Search PubMedSearch

Biomedical subjects

Z Balogh

Publications and source records attributed to Z Balogh.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Abnormal function of lipoprotein receptors in the monocytes of hypercholesteremic patients].

The familial hypercholesterinemia (HCh) is as a genetically determined disorder. The genetical damage and functional abnormalities of the LDL receptors lead to familial Hch. The LDL plays an important role in cholesterol metabolism. They carry cholesterol which metabolizes through specific and scavenger LDL receptors. The ApoB100 particle of LDL binds to the receptors, internalizated, and digested, and the remaining free cholesterol regulates the intracellular cholesterol synthesis. It inhibits the key enzyme, HMG-CoA reductase and decreases the LDL receptor synthesis and increases cholesterol esterification. These mechanism can prevent the cholesterol accumulation of the cells. The aim of the present study was to clarify the activity and number of the LDL receptor, to study the LDL binding and degradation and to evaluate how the intracellular cholesterol can regulate the synthesis in patients with HCh. 58 pts with HCh and their monocytes were investigated, because the monocyte derived macrophages contained both specific and scavenger receptors. Monocytes of the pts were compared to the healthy individual controls. From the results it could be recognized--that the decreased binding to the specific LDL receptors only at 6 pts cholesterol synthesis was elevated in HCh pts group, while the synthesis inhibition induced by 50 micrograms LDL was decreased. The presented experimental results suggested that the decreased binding ability to LDL receptors is a rare cause of cholesterol abnormalities, while during the intracellular degradation process more metabolic steps can be damaged in patients with HCh.

Cholesterol

[Intracellular signal transmission of low density lipoprotein receptors in human monocytes].

The authors found that in human monocytes administered low density lipoprotein in doses of 50 micrograms had optimal inhibition of endogenous cholesterol synthesis which measured by [14C] acetate incorporation. There was not effect of pertussis toxin and phorbol myristate acetate on the inhibiton of endogenous cholesterol synthesis, whereas calcium channel blocker verapamil and phospholipase A2-inhibitor chloroquine decreased it. In contrast, the protein kinase C-stimulant phorbol myristate acetate alone had effects as LDL, but the protein kinase C-inhibitor H-7 had antagonist effect against LDL. Inositol phosphate generation was induced by administration of LDL in doses of 50 micrograms, which was pertussis toxin insensitive. The calcium signal was not also pertussis toxin sensitive, while occurred an intensive protein kinase C activation by administration of LDL. In signal transduction of monocytes activated by LDL may be an important role of the opening of calcium channels and activation of two enzymes, such as phospholipase A2 and protein kinase C.

Calcium Channel Blockers

[Lipid lowering treatment in secondary prevention following myocardial infarct].

1081 patients treated with myocardial infarction between 1990-1995 were investigated retrospectively, 652 (60.3%) of the patients were male and 429 (39.7%) were female. 154 (14.2%) patients had an early, while 927 (85.5%) patients had late myocardial infarction. Of the patients with early myocardial infarction 52.3% were smokers, 45.2% had positive family history for ischaemic heart disease or acute myocardial infarction. The lipid parameters were analysed in detail, because 83.3% of the patients were hyperlipoproteinaemic. The mean cholesterol level was 6.91 +/- 1.2 mmol/l, the HDL-C level was 1.19 +/- 0.38 mmol/l, the triglyceride level was 2.66 +/- 1.8 mmol/l, the LDL-C level was 4.71 +/- 1.2 mmol/l. The serum LDL-C and the HDL-C levels of the patients with early myocardial infarction were compared to the desirable levels suggested for secondary prevention. Only 7.2% of the male patients had a cholesterol level below 5.2 mmol/l, while all female patients cholesterol levels were above 5.2 mmol/l. Of the male patients 53.6%, while 78.6% of females had lower triglyceride levels than 2.3 mmol/l 78,6% of the male patients had higher protective HDL-C level in the optimal range (> 1.1 mmol/l). 12.5 percent of the male patients had an LDL-C level lower than the value targeted by secondary prevention (3.0 mmol/l), while all of the female patients LDL-C levels were higher. The authors emphasize the importance of secondary prevention and a more widespread use of lipid lowering treatment for patients after acute myocardial infarction.

Adult

[Cytodiagnosis of Ewing sarcoma].

Pelvic Ewing's sarcomas were studied by fine needle aspiration biopsy in two young male patients. Local pain, subfebrility, high ESR had occurred in both cases. X ray examination showed osteolytic lesions in both patients. The differential diagnostic question was, are the lesions osteomyelitis or malignant tumors? Fine needle aspiration biopsies and cytological examinations were performed in order to determine the nature of the lesions. The aspirates consisted of monotonous population of small undifferentiated tumor cells. The nuclei were monomorph with small nucleoli and finely granular chromatin. The tumor cells contained large amounts of PAS positive diastase-digestible granular cytoplasmic glycogen. The aspirated material was examined by immunocytochemistry and electronmicroscopy in one of the cases. Both of these methods had diagnostic value in our patients in the detection of Ewing's sarcoma.

Adolescent

[Fatal myocardial lesion in systemic lupus erythematosus].

The authors present the case of a 47-year old female patient. She suffered from a moderate activity SLE for two years. The outcome of SLE was changed by an ulcer because of leg injury, which was repeatedly infected. Severe polyarthritis, leucopenia, thrombocytopenia, clinical signs of vasculitis and in the last two months fever, high ESR, and pericarditis appeared. The angina pectoris, the cardiac decompensation, the electrocardiogram, the echocardiogram was suspect to diffuse myocardial lesion. Cardiac decompensation caused the death of the patient. Besides the activation of her autoimmune disease, infection was suspect in the patient taken immunosuppressive and steroid drugs, though it could not be verified. Autopsy verified besides the recent necrosis of heart without reaction, and multifocal myocardial abscess, which appeared possible in the terminal phase.

Abscess

[Effect of acipimox on diabetes mellitus-associated hyperlipoproteinemia].

The authors give summary on the pathogenesis of hyperlipoproteinaemia in patients with diabetes mellitus. They investigated the effects of acid nicotinic derivate acipimox on lipid metabolism in these patients. They treated with acipimox 15 patients who suffered from non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, as well as II/B, IV type hyperlipoproteinaemia by Fredrickson. They investigated the effect of acipimox on the lipoprotein content and quality in the sera and uric acid and carbohydrate metabolism. The authors found decreased cholesterol, triglyceride, apolipoprotein-B, glycosilated haemoglobin, glucose and uric acid levels in the sera and they found that the atherogenic index decreased too. During the treatment they could not recognise a change in the low-density lipoprotein level of the sera while the high density lipoprotein and apo-A1 level increased.

Adult

[Molecular genetic, laboratory and clinical study of serum amyloid P].

Studying the gene polymorphism of serum amyloid P a common constituent of amyloid deposits two restriction fragment length polymorphism patterns were found among Hungarian rheumatoid arthritis (RA), juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and healthy controls. Although no direct connection between DNA polymorphism and the frequency of amyloidosis in three patient groups was found, a marked predominance of the heterozygosity in all studied groups has been described. Authors found close correlation between the serum levels of SAP and CRP in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, but failed to find the same correlation in SLE and healthy controls. Moreover, the serum level of CRP of heterozygous patients were significantly higher than that of homozygous patients within the juvenile rheumatoid arthritis patient groups.

Amyloid

Interleukin 6 levels in synovial fluids of patients with different arthritides: correlation with local IgM rheumatoid factor and systemic acute phase protein production.

Interleukin 6 (IL-6), a multifunctional cytokine particularly active in regulation of the acute phase response, governs the terminal maturation of B lymphocytes and participates in early activation of T cells. IL-6 levels of synovial fluids of 153 patients with different arthritides were measured by a simple sandwich enzyme immunoassay. Highest IL-6 concentrations were detected in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), particularly in those characterized by very active general symptoms and severe joint pain. High IL-6 levels were detected in patients with juvenile RA with polyarticular onset of disease and in gout. Corresponding to the suggested in vivo relevance of IL-6, dose correlation of IL-6 levels with the synovial IgM rheumatoid factor accumulation was demonstrated. The rate of the correlation between synovial IL-6 level and concentration of serum C-reactive protein in RA was inversely proportional to the dose of steroid treatment in patients with RA.

Arthritis

Juvenile psoriatic arthritis.

Among 664 juvenile chronic arthritis patients cared for in the Outpatient Clinic of the Pediatric Rheumatology Unit of the National Institute of Rheumatology and Physiotherapy 11 were found with juvenile psoriatic arthritis, and their data regarding skin, joint, ophthalmological, laboratory and radiological manifestations were analysed. These patients were categorised according to the four subgroups suggested by Truckenbrodt et al. Considering that the occurrence of the disease is rare, the small number of patients investigated in this study can provide additional data to the study of Truckenbrodt. The higher number of patients with JPA thus studied can give more information for a multicentric evaluation.

Adolescent

[Recurrent juvenile pancreatitis in dermatomyositis].

The authors present the case history of an 11-year-old girl who suffered from the rarely occurring grave juvenile dermatomyositis associated with recurring pancreatitis. Factors which may cause pancreatitis: juvenile dermatomyositis as underlying disease, steroid-, cytostatic- and thiazide diuretic treatment are analysed.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones

Serological abnormalities in juvenile chronic arthritis: a review of 46 cases.

Data of 46 patients with juvenile chronic arthritis were evaluated. All of them were under the age of 16 at the time of study. Patients with juvenile ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease were excluded from this series. Twenty-six patients had pauciarticular, 9 had systemic, 8 had polyarticular, and 3 patients had seropositive 'adult type' JCA. In all patient groups IgG, IgM, IgA, and C3 levels were significantly higher than in the control group. None of the controls but 13 of 46 patients had high IgE levels. IgA and IgG values were significantly higher in the seropositive subgroup than in the pauciarticular subgroup. There was no other positive correlation between levels of immunoglobulins, C3, and clinical features of disease. Platelet counts were significantly higher in patients with active disease. In the control group 4 out of 10 children had 'hidden' rheumatoid factor. All these children with positive findings were young.

Adolescent

Plasma zinc and its relationship to clinical symptoms and drug treatment in rheumatoid arthritis.

Total plasma zinc levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis on different therapeutic treatments were determined in conjunction with total serum proteins, serum albumin and globulin, and articular index of joint tenderness, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, rheumatoid factor, serum copper, and serum iron. There were significantly lower zinc levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs than in patients on levamisole and penicillamine. Zinc levels correlated positively with serum albumin, and there was an inverse correlation between zinc levels and both ESR and globulin concentration in all rheumatoid patients. However, the correlation coefficient varied in the different treatment groups. The results of this study support the hypothesis that low plasma zinc level in rheumatoid arthritis is one of the nonspecific features of inflammation.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents

A crossover clinical trial of piroxicam, indomethacin and ibuprofen in rheumatoid arthritis.

A single-blind, crossover trial was carried out in 24 patients with definite or classical rheumatoid arthritis to compare the effectiveness and tolerability of piroxicam (20 mg once daily) with that of indomethacin (25 mg 3-times daily), ibuprofen (400 mg 3-times daily) and placebo. Each drug was given in random order for a period of 1 week. Pain, joint tenderness and morning stiffness decreased and grip strength increased with piroxicam compared to placebo; no statistically significant difference could be found between piroxicam and the two other active agents. A reduction in joint circumference could not be demonstrated with piroxicam or ibuprofen but most patients did not have reducible swelling in their finger joints. Piroxicam was just as effective as the other two drugs overall, but fewer side-effects were noted with piroxicam.

Adult