Biochemical and clinical improvement of cytotoxic state by amantadine sulphate.

1. The main idea of the open clinical trial was to compare the income and outcome clinical picture and the evolution of the biochemical markers in the defined intervals in closed head injury group patients. 2. In the group of 32 patients, mean age 40.78+/-15.36 years suffering from closed traumatic brain injury the following markers were measured: glycaemia, malondialdehyde (MDA) as marker of lipid peroxidation, beta-caroten, total SH groups as marker of protein oxidation in the following intervals: between the 1st and the 3rd, between the 3rd and the 7th, between the 1st and the 7th day respectively. 3. Glycaemia significantly decreased since the 1st day till the 3rd day (p < 0.05) and since the 1st day till the 7th day (p < 0.05) but it was not significantly changed since the 3rd day till the 7th day (p > 0.05). 4. MDA 1st x MDA 3rd p > 0.05 insignificant change, MDA 1st x MDA 7th p < 0.001--high significant decrease, MDA 3rd x MDA 7th--p < 0.0001--very high significant decrease. 5. Beta-caroten the 1st x beta-caroten the 3rd day was insignificantly changed-p > 0.05, the 3rd x the 7th day beta-caroten increased significantly--p < 0.0002, the 1st day x 7th day beta-caroten significantly increased--p < 0.0001. 6. We examined the SH groups only in nine patients, due to technical problems and SH groups decrease on the 3rd day (p < 0.005). 7. In 18 amantadine sulphate subgroups (randomly selected), there was 5.5% lethality and mean outcome GCS (outGCS) 9.83+/-3.8, while lethality of the control subgroup (n=14) was 42.9%, mean outGCS 6.28+/-3.5.

[What does the relation of digoxin-like immunoactivity and serum insulin levels in pregnant women signify?]. / Co signalizuje vztah digoxínu podobnej imunoaktivity k hladinám inzulínu v sére tehotných zien?

BACKGROUND: Digoxin-like immunoactivity (DLIA) reflects the presence of endogenous substances which are close to cardiac glycosides. These substances via inhibition of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase increase intracellular calcium stores (Ca2+i) and may modulate various Ca(2+)-dependent mechanisms. Although DLIA are known primarily as hypertension and natriuresis promoting factors, several recent works have suggested that DLIA relates also to diabetes mellitus. The main stimulus for DLIA secretion represents volume-expansion. AIM OF STUDY: To assess relation of DLIA to glucose tolerance and insulin levels in pregnant women (PW). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 1) 67 PW (DLIA measured by RIA-kit HUMA-LAB Kosice), 2) 53 PW (DLIA measured by RIA-kit ORION). PW were subdivided according to the glucose tolerance and insulin concentrations. RESULTS: 1. DLIA in hyperinsulinemic PW were significantly higher than in those with normal insulin levels. 2. DLIA significantly correlated with insulin levels as well as with insulinogenic index. 3. The increase in plasma glucose and insulinemia during OGTT was accompanied by a decrease in DLIA. These findings were independent of other measured parameters (age, body mass index, pregnancy induced weight gain, blood pressure and steroid hormones). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that DLIA does not respond only to changes regarding sodium-retention and volume-expansion, but also to changes in glucose and insulin metabolism. Thus, DLIA could represent one of the markers of "specific" neurohumoral activation. However, the question of whether an elevation in DLIA may consequently modulate mechanisms of insulin secretion, insulin sensitivity, vascular reactivity and other Ca2+i-dependent mechanisms remains speculative. (Tab. 4, Fig. 4, Ref. 41).