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Biomedical subjects

A Kalofoutis

Publications and source records attributed to A Kalofoutis.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Thin-layer chromatography of phospholipid components of normal and psoriatic epidermis.

The phospholipid pattern of human epidermis from 23 psoriatic patients and from 14 healthy individuals has been determined using lipid thin-layer chromatography. An increased amount of total phospholipids and statistically significant differences in some phospholipid components were found in psoriatic patients as compared to healthy controls. These abnormalities may be related to the altered architecture of the plasma membranes and their surface coats observed in psoriatic keratinocytes.

Cell Membrane↗

A study on leukocytes phospholipid composition in mycosis fugoides.

Leucocyte phospholipids composition was determined in 16 patients with mycosis fungoides and 20 healthy controls. Statistically significant differences namely, an increase in phosphatidylcholine and diphosphatidylglycerol and a decrease in phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylinositol concentrations between patients and healthy subjects were observed.

Cardiolipins↗

Relationship between erythrocyte 2,3-diphosphoglycerate and age in a normal population.

The concentration of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate in erythrocytes was determined in 369 male and 376 female normal subjects, 1 to 86 years of age, derived from the Greek population. It was inversely correlated (P less than 0.01) with age. Persons over age 60 showed a decrease (P less than 0.05) in 2,3-diphosphoglycerate concentrations as compared those 1-20 years of age.

Adolescent↗

Erythrocyte 2,3-diphosphoglycerate as related to diabetes and obesity.

2,3-Diphosphoglycerate was determined in the erythrocytes of 17 diabetic and 18 obese patients. Results for obese subjects were significantly (P less than .01) different from those obtained for 21 healthy subjects. Results for obese and diabetic patients also differed significantly (P less than .01) but not those for diabetic and healthy subjects. Hemoglobin, hematocrit, or bicarbonate measurements did not differ among the three groups.

Adolescent↗

The possible effect of hashish on leukocytes and plasma lipids.

The possible fluctuation of leukocytes and plasma lipids, 30--60 min after smoking hashish, was studied. Total phospholipid content in both leukocytes and plasma was increased in a similar way to the total lipid content after smoking hashish. Differences in most of the phospholipid classes in leukocytes and plasma before and after smoking hashish were observed while the values in controls and chronic users of the drug before smoking hashish were found to be relatively close. Findings are discussed in relation to the pharmacological action of the drug on liver lipid metabolism.

Adult↗

Minor histocompatibility antigen HA-1 and HPA-5 polymorphisms in HLA-identical related bone marrow transplantation.

The minor histocompatibility antigens (mHags), HA-1 and HPA-5, are immunogenic alloantigens shown to be responsible for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in HLA-identical bone marrow transplantation. Both antigens have two known alleles each, resulting in a single amino acid polymorphism. The HA-1H allele encodes histidine, whereas the HA-1R allele encodes arginine. The HPA-5b (Br(a)) allele encodes lysine, whereas the HPA-5a (Br(b)) encodes glutamic acid. In this study, 49 bone marrow transplant recipients and their genetically related HLA-identical donors were evaluated for the presence of HA-1, whereas 39 recipients, different from the abovementioned ones, and their HLA-identical siblings were analyzed for the presence of HPA-5. The frequencies of the two alleles of HA-1 in the recipient population were HA-1R = 0.663 and HA-1H = 0.336. In the donor population, the respective frequencies were 0.704 and 0.296. Seven donors (14.5%) were mismatched with the recipients for HA-1H. In contrast, the frequencies of the two alleles of HPA-5 in the recipient population were HPA-5a = 0.859 and HPA-5b = 0.141; whereas, among donors, they were 0.820 and 0.180, respectively. Five donors (12.8%) were found to be mismatched with their recipients for HPA-5. These results provide insight into the polymorphism of mH antigens based on the study of their frequencies in bone marrow transplant recipients and their genetically HLA-identical siblings, an endeavor that is essential to investigate the presence of HA-1 and HPA-5 mHags.

Antigens, Human Platelet↗

Treatment of porphyria cutanea tarda with oral thalidomide.

Eight male patients with overt clinical and biochemical features of porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) were orally treated with 300 mg/day thalidomide for 1 week and with 200 mg/day for 3 more weeks. Already after the first week of treatment no new vesicles and/or bullae could be observed. Spontaneous blisters completely disappeared, increased skin fragility subsided and skin hyperpigmentation receded about 2 months after completion of therapy, whereas hypertrichosis persisted. There was a rapid decrease in the urinary total porphyrin excretion which reached normal levels in all patients by the end of the fourth week of therapy, whereas the posttreament chromatographic pattern of urinary porphyrins revealed a slight reduction of higher carboxylated porphyrin metabolites and an increase in the amount of the excreted coproporphyrin, as compared to the pretreatment period. Somnolence, intermittent constipation and dry mouth occurred in all patients, 2 patients additionally experienced dizziness. No evidence of peripheral neuropathy could be detected and laboratory investigations revealed no abnormalities, as compared to the pretreatment period. During the 16- to 28-month follow-up of the patients, no clinical or biochemical relapse was observed. In view of the encouraging results of the present investigation, further studies are now warranted in order to definitely answer the question whether oral thalidomide may be regarded as an effective alternative approach to the treatment of PCT.

Administration, Oral↗

Alterations of rat liver phospholipid composition induced by oral thalidomide.

In an attempt to elucidate the effects of oral thalidomide on liver phospholipid composition, doses of 1 and 3 mg/kg/day of thalidomide were orally administered to two groups of female Wistar rats (7 animals each), respectively, over a period of 60 days. Control animals (n = 7) received corresponding quantities of the vehicle alone. Chromatographic analysis and quantitative determination of the isolated phospholipid classes revealed statistically significant alterations of phospholipid fractions in the liver of the animals treated with the higher thalidomide dose (3 mg/kg/day). These alterations may be associated with changes in the metabolic activity, ionic transport and cell-cell interactions of the hepatic cellular components.

Administration, Oral↗

Diazepam treatment in rats induces changes in the concentrations of different phospholipid classes in liver and liver mitochondria.

Liver phospholipid concentrations were determined in rats after the administration of diazepam (5 mg/Kg/day), for a period of two months. Increased concentrations of total phospholipids (P < 0.05), phosphatidylcholine (P < 0.05) and phosphatidylinositol (P < 0.05) were found in the rats taking diazepam. In contrast, a decreased concentration of phosphatidylserine (P < 0.01) was observed in the same group of animals. In addition, changes in the concentration of rat liver mitochondrial phospholipids after the administration of diazepam during the same period of time were determined. Increased concentrations of total phospholipids (P < 0.01), phosphatidylcholine (P < 0.001) and diphosphatidylglycerol (P < 0.001) were found in the rats treated with diazepam. In contrast, decreased phosphatidylserine (P < 0.001) and phosphatidylinositol (P < 0.01) concentrations were observed in the same group of animals. The considerable changes observed in liver phospholipids and individual classes of liver mitochondrial phospholipids induced by long-term administration of diazepam, possibly suggest a stimulation of liver phospholipid biosynthesis. This effect may be related to enzymatic systems which are involved in phospholipid pathways, and are linked to benzodiazepinergic binding sites.

Administration, Oral↗