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Biomedical subjects

E Held

Publications and source records attributed to E Held.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Arachidonic acid metabolites, hypertension and arteriosclerosis.

The level of arterial blood pressure is set by complete interactions of several mechanisms which influence both blood flow in and resistance of the vascular system. An imbalance favouring elevation of vascular resistance or extracellular volume will result in hypertension. Such alterations may include increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system, of the renin-angiotensin system, or excessive secretion of mineralocorticoids. Of equal importance may be a reduced activity of blood pressure-lowering factors such as prostaglandins and the kallikrein-kinin system. This paper describes the possible significance of prostaglandins in the pathophysiology of hypertension and in degenerative vascular disease, based on their involvement in the control of vascular resistance, renal regulation of extracellular volume and platelet-vessel wall interactions. An abnormality in the biosyn-thesis of certain prostaglandin endoperoxide metabolites may lead to hypertension even without an increase in the activity of the classic blood-pressure-elevating systems. The contribution of prostaglandins for the development of hypertension and degenerative vascular disease may be based on an inherent abnormality of the prostaglandin system, as well as on the effects of major risk factors such as dietary intake of sodium and fat on prostaglandin synthesis. Specific blockade or stimulation of distinct biosynthetic pathways leading to antagonistically acting prostaglandins and nutritional manipulation of precursor fatty acids should lead to a better understanding of the pathomechanisms involved and may offer new strategies for therapy or prevention of these cardiovascular disorders.

Arachidonic Acids↗

Formation and action of prostaglandins in the kidney.

The kidney has a high capacity to produce a spectrum of different acting prostaglandins (PG). In vivo and in vitro studies have shown that renal formation of PG's, possibly in the vasculature of the cortex represents an essential step in the mechanisms regulating the secretion of renin. PG's formed in the cortex seem to participate also in the control of renal vascular resistance and glomerular filtration rate. PGE2 formed in the medulla modulates the hydroosmotic action of antidiuretic hormone and influences the kidney's capacity for urine concentration. Renal PG formation is reduced by high NaCl intake and enhanced by low NaCl intake and in hypokalemic states. These findings make renal PG's good candidates for participation in the regulation of salt and water balance and in the control of blood pressure. Due to the close connection with the renin angiotensin system, alterations in renal PG formation might be involved in the etiology of high and low renin states. Thus, an impairment in the renal cortical production of vasodilating and renin-stimulating PG's could constitute the common denominator for both the reduced renin secretion and the increased vascular resistance which have been reported to be associated in essential hypertension.

Animals↗

[Reduced urinary prostaglandin E2-excretion and diminished responsiveness of plasma renin activity in patients with essential hypertension (author's transl)].

Under basal conditions prostaglandin (PG) E2-excretion was significantly lower in 35 patients with essential hypertension studied than in 22 age- and sex-matched controls (p less than 0.02). PGF 2 alpha--excretion was similar in both groups. Within the first 15 minutes after furosemide i.v., PGE2-excretion rose substantially less in the patients than in the controls (p less than 0.001), while the increase in PGF 2 alpha-excretion was not different for both groups. The coincident rise of plasma renin activity was significantly lower in the hypertensive (167% +/- 11, SEM) than in the normotensive (386% +/- 46) group (p less than 0.001). Our results support the assumption that a decrease in renal cortical (vascular?) synthesis of vasodilatating PG's may be the cause for both, the diminished secretion of renin and the increase of vascular resistance in the kidney, which are often associated in essential hypertension.

Adult↗

Urinary prostaglandins and kallikrein in essential hypertension.

1. Urinary prostaglandins (PG), kallikrein and plasma renin activity (PRA) were measured in 35 patients with essential hypertension and 22 normotensive controls before and 15 min after frusemide (40 mg intravenously). 2. PGE2 and kallikrein excretion rates were lower in hypertensive subjects, and failed to rise to the same extent after frusemide. PGF2 alpha excretion was not significantly different in the two groups of patients either before or after frusemide. PRA rose less in the hypertensive subjects after frusemide. 3. These findings support the view that there is an abnormality of renal vasodilator systems (PGE2 and kallikrein) in essential hypertension.

Adult↗

Experience with the split-thickness graft technique in congenital absence of the vagina.

Between 1961 and 1977 vaginoplasty was performed in 24 patients at the Zurich University Hospital, Department of Gynecology, using the split-thickness graft technique; in 22 cases the result was functionally satisfactory. Based on their experience and previous reports the authors describe the surgical technique and the follow-up measures designed to ensure a functionally and anatomically optimal result.

Adolescent↗

[Pathogenetic, pathophysiological and biochemical aspects of essential hypertension (author's transl)].

Hereditary and environmental factors are involved in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension. Obesity, salt intake and stress are predominant among the environmental influences. Autonomous nervous dysfunction, increased contractility of vascular smooth muscle cells and impaired renal handling of sodium are major abnormalities in essential hypertension. At present it cannot be decided if alterations in the activities of systemic or renal hormonal systems reflect primary defects or adaptive changes in the regulation of blood pressure. In any case the kidney is regarded to have a key position in the long term increase of blood pressure in essential hypertension. Recent studies in essential hypertensive patients suggest that renin release decreases as renal vascular resistance increases. Studies from our laboratory have shown that renal prostaglandins are intrinsic to the renin release mechanism from the kidney. Additionally, there is evidence that renal prostaglandin synthesis is disturbed in essential hypertension, either primarily or secondarily, leading to unresponsive renin secretion. Further studies on the interrelationships of other hormonal systems and on hormone-receptor interactions in the vascular wall are necessary to delineate more precisely the mechanisms which are operative in the pathogenesis and manifestation of essential hypertension.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

[Aminoacid-p-nitroanilides splitting activities in the mature human placenta (author's transl)].

A long experience in the treatment of endometrial cancer shows that the therapeutic measures vary considerably with regard to the extention of the tumor, the age of the patient and her general condition. This circumstances and particularly the critical study of the therapeutical results give the limits, within a certain kind of operation can reasonably be recommended. The intercurrent deaths are an important factor in the statistical evaluation of therapeutical success. As long as the tumor is limited to the body of the uterus, the corrected 5-year recoveries are about 90%. Considering all the circumstances, it becomes obvious, that in this stage, the simple abdominal hysterectomy with removal of the adnexa is still the operation of choice. Beside the histological degree of differentiation, the depth of the muscular invasion is the most important prognostic factor which might lead to additional measures. Postoperative radiation therapy of the vagina reduces considerably the incidence possibility of vaginal apex recurrence. In stage II radical hysterectomy must be considered, although we are aware of the fact, that a simple hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy combined with radiation treatment may yield just as good results. In the clinical stage III laparotomy ought to be used more frequently. Also in case of operative intervention additional radiotherapy is mostly useful.

Amino Acids↗

Kidney and plasma renin in human renovascular hypertension.

Renin activities were determined in plasma and in single, microdissected juxtaglomerular apparatus in 19 patients with unilateral renal artery stenosis. The mean juxtaglomerular apparatus renin concentration in the stenosed kidneys was 5.5 +/- 1.2 (SEM) mug.l-1.h-1 which is about ten times that of the suppressed renin concentration in the contralateral kidneys (0.6 +/- 0.05 mug.l-1.h-1). On the affected side a positive correlation was found between intrarenal and renal venous renin concentration (r = 0.93; p less than 0.001). Both intrarenal and renal venous renin concentrations of the stenosed kindeys were positively correlated to renin secretion rates, as calculated from renin analysis in plasma from the vena cava and renal veins. No relationship could be demonstrated between intrarenal or renal venous renin concentration and the degree of blood pressure elevation or transstenotic pressure gradient. However, a positive correlation was evident between peripheral plasma renin activity and diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.88; p less than 0.001). Comparative enzyme kinetic analyses of renin from the juxtaglomerular apparatus and renal venous plasma were performed using sheep substrate. The lowest apparent Km-values of renin were found in renal venous plasma from the stenosed kidneys (198 +/- 13 mug/l) compared with the contralateral side (301 +/- 20 mug/l; p less than 0.001). Mean apparent Km-values of juxtaglomerular apparatus renin in the stenosed (270 +/- 36 mug/l) and contralateral (292 +/- 37 mug/l) kidneys did not differ. No significant differences were found between mean apparent Km-values for renin in peripheral plasma of renovascular hypertensive patients and control subjects using either homologous human or heterologous sheep renin substrate. The results suggest that, in addition to the renin concentration other factors are relevant to chronic high blood pressure in renovascular hypertension.

Adult↗