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Biomedical subjects

K J Zilkha

Publications and source records attributed to K J Zilkha.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1989

Effects of dietary linoleic acid and gamma linolenic acid on platelets of patients with multiple sclerosis.

The effects of dietary evening primrose oil (rich in linoleic acid and gamma-linolenic acid) were studied on platelets of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and controls. It was found that platelet aggregation (ADP, thrombin and collagen), platelet fibrinogen binding and platelet glycoprotein (sialic acid and N-acetyl glucosamine) content were not significantly modified by evening primrose oil in MS patients and controls. Moreover, platelet fibrinogen binding and platelet glycoprotein (sialic acid and N-acetyl glucosamine) content were determined for the first time in MS patients and found similar to controls. Platelets of MS patients aggregated more to thrombin and collagen compared to controls, but the difference was only significant with thrombin aggregation after the oil treatment. This study does not show a significant effect of evening primrose oil on platelets of MS patients.

8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid↗
PubMed1985

Response to platelet-activating factor of platelets from patients with multiple sclerosis.

The response of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and control platelets to different concentrations of platelet-activating factor was studied. At concentrations in the range 10(-7) to 10(-5)M, it was found that the MS platelets tended to aggregate fully at lower concentrations than was the case with control platelets. At a concentration of 10(-6)M, it was found that in 19 cases the MS platelets gave a full aggregation response whilst 4 cases showed biphasic but full aggregation, whereas at this concentration the control platelets showed full aggregation in only 2 cases, biphasic but less complete aggregation in 5 cases and reversible aggregation in 16 cases. In crossover studies, it could be shown that MS platelets resuspended in control platelet-poor plasma still showed enhanced aggregability and that the response of control platelets was unaffected by resuspension in MS platelet-poor plasma. Differences were also seen in susceptibility of platelets of MS and control subjects to inhibition by indomethacin, bromophenacyl bromide (a phospholipase inhibitor) and verapamil (a Ca2+ antagonist). It is suggested that the hyperaggregability of the MS platelets could reside in the platelets themselves, and may be associated with enhanced phospholipase activity.

Acetophenones↗
PubMed1985

Serum dopamine beta-hydroxylase activity in menstrual migraine.

Migraine has been considered a manifestation of sympathetic dysfunction. Serum dopamine beta-hydroxylase (D beta H) has been shown to be an index of peripheral sympathetic activity by some workers and there are two reports of elevated activity of the enzyme during the migraine headache as well as in the headache-free interval. We studied the enzyme in seven women complaining of regular attacks of menstrual migraine and eleven controls during the mid-follicular (days 10 +/- 2) and premenstrual (days 28 +/- 2) phases of the menstrual cycle. Although levels were on average 26% and 10% higher respectively than in control subjects, the difference failed to reach statistical significance because of the large normal range for enzyme activity. However, the premenstrual results were significantly lower (p less than 0.001) than the mid-follicular measurements in the migraine group, little difference being found in controls. This finding, and the effects of successful therapy with anovulatory doses of oestradiol implants in not only significantly lowering serum D beta H but also significantly reducing the difference in enzymic activity between the early and late phases of the menstrual cycle, suggest that if this enzyme is an index of sympathetic activity, it is excessive fluctuations of the sympathetic nervous system that may be relevant in menstrual migraine.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Acupuncture versus medical treatment for migraine and muscle tension headaches.

In 48 patients with chronic migraine and muscle tension headaches, a comparison was made between a prophylactic course of acupuncture and of medical treatment. It was intended that all patients should have 3 months with both forms of treatment, but 19 were unwilling to change from one form of prophylaxis to the other. Twenty-four of 41 patients improved on acupuncture, the improvement being very marked in nine; nine of 36 patients improved on medical treatment, the improvement being marked in three. Of the 29 patients who changed from one form of treatment to the other, a larger proportion preferred acupuncture to medical treatment. A beneficial response to acupuncture was more likely when the patient had local tender muscular points. The presence of depressive features did not preclude satisfactory treatment with acupuncture. No major side effects were encountered with acupuncture.

Acupuncture Therapy↗
PubMed1983

Treatment of menstrual migraine by oestradiol implants.

The suppression of cyclical ovarian activity and the creation of constant oestradiol levels in blood by subcutaneous oestradiol implants has been used to treat 24 patients with menstrual migraine for up to five years. Twenty-three patients improved with treatment, 20 (83%) became completely or almost completely headache-free. Regular monthly periods were induced with cyclical oral progestogens. The treatment was not associated with any problems. The results support the concept that oestrogen withdrawal in the late luteal and menstrual phases of the ovarian cycle is the important precipitating factor in menstrual migraine, and such attacks can be prevented by suppressing the hormonal fluctuations associated with the ovarian cycle.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Familial extrapyramidal disease with peripheral neuropathy.

A family is presented in which 10 members over three generations developed a Parkinsonian syndrome. Two siblings had additional clinical and electrophysiological evidence of an associated peripheral neuropathy and sural nerve biopsy in one case revealed axonal loss. This is the third family reported in the literature in which an extrapyramidal syndrome is associated with neuropathy, but differs from earlier reports in that neuropathic involvement was due to axonal degeneration rather than segmental demyelination.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

'Pseudo-dominant' inheritance in Friedreich's ataxia.

A family is described in which Friedreich's ataxia occurred in two generations. It is proposed that this resulted from a homozygote-heterozygote mating. The heterozygote frequency for the Friedreich's ataxia gene is in the order of 1 in 110, so the likelihood of the disease developing in an individual child of a patient is 1 in 220. This risk is probably higher than that often assumed when counselling patients with this disorder.

Ataxia↗
PubMed1980

Levels of linoleate and arachidonate in red blood cells of healthy individuals and patients with multiple sclerosis.

The major fatty acids were measured in total lipid extracts of red blood cells from 23 control subjects and 31 patients with multiple sclerosis. In the healthy control subjects an inverse correlation (r = -0.83) was found between the percentages of linoleate and arachidonate. In the patients such an inverse correlation was not found. The results suggest an abnormality in the red blood cells of patients with multiple sclerosis specifically with regard to the regulation of the relative amounts of unsaturated fatty acids, and this has implications for the possible treatment of multiple sclerosis with dietary supplements.

Arachidonic Acids↗
PubMed1977

Early morning migraine. Nocturnal plasma levels of catecholamines, tryptophan, glucose, and free fatty acids and sleep encephalographs.

Nocturnal plasma catecholamine, tryptophan, glucose, and free fatty acid levels have been measured in 19 subjects who regularly awoke from sleep with migraine. All-night polygraphic sleep recordings were also made. 13 subjects were studied on a second occasion allowing within-subject control as well as group comparison. Plasma total catecholamine and specifically plasma-noradrenaline levels were significantly higher in the three hours before the subjects awoke with migraine. No differences were found in plasma tryptophan, glucose, insulin, and free fatty acid levels in the migraine/no-migraine categories. Waking with migraine occurred significantly more often from rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep. There were no other differences in sleep pattern in the migraine/no-migraine categories.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Computerised axial tomography in patients with severe migraine: a preliminary report.

Patients suffering from severe migraine, usually for many years, have been examined by the EMI scanner between attacks. Judged by criteria validated originally by comparison with pneumoencephalography, about half of the patients showed evidence of cerebral atrophy. Perhaps of more significance than generalised atrophy was the frequency of areas of focal atrophy and of evidence of infarction.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Relationship between plasma and lymphocyte linoleate in multiple sclerosis.

The linoleate level in total lipids was measured in lymphocytes from control subjects and patients with multiple sclerosis. A small but significant decrease was found in cases of multiple sclerosis. The percentage composition of lymphocyte fatty acids was determined in rats fed diets with various linoleate contents. There was a correlation between lymphocyte linoleate and plasma linoleate in both humans and rats.

Animals↗
PubMed1974

Effects of ergotamine and methysergide on blood platelet aggregation responses of migrainous subjects.

Platelet aggregation responses to 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) were measured in plasma from migrainous subjects taking either methysergide maleate or ergotamine tartrate and were found to be reduced. Blood 5-HT levels of subjects free of headache were not affected by these drugs. The results support the hypothesis that methysergide and ergotamine act by occupying 5-HT uptake sites in vessel walls, leaving 5-HT molecules available to occupy receptors concerned with vasoconstriction.

Blood Platelets↗