Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P50583 (asymmetrical)
 12,197 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Seven consecutive patients were suspected to suffer from corticobasal ganglionic degeneration (CBGD) and were studied with ([18])F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET imaging of the brain. At the time of their FDG-PET scan, 4 of 7 patients fulfilled the clinical criteria of CBGD as proposed by Lang and associates [In Calne DB, 1994; Neurodegenerative disease. Philadelphia: Saunders]. For 2 of these 4 patients, however, an alternative clinical diagnosis was also considered. Three of the seven patients underwent an FDG-PET scan when their clinical features were not yet developed sufficiently to confirm a clinical diagnosis of CBGD. Simple visual analysis of the FDG-PET scans was carried out. All 7 patients showed an asymmetrical pattern of glucose metabolism that was demonstrated in previous studies to be characteristic in patients who had a clinical diagnosis of CBGD. The PET results helped to confirm the clinical suspicion of CBGD in 2 patients and to rule out other diagnoses in 2 other patients. For 3 patients with no sufficient symptoms to diagnose CBGD, the pattern of glucose metabolism was characteristically asymmetrical. A probable diagnosis of CBGD was made in these patients. Our results suggest that routine visual inspection of a cerebral FDG-PET scan is a useful tool to confirm suspicion of the clinical diagnosis of probable CBGD, to differentiate from other hypokinetic-rigid syndromes, and to support a diagnosis CBGD in patients who do not (yet) sufficiently fulfill the clinical criteria.
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PMID:Is FDG-PET a useful tool in clinical practice for diagnosing corticobasal ganglionic degeneration? 1453 23

Female sperm storage is a key factor for reproductive success in a variety of organisms, including Drosophila melanogaster. The spermathecae, one of the Drosophila sperm storage organs, has been suggested as a long-term storage organ because its secreted substances may enhance the quality of sperm storage. Glucose dehydrogenase (GLD) is widely expressed and secreted in the spermathecal ducts among species of the genus Drosophila. This highly conserved expression pattern suggests that this enzyme might have an important role in female fertility. Here, we examine the function of GLD in sperm storage and utilization using Gld-null mutant females. The absence of GLD reduced the amount of sperm stored in the spermathecae and led to a highly asymmetrical sperm distribution in the two spermathecal capsules of the mutant females. The storage defect was especially severe when the mutant females were crossed to a Gld-mutant male that had previously mated a few hours before the experimental cross. Under this mating condition, the mutant females stored in the spermathecae only one-third of the sperm amount of the wild-type control females. In addition, the mutant females used stored sperm at a slower rate over a longer period compared with wild-type females. Thus, our results indicate that GLD facilitates both sperm uptake and release through the spermathecal ducts.
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PMID:Glucose dehydrogenase is required for normal sperm storage and utilization in female Drosophila melanogaster. 1471 10

1. The aim of the present study was to examine the acute effects of cortisol infusion on plasma nitrate/nitrite (NO) activity and forearm vascular responsiveness to acetylcholine. 2. We performed two randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over studies. Study A examined the effects of intravenous hydrocortisone (200 mg over a 3 h period) on blood pressure (BP) and plasma NO activity in six healthy male volunteers. Study B examined the effects of intra-arterial hydrocortisone on cholinergic vasodilator responsiveness in six healthy male volunteers. Vasodilator responsiveness was measured by bilateral strain gauge plethysmography. 3. In study A, there was no significant change in BP during the hydrocortisone infusion. Comparing values obtained following 180 min infusion of hydrocortisone and control, there were significant increases in plasma cortisol (3441 +/- 342 vs 209 +/- 29 nmol/L, respectively; P < 0.001) and glucose (5.7 +/- 0.2 vs 4.6 +/- 0.2 mmol/L, respectively; P < 0.05) and a reduction in plasma renin concentration (PRC) (8.1 +/- 1.2 vs 11.0 +/- 1.8 pg/mL, respectively; P < 0.05) following hydrocortisone infusion. However, there were no significant changes in either plasma NO or in the endogenous NO synthase inhibitors asymmetrical and symmetrical dimethylarginine. 4. In study B, there was no significant change in BP or in cholinergic vasodilator responsiveness during the hydrocortisone infusion. 5. Short-term cortisol infusions do not alter biochemical or physiological markers of NO activity. If cortisol-induced hypertension is mediated by suppression of NO activity in humans, it seems likely that these changes take more than 3 h to become detectable.
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PMID:Acute effects of hydrocortisone on plasma nitrate/nitrite activity and forearm vasodilator responsiveness in normal human subjects. 1574 97

Wilson disease (WD) that manifests solely with acute and severe neurological damage in the absence of hepatic disease and Kayser-Fleischer ring of the cornea is rare and difficult to diagnose at the acute setting. This report describes unusual diffusion and proton spectroscopic magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings in a 12-year-old boy with WD who presented with hemichorea and subnormal copper metabolism. The MR imaging findings of lactate accumulation, decrease of N-acerylaspartate/creatinine (NAA/Cr) ratio and markedly increased apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value of the asymmetrical edematous putaminal lesions in the early stage were suggestive of acute necrosis with anaerobic metabolism of glucose leading to poor clinical outcome at follow-up.
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PMID:Acute putaminal necrosis and white matter demyelination in a child with subnormal copper metabolism in Wilson disease: MR imaging and spectroscopic findings. 1590 72

Four cyanobacterial strains, Cyanothece sp., Oscillatoria sp., Nostoc sp. and Nostoc carneum were studied for physico-chemical characterization of extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) secreted during the controlled growth condition. Hydrolyzed EPSs showed the compositional involvement of four sugar moieties viz. mannose, glucose, xylose and ribose in varying combinations. Infrared spectra of EPSs showed a specific absorbance of O-H stretching at 3448-3400 cm(-1), asymmetrical-symmetrical C-H stretching at 2924 and 2854 cm(-1) and a bending vibration of C-H at 1400-1380 cm(-1). Absorbance at 1259 and 1140 cm(-1) with Cyanothece sp. EPS, indicated the presence of sulfur containing functional group. Thermal gravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetric analysis confirmed the polysaccharides thermal stability as high as around 250 degrees C. In the presence of 0.1 M NaCl aqueous solution, the intrinsic viscosity of polysaccharides from Oscillatoria sp. and Nostoc sp. decreased 1.6 fold, whereas, 3-5 fold reduction in intrinsic viscosity was observed with commercially available guar and xanthan gum.
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PMID:Partial characterization of extracellular polysaccharides from cyanobacteria. 1625 43

The plasma membrane of red blood cells permits sugars to be loaded into the cytoplasm simply by incubation in a suitable buffer solution containing the sugar. This may provide some hope for the freeze-drying of human red blood cells. However, the effect of the loading process on red blood cells has not been fully investigated. The exposure of phosphatidylserine (PS) on the surface of the cell can be recognized by macrophages and result in shortened circulation in vivo. This study evaluates the effects of the concentration, the incubation time, and the temperature of exposure of human red blood cells to extracellular trehalose or glucose. Exposure of PS was demonstrated by annexin V labeling. It was shown that the efficiency of loading of glucose was significantly greater than that of trehalose. The loading efficiency of both sugars increased with increase in extracellular sugar concentration, prolongation of incubation time, and increase of incubation temperature. The percentages of cells with exposed PS and of damaged cells were dependent on the extracellular sugar concentration, the incubation time, and the temperature. With an extracellular glucose concentration of 0.8M, the percentage of cells with exposed PS was more than 80% and significantly higher than that of red blood cells loaded with trehalose (approximate 20%, P<0.01). As the incubation time was prolonged, the percentage of PS exposure and of damaged cells also increased. After incubation for 5h, the percentage of red cells with exposed PS following loading with glucose was more than 80% and significantly higher than that of cells loaded with trehalose (40%, P<0.01). In addition, the incubation temperature had a major effect on PS exposure. The percentage of cells with PS exposure and the proportion of damaged cells increased with increase of incubation temperature. At 37 degrees C, the percentage of cells with exposed PS and of damaged cells after loading with glucose was more than 80% and significantly higher than that of cells loaded with trehalose (P<0.01). However, when the temperature was below 25 degrees C, the percentage of cells with exposed PS and of damaged cells after loading with glucose or trehalose were both less than 10%. In conclusion, the loading efficiency for glucose was higher than that for trehalose, but the lesser effect of trehalose on exposure of PS suggests that it can maintain the asymmetrical distribution of membrane phospholipids and the intracellular trehalose can increase the osmotic tolerance of cells.
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PMID:Changes of phosphatidylserine distribution in human red blood cells during the process of loading sugars. 1676 35

The use of drugs for treating neuromuscular impairments that present in the patient admitted to the Intensive Care Unit is virtually inexistent. The use of intravenous immunoglobulins for managing polyneuropathy of the critically ill patient (PCIP) is supported by no evidence. More important is prophylactic therapy, as is the administration of insulin perfusion to prevent hyperglycemia that is associated to increased development of PCIP. New data suggest that the protective mechanism of this perfusion, which normalizes glucose levels, is achieved through the modulation of endothelial dysfunction and lowering levels of asymmetrical di-methyl arginine (ADMA). As for myopathy of the critically ill patient or conditions with prolonged neuromuscular blockade, treatment consists in avoiding the use of several drugs known to be associated with development of these conditions, such as muscle relaxants and aminoglycosides. In relation to acute flaccid paralysis -an infection caused by the Western Nile Virus, anecdotic cases have been reported of improvement with the use steroids or interferon, although routine management remains to be established.
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PMID:[Pharmacological treatment neuromuscular impairments in critically ill patients]. 1676 38

We recently experienced a case with asymmetrical cortical abnormality on MRI with focal status epilepticus following severe hypoglycemia. The cerebral blood flow and metabolisms for oxygen and glucose were determined using positron emission tomography (PET) during focal status epilepticus following severe hypoglycemia and at the follow-up period. Prolonged seizure activity produced profound glucose hypermetabolism and mild hyperemia in the region of the presumed cortical focus of epilepsy and in structures anatomically remote from the focus, corresponding to the areas of abnormal signal intensity on the MRI. The patient remained comatose and exhibited a diffuse hypoperfusion/hypometabolism and symmetrical brain atrophy on the follow-up PET and MRI, respectively. Cytotoxic brain edema due to profound glucose metabolism without compensatory increase of the blood flow during status epilepticus may account for the brain abnormality observed on the early MRI. Simultaneous examination of the cerebral blood flow and metabolism using PET can provide useful information about the pathology in patients with status epilepticus.
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PMID:Magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography findings in status epilepticus following severe hypoglycemia. 1687 11

Black Africans have a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease than white Europeans. We explored potential mechanisms of this excess risk by assessing endothelium function, inflammatory status (C-reactive protein), oxidative stress (isoprostane-F2alpha), and plasma asymmetrical dimethyl arginine (ADMA; an endogenous competitive inhibitor of NO synthase) in each ethnic group. Thirty healthy black Africans and 28 well-matched white European male subjects were studied (mean age+/-SE: 32.2+/-0.9 and 29.2+/-1.2 years, respectively; P=0.07). High-resolution ultrasound was used to assess vascular function in the brachial artery by measuring flow mediated dilatation ([percentage of change]; endothelium-dependent function) and glyceryltrinitrate dilatation ([percentage of change]; endothelium-independent function). Blood pressure, fasting lipids, glucose, and estimated glomerular filtration rate levels were similar in both groups. There was no difference in C-reactive protein (black Africans: 0.8+/-0.1 mg/L; white Europeans: 0.6+/-0.1 mg/L; P=0.22), isoprostane-F2alpha (black Africans: 42.9+/-1.5 pg/mL; white Europeans: 39.2+/-1.5 pg/mL; P=0.23), and leptin (black Africans: 64.1+/-10.2 ng/mL; white Europeans: 47.8+/-9.8 ng/mL; P=0.37) levels between the 2 ethnic groups. However, compared with white Europeans, plasma ADMA levels were significantly higher in black Africans (0.34+/-0.02 micromol/L and 0.25+/-0.03 micromol/L; P=0.03). There was no difference in the percentage of glyceryltrinitrate dilatation (P=0.7), but the percentage of flow-mediated dilatation was significantly lower in black Africans (black Africans: 5.2+/-0.3; white Europeans: 6.3+/-0.4; P=0.02). In a stepwise multiple regression model, ADMA level was the only independent determinant of flow-mediated dilatation (P=0.02). In turn, race was the only independent determinant of ADMA levels (P=0.03). Our findings indicate that circulating ADMA levels are significantly higher in healthy black African males than in white European males. This may contribute to the lower NO bioavailability and higher incidence of cardiovascular disease seen in black Africans.
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PMID:Asymmetric dimethylarginine and reduced nitric oxide bioavailability in young Black African men. 1726 43

Water-soluble non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) in the needles of Norway spruce Picea abies [L.] Karst have been studied by using a combination of several separation techniques, having various detectors, with mass spectrometry. The intent was to find a suitable methodology that enables the characterization and determination of NSC, covering a wide range of molar masses, and being suitable to assess how NCS are influenced by both external conditions, e.g. different carbon dioxide (CO(2)) concentrations, light intensity, and by internal conditions such as the needle age. The techniques were liquid-liquid extraction, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), size exclusion chromatography (SEC), asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AsFlFFF), electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), and matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). NSC were extracted by a methanol/chloroform/water mixture into the water-rich phase. Application of AsFlFFF and SEC, using refractive index (RI) and multi-angle light scattering (MALS) detectors to the water-rich extracts resulted in three or four main fractions covering molar masses from 10(3) to 10(6)g/mol. Individual fractions collected from SEC were directly subjected to both MALDI and ESI-MS analysis in order to identify NSC. MALDI mass spectra confirmed the presence of hexose oligomers in individual fractions while ESI-MS was used for evaluation of low mass NSC. HPLC-RI was used for quantification of NSC and predominant carbohydrates were found to be fructose, glucose, and sucrose. The changes in their content during seasonal course were studied in detail. HPLC coupled to ESI-MS enabled the identification of low concentration NSC like raffinose that occurred in the needles of autumn samplings. An influence of the increased CO(2) concentration on sucrose and glucose accumulation was observed and it was found that the light intensity as well as the needle age has significant influence on the sucrose content.
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PMID:Complex analytical approach to characterization of the influence of carbon dioxide concentration on carbohydrate composition in Norway spruce needles. 1738 35


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