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Biomedical subjects

E Varga

Publications and source records attributed to E Varga.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Immunomodulating effect of 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepines (a new class of non-nucleoside inhibitors of reverse transcriptase).

The effects of newly synthesized, reverse transcriptase inhibitors, 3-benzazepines, for their effects on natural killer (NK) cell and blast transformation in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells were investigated. The most effective reverse transcriptase inhibitors were KF1, KF2 and KF3, which primarily suppressed immunological functions. Besides the inhibition of T cell proliferation, the benzazepines also show inhibitory effect on NK cell functions, in particularly, against large granular lymphocytes and monocytes. The B lymphocytes and Fc mediated killer functions were less inhibited.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed2000

Screening of Hungarian cattle herds for Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides small colony infection with negative results.

At abattoirs and farms, 1248 sera were collected from animals representing 121 farms, and examined by complement fixation test using Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides small colony type (MmmSC) antigen. All sera were negative except seven from four farms, giving ++ reactions in the serum dilution of 1:10. On retesting, these sera and additional 30 sera collected repeatedly in both farms gave negative results. In isolation attempts, 953 lung samples collected from slaughtered cattle at the same abattoirs, and 326 nasal swabs collected from 11 herds proved to be negative for the presence of MmmSC, but M. bovis was isolated frequently. In the small farms 23.95% of the animals had pleurisy and/or pneumonia while in the large herds 34.69% had lesions. DNA extracted from 50 nasal swabs and 430 lung samples was examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using M. mycoides cluster-specific primers. DNA from further 325 lung samples was tested by the more specific M. mycoides subspecies mycoides small colony/large colony/capri specific primers and 196 samples by nested PCR specific for MmmSC. All gave negative results. The detection level of cluster-specific primers and the more specific primers was 33.4 pg of DNA, whereas that of nested PCR was 0.33 pg.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Heme oxygenase and cardiac function in ischemic/reperfused rat hearts.

We investigated whether the expression of heme oxygenase (HO) isozymes was related to the occurrence of ventricular fibrillation (VF) induced by ischemia/reperfusion in nondiabetic and diabetic myocardium. To study the role of HO-1 and HO-2 mRNA expression in VF, isolated hearts obtained from nondiabetic and 8-week diabetic rats were subjected to 30 min of ischemia followed by 2 h of reperfusion. Expression of HO-1 and HO-2 mRNA was studied in fibrillated and nonfibrillated myocardium using Northern blotting and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The effect of zinc protoporphyrin IX (Zn-PPIX), a potent inhibitor of HO activity, on HO activity was also studied in ischemic/reperfused hearts. Upon reperfusion, an expression of HO-1 was observed in nonfibrillated myocardium. HO-1 mRNA expression was significantly reduced in hearts showed VF. Zn-PPIX (5 microM) treatment reduced HO activity from its control values of 398+/-27 (in nondiabetics) and 370+/-20 pmol bilirubin/h (in diabetics) to 69+/-14 (in nondiabetics, p<.05) and 60+/-11 pmol bilirubin/h (in diabetics, p<.05), respectively, and all hearts, upon reperfusion, showed VF in both nondiabetic and diabetic subjects. HO-2 expression was unchanged in nonfibrillated and fibrillated myocardium. Postischemic function showed no correlation with the expression of these genes. Our data show that the mechanism(s) of ischemia/reperfusion-induced VF involves the downregulation of HO-1 mRNA and a reduction in HO activity. Furthermore, the mechanism(s) of VF at molecular level involving HO isozymes does not show a significant difference between nondiabetics and diabetics.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

The protective effect of EGb 761 in isolated ischemic/reperfused rat hearts: a link between cardiac function and nitric oxide production.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) on the nitric oxide (NO) production in relation to the recovery of postischemic cardiac function in isolated working rat hearts. Rats were orally treated with various doses (25, 50, 75, and 100 mg/kg/day) of EGb 761 for 10 days. Hearts were isolated in "working mode" and subjected to 30-min ischemia followed by 120 min of reperfusion. EGb 761 inhibited NO production measured by electron spin-resonance spectroscopy (ESR), and improved the recovery of postischemic cardiac function (coronary flow, aortic flow, left ventricular developed pressure and its first derivative) in the ischemic/reperfused myocardium. Thus in rats treated with 25, 50, 75, and 100 mg/kg/day of EGb 761 and in hearts subjected to 30-min ischemia followed by 120 min of reperfusion, aortic flow was increased from its postischemic drug-free control value of 8.0+/-0.4 to 8.6+/-0.4 ml/min (NS), 17.3+/-0.9 ml/min (p<0.05), 21.5+/-1.1 ml/min (p<0.05), and 23.6+/-1.2 ml/min, respectively. The same recovery in postischemic coronary flow, left ventricular developed pressure, and its first derivative also was observed. In the initial phase of reperfusion, NO production measured by ESR was reduced by 85% in the 75 mg/ kg/day of EGb 761-treated group in comparison with the drug-free ischemic/reperfused hearts. Inducible NO synthase (iNOS) messenger RNA (mRNA) measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) also was reduced by 41 and 58% in the groups treated with 75 and 100 mg/kg/day of EGb 761, respectively. Our findings show that EGb 761 directly acts as an NO scavenger and concomitantly inhibits the expression of iNOS mRNA. Thus, EGb 761 may act as a potent inhibitor of NO production under the condition of ischemia/reperfusion, improving the recovery of postischemic cardiac function.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Nonspecific membrane effects of CH-103: hydrophobicity, surface activity and membrane fluidity studies in comparison with propranolol and practolol.

The partition coefficient, surface activity and membrane fluidizing/disordering effects of CH-103, a beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist, were compared to those of propranolol and practolol as reference compounds. Changes in membrane fluidity were followed by measuring the steady-state fluorescence anisotropy of bull sperm cells with 1-[4-(trimethylammonium)-phenyl]-6-phenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (TMA-DPH) as a fluorescence probe. The octanol/buffer (pH 7.0) partition coefficients for CH-103, propranolol and practolol were 32.9, 5.08 and 0.013, respectively; the surface activity of the compounds decreased in the same order. CH-103 and propranolol significantly increased the fluidity of the membrane in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas practolol reduced fluidity. These physicochemical parameters correlated with the effects of these drugs on rat sarcolemmal Ca2+, Mg(2+)-ATPase, a manifestation of their nonspecific membrane activity. Our results suggest that the physicochemical properties of CH-103, similarly to those of propranolol, are the main determinants of its nonspecific membrane activity.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1998

[Gastric and duodenal intramural hematoma: report of two cases].

Two cases of intramural hematoma arising in the duodenum and the stomach are reported. Both patients were male, aged 40 and 58 years, and suffered from chronic pancreatitis. Hematoma of the duodenal wall may have resulted from the acute exacerbation of the chronic pancreatitis in the first patient. As to the second case, continuous administration of Colfarit following myocardial infarction may have been causal to the gastric lesion. The initially suspected diagnosis in the first case, was pancreatic pseudocyst with obstruction of the duodenum while in the second case the gastric hematoma imitated a submucosus neoplastic process. The authors review clinical symptoms and therapeutic approaches of intramural hematomas of the proximal gastrointestinal tract. Literature data regarding etiology and therapy are presented.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Endomorphin-1 and endomorphin-2 are partial agonists at the human mu-opioid receptor.

Recently two tetrapeptide ligands that bind preferentially to the mu-opioid receptor were identified and named endomorphin-1 and endomorphin-2. We examined the ability of these peptides to stimulate G protein activation in human mu-opioid receptor transfected B82 fibroblasts as measured by [35S]GTPgammaS binding to cell membranes. Both endomorphin-1 and -2 act as partial agonists in this assay system compared with the mu-selective agonist [D-Ala2,N-Me-Phe4, Gly-ol5]enkephalin (DAMGO). In addition, endomorphins demonstrate efficacy similar to morphine. These findings demonstrate that endomorphin peptides have similar activity at the mu-opioid receptor as morphine and suggest that these peptides have the potential to modulate neuronal activity in vivo.

Analgesics, Opioid↗
PubMed1998

The efficacy of delta-opioid receptor-selective drugs.

Delta-opioid receptor-selective drugs may provide an alternative to mu-opioid-selective drugs currently used for the relief of pain. To develop improved delta-opioid receptor-selective drugs, better measures of drug activity are necessary. In this review we suggest that efficacy calculations provide a superior measure of drug activity as compared to dissociation constants and drug potencies in functional assays. Efficacy, as discussed in this review, is defined as a quantitative measurement of the ability of a drug to stimulate second messenger systems or measurable functional responses in cells or tissues under standard conditions. Efficacy values will allow medicinal chemists to understand the contributions of both the coupling efficiency and dissociation constant to drug potencies in the development of new delta-opioid receptor-selective drugs.

Analgesics↗
PubMed1998

A stilbene from the roots of leuzea carthamoides

From the roots of Leuzea carthamoides, (E)-3,3'-dimethoxy-4, 4'-dihydroxystilbene (1) has been isolated and its structure elucidated by means of NMR spectroscopy, including HMQC and HMBC measurements, mass spectrometry, and X-ray crystallography.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1998

Pre-transplant gingival hyperplasia predicts severe cyclosporin-induced gingival overgrowth in renal transplant patients.

The relationship between the pre-transplant periodontal status and the development of post-transplant gingival overgrowth was investigated in a longitudinal study. The periodontal condition of 35 patients was examined on 2 occasions while they were on the transplant waiting list and then at 4-6, 10-12, 16 and 20 weeks post-transplant. At each visit the plaque index, the bleeding index and a pocket index (CPITN) were measured. Dental impressions were taken of the pre- and post-transplant gingival condition and used to make stone models which were used to score the gingival overgrowth index (GOI). The patients divided into 3 distinct groups having severe (n=13), mild (n=16) or no post-transplant gingival overgrowth (n=6). Only 1 of the patients had taken cyclosporin prior to inclusion into the study. All the patients who developed severe overgrowth had evidence of gingival hyperplasia before the transplant. There was no difference in the serum cyclosporin levels between the three groups (chi2<2.28, p>0.319). Furthermore, there was no statistical difference for any of the periodontal indices. This study indicates that the hyperplastic gingival inflammatory response of some individuals appears to be potentiated by cyclosporin resulting in severe post-transplant overgrowth. In other patients the same reaction may allow the fibroblastic activity to occur to an extent where it produces a mild clinically apparent overgrowth.

Chi-Square Distribution↗
PubMed1998

Echodense spinal subarachnoid space in neonates with progressive ventricular dilatation: a marker of noncommunicating hydrocephalus.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to evaluate the frequency and clinical significance of echogenic debris in the spinal subarachnoid space of neonates at risk for progressive ventricular dilatation. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Spinal sonography was performed on 15 neonates with severe intracranial hemorrhage (n = 10) or bacterial meningitis (n = 5). Spinal sonography also was performed on 16 control neonates. Images were analyzed for the presence and location of echogeric debris within the thoracolumbar subarachnoid space. Lumbar punctures were performed on all 31 neonates, and CSF was analyzed for cell count and protein content. Ten of 15 neonates required ventricular drainage procedures. RESULTS: Progressive ventricular dilatation occurred in 11 of 15 neonates with intracranial hemorrhage or meningitis. Echogenic debris was present in the thoracolumbar subarachnoid space on spinal sonography in every neonate with progressive ventricular dilatation compared with none of the 16 control neonates (p < .0001 by chi-square analysis). In addition, the 11 neonates with echogenic subarachnoid space had significantly higher protein and RBC contents in the lumbar CSF (p < .04). CONCLUSION: Echogenic subarachnoid space revealed by sonography is associated with progressive ventricular dilatation after severe intracranial hemorrhage or bacterial meningitis and is caused by high protein and RBC contents in the subarachnoid space. This finding may be helpful in identifying neonates who will not benefit from serial lumbar punctures for treatment of hydrocephalus.

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMed1998

[Investigation of variation of the production of biological and chemical compounds of Hyssopus officinalis L].

Hyssopus officinalis L. (Lamiaceae family) has been cultivated in Central Europe for a long time. This essential oil containing species serves not only as spice but in many countries including Hungary, it is used as a folk medicine against certain respiratory diseases. Despite this fact, little is known about the variation of its productivity under Central European climatic conditions. The cultivated populations of hyssop can be characterised by a significant heterogenity. In the course of its breeding the uniformity of flower colour (e.g. blue form), and increase in the oil content are the main achievable purposes. The purpose of this work was to investigate both the variability of strains of different crigin and the time-dependent variations of its production parameters. The optimum of phytomass was obtained at the beginning of July. The essential oil content as well as compounds of the non volatile fractions were also investigated. The non volatile fractions for rosmarinic, caffeic acids were analysed mainly by TLC and densitometry. Both compounds were present in all samples and they are suitable for the characterisation of the plant. The essential oils were gained with Water Steam Distillation (WSD) and Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE) with CO2. The oils were analysed by GC, GC-MS techniques. In the essential oil composition of the populations studied significant heterogenity could be observed. In the case of applying SFE extraction the oil composition is more uniform, similarly to the obtained by WSD adding hexane. The heterogenity can be experienced in the offsprings, too. If only the main four components (beta-pinene, limonene, pinocamphone, isopinocamphone) are regarded, among the offsprings clear and mixed lines alike can be found. Results of these experiments justify the necessity and usefulness of selection which is going on.

Chromatography, Gas↗
PubMed1997

[Combined injection/endoscopic sclerotherapy of upper gastrointestinal peptic ulcer hemorrhage].

In the last 8 years period 369 patients with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding were admitted to the Department of Internal Medicine, District Hospital Siófok. All patients were treated by combined injection sclerotherapy during the urgent endoscopy. The sclerotizing solution contained at the first step ethamsylate, calcium gluconate, epinephrin, hypertonic saline solution, and the second step 1% aethoxysklerol. At he time of urgent endoscopy 77% of the patients had acute bleeding (Forrest I.a., I.b.) and 23% of them showed stigmata of fresh bleeding (Forrest II.a., II.b.). Primary endoscopic hemostasis was achieved in all patients. In 7.9% of patients (n = 29) developed recurrent bleeding during the observation period, who were resclerotized. Twenty of them (5.4%) were treated by elective surgery. No hemorrhagic or sclerotizing therapy associated mortality occurred. Five out of 20 operated patients (1.4% of all sclerotized cases) had died due to the serious complications of their chronic liver disease. Patients with succesful initial endoscopic hemostasis were treated conservatively (proton pump inhibitors, H-2 blockers, antacids, sucralfate, lactulose) and underwent control endoscopy after 24 hours. Using this sclerotizing method in the treatment of acute upper gastrointestinal bleedings the number of acute surgery and mortality decreased significantly. It is supposed, that the locally administered ethamsylate, calcium gluconate, epinephrin, hypertonic saline solution and aethoxysklerol containing sklerotizing solution might play a favorable role in the successful control of acute bleeding ulcers.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1996

Biomechanical analysis of hemipelvic deformation after corticospongious bone graft harvest from the posterior iliac crest.

STUDY DESIGN: The stiffness of the hemipelvis during simulated physiologic loading and the bone deformation in the remaining posterior ilium after the harvest of increasing sizes of corticospongious bone graft were compared with values in intact bone. OBJECTIVES: To quantify the biomechanical effects of the removal of bone grafts from the posterior ilium and to relate the size of graft removed to the stiffness of the hemipelvis and deformation of the remaining bone. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Bone fractures and pelvic instability have been reported to complicate graft harvest from the posterior iliac crest. There is no quantitative data relating graft size to the mechanical properties of the remaining ilium. METHODS: Seven cadaveric hemipelves were loaded with a materials testing machine through the superior sacrum while supported at the acetabulum and stabilized with a cable fixed to the ilium. Force and displacement histories and deformation in the greater sciatic notch were recorded for the intact bone and after removal of corticospongious bone graft in 1.5-cm increments from the posterior iliac crest. RESULTS: If the length of the removed corticospongious bone graft exceeded 3.0 cm, the stiffness of the posterior pelvic ring decreased, and deformation in the remaining bone increased substantially. CONCLUSIONS: Removal or bone graft in excess of 3 cm from the posterior ilium increases the risk of iatrogenic fatigue fracture.

Bone Transplantation↗