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)

The effect of the mode of delivery on the plasma concentration of immunoreactive beta-endorphin (irbeta-E) and cortisol was studied in 27 newborn infants, 10 delivered by caesarean section and 17 by spontaneous vaginal labour. After elective caesarean section, the mean plasma concentration of cortisol rose from 227 +/- 27 nmol/l (S.E.) at birth to 705 +/- 90 nmol/l at the age of 2 h, indicating a significant increase in cortisol secretion, and the mean irbeta-E remained high, being 111 +/- 24 ng/l at birth and 117 +/- 21 ng/l at the age of 2 h. After spontaneous labour, the plasma cortisol level was already high at birth, 735 +/- 78 nmol/l, and remained so to the age of 2 h, 659 +/- 43 nmol/l, whereas the plasma irbeta-E decreased from 181 +/- 29 at birth to 64 +/- 7 ng/l at the age of 2 h. All newborns were in a good condition except one in whom transitory tachypnea developed during the follow-up. In this newborn the plasma level of irbeta-E increased greatly: from 210 ng/l to 705 ng/l. These results show that, irrespective of the route, the delivery is stressfull to the newborn infant. In newborns delivered by caesarean section the stress response comes after birth. Additional stress such as respiratory difficulties seems to increase the secretion of beta-endorphin.
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PMID:Plasma immunoreactive beta-endorphin and cortisol in the newborn infant after elective caesarean section and after spontaneous labour. 315 9

Current knowledge about the pathophysiology of septic shock is reviewed, and biotechnology-based therapies under development are discussed. Patients with septic shock begin their clinical course with leukocytosis, fever, tachycardia, tachypnea, and organ hypoperfusion; shock ensues as immunologic and vasoactive mediators produce hypotension. There are many metabolic and cardiovascular responses, and single- or multiple-organ failure is common. Patients may experience adult respiratory distress syndrome. A multitude of endogenous and exogenous factors have been linked to the pathophysiology of sepsis and septic shock, including (1) endotoxin from gram-negative bacteria, (2) peptidoglycan and exotoxins from gram-negative bacteria, (3) endotoxin-binding proteins and receptors, (4) bactericidal proteases, (5) exotoxins from gram-positive bacteria, (6) acute-phase proteins and proteases, (7) cytokines, (8) arachidonic acid metabolites, (9) complement, (10) beta-endorphin, (11) histamine, (12) stimulation of intrinsic and extrinsic coagulation pathways and proteases, and (13) endothelium-derived factors and adhesion molecules. Molecular entities and strategies under development to combat septic shock include monoclonal antibodies to endotoxin, active immunization with lipid-A analogues, bactericidal permeability-increasing protein, interleukin inhibitors, and inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Successful treatment of septic shock will probably require a combination of agents, including antimicrobials. An ideal goal for biotechnology in the area of septic shock is to prevent invading pathogens from overstimulating the host's immune system and to systematically eliminate those pathogens. Biotechnology is opening new avenues to the treatment of septic shock.
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PMID:Pathophysiology of septic shock and implications for therapy. 816 70

An 11-year-old neutered male Alaskan Malamute mixed-breed dog was presented with a complaint of polyuria/polydipsia (PU/PD), weight loss, tachypnea, regurgitation, and a previous history of nontreated osteosarcoma of the right distal radius, diagnosed 21 months prior. On physical examination, an abdominal mass was palpated. The abdominal mass was aspirated and cytologically diagnosed as a neuroendocrine tumor, suspected to be a pheochromocytoma. Laboratory examination revealed a mild anemia and thrombocytopenia, markedly elevated ATP and ALP activities, and moderate hypercalcemia. A low-dose dexamethasone suppression test and endogenous adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) concentration were compatible with pituitary hyperadrenocorticism. On urinalysis, proteinuria was noted as well as a high urine metanephrine/creatinine ratio, consistent with a diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. The dog was treated with supportive care and euthanized 6 months later due to decreasing quality of life. On necropsy, an extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma (paraganglioma) was diagnosed in the caudal abdomen, and a pituitary adenoma and an osteosarcoma of the right distal radius were confirmed.
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PMID:Paraganglioma, pituitary adenoma, and osteosarcoma in a dog. 2742 77