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Biomedical subjects

H Cramer

Publications and source records attributed to H Cramer.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Somatostatin-like immunoreactivity in the cerebrospinal fluid of neurological patients.

Using a specific radioimmunoassay we have measured somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (SLIR) of CSF in patients with brain atrophy, spinal spasticity, seizures, brain tumors and inflammatory disorders. Patients with marked brain atrophy had significantly decreased somatostatin levels in CSF. In patients with spinal spasticity significantly higher levels were observed. Seizure patients had reduced levels but the difference was not significant. In patients with inflammatory disorders and malignant brain tumors SLIR levels were significantly elevated but not in patients with benign brain tumors. A possible pathophysiologic meaning of SLIR in spasticity and seizures is discussed. The altered levels in brain atrophy, tumors and inflammatory disorders are probably indirect signs of altered somatostatin turnover or increased somatostatin leakage from damaged CNS.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Cyclic nucleotides in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with intracranial and spinal tumors.

Since the cyclic nucleotides (CN) adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) and guanoside 3',5'-monophosphate (cGMP) are involved in the regulation of cell proliferation and tumor growth in vitro, a study was made of the levels of these compounds in the lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 20 patients with intracranial and spinal tumors. In the presence of benign or malignant intracranial tumors there was a slight and not significant decrease of cAMP as well as cGMP levels in the CSF, as compared to control patients. While there was no significant correlation between the levels of the two CN in controls, there was a positive correlation in tumor patients. Total protein content and cAMP were negatively correlated in malignant intracranial tumors. Possible influences of tumor growth and intracranial pressure increases on CN levels are discussed. In spinal tumor patients normal CN levels were observed. However, in a patient with meningeal sarcoma an extremely marked elevation of cAMP occurred in parallel with the extension of the tumor to the spinal meningeal space, suggesting massive secretion of cAMP from the tumor cells.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Changes in cerebrospinal fluid cyclic nucleotides in alcohol-dependent patients suffering from delirium tremens.

In eight patients with a history of alcoholism (on average 9 years), cyclic 3',5'-monophosphate (AMP) and cyclic 3',5'-monophosphate (GMP) were determined in CSF in the acute untreated phase of delirium tremens and at 2 weeks later when clinical symptoms had vanished. Before the second lumbar puncture a drug-free period of 1 week had existed. The results were compared with an age- and sex-matched neurological control group. CSF cyclic AMP concentrations were markedly reduced by 62% (p less than 0.005) in the acute state of delirium tremens and remained at the same level 2 weeks later; cyclic GMP concentrations were increased by 37% (p = 0.05) and showed a small further increase (p less than 0.05) at the second lumbar puncture. A negative correlation existed between age and cyclic AMP content of CSF (r = -0.756; p less than 0.05) in the patients group. The data indicate that the earlier observed increase in norepinephrine turnover in the acute state of delirium tremens (Athen et al., 1977) seems not to induce an increase of cyclic AMP content in CSF.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Leg function after radiotherapy for Ewing's sarcoma.

Twenty-nine patients with Ewing's sarcoma of the lower extremity who survived for two or more years following therapy (5000 rad locally and systemic chemotherapy) were studied to assess functional status of the affected leg. Twenty-two of twenty-nine were alive and were reexamined; the deceased patients were evaluated by record review. Twenty-two of the twenty-nine had serial radiographs, which were reviewed to assess growth change induced by radiation. The living patients were divided on the basis of clinical examination into four functional groups with Group I comprising patients with minor functional limitations and leg length discrepancy 1.5 cm or less. Group II patients had moderate functional limitations with 2.5-cm leg-length discrepancy or less. Group III patients had severe functional limitations with up to 4-cm leg length discrepancy. Group IV patients had severe complications, sufficient enough to warrant amputation. Thirteen of twenty-two patients were classified as functional Group I, five as Group II, three as Group III, and one as Group IV. Radiographic changes in growing bone did not correlate with functional results. Although a femoral fracture and an age less than 16 years at diagnosis were found to be less favorable prognostic factors for the functional treatment result, these results show that neither femoral location nor young age justify primary amputation for Ewing's sarcoma of the lower leg extremity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Huntington's chorea-- measurements of somatostatin, substance P and cyclic nucleotides in the cerebrospinal fluid.

Somatostatin, substance P, cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP were determined in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with Huntington's disease, in first generation relatives of choreic patients and in neurological control patients. Substance P levels were not significantly altered, but somatostatin levels were markedly decreased both in affected patients and symptom-free offspring. Cyclic AMP was decreased only in patients with advanced stages of the disease while cyclic GMP was normal. Evidence is discussed which may support a role of somatostatin deficiency in the pathophysiology of chorea.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

[Effects of carbamazepine on EEG. Neuroendocrinological and psychometric examinations (author's transl)].

The effects of carbamazepine on EEG, sleep-related release of growth hormone and prolactin, and on psychometric parameters were studied in ten healthy volunteers under controlled double-blind cross-over conditions. Acute application of 300 and 600 mg Tegretal resulted in constant blood levels around 3.0 and 5.5 microgram/ml respectively during the test periods of 5 and 7 h. Computerized EEG analysis according to Hjorth, revealed an occipital increase of amplitude and a decrease of mean frequency, but a frontal increase of frequency, a pattern similar to that of the tricyclic antidepressants. The polygraphic sleep pattern showed a significant decrease of sleep latency after 600 mg carbamazepine without changes of other sleep parameters. The sleep-related release of growth hormone after 600 mg carbamazepine showed a faster increase during the first sleep cycle; the profile of prolactin release, however, and the overall nocturnal secretion of both hormones were not affected. After 300 mg carbamazepine the psychometric tests revealed no significant effects on performance, but reflected an improvement of mood on self rating scales.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Cerebrospinal fluid adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid and homovanillic acid in patients with sleep apnoea syndrome.

Adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) and homovanillic acid (HVA) were determined in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with respiratory disorder and hypersomnia and in control patients. Patients with the sleep apnoea syndrome confirmed polygraphically showed elevated levels of cyclic AMP and 5-HIAA. Cyclic AMP levels were inversely correlated with arterial Po(2), measured under resting conditions. The level of HVA also was raised, but the change was not statistically significant.

Cyclic AMP↗
PubMed1980

Characterization of ergot and non-ergot serotonin antagonists by prolactin and growth hormone profiles during wakefulness and sleep.

In order to further clarify the involvement of serotonin in the control of secretion of pituitary lactogens, diurnal and sleep prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH) profiles were investigated in healthy subjects treated with ergot and non-ergot serotonin antagonists. A group of 10 subjects received a single oral dose of 2 mg each of pizotifen, methysergide, and the dopaminergic drug bromocriptine as reference substance, in comparison with placebo. Blood was collected at hourly intervals for 6 h. Another group of 10 individuals received either a placebo, 2.5 mg bromocriptine (n = 6) twice daily for 4 days or pizotifen (n = 10) 0.5 mg 3 times daily for 12 days before undergoing EEG recording and blood sampling during night sleep. The diurnal plasma profiles of PRL and GH were not modified by pizotifen, a non-ergot drug. Methysergide and bromocriptine, two ergot derivatives, significantly (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001 respectively) suppressed the basal secretion of PRL throughout the trial and increased plasma GH significantly (P < 0.01). The sleep profile of PRL was not modified by pizotifen but there was a moderate reduction in GH reaching the level of significance (P < 0.02) between hours 1 and 2 of sleep. Bromocriptine suppressed completely PRL secretion throughout the entire sleep period and significantly (P < 0.05) prolonged the secretory profile of GH. The results indicate the presence in the ergot molecule of a dopaminergic moiety responsible for PRL inhibition and GH stimulation. This effect is independent of the serotonin active component of the drug.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Depression of cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP in the cerebrospinal fluid of rats after acute administration of ethanol.

The effect of single oral doses of ethanol on the levels of cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP in the cerebrospinal fluid was studied in rats. Ethanol markedly decreased the levels of both cyclic nucleotides for at least 24 h. The decrease of cyclic nucleotides after medium and high doses (1.65 and 4.59 g/kg) was slower in onset but more pronounced than the decrease after a low dose (0.55 g/kg) of ethanol.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Glucaric acid excretion. Analysis of the enzymatic assay and findings in smokers and non-smokers.

Glucaric acid (GA) excretion in urine from cigarette smokers and non-smoking control subjects was determined enzymatically. There was no difference between GA 41.0 +/- 3.2 mumol/g creatinine (Cn; mean +/- SEM) in smokers and GA 43.1 +/- 3.4 mumol/g Cn in the controls. Gas chromatographic analysis of the GA-glucarolactone equilibrium was carried out in an attempt to elucidate the striking discrepancies in previous results.

Chromatography, Gas↗
PubMed1980

False aneurysm formation following arteriographic intimal dissection: serial studies in 2 patients.

Two patients with metastatic islet-cell carcinoma underwent multiple hepatic artery catheterizations for streptozotocin infusion. An intimal flap was raised during one of the initial arteriographic procedures and a false aneurysm developed. The progression of the aneurysm was documented on sequential studies. False aneurysm formation appears to be a relatively unappreciated complication of intimal dissection, and these 2 cases permitted observation of their natural history.

Adenoma, Islet Cell↗
PubMed1978

[Monoamine metabolites and cyclic nucleotides in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with bismuth or mercury poisoning].

The central metabolism of dopamine, serotonin, cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP was studied by use of the probenecid test in three patients with bismuth encephalopathy and in one patient with mercury encephalopathy. The accumulation of HVA and of cGMP in the cerebrospinal fluid was depressed during the acute phase of bismuth encephalopathy with severe hyposomnia, while it was increased in a patient with regression of clinical symptoms and normal in a patient with more advanced recovery. The patient with chronic mercury poisoning showing a severe cerebellar ataxia and rigidity had an almost complete suppression of HVA accumulation and an increase of cGMP accumulation. No pronounced differences of 5-HIAA and cAMP behavior were found. It is concluded that the central metabolism of dopamine and of cGMP is severely affected in bismuth and mercury encephalopathies.

Adult↗