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Biomedical subjects

J Varga

Publications and source records attributed to J Varga.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Goiter prevalence and thyroid volume by ultrasonographic volumetry in two groups of schoolchildren and adolescents from east Slovakia.

Thyroid volume by ultrasonographic volumetry was estimated in a total of 427 boys and 425 girls aged 7 to 16 years from East Slovakia. It was found that the volume is increasing by age and body weight, being in average about 2.5 ml in 7-8 years old, 3.5 to 4.5 ml in 9-12 years old, 5.2-6.0 ml in 13-14 years old and, as reported previously, 11-12 ml in 15-16 years old. Comparing these results to the findings reported from other countries, it may be concluded that in 13-14 years old schoolchildren the thyroid volume was about twice as high as reported for the same age group from Sweden (with presumably sufficient iodine intake) and by about 20 percent less than found in 13 years old schoolchildren in Federal Republic of Germany (with insufficient iodine intake). The average thyroid volume found in pubertal adolescents aged 15-16 years closely resembled that found in Federal Republic of Germany and was even higher than that found in adults from Sweden and Netherlands where the iodine intake is considered to be sufficient. Palpatory findings according to WHO scale showed 21 percent of goiter stage 1a in boys aged 7-14 years and 24 percent in girls of the same age group, while such values were 23 and 27 percent for boys and girls aged 15 and 16 years, respectively. In addition, in those aged 15-16 years about 3 percent of goiter stage 1b were found, while in those aged 7-14 only 3 cases of goiter stage 1b out of 425 examined were observed. It may be concluded that the present status of thyroid size in examined group closely resembles the first grade endemy of goiter as defined recently by Hetzel and, moreover, it may be suggested that the intake of iodine about 100 micrograms daily (which was recently reported by other authors from Czechoslovakia as based on urinary excretion of iodine) apparently does not fully prevent the development of goiter stage 1 in a considerable amount of children and adolescents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Characterization of Pasteurella haemolytica strains isolated from goats in Hungary.

Thirty-five Pasteurella haemolytica strains were isolated in Hungary from goat carcasses sent for postmortem examination from two farms with large goat flocks. All strains belonged to biotype A and with the exception of one strain of serotype A8 they belonged to serotype A2. No untypable strains were found by the indirect haemagglutination test.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Thyroid volume of East Slovakian adolescents determined by ultrasound 40 years after the introduction of iodized salt.

Thyroid volume was examined by ultrasonography in 207 boys and 220 girls aged 15-16 years from East Slovakia and it was found that 49.3% of the boys and 52.3% of the girls had thyroids between 10 and 15 ml. These thyroid volumes resemble those found in school children from areas of mild iodine deficiency (e.g. FRG) and are twice as large as those reported from Sweden, where iodine intake is sufficient. The findings were compared to these reported by others in 1949-53 before the introduction of iodine prophylaxis. It may be concluded that 40 years of goiter prophylaxis with iodized salt, though resulting in urinary excretion of approximately 100 micrograms/24 hr (as found by others in 1984), abolished large and medium size goiters in adolescents and decreased a prevalence of goiter grade I to about 25 percent, but appeared still to be insufficient to prevent goiter grade I completely.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

The clinical and biochemical spectrum of hereditary amyloidosis.

Familial amyloidosis, once described as a puzzling and highly unusual form of polyneuropathy, is now recognized to be a collection of familial diseases with usually autosomal-dominant inheritance and widespread ethnic distribution. Familial amyloidosis occurs throughout the world and encompasses an extremely broad spectrum of clinical manifestations. In some families, progressive peripheral neuropathy dominates the illness, while in others, renal failure, ocular amyloid deposits, cardiac decompensation, or intracranial hemorrhage is the most significant clinical feature. The Portuguese (type I) and the Iowa (type III) neuropathies characteristically begin with lower limb involvement, while in the Indiana (type II) form, upper limb neuropathy is seen first; in the Japanese families with familial amyloid polyneuropathy, symptoms first become evident around age 40, whereas in the Texas family, onset is in the seventh decade. The prognosis for the different families is highly variable. Current classification of the familial amyloid polyneuropathy syndromes is based on their characteristic clinical presentations, but ongoing biochemical identification of the protein composition of amyloid substance in each form will make a more rational nosology feasible in the near future. To date, no therapy has been shown to arrest or reverse the progressive accumulation of amyloid deposits in most forms of familial amyloidosis. Familial Mediterranean fever is a major exception, and the incidence of amyloidosis associated with this disease has been dramatically reduced by the widespread prophylactic use of colchicine. Technology currently available permits the reliable identification of asymptomatic relatives at risk for developing amyloid neuropathy as well as the prenatal identification of carriers of the mutant transthyretin gene. These strategies can be used in genetic counseling aimed at reducing the continued propagation of the mutant gene.

Amyloid↗
PubMed1988

Design of potent cyclic gonadotropin releasing hormone antagonists.

In order to improve the biological potency of cyclic gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonists, we have synthesized analogues, the conformations of which were restrained through internal side chain/side chain amide bridges linking aspartic acid or glutamic acid and L-2,3-diaminopropionic acid or L-ornithine. A disulfide bridge linking L-cysteine residues was also introduced. Residues belonging to the bridge spanned from position 4 to positions 9 or 10. Two series of analogues were synthesized and are characterized by residues at positions 1 [Ac-D-3-(2'-naphthyl)alanine], 2 [D-(4-chlorophenyl)alanine or D-(4-fluorophenyl)alanine], 3 [D-3-(3'-pyridyl)alanine or D-tryptophan], 5 (arginine or tyrosine), and 6 [D-3-(3'-pyridyl)alanine or D-arginine], respectively. These substitutions were selected in an effort to optimize high biopotency for inhibition of luteinizing hormone secretion, minimization of histamine release activity, and high (relative) hydrophilicity. The most potent analogues in the antiovulatory assay were cyclo(4-10) [Ac-DNal1,DCpa2,DPal3,(Asp4 or Glu4),Arg5,DPal]6,Dpr10]GnRH (compounds 5 and 7), which were fully active at ca. 12.5 micrograms/rat in the first series, and cyclo(4-10)[Ac-DNal1,DFpa2,DTrp3,Asp4,DArg6++ +,Dpr10]GnRH (compound 12), which was fully active at 2.5 micrograms/rat in the second.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Characterisation of a new serotype of P haemolytica isolated in Hungary.

Three strains belonging to a new serotype of Pasteurella haemolytica (A16) were isolated from lambs and a wild boar in Hungary. The identity and validity of the new serotype was proved by biochemical tests and by the indirect haemagglutination test using unabsorbed and absorbed hyperimmune sera raised in rabbits.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta) causes a persistent increase in steady-state amounts of type I and type III collagen and fibronectin mRNAs in normal human dermal fibroblasts.

It has been previously shown that transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta) is capable of stimulating fibroblast collagen and fibronectin biosynthesis. The purpose of this study was to examine the mechanisms involved in TGF beta stimulation of fibroblast biosynthetic activity. Our results indicate that TGF beta causes a marked enhancement of the production of types I and III collagens and fibronectin by cultured normal human dermal fibroblasts. The rate of collagen production by fibroblasts exposed to TGF beta was 2-3-fold greater than that of control cells. These effects were associated with a 2-3-fold increase in the steady-state amounts of types I and III collagen mRNAs and a 5-8-fold increase in the amounts of fibronectin mRNAs as determined by dot-blot hybridization with specific cloned cDNA probes. In addition, the increased production of collagen and fibronectin and the increased amounts of their corresponding mRNAs remained elevated for at least 72 h after removal of TGF beta. These findings suggest that TGF beta may play a major role in the normal regulation of extracellular matrix production in vivo and may contribute to the development of pathological states of fibrosis.

Cell Division↗
PubMed1987

PGE2 causes a coordinate decrease in the steady state levels of fibronectin and types I and III procollagen mRNAs in normal human dermal fibroblasts.

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) caused inhibition of collagen and fibronectin synthesis by confluent cultures of human dermal fibroblasts. Dot-blot hybridization to cDNA probes complementary to Types I and III procollagens and fibronectin demonstrated that inhibition of protein production was accompanied by a coordinate decrease in the steady-state levels of the corresponding mRNAs. Blockade of transcription by actinomycin D demonstrated that PGE2 did not alter the stability of these mRNA. These results indicate that PGE2 is capable of exerting modulation of extracellular matrix biosynthesis, and that these effects occur at a transcriptional level.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1987

Neuronal calcium channel antagonists. Discrimination between calcium channel subtypes using omega-conotoxin from Conus magus venom.

The omega-conotoxins from the venom of fish-hunting cone snails are probably the most useful of presently available ligands for neuronal Ca channels from vertebrates. Two of these peptide toxins, omega-conotoxins MVIIA and MVIIB from the venom of Conus magus, were purified. The amino acid sequences show significant differences from omega-conotoxins from Conus geographus. Total synthesis of omega-conotoxin MVIIA was achieved, and biologically active radiolabeled toxin was produced by iodination. Although omega-conotoxins from C. geographus (GVIA) and C. magus (MVIIA) appear to compete for the same sites in mammalian brain, in amphibian brain the high-affinity binding of omega-conotoxin MVIIA has narrower specificity. In this system, it is demonstrated that a combination of two omega-conotoxins can be used for biochemically defining receptor subtypes and suggested that these correspond to subtypes of neuronal Ca2+ channels.

Amino Acid Sequence↗