Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P01189 (beta-endorphin)
 21,003 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Fundamental approaches in selection of new agents for evaluation in prevention of space/motion sickness (SMS) are reviewed. The discussion centers on drugs under investigation at the Johnson Space Center. Methodology that employs the rotating chair for measuring SMS symptomatology and susceptibility is described. The most obvious approach to the development of new agents relies on selection of agents from drug classes that possess pharmacologic properties of established anti-motion sickness agents. A second approach selects drugs that are used to prevent emesis caused by means other than exposure to motion. The third approach relies on basic research that characterizes individual differences in susceptibility. The hypothesis is: detection of individual differences leads to identification of specific drugs, which target physiologic systems that show individual differences. These physiologic systems are targets for therapy and may play a role in the etiology of SMS. Two drugs that reduce susceptibility to SMS include dexamethasone and d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)AVP, a vasopressin (AVP)V1 antagonist. The latter peptide has demonstrated complete blockade of emesis and other significant symptoms in squirrel monkeys. These studies were predicated on observations that subjects who were more resistant to SMS had higher plasma AVP after severe nausea than subjects with lower resistances. Investigations are underway to test a 0.5-mg intravenous dose in humans. Kappa opioid agonists inhibit AVP release and offer new therapeutic possibilities and advantages over AVP peptides. This review details the experimental data collected on AVP and adrenocorticotropin. The literature supports interrelated roles for AVP and opioid peptides in SMS. Experimental testing of kappa agonists is warranted because specific opioid agonists act at neuroanatomical sites causing nausea and vomiting. It is argued opioid receptors in the chemoreceptor trigger zone and vomiting center stimulate and inhibit the emetic response, respectively. The evidence suggests kappa and/or mu receptors at VC are involved in inhibition of emesis, whereas delta opioid receptors at CTZ are involved in stimulation of emesis.
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PMID:New pharmacologic approaches to the prevention of space/motion sickness. 166 31

A 62-year-old man was admitted because of nausea and vomiting. Severe hyponatremia with renal sodium loss was found. Endocrinological studies revealed that the patient had isolated adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) deficiency and secondary adrenocortical insufficiency. Furthermore, an inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) in relation to the low plasma osmolality was observed at an early stage of hyponatremia. Hydrocortisone therapy effectively corrected his hyponatremia. Following the correction of hyponatremia, the value of free water clearance increased and the level of the plasma ADH decreased. Thus, the present case indicates that ACTH deficiency can cause the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of ADH.
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PMID:Inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone in isolated adrenocorticotropin deficiency. 185 May 79

In western societies a high frequency of heartburn, nausea and vomiting occur during pregnancy. The causes and mechanisms of these clinical symptoms remain poorly understood. Evidence suggests steroid hormones modulate gastrointestinal transit time and plasma peptide hormones, while peptide hormone modulated food intake and preferences. Since diurnal and episodic release of steroid and peptide hormones occur, it is postulated that heartburn and other digestive dysfunction during pregnancy are associated with elevated steroid and peptide (beta-endorphin, NPY) hormone interaction with innate biological rhythms controlling the gastrointestinal tract.
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PMID:Pickles, peptide hormones and pregnancy: a hypothesis. 223 14

Postoperative pain relief and stress hormones were examined during the use of continuous epidural infusion of morphine at a rate of 0.1 mg/hr in 30 patients (Group B) after coronary artery bypass grafting. This was compared to our routine method of postoperative analgesia of intravenous morphine 2 mg/2 hr and as needed in another 30 patients (Group A). Continuous epidural morphine infusion required occasional supplementation with intravenous morphine and achieved effective analgesia in 80% of the patients. Pain relief was adequate in 50% of the patients in Group A. The mean dose of morphine used in Group B during the first 3 postoperative days was 5 mg per patient per day and was significantly lower than that used in Group A (mean 18 mg per patient per day). Serum morphine was undetectable (below 2.5 ng/ml) in Group B and was significantly lower than that in Group A (17 ng/ml). Epidural analgesia was associated with adequate postoperative pulmonary and cardiovascular functions; nausea and vomiting occurred in two patients. Levels of postoperative stress, serum cortisol, and beta-endorphin were significantly lower in Group B than in Group A. This study shows that continuous epidural infusion of morphine at a rate of 0.1 mg/hr provides selective and effective pain relief and reduces postoperative stress after cardiac operations. This method of analgesia was also associated with minimal side effects and provides an alternate approach for treatment of pain after cardiac operations.
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PMID:Continuous epidural infusion of morphine for pain relief after cardiac operations. 295 42

The prodromal syndrome of radiation sickness is characterized by nausea and vomiting but the pathophysiology and the treatment of this entity is largely unknown. We investigated this problem by determining the effects of ionizing radiation on gastric function with and without administration of the dopamine antagonist domperidone. We measured gastric electrical control activity (waves per minute), fractional emptying rate (percent per minute), acid output (microequivalents per minute), and plasma levels of immunoreactive beta-endorphin. Twelve conscious, chair-adapted rhesus monkeys were studied twice before, once immediately after, and once 2 days after a single 800-cGy (800 rads) 60Co total body irradiation. In addition to causing vomiting, total body irradiation transiently suppressed gastric electrical control activity, gastric emptying and gastric secretion, while increasing plasma levels of immunoreactive beta-endorphin. Domperidone had no effect on vomiting or gastric function either before or after irradiation, but it significantly increased plasma immunoreactive beta-endorphin.
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PMID:Effect of ionizing radiation on gastric secretion and gastric motility in monkeys. 315 16

A double-blind trial to evaluate the antiemetic effects of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in patients treated with cisplatin was performed. Thirty-seven adults with advanced cancer who were treated with cisplatin were randomly assigned to receive either synthetic long-acting ACTH (1 mg IM given 24 hours, 12 hours, and immediately preceding the administration of cisplatin) or a placebo given under the same conditions. All of the patients received chlorpromazine (50 mg IM) 30 minutes before cisplatin infusion. Patients receiving ACTH and chlorpromazine had significantly fewer episodes of vomiting (p less than 0.01) and shorter periods of nausea (p less than 0.02) than patients receiving placebo and chlorpromazine. Patients receiving ACTH and chlorpromazine were significantly more comfortable than patients receiving placebo and chlorpromazine. No important side effects were observed. ACTH may be an effective agent in preventing nausea and vomiting induced by cisplatin.
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PMID:Adrenocorticotropic hormone in the prevention of cisplatin-induced nausea and vomiting. 632 74

Metoclopramide, a prokinetic drug, is widely used to treat vomiting and nausea. Delayed gastric emptying and continual stress are considered important factors, among others, that induce nausea and vomiting. One gastrointestinal motility regulatory factor has been assumed to be the induction of changes in the levels of peptides such as gastrin, somatostatin, motilin, and cholecystokinin (CCK) in plasma. In contrast, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol are used as indicators of stress. Here, we studied the effects of metoclopramide on human plasma gastrin-, somatostatin-, motilin-, and CCK-like immunoreactive substances (ISs) and ACTH-IS and cortisol under stress conditions using repetitive blood sampling in healthy subjects. Metoclopramide hydrochloride at a dose of 30 mg or placebo was orally administered to five healthy male volunteers. Blood samples were taken before and 20, 40, 60, 90, 120, 180, and 240 min after administration, subject to extracting procedures, and submitted to a highly sensitive enzyme immunoassay system. A single administration of metoclopramide caused significant increases in plasma somatostatin-IS levels compared with the placebo. Metoclopramide significantly decreased plasma gastrin- and suppressed ACTH-IS and cortisol levels compared with the placebo. We hypothesize that metoclopramide might have an accelerating gastric-emptying effect and a modulatory effect on the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the autonomic nervous function. These effects might be beneficial in stress-related diseases, which suggest that this medicine has clinicopharmacological activities.
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PMID:Clinical application of an enzyme immunoassay for cholecystokinin-like immunoreactive substance for determination of the human plasma levels: the effect of metoclopramide on gastrointestinal peptides and stress-related hormones. 1624 63

A 76-year-old man was first referred to his local hospital at the beginning of August 2005 with nausea and vomiting, and was admitted on August 15 with progressive fatigue of unknown etiology. Gastrointestinal examination was performed, but no obvious abnormalities were detected in the upper or lower digestive tract. Hematology tests also revealed no abnormalities, except for slight eosinophilia. He developed depression and was given an antidepressant agent. After suffering from hyponatremia and disorientation, he was subsequently admitted to our hospital on August 28. At that time, serum adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol levels were low, while both the ACTH and corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) stress tests showed no response. Other stress tests revealed normal responses, so he was given a diagnosis isolated ACTH deficiency and received corticosteroid therapy. In summary, we report an elderly case of isolated ACTH deficiency with nonspecific initial manifestations such as nausea, fatigue, and depression.
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PMID:[Elderly case of isolated ACTH deficiency presenting with depression and digestive symptoms]. 1733 64

In the first stage of labor, pain is caused by distension of the cervix and low uterine segments in combination with isometric contraction of the uterus. Pain in the second stage of labor is dominated by tissue damage in the pelvis and perineum. Labor pain is due to an activation of nociceptors partly resulting from ischemia. The impulses thus generated are conducted into the spinal cord by afferent C fibers from the cervix and lower uterine segments, and by afferent Adelta and C fibers from the pelvis, pelvic organs and perineum. Labor pain is referred to the dermatomes T(11) and T(12) in the early stage of labor. It spreads to the neighboring dermatomes T(10) and L(1) and eventually involves the dermatomes S(2-4) during the second stage of labor and delivery. As in any other type of pain, labor pain stimulates respiration. This reduces the CO(2) concentration in the blood so that, in pain-free periods, respiratory stimulation is lacking and, in consequence, oxygen concentration in maternal and fetal blood is lowered. Pain-induced sympathetic activation will increase cardiac output in a way that may be deleterious in parturients with heart disease, eclampsia and anemia. Moreover, slowing of gastric emptying may cause nausea and vomiting, and slowing of intestinal propulsive movements may result in ileus and oliguria. An increase in plasma catecholamines and glucocorticoids influences uterine contractions. The amount of beta-endorphin released from the pituitary and placenta into the blood is relatively high but obviously not sufficient to depress pain effectively. Adequate nerve block and epidural anesthesia, as well as measures to relieve anxiety, will help markedly to reduce the risks associated with labor pain.
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PMID:[Labor pain-causes, pathways and issues.]. 1841 27

A 69-year-old man with type 2 diabetes mellitus was admitted to our hospital because of appetite loss, nausea and vomiting. Gastroscopy revealed gastric cancer. Levels of plasma cortisol were decreased. Neither adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) nor cortisol levels were adequately increased in response to a mixed intravenous administration of corticotropin-releasing hormone, growth hormone-releasing hormone, thyrotropin-releasing hormone and lutenizing hormone-releasing hormone, although other pituitary hormones were increased adequately. He was diagnosed as having isolated ACTH deficiency (IAD). Anti-pituitary antibody and anti-parietal cell antibody were positive. At least in part, these antibodies may play pathogenic roles of development of IAD and gastric cancer.
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PMID:Type 2 diabetes mellitus accompanied by isolated adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiency and gastric cancer. 1952 93


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