Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to E Kucharz.
Serum cathepsin activity was estimated in 71 patients with various neoplastic diseases. Increased values were found in 76 per cent of the patients as compared to healthy blood donors.
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Influence of the administration of thyroid extract and of methylthiouracil on the collagen content in the liver and on hydroxyproline level in serum in rats with or without carbon tetrachloride-induced fibrosis of the liver was investigated. A decrease of collagen content in the liver was found in hyperthyroid rats and an increase of the liver collagen content was observed in hypothyreosis. Similar results were found in animals with fibrosis of the liver.
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An attempt was made to establish a relationship between the content of elastin and collagen in the rat tissues during the process of aging. The content of collagen fractions and elastin in the rat liver, lung and skin, as well as the elastolytic activity of blood serum were determined. It was found that the concentration of elastin as well as the elastolytic activity of blood serum are increasing during the maturation of rats and the total collagen content is increasing too. After the animals reached the age from twelve to twenty four months--above mentioned values began to decrease. It is concluded that the changes in the content of the two fibrous proteins of the connective tissue depend on age.
Collagen metabolism was studied in patients with viral hepatitis, chronic hepatic disorders as well as under experimental conditions, in rats with carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic fibrosis. Changes in serum hydroxyproline, hydroxylysine and collagen-like protein levels, and collagen peptidase activity were observed in clinical investigations. An increase of collagen content and collagen-glycosaminoglycan interactions were found in the liver samples of rats with the hepatic fibrosis. An increase of collagenase activity in the course of fibrosis is due to an elevated biosynthesis of the enzyme de novo as well as to a decreased content of inhibitors. The activity of collagen peptidase and collagenolytic cathepsin were increased, and it was suggested that an increase of collagen degradation in the liver was a self-defensive mechanism against fibrosis but insufficient to protect the organ against it. This was caused probably by changes in susceptibility of collagen to degradating enzymes in the course of chronic hepatic disorders.
High serum levels of total hydroxyproline (Hyp) and hydroxylysine (Hyl) in patients with acute viral hepatitis were found to be due to a marked increase of the peptide-bound form of these aminoacids. The concentrations of free Hyp and Hyl were only slightly changed. The levels of serum Hyp and Hyl were higher in patients with bilirubin concentration, and decreased during recovery.
The activity of selected lysosomal hydrolases ( (beta-galactosidase, beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase, beta-xylosidase, alpha-mannosidase, alpha-fucosidase) was determined in the blood serum of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). An increased activity of all the enzymes studied was found as compared to control subjects. Presumable mechanisms of the observed changes are discussed. It is suggested that the studied enzymes may be responsible for the desintegration of the connective tissue ground substance in SLE.
An increased level of glycoproteins (seromucoid, protein-bound hexoses, protein-bound hexosamines, protein-bound sialic acids) was found in the blood serum from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as compared with healthy individuals. Higher glycoprotein content was observed in the seropositive RA patients than in the seronegative ones. Higher levels of glycoproteins was also observed in the synovial fluid from seropositive RA patients than in the seronegative ones.
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In 38 male and 42 female healthy subjects serum concentrations of free and peptide-bound hydroxylysine were determined. There were no statistically significant differences between men and women.
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Heart damage was produced by isoprenaline injection in healthy and hydrazinophtalazine-treated rats. The activity of beta-glucuronidase, beta-acetyloglucosaminase and acid phosphatase was determined in the heart muscle, liver and blood serum. The activity of the studied enzymes increased in the seventh day of experiment and after two weeks after injection was normalized. The increase in the enzyme activity in hydrazinophtalazine-treated animals was significantly lower than in healthy animals.
Haematological investigations of peripheral blood and bone marrow were performed in rabbits receiving hydrazinophthalazines (hydralazine or binazin) with or without simultaneous hyperimmunization by means of repeated injections of bovine albumin. It was found that long-term administration of hydralazine caused appearance of LE factor in the serum and LE cells in blood. Less evident changes were caused by Binazin administration. Hyperimmunization caused weaknening of the effects of hydralazinophthalazines. Haematological investigations demonstrated hypochromic anaemia.