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Biomedical subjects

J Jákó

Publications and source records attributed to J Jákó.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Role of thalidomide in the treatment of multiple myeloma].

Multiple myeloma is a relatively common hematologic malignancy with no definitive treatment available. Although, therapy may include allogenic bone marrow transplantation, high-dose ablative chemotherapy followed by bone marrow or peripheral stem cell transplantation, melphalan/corticosteroid therapy, alpha-interferon treatment, and combined cytostatic chemotherapy, currently none of these alternatives offers cure for the disease. Thalidomide is an infamous molecule for its teratogenicity, yet it possesses potent immunomodulatory, anti-angiogeneic and, in higher concentrations, direct anti-myeloma-cell properties. At present, the drug is only approved for the treatment of erythema nodosum of leprosy, however, there are several preliminary results that show clinical efficacy in multiple myeloma. This drug has especially potent anti-myeloma effects in combinations with dexamethasone and certain cytostatic chemotherapeutic agents. The effects are evident both in polyresistant, and relapsing myeloma, a form with no accepted effective treatment options. In this paper, the fundamental molecular and cellular effects of thalidomide are summarized then the most important clinical studies with thalidomide are reviewed. It is the authors' hope that thalidomide will soon be a full member of the medical arsenal in the fight against multiple myeloma.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

[Thrombophilia in ulcerative colitis].

The authors report a combined occurrence of thrombophilia and colitis ulcerosa and provide an analysis of relevant references in earlier works. It is likely intertwinning of the two disease's symptoms, the chronic cause of the condition and the underlying molecular biology variations cannot be traced back to a single cause. Further research is required to establish whether the protein-C anomaly exhibited in the presented case is general in this condition or an individual occurrence. The publication emphasises that in future cases it will be advisable to perform tests capable of proving or refuting the abnormality of protein-C.

Adult↗

[Three unusual cases of mastocytosis].

A unique opportunity arose to introduce the rare disease called mastocytosis as we had three patients with radically different clinical signs and disease progression. The authors would like to draw attention to the diagnostic problems that may emerge with this disease, as well as the diagnostic procedures are detailed. These problems, however, are dwarfed by the therapeutic difficulties faced by the clinicians. Complete remission with the present treatment opportunities may not be achieved, nevertheless, there are options to improve quality of life and to alleviate the symptoms that cause suffering to patients.

Adult↗

Cytokine regulation of the acute-phase protein levels in multiple myeloma.

BACKGROUND: Interleukin (IL) 6 has an important role in the regulation of acute-phase proteins (APPs) during an acute-phase response. We studied IL-6 and other cytokines to determine if they regulate serum APP levels in the same way under the condition of the aberrant, long-lasting 'acute-phase response' that occurs in patients with chronic inflammation and cancer. METHODS: Serum levels of nine positive APPs [CRP, SAA, C1-INH, Bf, C5, C8, C9, alpha 1-acidic glycoprotein (AGP) and haptoglobin] and two negative APPs [transferrin and alpha 2-HS glycoprotein (AHSG)] were measured using immunochemical methods in 59 multiple myeloma patients and in 72 healthy control subjects. Serum IL-6 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF) alpha levels were determined by bioassays. RESULTS: IL-6 was negatively correlated with five out of nine (C1-INH, C8, C9, AGP and haptoglobin) positive APPs but positively correlated with C-reactive protein (CRP). When patients with high and low IL-6 serum concentration were compared, CRP levels were higher, AGP and haptoglobin levels were lower in the high- than in the low-L-6 group, whereas no significant difference between the two groups was found in levels of the other positive and negative APPs. TNF-alpha levels were negatively correlated with transferrin and AHSG levels. No difference in the levels of positive APPs was observed between patients with low and high TNF-alpha serum concentration. By contrast, levels of both transferrin and AHSG were significantly lower in the high- than in the low-TNF-alpha group. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that, except for regulation of the negative APPs by TNF-alpha, the mechanism of APP regulation is different under the conditions of the short-term and the chronic, long-lasting 'acute-phase reaction'.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗

[Systemic mastocytosis].

The systemic mastocytosis is a rare disorder, however, the authors recently diagnosed two cases causing diagnostic problems. The diagnosis was proved by bone marrow biopsy in both patients. The authors review the diagnostic pathway considering the pitfalls. According to their conclusion, the most important factor in the diagnosis of systemic mastocytosis is to think of the possibility of systemic mastocytosis.

Aged↗

Theoretic opinion and future treatment of amyloidosis.

Amyloidosis is still enigmatic. The etiology and mechanism of storage and organ impairment are still unknown. Not all amyloidogen molecules are definitely pathogenic; some precursors of tissue amyloid are structurally analogous to normal substances produced in the organism. This paper reviews the currently accepted categories, aspects of etiology and pathogenesis, and therapeutic trends of amyloidosis with a special emphasis on plasmapheresis.

Amyloidosis↗

[Amidazophen. Yes or no?].

The authors compare the side effects and hazards of the use of Paracetamol and Amidazophen on the basis of literary data. They draw the conclusion that in case of illnesses accompanied by fever, Amidazophen is preferable as an antifebrile, on both professional and cost-effectiveness grounds. This conclusion is supported by an acute tubularis necrosis case, where a direct link is suspected between the use of Paracetamol as an antifebrile and the development of kidney damage.

Acetaminophen↗

[Childhood acute lymphoid leukemia relapsing in adult age?].

A 30-years-old woman developed an acute lymphoblastic leukemia 16 years after a successfully treated childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The developed second malignancy unexpectedly seemed identical to her previous malignant disease. That's why and because of the literature doesn't mention acute lymphoblastic leukemia as a second neoplasm after an acute lymphoblastic leukemia we considered the disease unusual late relaps of the original childhood malignancy.

Adolescent↗

Cytokines in the treatment of malignancies.

Cytokines are pleiotropic peptides produced by lymphoid cells that play important roles in cellular proliferation and multiplication. Diminished or enhanced production or constitutive secretion of cytokines contributes to the aetiology and pathogenesis of several diseases. They are soluble mediators eliciting specific responses of different target cells of paracrine, autocrine and cascade systems of the organism. Their secretion is regulated at the molecular genetic level. Gene rearrangements of cytokines and their receptors have been demonstrated in several diseases. As means of specific or supportive therapy, cytokine treatment has been used both in neoplastic and other proliferative diseases. Lymphokines and interferons comprise the first, whereas colony stimulating factors and growth factors yield the second group of cytokines. Most scientific experience is with interferon-alpha. Its anti-viral mechanism of action has been extensively studied and clarified, whereas its antitumour effect is more obscure and is a result of many simultaneous biologic events.

Cytokines↗

[Nephropathies associated with monoclonal gammopathies--a clinico-pathological study (author's transl)].

The subjects of this paper proves unequivocally that the excretion of lambda light chains must be considered a nephrotoxic process. It should be stressed, that although only a relatively small number of cases are known, this view is justified. According to our present knowledge, the process is irreversible and lethal. That the time required for the development of renal insufficiency is long can be established even without objective measurements. Under these circumstances it is justified to apply every available treatment that promises the reduction of the concentration of nephrotoxic substances, and their effects. A technical solution for treatment is plasma exchange. Although it is no definite therapeutic factor, if applied repeatedly the administration of drugs, - sufficient care being taken to avoid excessive load on the patient, it may prolong his life (49).

Acute Kidney Injury↗

A case of IgD-lambda myeloma.

A case of IgD myeloma is presented. The severe damage of both kidneys resulted in uraemia, and death. Fluorescein angiography failed to reveal a typical paraproteinaemic fundus. The elevated serum IgD level decreased form 1000 mg to 400 mg per 100 ml during cytostatic therapy. The effect of the antineoplastic drugs on the plasmocytes was demonstrated by microphotograms. The caryograms revealed multiple changes.

Aged↗

Abnormal antithrombin III (antithrombin III "Budapest") as a cause of a familial thrombophilia.

A family with a high incidence of spontaneous thromboembolism has been investigated and those members affected were found to have significantly depressed levels of plasma and serum heparin cofactor activity; i.e., antithrombin III and anti-Xa activity. Further studies revealed that despite a marked diminution of antithrombin III activity in these patients measurement of antithrombin III by immunological techniques showed the levels to be normal. It is concluded that this anomaly represents a defect in the synthesis of the antithrombin III molecule. The abnormality appeared to be inherited but the mode of inheritance could not be determined with the available data.

Adsorption↗