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Biomedical subjects

H Wehr

Publications and source records attributed to H Wehr.

51 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

[Determination of lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] in patients with ischemic stroke. Preliminary communication].

The aim of this work was the determination of apolipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] in the patients three months after the onset of ischaemic stroke. A group of 56 patients was investigated. Stroke was diagnosed as caused by atherosclerotic changes in main cerebral arteries in 32 patients and in 11 by changes in cervical arteries. In 13 persons a lacunar stroke was recognised. The mean Lp(a) level and the median value were significantly higher in the group of patients after stroke as compared with 45 controls. A more frequent occurrence of Lp(a) level over 30 mg/dl considered as pathological was observed more often in the patients. No correlation was seen between Lp(a) and the resistance of LDL to oxidation nor between Lp(a) and the amount of products of LDL oxidation in vitro.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Evaluation of the diagnostic value of using laboratory markers for determining alcohol abuse].

GGT (gammaglutamyl-transpeptidase) activity and HDL (high density lipoprotein) cholesterol were assayed in the group of 67 alcohol addicts entering a detoxication treatment after a period of an intensive drinking. The same assays were repeated following 1-2 and 6-12 days of the abstinence. Both markers have shown high values in about 80% of patients immediately after the period of heavy drinking. HDL cholesterol concentration was decreasing more rapidly than GGT activity. Both markers may be of a practical value. However, it seems that GGT activity as the less dynamic test is better for detection of heavy drinkers whereas HDL cholesterol assay will be useful for abstinence monitoring in the course of alcohol withdrawal. It shows well short-term fluctuations reflecting abstinence and its relapses. Both assays are simple and inexpensive.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Function and diseases of peroxisomes].

The properties and metabolic functions of peroxisomes are discussed. Classification and clinical symptoms of various diseases resulting from deficiencies of those organellae are presented. Most of the diseases involve the nervous system. The detection and determination of long-chain fatty acids (containing over 26 carbon atoms) is the principal diagnostic method in peroxisomal diseases.

Adrenoleukodystrophy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Serum lipids in Down's syndrome].

In 28 patients with Down syndrome and in 28 controls matched for age and sex serum lipoproteins and their main lipid constituents were determined. Both groups comprised subjects living in the same institutions for mentally retarded No significant differences were found between the two groups in total serum lipids, triglycerides, total cholesterol and phospholipid levels and in the proportion of esterified cholesterol and beta-lipoproteins. No characteristic pattern of alpha and beta lipoproteins could be observed in patients with Down syndrome by means of electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel. Alanine aminotransferase activity was significantly higher in the group of patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The HDL cholesterol level in patients treated with antiepileptic drugs].

Total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and HDL2 and HDL3 cholesterol were estimated in individuals undergoing anticonvulsant therapy. Significantly higher, than in the corresponding control groups HDL concentration, concerning mainly HDL2 subfraction was found in female epileptic and in male alcoholic epileptic patients. It was observed that higher drug levels were accompanied by higher HDL cholesterol values. In alcohol addicted subjects undergoing anticonvulsant therapy low-nontherapeutic serum drug concentration was often observed. In spite of this, HDL levels were high. This could result from an additional induction of cytochrome P-450 caused by alcohol and an accelerated oxidation of the drugs. This observation indicates that frequent control of drug concentration in these patients is desirable.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Influence of experimental diets on cholesterol and triglyceride levels of rabbit blood serum lipoproteins.

Groups of rabbits were fed for six weeks various diets: standard died + ethanol, high-cholesterol diet and a high-cholesterol + ethanol one. During the next six weeks every diet was supplemented with a fresh vegetable (carrot). Cholesterol and triglycerides were determined in the whole serum and in lipoprotein fractions. In rabbits fed standard diet ethanol caused a moderate elevation of VLDL cholesterol and triglyceride and LDL cholesterol levels. In animals on high-cholesterol diet cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in these fractions were very high. Simultaneous consumption of large amounts of cholesterol and of ethanol resulted in a greater rise of cholesterol concentration in the whole serum and in VLDL and LDL fraction than did high-cholesterol diet alone. Addition of carrot caused a pronounced reduction of serum cholesterol concentration in animals fed all kinds of diets. The reduction concerned mainly VLDL.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Indicators of brain biogenic amine metabolism in various extrapyramidal disorders].

The authors describe the results of determinations of the main metabolites of dopamine (DA), serotonin (S) and noradrenaline (NA) in the cerebrospinal fluid (ventricular and lumbar) in patients with various extrapyramidal system diseases. A profound decrease was demonstrated in the concentration of homovanillic acid (HVA)--the end metabolite of DA in parkinsonism, reflecting damage to DA--containing pathways and reduced DA synthesis in basal ganglia. Treatment with L-DOPA raises considerably the HVA level in the cerebrospinal fluid evidencing increased DA metabolism in the brain during administration of its precursor L-DOPA. In torsion dystrophy a statistically significant difference was found in HVA concentrations in the ventricular fluid depending on the clinical manifestations of the disease. In the patients with local muscular rigidity HVA level was much lower than in patients with the hyperkinetic form of the disease. It is concluded that the character of changes in the cerebral dopaminergic systems differs phenotypically in the form of torsion dystonia. In hepatolenticular degeneration (Wilson's disease) the level of all studied metabolites was decreased, which could be an evidence of deficient cerebral metabolism of their precursors--amines. In cases of Huntington's chorea a low level of HVA was found in the ventricular fluid, reflecting decreased total amount of DA in the brain due to damage to the corresponding neurons. Absence of detectable changes in MHPG concentration (the main cerebral metabolite of NA) indicates that this amine plays a lower role than DA and S in the biochemical mechanisms of the pathogenesis of extrapyramidal motor disturbances. The obtained data are important for the understanding of the pathogenesis and for evolving therapeutic methods in extrapyramidal diseases.

Basal Ganglia Diseases↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Urinary beta-hexosaminidase activity as a marker for the monitoring of sobriety].

The aim of this study was to check the usefulness of urine beta-hexosaminidase activity determination as a tool of monitoring sobriety in alcohol dependent individuals. The examinations were performed in 93 patients undergoing detoxification treatment after heavy drinking and in 29 individuals who were starting psychotherapeutic treatment after declaring at least 2 weeks abstinence period. Enzyme activity was determined using a spectrofluorimetric method and was referred to urine creatinine level. In the detoxification group the abnormally high beta-hexosaminidase activity was decreasing gradually toward normal values within 2 weeks. In less than 10% of the patients atypical increase was observed in the course of treatment, what could be attributed to an, influence of nonspecific factors or possibly to misbehavior (alcohol drinking or urine samples substitution). Among individuals who declared at least 2 weeks abstinence period (psychotherapeutic group) in 25% of cases abnormally high enzyme activity was detected, what suggested their more recent alcohol drinking.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Activity of beta-hexosaminidase in serum of patients with alcoholic and nonalcoholic liver diseases].

The total activity and thermostable activity of serum beta-hexosaminidase were determined in alcohol-dependent patients with liver damage, in non-drinking hepatic patients, in alcohol-dependent presently drinking patients who had no hepatic symptoms and signs, and in healthy persons drinking alcohol occasionally in moderate quantities who served as the control group. The enzyme activity was determined by the spectrofluorometric method using 4-methylumbelliferone derivative as substrate. The activity of beta-hexosaminidase in both groups with liver disease of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic origin exceeded significantly the control values. In those alcohol-dependent patients with liver disease who did not stop drinking, the activity was higher after recent drinking in relation to that after a period of abstinence. The determination can thus serve as a marker of alcohol abuse also in alcohol-dependent patients with liver damage. The share of thermostable component in the total increase of beta-hexosaminidase activity in alcohol-abusing persons was higher than that in the case of hepatic diseases of non-alcoholic origin.

Adult↗