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Biomedical subjects

J Leppert

Publications and source records attributed to J Leppert.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Whole-body cooling increases plasma endothelin-1 levels in women with primary Raynaud's phenomenon.

To understand better the role of endothelin-1 (ET-1) in the pathogenesis of primary Raynaud's phenomenon (PRP), we investigated the basal ET-1 plasma levels and changes after whole-body cooling in healthy women and those with PRP. The study was performed as an open parallel-group comparison during the month of February. The Raynaud group included 21 female patients (mean age 45.3 years, range 21-57 years) who had had disabling Raynaud's phenomenon for a mean period of 17 years (range 2-26 years). The control group consisted of 25 healthy women (mean age 43.6 years, range 27-56 years). Plasma levels of ET-1 were measured on two separate occasions: once after 30 min of rest at room temperature and after 40 min of whole-body cooling. There were no significant differences in baseline plasma ET-1 levels between the two groups of women. The plasma ET-1 levels increased significantly in the PRP group after cold exposure (mean difference 0.11 pmol l-1, 95% CI 0.005-0.214, P = 0.012). In contrast, the levels of plasma ET-1 in the control group did not change significantly after cold provocation. In conclusion, no differences in plasma basal levels of ET-1 were observed between the two groups. However, women suffering from Raynaud's phenomenon responded with a slight but significant elevation in plasma levels of ET-1 after whole-body cooling, whereas the healthy control subjects did not. The results from the present study confirm previous observations that endothelial dysfunction may be of aetiological importance in PRP.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Seasonal variations in cyclic GMP response on whole-body cooling in women with primary Raynaud's phenomenon.

1. Primary Raynaud's phenomenon (PRP) is characterized by increased vasoconstrictor tone that develops during exposure to cold. The symptoms are most pronounced during the winter months with low outdoor temperature. The L-arginine-nitric oxide (NO)-cyclic GMP (cGMP) pathway plays an important role in counteracting vasospasm. The aim of the present study was to investigate if the venous cGMP response to whole-body cooling in women with PRP varied with the season of the year. 2. The study was performed as an open parallel-group comparison between women with PRP and healthy female controls during the winter months of February 1994 and 1995 and in the summer month of August 1994. Blood samples were drawn just before and 40 min after whole-body cooling. 3. There were no significant changes in venous cGMP after whole-body cooling in women with PRP during the winter months of February 1994 and 1995. Cold exposure in the summer month of August resulted, however, in a significant increase in venous cGMP (P < 0.01). In contrast, the healthy women responded with a significant increase in venous cGMP on all three test occasions: February 1994 (P < 0.05), August 1994 (P < 0.05) and February 1995 (P < 0.01), 4. A seasonal variation in venous cGMP response to whole-body cooling was observed only in women with PRP. Healthy women responded to cold exposure with an increase in venous cGMP during summer and winter, whereas females with PRP showed an increase only during summer. Results from the present study might indicate seasonal variation in the regulation of constitutive nitric oxide synthetase in women with PRP, which may contribute to new therapeutic approaches.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Plasma nitric oxide metabolite in women with primary Raynaud's phenomenon and in healthy subjects.

Primary Raynaud's phenomenon (PRP) is characterized by cold- or stress-induced transient attacks of impaired skin circulation in fingers and/or toes. PRP displays seasonal variation with less severe symptoms in the summer. The aetiology has not been clarified. The aims of the present study were (a) to assess the influence of cold exposure on the plasma levels of the nitric oxide (NO) metabolite, nitrate, in patients with PRP and in healthy control subjects; and (b) to investigate whether there is a seasonal variation in these plasma levels. In a group of women with PRP and matched control subjects, venous blood was sampled before and at the end of a 40-min period of whole-body cooling. The study was performed with the same protocol on two occasions; once in the winter and once in the summer. A seasonal variation was detected with higher plasma levels of nitrate in the winter than in the summer, both in PRP and in control subjects. However, the plasma level of nitrate was not changed in response to cold exposure on any occasion, either in the patient or in the control group. Our study indicates that NO formation is up-regulated in response to cold weather in both study groups. However, NO formation does not seem to be increased in response to whole-body cooling, either in PRP patients or in healthy subjects. Further investigations are required to reveal whether the observed seasonal variation in NO formation is a universal phenomenon in man.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Psychopathy, platelet MAO activity and criminality among former juvenile delinquents.

Psychopathy-related personality traits as well as platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity and criminality from the age of 15 years were studied in a group of 68 male former juvenile delinquents and 32 control subjects. The former juvenile delinquents registered for crime as adults were found to have higher Psychopathy Check List (PCL) scores and lower platelet MAO activity than either juvenile delinquents who were not registered criminals from the age of 15 years or non-criminal controls. Although PCL scores and platelet MAC activity were unrelated, a configural frequency analysis showed a significant interaction. Individuals with PCL scores, low platelet MAO activity and persistent criminal behaviour constituted a significant "type'. Among the 27 former juvenile delinquents who developed persistent criminality, 21 subjects (78%) had PCL scores greater than 0 and low platelet MAO activity, while none of these persistent criminals were characterized by a combination of zero PCL score and high platelet MAO activity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Criminality and psychopathy as related to thyroid activity in former juvenile delinquents.

Levels of triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), psychopathy-related personality traits and criminality from the age of 15 years onward were examined in 70 former juvenile delinquents and 35 control subjects aged 38-46 years. T3 levels were significantly associated with criminality but not with psychopathy-related personality traits. TSH levels were not related to any of these variables. Juvenile delinquents who displayed persistent criminal behaviour were found to have higher mean T3 levels than juvenile delinquents who did not display criminality in adulthood and non-criminal controls. Former juvenile delinquents with T3 levels above the mean level found in the controls were registered for criminality 3.8 times more often than juvenile delinquents with T3 levels below the mean level found in the control group. The results are discussed in terms of elevated T3 levels representing a compensatory or stress phenomenon for low social adaptive ability of individuals who display persistent criminal behaviour.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Cold exposure increases cyclic guanosine monophosphate in healthy women but not in women with Raynaud's phenomenon.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate influence of whole-body cooling on cyclic GMP (cGMP) in women with Raynaud's phenomenon and in healthy women. DESIGN: The study was performed as an open, parallel-group comparison between women with Raynaud's phenomenon and healthy women during the winter month of February. SETTING: The municipality of Västerås (Sweden). PARTICIPANTS: The Raynaud group comprised 24 female patients. The control group consisted of 21 healthy females. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The venous levels of cGMP were measured on three different occasions: just before and after 40 min of whole-body cooling and after 20 min rest at room temperature (21 degrees C). RESULTS: Venous cGMP increased significantly in the control group after cold exposure (mean difference 0.43 pmol mL-1; 95% CI, 0.018-0.848; t = 2.18; df = 20; P = 0.02) and remained at a high level after 20 min rest (mean difference 0.58 pmol mL-1; 95% CI, 0.063-1.108; t = 2.34; df = 20; P = 0.015). In contrast, the levels of venous cGMP in the Raynaud group did not change significantly. The difference in increase between the two groups was significant (P < 0.02). The diastolic blood pressure in the Raynaud group increased after 40 min of whole-body cooling and was still significantly increased (P < 0.001) after 20 min rest at room temperature (21 degrees C). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that women suffering from Raynaud's phenomenon lack the physiological response of cGMP to cold exposure, which may explain their increased vasospastic response.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Magnesium sulphate infusion decreases circulating calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in women with primary Raynaud's phenomenon.

The effects of two different vasodilating agents (MgSO4 infusion and the calcium antagonist nifedipine) on circulating levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) were studied in 12 women with pronounced primary Raynaud's phenomenon (PRP) and in 12 healthy females. There were no significant differences with regard to basal levels of circulating CGRP between women with PRP and the control group; median 15.5 (range 10-48) vs. 14 (range 10-69) pmol l-1, respectively. However, treatment with MgSO4 infusion significantly decreased circulating CGRP in women with PRP only from median 15.5 (range 10-48) to 10 (range 10-110) pmol l-1) (P < 0.05). On the other hand 14 days of treatment with nifedipine did not affect circulating CGRP in either of the investigated groups. Erythrocyte magnesium (ery-Mg) levels increased significantly after MgSO4 infusion in women with PRP (2.43 +/- 0.13 vs. 2.52 +/- 0.15 mmol l-1, P < 0.05) but not in the controls (2.51 +/- 0.24 vs. 2.57 +/- 0.28 mmol l-1, ns). In conclusion, the decrease of circulating CGRP after MgSO4 infusion in women with PRP provides further evidence that magnesium plays a significant role in the pathophysiology of PRP.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Criminality and platelet monoamine oxidase activity in former juvenile delinquents as adults.

Platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity was estimated in 70 former delinquent boys and 40 controls now aged 38-46 years. Platelet MAO activity was compared with their early criminal behaviour (before the age of 15) and their late registered criminality from the age of 15). Mean platelet MAO activity in subjects with both early and late criminality was significantly lower than that in former delinquents without late criminality. There was no significant difference in mean platelet MAO activity between controls and delinquents with early but no late criminality. When delinquents with early criminality were divided into a low and a high MAO group, the relative risk to be registered for late criminality was about 3.1 times higher for the subjects in the low MAO group. Thus, individuals with low platelet MAO activity run an increased risk of continued criminal behaviour.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

The concentration of magnesium in erythrocytes in female patients with primary Raynaud's phenomenon; fluctuation with the time of year.

The magnesium (Mg) concentration was measured in erythrocytes of 30 women with pronounced primary Raynaud's phenomenon (PRP) and of 33 age-matched healthy control women. The measurements were made at three different times, six months apart. The mean Mg concentration in the PRP group and the control group differed significantly at each measurement. The values for the two groups were, respectively, 1.64 +/- 0.21 and 2.02 +/- 0.21 mmol/L (P < 0.001) in February, 1988; 2.16 +/- 0.21 and 1.85 +/- 0.21 mmol/L (P < 0.001) in August, 1988; and 2.01 +/- 0.21 and 2.37 +/- 0.20 mmol/L (P < 0.001) in January, 1989. The erythrocyte Mg level varied significantly with the time of year in both groups. In the PRP group the mean value was significantly higher in August than in the two winter months, but in the control group it was significantly lower in August. The authors conclude that women with PRP have a significantly lower magnesium concentration in erythrocytes during winter than the healthy controls and that this concentration varied with the season of the year in both groups.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Effect of magnesium sulfate infusion on circulating levels of noradrenaline and neuropeptide-Y-like immunoreactivity in patients with primary Raynaud's phenomenon.

The effect of a short-term magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) infusion on venous plasma concentration of noradrenaline (NA) and neuropeptide-Y-like immunoreactivity (NPY-LI) was investigated in 12 women with primary Raynaud's phenomenon (PRP) and in 12 healthy matched controls. The Raynaud's patients did not demonstrate any significant changes in mean basal plasma NA concentration (0.29 +/- 0.15 vs 0.37 +/- 0.09 ng/mL, ns) after MgSO4 infusion. However, in the controls there was more than twice the amount of circulating noradrenaline (cNA) (0.21 +/- 0.14 vs 0.54 +/- 0.22 ng/mL, P < 0.001) after MgSO4 infusion, compared with the preinfusion value. Measurements during the cold pressor test prior to the MgSO4 infusion showed a significant increase of cNA in both the PRP group and the control group (from 0.29 +/- 0.15 to 0.33 +/- 0.16 ng/mL, P < 0.05, and from 0.21 +/- 0.14 to 0.29 +/- 0.16 ng/mL, P < 0.005, respectively). After MgSO4 infusion the levels of cNA during the cold pressor test increased significantly only in the PRP group (from 0.37 +/- 0.09 to 0.41 +/- 0.11 ng/mL, P < 0.05). Circulating NPY-LI concentrations increased significantly during MgSO4 infusion in the Raynaud's patients as well as in the controls from 105 +/- 21 to 127 +/- 23 pmol/L, P < 0.05, and from 107 +/- 17 to 132 +/- 27 pmol/L, P < 0.01, respectively. There were no detectable changes during the cold pressor tests in either group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Risk factors for cardiovascular disease and their relation to age and educational level among middle-aged women. Study of middle-aged women in a rural area.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the occurrence of risk factors for CVD and their relation to age and educational level among middle-aged women in a rural area. DESIGN: A descriptive study of all middle-aged women (40 to 59 years) in the area. SETTING: A parish in middle Sweden (Ostervåla). PARTICIPANTS: All women born 1930-1949 in the parish of Ostervåla (324 on 1 October 1988). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Total serum cholesterol, Serum triglycerides, LDL/HDL ratio, F-blood-glucose, Blood-pressure, Body Mass Index and Waist/Hip circumference Ratio as well as quality of life factors as reported in a questionnaire. RESULTS: For all variables examined there was a significant difference between lower and higher educated women except for fasting blood glucose, serum triglycerides and quality of life scores, in favour to the more educated group. The number of risk factors for CVD were increased with age but decreased with education. Quality-of-life scores were lower in individuals experiencing pronounced stress than in less stressed individuals. Life-quality scores were higher among able-bodied persons than among those with a reduced capacity to work or unemployed persons. The number of risk factors were surprisingly high in many women. An intervention programme will be initiated. Further studies will show whether it is possible to decrease the number of risk factors and as a consequence the standardized mortality rate.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Sympathetic activation after two weeks of nifedipine treatment in primary Raynaud's patients and controls.

The effect of a standardized cold pressor test on circulating noradrenaline and neuropeptide-Y-like immunoreactivity was investigated in 12 women with primary Raynaud's phenomenon and 12 healthy female controls before and after 2 weeks of treatment with the calcium antagonist, nifedipine. Measurement before treatment showed significant increase during the cold pressor test on circulating noradrenaline in both the primary Raynaud's phenomenon group and in the control group (from 0.29 +/- 0.15 ng/ml to 0.33 +/- 0.16 ng/ml, p < 0.05, and from 0.21 +/- 0.14 ng/ml to 0.29 +/- 0.16 ng/ml, p < 0.005, respectively). However, treatment with nifedipine resulted in significantly increased levels of circulating noradrenaline during the cold pressor test only in the control group (from 0.43 +/- 0.21 ng/ml to 0.50 +/- 0.20 ng/ml, p < 0.01). Plasma concentrations of neuropeptide-Y-like immunoreactivity were unchanged by the standardized cold pressor test, whether performed before or during nifedipine treatment in both groups. Nifedipine treatment per se significantly increased circulating noradrenaline in both the primary Raynaud's phenomenon patient group and in the control group (from 0.29 +/- 0.15 to 0.49 +/- 0.13 and 0.21 +/- 0.14 to 0.43 +/- 0.21 ng/ml, respectively, p < 0.001). Similarly, the circulating neuropeptide-Y-like immunoreactivity significantly increased in both the primary Raynaud's phenomenon group and in the control group (from 105 +/- 21 to 137 +/- 19 pmol/l and 107 +/- 17 to 147 +/- 13 pmol/l, respectively, p < 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1993

Effects of cold pressor test on circulating atrial natriuretic peptide 99-126 (ANP) in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon and influence of treatment with magnesium sulphate and nifedipine.

The effect of a standardized cold pressure test (CPT) on the venous concentration of immunoreactive atrial natriuretic peptide (irANP) was studied in 12 females with primary Raynaud's phenomenon (PRP) and 12 female age-matched controls. The test was performed at the end of three stages. During the first stage no medication was given. During the second stage a magnesium infusion was given. After fourteen days of medication with a calcium antagonist (Nifedipine) the third stage of the study was performed. The venous irANP increased significantly (P < 0.05) 10 min after the start of the CPT both in the PRP group and in the control group (136 +/- 39 to 159 +/- 54 and 153 +/- 45 to 179 +/- 40 pg ml-1, given as mean and SD). Baseline irANP did not change in the PRP group after treatment with magnesium or nifedipine. In the control group nifedipine treatment significantly (P < 0.01) lowered venous irANP compared to the no treatment or magnesium sulphate infusion stages (128 +/- 31 vs. 153 +/- 45 and 160 +/- 41 pg ml-1). After the CPT in both PRP group and control group the venous irANP did not increase either during magnesium sulphate infusion or nifedipine treatment. In conclusion the study has demonstrated that a standardized CPT results in a delayed increase in irANP in venous plasma and that magnesium sulphate infusion and nifedipine treatment prevent this increase. Furthermore, our data do not suggest a role for irANP in the symptomatology of primary Raynaud's phenomenon.

Adult↗