Simvastatin (40 mg/day) in patients with hereditary hypercholesterolemia: effect on high density lipoprotein cholesterol

AIM: To study effect of simvastatin of the level of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (CH). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Simvastatin (40 mg/day) was given for 3 months to 15 patients (3 men, 12 women, mean age 56-/+10.3 years) with hereditary type II hypercholesterolemia after washout from lipid lowering therapy. Initial level of HDL CH was below and above 1.0 mmol/l in 7 and 8 patients, respectively. Blood lipids, activity of liver enzymes and creatine kinase were determined after 1 and 3 months of therapy with simvastatin. Safety and tolerability of simvastatin were also studied. RESULTS: Simvastatin was well tolerated. In 1 patient the drug was stopped because of pain in the liver and nausea. In patients with initially low HDL CH levels of total and low density lipoprotein (LDL) CH significantly decreased by 29.6 and 36.8%, respectively, after 3 months, while level of HDL CH increased by 20% after 1 month of therapy. In patients with initially normal HDL CH levels of total and LDL CH significantly decreased by 31.1 and 32.6%, respectively, while those of triglycerides and HDL CH did not change. CONCLUSION: In patients with hereditary hypercholesterolemia 40 mg/day of simvastatin besides pronounced lowering of LDL CH level caused significant increase of HDL CH (up to 20% in 1 month) in patients with initially low level of this parameter.     

Effects of serotonin synthesis blockade on interleukin-1 beta action in the brain of rats

The ability of the brain serotonergic system to mediate the effects of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) was investigated. Intracerebroventricular administration of IL-1beta induced a significant pyrogenic reaction, depression in social behaviour, loss of body weight and reduced food intake in rats. Pre-treatment with p-chlorphenylalanine, an inhibitor of serotonin synthesis, blocked the IL-1beta-induced decrease in food intake and loss of body weight, but failed to alter the temperature increase and the decrease in communicative activity.     

Intraocular correction in surgery of unilateral cataract in children

A total of 488 operations of cataract extraction with implantation of intraocular lenses have been performed in children aged 7 mos to 14 yrs; there were 460 traumatic cataracts and 28 congenital ones. Better functional results have been achieved in children with traumatic cataracts: vision acuity has recovered to 0.3-1.0 in 81.8% and binocular vision in 78.1% of cases. In children with congenital cataracts vision acuity has restored to 0.2-0.5 in 83.3% and binocular vision in 33.3% of cases.     

Neurologic ultrasonography in the diagnosis of infectious diseases of the brain in newborn infants

The authors assess potentialities of ultrasonic scanning of the brain (neurosonography) in the diagnosis of infectious brain injuries. The data obtained have demonstrated a high information content of the method in recognition of purulent meningitis complications and advisability of the use of neurosonography in neonates with suspected specific intrauterine infection.