[Selected components of the kallikrein-kinin system and of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in offspring of parents with hypertension]. / Wybrane wskazniki ukladów kalikreina-kininy i renina-angiotensyna-aldosteron u potomstwa rodziców z samoistnym nadcisnieniem tetniczym.

UNLABELLED: Essential hypertension is a very common disease in the world. Although the various systemic, local, genetic and environmental factors are known to be involved in its pathogenesis, others remain obscure. In offspring of hypertensive parents many biochemical abnormalities have been found distinguishing these persons from subjects without family history of hypertension. Recently, the correlation between a positive family history of hypertension and urinary kallikrein excretion has been reported. OBJECTIVE: 1. To determine selected components of the kallikrein-kinin system and renin-angiotensin system in normotensive offspring of hypertensive parents and in normotensive offspring of normotensive parents as control group. 2. To determine abnormalities of biochemical indicators known as the predictors of hypertension in offspring of hypertensive parents. The study was performed on 85 normotensive young slim (body mass index < 25) adults. They were subdivided into 4 groups: 21 subjects with no family history of hypertension as controls, 23 offspring of hypertensive mothers, 27 offspring of hypertensive fathers, and 14 offspring of both hypertensive parents. After medical history, physical examination and routine biochemistry, the following parameters have been measured: plasma renin activity and aldosterone concentration in basic conditions, and after 40 mg furosemide i.v., plasma angiotensin 1 converting enzyme activity, plasma prekallikrein level, Na/K ATPase activity and 24-hours urinary excretion of renal kallikrein, sodium, potassium and chloride. Tables 1-5. RESULTS: 1. No significant differences concerning the body mass index, plasma prekallikrein level, plasma renin activity and aldosterone concentration in basic conditions, and after 40 mg furosemide i.v., urinary sodium, potassium and chloride were found between controls and subjects with family history of hypertension as well as between controls and offspring of hypertensive mothers, fathers and both hypertensive parents. 2. The diastolic and mean arterial pressure in children of both hypertensive parents was in high normal range, but was significantly higher as compared to controls. 3. Compared to the control group, urinary kallikrein excretion was significantly lower in subjects with family history of hypertension, especially in offspring of both hypertensive parents. CONCLUSIONS: 1. The significant decrease of urinary kallikrein excretion distinguished the subjects with the family history of hypertension, especially offspring of both hypertensive parents. Low kallikrein excretion is often associated with diastolic blood pressure in high normal range. 2. The co-existence of low kallikrein excretion and high normal diastolic blood pressure may be useful in predicting the higher risk for arterial hypertension to develop. 3. In offspring of hypertensive parents the impairment of kallikrein-kinin system refers mainly to the tissue component. No changes have been found in plasma component of this system.

[Plasma prekallikrein in chronic liver diseases]. / Prekalikreina osoczowa w przewleklych chorobach watroby.

Plasma prekallikrein (PPK) is a single-chain glycoprotein synthesized in the liver. The aim of our study was to evaluate a plasma prekallikrein as the marker reflecting liver protein synthesis in patients with chronic liver diseases. PPK levels have been measured by own modification of amidolytic micro-assay in 43 patients with chronic liver diseases and 37 healthy volunteers as control group. As compared to control group, PPK level was significantly decreased in patients with chronic active hepatitis and with decompensated liver cirrhosis and significantly increased in patients with liver cirrhosis complicated by hepatocellular carcinoma. There was no difference in plasma prekallikrein between patients with compensated liver cirrhosis and controls. The results suggest that PPK might be a useful index for the assessment of residual functional liver mass in patients with chronic liver diseases.

[Comparison of the effect of short-term treatment with nifedipine and verapamil on blood pressure, plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) in patients with primary arterial hypertension I degree according to WHO]. / Porównanie wplywu krótkotrwalego leczenia nifedypina i werapamilem na cisnienie tetnicze oraz stezenie przedsionkowego peptydu natriuretycznego (ANP) i cyklicznego guanozynomonofosforanu (cGMP) w osoczu chorych na pierwotne nadcisnienie tetnicze I stopnia wg WHO.

The aim of the study was the comparison of the effect of seven day treatment with nifedipine (2 x 10 mg daily) and subsequently with verapamil (3 x 40 mg daily) on blood pressure, heart rate, plasma ANP, cGMP, renin activity (PRA), aldosterone (ALDO) concentrations in patients with primary hypertension. The material consisted of 12 untreated patients with primary arterial hypertension Io WHO. These results suggest that short-term treatment with nifedipine and subsequently with verapamil in patients with primary hypertension Io WHO not influence on plasma ANP, cGMP, PRA and ALDO in spite of blood pressure reduction and the changes in heart rate. It seems that ANP did not participate in hypotensive action of nifedipine and verapamil. No augmentation of urinary sodium excretion was found after short-term treatment with nifedipine or verapamil.

Plasma prekallikrein levels in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and liver cirrhosis: a pilot study.

The concentration of plasma prekallikrein (PK) in five patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been measured and related to levels in 18 patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) and 30 healthy subjects. It was found that the mean PK level was significantly increased in patients with HCC, while patients with LC demonstrated lower concentrations, as compared with healthy subjects. The results indicate that PK might be useful in screening cirrhotic patients for HCC. Longitudinal studies of PK in a larger group of patients at risk of developing HCC are therefore recommended.

[Increased activity of erythrocyte superoxide dismutase as the result of adaptation to long-term oxygen therapy]. / Wzrost aktywnosci czerwonokrwinkowej dysmutazy ponadtlenkowej jako wyraz adaptacji do przewleklej tlenoterapii.

Activity of erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) was assessed in 17 patients with decompensated chronic cor pulmonale and in 15 healthy volunteers. Also the serum levels of uric acid and hematological parameters were analyzed. Recordings were made in ten day intervals during long term oxygen therapy. The authors have found the increase of SOD activity in the treated patients which can be interpreted as a generalized adaptation of the organism to long term oxygen therapy.