BACKGROUND: Thrombomodulin (TM) a membrane receptor for thrombin generated in blood in vivo, is present on the surface of vascular endothelium cells. The aim of our work was the determination of thrombomodulin in the blood of patients with unstable angina pectoris. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the study took part 87 patients with unstable angina pectoris (40 women and 47 men) at age 41-79 years. Thrombomodulin was determined in citrated blood plasma with the use of enzyme immunoassay ELISA with the diagnostic kit manufactured by American Diagnostica. RESULTS: Statistically significant higher thrombomodulin concentration (sTM) was found in the patients when compared with the values recorded in control group. Elevated sTM levels depended on patients age and they were significantly higher in patients over 50 years old. There were no statistically significant differences with respect to patients gender and coexistent risk factors such as arterial hypertension, diabetes or smoking, but significantly higher sTM concentration was observed in patients with high serum cholesterol level. CONCLUSION: Elevated sTM concentrations result from the damage to vascular endothelium cells by the atheromatous process manifested in unstable angina pectoris.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Increased plasma glutathione peroxidase activity in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Aim of the study was to determine the concentration of selenium (Se) and the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and to observe the behavior of these parameters during thrombolysis therapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study comprised two groups of AMI patients and a control group. The first group consisted of 49 patients from whom blood samples were taken after admission to the intensive care unit and subsequently after 3, 7, 14 and 30 days of hospitalization. In the second group of patients (n = 18) blood was taken for measuring only the GSH-Px activity in plasma. In this group blood samples were collected after admission to the hospital, 6, 12, 24, 48 hours, 3, 7, 14 and 30 days later. Control group comprised of 58 healthy subjects. Se levels in whole blood and plasma were measured spectrofluorometrically with 2,3-diaminonaphthalene as a complexing reagent. GSH-Px activity in red cells and plasma was measured spectrofluorometrically with t-butyl hydroperoxide as substrate. RESULTS: In the first group of patients Se concentrations in whole blood and plasma as well as GSH-Px activities in red cells and plasma did not differ significantly from healthy subjects. Both Se levels and GSH-Px activities were stable during the entire period of the study. In the second group of patients, however, plasma GSH-Px activity increased after admission and reached the highest value after 48 hours. This activity was significantly higher compared to healthy subjects (p < 0.004) and to the mean initial activity of this group (p < 0.02). In the later period the activity decreased to the values of healthy subjects. CONCLUSION: We suggest that the increased activity of GSH-Px in plasma of AMI patients is the response of the organism to the increased levels of reactive oxygen species produced during reperfusion and thrombolysis.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Hypertension in pregnancy with special reference to its treatment].

Definition and classification of the arterial hypertension in pregnancy are discussed. An emphasis is on the problems of differential diagnosis between pre-eclampsia and other forms of hypertension. Use of hypotensive drugs in pregnant patients with particular reference to emergencies is also discussed. The treatment of pregnant women with hypertension is still a problem which require close co-operation of both an obstetrician and internist. Follow-up after labour is GP duty to find out if the patient remains hypertensive. If so, etiology of the disease should be again searched.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Biological availability and assessment of the antiarrhythmic activity of Disocor and Disocor Retard].

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Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Digitalis--selected problems and controversies].

Atrial was undertaken of assessment of the usefulness and the place of digitalis glycosides in the treatment of chronic congestive cardiac failure, in myocardial infarction and in mitral stenosis. There is no consensus of opinions of the effectiveness of digitalis treatment in cases of cardiac failure which is due to lack of uniformity of qualification of patients for studies and absence of accepted universally haemodynamic parameters of the effectiveness of the positive inotropic action of these glycosides. The usefulness of these glycosides in patients with cardiac failure and paroxysmal or stable atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia is unquestionable. Digitalis is effective in the treatment of mild cardiac failure, but is ineffective in its IV stage (NYHA). There is still a controversy on the use of digitalis glycosides in acute myocardial infarction with associated myocardial failure. In acute myocardial infarction digitalis glycosided should not be used, with the exception of cases with coexistent supraventricular arrhythmia and ventricular tachycardia. It is still difficult to establish unequivocally the effect of digitalization of patients after acute phase of myocardial infarction and after discharge from hospital on further survival. The future place of digitalis glycosides in the treatment of cardiac failure will depend on the results of studies comparing them with new positive inotropic drugs. The place of digitalis glycosides in the treatment of haemodynamic cousegnences of mitral stenosis, but they are useful in supraventricular arrhythmias during mitral stenosis, and for alleviation of right-ventricular cardiac failure.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Case of chronic lymphatic leukemia with giant cell reticulosarcoma].

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Giant Cell Tumors↗