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Biomedical subjects

V Capkun

Publications and source records attributed to V Capkun.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Reproductive ability of pubertal male and female rats.

Ten Fisher rats 50 to 55 days of age made up the pubertal group, and ten rats 90 to 95 days of age served as the controls. The testicular and epididymal weights and volumes of the pubertal males were lower than those of the controls (P<0.001). There was also a difference in relative epididymal weight (P<0.001). The sperm of pubertal males was morphologically abnormal in 58.2% of cases, as opposed to only 3.8% in the controls (P<0.001). The mean number of spermatozoa in the control group was 11.9 10(6)/ml and their viability was 99.6%, while these values could not be determined for pubertal rats. Serum testosterone was higher in the pubertal animals than in the controls (2.52 1.46 vs 0.92 0.34 nM, P<0.01). The ovaries of control females were heavier than those of pubertal females (P<0.001) but there was no difference in their relative weights. Serum estradiol was similar in both groups (75.5 12.8 vs 81.8 14.7 nM, P>0.05). At the beginning of gestation, the pubertal dams weighed less than the controls (P<0.001) but following uterectomy the body weights were equal. Pubertal dams delivered fewer pups than the controls (8.1 2.5 vs 10.4 1.3, P<0.05). There was no difference in the body weights of their offspring or in the weights of their placentas. The results suggest that, in contrast to their female counterparts, pubertal male rats are not fully mature and have not reached complete reproductive capacity at 50-55 days of age.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2003

Behavioral characteristics of the offspring of adolescent rats.

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that, during adulthood, the offspring of adolescent rats differ in emotionality, learning and memory from the offspring of adult rats. The behavior of the offspring of adolescent (age, 50-55 days) and adult rats (age, 90-95 days) was tested in the open field, activity cage, and passive and active avoidance apparatus. The latencies during training and testing in the passive avoidance apparatus of the offspring of adolescent parents were shorter than the latencies of control offspring (P<0.001 on both training and testing days). Offspring of adolescent parents showed shorter latency time in acquisition trials during active avoidance testing compared to control offspring (P<0.001). They also showed a higher number of active avoidance responses in the last four blocks of acquisition (P<0.001) and first two blocks of extinction trials (P<0.05 and P<0.001, respectively). The offspring of adolescent parents showed higher latency on the first day of testing in the open field (P<0.01) and a lower latency on the third day of testing (P<0.01). They also showed higher activity during all three days of testing (1st and 2nd day: P<0.01; 3rd day: P<0.05). The spontaneous activity of the offspring of adolescent parents in the activity cage was higher in the last three intervals of testing (P<0.001). In summary, the offspring of adolescent parents were less anxious and tended to be more active. The results of two learning and memory tests were opposite, but could be explained by a higher exploratory drive of the offspring of adolescent parents. This was probably due to chronic malnutrition stress and the disturbed mother-infant relationship in the litters of adolescent mothers.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2001

Assessment of the prognostic impact of the Epstein-Barr virus-encoded latent membrane protein-1 expression in Hodgkin's disease.

We have examined expression of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latent membrane protein-1 (LMP1) in the malignant Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells of Hodgkin's disease (HD) and its impact on response to treatment and on survival. Paraffin tissue from 100 adult immunocompetent patients with HD were analysed using immunohistochemistry to identify LMP1 expression. According to the Rye classification, 8% of patients had lymphocyte predominance (LP) subtype, 48% had nodular sclerosis (NS) disease, 37% were of the mixed cellularity (MC) subtype and 7% were of the lymphocyte depletion (LD) subtype. During the five year follow-up period 27 patients died and 74 patients achieved a complete remission. Patients with LD subtype were older (P = 0.03), less frequently achieved complete remission (P = 0.01), had shorter disease-free survival (P = 0.01) and overall survival (P = 0.002) compared with the other subtypes of HD. LMP1 expression was found in the tumour cells of 26% of cases of HD. LMP1 expression was less common in NS disease than in the other subtypes (P = 0.05), whereas an association between MC subtype and LMP1 expression was not found (P = 0.22). Using the log-rank test there were no differences in overall survival or disease-free survival based on EBV status either when all patients were analysed or when LD and LP subtypes were excluded. However, the presence of EBV was associated with significantly longer disease-free survival in the subgroup of patients </= 30 years old (P = 0.02) and in those patients </= 34 years old (P = 0.05). In contrast, there was a trend for shorter disease-free survival for EBV-positive patients in the subgroup > 35 years old, but this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.11). A similar trend was observed in patients > 50 years old. Analysis of the impact of LMP1 expression in patients who had different stage and B symptoms status showed that expression of EBV was associated with longer disease-free survival (P = 0.019) in early stage (1 + 2) patients without B symptoms. Significant differences in the other subgroups based on EBV status was not found. Factors adversely affecting the likelihood to achieve a complete remission were: absence of LMP1 expression (OR 6.4, 95% Cl 1.07-38.5, P = 0.04), age (OR 1.68, 95%Cl 1.15-2.5, P = 0.007) and subtype of HD (OR 3.32, 95%Cl 1.11-9.94, P = 0.03). Age and subtype of HD had an independent impact on overall survival (P = 0.01). We conclude that expression of LMP1 in HRS cells has a favourable impact on prognosis for HD patients, but that this effect may be restricted to young adult patients and those with early stage disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Pregnancy in adolescent rats, growth and neurodevelopment in their offspring.

Pregnancy, lactation and the relationship between mother and their offspring in adolescence was studied in terms of pups neurosomatic development. The frequency of conception and birth rate were reduced in adolescent dams. Their body weight gain was accelerated during the first two weeks of pregnancy, while a significant delay occurred in the third week. At birth, plasma corticosterone level in the neonates was increased. Adolescent dams ingested less food during the first week of gestation. Following that, till the second week of lactation, the food consumption was equal to that of control group. Although adolescent pups were heavier at birth, the reduction of their number and of their body weight occurred during lactation. Judging by appearance of grasping, righting, placing and of negative geotaxis reflexes, the delay in their neurological maturation was also present. The reason for the growth and neurodevelopmental delay during lactation is probably the result of malnutrition and stress of disturbed mother - infant relationship in adolescent litters, which lasted at least during the two postnatal weeks. It was indicated by the resting plasma corticosterone levels during the first two postnatal weeks. This finding suggests that the pregnancy in adolescent rats induces delay in physical and neurological development, as well as in the increased rate of postnatal mortality of their offspring.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Prevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in the female population of the County of Split Dalmatia, Croatia.

The prevalence of IgG antibodies reactive with Toxoplasma gondii in the female population of the County of Split Dalmatia was investigated by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Of a total of 1109 serum samples collected from female subjects, 423 (38.1%) reacted with T. gondii. The frequency of positive sera increased with age. Theoretical incidence of congenital toxoplasmosis was calculated from the annual increase in cumulative prevalence of antibodies between different age groups among the women of childbearing age. The estimated theoretical incidence of congenital toxoplasmosis was 1.4 per 100 pregnancies of adolescents (16-20 years) and decreased to 0.1% in seronegative pregnant women aged 41-45.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Serum prolactin levels after seizure and syncopal attacks.

Loss of consciousness and falling are the key features of syncope. Common accompaniments include tonic and myoclonic muscle activity, eye deviations, automatisms, vocalizations and hallucinations that may render the distinction from epileptic seizures difficult. The frequently increased levels of serum prolactin (SPRL) were observed immediately after generalized and complex partial seizures. Presumably, the hormone release is caused by the propagation of epileptic activity, usually from the temporal lobe to the hypothalamic pituitary axis. Numerous reports have demonstrated that the post-ictal SPRL level may be used to differentiate between epileptic and syncopal, non-epileptic attacks. In order to confirm the hypothesis, the SPRL levels were measured in patients with complex partial seizures (CPS) and patients with vaso-vagal syncopal attacks (VVS). The SPRL levels were prospectively measured for each patient as soon as possible after the event (within 1 hour), then 1 hour after the first determination and finally blood was sampled 24 hours later. During the study period (18 months), 18 patients with CPS and 15 patients with VVS were investigated in total. The mean values of SPRL levels in both groups were increased immediately after the event (CPS group: 1142 +/- 305 mIU/l; VVS group: 874 +/- 208 mIU/l). The elevated SPRL levels were found in 14 (78%) patients immediately after CPS and in 9 (60%) patients immediately after VVS. After examining the results of the present study we conclude that the elevated serum prolactin level after an epileptic attack is of no significant value in differential diagnosis between epileptic and vaso-vagal syncopal attacks.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Pyelolithotomy improves while extracorporeal lithotripsy impairs kidney function.

PURPOSE: Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) causes acute depression of kidney function, which chronically returns to baseline levels. This sequala could indicate chronic regression of acute lesions or a balance between lesions and relief of obstruction. We compared changes in kidney function 1 week and 3 months after ESWL and pyelolithotomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A group of 17 women and 13 men 28 to 71 years old with 0.6 to 3 cm. stones received 1,800 to 3,200 shock waves by an electromagnetic lithotriptor. Another group of 21 women and 9 men 35 to 76 years old with 2.5 to 3.8 cm. stones underwent Gil-Vernet intra-sinus pyelolithotomy. Split renal plasma flow, glomerular filtration rate and mean parenchymal transit times of nonreabsorbable filtrate solutes were measured by dual gamma camera renography, and plasma clearances of 99mtechnetium diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid and 131orthoiodohippurate acid. RESULTS: ESWL caused acute deterioration and chronic restoration of baseline parameters of the treated kidney, and small but sometimes irreversible damage to plasma flow to the untreated kidney, especially in obese patients. In contrast, pyelolithotomy acutely and chronically improved function of the treated kidney, and normalized parenchymal transit times of radiotracers. CONCLUSIONS: ESWL does not achieve substantial improvements in kidney function, which can be achieved by other methods of stone removal.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Automatic refractometry, reliability of the determination of type and degree of refraction anomalies].

The authors report on their experience with and results of using the AR-1000 autorefractometer made by Nidek, particularly with the pre-school children, school children, and students up to 24 years of age. They stress the significance, as well as speed and accuracy of automatic refractometry findings in large groups of testees (regular checkups) as a valuable indicator in one of numerous necessary tests with the aim to determine and correct visual acuity. There is a significant error reduction in the estimate of dioptries when autorefractometry is done in cycloplegia as compared to autorefractometry without cycloplegia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Diuretic effects of furosemide infusion versus bolus injection in congestive heart failure.

In a randomized, single-blind, crossover clinical trial, the diuretic efficacy of the same total dose of furosemide (2 x 40 mg) administered in either conventional intravenous bolus injection or continuous infusion was studied in 20 patients (nine males and 11 females), aged 37-75 years, with congestive heart failure. Furosemide infusion, administered first, produced a significantly greater diuresis than the bolus when compared with baseline (86%: 29.6%; p = 0.029). This was followed by a similar increase in 24-h urinary sodium, potassium and chloride excretion, with no significant difference from the bolus effect. The following day, diuretic and saluretic effects of furosemide did not differ significantly between the study groups. Nevertheless, when continuous furosemide infusion was administered first, it produced a greater increase in urinary volume, 24-h urinary sodium, potassium and chloride than when bolus injection was applied the next day. Conversely, when furosemide bolus was administered first, followed by the infusions the next day, the effects were almost equal, regardless of the mode of administration. It is concluded that in the treatment of refractory edema in patients with congestive heart failure, continuous intravenous infusion of furosemide is superior to the conventional intermittent bolus injection, especially if it is administered at the very beginning of the hospital treatment, and presumably is even better with higher dosage and longer infusion time span.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Dynamic aggregation of thrombocytes in acute myocardial infarct].

The dynamics of circulating platelet aggregates (CPA) in acute myocardial infarction (MI) was correlated to its extent, localization and clinical outcome. Creatine kinase (CK) and CPA were measured in 30 patients with acute MI 24 hours after its onset, and on the third, fifth and eighth day following the accident. Twelve patients had anteroseptal MI, another 12 had inferior, and the remaining 6 had non-Q wave MI. 24 hours after the accident CPA values differed significantly between the three groups (p < 0.05). The values of CPA increased with increasing CK. In all the patients CPA and CK returned to normal or almost normal values on days 8 and 5 following MI, respectively. Eleven patients (37%) had heart failure: 8 of them (73%) had anteroseptal MI and 3 had inferior MI (27%). In 10 patients with heart failure (91%) and only in 2 out of 19 patients without heart failure (10.5%), CPA peaked on days 3 or 5 after MI (p < 0.05). In all other patients CPA declined steadily from the initial value. These results suggest that platelet aggregability is significantly associated with the severity of MI and with heart failure.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Effect of atrazine ingested prior to mating on rat females and their offspring.

The influence of the herbicide atrazine on the Fischer rat and their offspring was investigated. Six 120 mg doses of atrazine in paraffin oil per kg body weight were applied every 48 hours to the females in Group A. The females in the control group, Group C, received paraffin oil only. By the end of the intubation period the rats in Group A weighed less than those in Group C. Atrazine did not affect the estrus cycle, gestation and delivery, litter size and pup survival. Adult female offspring of Group A displayed increased activity in the activity cage and the male offspring avoided more electric shocks during the shuttle box acquisition trials. In addition Group A offspring had shorter latency time during extinction trials than Group C offspring.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

About mechanisms of prostaglandin E1 induced deterioration of pulmonary gas exchange in COPD patients.

Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) has been reported to attenuate COPD-related pulmonary hypertension and to slightly lower the arterial oxygen tension (PaO2). In order to infer the involved mechanisms, the effects of intravenous infusion of PGE1 on pulmonary haemodynamics, diffusing lung capacity for CO (DLCO), membrane diffusing capacity (Dm), pulmonary capillary blood volume (Vc), physiological shunt (Qps/Qt), arterial blood gases and other lung functional indices were evaluated in 20 COPD patients with pulmonary hypertension and, excluding right catheterization, in 14 control subjects. The examines were studied at baseline and during infusion of 20-30 ng kg-1 min PGE1 or placebo. In control subjects PGE1 only caused systemic arterial pressure decrease (-17.8%). In COPD patients, as expected, PGE1 increased cardiac index (16.2%), but decreased systemic arterial pressure (-21.2%), pulmonary arterial pressure (-27.9%), pulmonary vascular resistance (-45.4%) and PaO2 (-10.4%), worsening their hypoxaemia. However, the effect of PGE1 on DLCO was an increase (11.9%), due to an increase in Vc (15.2%) and less markedly in Dm (4.9%). Physiological and anatomical shunts were increased with PGE1 (20.2% and 14.8%) and the overall ventilation/perfusion ratio decreased from 0.89 to 0.79. Decrements in PaO2 correlated with increments in Qps/Qt (r = 0.86). In conclusion, in COPD patients studied, PGE1 increased DLCO, which compensated for the deleterious effect of increased cardiac output on alveolar-capillary gas equilibration. Therefore, worsening of hypoxaemia during PGE1 infusion was related with increased right-to-left shunt and deterioration of ventilation-perfusion relationship.

Alprostadil↗
PubMed1993

High resolution pulmonary computed tomography scans quantified by analysis of density distribution: application to asbestosis.

A new method for quantitative evaluation for high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the lungs was developed by assessment of the distribution of radiological densities within the lung slices. To enable effective reduction of data and improve the sensitivity of detection of abnormalities, the density distributions were analysed by curve fitting through the gamma variate model. The output of two variables proved most representative: the most frequent density (Hoansfield units; HU) and width of distribution (HU). The method was applied to seven patients with early asbestosis (positive histological finding and International Labour Office (ILO) profusion score up to 0/1), 15 patients with advanced stage of asbestosis (positive histological finding and ILO score above 1/2), and 13 normal controls. All patients with early asbestosis had isolated reduction of diffusing lung capacity to carbon monoxide (DLCO), whereas all patients with advanced asbestosis had reduced DLCO and restrictive disease; two of them also had an obstruction pattern. The most frequent densities were significantly greater in the advanced asbestosis group (-567 HU) when compared with both the early asbestosis group (-719 HU; p = 2 x 10(-6)), and controls (-799 HU; p = 0), and they also discriminated significantly between the early asbestosis group and controls (p = 0.0002). Significantly stronger linear correlations were established between DLCO and the most frequent densities (r = 0.86) than between DLCO and HRCT score (r = 0.57) or ILO score (r = 0.34). It is concluded that fitting the curve of the density distribution enables a more objective assessment of HRCT pulmonary scans, especially in the early stage of asbestosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Perfect-mixer retention function by analytical deconvolution of tracer histograms: application to evaluation of left-ventricular contractility and competence.

The analytical solution for the perfect-mixer retention function, r(t), was developed from tracer histograms sampled at the system input, i(t), and its output, y(t), linked by the convolution integral y = i * r. Theories were developed for both continuous-output mixer and pulsatile, discrete mixer. The latter method was applied in first-pass radioangiography (FPRA) to calculate the forward ejection fraction of the left ventricle (LVFEF). Curves generated over the lungs and the ventricle provided system input and output respectively. LVFEF correlated strongly with the reference values obtained with simultaneously acquired gated FPRA(LVGEF) in 32 non-regurgitant patients: LVGEF = 0.90LVFEF + 5.93, r = 0.96, SEE = 3.98, p less than 0.001. In 14 patients with left-side valvular incompetence LVFEF values (0.41 +/- 0.13) were consistently lower than the corresponding LVGEF values (0.63 +/- 0.11). The method is free from instability inherent in numerical deconvolution. Applied in FPRA it yielded accurate estimates of LV contractility and competence. The continuous-mixer theory may apply to arbitrary compartmental models studied via tracer kinetics.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

A critical approach to gamma variate fit of radionuclide-angiography pulmonary histograms.

Radionuclide-angiography (RNA) left-to-right intracardiac-shunt quantification algorithms, based on the part-by-part fit technique and the use of a so-called gamma variate model function (GVF), were tested via simulation analysis using data obtained from normal subjects. A good bolus of radioindicator was obtained by administering it directly into the vena subclavia. Normal subjects were defined as those having pulmonary histograms (PH) with no visible distortion caused by a shunt. Pure, non-superimposed data on the downslope of the PH curves, which are lost in presence of a shunt, proved to be appropriate reference values for testing the accuracy of results of standard shunt quantification algorithms. A generalized four-parameter GVF was introduced in order to extend the flexibility of the model function. The use of the three-parametric GVF to reconstruct the downslope of the PH curve out of the upslope data proved to be inadequate. This reveals an evident source of error in algorithms that calculate the shunt contribution by fitting GVF parameters to so-called difference-curve data. It is concluded that the inherent restricted statistical weight of RNA data prevents accurate results being obtained from standard RNA-shunt-assessment algorithms.

Heart Septal Defects↗