Serum levels of sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 and sP-selectin were determined in patients with Graves' disease before and after 8 weeks and 24 months of methimazole therapy, in levothyroxine suppressed patients with non-toxic nodular goiter, and in a group of healthy controls, to elucidate the relationship to circulating antithyroid antibodies and possible role of soluble adhesion molecules as markers of inflammatory activity. sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, and sP-selectin in patients with untreated hyperthyroidism were markedly elevated compared with controls. After 8 weeks of methimazole treatment, the concentrations of these molecules dropped, but were still significantly higher than in healthy children. In patients with clinical and biochemical remission after 24 months of therapy, sICAM-1 values were on the verge of significance, but still higher than in the control group, whereas serum levels of sVCAM-1 and sP-selectin had normalized. Slightly higher serum sICAM-1 values were observed in patients with non-toxic nodular goiter compared with healthy children.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The effect of hypertonic urea solution on Na+ and K+ transport through the smooth muscle membrane.

The aim of this work was to examine the effect of a hypertonic solution (Krebs solution + 290 mM urea) on K+ and Na+ transport. The experiments were carried out on the guinea-pig taenia coli preparations using the method of Na-24 and K-24 loading and washout. The efflux curves were analysed by means of the digital computer technique. The following parameters were determined: efflux rate constant k2, influx rate constant k1, intracellular ion concentration C1 ion flux M and permeability P. Any significant difference between PNa/PK ratio in hypertonic urea and isotonic Krebs solutions was found.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Cellular immunity in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (type 1)].

Cell-mediated immunity was investigated with T-cell blastic transformation stimulated by phytohaemagglutinin and/or insulin in patients with diabetes mellitus type 1. T-cell blastic transformation was determined in the whole blood by the intake of labelled thymidine intake by the lymphocytic DNA. Healthy individuals and patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 served as control groups. It was found that T-cell blastic transformation stimulated with phytohaemagglutinin is markedly diminished in patients with diabetes mellitus type 1 and to a lesser degree in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2. Insulin increased T-cell blastic transformation in insulin-dependent diabetic patients but has no effect in diabetes mellitus type 2. The obtained results suggest that induction and central phases of the cell-mediated immunological response are diminished in diabetes mellitus independently on its type. Such disorders may have different etiology depending on the type of diabetes mellitus.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Prostaglandins mediate some central effects of angiotensin II.

Pretreatment of rats with paracetamol (200 mg/kg po) abolished the enhancement of apomorphine and amphetamine stereotypy evoked by angiotensin II (0.5 microgram icv). The effect of angiotensin II was restored by an icv administration of 1 microgram of PGE1 X PGF2 alpha abolished the enhancement of stereotypy evoked by angiotensin II. PGE1 increased, while PGF2 alpha did not change the basic stereotypy induced by apomorphine and amphetamine. A specific radioimmunoassay of E-type prostaglandins (PGE1 + PGE2) revealed an increase by 136% in the level of PGE in the striata of rats pretreated with angiotensin II. These results suggest that stimulatory effects of angiotensin II in the central nigrostriatal system are, at least in part, mediated by the release of the E type of prostaglandins.

Acetaminophen↗