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Biomedical subjects

A Klimek

Publications and source records attributed to A Klimek.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Effect of bromocriptine and metoclopramide on serum prolactin levels in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Secretion of prolactin in nine patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and in seven healthy men was investigated with the use of metoclopramide stimulation and bromocriptine inhibition tests. Blood serum prolactin concentration was determined in the basal state and 30, 60 and 120 minutes after oral administration of 10 mg metoclopramide or 2.5 mg bromocriptine. A period of 3 days intervened between testing each drug in the same individual. It was shown that basal prolactin levels in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients and the controls did not differ significantly, whereas in the metoclopramide stimulation test seven amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients showed a very exaggerated response. The mean value of maximal prolactin increment was 1609.90% (SD 456) in comparison with the control group 638.3% (SD 89.7) (p less than 0.01). In the bromocriptine inhibition test the mean value of maximal prolactin percentage decrement was 50.4% (SD 6.1) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and 66.5% (SD 5.3) in the controls and this difference was statistically insignificant. These data suggest that exaggerated prolactin response to metoclopramide in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis may be a result of a decreased activity of central dopaminergic neurons.

Aged

Cluster-tic syndrome.

A case of cluster-tic syndrome is presented. A 51-year-old man developed pain attacks corresponding to the second branch of the trigeminal nerve. After treatment with 1200 mg carbamazepine daily, the attacks disappeared. Full remission was achieved, and carbamazepine therapy was continued. Pain attacks of a quite different character then appeared; their clinical picture corresponded to cluster headache. After treatment with cyproheptadine, the cluster headache attacks ceased, but 2 days later, before the discontinuation of the treatment, the attacks of trigeminal neuralgia reappeared. Treatment with carbamazepine was started again, and there was remission of the trigeminal neuralgia after several weeks.

Carbamazepine

Epidermal growth factor in human cerebrospinal fluid: reduced levels in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF), a mitogenic peptide, is widely distributed within the brain and endocrine cells of the gastro-intestinal tract. Using EGF radioreceptor assay, the EGF level was measured in lumbar cerebrospinal fluid from five patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and seven patients with intervertebral disc disease as a control group. The patients with ALS showed reduced EGF levels to 662.4 +/- 207 pg/ml as compared with controls 1013 +/- 182.8 pg/ml (P less than 0.02). These results indicate a possible EGF involvement in the pathogenesis of ALS.

Aged

Reduced lumbar cerebrospinal fluid corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) levels in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) is widely distributed within the brain and spinal cord and may have direct extrahypophysiotrophic effects, independent of its pituitary action. The CRF level was measured using, the RIA method in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 5 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and in CSF from 10 patients with discopathy, treated as a controlled group. The median values of CRF level in the patients with ALS was 27.5 pg/ml, and this value was significantly lower than in controls, 53.5 pg/ml (P less than 0.05). These results suggests that CRF may be related in the pathophysiology of ALS.

Aged

Use of testosterone in the treatment of cluster headache.

The study was carried out on 15 men suffering from the episodic form (12 patients) and the chronic one (3 patients) of cluster headache. Before treatment the patients did not receive any drugs, and after determining the index of attacks the treatment was commenced. For 7-10 days patients were given testosteronum propionicum (25 mg) once a day intramuscularly, and then for the same period of time testosterone (10 mg). Before treatment the index of attacks was 3.66 (total number of attacks 308). In the 1st week of treatment the index decreased to 1.11 (total number of attacks 94) and to 0.16 in the 2nd week. In 3 patients with the chronic form of cluster headache testosterone was ineffective.

Adult

[Dipyridamole as an inhibitor of vaccinia virus replication].

Dipyridamole in concentration of 25 microM inhibited the multiplication of vaccinia virus in about 90% of cells. In the presence of this substance, [3H]-uptake was sharply reduced both in uninfected and infected RK13 cells, while [14C]-uptake was not inhibited incorporation of [3H]-thymidine and [14C]-amino acids into viral particles. The present findings suggest that the antiviral character of dipyridamole is related with the inhibition of the substrate transport through the cell membrane.

Animals

Immunoglobulins and complement in migraine.

In 54 patients with migraine and 70 persons comprising the control group, the total complement level (CH50) was evaluated together with its C3 and C4 fraction level and the level of IgG, IgA and IgM immunoglobulins. It was found that the average C3 fraction level was significantly decreased, while the C4 fraction level and total complement activity remained in the normal range. The immunoglobulin level did not show any statistically significant alterations except for the IgA level, which was lowered in migraine patients. On this basis, i.e. lowering of the C3 fraction level with normal C4 fraction level and total complement activity and lack of elevation of IgA, it is felt that the alternative pathway of complement system may be activated in migraine.

Adolescent