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Biomedical subjects

G Opala

Publications and source records attributed to G Opala.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

The effect of monoamine oxidase B (MAOB) and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) polymorphisms on levodopa therapy in patients with sporadic Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVES: The etiology of sporadic idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) is considered multifactorial with both genetic and environmental factors modifying the disease expression. Recent studies suggest that polymorphism in monoamine oxidase B (MAOB) and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) might influence the risk and treatment of PD. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of MAOB and COMT genetic polymorphism on effective daily dose of levodopa applied during the first 5 years of treatment, and to find out if a relationship exists between MAOB and COMT haplotypes and motor disturbances onset in PD patients treated with levodopa preparations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 95 patients (40 females and 55 males) of Polish origin diagnosed with sporadic PD were enrolled into the study, and were divided into two groups. Group 1 - patients treated with doses of levodopa below 500 mg/day during the first 5 years of treatment. Group 2 - patients requiring levodopa doses exceeding 500 mg/24 h during the first 5 years of treatment. Low activity alleles of MAOB and COMT, i.e. MAOB allele A and COMT(L) as well as high activity ones, i.e. MAOB allele G and COMT(H), were determined using PCR-RFLP method. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were found in MAOB and COMT allele distribution in the two groups. However, the frequency of COMT(L/L) homozygotes was higher in the group treated with low doses of levodopa when compared with the second group. MAOB and COMT AG-HH haplotype predominated in the group of females treated with high daily doses of levodopa when compared with AG-LL haplotype in the group of females treated with low daily doses of levodopa (<500 mg/24 h). CONCLUSION: The results of the study suggest that patients with COMT(L/L) genotype and possibly MAOB genotype A may benefit from more efficient and safer levodopa therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Burden of caregivers caring for persons with dementia].

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other dementias are common disorders in the elderly. Most AD patients are cared for at home by family members. Caregiving stress often leads to problems in care givers' mental and physical health. Certain factors predict caregivers' distress, such as the presence of patient behavioral problems, the nature of the caregivers' social support and ability to cope with difficult situations. The term "caregiver burden" is used to refer to the physical, psychological or emotional, social and financial problems that can be experienced by family members caring for impaired older adults.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2001

[Diagnostic problems in the case of dementia with coexisting hematological disorders].

The case report presents a 61-year-old female patient with profound dementia and coexisting hematological disorders suggesting Addison-Biermer's disease. Two possible diagnoses were considered; dementia of Alzheimer type or dementia secondary to pernicious anaemia. This case report reflects diagnostic difficulties concerning dementia syndrome in the presence of other causative factors.

Alzheimer Disease↗
PubMed1998

[The role of carnitine in human lipid metabolism].

Carnitine is an important nutrient that is present in diet (particularly in meat and dairy products) and is synthesized from amino acids. Carnitine has two principal functions in the organism. One is to transport long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondrion. The second function of carnitine is to regulate the intramitochondrial ratio of acylocoenzyme A to free coenzyme A. This function is important because it allows to remove excessive (and potentially toxic) short- and medium-chain fatty acids from the mitochondrion, and because it maintains sufficient free coenzyme A within the mitochondrion to support energy metabolism.

Carnitine↗
PubMed1991

The effect of valproic acid on plasma carnitine levels.

Plasma total, free, and acyl carnitine levels were determined in four groups of children: (1) those treated with valproic acid as monotherapy (n = 43), (2) those treated with valproic acid plus other antiepileptics as polytherapy (n = 91), (3) those treated with other antiepileptic drugs alone (n = 43), and (4) normal patients (n = 89). The mean free carnitine level was significantly lower in both the valproic acid monotherapy (29.9 mumol/L) and polytherapy (21.4 mumol/L) groups compared with normal subjects (36.8 mumol/L); it was also significantly lower than that in patients treated with other antiepileptic drugs (36.7 mumol/L). Comparison of valproic acid polytherapy and monotherapy yielded significantly lower free carnitine levels in the polytherapy group. The ratios of acyl to free carnitine for monotherapy (0.41) and polytherapy (0.45) were significantly higher than that in the normal group (0.25). This study indicates that a general decrease in the carnitine pool should be anticipated in patients taking valproic acid polytherapy and, to a lesser degree, monotherapy. Carnitine levels in the group taking other drugs did not differ from normal.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Fractional administration of adriblastin and modified route of ara-C administration for the treatment of acute leukaemia.

Two groups of AML patients (n1 = 63, n2 = 20) and two groups of ALL patients (n1 = 33, n2 = 15) were treated using polychemotherapy protocols which in each leukaemia subtype differed mainly in adriblastin administration being either in bolus form (30 mg/m2/day i.v.) or fractional form at the beginning 20 mg i.v., then 6 mg/m2 every 6 h. The fractional method of administration was elaborated on experimental data indicating the superiority of continuous infusion of anthracyclines. In AML additional ara-C was given in continuous infusion only on 1 to 3 days, on 4 to 8 days duplicated dose was administered subcutaneously (i.e. 100 mg/m2 every 12 h). In patients given fractional doses of adriblastin and in AML also ara-C in the modified way the statistical analysis revealed a higher CR (ALL - 67%/93%, AML - 46%/60%) and CR + PR rates, a lower rate of infections as the cause of death in the AML group, lower rates of nausea and vomiting as well a lower increase of infections in the course of the induction treatment in the AML group. Another advantage was a lower total dose of adriblastin for remission induction treatment as well as an elevated cumulative dose which allows anthracyclines to be longer used. The efficacy of the modified ara-C administration confirms our earlier observation.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1984

Cooperative randomized studies on the treatment of adult acute leukemia in Poland. A comparison of two remission induction regimes and two maintenance regimes for AML.

In a prospective study 100 AML cases were randomized in two groups and underwent remission induction treatment in 4 departments with "Ara-C c. inf. from the first to the eight day plus Adr. from the first to the third day" or "Ara-C + 6-TG + Adr., 6 + 6 + 2 days". The CR patients were divided into two subgroups. Subgroup A obtained maintenance therapy with 5 day course of Ara-C s.c. in addition to 6-TG, Vincristine plus Prednisone and Adriamycin sequentially, with each cycle repeated at 6 week intervals. Subgroup B obtained the calf thymus extract (TFX-Polfa) between the cycles additionally. The current results of remission induction treatment are similar to "8 + 3" and "6 + 6" regimens as measured by the CR rate (45% and 44%), survival curves (survival after 24 months - 23% and 28% respectively) and relapse rates (3.5%/pt.mo.obs. and 5.3%/pt.mo.obs.). It is still too early to evaluate the efficacy of this maintenance treatment, because the programme is still open to patient entries. At present 13 patients received maintenance regimen A and 12 patients received maintenance regimen B, with an average survival being equal to 14 and 13.5 months respectively.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Etiology, occurrence and types of the internal carotid artery loop].

Internal carotid loop was studied in 99 patients out of 1638 cases subjected to angiography. The presence of a loop was arbitrarily accepted when in the tortuous part of the artery one of its segments was situated below the preceding segment. For the spatial analysis of the tortuous part of the artery and its image in the plane of the radiogram a model was used simulating various variants of the course of the internal carotid artery. On the ground of the analysis of the spatial configuration of the arterial loops and the variability of the loop model in the plane of the radiogram six types of the loop were isolated. The loops were found in 9.2% of patients with bilateral angiography and 5.7% of those with unilateral angiography. In adults the loop was present in 5.4% of cases, and in children in 8.9% (statistically significant difference p less than 0.05). It is assumed that the loop in children is a congenital anomaly, while in adulthood besides the congenital etiology an acquired form of the loop is to be taken into account.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Mortality in vascular diseases of the central nervous in the Katowice province in comparison with other provinces and all Poland (evaluation based on hospital statistical charts)].

As part of the programme of investigations on the effect of environmental pollution, which is far advanced in the Upper Silesian Industrial Region, on the health of the population the authors analysed the death rate from vascular diseases of the central nervous system. Using the data of the Central Statistical Bureau this death rate in the years 1976-1986 in the Province of Katowice was compared with those in the neighbouring provinces of Bielsko, Czestochowa and Opole, and with those in the so called clean provinces--Chełm, Zamość, Zielona Góra. The death rate from these diseases in the provinces of Katowice, Czestochowa and Opole (with particularly high pollution of air and soil) was higher than in the control provinces, and the authors consider the possibility of a harmful effect of this pollution on the incidence of and mortality from the vascular diseases of the central nervous system. The increase of the death rate in the Province of Katowice was due to a 49% rise in the mortality in the group of men aged 50-59 years. The rise of this death rate in Poland was caused by increased mortality in the age group 40-59 years, and not in the older age groups, as it had been prognosticated earlier. The authors suggest long-term prospective studies in this region.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Clinical significance of a vascular loop in the internal carotid artery].

In a group of 99 patients with unilateral or bilateral carotid artery loop the data in case records were analysed. In 11 cases no abnormalities were found, apart from the presence of carotid loop, that could be related to the presence of symptoms of cerebrovascular insufficiency observed in them. In 7 of them these symptoms appeared before the age of 40 years. Frequently, the appearance of symptoms was preceded by headaches and 6 patients had episodes of transient cerebral ischaemia. On lateral angiograms during lateral rotation of the head in 9 cases kinking of the arterial wall was seen which had been not observed in the anteroposterior projection. It is thought that in a small group of patients carotid loop may be the cause of cerebrovascular failure.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Eales disease and multiple sclerosis. Case report].

The authors report a case of coexistence of Eales disease and multiple sclerosis in which signs of perivenous retinitis preceded by 25 years the appearance of neurological changes. Considering the similarity in the course of both disease and the histological character of perivascular changes the authors suggest presence of a common causative factor and pathological mechanism of the development of clinical changes.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Stroke in the records of the Department of Neurology, Silesian Medical Academy in Katowice and Zabre as well as the Neurology Department of the 8th Municipal Hospital in Katowice in the years 1970-1974].

The authors analysed the clinical material of acute vascular diseases of the central nervous system treated at the Department of Neurology, Silesian Medical Academy and Neurological Department of the 8th Municipal Hospital providing in the years 1970-1974 medical care for the population of two greatest cities of the Upper Silesian Industrial Region in cases of sudden neurological diseases. Cerebrovascular strokes accounted for 14.7% of all hospitalized cases. The mean annual index of admissions for these departments was 52.5 per 100 000 population. Cerebral haemorrhages were diagnosed in 28% strokes, they were somewhat more frequent in women, especially in oldest age. Subarachnoideal haemorrhages were observed in 9.3% of strokes, more frequently in the age range from 41 to 60 years, and more frequently in middle aged men. Thrombotic brain softening accounted for 37.1% of cases, more frequently in men aged 51-70 years. Similarly, transient cerebral ischemia recognized in 13.9% of cases was more frequent in men. On the other hand, cerebral arterial embolism diagnosed in 11.7% of cases occurred usually in women aged over 60 years. In March and April the number of patients admitted with cerebral haemorrhages was slightly higher, while in April, May and June cases of thrombotic encephalomalacia were more frequent.

Cerebral Hemorrhage↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Statistical analysis of mortality from stroke in hospitalized patients].

The authors analysed mortality from brain strokes in 1366 patients hospitalized at the Department of Neurology, Silesian Medical Academy in Katowice and Zabrze and in the 8th Municipal Hospital in Katowice in the years 1970--1974. The number of cases with lethal outcome was 437. The mortality was highest in cases of cerebral haemorrhages, particularly in women. The mortality increased with increasing age and was highest in the first 24 hours of treatment.

Cerebral Hemorrhage↗