Morphophysiological status of rat thyroid gland after subchronic exposure to low frequency electromagnetic field.

The objective of this study was to examine the impact of low-frequency electromagnetic field on male rat thyroid gland of Mill Hill strain. Animals were exposed to 50 Hz frequency, of decaying intensity from 500 microT to 50 microT and 10 V/m field, beginning 24 hours after birth, 7 hours a day, 5 days a week during three months. Results of histological and stereological analysis showed increased volume density of thyroid follicles, decreased thickness of the follicular epithelium, intrafollicular colloid content in lumen, decreased thyroid activation index, increased volume density of parafollicular cells, decreased volume of interfollicular connective tissue and increased number of degranulated mast cells in exposed animals in regard to control animals. Radioimmunologic assays were used to examine thyroid hormone concentrations in the blood serum revealing decrease of the total T4 as well as of total T3 in animals exposed to electromagnetic field in regard to controls. The obtained results show that a three month-exposition of animals to low frequency electromagnetic field led to morphofunctional alterations of the thyroid gland that can be referred to as reduced activity of the gland.

Predictive value of biological markers in etiopathogenesis of juvenile diabetes--reviewing the role of insulin antibodies.

The lack of complete concordance for diseases in monozygotic twins prevents application of genetic markers for a thorough identification of the subjects who will develop the type I diabetes. Furthermore, the impact of the environmental factors precipitating beta cells destruction in genetically sensitive subjects has not been completely enlightened yet. The identification of high risk markers for the development of diabetes is aimed at detection of the early immune response activation markers. Islet cell antibodies are the most valuable markers, whose presence can be discovered even up to 7-8 years prior to the onset of symptoms. They are found in 50-80% of the newly discovered insulin-dependent diabetics. Their prevalence in the general population is 0.5-2%. These are commonly concomitant with insulin antibodies, found in 20-40% of the newly discovered diabetics, as reported in the literature. In our circumstances it was possible to determine the insulin antibodies only. We have concluded that they appear in 13.6% of children with a newly discovered diabetes, presenting a significant marker for predicting the course of the disease.

[Hyperinsulinemia as a key factor in the development of many metabolic disorders]. / Hiperinsulinemija kao kljucni faktor u nastanku brojnih metabolickih poremecaja.

Insulin resistance and consequent hyperinsulinemia present a frequent disorder and according to some investigations it is present in a quarter of whole population. Leaving aside numerous genetic syndromes caused by pronounced insulin resistance, this paper surveys the influence of specific arrangement of fat tissue in the development of this disorder, its role in insulin-independent form of diabetes, development of lipidic and lipoproteinic disorders, in the essential arterial hypertension, and finally, in the appearance of accelerated and premature atherosclerosis. Further intensive investigations of this problem will probably result in achieving a definite explanation of the importance of hyperinsulinemia as a marker of cardiovascular risk.

[Case report of a rare cause of hypopituitarism]. / Prikaz slucaja hipopituitarizma retke etiologije.

Hypopituitarism is an illness of the hypophysis with deficit of one or more pituitary hormones. It can be congenital or acquired. Etiologic factors of acquired hypophyseal insufficiency are numerous. Pituitary gland infarction is a frequent cause of hypopituitarism. Extracorporeal circulation, applied in cardiac surgery procedures, may also, by mechanism of ischemic necrosis, cause hypophyseal lesions and development of hypopituitarism. This paper presents a case of a female patient suffering from panhypopituitarism which developed after extracorporeal circulation during aortocoronary bypass surgery. The authors point to the extracorporeal circulation as a rare etiologic factor in development of hypopituitarism, as well as unusual clinical picture with dominant psychic disorders and diagnostic and treatment procedures.

10,11,12,13-Tetrahydro derivatives of tylosin. II. Synthesis, antibacterial activity and tissue of 4'-deoxy-10,11,12,13-tetrahydrodesmycosin.

4'-Deoxy-10,11,12,13-tetrahydrodesmycosin was prepared in six-step reactions. Antibacterial screening shows retained antibacterial spectrum of tylosin with some improvement against tylosin-sensitive Staphylococci and Haemophilus influenze. However, the pharmacokinetic data demonstrated rapid distribution from blood in tissues and prolonged maintenance in all tissues, especially in the lungs, in comparison with tylosin.

New oleandomycin 9-oximes. Synthesis, characterization and biological activity.

A series of the novel oleandomycin 9-oximes has been prepared and characterized by spectroscopic data and X-ray analysis. The antibacterial in vitro activities of the oximes (6-10) were compared with that of oleandomycin (1). Among the novel derivatives the most active compound was 8(R)-methyloleandomycin-9-oxime (9) in contrast ot its 8(S)-isomer (10) which possessed only low potency. Some preliminary pharmacokinetic data of 9 confirmed its activity. Compound 9 has been advanced to further biological study.

[Use of radionuclide quantitative analysis in routine diagnosis of metabolic bone diseases]. / Primena radioizotopskih kvantitativnih analiza u rutinskoj dijagnostici metabolickih bolesti kosti.

Global and regional quantity indexes of metabolic bone activities are determined on the basis of given scintigraphic dose for skeleton examination. The calculation of all analyzed indexes was carried out in all cases of the control group and patients with established disturbance of bone tissue metabolism. When choosing the method used in the routine work, apart from diagnostic value of analysis numerous criteria have been respected. The analyzed global quantity indexes of metabolic bone activity adapted to conditions of routine work have similar diagnostic value, while the best regional index relating bone soft tissue is the one concerned with the upper leg. As the examined quantity indexes enable more reliable interpretation of the scintigraphic findings, in everyday work the scintigraphic examination should be filled in by determination of corrected retention of activity in the whole body and calculation of radiosotope analysis significantly depend one the kidney function and urine elimination.

Renal osteodystrophy--pathophysiological aspects.

The aim of this study was to evaluate status of bone metabolism in patients on chronic maintenance dialysis, to elucidate dominant mechanisms in the genesis of renal osteodistrophy (ROD) with simultaneous measuring of biochemical regulators and parameters of bone metabolism and scintigraphic study of metabolic activity of the skeleton. We found that disturbance of skeletal homeostasis existed in all patients, dominant hyperparathyroid bone disease was found in most of them, mixed uremic osteodistrophy (hyperparathyroidism and vitamin D deficiency) was observed in less percent, i.e. only in 6% renal bone disease with low turnover due to osteomalacia or adynamic bone disease was present. Simultaneous determinations of most relevant factors of bone metabolism and scintiscan discover changes in skeletal homeostasis, and can prevent severe disturbances and treat adequately those ones which already exist.

Hip scintigraphy in the diagnosis and evaluation of morbus Perthes.

During this research the role and significance of hip scintigraphy in diagnosis and evaluation of Perthes disease were examined. Three phase scan was applied in 35 patients clinically suspected of Perthes' disease. There were no false positive findings in 20 patients who did not suffer from Perthes' disease and all 15 who suffered from disease were scintigraphically positive. Our investigation confirmed clearly that late scintigraphy conducted with pinhole colimator can be used as a reliable method for diagnosis and evaluation of Perthes' disease.

Usage of quantitative static scintigraphy of the thyroid gland in defining the therapeutical dose of radioiodine.

In a group of 21 patients sent by endocrinologist for antihyperthyreosis therapy with radioactive iodine, we calculated and compared the weight of the thyroid gland by quantitative static scintigraphy, using two computed parameters--according to surface and volume of the gland. Statistically we came to the conclusion that weight of the thyroid gland calculated on the basis of surface gives significantly higher values than calculation by the use of volume. The calculation of weight of the thyroid gland using the surface of scan image is recommended, while quantitative static scintigraphy increases the standardisation of the procedure very much.

[The role of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of enlarged parathyroid glands]. / Mesto ultrasonografije u dijagnostici povecanih paratireoidnih zlezda.

The ultrasonographic diagnosis of parathyroid glands was introduced by the Japanese in 1975. Only after more perfect machines have been introduced, first of all by advancement of "real-time" technique, this method started being used as a routine. The paper shows results of ultrasonographic investigation in 200 patients separated into two groups. In the first group 100 patients were examined with a clinical suspect of primary hyperparathyroidism from which in 30 the existence of parathyroid gland adenoma was diagnosed. Scintigraphy of parathyroid glands was performed in the smaller group of patients; the comparison of these two methods was done, and in 77.7% cases coincidence was found. In the group of 10 operated patients comparison of the two mentioned methods was carried out, with surgical or pathohistologic findings and the coincidence was complete. In the second group 100 patients were examined belonging to the chronical program of hemodialysis, from which in 24 cases existence of swollen parathyroid glands was found. Comparison of ultrasonographic and scintigraphic findings was also done and the coincidence was 68.75%. At the end, the importance of ultrasonography in the first diagnostic stage of swollen parathyroid glands was pointed out.

Synthesis and antibacterial activity of O-methylazithromycin derivatives.

A series of O-methylazithromycin derivatives have been synthesized and their antibacterial activities were compared with those of azithromycin (1). O-Methylation of 1 proceeded stepwise by the two main pathways beginning at the C-6 and C-11 hydroxyl groups, individually. Among O-methyl derivatives, 6-O-methylazithromycin A (11) was slightly less active than 1. The methylation of the secondary hydroxyl group at the C-11 position resulted surprisingly in an increase of their in vitro activity. The antibacterial activities of novel azalides decreased with increasing the number of the methyl groups introduced.

Disk diffusion sensitivity testing and antibacterial activity of azithromycin.

Azithromycin (CAS 83905-01-5) disks with the selected loading (10, 15, 20 micrograms) were used for determination of the most suitable azithromycin disk concentration. Estimation was carried out by means of the regression line related to the zone size inhibition. Testing was performed on a variety of freshly isolated gram-positive, gram-negative and anaerobic bacteria derived from various specimens collected from patients. Using the disk diffusion method with 10 micrograms of azithromycin per disk in total 431 gram-positive, 875 gram-negative bacterial strains and 59 anaerobic bacteria were analysed. It was concluded that azithromycin disk containing 10 micrograms is sufficient for determination of bacterial sensitivity.

[The metabolic X syndrome--4 case reports]. / Metabolicki sindrom X--povodom cetiri slucaja.

The study reviews current knowledge about metabolic X syndrome characterized by android obesity, arterial hypertension, insulin resistance with hyperinsulinemia and disturbed carbohydrate tolerance, a decrease of HDL cholesterol and an increase of the triglyceride rich VLDL particle level. The study describes 4 female patients having been diagnosed for this syndrome. Only an ontime and vigorous reduction of overweight, along with intensified physical activity can prevent later development of serious complications, first of all, in cardiovascular system.

Pharmacokinetics of azithromycin after single oral dosing of experimental animals.

Azithromycin, a macrolide antibiotic with an enhanced antimicrobial spectrum, was found to have a longer half-life than erythromycin, with marked tissue penetration. The pharmacokinetics of azithromycin after oral administration were compared with those of erythromycin in rats (200 mg kg-1) and rabbits (80 mg kg-1). Concentrations of azithromycin in liver, lung, kidney, ileum, and brain were higher than serum concentrations. The slow decline in tissue concentrations was evident from the biphasic elimination profile. Thus, advantageous pharmacokinetic properties and the broader antimicrobial spectrum of azithromycin relative to erythromycin appear to further support its therapeutic potential.

[The importance of intact parathyroid hormone determination in the evaluation of parathyroid gland function]. / Znacaj odredivanja intaktnog paratireoidnog hormona u proceni funkcije paratireoidnih zlezda.

The study investigates the importance of determining the intact parathormone in the evaluation of parathyroid gland function in different conditions of change in their function and the alteration of parathormone metabolism: primary and secondary hyperparathyroidism, hypoparathyroidism and hyperthyroidism. The role and place of intact parathormone determination in routine diagnostic schemes of calcium homeostasis disorders was reviewed by the simultaneous determination of the indicators of calcium and bone metabolism and other calcium homeostasis hormone regulators, as well as the C- and N-terminal parathormone fragments and by establishing their mutual links with the values of the intact parathormone.

[Quantitative static scintigraphy of the thyroid gland]. / Mogucnosti kvantitativne staticke stintigrafije stitaste zlezde.

The paper describes a static scintigram computer processed by the Siemens-Euromeni method which gives rather accurate parameters concerning the overall functional thyroid tissue mass, as well as functions of a certain thyroid gland node. It facilitates the calculation of the dimensions of the right-angled field which borders the thyroid gland (cm), radioactivity uptake (% of a given dose) in the whole gland, left and right lobe, the ratio between the left and right lobe uptake, the surface (cm2) of the whole gland and of the left and right lobe, the ratio between the left and right lobe surfaces, the number of impulses (imp) registered in the whole gland and in the left and right lobe, the volume (cm3) of the whole gland and of the left and right lobe, the ratio between the left and right lobe volume, as well as the surface and radioactivity uptake (% of a given dose and % of the total uptake) in the marked nodes. An additional calculation could offer an uptake ratio per surface unit between the node and paranodal tissue which, by the use of suppression tests offers a very accurate assessment of the function and compensation of each node. The method represents a significant contribution to an accurate assessment of the functional mass as well as to the assessment of nodal changes of the thyroid gland.

Comparison of azithromycin and erythromycin in the treatment of atypical pneumonias.

An open, randomized, multicentre study compared the efficacy and safety of the prototype, azalide, azithromycin, and erythromycin in the treatment of atypical pneumonias. Azithromycin was administered for five days at a dosage of 250 mg bd on day 1 and 250 mg once daily on days 2 to 5. Erythromycin was given for ten days at 500 mg qid. Causative pathogens were identified by serological methods. Of 57 patients treated with azithromycin, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia psittaci were identified in 31 and eight patients, respectively. Of 44 patients treated with erythromycin, M. pneumoniae and C. psittaci were identified in 24 and eight patients, respectively. There were no therapeutic failures in either treatment group. Side effects were observed in one of 57 patients on azithromycin and in six of 44 patients on erythromycin. Azithromycin appears to be as effective as erythromycin in the treatment of atypical pneumonias and better tolerated.

[Significance of highly sensitive (immunoradiometry assay) TSH in the evaluation of hypothalamo-hypophyseal-thyroid axis function]. / Znacaj visokoosetljivog (IRMA) TSH u proceni funkcije hipotalamo-hipofizno-tireoidne osovine.

A diagnostic value of immunoradiometric TSH assay in the evaluation of the function of hypothalamo-hypophyseal-thyroid axis was investigated in this paper. Normal values of basal TSH and TSH response during TRH test were determined by the use of ROC analysis. It was found out that there was a highly significant correlation between basal TSH and the responses during TRH test and that the diagnostic value of basal TSH in the evaluation of function of thyroid axis was almost identical to the diagnostic value of responses during TRH test. This finding pointed to the fact that basal TSH determination could replace the application of TRH test in diagnostic of thyroid axis disturbances. Comparing diagnostic value of basal TSH with other tests which served for the confirmation of thyroid axis disturbances, this test proved to be dominant, the most specific and the most sensitive in respect to other applied tests and could be regarded as the first step in diagnostic scheme of thyroid disturbances.

[Determination of 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone in the diagnosis of congenital adrenal hyperplasia]. / Odredivanje 17-alfa-hidroksiprogesterona u dijagnostici kongenitalne adrenalne hiperplazije.

On the basis of data from literature and by the use of commercial accessories radioimmunologic method of the determination od 17-alpha-hydroxiprogesteron (17-OHPG) serum level was determined in two variants: a) addition to the previous extraction, b) without extraction. It was initiated in the clinical work for diagnostic of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) induced by the enzymatic block of C21-hydroxilasis. 17-OHPG level was determined in a group of 15 children aged 2-12 of both sexes not suffering from endocrinous diseases. Mean values od X = 3.2 +/- 2.7 nmol/L and X = 4.3 +/- 3.3 nmol/L were obtained under a) and b), respectively. Also, 17-OHPG concentration was determined in 15 women without any endocrinous diseases by the method under b) and mean value of X = 2.5 +/- 1.7 nmol/L was obtained. 17-OHPG level was determined in a group of 7 children in whom CAH had been verified 3 days after the interruption of the substitutional therapy. According to the results of the investigation it was pointed out that there was a marked increase in 17-OHPG serum level (particularly by the use of b) method) which was far outside the range of reference values. In cases both with 17-OHPG determination and the daily pregnantriol excretion it was noticed that the increase in 17-OHPG was almost always accompanied by the increase in pregnantriol as well. Cortisolemia ranged from normal up to very lowered values.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)