Exaggerated sympathetic activity is widely accepted as one of the fundamental mechanisms leading to primary hypertension and being responsible for frequent episodes of blood pressure elevation in hypertensive patients. Some data suggest also that basal parasympathetic tone in this entity is lowered. However, the effects of autonomic nervous activity on heart rate variability during spontaneous blood pressure elevations have not been yet evaluated. That is why we present the preliminary results of 24-hour electrocardiogram and blood pressure monitoring in 13 women with mild primary hypertension and with 25 episodes of blood pressure elevations. Time- and frequency domain measurements of heart rate variability found during the 24- and 10- hour daily periods were compared with those obtained during four 5-min records: 25-20, 15-10 min and immediately before, as well as immediately after the recording of blood pressure elevation. Significant decrease in parameters representing vagal tone was found during 5-min periods not only immediately preceding or following blood pressure elevations, but also 10 and 20 min before these episodes. Moreover, low-frequency component of heart rate variability was significantly lowered 10 min before and immediately after the recording of blood pressure elevation. These results suggest that among various pathogenetic mechanisms of spontaneous blood pressure elevations in women with primary hypertension, sudden withdrawal of parasympathetic tone should be taken into account.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Angiogenesis inhibitors. New anticancer strategy.

Neoangiogenesis has been proved to be crucial in neoplasmatic tumor growth and metastases. Over the last few years, the factors that have both a positive (angiogenic) and negative (antiangiogenic) influence on tumor growth have been identified. The potential use of natural and synthetic factors that suppress vasculature formation as anticancer drugs is currently under intense investigation. Recently, several antiangiogenic compounds, including TNP-470 or matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors, have entered clinical trials. This review will describe the main groups of angiogenesis inhibitors, their mechanisms of action and some data from clinical studies.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Wegener's granulomatosis--clinical analysis of 18 patients group.

In observed, during 15 years group, of 18 patients with established Wegener's granulomatosis WG diagnosis, important is period of time from onset of the manifestations to WG diagnosis--very diversified, between 3 to 96 months and heterogenerosity of clinical manifestations during establishing of the diagnosis. Separated from clinical and histopathological features in most of the patients the presence of the titre of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) in blood serum examinations was established--75% among 16 observed patients in whom such examination was possible to perform. There was no significant correlation between ANCA titre and prognosis of the WG course. Most of the patients developed upper respiratory tract, ears, lungs and kidney disease involvement. Cyclophosphamide (CF) and prednisolone (P) treatment improves clinical remission in most of the patients (88.8%) and possibility of the course of the disease control. However often recurrences are observed (50%) and side effects due to the long term CF and P treatment (60%). 38.8% of patients achieve long term remission of the manifestations. 3 deaths of WG patients were observed during that period. Patients require during treatment close collaboration and careful periodical control of treatment.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Role of oxygen radicals in hepatocellular impairment in cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis.

Acute pancreatitis was induced in male Wistar rats by i.v. infusion of cerulein in the dose of 5 x 10(-6) g x kg-1 x h-1 for periods of 3 and 12h. The most important finding in our study was the increase of malondialdehyde concentration in hepatic tissue, observed after 12 h of cerulein infusion, accompanied by ultrastructural changes predominantly in the sinusoids. Obtained date suggest that products originating from lipid peroxidation in pancreatic tissue, in concert with activated Kupffer cells, may be responsible for such impairment of hepatic tissue.

Acute Disease↗