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Biomedical subjects

R Ludewig

Publications and source records attributed to R Ludewig.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

[Unwanted modification of the thyroid gland by drugs with special reference to nonsteroidal antirheumatic agents].

In two retrospective clinical studies was investigated the influence of the modern non-steroidal antirheumatic drugs indometacin and diclofenac (Rewodina) on the thyroid gland and corresponding peripheral hormone parameters. Under longterm treatment with indometacin a moderate strumigenic effect could be observed, which could not clearly be proved under the diclofenac therapy. In all patients with rheumatoid arthritis, independent of the kind of pharmacotherapy, decreased T3-hormone levels were found in normal serum T4-values. The findings are discussed as "low-T3-syndrome" in rheumatoid arthritis, induced by the disease lasting for many years possibly in combination with the long-term therapy with antirheumatic drugs. In a second series of investigations in 75 out of 3,104 patients (2.4%) with a bland struma distinct references to a medicamentous evocation of the enlargement of the thyroid gland were found. Anticonvulsive drugs and the antidepressive drug lithium stood in the first place as inductors of such medicamentous struma. Of the non-steroidal antirheumatic drugs only some cases could be ascribed to phenylbutazone, whereas the more modern preparations indometacin and diclofenac in none of our patients could with certainty be made responsible for a development of struma.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗
PubMed1986

Complement activation during systemic lupus erythematosus. C3a and C5a anaphylatoxins circulate during exacerbations of disease.

To determine whether activated complement components appear in the circulation of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), we measured C5a and C3a by radioimmunoassay. Mean C5a concentration in the plasma of acutely ill SLE patients was 46.0 ng/ml, compared with 17.1 ng/ml in normal controls (P less than 0.01). Mean C3a concentration in patients with severe disease was 526 ng/ml, compared with 134 ng/ml in controls (P less than 0.01). In patients with moderately active SLE, the mean C3a concentration, but not the mean C5a concentration, was also elevated. In addition, C3a was elevated in 15 or 21 patients with active SLE, whereas low levels of C3 or C4 were noted in only 7 of these 21 patients. We conclude that the measurement of complement-derived anaphylatoxins may be useful in the management of patients with SLE. In addition, we suggest that these circulating mediators may contribute to the pathogenesis of vascular injury in patients with the disease.

Complement Activation↗
PubMed1985

Modes of action of aspirin-like drugs.

Current dogma holds that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) act by inhibition of the synthesis and release of prostaglandins. However, NSAIDs also inhibit the activation of neutrophils, which provoke inflammation by releasing products other than prostaglandins. We now report that NSAIDs (e.g., indomethacin, piroxicam) inhibit activation of neutrophils by inflammatory stimuli, such as C5-derived peptides and leukotriene B4, even when cyclooxygenase products generated in suspensions of stimulated neutrophils (prostaglandin E and thromboxanes) are present. Sodium salicylate (3 mM) greatly inhibited aggregation of neutrophils but had no effect on aggregation of platelets or production of thromboxane induced by arachidonate. Sodium salicylate and other NSAIDs also inhibit calcium movements (45Ca uptake, changes in fluorescence of chlortetracycline and quin-2). Aspirin, sodium salicylate, indomethacin, and piroxicam also enhanced the poststimulation increase in intracellular cyclic AMP. NSAIDs therefore inhibit early steps in neutrophil activation as reflected by their capacity to inhibit movements of Ca and to enhance intracellular levels of cyclic AMP.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗
PubMed1985

[Changes in selected parameters of carbohydrate metabolism during short term hyperglycemia therapy in Jensen's sarcoma].

Biochemical investigations of short term hyperglycemia together with tumor-lysing clostridia were undertaken in order to optimize the use of this combined anti-tumor therapy model. Repeated intraperitoneal glucose injections resulted in an increased concentration of glucose in tumor tissue which lasted several hours and paralleled the blood sugar level in tumor bearing animals. At the same time a tumor dependent deterioration in glucose tolerance appeared likely. Characteristic changes in the intratumor lactate concentration were demonstrable. Tumor acidosis lasted 4 to 7 hours. Tumor pyruvate concentrations varied little with hyperglycemia. Simultaneous blood lactate and pyruvate levels did not differ from those of controls. LDH activity as measured in the tumor and in blood serum gave no clear indication of tumor cell damage.

Acidosis↗
PubMed1984

Inhibition of neutrophil activation by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are thought to prevent inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis by inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis. This observation does not explain, however, why nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are able to control inflammation caused by other mediators. To determine whether nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs also exert an effect on neutrophil activation, in vitro and in vivo studies were undertaken. Aggregation, superoxide anion generation, and lysosomal enzyme release were assessed. The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were found to inhibit these neutrophil responses, but the patterns of inhibition varied from drug to drug. These findings suggest that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may have direct effects on neutrophil activation that are independent of their shared inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗
PubMed1984

[Modification of selected leukocyte functions in albino rats caused by the transplantable Jensen sarcoma and by therapeutic trials of cyclophosphamide and vinblastine, Clostridium butyricum M55 and short-term hyperglycemia].

A significant increase in leukocyte adhesion and agglomeration was observed in white rats with Jensen sarcoma. Glucose induced short-term hyperglycemia temporarily stimulated these leukocyte functions in healthy rats. This effect was not notably influenced by administration of tumorlyzing spores. In contrast administration of the cytostatic agents vinblastine and cyclophosphamide demonstrated dose-related inhibition of leukocyte agglomeration and adhesion.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

[Morphological studies on Jensen sarcoma in the rat under artificial short-term hyperglycemia].

Possible actions of artificial short-time hyperglycaemia, which is tested as an adjunctive measure in various therapeutical concepts of tumours (for instance in combination with oncolytic apathogenic Clostridia), were checked by histomorphological investigations in Jensen sarcoma of rats. The glucose-induced hyperglycaemia caused a considerable increase of the extend of necrosis in the whole tumour. These morphological findings gave evidence of the high tumour selectivity of the provable effects of artificial short-time hyperglycaemia.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

[Treatment experiments with glucose-induced hyperglycaemia plus Clostridium-spores on the Jensen sarcoma of rats].

Investigations Jensen's sarcoma-bearing Wistar rats demonstrate the possibility to increase significantly the oncolytic effect of an apathogenic strain of Clostridium butyricum (5 x 10(8) spores of Cl. oncolyticum M 55 i.v.) by an artificial short time hyperglycaemia (achieved maximum blood level of glucose 28.87 +/- 8.05 mmol/l). The most impressive effect was observed after a repeated application of this combination at a distance of 7 days. Both the hyperglycaemia and the application of spores have a high tumour selectivity and a relatively good compatibility. The consequence for estimations of the LDH-, ALAT- and ASAT-activity in the judgment of the therapeutical tumours damage rate is discussed.

Alloxan↗
PubMed1980

[Influence of artificial hyperglycaemia on selected clinico-chemical parameters of Wistar-rats with Jensen's sarcoma (author's transl)].

By means of usual laboratory methods was investigated, whether glucose-induced hyperglycaemia -- applied within diagnostical and therapeutical conceptions (e.g. combined treatment with nonpathogenic clostridial spores) -- causes disturbances of organ functions in healthy and Jensen's sarcoma bearing rats or not. In this manner especially damages of liver, kidneys and muscular system were excluded with high probability. Possibilities of pathophysiological interpretation of the results as well as the question of usefulness of LDH-activity estimation for the judgement of tumour damage are discussed.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1977

[The influencing of laboratory diagnosis through drugs].

An extensive literature on influencing laboratory diagnostics by drugs gave rise to uncertainty in interpretation of clinico-chemical results. However, a critical revision of primary literature shows that at this time only a relatively small part of asserted influence is secured and relevant for the therapeutic situation in human being. In interest of the interpretation of the results as well as of the early diagnosis of biochemically conceivable side-effects of drugs and poisonings systemic clinico-pharmacological and clinico-chemical investigations are necessary. For a rough orientation in patients some tables were added in extracts taking as a basis a critical selection of hitherto existing literature on such influences.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1977

[The prevention of accidents in dental local anesthesia].

The relatively rare complications developing under local anaesthesia may be due to various causes. The possibilities of the development of accidents under local anaesthesia are outlined; and prophylactic and therapeutic measures are deduced. A schematic premedication cannot prevent the development of complications with a sufficient degree of certainty; for instance, in certain cases the administration of atropine alone will still worsen the course of a complication. On the contrary, an individual premedication should be aimed at, especially in risk patients; the dosage must take into consideration all important factors. Consequently, atropine is of less importance than, for example, psychopharmaca and beta-receptor blockers.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1977

[Specific effect of phenytoin application on periodontal diseases].

In the light of clinical evaluations by means of the periodontal disease index and of histologic findings, the present study demonstrates for the first time that the local application of phenytoin may exert a specific and therapeutic effect on parodontopathia mixta.

Administration, Topical↗