Experience in heptral treatment of diffuse liver diseases

AIM: Heptral trial in alcoholic, drug and viral diseases of the liver. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 67 patients with chronic diffuse liver diseases were treated with heptral. The examination covered AlAt, AP, HHTP, bilirubin, cholesterol, CT of the liver, esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Heptral was given by two steps: 14 days of intravenous drops (800 mg/day) followed by 14 days of oral use (2 tablets, 400 mg each) before meal at 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. RESULTS: In alcoholic disease of the liver, heptral relieved depression, reduced AlAT, AP, HHTP, bilirubin, density of the liver. The addition of heptral to interferon-alpha-2 treatment of chronic hepatitis C corrected intrahepatic cholestasis. In drug-induced liver damage heptral promoted normalization of the hepatic tests, improved general condition of the patients. CONCLUSION: Heptral is effective in patients with alcoholic and drug liver lesions, chronic hepatitis C.     

Manganese transport through human erythrocyte membranes. An EPR study

Manganese uptake by human erythrocytes was investigated in the concentration range 0.5-20 mM in the suspending solution, by using the EPR technique. S shaped dependencies of manganese influx on manganese doping solution concentration for both fresh and vanadate treated erythrocytes were found, with maximum influx values of 4.1 +/- 1.9 x 10(-10) mol/m2 x s and 2.1 +/- 0.3 x 10(-9) mol/m2 x s, respectively. At low manganese concentrations (< 2 mM) the manganese permeability coefficient increases with increasing the doping concentration, the ions cooperate for achieving a transport event. For high manganese concentration (> 5 mM) the permeability coefficient decreases with increasing the doping concentration, the ions competing for the limited amount of transport system. A similar increase in manganese uptake as in vanadate treated erythrocytes was measured for 'in vitro' aged erythrocytes. These results might suggest that human erythrocytes possess an active transport mechanism by which, they oppose to manganese influx. This hypothesis is also supported by the 10-15 min time lag between the moment of doping and the start of the manganese influx into the fresh erythrocytes. The manganese uptake inhibition by nifedipine, a calcium channel blocker, for the case of vanadate treated erythrocytes, suggests that, at least partially, manganese uptake by the cells occurs via the 'calcium channels'.     

Use of a system of presenting and processing medical records at the therapeutic-prophylactic facilities of primary care

Acid base balance (ABB) of the oral cavity is compared in children with cleft lip and palate before uranoplasty and 2-3 months and 1 year after it. A decompensated shift of ABB towards alkalosis before treatment was concomitant with transposition of the typical zones of bacterial shifting of ABB towards acidosis and alkalosis. ABB did not rapidly normalize after repair of the congenital defect. Preventive measures are recommended, aimed at removal or alleviation of alkalosis and retaining the adaptation reserve of the mechanisms regulating the ABB in the oral cavity, to be used both before and after surgery.     

Agonist-receptor-arrestin, an alternative ternary complex with high agonist affinity

The rapid decrease of a response to a persistent stimulus, often termed desensitization, is a widespread biological phenomenon. Signal transduction by numerous G protein-coupled receptors appears to be terminated by a strikingly uniform two-step mechanism, most extensively characterized for the beta2-adrenergic receptor (beta2AR), m2 muscarinic cholinergic receptor (m2 mAChR), and rhodopsin. The model predicts that activated receptor is initially phosphorylated and then tightly binds an arrestin protein that effectively blocks further G protein interaction. Here we report that complexes of beta2AR-arrestin and m2 mAChR-arrestin have a higher affinity for agonists (but not antagonists) than do receptors not complexed with arrestin. The percentage of phosphorylated beta2AR in this high affinity state in the presence of full agonists varied with different arrestins and was enhanced by selective mutations in arrestins. The percentage of high affinity sites also was proportional to the intrinsic activity of an agonist, and the coefficient of proportionality varies for different arrestin proteins. Certain mutant arrestins can form these high affinity complexes with unphosphorylated receptors. Mutations that enhance formation of the agonist-receptor-arrestin complexes should provide useful tools for manipulating both the efficiency of signaling and rate and specificity of receptor internalization.     

Diagnosis and treatment of leiomyosarcomas of inferior vena cava

3 clinical cases and literature data, illustrate effective diagnostic and surgical policy in patients with uncommon type of tumor. Two patients were previously operated in other clinics, but the operations were diagnostic because the tumors were estimated as being inoperable. In all 3 patients radical operations were carried out with resection of infrarenal segment of inferior cava vein without its prosthetic reconstruction. In did not result in substantial blood flow disturbances, because before the operation it was known about the presence of well functioning collaterals. The significance of ultrasound examination, especially duplex scanning, computer tomography and angiography (cavagraphy) is emphasized. Favourable results of treatment, especially conclusion of the tumor resectability are more common in specialized institutions.     

Autoimmune hepatitis (history of the research, current aspects)

Important achievement in the study of autoimmune hepatitis are shown, particularly in establishing the role of hepatitis viruses, other hepatotropic viruses and some medicines. The last classification of chronic hepatitis based on the etiology, autoimmune hepatitis considers autoimmune hepatitis as a disease of unknown etiology. It is thought valid that investigation of autoimmune reactions produced by hepatitis viruses and other agents will enable a revision of classification of chronic hepatitis.     

Weak combined magnetic field affects basic and morphine-induced rat's EEG

The present study was undertaken to find out, whether weak combined magnetic field (CMF) with intensity comparable to that of the Earth's static magnetic field can influence the EEG activity of the rat's brain at normal (non-treated animals) conditions and after intraperitoneal (i.p.) and intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of morphine in experimental animals bearing chronically implanted electrodes and cannules. Most of the experiments were performed using CMF containing co-linear static (20.9 microT) and alternating sinusoidal (20.9 microT, 48 Hz) components, i.e., tuned for Ca2+-resonance. The effects of the field were estimated by comparison of the averaged EEG frequency spectra in the range of frequencies between 0.8-23 Hz in experimental and control animals. Statistically significant effects of CMF were observed both in non-treated and morphine-treated rats. However, the most profound effect-the drastic power reduction at most EEG frequencies-appeared in the animals subjected to the i.p.-injection of morphine. These results show that weak CMF can influence the spontaneous electrical brain activity. The data obtained are consistent with the findings of other groups demonstrating that weak magnetic fields may drastically modify the effects of both exogenous and endogenous opioids on different basic functions in vertebrates and invertebrates. Possible mechanisms for the observed effects are discussed.     

The surgical treatment of normotensive glaucoma

The efficacy of surgical treatment of low (normal)-pressure glaucoma is validated on the basis of analysis of the disease progress risk factors. The risk factors are inadequate intraocular pressure (IOP) and insufficient blood supply to the optic nerve and retina. For stabilizing the glaucomatous process, IOP is to be reduced below 14 mm Hg. After antiglaucoma surgery, IOP decreases by 35% on average (to 13.9 mm Hg), and visual field is retained in remote period in 81.2% patients. Antiglaucoma operation with simultaneous decompression of the optic nerve results in a greater increase of visual field due to improvement of blood supply to the optic nerve and retina; visual functions are stabilized for a long time in 77.8% cases at a higher IOP (16.14 mm Hg) in patients with worse initial status. Functional results of surgery for normotensive glaucoma depend on ophthalmic tone and optic nerve and retinal hemodynamics.     

Influence of salt on the quality of reduced fat cheddar cheese

Cream was homogenized in a two-stage homogenizer (17.25 MPa in the first stage and 3.43 MPa in the second stage); blended with skim milk to produce milk containing 1.25% fat, which was pasteurized (63 degrees C for 30 min); and then manufactured into reduced fat Cheddar cheese. After milling, the curd was divided into three equal portions of 13 kg each. Three salting rates, 2.3, 3.8, and 5%, yielded cheeses with 1.3, 1.7, and 2.0% salt and 2.7, 3.7, and 4.5% salt in the moisture phase. Cheese moisture contents ranged from 45% (2.0% salt) to 47.7% (1.3% salt), and fat contents ranged from 14.6 to 15.1%. In the texture profile analysis, the hardness and fracturability of the cheeses increased as the salt content increased. Both parameters decreased during ripening, but cheeses with 4.5% salt in the moisture phase remained the hardest. Cheeses with the most salt had the least desirable body characteristics, but there were no differences in flavor. Intensity of bitterness was lowered as the amount of salt in cheese increased. During ripening, the number of lactic acid bacteria decreased more slowly in cheese with 2.7% salt in the moisture phase than in those with 3.7 or 4.5% salt in the moisture phase. As the salt content increased, proteolysis and the general rate of ripening decreased. Degradation of alpha s-casein was reduced by higher percentages of salt, but no differences were found in the degradation of beta-casein.