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Biomedical subjects

L Lakatos

Publications and source records attributed to L Lakatos.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Potato protein kinase StCPK1: a putative evolutionary link between CDPKs and CRKs.

Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) in plants are characterized by a four-domain structure including conserved sequences in the catalytic domain, and in the C-terminal calmodulin-like domain. Based on this conservation we have PCR-amplified and isolated a potato cDNA clone (StCPK1) from a library representing an early stage of tuber development. DNA sequence analysis revealed that in the catalytic domain, StCPK1 shares more homology with CDPK-related kinases than with CDPKs; however, like CDPKs, it possesses canonical EF-hands at the calmodulin-like 3' end. StCPK1 exists in a few copies in the potato genome and is abundantly expressed in the sepals of mature flowers. Floral expression of genes homologous to StCPK1 appears to be widespread in the family Solanaceae.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Comparative studies on potato tuber development using an in vitro tuber induction system.

A method for synchronized in vitro tuber induction in a Hungarian cultivar of Solanum tuberosum designated "Keszthelyi 855" has been developed. It was shown that in this system tuberization and stolon elongation primarily depend on the level of sucrose in the medium. The cytokinin, 6-bensylaminopurine (BAP), also enhances the efficiency of tuber formation, however, only at sucrose concentration above 4% (w/v). The synchronized plant culture provided starting material for isolation of genes specifically expressed in tuberizing Solanum species during the early stage of tuber development. In comparison with the non-tuberizing Solanum brevidens, three types of specific transcripts have been obtained by differential screening. Based on DNA sequence analysis the genes isolated code for the major tuber proteins, patatin and proteinase inhibitors.

Adenine↗

[Experience with insertion of an endoscopic endoprosthesis in a case of inoperable bile duct calculi].

UNLABELLED: Endoscopic sphincterotomy for removal of stones from the common bile duct is an established procedure. Large stones, however, can be unavailable for basket trapping and/or extraction in some cases. In these patients, which are at high risk for surgery, endoscopic insertion of biliary endoprosthesis seems to be an alternative approach to dissolution therapy or ESWL. During the last 5 year, among 4081 ERCP-s 879 examinations demonstrated common bile duct (CBD) stones in our institutions. In 81 of these cases, an endoprosthesis was inserted into the CBD after extended endoscopic sphincterotomy because of failure of extraction of the large stones. Also ursodeoxycholic-acid treatment was initiated thereafter. Mean age of patients was 76 yrs (range 46-95 yrs), 51 females and 30 males. Acute complications after procedure were: mild bleeding not requiring transfusion, and 1 perforation treated surgically some days after prosthesis placement. Late complications until now included: peritonitis in 1 case, and recurrent jaundice due to drain clogging in 12 patients. These patient were treated with replacement of endoprosthesis. Remaining patients are well since the procedure and in 26 cases controlled about 17 months after endoprosthesis placement endoscopy verified significantly smaller or no stones in the common bile duct and in 4 cases even the endoprosthesis has disappeared. CONCLUSION: endoscopic insertion of a biliary endoprosthesis is a safe and effective treatment for the huge CBD stones in high risk patients in whom endoscopic sphincterotomy and attempts to remove the stones are not successful. In more than 30% of cases dissolution of stones with ursodeoxycholic acid may be expected.

Aged↗

Starch synthesis, and tuber storage protein genes are differently expressed in Solanum tuberosum and in Solanum brevidens.

Studying in vitro stem cuttings of Solanum tuberosum induced for tuberization and those of a non-tuberizing Solanum species, differences both in morphology and in gene expression were detected. Stolon formation essentially depended on light while tuberization was triggered by the elevated level of sucrose in the medium. Genes involved in starch synthesis were induced by sucrose in both species, however, starch granules were detected only in potato. A new tuber specific cDNA clone, GM7, encoding a putative metallocarboxypeptidase inhibitor and the cDNA of a proline rich cell wall protein with S. brevidens specific expression were isolated by differential screening. Sucrose mediated transcription of the tuber storage proteins like patatin and proteinase inhibitors (Kunitz-type, winI, GM7) failed in S. brevidens.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Endoscopic management of bile leakage following laparoscopic cholecystectomy].

UNLABELLED: During a 15-month period 8 patients (1 male, 7 females, mean age 49 years) admitted from different institutions were treated with bile leaks after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The diagnosis was established by endoscopic retrograde cholangiography. The site of the leakage was the cystic duct in five cases, the common bile duct in one case, the hepatic "bed" in one case and it was undetectable in one case. Five patients had common bile duct stone and one patients also had common bile duct stricture. Endoscopic sphincterotomy was performed in all cases with stone extraction if needed, and stent insertion (7 or 10 Fr straight endoprosthesis) in six cases. The stents were removed after 4-16 weeks in all cases, except the patients with common bile duct stricture, in whom the stent was exchanged for two other endoprostheses to prevent restricture after three months, she is still under treatment. Endoscopic sphincterotomy, stone removal and stent placement were successful in all cases. Symptoms resolved in hours, and the bile leakage stopped in days. Apart from transient serum amylase level elevation in one patient no other complication was observed. CONCLUSION: The endoscopic treatment of bile leakage after laparoscopic cholecystectomy has proved to be a safe and effective method. It may be considered the method of choice in the management of this complication.

Adult↗

[D-penicillamine: old drug, new indication? D-penicillamine reduced pulmonary hypertension induced by free radicals].

Pulmonary hypertension is one of the major problems in the neonatal period. Free oxygen radicals play important role in the activation of pulmonary vasoconstriction. Since D-penicillamine has proved to be a strong antioxidant in newborns it was of interest to investigate the effect of the drug in the oxygen radical induced pulmonary hypertension. According to our animal experiments D-penicillamine inhibits the xanthine oxidase induced pulmonary hypertension in piglets. The same inhibitory effect was observed in the prostanoid metabolism. Could D-penicillamine be used in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension in the newborn?

Animals↗

[D-penicillamine does not affect the liver and kidney function in newborn infants nor the in vitro function of phagocytes].

D-penicillamine was introduced to treat neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia in 1973 and to prevent retinopathy of prematurity in 1980. In this study we investigated the renal and liver functions of neonates treated with DPA and the in vitro effect of the drug on superoxide anion generation and beta-glucuronidase release as well as on phagocytic and intracellular killing activation on human peripheral blood granulocytes. Our data concerning the renal and liver functions before and after 3 to 4 days DPA treatment reveal no pathological change during short-term administration in the neonatal period. Furthermore, none of the examined DPA concentrations influenced the phagocytic or killing activity of neutrophils.

Humans↗

[Fatal outcome of Kawasaki syndrome in a 4-week-old infant].

A male infant at 4 weeks of age with features of Kawasaki disease is described who died at the end of the second week of his illness in consequence of serious pneumonia. The diagnosis was confirmed by laboratory tests and post mortem histological examinations. The latter showed systemic vasculitis without any changes of coronary arteries.

Coronary Vessels↗

[Follow up of extremely low birth weight infants at the age of 8-11 years (late prognosis of perinatal factors)].

Thirty-four long-term survivors of a five-year period (1977-1981) weighing 1000 g or less at birth were followed-up at 8-11 years of age. Fifty per cent of this population was qualified as normal. The great majority of the children (24) attended normal school but 7 (20.6%) with need of special help. There were only three children (8.8%) with severe functional impairment. The rate of survival was 30% at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the Department of Pediatrics, University Medical School, Debrecen at that period of time. The authors analyze in detail the connections of the perinatal events and the outcome. While survival was influenced primarily by hemorrhagic complications beyond immaturity, the long-term prognosis depended on birth asphyxia, recurrent apneic spells and requirements for oxygen therapy.

Apnea↗

Influence of D-penicillamine on metabolic and functional activities of neutrophil granulocytes.

Influence of D-Penicillamine (DPA) on metabolic and functional activities of neutrophil granulocytes was investigated in vitro by measuring superoxide anion production and beta-glucuronidase release as well as by determining phagocytic and intracellular killing activities of cells. Preincubation with DPA in the concentration range of 0.5-5.0 mM resulted in 28-53% increase in superoxide anion production by granulocytes stimulated with 10(-7) M FMLP. DPA in the same concentration range resulted in 145-371% rise in the FMLP-stimulated beta-glucuronidase release. However, uptake and subsequent killing of viable Staphylococcus aureus was not influenced by incubation of granulocytes with various concentrations of DPA (0.5-5.0 mM). From these results we conclude that DPA may influence the superoxide anion production and beta-glucuronidase release in granulocytes without altering the phagocytic and intracellular killing activities of these cells. We suppose that the unchanged antibacterial activity of neutrophil granulocytes is resulted by the two opposite DPA effects: acting extracellularly reduces free radical level while the direct membrane effect results in enhancing metabolic activity in granulocytes.

Blood Bactericidal Activity↗

Infants weighing 1,000 g or less at birth. Outcome at 8-11 years of age.

34 long-term survivors of a five-year period (1977-1981) weighing 1,000 g or less at birth were followed-up at 8-11 years of age. Three (8.8%) children had severe functional handicap, 7 (20.6%) had moderate impairments with the need of special schooling. Twenty-four (70.6%) attended normal school but 7 (20.6%) with need of special help. The rate of survival was 30% at the single regional intensive centre where this cohort of infants were cared for. Handicapped infants differed significantly from infants with good prognosis in their neonatal requirements for oxygen therapy and in pathological conditions such as birth asphyxia and recurrent apneic spells but no differences in birthweight, gestational age, route of delivery, maternal age, social class, proportions below the tenth percentile and sex were found.

Birth Weight↗

The effects of D-penicillamine on the renal and liver functions in neonates and the in vitro influence on granulocytes.

D-Penicillamine (DPA) was introduced to treat neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in 1973 and to prevent retinopathy of prematurity in 1980. In this study we investigated the renal and liver functions of neonates treated with DPA and the in vitro effect of the drug on superoxide anion generation and beta-glucuronidase release as well as phagocytic and intracellular killing activation of human peripheral blood granulocytes. Our data concerning the renal and liver functions before and after 3 to 4 days DPA treatment reveal that the drug does not produce any pathological change during short-term administration in the neonatal period. Furthermore, it was found that superoxide anion generation was slightly increased, and beta-glucuronidase release markedly increased by preincubation with DPA at concentrations of 0.5-5 mM. The rise was directly proportional to the concentration in the examined range. On the other hand, none of the examined DPA concentrations influenced the phagocytic or killing activity of neutrophils.

Cholesterol↗