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Biomedical subjects

D Vassilopoulos

Publications and source records attributed to D Vassilopoulos.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Neuropathy following acute intoxication with Mecarbam (OP ester)

Only a small number of organophosphorous compounds, of the many thousands circulating on the market, has been reported as causing neuropathy with delayed onset. A case is presented of a young male who in an attempt to commit suicide by taking a massive dose of Mecarbam, developed polyneuropathy accompanied by a mild involvement of the CNS. Mecarbam is herewith reported for the first time as an agent which can affect the peripheral nervous system.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Epidemiological assessment of levodopa use by populations.

This study is an analysis of the measurements of drug use by populations proposed by the Nordic Council on Medicines, conducted from an epidemiological-theoretical perspective. Particular attention is given to levodopa use (LDU). Several measurements of comparative LDU are proposed here for the assessment of levodopa (LD) consumption, from data on LD sales to well defined populations, over known periods of time. The method takes into account possible purposes of LDU evaluations, and is based on a reported model which combines information on Parkinson's Disease prevalence (PD) from surveys, gross levodopa sales, age-structure of the population, the figures for infant mortality rates (IMRs) taken as an indicator of modernization, and the average amount of LD prescribed as daily dose. The evaluation of LDU is implemented following a stepwise procedure.

Cross-Cultural Comparison↗
PubMed1991

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in southern Greece: an epidemiologic study.

All amyotrophic lateral sclerosis cases hospitalized over a 25-year period in the University Department of Neurology in Athens were surveyed, with emphasis given to the occupation of the patients and the geographic distribution of the disease. The results showed an overrepresentation of farmers among patients and an aggregation of cases in the region of Cephalonia. These findings might suggest that environmental factors could be involved in the etiology of the disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Skeletal muscle CK-B activity in neurogenic muscular atrophies.

Creatine kinase isoenzymes were determined in skeletal muscle biopsy specimens of 34 patients suffering from neurogenic muscular atrophies. The findings were compared: (1) with those of 38 control muscle samples and (2) with those in 41 muscular dystrophies and other myopathic conditions. The measurements were made by electrophoretic separation and elution of the isoenzymes and by immunoinhibition assay. The results showed that the total and specific CK activity were significantly decreased (P less than 0.005) in neurogenic atrophies in contrast to myopathic conditions where no differences from control levels were observed. This decrease was due to a decrease of the CK-M subunit activity, while the CK-B subunit was elevated. The muscle CK-MB activity was considerably elevated in muscular dystrophies (P less than 0.02) and myositis (P less than 0.001), but it was also slightly elevated in neurogenic conditions. The similarity of the muscle CK isoenzyme pattern in neurogenic atrophies and myotonic dystrophy was noted. These findings could possibly reflect considerable difference in the regeneration process of neurogenic atrophies and muscular dystrophies.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1989

Evidence for seasonal variation in polymyositis.

Fifty-one cases of polymyositis/dermatomyositis were reviewed in order to investigate seasonal distribution in the onset of the disease. The time (month, season) of first admission of the 51 patients was evaluated as well as the time of initial symptoms onset in 26 cases with duration of the disease which was less than 1 year. In both groups a concentration of cases was found for the months of March, April and May. This concentration was statistically significant (p less than 0.003 and p less than 0.007, respectively). These findings suggest that environmental factors could be involved in the etiology of the disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Nucleo-cytoplasmic ratio in ageing skeletal muscle.

In order to investigate possible changes in the nucleo-cytoplasmic ratio of the muscle fibres during ageing, samples of quadriceps femoris from 15 normal individuals whose age ranged from 17 to 82 years were studied (autopsy material). The mean lesser diameter and the number and size of the muscle fibre nuclei were calculated using a planimetric technique. It was found that nucleo-cytoplasmic ratio increased significantly after the age of 60 years. This was due to a decrease in the mean fibre size whilst the number and the size of myonuclei remained unchanged. The resemblance of this finding to denervation atrophy changes is noted.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Delusional depression: further evidence for genetic contribution.

To quantify the contribution of genetic factors in the pathogenesis of delusional depression, the incidence of major depression in the first degree relatives of 77 delusional, 76 nondelusional depressive patients, and 153 age- and sex-matched controls was calculated in a case-control study. The morbid risk for psychiatric disorders, including major depression and bipolar I disorder, did not distinguish the two proband groups. The segregation analysis showed that the model of multifactorial inheritance fits best to our results. Heritability was estimated on the basis of a threshold model for multifactorial inheritance, and a high contribution of genetic factors for both subgroups was found.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Serum creatine kinase B levels in diseases of the central nervous system.

The creatine kinase B (CK-B) subunit was determined by our own highly sensitive solid-phase direct immunoassay in three neurological diseases which represent models of central nervous system (CNS) involvement: idiopathic epilepsy (18 patients), a disease characterised by a transient neuronal hyperactivity; Parkinson's disease (17 patients), a degenerative disorder of the CNS, and multiple sclerosis (21 patients), which represents a model of demyelination of the CNS. A group of 50 controls was also studied. The results showed that in patients with epilepsy and multiple sclerosis the CK-B activity was considerably lower than in the controls (p less than 0.01 and p less than 0.005, respectively), while no differences were found between the controls and the patients with Parkinson's disease. It is suggested that the low CK-B activity observed might be due to the medication taken or to the disease process itself. The present findings have to be considered as an indication for further CK isoenzyme studies in systematic disorders of the nervous system.

Creatine Kinase↗
PubMed1985

Serum creatine kinase B subunit levels in neurogenic atrophies.

This study is an attempt to determine the creatine kinase B (CK-B) subunit levels in neurogenic atrophies. A group of 69 patients was studied and the results were compared with those in a group of 32 patients with muscle disease. The results showed that the CK-B levels are considerably higher in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (P less than 0.001) and peroneal muscular atrophy (P less than 0.001). Further studies in the various subgroups of neurogenic atrophies showed that, regardless of the nosological entity, the CK-B activity is considerably higher: (1) in the "widespread" as opposed to "limited" forms (P less than 0.001); (2) in the "chronic" than in the "acute" neurogenic atrophies (P less than 0.001); and (3) in the "active" as opposed to "residual" forms (P less than 0.02). It is suggested that the increase of CK-B in neurogenic atrophies is a strong indication of an active regeneration process in the denervated muscle.

Creatine Kinase↗
PubMed1979

Melkersson-Rosenthal's syndrome in four generations.

Melkersson-Rosenthal's syndrome is a rare condition, the hereditary nature of which is still in dispute. A family with seven affected members in four generations is described, which provides further evidence for the genetic basis of the syndrome.

Child↗
PubMed1977

Quantitative histochemistry of the spinal motor neurone nucleus during human fetal development.

A quantitative histochemical study of the developing anterior horn cell nucleus was undertaken. The DNA, the arginine and lysine-rich histones as well as the acidic nuclear proteins of the spinal motor neurone nucleus were estimated during normal fetal development by means of scanning microdensitometry. The arginine-rich histones and the acidic nuclear proteins were found to be increased at the 12-14 week period, a finding which suggests that this period is critical in the differentiation of the spinal motor neurone.

Arginine↗
PubMed1977

Karyometric changes in human muscle with age.

Human muscle cell growth was studied to investigate the nucleo-cytoplasmic ratio during development and ageing. The mean muscle fibre size, as well as the number and size of myonuclei were estimated in human muscle biopsies from normal individuals whose ages ranged from 1 to 71 years. Changes in muscle fibre size were accompanied by similar changes in nuclear number, the size of which remained the same. This resulted in a constant nucleo-cytoplasmic ratio during the age range studied. The role of the satellite cell in the maintenance of this ratio was discussed.

Adolescent↗