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)

Two cases of hypothalamic hamartoma are presented. The first patient was a 4-year-old boy with precocious puberty, and the second was a 6-year-old boy with epileptic seizures. In both patients, clinical symptoms and signs appeared at the age of 2 years and progressed thereafter. Computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in both cases disclosed a suprasellar mass lesion in continuity with the hypothalamus. Removal of the lesions affected the endocrinological status and/or seizure control. Pathological examination revealed the lesions to be composed of well-differentiated neuronal and glial cells. Immunohistochemical study demonstrated the presence of beta-endorphin, corticotropin-releasing factor, oxytocin, and neurofilament protein (210 kD) in the neuronal cells of the first patient, but no neuropeptides were detected in the second. Electron microscopic examination on the second patient disclosed the presence of many nonmyelinated and some myelinated neuronal processes containing dense-core and clear vesicles. The morphological characteristics and the role of surgery for this lesion are discussed.
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PMID:Hypothalamic hamartoma. Report of two cases. 292 5

Understanding molecular biology can improve the clinical acumen of the practicing obstetrician/gynecologist. An area of basic research now becoming clinically relevant involves the G proteins and G protein-coupled receptors. Clinicians already manipulate G protein-coupled receptors in their daily practice. Examples include the administration of oxytocin (oxytocin receptors), beta-2 tocolytic agents (beta 2-adrenergic receptors), GnRH agonists (GnRH receptors), exogenous gonadotropins (FSH and LH receptors), and bromocriptine (dopamine receptor). Clinically important disorders presenting to the obstetrician/gynecologist include some forms of precocious puberty, delayed puberty, premature ovarian failure, and pituitary adenomas which are due to mutations of G proteins and G protein-coupled receptors. The importance of these proteins is demonstrated by the fact that G protein-related genes comprise about 1 percent of the human genome. Additionally, the knowledge that some G protein gene mutations are present in the germ line, and others are somatic cell in origin (and not heritable), aids in more accurate genetic counseling to patients.
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PMID:Relevance of molecular medicine to clinical obstetrics and gynecology. 899 40

Mammalian reproduction is a costly process in terms of energy consumption. The critical information regarding metabolic status is signaled to the hypothalamus mainly through peripheral peptides from the adipose tissue and gastrointestinal tract. Changes in energy stores produce fluctuations in leptin, insulin, ghrelin and glucose signals that feedback mainly to the hypothalamus to regulate metabolism and fertility. In near future, possible effects of the nutritional status on GnRH regulation can be evaluated by measuring serum or tissue levels of leptin and ghrelin in patiens suffering from infertility. The fact that leptin and ghrelin are antagonistic in their effects on GnRH neurons, their respective agonistic and antagonistic roles make them ideal candidates to use instead of GnRH agonist and antagonist. Similarly, kisspeptin expressing neurons are likely to mediate the well-established link between energy balance and reproductive functions. Exogenous kisspeptin can be used for physiological ovarian hyperstimulation for in-vitro fertilization. Moreover, kisspeptin antagonist therapy can be used for the treatment of postmenapousal women, precocious puberty, PCOS, endometriosis and uterine fibroids. In this review, we will analyze the central mechanisms involved in the integration of metabolic information and their contribution to the control of the reproductive function. Particular attention will be paid to summarize the participation of leptin, kisspeptin, ghrelin, NPY, orexin, urocortin, VIP, insulin, galanin, galanin like peptide, oxytocin, agouti gene-related peptide, and POMC neurons in this process and their possible interactions to contribute to the metabolic control of reproduction.
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PMID:Peptides: Basic determinants of reproductive functions. 2658 89