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Biomedical subjects

M Statter

Publications and source records attributed to M Statter.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Effect of swimming on prednisolone-induced osteoporosis in elderly rats.

We investigated the possible ameliorating and preventive effect of swimming on prednisolone-induced osteoporosis in elderly rats. A total of 48 female Sabra strain rats were randomly assigned to the following groups and treatments: (1) control (C), (2) swimming (S), (3) prednisolone-treated (CP), and (4) swimming + prednisolone (SP). An additional 8 rats were sacrificed and examined at the onset of the study. Groups C and S were sham injected; groups CP and SP were injected with prednisolone (Ultracorten), 80 mg/kg three times per week for 10 weeks. Groups S and SP swam 1 h daily, 5 days per week for 10 weeks. SP rats swam simultaneously with prednisolone administration. At the end of the swimming period, in vivo bone mineral content (BMC) measurements were performed on rat vertebrae L4-5 by single-photon absorptiometry. Later, the humerus and femur were removed for the following measurements: morphometric, bone density (BD) by Compton scattering technique, bone ion content by atomic absorption, and hydration fraction by proton magnetic resonance (PMR). We found that the humeral BD of S rats was greater by 14% for group S over C and 3% greater for group SP over CP (P less than 0.05). Vertebral BMC was higher by 15% in group S over C and 11% higher for group SP over CP (P less than 0.05). Femoral calcium (mg/g dry bone) ion content was higher by 5% in group S over C and 8% in group SP over CP group (P less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aging

Calcium homeostasis, bone metabolism and safety aspects during long-term treatment with a GnRH agonist.

Thirty-five women with symptomatic fibroids were treated with monthly injections of 3.2 mg microcapsulated D-Trp-6-LHRH for 6 months. During treatment serum 17 beta-oestradiol levels decreased, falling to castration levels associated with a reduction in the volume of the fibroids. In 16 patients a complete calcium homeostasis and bone metabolism work-up was carried out during treatment and subsequently for a 6-month follow-up period. Bone mineral content (BMC) and Compton bone densitometry readings remained unchanged. There were significant increases in serum calcium phosphate and alkaline phosphatase concentrations. A slight although not significant increase was observed in osteocalcin and parathyroid hormone (PTH) serum levels. Serum 1,25(OH)2D3 values decreased significantly after 3 months of treatment. Urinary hydroxyproline/creatinine and calcium/creatinine ratios as well as 24-h urinary calcium values increased significantly during the treatment period but decreased rapidly to pretreatment values after 3 months in the follow-up period. The endocrine changes induced by the GnRH-agonist treatment were associated with reversible biochemical signs of increased bone turnover and no significant changes in bone mass, suggesting that the treatment can be administered safely for a period of 6 months in patients with oestrogen-dependent diseases.

Adult

The effect of swimming on bone modeling and composition in young adult rats.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the adaptability of long bones of young adult rats to the stress of chronic aquatic exercise. Twenty-eight female Sabra rats (12 weeks old) were randomly assigned to two groups and treatments: exercise (14 rats) and sedentary control (14 rats) matched for age and weight. Exercised animals were trained to swim in a water bath (35 degrees +/- 1 degree C, 1 hour daily 5 times a week) for 12 weeks loaded with lead weights on their tails (2% of their body weight) (BW). At the end of the training period following blood sampling for alkaline phosphatase, all rats were sacrificed and the humeri and tibiae bones were removed for the following measurements: bone morphometry, bone water compartmentalization, bone density (BD), bone mineral content (BMC), and bone ions content (Ca, Pi, Mg, Zn). The results indicate that exercise did not significantly affect the animals' body weight, bone volume, or length and diameters. However, bone hydration properties, BD, bone mass, and mineralization revealed significant differences between swim-trained rats and controls (P less than 0.05). Longitudinal (R1) measurement was higher by 43% for both humerus and tibia, and Transverse (R2) relaxation rates of hydrogen proton were higher by 117 and 76% for humerus and tibia, respectively; fraction of bound water was higher by 36 and 46% for humerus and tibia, respectively. BD, bone weight, and ash were higher by 13%. BMC and bone ions content were higher by 10%, and alkaline phosphatase was higher by 67%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

Effect of zinc therapy on neutrophil chemotaxis in psoriasis.

Neutrophil chemotaxis in patients with psoriasis vulgaris and psoriatic arthritis was investigated before and after 6 weeks of treatment with zinc sulphate (50 mg elementary zinc three times daily). In patients with active psoriasis vulgaris, a significant increase in neutrophil random migration and directed chemotaxis was demonstrated (10.2 +/- 3.1 and 14.1 +/- 4.1 mu, respectively, greater than that of control patients), while in patients with psoriatic arthritis the values were within the normal range (5.8 +/- 3.2 and 1.1 +/- 4.1 mu, respectively, greater than that of control patients). Although the zinc sulphate treatment had little or no effect on the course of either disease, it restored both the random migration and directed chemotaxis to normal values in psoriasis vulgaris patients. These results support the contention that zinc sulphate modifies neutrophil inflammatory potential; however, the lack of a clinical benefit suggests that neutrophils play only a secondary role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.

Adult

Osteogenic response to marrow aspiration: increased serum osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase in human bone marrow donors.

It has been shown recently in experimental animals that regeneration of bone marrow after ablation is associated with enhanced osteogenic growth factor activity and a systemic increase in bone formation. To assess the possible occurrence of a similar phenomenon in humans, serum markers of bone formation, osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase, were measured in marrow donors before the aspiration of large amounts of iliac marrow and 1 day to 5 weeks thereafter. Both osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase showed significant increases, with peak values 1-3 and 2-4 weeks postaspiration, respectively. The absolute maximal increase in osteocalcin was significantly higher in adolescent and child donors than in adults. When evaluated together with studies on systemic changes during fracture healing and marrow regeneration, these findings suggest that marrow aspiration in humans evokes a systemic osteogenic response.

Adolescent

Effect of swimming on bone growth and development in young rats.

The effect of chronic swimming on bone modelling was studied. Forty female Sabra rats (5 weeks old) were randomly assigned to the following experimental groups: 30 rats were trained to swim (water bath 35 +/- 1 degree C, one h daily, five times a week) for 20 weeks--20 of them loaded with lead weights (1% body weight) while the rest (10 animals) swam load free. Ten sedentary rats matched for age and weight served as controls. At the end of the twenty-week swimming period, all rats were sacrificed, both humeri bones were dissected and prepared for the following examinations: morphometric, bone density (BD), bone mineral content (BMC), compression tests and cross-sectional geometrical parameters, histomorphometry and biochemical analysis of minerals (Ca, Pi, Mg, Zn). All measured parameters were found to be significantly higher (P less than 0.05) in the swimming rats irrespective of load, as compared with the controls. Bone weight was higher by 19%, bone volume by 11%, bone length by 2.8%, cortical area by 16%, BD by 7% and BMC by 15%. The compression breaking force at the distal shaft of the humerus was higher by 24% in the trained group, while the ultimate compressive stress was not significantly different. Maximal and minimal moment of inertia at the distal diaphysis were 33.4 and 40% higher, respectively, for the swimming groups than the controls. Ca, Pi, Mg and Zn levels per total humeral bone were significantly higher in the exercising rats. The histomorphometry and cross-sectional data emphasize longitudinal and transversal growth. These data indicate that swimming exercise exerts a positive effect on bone growth and development in young rats.

Animals

An oral zinc loading test in psoriasis.

Changes of zinc in body fluids were evaluated in 12 patients with extensive psoriasis and compared with those of 11 healthy volunteers, using an oral zinc loading test. Plasma zinc levels and urinary zinc excretion were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. No significant difference was found between plasma zinc levels and urinary zinc excretion following an overnight fast. Both groups showed extensive increases in urinary zinc excretion following the loading test. The peak levels of plasma zinc were significantly lower in the psoriatic patients two and four hours after zinc ingestion (P less than .01 and P less than .02, respectively).

Administration, Oral

Normal zinc and iron concentrations in mice after early exposure to phenobarbital.

Zinc and iron levels were studied in mice with early (pre/neonatal) exposure to phenobarbital, as the levels of these trace metals are known to be correlated with specific behaviors shown in our previous and present experiment to be affected by early phenobarbital administration. Mice were exposed to phenobarbital prenatally or neonatally. At adulthood they showed marked reduction from control in all parameters of eight-arm maze performance (P less than 0.001). Since zinc is known to be correlated with this behavior, it was subsequently studied in barbiturate exposed animals. The differences between barbiturate exposed and control offspring for zinc levels in plasma, brain and hippocampus did not reach statistical significance. Our previous studies have shown that the number of dopamine receptors and the resulting apomorphine-induced climbing behavior is altered after early exposure to phenobarbital. The effect of iron level on dopamine receptors is now well established. Subsequently, a group of mice were tested for iron levels in their brain and liver. No significant differences were found. It is suggested that deficits in the hippocampal behaviors, mainly eight-arm maze, after early exposure to phenobarbital are not related to changes in zinc levels. Similarly, early phenobarbital-induced alternation in dopamine receptors and the resulting dopaminergic behaviors are not related to changes in iron levels.

Animals

Tryptophan deficiency and picolinic acid: effect on zinc metabolism and clinical manifestations of pellagra.

In five experiments, rats were fed tryptophan (Tryp)-deficient diets with 6-12 micrograms/g zinc (Zn) and, in one experiment, a Zn-deficient diet to test the effect on clinical manifestations, plasma and bone Zn, and ability of picolinic acid (PA) or extra (12 micrograms/g) Zn to compensate. Tryp deficiency caused classical manifestations of pellagra although niacin intake was in excess of normal requirements. At marginal Zn intakes, oral PA caused a significant increase of plasma Zn and, compared with Tryp-adequate controls, Tryp deficiency resulted in lower plasma Zn and plasma:bone Zn ratios. Extra Zn (total 24 micrograms/g) was ineffective. Subcutaneous PA showed a tendency to lower plasma Zn. PA had no effect on clinical manifestations. We conclude that a Tryp metabolite other than nicotinic acid is necessary in the prevention of pellagra. Our hypothesis links this finding with the observed Tryp and PA effect on Zn metabolism.

Animals

Effect of valproic acid therapy on zinc metabolism in children with primary epilepsy.

The effect of long-term treatment with valproic acid (VPA) on zinc (Zn) metabolism was studied in 15 children with absence seizures. During treatment with VPA the erythrocyte Zn content was significantly lower than that found in controls matched for sex and age. Plasma and urine values of Zn and of copper were within normal limits. It is suggested that the anticonvulsive action of VPA may be mediated through its effect on the metabolism of Zn in the brain and the concomitant changes in the activity of the enzymes glutamic acid decarboxylase and carbonic anhydrase.

Adolescent

Low erythrocyte zinc content in acquired aphasia with convulsive disorder (Landau-Kleffner syndrome).

Abnormal zinc metabolism in a 6-year-old male patient with Landau-Kleffner syndrome (acquired aphasia and convulsive disorder) is the subject of our report. We describe a significant decrease of erythrocyte and plasma zinc levels in the patient as compared with normal. Red blood cell zinc content is normally 38.5 +/- 2.7 micrograms/g hemoglobin v 16.5 micrograms/g hemoglobin found in the patient. Plasma zinc level is 94.6 +/- 10.4 micrograms/dL in normal in comparison with 50.4 micrograms/dL in the patient. Normal oral zinc tolerance test performed on the patient precludes altered zinc absorption or increased urinary loss. The possible connection between abnormal zinc metabolism and the pathophysiology of Landau-Kleffner syndrome is discussed.

Aphasia

Clinical and laboratory study in 22 patients with inherited hyperammonemic syndromes.

Twenty-two patients with inherited hyperammonemic syndromes are presented. These patients represent 22 different families. The diagnosis was based mainly on family history, blood ammonium levels, acid base balance, urinary orotic acid, urinary and plasma amino acids and organic acids. The final diagnosis was confirmed by determination of liver enzyme activity. In 12 patients (54%), the first clinical manifestations were noticed after the neonatal period; 7 patients (31%) were diagnosed after infancy, and 8 (23%) after the age of 8 years. Two patients who represent the late-onset group of inherited hyperammonemic syndromes are presented in detail. The three most common diagnoses were ornithine transcarbamoylase deficiency, carbamoyl phosphate synthetase deficiency, and lysinuric protein intolerance, which comprised 59% of the diagnosed patients. Our data, based on one of the largest series reported, reveal a relatively large percentage of late-onset inherited hyperammonemic syndromes as compared with previous reports.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors

Metabolic studies in two families with hyperornithinemia and gyrate atrophy of choroid and retina.

Studies on the metabolism of selected amino acids were carried out in five patients with gyrate atrophy of the choroid and retina and four obligate heterozygotes. Hyperornithinemia, hyperornithinuria, and hypolysinemia were found in all patients. In one of the patients, the condition was diagnosed as early as 4 years of age. Ornithine loadings in the affected individuals did not induce the expected elevation of plasma glutamic acid and proline. Oral lysine tolerance tests in patients resulted in (1) enhancement of the hyperornithinuria and hyperlysinuria and (2) elevation of plasma lysine levels, which were below values obtained from normal controls. Supplementation of the regular diet with lysine for a period of 1 month increased plasma lysine but had no effect on plasma ornithine concentration.

Adolescent