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H Wilczek

Publications and source records attributed to H Wilczek.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

[Problems with maintenance therapy in opiate dependence and the clinical importance of methadone].

The author presents a review of experience with substitution treatment in opiate dependence. Methadone treatment is most frequently used. An individual daily dose and long-term substitution are desirable for stabilization and motivation of patients included in the methadone programme. Interaction of methadone with some drugs affects the methadone metabolism and calls for a change of the methadone dose and must not be omitted. In addition to methadone there are also other types of pharmacotherapy of opiate dependence (acetylmethadol, buprenorphine). In the Czech Republic in 1997 in the General Faculty Hospital Prague the methadone programme was started. The importance of methadone substitution treatment is beyond doubt and involves improvement of the psychosocial and health status of addicts, gives an opportunity of resocialization and reintegration into society.

Humans↗
PubMed1998

[Intestinal transplantation. The first Swedish transplantation of the small intestine in an adult patient with pseudoobstruction].

Recent advances, first and foremost the development of new immunosuppressive agents, have markedly improved the outcome of intestinal transplantation, which is a treatment option for patients with serious intestinal diseases who have become dependent on total parenteral nutrition. The first small bowel transplantation in Sweden was performed at Huddinge Hospital in 1997, in the adult patient with intestinal pseudo-obstruction. The article reports the course of this patient and an update of international progress in intestinal transplantation.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMed1998

Hyperlipidemia in renal transplant recipients treated with sirolimus (rapamycin).

BACKGROUND: Sirolimus is an interesting immunosuppressive drug that does not seem to cause nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity, or diabetogenicity, as commonly seen in patients treated with cyclosporine or tacrolimus. In this report, we describe a possible association between sirolimus and observed hyperlipidemia. METHODS: Serum levels of triglycerides and cholesterol were analyzed in 11 patients who participated in a pilot study evaluating the effect of oral sirolimus or placebo combined with cyclosporine and corticosteroids on the occurrence of acute renal transplant rejection. RESULTS: In four of nine patients given sirolimus, significantly increased serum triglyceride levels were seen, with peak levels occurring 2-4 months after transplantation and ranging between 11.7 and 42.0 mmol/L (reference value <2.2 mmol/L). In two patients given placebo, the serum triglyceride levels remained below 5.0 mmol/L. After reduction or discontinuation of sirolimus, the serum triglyceride levels decreased within 1-2 months and after 1-8 months levels had returned to their pretransplant values. A significant increase in serum cholesterol levels was seen in one of nine patients given sirolimus. CONCLUSION: It seems that long-term treatment with sirolimus in combination with cyclosporine and corticosteroids may increase the risk of hypertriglyceridemia.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1997

[Is beta 2-microglobulin a marker of bone remodeling in Paget's disease of bone?].

BACKGROUND: Some authors found in Paget's disease bone and in osteoporosis elevated serum levels of beta-2-microglobulin. The objective of the present work was to assess whether in patients with a different activity of Paget's disease of bone the serum values of beta-2-microglobulin before treatment and after 1,6 and 12 month's treatment with pamidronate can serve as a marker of bone metabolism and whether pamidronate treatment has an impact on the serum concentration of beta-2-microglobulin. METHODS AND RESULTS: 35 patients with Paget's disease of bone (25 men and 10 women, mean age 64 and 72 years resp.) were divided into three groups with a different activity of the disease based on the values with a different activity of the disease based on the values of the bone isoenzyme of alkaline phosphatase in serum. In all serum concentrations of beta-2- microglobulin were examined before and during treatment with pamidronate. The control group was formed by five healthy men and five healthy women, mean age 65 years, and a special group of weight drug addicts dependent on opiates (5 men and 3 women, mean age 26 years). For assessment of beta-2-microglobulin in serum the enzymic immunoassay and fluorescence detection were employed, using Abbott, IMX, MEIA system kits. The serum concentrations of the bone isoenzyme of alkaline phosphatase were assessed by the method used at the Third Medical Clinic of the First Medical Faculty Charles University Prague (8). For statistical processing the non-parametric Friedman test was used to assess the significance of differences between means (p < 0.01) and simultaneous testing at the 5% level of significance. Serum concentrations of beta-2-microglobulin in patients with Paget's disease of bone with a low activity before treatment and after 1, 6 and 12 months of pamidronate treatment were 2.02 +/- 0.9, 2.10 +/- 1.2, 1.9 +/- 1.1 and 1.98 +/- 1.4 ng/l. In patients with a medium activity of the disease the values were 1.80 +/- 0.5, 1.78 +/- 1.02, 2.2 +/- 1.1 and 1.50 +/- 0.7 ng/l. The values in patients with a high activity of the disease were 1.9 +/- 0.9, 2.02 +/- 1.2, 2.40 +/- 0.8 and 2.45 +/- 1.01 ng/l. The values of beta2-microglobulin did not differ when compared with normal values (p < 0,1). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with Paget's disease bone regardless of the different activity of the disease before treatment or after short-term or prolonged pamidronate treatment no differences were revealed in the serum levels of beta-2-microglobulin. Pamidronate treatment did not influence the concentration of beta2-microglobulin and assessment of beta2-microglobulin in Paget's disease bone is no asset.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[The importance of calcium ions in the body].

The review on the calcium ion is divided into two parts. One part contains so-called basic physiological data on calcium: distribution on body fluids, tissues, its bond with proteins, daily turnover and calcium requirement in different stages of life, its absorption and excretion. In the second, special, part the author presents recent findings on calcium at a molecular and cellular level: calcium as the so-called primary messenger, types of intracellular communications, relationship with G-proteins, relationship of calcium with its regulators (vitamins D, parathormone, calmodulin).

Calcium↗
PubMed1996

[Importance of vitamin D in prostatic carcinoma].

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D has an antiproliferative effect on carcinomatous cells of the prostate. Vitamin D deficiency is considered a risk factor for the manifestation and development of prostate cancer. The authors present a report on plasma levels of vitamin D metabolites in patients with prostate cancer and vitamin D therapy is discussed. METHODS AND RESULTS: In 14 patients with prostate carcinoma plasma concentrations of the sum of hydroxylated vitamin D metabolites and 1.25-dihydroxy vitamin D were assessed before treatment and three months after treatment. For evaluation of the sum of hydroxylated metabolites the radiotest was used; the plasma concentration of 1.25-dihydroxyvitamin D was assessed by radioimmunoanalysis. For statistical evaluation Friedman's test and simultaneous testing were used. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D deficiency was not revealed, however, after 3 months treatment a mild vitamin D deficiency was manifested. In 28.5% of the patients very low levels of the sum of hydroxylated vitamin D metabolites and higher values of the specific prostatic antigen (PSA) persisted.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

[What do we know about the significance of vitamin D in Paget's disease of the bone?].

BACKGROUND: The authors present a report on the importance of vitamin D metabolites in Paget's disease of bone and on blood levels of some biologically active vitamin D metabolites in patients with Paget's disease of bone. Data on vitamin D metabolism in tests of new bisphosphonates are inadequate. METHODS AND RESULTS: In 18 men and 6 women the activity of Paget's disease of bone was investigated by assessment of the serum activity of the bone isoenzyme of alkaline phosphatase, the plasma osteocalcin concentration and urinary hydroxyproline excretion. The plasma concentration of the sum of hydroxylated vitamin D metabolites and 1.25 dihydroxyvitamin D were assessed by means of the radioreceptor test according to the winter standard and by radioimmunoanalysis. For statistical evaluation the paired Student's t-test and non-parametric Friedman test were used to assess the significance of differences between the mean (p < 0.01) and simultaneous testing at the 5% level of significance. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with a low activity and thus untreated Paget's disease of bone no deviations in plasma vitamin D metabolites were revealed.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

[Laboratory indicators in drug addicts and tertiary prevention of narcotic dependence].

BACKGROUND: The authors report on some laboratory indicators in opiate abusers dependent for prolonged periods on opiates. The objective of the study is a proposal for an examination pattern in adepts during oral substitution therapy and emphasis on the necessity of systematic follow up of the health status. METHODS AND RESULTS: In 27 opiate abusers with a varying period of dependence on opiates the hematology laboratory tests was assessed, plasma levels of some minerals, renal and hepatic functions, some enzymes and metabolic indicators and vitamin D metabolites. For statistical evaluation Student's t-test was used and simultaneous testing. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term opiate abuse damages in 30 and 35% resp. liver functions. Therefore vitamin D deficiency develops. The authors recommend to follow up the health status of opiate abusers during oral substitution treatment (tertiary prevention).

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Galactosyl hydroxylysine in assessment of Paget's bone disease.

Urinary galactosyl hydroxylysine/creatinine ratio (GHL) was used to assess rates of bone collagen degradation and the activity of the pagetic lesion as well as for monitoring the rate and degree of suppression of bone resorption over 1 year in patients treated with 30 mg of intravenous pamidronate for 3 consecutive days. The clinical utility of GHL was compared with that of urinary hydroxyproline/creatinine and deoxypyridinoline/creatinine and with bone isoenzyme of serum alkaline phosphatase. The results suggest that GHL is a quantitative marker of the activity of Paget's bone disease. GHL is less sensitive than hydroxyproline, deoxypyridinolone and bone alkaline phosphatase in monitoring treatment of Paget's disease. The assay of GHL is easier, faster and less costly than that of hydroxyproline or deoxypyridinoline and it can be easily standardized.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Hypertension two years after renal transplantation: causes and consequences.

The incidence of hypertension 2 years after renal transplantation and the possible causes of hypertension were studied retrospectively. A group of 93 patients treated with cyclosporin (CyA), azathioprine (Aza), and/or prednisolone (Pred) were compared to a group of 31 patients treated with Aza and Pred. There were more patients with hypertension in the CyA group (73%) than in the Aza group (58%). Hypertension before transplantation predisposed to hypertension after transplantation. After transplantation, hypertension was most common among patients with polycystic kidney disease (46%), chronic glomerulonephritis (67%), and diabetes (71%). The accumulated immunosuppressive medication (CyA/Pred) did not affect the occurrence of hypertension. Hypertensive patients had significantly poorer graft function than did normotensive patients (serum creatinine level 229 mumol/l vs 162 mumol/l, P < 0.01). The 10-year graft survival was markedly impaired in the group with hypertension (42% vs 65% for normotensives, P < 0.05). The 10-year patient survival was 59% vs 79% (P = NS). The study further confirms the frequent finding that hypertension has a negative effect on graft and patient survival rates.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Vitamin D in clinical practice].

The author summarizes influence of vitamin D and his metabolites in clinical medicine. He draws attention on three eras of vitamin D and future significance of his metabolites and analogues. In this paper are concerned only some of own experiences in this problem performed on Third Medical Clinic 1st Medical Faculty Charles University in Prague, where laboratory measurements of plasma concentrations of metabolites were in Czech republic operating for first time. Vitamin D has a great future due to his extensive effects.

Humans↗
PubMed1994

[Monitoring plasma levels of vitamin D metabolites in simvastatin (Zocor) therapy in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia].

BACKGROUND: Simvastatin is a hypolipidaemic agent, a statin which inhibits cellular cholesterol synthesis by blocking 3HMG CoA reductase. The authors present a report on levels of plasma metabolites of vitamin D after treatment with 10 and 20 mg simvastatin daily in 13 patients, heterozygotes with hypercholesterolaemia during a five-week period. METHODS AND RESULTS: During simvastatin treatment in all patients plasma levels, of the sum of hydroxylated vitamin D metabolites and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D after five weeks of treatment with 10 and 20 mg hypolipidaemic drug were examined. For assessment of vitamin D metabolites radioassay was used which assesses the sum of hydroxylated vitamin D metabolites, and radioimmunoanalysis for assessing the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D plasma level. For statistical evaluation the non-parametric Friedman test and simultaneous testing was used. CONCLUSIONS: Simvastatin raises the plasma levels of the sum of hydroxylated vitamin D metabolites and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D in a dose-dependent ratio. The authors recommend to monitor the plasma levels of vitamin D metabolites over a longer time period.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[70 years and 3 eras of vitamin D].

The author reviews the importance of vitamin D in human pathology in the past, at present and in future. Findings on vitamin D and their development can be divided into three eras each of which was or is of great importance. The author deals in particular with the third era which is promising as regards a further extensive and intensive role of vitamin D, metabolites and analogues in medicine.

History, 20th Century↗