peptide. These results indicate that: (a) functioning OTRs are expressed in KS cells and modulated by the inflammatory counterpart of KS lesions; (b) via OTRs, OT stimulates KS-IMM cell proliferation and could, therefore, be considered a new possible relevant growth factor involved in KS progression; and finally (c) the evidence of OT synthesis by CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes strongly suggests the existence of local endocrine-immunological cross-talk in Kaposi's sarcoma.
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PMID:Oxytocin is a growth factor for Kaposi's sarcoma cells: evidence of endocrine-immunological cross-talk. 1195 4