Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Blum

Publications and source records attributed to M Blum.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Corticotrope response to removal of releasing factors and corticosteroids in vivo.

In the intact rat, adrenalectomy (ADX) is known to result in increased ACTH synthesis, content, and secretion from the anterior pituitary compared with those in the sham-adrenalectomized control. Treatment of adrenalectomized, rats with corticosterone prevents or reverses these changes in ACTH. Because corticosterone is known to act both at the corticotrope and at the level of CRF secretion, it is not clear to what extent the ACTH response to ADX is a result of removal of glucocorticoids from the pituitary per se. To test the role of brain input as well as the role of glucocorticoids on the corticotrope response to ADX, we performed the following experiment. Rats were prepared with anterolateral hypothalamic deafferentations (lesion) which severed CRF and arginine vasopressin cell bodies in the hypothalamus from their axonal endings in the median eminence and posterior pituitary. Control rats were subjected to sham lesions. Two days later, half of the rats in each group were subjected to either ADX or sham ADX; a subgroup of the lesioned rats was provided at the time of adrenal surgery with a constant infusion of rat CRF. Five days later, all rats were killed, and anterior pituitary levels of proopiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA, ACTH, and protein; plasma ACTH and corticosterone, and adrenal and thymus weights were measured. In sham-lesioned rats, ADX resulted in increases in POMC mRNA, and plasma ACTH of 2.5- and 12-fold, respectively, compared to sham-adrenalectomized controls. In the absence of hypothalamic drive (lesion only), there were no responses of any of these variables to ADX. In lesioned rats driven with CRF, ADX resulted in increases in POMC mRNA and plasma ACTH of 2.2- and 2.6-fold, respectively, compared to sham ADX. After consideration of the three variables indicating ACTH synthesis, storage, and secretion and comparison of the results of ADX vs. sham ADX within and across the sets of animals, we conclude that 1) there is no autonomous response of the corticotrope to ADX; 2) the removal of corticosterone from the anterior pituitary may account for the majority of the effects of ADX on ACTH synthesis; and 3) the normal response to ADX requires secretion of CRF and increased secretion of another ACTH-releasing factor (possibly arginine vasopressin) that causes increased secretion but little synthesis of ACTH.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed1985

Benefits of vaginal estriol cream combined with clonidine HCL for menopausal syndrome treatment.

In a group of 25 post menopausal women mean age 57.2 years, treatment with Estriol vagina cream (Ovestin cream from Organon-Holland) gives rise (but within normal limits) to cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol, the protective factor against M. I. A rise in glycohemoglobin (HbA1C) statisticaly significant was noted, as a sign of slight glucose intolerance, but in no case was there a diabetic pattern. Vaginal Estriol cream was able to prevent osteoporosis. After a few weeks of treatment urinary calcium/creatinine ratio decreased. In the light of our own findings, Ovestin being a weak estrogen does not induce endometrial proliferation or breakthrough bleeding and does not modify the blood biochemistry, and can be recommended for postmenopausal syndrome even in familial hyperlipidemia diabetes, and for prevention of osteoporosis.

Cholesterol↗
PubMed1985

Increase in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in menopausal women treated with vaginal estrogen cream.

In a group of 20 menopausal women 45-78 years old (mean age 62.4), with typical symptoms such as dryness of the vagina, urinary disturbances, "mental" symptoms, or vasomotor disturbances, treated with topical vaginal estrogen cream, we examined the glucose tolerance, as expressed by Gycohemoglobin (HbA1c) and GTT. Estrogen, well absorbed by the vaginal epithelium gives rise to the HbA1c from a mean of 6.4% to 14.78% (P less than 0.0001). The GTT too shows a glucose intolerance, but never a frank diabetic picture. In four cases in which the cardinal symptoms were vasomotor disturbances (hot flushes, profuse sweating) the addition of oral clonidine hydrochlorate (Clonirit) to the vaginal estrogen cream, leads to the relief of symptoms. The Glycohemoglobin test is fast, inexpensive and easy to perform in every laboratory, giving the possibility of discovering an unknown or borderline diabetes.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1985

[Detection of ovulation by assay of the luteinizing hormone in the urine of adolescents, before prescribing oral contraceptives].

Prior to the prescription of oral contraceptives to a series of 64 adolescent girls (mean age 18.3 years), the authors determined the presence of ovulation by measuring the basal body temperature (BBT) and the luteinising hormone (LH) in the urine. 34% of these girls had anovulatory cycles due to intermittent hyperprolactinaemia, a polycystic ovary syndrome or a pituitary microadenoma. This method should be widely used because of the obvious importance of determining the presence of ovulation prior to the prescription of oral contraceptives in order to avoid harmful effects on the hypothalamo-hypophyso-ovarian axis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Treatment of chronic low-back pain. A community-based comprehensive return-to-work physical rehabilitation program.

A retrospective evaluation of treatment methods used in 1981 and 1982 and the subsequent rate of return to work was conducted on 350 consecutive patients with low-back pain. Two hundred nine patients completed 12 or more treatments in sessions that occurred three times a week. Of these, 120 were chronically disabled. The program aimed at maximizing function and return to work through graded exercise, biomechanics education, work simulation exercises, endurance activities, and flexibility training. All patients remained under the care of their own physicians. Return-to-work or work status improvement was accomplished in 58.1% of the patients. The working hypothesis is that in many back-disabled patients the original cause of disability healed or resolved, and current symptoms were often attributable to deconditioning fear and poor biomechanics. Conservative management is effective in returning many chronic back-pain patients to economic productivity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Nephrotic syndrome with reversible severe renal failure after gold therapy.

A patient with rheumatoid arthritis developed nephrotic syndrome with reversible renal failure following gold therapy. Histological examination of renal biopsy disclosed the typical picture of membranous nephropathy. After prolonged treatment with steroids and cyclophosphamide, complete recovery was achieved. The likely mechanism involved and the clinical implications are discussed.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed1984

[Obstetrical complications due to malformations of the uterus].

In a series of 17 670 deliveries, uterine malformations were seen in 47 cases (0,20%). This level was high bearing in mind the resultant obstetric complications: breech presentation in 51,4% of cases (as against 3,01% for all patients) and a 63,7% caesarian section rate. Maternal morbidity and perinatal mortality could be reduced if obstetricians took care to seek such malformations. The diagnosis would be facilitated by routine measurement of serum cystine-aminopeptidase levels.

Breech Presentation↗
PubMed1984

Long-term treatment of arterial hypertension with verapamil.

Based on the vasodilator properties of calcium antagonists, verapamil was recently introduced into the treatment of arterial hypertension. The present study was undertaken to examine the long-term efficacy of this drug in mild and moderate hypertension. In 82 patients with uncontrolled primary or renal hypertension, verapamil was used either alone or in combination with other drugs. In six cases verapamil was withdrawn because of side effects. In the remaining patients a normal average blood pressure was achieved within 7.8 +/- 1.2 weeks of treatment with doses not exceeding 400 mg/day. This effect was maintained for up to 4 years of treatment, although tolerance seemed to develop in about 10% of the patients. In view of this good response and minimal side effects, it is concluded that verapamil is an effective addition to the antihypertensive arsenal.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Effect of parathyroid hormone and uremic sera on the autoagglutination and sedimentation of human red blood cells.

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) caused a dramatic acceleration of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). This effect was calcium dependent and was partially reversed by verapamil. It was not mimicked by 5 mumol/l calcium ionophore A-23187. Following the removal of PTH from the cell suspension the ESR returned to normal. PTH also caused haemagglutination, the reaction was Ca2+ dependent, pH dependent and was partially reversed by verapamil. High levels of Ca2+ ionophore A-23187 mimicked this phenomenon. Magnesium ions even at concentrations of 5 mmol/l did not replace Ca2+, while Ca2+ at concentrations of 3 mmol/l and above caused haemagglutination. The glycolytic inhibitor NaF at levels of 1 mmol/l did not inhibit haemagglutination. The polyamines pertusin and spermidin, prostaglandins PGE2 and PGF, and the calcium hormone calcitonin, did not reproduce the PTH effect. Dialysate from serum of patients with chronic renal failure and hyperparathyroidism caused haemagglutination, while dialysate from patients with chronic renal failure following parathyroidectomy and normal individuals did not cause this phenomenon. It seems that abnormal erythrocyte behaviour seen in patients with chronic renal failure is caused by PTH which leads to modified Ca2+ metabolism in these cells.

Blood Sedimentation↗