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Biomedical subjects

L Balant

Publications and source records attributed to L Balant.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

[Therapy compliance. A matter of concern in clinical medicine].

Approximately one half of the patients takes prescribed medications irregularly or omits these altogether. On the basis of our own observations and published reports we analyze the factors influencing compliance. The motivation of the patients plays a decisive role, it is rooted in the meaning the patient gives to his existence, to where the strength of his family bonds and the confidence in the care-taking persons lays as well as the possibility to express himself which is most important. The better guidance and training of the doctors in the difficult task of strengthening such motivation may contribute to substantially improve this situation.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Red blood cell protein map: a comparison between carrier-ampholyte pH gradient and immobilized pH gradient, and identification of four red blood cell enzymes.

The aim of this study was (a) to establish a red blood cell (RBC) protein map with immobilized pH gradient for the first dimension (b) to compare the pattern with previously published RBC protein map obtained with carrier-ampholyte pH gradients and (c) to localize four new enzymes on the map (i.e. 6-phosphogluconic dehydrogenase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase). This publication provides the most updated RBC polypeptide pattern with twelve proteins or enzymes localized on the map.

Blood Protein Electrophoresis↗
PubMed1979

[Pharmacokinetics of a new cephalosporin, cefoperazone].

Cefoperazone is a semi-synthetic cephalosporin for parenteral use with an extended antibacterial spectrum covering Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter cloacae and Serratia marcescens. Its pharmacokinetic properties were studied in 8 healthy subjects after 2 intravenous infusions of 2 g of the drug at a 12-hour interval. The mean peak serum concentrations were 134 +/- 16 microgram/ml and 143 microgram/ml. Cefoperazone was shown to possess a long half-life for a cephalosporin (1.7 hours). In our concentration range the drug is 90% protein bound. The apparent volume of distribution was a mean 11.4 liters and the renal clearance 18 ml/min. The cumulative urinary excretion was small, viz. 23% in 12 hours, indicating that there should be no need to modify the dosage regimen in renal failure. Comparison of in vitro studies with the pharmacokinetic properties show that 2 g cefoperazone given intravenously twice a day should inhibit most sensitive bacteria.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1979

[Value and limits of urinary protein electrophoresis with sodium dodecyl sulfate in the evaluation of glomerular nephropathies].

Qualitative analysis of urinary proteins is contrasted with histological findings of 45 renal biopsies performed in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis. Compared to electrophoresis on cellulose acetate and immunoelectrophoresis, a method using polyacrylamide gel after sodium dodecylsulfate treatment makes for more refined and objective differentiation of protein abnormalities. On the whole, proteinuria of the selective glomerular or physiological type predominates in the event of minimal change or membranous lesions. The non-selective type is found more frequently with diffuse proliferative or membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (p less than 0.025). There are, however, too many exceptions to this rule to allow certainty, and a precise diagnosis of the particular type of glomerulonephritis is thus only possible histologically. Each type of histological involvement may cause almost any of the qualitative abnormalities of proteinuria. On the other hand, qualitative analysis of urinary proteins is useful for the detection of glomerulonephritis. A glomerular type of proteinuria may sometimes reveal involvement of kidneys at a time when, quantitatively, there is no proteinuria. In cases of orthostatic proteinuria a persistent glomerular type of tracing in recumbency suggests an organic kidney ailment. All patients in this series had a glomerular type of proteinuria when excretion was pathological, thus allowing a distinction from pure tubular involvement. 10 patients of the group, however, although they clearly had glomerular lesions (3 were diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis) showed perfectly normal proteinuria both quantitatively and qualitatively. This was the case in systemic lupus erythematosus where kidney biopsy was performed without clinical suspicion of renal involvement. In summary, qualitative abnormalities of proteinuria call attention to underlying glomerulonephritis, although no distinction can be made between the various forms and there may be no detectable abnormality even in the event of major kidney involvement.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

[Cholestyramine and digoxin intoxication: therapeutic efficacy?].

Plasma levels of digoxin were measured in a patient after massive intoxication. Pharmacokinetic analysis of the data as compared with other cases of digoxin intoxication reveals that in these situations oral administration of cholestyramine may be of benefit to the patient.

Cholestyramine Resin↗
PubMed1979

[The hand in diabetes. Study of 97 diabetics compared to a control group].

To determine whether there is hand involvement specific to diabetes, 97 diabetics were compared with the same number of matched controls. Hands were examined with particular emphasis on skin, intrinsic muscles, articular mobility, sense of touch and vibration, digital systolic pressure, and radiological analysis of bones and joints. The most significant involvement, clearly present in 7 cases and less specifically in 12 other diabetics, included all of the following: atrophy and weakness of intrinsic muscles, painful interphalangeal rigidity limiting extension or flexion of the fingers, periarticular swelling of the phalanges, and trophic changes of the skin. Separately, these changes are not specific to diabetes: in the control group, although less frequent, they were found in patients aged 60 and over and are considered to be signs of senescence. Diabetes apparently accelerates the process of aging. Diabetic changes in the hand appear to be facilitated by neuropathy but not by arterial involvement. X-ray revealed a higher incidence of osteopenia and above all of vascular calcifications in the diabetic.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Des 4-trans-hydroxy-glibenclamide show hypoglycemic activity?

Different doses of glibenclamide and of 4-transhydroxy-glibenclamide (main metabolite in man) were administered i.p. to rats and blood glucose was measured. The comparison of the doses capable of producing a 30% decrease of the glycemia shows that 4-trans-hydroxy-glibenclamide is about 6.5 times less potent than glibenclamide in our experimental conditions.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Clinical relevance of different electrophoretic methods for the analysis of urinary proteins.

Three electrophoretic techniques are usually available in the clinical laboratories for the qualitative investigation of urinary protein patterns: 1) acetate cellulose, 2) immuno-electrophoresis; and 3) SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Proteinuria (the excretion of proteins in excess of 150 mg/day or 100 microgram/min) usually signifies either increased permeability of the glomerular-capillary membrane of diminished tubular reabsorption. Since glomerular disease is associated with an increased clearance of albumin and higher molecular weight proteins, whereas tubular damage is associated with the predominant excretion of proteins of lower molecular weight than albumin, it seems logical to establish a classification of proteinuria according to the molecular weight of its constituents. One can thus basically distinguish 5 types of proteinurias: 1) physiological; 2) tubular; 3) selective glomerular; 4) non selective glomerular; and 5) mixed proteinurias. Additionally one must distinguish "myeloma proteinurias" where monoclonal complete or incomplete gamma-globulins are found in the urine. Clinically it may be useful to determine the qualitatively normal or pathologic character of a quantitatively normal proteinuria, especially in the following conditions: 1) for early diagnosis of nephropathy in patients, such as diabetics, which are particularly prone to suffer from renal complications; 2) to confirm the clinical cure or to predict the recurrence of renal diseases; and 3) in such situations as orthostatic, or myeloma proteinuria, or any elevation of the urinary protein output of unknown etiology.

Clinical Laboratory Techniques↗
PubMed1978

[Salivary electrolytes, digitalis glycosides and cardiac insufficiency].

In a group of 29 patients treated with digoxin for cardiac failure, only 16 showed increased calcium and potassium concentrations in saliva. There was no correlation in the 29 patients between serum digoxin levels and concentrations of salivary electrolytes. On the other hand, in 4 normal subjects treated with digoxin no change in salivary electrolytes was noted. It is concluded that modifications in salivary electrolytes seen in patients with cardiac failure treated with digitalis are not due to this drug. However, a retrospective clinical study showed a good correlation between clinical signs of cardiac failure and increased levels of salivary calcium, potassium and CaX Kproduct. It is suggested that this phenomenon is due to the well-known adrenergic stimulation in patients with cardiac failure.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

[Metabolites of hypoglycemic sulfonylureas in kidney failure. Experience with glibenclamide].

Renal insufficiency is a factor which predisposes to hypoglycemic accidents in subjects treated with hypoglycemic sulfonylureas. Glibenclamide (glyburide) is eliminated from the body mainly by metabolism, with the result that renal insufficiency has little effect on its biotransformation. In order to determine to what extent the retention of the metabolities intervenes in such hypoglycemic accidents, rats with ligatured ureters received intraperitoneal injections of 1 mg/kg glibenclamide or hydroxy-glibenclamide (the main metabolite), or of saline. For each animal there was a control animal which had undergone a simulated operation. For six rats with renal insufficiency, glibenclamide caused hypoglycemia of the same intensity as in the control group but more prolonged. With hydroxy-glibenclamide the glycemia was signficantly lower than in the control group. Hydroxy-glibenclamide has an obvious hypoglycemic activity which represents 1/6 of that of the parent drug, but 50--100 times that of tolbutamide. Its retention contributed to the intensification and prolongation of the hypoglycemic effect of glibenclamide in rats with renal insufficiency.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed1978

[The exhaled hydrogen test: its value in the quantitative diagnosis of carbohydrate malabsorption].

A study has been conducted to determine the accuracy of breath-H2 measurements for quantitating the malabsorption of small amounts of carbohydrate. H2 pulmonary excretion was measured after an overnight fast at 30-min intervals for 4 h in 7 healthy subjects after ingestion of 4 doses of lactulose (2.5,5,10 and 50 g). In 3 subjects the test was repeated without lactulose. The volume of H2 excreted was directly proportional to the amount of ingested lactulose: mean cumulative H2 excretion over a 2-h period after 5, 10 and 50 g was 2.9, 6.6 and 37.6 ml H2 respectively; H2 response after the 2.5-g dose was not perceptible. Individual H2 excretion before lactulose ingestion was highly variable: 0.096 +/- 0.075 mlH2 (mean +/- 1 SD); the individual base line rate over a fasting period showed marked fluctuations. It is concluded that the inter- and intraindividual variations of H2 excretion limit the accuracy of the H2 breath test for quantitating malabsorption of small amounts of carbohydrate.

Breath Tests↗
PubMed1978

[Role of metabolites in the relationship between pharmacokinetics and the effect of beta blockers. Studies on tolamolol and bufuralol].

Plasma concentrations of tolamolol and bufuralol (beta-blocking agents) were measured after oral and intravenous administration to healthy volunteers. The plasma levels of their main metabolite was also determined. Simultaneously, the effect of the drugs on the heart rate and blood pressure was monitored under various stimuli (isoproterenol, exercise or orthostatism) and Valsalva maneuver. When given orally, the two drugs are extensively metabolized by a hepatic first-pass effect. After reaching the systemic circulation, they are metabolized in the liver to hydroxylated derivatives with similar pharmacologic activity as the parent molecule. For tolamolol it is possible to demonstrate a good correlation between parent drug blood levels and the pharmacodynamic effect; this relation is less evident for bufuralol. The pharmacokinetic analysis of the behaviour of the two beta-blocking agents and their main metabolite makes it possible to explain this difference in part. The results of the present study emphasize the importance of measuring metabolites when dose-action relationships are investigated.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1978

[D-xylose absorption test. A pharmacokinetic and statistical study].

D-xylose pharmacokinetics has been studied in 6 healthy subjects by serial measurement of blood and urinary levels following oral and intravenous administration of two doses of D-xylose (5 and 25 g successively). Furthermore, patients with obesity, renal or hepatic insufficiency, or with a T-drain after cholecystectomy, are also investigated. Both the rate and completeness of D-xylose absorption and the apparent distribution volume of D-xylose present noteworthy interindividual variations, so that the time and value of the peak blood level are highly variable as between healthy subjects. Renal insufficiency increases the apparent elimination half-life of D-xylose and notably reduces D-xylose renal excretion. This study provides pharmacokinetic evidence of the very wide range of blood and urinary levels observed in the D-xylose tolerance test, and emphasizes the fact that D-xylose urinary excretion alone is not a reliable index of intestinal absorption.

Administration, Oral↗