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Biomedical subjects

Z Papp

Publications and source records attributed to Z Papp.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Cerebrospinal fluid magnesium and calcium related to amine metabolites, diagnosis, and suicide attempts.

Magnesium and calcium concentrations were measured in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 15 neurological controls and 41 psychiatric patients suffering from major depression (n = 16), schizophrenic disorder (n = 15), or adjustment disorder (n = 10). All subjects were women 19-67 years of age and free from drugs at the time of the study. CSF was evaluated for 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), homovanillic acid (HVA), and cortisol (CS) levels, and all patients received a dexamethasone suppression test (DST) following lumbar puncture. CSF calcium levels did not differ among groups, although we found a trend toward higher mean levels in both depression and schizophrenia. By contrast, CSF magnesium was found to be significantly lower in both depression and adjustment disorder; if, however, patients who had made suicide attempts were excluded, the difference became insignificant. Patients who had made suicide attempts (by using either violent or nonviolent means) had significantly lower mean CSF magnesium level irrespective of the diagnosis. CSF calcium did not correlate with magnesium, 5-HIAA, HVA, CS, global severity, therapeutic response, or DST, but CSF magnesium correlated significantly with CSF 5-HIAA, especially after correcting for age and body height. Both variables seemed to be primarily related to recorded suicide attempts, but decreased magnesium was not limited to violent cases.

Adjustment Disorders↗
PubMed1985

TRH-induced hormonal responses: the effect of pizotifene and naloxone.

We examined the effects of the serotonin antagonist pizotifene (4 mg daily for 3 days orally), and the opiate antagonist naloxone-HCI (0.8 mg intravenously) on the TRH-induced thyrotropin (TSH), growth hormone (GH), and prolactin (PRL) response in female psychiatric inpatients with adjustment disorder or alcohol abuse. All the patients were free from interfering endocrine and metabolic illness and had not received major psychotropic medication before the investigation. Pizotifene caused a small but significant decrease of the TRH-induced TSH response in 8 patients, two of them changed their responses from normal (i.e. above 5 mU/l) to blunted. Neither GH nor PRL changed significantly after pizotifene. Naloxone-HCI, 30 min before the TRH challenge, did not produce any significant change in the TSH, GH or PRL responses, nor did it cause any significant change in the plasma level of these hormones by itself. The hormonal responses to TRH remained unaltered in ten other patients who had repeated tests without any drug treatment between the two occasions. The results suggest that serotonin deficiency may play a role in the blunted TSH response to TRH, while opiate mechanisms do not appear to have a primary influence on these endocrine effects of TRH.

Adjustment Disorders↗
PubMed1985

Prenatal diagnosis of cystic fibrosis by trehalase enzyme assay in amniotic fluid.

Amniocentesis and amniotic fluid trehalase enzyme assay were offered to 14 pregnant women at a 1 in 4 risk for a child with cystic fibrosis. Twelve of these pregnancies were screened at the 18th week of gestation; ten proceeded to term, seven following the finding of a normal trehalase activity and three despite the low enzyme level in amniotic fluid. In all ten cases prenatal diagnosis proved to be correct. In two cases with low enzyme activity parents opted for termination at the 19th week, and with PAS-Alcian Blue staining some slight histochemical lesions characteristic of cystic fibrosis were seen in the exocrine glands, including the pancreas and intestinal mucosa, of both fetuses. The total protein content in the meconium of these fetuses was significantly higher than in the controls. Results suggest that trehalase assay in the amniotic fluid is a potential prenatal test for cystic fibrosis and it appears that in fetuses with cystic fibrosis some histochemical and biochemical abnormalities can be observed as early as the 19th week of gestation. The role of ultrasound examination as an additional procedure for the prenatal diagnosis of cystic fibrosis is also discussed.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1985

Sacrococcygeal teratoma and normal alphafetoprotein concentration in amniotic fluid.

It is usually assumed that in the case of sacrococcygeal teratoma the concentration of alphafetoprotein in the amniotic fluid is increased. In the case reported here the AFP concentration in the amniotic fluid was found to be normal in spite of a large teratoma not covered with skin. Possible reasons for this are discussed and the histological characteristics of the tumour are reported. It is emphasised that this teratoma could not have been recognised antenatally by normal AFP screening, but was only possible by ultrasound examination.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1985

Prenatal diagnosis of ascites caused by cytomegalovirus hepatitis.

The case of a 23-weeks-old fetus is described in whom prenatal ultrasonography revealed ascites accompanied by an increased alpha-fetoprotein concentration in the amnial fluid. Detailed embryopathological work-up carried out after induced abortion demonstrated generalized cytomegalovirus disease and furnished histological proof of transplacental propagation.

Abortion, Induced↗