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Biomedical subjects

Z Kovacevic

Publications and source records attributed to Z Kovacevic.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Pigmented purpuric contact dermatitis from Disperse Blue 106 and 124 dyes.

The diagnosis of purpura pigmentosa progressiva in a female patient had to be changed to purpuric contact dermatitis after patch testing with textile dyes. A modified patch test performed in the area in which most of her skin lesions were located revealed a petechial reaction to the azo dye Disperse Blue 124/106. For evaluation of purpura pigmentosa progressiva we suggest a patch test with potential allergens, and, especially for textile dyes, a patch test at the lesion site may be helpful.

Allergens↗
PubMed1995

Activation of hepatic glutaminase by spermine.

Glutaminase activity in intact mitochondria from rat liver is activated by spermine, as indicated both by increased glutamate production from glutamine and by increased respiration with glutamine as sole substrate. Glutaminase activity assayed in membranes from frozen-thawed mitochondria, is activated by spermine about 6-fold at physiological concentrations of its other effectors (NH4+ at 0.7 mM, Pi 5 mM) and at pH 7.4. Spermine decreased the apparent Km for glutamine from 38 to 15 mM at 5 mM Pi, and increased the sensitivity of the enzyme for phosphate activation so that the concentration required for 50% stimulation decreased from 15 to 4 mM. Half-maximal spermine effects occurred at 0.15 mM, which is in the physiological range. Spermine was effective in the presence of physiological concentrations of Mg2+. We suggest that spermine may be a physiological activator of hepatic glutaminase.

Ammonium Chloride↗
PubMed1994

Transcriptional control of rat hepatic glutaminase expression by dietary protein level and starvation.

Mammalian liver possesses a unique isozyme of phosphate-activated glutaminase that is subject to long-term regulation. In rats during starvation or after consumption of diets containing high amounts of protein (60%), hepatic glutaminase activity was 100% higher than in rats fed a 20% protein diet. Conversely, rats fed low protein diets (0 and 5%) had lower hepatic glutaminase activity when compared with rats fed the 20% protein diet. Differences in activity with different dietary protein levels were not due to differences in the amount of food consumed. The relative abundance of mRNA encoding hepatic glutaminase was lower in rats fed 0% protein and higher in those starved or fed 60% protein diet when compared with rats fed the 20% protein diet. The mRNA elongation assay in hepatic nuclei isolated from these animals demonstrated that the rate of transcription of the glutaminase gene was also different in rats starved or fed different levels of dietary protein. Overall, the results indicate that differences in hepatic glutaminase activity in rats starved or fed different levels of protein are mainly due to differences in the rate of transcription of the gene. In this way the regulation of hepatic glutaminase expression is similar to that seen for other enzymes involved in hepatic amino acid catabolism but differs markedly from that of renal glutaminase, in which changes in transcription rate are not observed and alterations of mRNA turnover are the principle mechanism of long-term regulation.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Microscopic polyangiitis].

Microscopic polyangiitis is a very rare disease characterized by the lesions of arteriolae, venulae and capillaries--mainly of the kidneys and lungs, but also of other systems and organs. The elevated titer of anti-myeloperoxidase ANCA is very important immunological indicator. The main changes in our patient were related to the lung bleeding and rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. The treatment has started according to the standard Fauci scheme adjusted to the level of disease severity and the age of patient (prednisone 60 mg/24 h, along with the gradual dosage decrease, cyclophosphamide 150 mg/24 h) and has lead to the clinical-laboratory remission. The patient had the leukocyte values irregularly controlled during the immunosuppressive therapy and agranulocytosis thus caused was not spotted in time, leading to the inadequate treatment of pneumonia that brought on the lethal outcome.

Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic↗