PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C Pechlaner

Publications and source records attributed to C Pechlaner.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Decreased levels of beta-endorphin in circulating mononuclear leukocytes from patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Lymphocytes can be activated to produce and release opioid peptides. We investigated the levels of immunoreactive beta-endorphin in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 11 patients with acute myocardial infarction. The concentrations of beta-endorphin in mononuclear leukocytes of 30.2 +/- 6.9 pg/10(6) cells on admission were in the normal range of 20-40 pg/10(6) cells and decreased significantly to 6.9 +/- 1.9 pg/10(6) cells after 48 h (p < 0.05). Decreased levels of mononuclear leukocyte-associated beta-endorphin in acute myocardial infarction may be due to the release of endogenous opioid after stimulation by stress and acute-phase reactants and play a role in inflammation and pain.

C-Reactive Protein↗

Inhaled nitric oxide.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Administration, Inhalation↗

On the bioisosteric potential of diazines: diazine analogues of the combined thromboxane A2 receptor antagonist and synthetase inhibitor Ridogrel.

In this SAR study the bioisosteric potential of diazines in the field of combined antithrombotic thromboxane A2 synthetase inhibitors and receptor antagonists was investigated. In this context, two series of (E)- and (Z)-omega-[[(aryldiazinylmethylene)amino]oxy]alkanoic acids were synthesized of which pentanoic acid derivatives with a 2-pyrazinyl, 4-pyridazinyl, or 5-pyrimidinyl group were found to exhibit this dual activity, while 4-pyrimidinyl as well as 3-pyridazinyl analogues showed only receptor antagonistic activity and 2-pyrimidinyl congeners were inactive. In the series of diazine analogues of Ridogrel (1), replacement of the 3-pyridyl group by a 2-pyrazinyl, 4-pyridazinyl, or 5-pyrimidinyl moiety led to compounds that inhibit thromboxane A2 synthetase in gel-filtered human platelets comparable to 1 (IC50 of 0.006, 0.016, and 0.039 microM, respectively, versus 0.007 microM). Radioligand-binding studies with [3H]SQ 29,548 in washed human platelets revealed that these diazine analogues block the thromboxane A2 receptor with an IC50 of 11, 6.0, and 1.5 microM, respectively. This compares well with the IC50 = 1.7 microM of 1. Finally, testing of inhibition of collagen-induced platelet aggregation in human platelet aggregation in human platelet-rich plasma with 2-pyrazinyl, 4-pyridazinyl, or 5-pyrimidinyl congeners of Ridogrel indicated that these heteroaromatic moieties may serve as bioisosteric substitutes of a 3-pyridyl group in dual-acting antiplatelet agents.

Blood Platelets↗

Serum neopterin concentrations in chronic liver disease.

Neopterin is produced by macrophages after stimulation with interferon gamma or lipopolysaccharide. Its production is increased in many infectious, autoimmune, and malignant diseases. The aim of this study was to examine whether, on the basis of neopterin as a marker, liver diseases could be classified according to aetiology and stage of disease. A cohort of 264 patients with chronic liver diseases (viral, metabolic, autoimmune, toxic) and 150 normal controls were studied; 136 of the patients had cirrhosis. Increased serum neopterin concentrations were found in 41% of all patients (controls 6.0 (2.2) nmol/l), with patients in the cirrhotic stage of disease showing higher neopterin values (mean (SD) 15.7 (23.6) nmol/ml) than those in the non-cirrhotic stage (9.9 (5.5)). There were no statistically significant differences in the serum neopterin concentrations that could be considered characteristic for different stages of disease classified according to the Child criteria. Such differences in concentrations of neopterin that were found in patients with liver diseases grouped according to underlying causes were only marginal. Serum neopterin concentrations were found to be significantly lower than in any other disease group only in patients with Wilson's disease. The results suggest that activated macrophages participate in the development of chronic liver disease. Measurement of serum neopterin does not offer a reliable method for differentiating between various aetiologies of chronic liver diseases and does not help to predict severity of cirrhosis.

Biopterins↗

Mallory-Weiss syndrome in a patient with hemophilia A and chronic liver disease.

Eighty percent of hemophiliacs exposed to plasma products are seropositive to hepatitis B and an even higher percentage are seropositive to hepatitis C. Post-transfusion hepatitis is followed by cirrhosis in up to 25% of the cases. In the wake of portal hypertension, the development of oesophageal varices entails the risk of life-threatening hemorrhage. We report on a patient with moderate hemophilia A (factor VIII:C 4-11%) who suffered from massive hematemesis, melaena and evolving shock after excessive alcohol ingestion. The diagnosis of Mallory-Weiss syndrome and the differential diagnosis of bleeding oesophageal varices as well as prognostic consequences are discussed.

Adult↗

Motor symptoms similar to parkinsonism in heavy smokers.

The major objective in this study was a comparison of the motor performance of young male smokers and non-smokers. We tested the endurance capacity, maximal isometric strength, speed of whole-body movements, flexibility and balancing ability of 74 smokers and 118 non-smokers. Then we measured the balancing ability, the visual reaction time and the speed of limb movements of non-smokers and heavy smokers depending on the time of abstinence from smoking. The balancing ability of heavy smokers deteriorates in comparison with non-smokers after an abstinence period of 11-120 min by 42% (p < 0.05), and after more than 120 min by 51% (p < 0.01). Heavy smokers had a longer reaction time both after 2 hours of abstinence and after smoking. The speed of limb movements is decreased after not smoking for a brief period compared to non-smokers and clearly improved immediately after smoking. This deterioration of motor performance of heavy smokers after a short period of abstinence appears similar to the motor symptoms of Parkinsonism and is "treated" by cigarette smoking.

Adolescent↗

HDL and plasma phospholipids in coronary artery disease.

Lipid fractions of native plasma and of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were analyzed, and the clotting times of native platelet-rich and -poor plasma were recorded in patients with coronary artery disease and age-matched control subjects not taking any medication known to alter plasma lipid levels, coagulation, or platelet aggregation. Patients with coronary artery disease had lower HDL cholesterol and particularly HDL phospholipids but elevated HDL triglycerides, plasma triglycerides and diglycerides, and fibrinogen. Plasma lysolecithin was diminished. Accelerated coagulation was observed in native plasma and may be related to these changes in plasma lipids. The HDL content in cholesterol may be less relevant than that in phospholipids, which, because of their amphiphilic properties, may be essential for the removal and transport of hydrophobic cholesterol. The lower lysolecithin levels also suggest diminished esterification of cholesterol and reduced degradation of phospholipids, which may add to the poor lysability of platelet-rich and thus phospholipid-rich thrombi. Coagulation inhibition may be related to HDL phospholipids: in control subjects they correlated directly with clotting times of platelet-rich and -poor plasma and inversely with fibrinogen. In contrast, the enhanced thrombus formation in coronary artery disease may be related to altered HDL and plasma phospholipids, in particular to increased phosphatidylethanolamine. These adverse changes, particularly diminished HDL phospholipids, may result in increased deposition and reduced degradation and transport of lipids from arteriosclerotic lesions and thrombi and may therefore be significant in the development of coronary artery disease.

Blood Coagulation Tests↗

Increased lipid binding to thrombi in coronary artery disease. Findings in patients without premedication in native (not anticoagulated) test systems.

Thrombi and clots were produced from native (i.e., not anticoagulated) platelet-rich and platelet-poor plasma from patients with coronary artery disease and control subjects who had not taken any medication known to influence plasma lipids, coagulation, or platelet aggregation. The clotting times were recorded, and the lipid content of clots, thrombi, platelets, plasma, and high density lipoprotein was analyzed. Thrombi produced from native platelet-rich plasma were 46% heavier in coronary artery disease patients and contained about 20% more phospholipids and free cholesterol and about twice the amount of triglycerides and esterified cholesterol in both absolute and relative amounts with respect to the corresponding lipids of plasma plus platelets. The elevated content of lipids not only increases the size of the thrombi but also changes their quality because of an increased content in plasmatic lipids, as platelets contain only trace amounts of triglycerides and cholesterol esters. In agreement herewith, fibrinogen and maximal amplitude on the thrombelastogram were increased in coronary artery disease patients, whereas the thrombus-forming time and clotting times of platelet-poor and platelet-rich plasma were shortened, indicating accelerated coagulation and activation of platelets. Analysis of these results suggests a disturbed interrelation in coronary artery disease between lipids and hemostasis, in which platelets, high density lipoprotein, and lipoproteins rich in triglycerides and cholesterol esters may play a role.

Blood Coagulation↗

[Scurvy in trisomy 21].

We report a case of Down's syndrome in a 22-year-old woman who developed vitamin C deficiency with subsequent appearance of the characteristic joint pains and cutaneous and mucosal lesions of scurvy. A low intake of vitamin C due to peculiar eating habits and reduced absorption due to cardiac insufficiency and treatment with a platelet-aggregation inhibitor were considered to have caused the deficiency. Follicular purpura is a diagnostic skin sign of scurvy.

Adult↗

Influence of oral contraceptives on coagulation tests in native blood and plasma.

Routine coagulation laboratory tests, clotting times in native (not anticoagulated) whole blood, platelet-rich and platelet-poor plasma, and recalcification times in citrated whole blood, platelet-rich and platelet-poor plasma were performed in 14 healthy premenopausal women. Blood was taken before and after one or two cycles of low-dose oral contraceptives. After oral contraceptives a reduction in clotting time in native platelet-rich plasma and activated partial thromboplastin time were observed. Recalcification times in whole blood and platelet-rich plasma were shorter than clotting times in their native counterparts. The observed changes are compatible with a procoagulant effect seen soon after the start of oral contraceptive use. The absence of these changes in the recalcification times in citrate systems suggests a masking effect of citrate. The reduction in clotting times in native platelet-rich but not in platelet-poor plasma indicates that the hypercoagulability in oral contraceptives users is mainly related to platelets.

Blood Coagulation↗