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Biomedical subjects

P Althoff

Publications and source records attributed to P Althoff.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1993

Treatment of macroprolactinoma with the new potent non-ergot D2-dopamine agonist quinagolide and effects on prolactin levels, pituitary function, an the renin-aldosterone system. Results of a clinical long-term study.

The oral non-ergot D2-dopamine agonist quinagolide (CV 205-502, CAS 87056-78-8) has proven to be highly effective in suppressing elevated prolactin (PRL) levels. It was the aim of this study to search for possible interference of the drug with other endocrine systems which are partly under dopaminergic control, and to compare such effects to those of previously investigated prolactin inhibitors. Twelve patients suffering from macroprolactinoma were treated for at least 6 months with daily doses ranging from 50 up to 300 micrograms. During the first two months, individual doses were gradually increased either until serum PRL levels reached the normal range (n = 7) or until side effects made a further dose increase intolerable (n = 5). Mean basal PRL level fell from 255 +/- 65 (SEM) ng/ml before treatment to 19 +/- 8 ng/ml, after the definite dose was reached (p < 0.01). Luteinizing hormone (LH) rose from 0.6 +/- 0.8 (SD) to 1.7 +/- 1.6 mU/ml (p < 0.05). While basal levels of aldosterone, renin, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), triiodothyronine (T3), testosterone, and estradiol in females were not affected by the treatment, we found a significant rise in thyroxine (T4) and a decrease of estradiol in males. Blood pressure and renal clearances of creatinine, sodium, potassium, and chloride failed to show any significant change. Following stimulation with metoclopramide, aldosterone and renin rose sharply before treatment was initiated. When the test was repeated during treatment, the increase of plasma renin was slightly dampened, whereas the rise of aldosterone remained unaffected.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Prevalence of HLA-DQ beta chain non-Asp alleles in type I (insulin-dependent) diabetics with young and older ages of onset.

Particular HLA-DQ beta chain alleles were reported as immunogenetic markers of type I diabetes mellitus with young onset of the disease. In a homogeneous German population, we studied HLA-DR specificities and HLA-DQ beta chain alleles in young-onset (less than 21 years of age; n = 185) and adult-onset (greater than 40 years of age; n = 48) insulin-dependent diabetics. In both cohorts of type I diabetics, the HLA-DR3 and -DR4 specificities were significantly increased. The presence of an HLA haplotype with an amino acid other than aspartic acid at position 57 of the DQ beta chain was significantly associated with type I diabetes in both cohorts (etiologic fraction: 93% and 73%). We conclude that the presence of DNA sequences coding for an amino acid other than aspartic acid at the 57th position of the DQ beta chain provides a molecular risk marker for type I diabetes of both and adult onset.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Effects on serum parathyroid hormone of intravenous treatment with alphacalcidol in patients on chronic hemodialysis.

Secondary hyperparathyroidism is common in chronic renal failure and is due to inadequate synthesis of calcitriol, the active metabolite of vitamin D. Intravenous administration of alphacalcidol, a synthetic analogue which is metabolized to calcitriol, was given during 12 weeks to 51 patients on chronic hemodialysis in doses between 1 and 4 micrograms/dialysis session. The treatment caused a modest rise, by 0.25 mmol/l, in serum calcium but a 60% reduction of intact serum PTH concentrations. Most patients acquired normal PTH values and hypercalcemia was easily avoided by dose adjustments. There was a significant reduction in serum PTH within the 1st week before the serum calcium concentrations were increased, but after that time the induced suppression of PTH was correlated to the induced rise in serum calcium. These observations are compatible with the view that calcitriol exerts both a direct inhibition of PTH release and increases the gland's sensitivity to calcium. The major implication of the study is that intravenous treatment with alphacalcidol is of great clinical value since it is easy to administer and provides suppression of hypersecretion of PTH with few side effects.

Aluminum↗
PubMed1986

Haemostasiological parameters as risk factor for new arterial occlusions in diabetics.

PARD is a prospective study sponsored by the German Research Council with the aim to establish if spontaneously enhanced platelet aggregation or changes of other hemostatic variables are risk factors for new vascular occlusions in diabetic patients. 363 diabetics (aged 45-65, 232 men, 131 women) have been observed for at least 5 years. Of the 232 men, 53 were on diet, 104 on oral antidiabetic agents and 75 on insulin. Of 131 women 16 were on diet, 46 on oral antidiabetic drugs and 69 on insulin. At entry a medical history was obtained and clinical examinations and laboratory tests were performed. Hemostatic tests and clinical examinations were repeated at 3 month's intervals. The life status was followed for all patients with the exception of 2. Until December 31, 1984, 42 patients had died, 23 from cardiovascular disease and 19 from other causes. 13 patients suffered a myocardial infarction, 11 a stroke and 53 a peripheral arterial occlusion. The occurrence of new vascular occlusions was significantly higher in men with enhanced spontaneous platelet aggregation measured by PAT III. This was not the case for women. Other hemostatic parameters with some relation to cardiovascular complications, again only in men, were fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor together with some established risk factors as triglycerides and hypertension.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

PARD: platelet aggregation as a risk factor in diabetics: results of a prospective study.

PARD is a prospective study sponsored by the German research council with the aim to establish whether spontaneously enhanced platelet aggregation or changes of other hemostatic parameters are risk factors for new vascular occlusion in diabetic patients. Hemostatic parameters have been measured in diabetic patients at 3 month-intervals (363 patients aged 45-65 at recruitment). Of the 232 men, 53 were on diet, 104 on oral antidiabetic drugs and 75 on insulin. Of 131 women 16 were on diet, 46 on oral antidiabetic drugs and 69 on insulin. Baseline data and preliminary results obtained between May 1977 and December 31, 1983 are presented. 22 patients have died. 17 diet from cardiovascular disease, 3 from pancreatic cancer and 2 from other causes. 51 patients suffered a myocardial infarction, stroke or peripheral arterial occlusions. The mean levels of spontaneous aggregation (angle alpha-PAT III), F VIIIC, F VIII R:AG, fibrinogen, antithrombin III and plasminogen were higher in men who died or suffered cardiovascular occlusions than in those without these events. In women this difference is less pronounced or absent. In women the mean values of several hemostatic parameters at baseline were higher than in men and the incidence of cardiovascular occlusions was lower. The interim results lead to the hypothesis that spontaneous aggregation, high levels of F VIIIC, F VIII R:AG and to some extent also high levels of fibrinogen, antithrombin III and plasminogen may be indicators of progressive vascular disease and could be useful as predictors of vascular occlusions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗
PubMed1977

Heterotransplantation of human fetal pituitaries in nude mice.

The heterotransplantation of minced human fetal pituitaries into adult thymus-aplastic nude mice is described. Development and growth of such grafts were observed in 16 of 21 recipient mice. Histological examinations of the transplants showed typical adenohypophyseal cells. Neurohypophyseal cells could never be detected. The levels of human growth hormone (hGH) varied between 0.8 and 42.0 ng/ml in the plasma of the hosts (mean value 7.2 ng/ml, by radioimmunoassay).

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Nephrotic syndrome due to subacute glomerulonephritis -- association with hydrocarbon exposure?

A 59-year-old man developed a nephrotic syndrome 40 days after hydrocarbon exposure of 3 days' duration. Renal biopsy gave evidence of a subacute proliferative glomerulonephritis. A lasting remission was obtained with immunosuppressive therapy. The case history is discussed in the light of recent studies indicating a causal relationship between hydrocarbon exposure and glomerulonephritis. The reversible nature of the disease in the present case is discussed in relation to the disease in experimental animals induced by a single administration of heterologus antigen.

Environmental Exposure↗