Heating and storage of structured acylglycerols with succinyl-linked stigmasterol residue does not cause negative chemical or biological changes

Four structured acylglycerols with stigmasterol bonded by a succinyl linker were investigated and their stability were analyzed. Samples were heated to 60 °C and kept at that temperature to simulate storage, and to 180 °C to simulate frying conditions. The degradation of the synthesized compounds and formed derivatives was determined, and their cytotoxicity and genotoxicity on normal human cells from the digestive system was determined. Holding at 180 °C resulted in greater degradation of the compounds than holding at 60 °C. The most stable compound in each sample proved to be one with oleic acid in its structure-1,3-dioleoyl-2-stigmasterylsuccinoyl-sn-glycerol (DO2SSt) at 60 °C and 1,2-dioleoyl-3-stigmasterylsuccinoyl-sn-glycerol (DO3SSt) at 180 °C. These results indicate that the type of fatty acid in the molecule is more important than its position in the glycerol structure. None of the diacylmonostigmasterylsuccinoyl-sn-glycerols (DASStGs) before or after heating exhibited cytotoxic or genotoxic potential to small intestine and colon mucosa cells.

Thermo-oxidative stability and safety of new acylglycerols with stigmasterol residue: Effects of fatty acids saturation and position in the glycerol backbone

The safety and thermoxidative stability of new diacyl-stigmasterylcarbonoyl-sn-glycerols (DAStGs) with two molecules of palmitic or oleic acids and one molecule of stigmasterol at the sn-2 or sn-3 position were studied. After heating to 60 °C, the compounds with stigmasterol at the sn-2 position were more stable than those with stigmasterol at the sn-3 position. The lowest level of degradation of stigmasterol after heating to 180 °C was detected for both compounds with oleic acid, followed by the samples with palmitic acid. The high content of SOPs, especially triolSt, as well as the high level of dimers showed the most effect on the cytotoxicity of DAStGs heated at both temperatures. DAStGs with oleic acid at sn-1,3 and stigmasterol at sn-2 position were the most stable compounds. Both oleic acid and the location of stigmasterol in the middle of the glycerol molecule play an important role in increasing the thermoxidative stability of stigmasterol.

Thermo-oxidative stability of asymmetric distigmasterol-modified acylglycerols as novel derivatives of plant sterols

The study investigated the thermo-oxidative stability of distigmasterol-modified acylglycerols as a new structured acylglycerols. Samples were heated at 60 and 180 °C for 8 h. Their percentage degradation and products formed during heating were compared with free stigmasterol and stigmasteryl esters. The remaining of stigmasterol and fatty acid parts, the formation of stigmasterol oxidation products and the composition of polar and non-polar fractions were analysed using chromatographic methods. The cytotoxicity and genotoxicity were determined with the use of an MTT test and a comet assay, respectively. The highest stability during heating was observed for 2,3-distigmasterylsuccinoyl-1-oleoyl-sn-glycerol (dStigS-OA) and the lowest for 2,3-distigmasterylcarbonoyl-1-oleoyl-sn-glycerol (dStigC-OA). Data showed that the formation of thermo-oxidative degradation products is affected by the temperature and chemical structure of lipids present in the molecule. The dStigMAs bonded by a succinate linker and products formed during their thermo-oxidation showed no cytotoxic or genotoxic activity to normal human cells.

Removal of carbamazepine, diclofenac and trimethoprim by solar driven advanced oxidation processes in a compound triangular collector based reactor: A comparison between homogeneous and heterogeneous processes

Contaminants of emerging concern (including pharmaceuticals) are not effectively removed by municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), so particular concern is related to agricultural wastewater reuse due to their possible uptake in crops irrigated with WWTPs effluents. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) and solar AOPs have been demonstrated to effectively remove pharmaceuticals from different aqueous matrices. In this study, an heterogeneous photocatalytic process using powdered nitrogen-doped TiO₂ immobilized on polystyrene spheres (sunlight/N-TiO₂) was compared to the benchmark homogenous AOP sunlight/H₂O₂ in a compound triangular collector reactor, to evaluate the degradation of three pharmaceuticals (carbamazepine (CBZ), diclofenac (DCF), trimethoprim (TMP)) in water. The degradation of the contaminants by sunlight and sunlight-AOPs well fit the pseudo-first order kinetic model (but for TMP under sunlight). High removal efficiency by solar photolysis was observed for DCF (up to 100%, half-life sunlight cumulative energy Q_S,1/2 = 2 kJ L^-1, half-life time t_1/2 = 32 min), while CBZ (32%, Q_S,1/2 = 28 kJ L^-1, t_1/2 = 385 min) and TMP (5% removal after 300 min) removal was poor. The degradation rate of CBZ, TMP and DCF was found to be slower during sunlight/H₂O₂ (Q_S,1/2 = 5 kJ L^-1, t_1/2 = 77 min; Q_S,1/2 = 20 kJ L^-1, t_1/2 = 128 min; Q_S,1/2 = 4 kJ L^-1, t_1/2 = 27 min, respectively) compared to sunlight/N-TiO₂ (Q_S,1/2 = 4 kJ L^-1, t_1/2 = 55 min; Q_S,1/2 = 3 kJ L^-1, t_1/2 = 42 min; Q_S,1/2 = 2 kJ L^-1, t_1/2 = 25 min, respectively). These results are promising in terms of solar technology upscale because the faster degradation kinetics observed for sunlight/N-TiO₂ process would result in smaller treatment volume, thus possibly perspective compensating the cost of the photocatalyst.

Role of macrophages in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and aortocoronary graft disease

Atherosclerosis and disease of graft implanted to bypass occluded coronary or peripheral arteries are similar processes. Patency of implanted grafts is of paramount importance in respect to long-term outcomes. Although few cell types participate in atherosclerotic plaque formation, macrophages play a crucial role. In this article we review the fate of monocytes that infiltrate vessel wall following endothelium damage, and then undergo transformation to macrophages (identified as CD68 positive cells) and eventually lead to severe stenosis of vessel. Opposing biological activity of two subpopulations of macrophages and their impact on plaque instability and its calcification is also presented. At the end of this paper, a possible clinical significance of pre-existing, CD68 positive cell infiltration of vessel wall, applied as aortocoronary grafts, is discussed.

Gender and age-related variability of macrophage representation in the internal thoracic artery wall: does it matter?

Some recent reports suggested that elderly and female patients did not benefit from implantation of the second internal thoracic artery (ITA) during coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). Macrophages, among other cells, were described to be involved in both atherosclerosis and aortocoronary grafts failure. The aim of the study was to examine the age and gender association with different distribution of CD68+ cells within the layers of ITA wall. This study involved 158 consecutive patients (95 male and 63 female), with the mean age of 64.5±9.5 years, who underwent elective CABG procedures. During surgery, the surplus distal segments of ITA were harvested for immunohistochemical analysis. The number and distribution of CD68+ cells was calculated and plotted against the age and gender of the study participants. CD68+ cells were present in all of the harvested ITA fragments (median 44), more in women (55) than in men (42) (p less than 0.001). However, this difference was of statistical significance exclusively in the tunica intima. Approximately 70% of macrophages were found in the tunica adventitia. The total number of CD68+ cells the in arterial wall as well as in the tunica intima and adventitia correlated positively with the age of patients (r=0.544, r=501 and r=0.462, respectively). The lack of significant advantages of the use of two thoracic arteries, in elderly patients and women, might have resulted from the larger population of CD68+ cells in their walls, especially the tunica intima. However, this result from immunohistochemical analysis needs validation in long-term clinical research on a larger cohort of patients.

Catalytic stereospecific O-glycosylation

Glycosylation using Tf₂NH or Tf₂NTMS as the catalysts and a trichloroacetimidate donor gives glycosides with inverted anomeric stereochemistry.

Treatment of MAS with PPHN using combined therapy: SLL, bolus surfactant and iNO

The objective of the study was to compare the effectiveness of surfactant treatment either by bolus or surfactant lung lavage followed by inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) therapy in infants with meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) complicated by persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN). In this study, thirteen infants with diagnosis of MAS and PPHN were first treated with conventional respiratory support. Then between 2 and 22h of life they were randomized either to bolus surfactant treatment (n=6) or surfactant lung lavage (SLL, n=7) treatment. Then all infants were treated with iNO therapy. The groups were compared with regard to their clinical course: changes in PaO(2), FiO(2), MAP, OI, A-a oxygen gradient, duration of iNO therapy, length of ventilation and hospitalization. Complications and mortality were also compared. The results showed that infants treated with SLL had significant improvements in oxygenation, decreases in MAP and A-a gradients. But there were no significant differences in duration of ventilation, iNO treatment, length of hospitalization or complications. In conclusion these data show no advantage of SLL therapy over bolus surfactant treatment in infants with MAS complicated by PPHN.

Pulmonary function after surfactant lung lavage followed by surfactant administration in infants with severe meconium aspiration syndrome

OBJECTIVE

The effect of surfactant lung lavage (SLL) on pulmonary function was examined in neonates with severe form of meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) (mean +/- standard deviation: birth weight, 3178.1 +/- 237.6 g; gestational age, 37.7 +/- 1.8 weeks).

METHODS

The infants were on mechanical ventilation and were subjected to SLL with Survanta. Dynamic compliance (Cdyn), airway resistance (Raw) and mean airway pressure (MAP) were obtained with use of the pneumotachometric method. Measurements of Cdyn, Raw, MAP and time constant (Tc) were compared in the study and control groups and between the groups before SLL and 24 and 48 h after SLL.

RESULTS

A significant increase in Cdyn (from 1.06 +/- 0.23 to 2.12 +/- 0.99 (ml/cmH(2)O)/kg) (p < 0.05) and a drop in both Raw (from 264.7 +/- 41.5 to 146.6 +/- 39.4 (cmH(2)O/l)/s) and MAP (from 12.4 +/- 3.6 to 5.4 +/- 2.1 cmH(2)O) were observed 48 hours after SLL.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that SLL is associated with a rapid and significant improvement in pulmonary mechanics, together with an improvement in oxygenation, in newborns with severe MAS. We found that the beneficial effects of SLL on pulmonary mechanics persisted for at least 48 h after introduction of the procedure.

Age-related changes in rat thymic epithelial cells

We investigated age-related changes in immunocytochemical localisation of cytokeratin 16 (CK16) in thymuses of female Wistar rats at various stages of adult life (months 1, 3, 6, 12). Within the 1 st month of life, distribution of CK typical for individual subsets of thymic epithelial cells (TEC) was observed. The most numerous CK16+ TEC were observed in the outer region of medulla, in the outer cells of Hassall's corpuscles and in the superficial epithelial layer neighbouring the connective tissue of the capsule, septa and vessels of the thymus. In the 3rd month of life, increased intensity of CK16 reaction in superficial TEC was accompanied by increased numbers of CK 16+ TEC in the outer region of the medulla. Age-related alterations in the distribution of the studied markers were evident beginning from the 6th month of life and involved increased expression of CK16 in the superficial layer of TEC, which at the interface with the septa formed stratified epithelium. In parallel, decreased numbers of CK16+ TEC were observed in the outer region of the medulla. Changes in CK16+ TEC distribution of a similar type developed in 12-month old rats and they probably reflected altered functions of some TEC populations and decreased or increased biological activity of other TEC populations.

Stages of the rat thymic medulla development in foetal period

Development of thymic medulla was examined on consecutive gestational days (GD) in Wistar rats. Medullary thymic epithelial cells (TEC) were identified by immunocytochemical localisation of neuron-specific enolase (NSE). Organisation of thymic medullary architecture was determined by interaction of thymocytes with NSE-positive TEC, that led to formation of lymphoepithelial complexes (GD 19), in which the cells exhibited proliferative activity or traits of apoptosis. The studies indicated that differentiation events and organisation of thymic medulla require stage-specific interactions between TEC and thymocytes.

Lympho-epithelial interactions in rat thymus during pregnancy

Alterations in the thymic epithelial cell activity were analysed during pregnancy and lactation in Wistar rats by examining the presence and in situ distribution of lymphoepithelial complexes formed by thymic nurse cells (TNC). TNC were identified in paraffin sections by their expression of MHC class II antigens, CD54 molecule and a neuromarker, protein gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5). On the first days of pregnancy (gestational days, GD) the number of PGP9.5+ TNC was found to decrease abruptly. On GD 14, a transient increase was noted in the number of PGP9.5+, MHC+, CD54+ TNC. Another increase was observed in the course of lactation, when the weight of the thymus reached the lowest values. While the increase in TNC numbers during lactation may be linked to the process of reconstruction of the thymic lymphoid population, the augmented activity of lymphoepithelial interactions on GD14 may be associated with thymic engagement in pregnancy-induced immune processes.

[Serum concentration of prolactin, gastrin and glycocholic acid in patient with peptic ulcer treated with ranitidine]

In 66 patients with peptic ulcer (11 with gastric ulcer, 55 with duodenal ulcer, 19 women, 47 men) the serum concentrations of prolactin, dehydrocholic acid and gastrin were determined. The studies were repeated after treatment with ranitidine: in 50 patients after three weeks and in 40 patients after another 30 days. During the first period ranitidine 2 x 150 mg was administered, while during the second period the dose was 1 x 150 mg. The results were compared with those obtained from 120 healthy subjects. Before starting the treatment prolactin levels were significantly higher than those in the control group. During the treatment a significant decrease of the levels was observed. Similar changes of prolactin concentrations were found in the group of 39 men with duodenal ulcer isolated from the studied patients, who were compared with a group of 50 healthy men. It was not found that the development of peptic ulcer and the treatment with ranitidine exerted and effect on the changes of gastrin and dehydrocholic acid concentrations.

Evidence for the presence of 5'-deiodinase in mammalian seminal plasma and for the increase in enzyme activity in the prepubertal testis

Thyroid hormones are critical for structural and functional development of the testis and Sertoli cells are considered true target cells for triiodothyronine (T3). However, the role of thyroid hormones in the adult testis seems to be minimal and the mechanism by which they affect testicular function is not known. Due to the existing blood-testis barrier the concentration of thyroid hormones in seminal plasma is kept lower than in blood plasma. We have found that T3 may reach the testis not only from the circulation but also from local enzymic conversion of thyroxine to T3. The presence of the enzymic activity responsible for thyroxine 5'deiodination and for generating T3 locally was also found in boar's seminal plasma. The seminal plasma 5'-deiodinase (5'-D) appeared to be predominantly the propylthiouracil (PTU)-insensitive type II isoenzyme found, so far, in tissues where it plays a role in paracrine signalling. It contains selenocysteine in its molecule (inhibition by aurothioglucose), and has an apparent Km for reverse-T3 as substrate of 0.36 nM and a Vmax 23.8 fmol I-/mg protein/min. Because the seminal plasma 5'-D is partially, but uncompetitively, inhibited by PTU, the presence in seminal plasma of two 5'-D isoenzymes (type I and II) cannot be excluded. The 5'-D activity in testes increased significantly between week 3 and 4, and this increase was concomitant with increase in testicular size. The relationship between testicular weight gain and age showed a similar characteristic change and corresponded to the change in 5'-D activity. Unlike in rodents, the testis of the prepubertal pig has thyroid hormone receptors in Sertoli cells, and suggests that in growing piglets, testicular 5'-D is a key factor regulating local supply of biologically active T3, and is an essential factor in testicular paracrine function. The present results are the first demonstration and characterization of the 5'-deiodinase in seminal plasma.

Adhesion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to collagen biomaterials: effect of amikacin and ciprofloxacin on the colonization and survival of the adherent organisms

The adherence of P. aeruginosa to collagen membrane, sponge, and to a new anti-infective COLL dressing and the susceptibility of the organisms attached to the biomaterials to amikacin were investigated in vitro. After 17 h of attachment, the bacteria demonstrated an increased resistance to amikacin compared with their free-floating counterparts. Amikacin, even at a concentration exceeding 150 times the minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) for the strain tested, did not eradicate the attached bacteria from the surface of collagen membrane. However, when the drug at a high concentration (over 16 times the minimal inhibitory concentration, MIC) was present in the incubation medium before it had been inoculated with P. aeruginosa, a reduction of 2 log10 units in the organisms adherent to the surface of collagen membrane was observed. We conclude that slow release of the antibiotic from the COLL dressing could control the bacterial colonization on the surface. In fact, the released amikacin at the final concentration of 32 times the MBC reduced the number of adherent bacteria by 6 log10 units. In contrast, ciprofloxacin at the same final bactericidal concentration completely eradicated the bacteria from the surface of COLL dressing. However, as ciprofloxacin is not recommended for use as a topical antimicrobial agent, a further search is needed to find an agent with a similar anticolonization activity.

Triiodothyronine (T3), insulin and characteristics of 5'-monodeiodinase (5'-MD) in mare's milk from parturition to 21 days post-partum

It is generally accepted that hormones and tissue growth factors are supplied from mother to neonate via mammary secretion. Among the protein hormones, insulin and prolactin are considered as the most important milk components for neonates. The significance of the thyroid hormones, namely triiodothyronine (T3) generated locally by 5'-monodeiodinase (5'-MD) in the mammary tissues, for the mammary gland itself and for suckling neonates is still under consideration. In the present study the activity of the 5'-MD and the concentrations of T3 and insulin in mare's colostrum and milk during the first 21 days of lactation were measured. Post partum, T3 increased to its highest concentration around day 4 (1.14+/-0.08 nmol/L), then progressively decreased until day 7, reaching a relatively stable concentration of 0.71+/-0.06 nmol/L (overall mean for days 7-21). The colostral insulin concentration, highest on the day of parturition (401.0 +/-24.9 microU/mL), decreased to a nadir value (25.0+/-3.4 microU/mL) on day 5, after which it tended to increase. The mare's milk showed the presence of PTU-sensitive (type I) and PTU-insensitive (type II) 5'-monodeiodinases (5'-MD). Contrary to the classical type II 5'-MD, the mare's milk isoenzyme was inhibited non-competitively by aurothioglucose. A significant relationship (r=0.962, P < 0.01 ) between T3 concentration and 5'-MD activity, from the I st to the 6th lactational day was found, which may indicate a dependence of T3 concentration on the milk 5'-MD activity. The presence of 5'-MD of type II suggests that intra-mammary T3 generation may play a paracrine role supporting lactogenesis. Estimating that 1.8 microg of colostral T3 (0.456 microg/L) is consumed daily by a suckling foal, the T3 hormone action within the intestinal tract cannot be ruled out. This is the first paper to provide evidence of T3 and insulin concentrations, and of T4-5'-monodeiodinases activity in colostrum and milk of the mare.

[Level of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in plasma of patients with chronic renal failure during hemodialysis]

Two groups of subjects (uraemic and control) were studied. The group A consisted of 20 patients treated by HD (haemodialysis). The mean age was x +/- SD--36.6 +/- 7.3 years, duration of haemodialysis treatment 32.8 +/- 7.7 months, cuprophan dialyzers and acetate containing solution--35 mEq/l--were used, time of HD--4 hours 3 times weekly, predialysis serum creatinine was 876 +/- 189 mumol/l (9.8 +/- 2.1 mg%). This group of patients was subdivided in two groups. The group I comprised 9 patients with hypotensive episodes that occurred during HD (systolic blood pressure < 90 mmHg), and the group II comprised 11 patients without hypotensive episodes. The control group comprised 20 healthy subjects (mean age 36.7 +/- 12.1 years, serum creatinine level 77 +/- 16 mumol/l (0.9 +/- 0.2 mg%). In all examined subjects the following experimental protocol was used. Blood pressure (BP) was determined at about 8 a.m. after an overnight rest. Then blood samples were withdrawn for estimation of ANP, haematocrit value (Ht), haemoglobin (Hb) and creatinine concentrations. Between 8 and 12 a.m. all examined uraemic subjects were dialyzed. After each hour of dialysis BP was measured and blood samples were taken. ANP (Peninsula Lab.Kids.) was measured using RIA method, and other biochemical parameters using routine methods. Serum creatinine and plasma ANP levels significantly decreased after HD. No significant differences were seen between the both uraemic groups. No significant correlations between systolic blood pressure, ANP level in examined group were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

1. In all uraemic subjects, plasma ANP level was significantly higher than in control subjects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Level of endothelin-1 and 2 in plasma of patients with chronic renal failure]

The aim of the study was to answer 3 questions: 1. does plasma endothelin level differ in patients with chronic renal failure from that of healthy subjects. 2. does plasma endothelin level differ in patients with chronic renal failure treated with haemodialysis from those treated without dialysis. 3. does plasma endothelin level change during haemodialysis. 63 patients with chronic renal failure (pnn, 23 treated without dialyses and 40 with dialyses) as well as 20 healthy subjects were studied. Plasma endothelin and creatinine were estimated under basal conditions and in the dialysed patients--immediately after dialysis. Plasma endothelin level was higher in patients with pnn than in normals, regardless to dialysotherapy. It rose after dialysis. Plasma creatinine fell after dialysis. Positive significant correlation was found between the levels of creatinine and endothelin in the whole group studied.

[Levels of endothelin and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in plasma of patients with chronic renal failure treated by hemodialysis]

Two groups of subjects were studied. The group A consisted of 40 patients treated by HD (haemodialysis) (mean age--x +/- SEM 38.6 +/- 1.47 years, duration of haemodialysis treatment 36.8 +/- 3.7 months, cuprophan dialyzers and acetate containing solution--38 mEg/l--were used, time of HD--4 hours 3 times weekly, predialysis serum creatinine was 900.8 +/- 32.1 mumol/l (10.2 +/- 0.4 mg%) postdialysis serum creatinine was 467.8 +/- 28.3 mumol/l (5.3 +/- 0.3 mg%). Patients were not treated with erythropoietin. The control group comprised 20 healthy subjects (mean age 36.7 +/- 2.7 years and serum creatinine level 76.7 +/- 3.5 mumol/l (0.9 +/- 0.1 mg%). In all examined subjects the following experimental protocol was used. In both group blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were determined at about 8 a.m. after an overnight rest. Then blood samples were withdrawn for estimation of ANP, endothelin, haematocrit value (Ht), haemoglobin (Hb) and creatinine concentrations. Between 8 and 12 a.m. all examined subjects of the group A were dialysed. After each hour of dialysis BP and HR were measured and blood samples were withdrawn ANP (Peninsula Lab.Kids.) and endothelin (Amersham Kids) were measured using RIA methods, but other biochemical parameters using routine methods. Serum creatinine and plasma ANP levels significantly decreased after HD. Plasma endothelin level was significantly higher than in the control subjects. After first hour of HD a significant decrease of plasma endothelin was observed and than plasma endothelin level started to increase. No significant correalations between creatinine, ANP and endothelin levels in examined group was observed.

[Behavior of thyrotropic, triiodothyronine, thyroxine and cortisol hormone levels in blood serum of patients with duodenal ulcer treated with ranitidine]

Blood serum concentrations of thyrotropic hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4) and cortisol have been measured in 50 patients with duodenal ulcer. The determinations were repeated after a specific time of treatment with ranitidine: in 45 patients after 3 weeks and in 37 after additional 30 days of treatment. During the first period of treatment ranitidine was administered at a dose of 300 mg divided into two daily doses and during the second period of treatment at a single daily dose of 150 mg. A small but statistically significant changes, an increase in T3 and a decrease in TSH concentration, were observed before the treatment. No changes concerning these two parameters were found as an effect of the treatment. A decrease in the concentration of T4 was found, on the other hand, after three weeks of ranitidine administration. This decrease persisted after further 30 days of chronic treatment with ranitidine. No significant changes concerning blood serum cortisol concentration were found in any of the studied groups.

[Relation between serum levels of C-terminal fragment, beta 2 microglobulin and creatinine in patients with chronic nephropathies at different stages of the disease]

The serum concentrations of the C-terminal fragment of parathyroid hormone, beta 2-microglobulin and creatinine were determined in 40 patients with chronic nephropathies at various stages of renal function impairment. Statistically significant positive correlations were found between the concentrations of creatinine and the C-terminal fragment (r = 0.6656, p less than 0.001), creatinine and beta 2-microglobulin (r = 0.7752, p less than 0.001) and beta 2-microglobulin and the C-terminal fragment (r = 0.6391, p less than 0.001). The authors believe that the concentration of the C-terminal fragment i the serum in chronic renal failure is not reflecting the degree of secondary hyperparathyroidism but is only an index of renal function failure.

[Parathyroid hormone and blood pressure in patients with chronic renal failure treated by repeated hemodialysis]

In 36 patients with chronic renal failure treated with repeated haemodialyses the relationship was studied between the level of the C-terminal fragment of the parathyroid hormone in the serum and arterial blood pressure. Depending on the value of the concentration of this C-fragment the patients were divided into three groups: I with concentration below 200 pg/ml, II with concentration 2000-5000 pg/ml, III over 500 pg/ml. In the first group a statistically significant correlation was found between the concentration of the C-terminal fragment of the hormone in the serum and the values of systolic arterial pressure (r = 0.687; p less than 0.05) and diastlic pressure (0 = 0.637; p less than 0.05).

[Growth hormone levels in the blood serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with multiple sclerosis]

In 1984 the authors determined by radioimmunoassay (ORIPI-RIA kit) the serum growth hormone levels in 35 patients with multiple sclerosis (20 M, 15 F) aged from 20 to 54 years, and in 10 cases the determination was carried out in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The control group comprised 40 patients with ischialgia or neuroses. The normal range of GH values in the serum determined with this kit was from 0 to 80 microIU/ml, and the laboratory normal range was from 0 to 10 microIU/ml. The normal GH value for the CSF is being established (calculations based on mean values). No significant differences were observed in the GH concentrations in the serum between the patients and the control group, and between males and females in either group. No significant differences were found also in the GH level in the CSF of males and females with multiple sclerosis. Treatment with corticosteroids received by over 80% of the patients (at least 6 months before the study) caused no significant rise in GH concentration. However, an increasing tendency was observed of GH concentration in patients which requires confirmation in a greater number of cases.

[Prolactin in the blood serum of patients with multiple sclerosis]

The authors determined in 1984 by radioimmunoassay (INEP kit) the serum prolactin concentration in 76 multiple sclerosis patients (33 males and 34 females) aged from 21 to 53 years, with disease duration from 2 to 30 years. The control group comprised 110 healthy subjects. Normal prolactin values were 150-750 mIU/ml in females and 150-500 mIU/ml in males. In about one-third of the patients raised prolactin level was found which failed to correlate with the age of the patients and with increased beta-endorphin level in them. The authors suppose that hyperprolactinaemia may be of importance in certain clinical signs of multiple sclerosis. Further investigations on prolactin are conducted with reference to the circadian rhythm of prolactin secretion and dynamic tests.

[ACTH in the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid in patients with multiple sclerosis]

In 1984 and at the beginning of 1985 the authors carried out radioimmunoassays (SORIN-CIS kit) the plasma levels of ACTH in 116 multiple sclerosis patients (m-52, f-64) and in 10 cases this radioimmunoassay was done in the cerebrospinal fluid (m-5, f-5). The control group comprised 90 patients with ischialgia and neuroses. The normal value in the plasma was from 0 to 80.86 pg/ml, and in the fluid it was from 0 to 77.08 pg/ml. In multiple sclerosis patients the plasma ACTH level was from 0 to 286.9 pg/ml, in the cerebrospinal fluid from 0 to 89 pg/ml. The values of ACTH were significantly higher in multiple sclerosis patients, mainly in males. In the fluid the level of ACTH was significantly higher in the studied patients. No significant differences in ACTH levels were found between males and females with multiple sclerosis, and in the control group this level was higher in females. Raised ACTH level was found mainly in multiple sclerosis with lung duration of the disease (10 years) at the time of exacerbations. The authors continue studies on the axis hypothalamus-hypophysis-adrenals, on various hormones, prostaglandins, beta-endorphin, biochemical markers, cAMP, cCMP, arylosulphatase A and B MBC etc.