Biomedical subjects

R Claes

Publications and source records attributed to R Claes.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1996

Elevated plasminogen activator inhibitor levels in cyclosporin-treated renal allograft recipients.

Atherosclerosis and thrombosis, two major causes of morbidity and mortality in renal transplant recipients, share the same clinical risk factors including decreased fibrinolysis and lipid disturbances. In a cross-sectional study we have determined parameters of fibrinolysis in control subjects (n = 23) and stable renal allograft recipients without cyclosporin (CsA) (n = 10) and with CsA (n = 87) in their immunosuppressive treatment. In CsA-treated patients, tissue-type plasminogen activator was moderately increased compared to patients without CsA (8.4+/-3.3 vs 5.5+/-2.8 ng/ml). The plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) activity in plasma was clearly increased in CsA-treated patients: 14.5+/-8.8 vs 7.2+/-3.2 in normal controls and 8.5+/-2.4 AU/ml in patients without CsA. Total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels were higher in CsA-treated patients (256+/-62 and 169+/-60 mg/dl) than in patients without CsA (209+/-45 and 136+/-44 mg/dl). The two groups did not differ in HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and lipoprotein(a). Hypercholesterolaemia, obesity, and steroid-induced diabetes could be identified as risk factors for elevated plasma PAI activity in CsA-treated patients. Hypofibrinolysis induced by elevated PAI levels and increased LDL cholesterol may contribute to the increased thrombogenicity and accelerated atherosclerosis observed in cyclosporin-treated patients.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Concentrations of ofloxacin in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients without meningitis receiving the drug intravenously and orally.

The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) penetration of ofloxacin given orally or or intravenously was studied in cancer patients without meningitis. Each patient was assigned to a different sampling time to assess the relation between time and penetration. Ofloxacin was measured in serum and CSF by high-pressure liquid chromatography and bioassay. In addition, the bactericidal titers were measured in CSF and serum against a set of relevant bacteria. Concentrations measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography and bioassay were well correlated. Peak concentrations in CSF (0.4 to 1 microgram/ml) were observed 2 to 4 h after infusion or oral administration. Peak concentrations in serum were observed just after infusion (2 to 3.5 micrograms/ml) or 1 to 2 h after oral administration (1.7 to 4 micrograms/ml). Measured bactericidal titers were well correlated with the titers expected from the MBC and concentration. High CSF bactericidal titers were observed against Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae, and Escherichia coli, whereas low or no bactericidal titers were obtained against Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, and Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed1988

Self rated depression in relation to DSM-III classification: a statistical isolinear multiple components analysis.

The Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) was presented to 99 depressed inpatients. The patients were categorized according to DSM-III as suffering from minor depression, major depression without melancholia and major depression with melancholia and/or with psychotic features. Differences in self-reported symptoms between these categories were studied with multivariate statistical techniques including linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and statistical isolinear multiple components analysis (SIMCA). Patients with minor depression rate themselves significantly less depressed than those with major depression. Patients with major depression without melancholia are less depressed than those with melancholia and/or psychotic features. The three DSM-III depressive categories can be regarded as belonging to a clinical continuum in which they form relevant levels with quantitative differences in self-reported symptoms. These differences are not only defined by gradual shiftings in the overall severity of illness, but also by quantitative differences in the severity of some target symptoms, i.e. agitation, retardation, diurnal variation, loss of libido, fatiguability, insomnia, anorexia, sadness and anhedonia.

Adjustment Disorders↗

PubMed1986

Diffusion of oral ofloxacin (HOE 280) into human prostatic tissue: assessment by an improved high-performance liquid chromatographic method.

11 patients with a prostatic adenoma received a single oral 200 mg dose of ofloxacin 2 h before transurethral resection of the prostate. During the operation, blood samples and prostatic tissue cuttings were collected simultaneously. Ofloxacin was assayed by an original HPLC method with UV detection. The mean concentration of the unchanged drug was 5.10 mg/kg wet tissue and 1.81 mg/l in prostatic tissue and plasma, respectively. The 3.17 prostate/plasma ratio reflected a good penetration of ofloxacin into the prostatic tissue.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The cortisol responses to 5-hydroxytryptophan, orally, in depressive inpatients.

Baseline cortisol levels at 8:00 a.m. and the cortisol responses at 90 and 120 min after oral administration of 200 mg 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) (L-isomer, non-enteric-coated) were assessed in 65 depressed inpatients. Patients were categorized according to DSM-III as major (296.22; 296.32; 296.23; 296.33; 296.24; 296.34) and minor (300.40; 309.00; 296.82) depressives. We observed a significant rise of plasma cortisol in patients with major depression at 90 (P = 0.0001) and 120 (P = 0.002) min, but not in patients with minor depression. Patients with major depression showed significantly higher cortisol responses than those with minor depression (P = 0.016). This significant rise of plasma cortisol after 5-HTP could be attributed to sex-linked differences: we observed significant (P = 0.0065) rises in cortisol responses in women with major depression compared to depressed men and women with minor depression. These differences could not be attributed to age, concomitant benzodiazepine use or pre/postmenopausal status. Baseline cortisol correlated negatively with the cortisol response to 5-HTP. The increased cortisol responses in women with major depression remained significant even after the effects of baseline cortisol were partialled out. This rise in cortisol response can be explained by an increased responsiveness of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis to 5-HTP.

5-Hydroxytryptophan↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Sex-related differences in the relationships between self-rated depression and biological markers.

Gender-related differences in self-reported depression, in biological factors putatively related to depression and in the associations between severity of illness and biological factors were investigated. To this end the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), the ratio L-tryptophan/valine + leucine (L-TRP/CAA) and basal cortisol in serum at 8 a.m. were determined in 51 depressed inpatients undergoing a dexamethasone suppression test (DST). In the total study group no significant relationships were established between severity of illness and either of the biological markers. In women, SDS correlated significantly (P less than 0.01) negatively with the ratio L-TRP/CAA and positively with post-dexamethasone cortisol (P less than 0.01). In men these relationships tended to be inverted. The differences in the two sexes between these correlation coefficients were significant (P less than 0.01). These gender-related differences in the relationships between self-reported depression and the biological variables could be explained by differential psychoneuroendocrine and psychobiochemical responses. Future work on the severity of illnesses in terms of biological factors must take into account these differential responses between depressed males and females.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Triflusal versus acetylsalicylic acid: a double-blind study for the prophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis after hip surgery.

The authors report the results of a randomised double-blind study comparing the antithrombotic activity of a new anti-platelet drug (Triflusal) with that of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA). 99 patients who underwent hip surgery were included in the study (total hip replacement, osteosynthesis of a pertrochanter fracture or Moore's prosthesis for intracapsular fracture of the femoral neck). Of the 48 patients having received Triflusal, 7 (14.5%) developed deep vein thrombosis as indicated by 125I-fibrinogen isotopic scanning and confirmed by phlebography. Of the 51 patients treated with ASA, 11 (21.6%) presented the same complication as diagnosed by the same techniques. This difference is not statistically significant, considering the number of cases studied. Nevertheless, Triflusal appears to provide prevention of thromboembolic risk to patients who have undergone hip surgery, particularly total hip replacement.

Adult↗