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Biomedical subjects

H Kaunitz

Publications and source records attributed to H Kaunitz.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Virally induced arteriosclerosis: increased life expectancy?

The average human life expectancy has been increasing constantly since first observed in Roman Times (particularly during our century). This is usually believed to be related to such 'environmental' factors as sanitation and housing and to medical intervention. Data obtained from Vital Statistics of the United States supported the idea that these explanations are insufficient. Studies on persons who had died from conditions associated with advanced stages of arteriosclerosis (ischemic heart disease, cerebrospinal disease) showed the highest life expectancy. The inflammatory nature of arteriosclerosis and studies (by others) indicating 'protective' effects suggested that the developmental stages of arteriosclerosis (in contrast to the final stages) promote increased life expectancy. Inasmuch as certain viruses (especially the human herpes virus) are involved in the development of arteriosclerosis and because nearly everybody gets infected during childhood, this virus may be a factor in the increase of life expectancy. The work on symbiosis and on hormesis has established the fact that small amounts of parasites are often associated with beneficial effects for both the host and the parasites. All of this is in line with evolutionary expectations.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Is arteriosclerosis a life prolonging, adaptive process?

Arteriosclerosis is believed by many to represent the aging process of arteries and to be responsible for the cause-specific deaths at any age in industrialized countries. However, the increasing rate of (A) associated with steadily increasing life expectancy invited studies of the average age at death (AAD) of conditions with prominent (A) (ischemic heart disease, myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular disease, "atherosclerosis"). Data were obtained from "Vital Statistics of the U.S.A.", (Vol. II, Mortality), Section 8, Tables VIII-V). Persons above the age of 40 were studied. The (A) groups were compared to the "normals" from whom (in addition to the groups with prominent arteriosclerosis,) accidents, suicides, homicides and other "external" causes of death were deducted. We also excluded malignancies because the AAD would have prejudiced the data in favor of our assumption. In general the (A) groups had significantly higher (AAD's) than the "normals". Exceptions were white males with ischemic heart disease whose (AAD) was lower than that of the "normals". This was also true for white males and females with myocardial infarction. Although (A) may exceed its normal function leading to lesions (e.g., myocardial infarction) in the majority of the cases it seems to be a life prolonging adaptive process which is in line with evolutionary expectations.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1988

Adaptive changes in aging and arteriosclerosis--role of cholesterol.

The "lipid theory" assumes that cholesterol has a causal part in the development of arteriosclerosis; however, in view of the fact that cholesterol has always accompanied life processes, the "lipid theory" contradicts the evolutionary principle of "teleonomy" which predicts that long lasting metabolic effects must have beneficial consequences. Support for the theory was claimed from the correlation between high serum cholesterol and arteriosclerotic complications, from observations in cholesterol fed animals and from cardiac lesions in familial hypercholesterolemia. However, correlations do not prove causality; whether the animal experiments and the observations in familial hypercholesterolemia are pertinent is questionable. Therefore, the possibility was considered that the cholesterol changes are an adaptive mechanism. This is supported by the "normal" cholesterol content of the early lesion, by the stabilization of the DNA helix by cholesterol in appropriate concentration, by the beneficial effects of cholesterol-rich granulomata; by recent reliable "intervention" trials with low cholesterol diets and by the observation that persons dying from ischemic heart disease (having high serum cholesterol) live at least as long as those dying from other causes. Furthermore, studies with serum cholesterol lowering drugs are difficult to interpret and often misleading. The symptomatology of the serum cholesterol changes in arteriosclerosis suggests that they belong to the adaptive aging phenomenon. This would be in line with evolutionary thinking.

Aging↗
PubMed1981

A tentative molecular-biological hypothesis for arteriosclerosis.

In view of the fact that complications of arteriosclerosis are the most frequent causes of death in industrialized societies, its etiology is of enormous interest. The widely held lipid theory (detrimental effects of cholesterol) has been attacked because it cannot account for such facts as the homeostatic relationship of endogenous and exogenous cholesterol: for the "normal" cholesterol content of the early atheroma; for the distribution of the lesions, their spotty occurrence and their "programmed" appearance. Arteriosclerosis is part of the normal processes of aging which are related to molecular-biological changes. Autoimmune processes and the effects of extrachromosomal organisms of the genome (viruses, plasmids, viroids) are clinically of interest. Arteriosclerotic lesions are probably influenced by autoimmune processes; the variability and specificity of the non-chromosomal organisms may explain the location of the lesions; the end of the incubation period of the organisms may be responsible for the programmed appearance of clinical symptoms. The lipid changes are probably part of the adaptive mechanisms counteracting the rapid destruction of the vessels following the DNA alterations. Arteriosclerosis is part of normal evolution.

Aging↗
PubMed1979

[Sodium chloride and hypertension (an additional, temporary hypothesis)].

Around the turn of the century it was observed that low dietary salt consumption is frequently associated with reduction in blood pressure in essential hypertension. It has not been established whether this is a specific effect of NaCl or whether it is an unspecific consequence of the weight loss frequently accompanying low salt intake. Changes of the Renin-Angiotension-Aldosterone system do not seem overly important for the understanding of the original lesion in essential hypertension. Hemodynamic studies demonstrate that increased peripheral (arterial) resistance is characteristic for the disease. It was possible to breed a rat strain with an "anlage" for hypertension which could be unmasked by salt supplements. In humans, essential hypertension is associated with increased salt preference suggesting a genetic factor. This increased desire for salt induces a high salt content of the body including the arterial wall. The hypothesis is being discussed that the stimulating effect of NaCl leads to contraction of the arterial wall inducing increased peripheral resistance - the hallmark of essential hypertension.

Aldosterone↗
PubMed1978

Cholesterol and repair processes in arteriosclerosis.

The high cholesterol content of the atheroma and the correlation between elevation of the serum cholesterol and myocardial infractions gave rise to the lipid theory of arteriosclerosis, which assumes that cholesterol induces arteriosclerotic lesions and that its reduction counteracts their development. However, many facts contradict this theory. Therefore, a new hypothesis has been based on the high cholesterol content of old pathological lesions of granulomatous nature and the similarity of atheromata to granulomas. In the latter, a complicated tissue containing a high percentage of cholesterol is deposited in response to the injurious agent, which becomes walled off by this tissue. Thus, cholesterol forms part of a protective mechanism, a hypothesis compatible with the known facts about the relationship of cholesterol to arteriosclerosis.

Arteriosclerosis↗
PubMed1977

[The significance of dietary fat in arteriosclerosis. An outmoded theory? (author's transl)].

The high cholesterol content of an atheroma, the frequent occurrence of myocardial infarction with high serum cholesterol, the extensive arteriosclerotic changes in diseases with high serum cholesterol (nephrosis, myxedema) and the occurrence of cholesterol deposits in the aorta in some animals fed with cholesterol are the principal arguments for the lipid theory of arteriosclerosis. But since many observations contradict this theory and the composition of the atheroma is the same as for many granulation tissues which are interpreted as a healing process, it is postulated that atheroma tissue is also to be interpreted as part of a reparative process. Such a hypothesis could explain all the well-known arteriosclerotic changes. Longterm studies in man for testing the serum cholesterol-lowering action of the "unsaturated" vegetable oils include serious errors of method and permit no confirmed conclusions.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Dietary protein, fat, and minerals in nephrocalcinosis in female rats.

Young female rats fed semipurified diets containing casein or a soy protein isolate had extensive nephrocalcinosis at the junction between the outer and inner stripe of the outer medullary zone after 5 wk on the diets, whereas rats fed a diet containing a lactalbumin concentrate did not. Although the percentages of actual protein and of total ash were similar in all three diets, the concentrations of individual minerals were not, owing to methods used in isolating the proteins. Comparison of the individual mineral contents of these diets with those in other laboratories as compiled from the literature suggested that factors other than minerals, including protein, are also implicated. Dietary fat appeared to be another such factor in a series of experiments in which saturated medium-chain triglycerides and corn oil were included in diets containing soy protein isolate. Although these diets had identical mineral compositions, the rats fed medium-chain triglycerides had less severe lesions.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Biological effects of transfatty acids.

Transfatty acids are geometrical isomers of the naturally occurring cis-fatty acids, and their molecular configuration is more like that of the corresponding saturated fatty acid. In view of the large amounts of trans-acids in commercially prepared margarines, metabolic studies with trans-acids have received a great deal of attention. Although there are differences in the absorption and digestion of trans-acids and although considerable amounts are deposited in various tissues, no definite signs of toxicity have been observed. An important finding is the increased requirement for essential fatty acids in animals fed high levels of trans-acids. In recent work carried out in Kummerow's laboratory, aortic lesions were found in swine fed large amounts of trans-acids. Evaluation of the data suggests that factors other than trans-acids, per se, may have been responsible for the occurrence of the lesions. As yet, there does not seem to be any valid reason why trans-acids should be excluded from the diet as long as their intake is associated with a high enough level of essential fatty acids in the diet.

Animals↗