The costs of Alzheimer's disease treatment: the rationale of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors use?

The costs of Alzheimer's disease treatment in the era of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors use are critically discussed.     

Enzymatic Markers of Cyclosporine Nephrotoxicity in Patients after Renal Transplantation

Toxicity of cyclosporine (CsA), an immunosuppressive drug widely used in transplantation, to the transplanted kidney creates a serious side effect. Therefore, searching for sensitive indicators of nephrotoxic action is well worth the effort. In this work we decribe the results of estimation of urine concentration of lysosomal enzymes widely present in the kidney: N-acetyl--D-glucosaminidase (NAG), its isoenzyme NAG-B and -glucuronidase (-Gr). The studies were conducted in various periods after transplantation of kidneys, on patients under various treatments and receiving different doses of CsA. The results indicate a substantial dependence of the activity of NAG and NAG-B on CsA doses and the period after transplantation. The enzyme proved to be also a sensitive indicator of graft rejection. No such dependence was observed in the case of -Gr.     

Diagnostic Application of AAP Isoenzyme Separation

We describe the separation of alanylaminopeptidase (AAP) from urine into two isoenzymes: a particulate and a soluble form. The separation was accomplished using ion-exchange column chromatography on DEAE-52 cellulose. The purity of the isolated forms was confirmed electrophoretically. We attempted to create a method allowing the quantitative assessment of AAP isoenzymes in urine based on electrophoretic separation in 7.5% polyacrylamide gel with subsequent densitometric analysis. The content of AAP isoenzymes in examined urine was estimated using ultracentrifugation. The differences in the content of cytosolic and microsomal forms were observed suggesting the possibilities of using AAP isoenzymes in diagnostics. Furthermore, the effect of temperature on the activity of AAP separated on DEAE-52 cellulose was studied.     

Post-steroid elevations of intraocular pressure in patient after radial keratotomy

PURPOSE: The evaluation of frequency and amplitude of IOP elevations in patients after RK who were administrated topically dexamethasone. MATERIAL AND METHODS: RK was carried out in 90 eyes (55 patients). All these patients had been treated topically with 0.1% dexamethasone (Maxitrol, Alcon) since the first day after surgery till the period of 3 months in lowering doses. IOP was measured using air-puff tonometer (Reichert, USA) before surgery and on 1, 2, 3, 14, 30, 50, 90 day after RK. In case of IOP elevations the measurements were made more often. RESULTS: The mean IOP before surgery was 14.88 +/- 2.86 mm Hg for women and 16.14 +/- 2.83 mm Hg for men. In the period of 3 months after RK maximum IOP increased significantly both for women (mean: 21.46 +/- 7.51 mm Hg) and men (mean: 26.14 +/- 8.87 mm Hg). IOP higher than 25 mm Hg was observed in 35 eyes (37.7%). These IOP elevations were observed more often in men than women but this difference was not statistically significant. There was no correlation between frequency of IOP elevations and preoperative refractive error or the age of patients. CONCLUSIONS: The usage of steroids after RK requires careful monitoring of IOP. This subject needs further studies to answer if these IOP elevations can damage eye functions.     

The evaluation of morphological status of bulbar conjunctiva after long-term antiglaucoma drug therapy

The aim of this study was to examine the histopathologic picture of bulbar conjunctiva in glaucoma patients receiving topical antiglaucoma treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Generally healthy patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) were included in our study. Conjunctiva specimens were obtained from the area of further fistula of 51 patients undergoing trabeculectomies and assessed by routine histopathological staining. RESULTS: Non-specific inflammatory infiltration, thickening of the epithelium, decreased numbers of Goblet cells, proliferation of fibroblasts, collagen deposition and fibrosis were observed in the obtained material. Changes in cellular profile and in the extracellular composition of bulbar conjunctivas in patients receiving long-term topical antiglaucoma treatment were detected.     

Trans-sclerally fixated PC-IOLs: six year of investigations

PURPOSE: To present the results of PC IOLs transscleral fixation to the ciliary sulcus in six years follow-up. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 152 eyes in 3 groups: 15 eyes with primary fixations of PC IOLs, 92 eyes with secondary fixations of PC IOLs and 45 eyes with secondary fixations of PC IOLs combined with penetrating keratoplasty. RESULTS: Postoperative corrected visual acuity was 0.5 or better in 32.2% of cases, the most common complications in our material was CME (9.9%), lens tilt (4.6%) and increase of IOP (3.95%). CONCLUSION: Transscleral fixation of PC IOLs offers good visual outcome with relatively low rate of complications and is recommended in cases with inadequate posterior capsule support.     

Pituitary apoplexy: Endocrine,surgical and oncological emergency. Incidence,clinical course and treatment with reference to 799 cases of pituitary adenomas

Summary Authors analised retrospectively the incidence of pituitary apoplexy in a series of 799 pituitary adenomas with respect to the long term follow-up of the patients.Focal vascular abnormalities in histological specimens of tumours, regarded as morphological suggestion of past apoplexy (heamorrhage, ischaemic infarction or necrosis), were established in 113 out of 783 surgical cases (14.4%).Acute clinical onset, justifying the clinical diagnosis of pituitary apoplexy, occurred in 39 patients only (5% of the whole series), 19 of them were subjected to urgent surgical decompression due to severe neurological deficit. The haemorrhagic character of apoplexy was established in most cases requiring immediate surgery.The detailed clinical picture of this condition and its management are discussed with respect to the long term prognosis.On this basis the authors suggest the necessity of surgical treatment in every case of pituitary apoplexy, taking into account not only neurological recovery, but also endocrine and oncological aspects of the disease. The observation that pituitary apoplexy may be a marker of tumour invasiveness (even in small, enclosed adenomas) is highlighted.     

The effect of haloperidol,spiperone and pimozide on the flexor reflex of the hind limb of the spinal rat

Summary It was found that spiperone and pimozide in doses which themselves do not influence the flexor reflex of the hind limb of the spinal rat inhibit stimulation of this reflex induced by serotoninomimetic drugs (LSD and fenfluramine). Higher doses of spiperone depress the flexor reflex and inhibit the stimulating effect of clonidine. Pimozide has no such effect. Haloperidol in doses which do not influence the action of LSD and fenfluramine produces a depression of the flexor reflex and antagonizes the action of clonidine. Our findings indicate that, irrespective of their antidopamine action, spiperone has a central antiserotonin effect and an antinoradrenaline one, pimozide—an antiserotonin one and haloperidol—an antinoradrenaline one.The results of this paper were presented at the Polish-Hungarian Symposium on Monoaminergic mechanisms in Tihany, June 21–23, 1977.     

Preliminary evaluation of the Polish tissue adhesive “Chirurcoll/Polfa” in urology

During the past two years, from June 7, 1974 to August 9, 1976, the authors used the Polish tissue adhesive Chirurcoll/Polfa in 60 operated patients. The operations were performed on the solitary kidney, on the kidneys of staghorn calculi, in fixation of a floating kidney and, fixation and elevation of the bladder in women with urinary stress incontinence.In all cases the postoperative course was smooth and the results of operation were satisfactory. None of the patients were re-operated and histological examinations were not performed,     

Application of arylosulfonic acids in analysis of antidepressive drugs

Suitability of three phenylsulphonyloxybenzenesulfonic acids and their sodium salts to form new derivatives with antidepressive drugs were studied. Then physicochemical properties of the obtained arylosulfonates were tested. Reagents mentioned above were also used in analysis of these drugs.