Increasing the blood

One method of treatment is to inject calcitonin, which decreases blood Ca " concentration and increases bone calcification (33). Another is to increase the release of calcitonin into the blood by increasing the blood level of Ca " ( 4). This latter treatment is accompHshed by increasing Ca " absorption from the intestine requiring dietary calcium supplements and avoidance of high phosphate diets. The latter decrease Ca " absorption by precipitation of the insoluble calcium phosphate. 

Sodium and Hypertension. Salt-free or low salt diets often are prescribed for hypertensive patients (57). However, sodium chloride increases the blood pressure in some individuals but not in others. Conversely, restriction of dietary NaCl lowers the blood pressure of some hypertensives, but not of others. Genetic factors and other nutrients, eg, Ca " and K", may be involved. The optimal intakes of Na" and K" remain to be estabUshed... 

When a cardiotonic drug is administered, die positive inotropic action increases the force of die contraction, resulting in an increased cardiac output. When cardiac output is increased, the blood supply to die kidneys and otiier vital organs is increased. Water, electrolytes, and waste products are removed in adequate amounts, and tiie symptoms of inadequate heart action or HF are relieved, hi most instances, the heart rate also decreases. This occurs because vital organs are now receiving an adequate blood supply because of the increased force of myocardial contraction. 

Avoid the use of any nonprescription drug (some may contain drugs that are capable of increasing the blood pressure) unless approved by the primary care provider. 

Diamox (acetazolamide) inhibits carbonic anhydrase, and this, in turn, increases the blood acidity. The increased blood acidity stimulates breathing and... 

Oxidative stress and inflammation are elevated in hemodialysis patients, which, at least partly, might be initiated by intravenous iron administration. Thus, Tovbin et al. [377] showed that the administration of iron saccharide to hemodialysis patients increased the blood level of oxidized proteins. Similarly, an increase in the levels of free ( nontransferrin-bound or labile ) iron has been shown in the plasma of hemodialysis patients [378] including patients after intravenous iron saccharate infusion [379]. 

A newer therapeutic approach is the administration of betaine (6-12 g daily), which lowers homocysteine levels by favoring remethylation [33], A theoretical hazard of betaine treatment is increasing the blood methionine, sometimes to an extravagant degree ( 1 mmol/1). Experience to date indicates that betaine administration is safe, with no major side effects except for a fishy odor to the urine. Other therapeutic approaches have included the administration of salicylate to ameliorate the thromboembolic diathesis. Patients also have been treated with dietary supplements of L-cystine, since the block of the transsulfura-tion pathway in theory could diminish the synthesis of this amino acid. 

Cyclosporine is an immunomodulating agent used mainly to inhibit rejection after transplantations and it has a narrow therapeutic interval. Grapefruit juice is a strong inhibitor of the cyclosporine metabolism (CYP 3A4) and increases the blood concentration of cyclosporine. This can lead to toxicity but can also be used to reduce the doses and decrease the costs of the cyclosporine treatment. 

Because heptachlor epoxide is lipophilic, it is likely that the loss of adipose tissue, as may occur during fasting, will mobilize the stored compound and increase the rate of its elimination. However, this mobilization is also likely to temporarily increase the blood levels of heptachlor epoxide. Hence, any possible benefits due to a reduced body burden accompanying fat reduction would need to be balanced against potential harmful results due to the expected temporary increase in blood levels. 

Sugar The hydrolysis of sucrose in the intestine produces both glucose and fructose, which are transported across the epithelial cells by specific carrier proteins. The fructose is taken up solely by the liver. Fructose is metabolised in the liver to the triose phosphates, dihydroxy-acetone and glycer-aldehyde phosphates. These can be converted either to glucose or to acetyl-CoA for lipid synthesis. In addition, they can be converted to glycerol 3-phosphate which is required for, and stimulates, esterification of fatty acids. The resulting triacylglycerol is incorporated into the VLDL which is then secreted. In this way, fructose increases the blood level of VLDL (Chapter 11). 

The stress of an infarction increases the blood levels of catecholamines which increase the force of contraction of... 

Blood transfusions can also lead to misleading laboratory values. Stored blood bank blood can appreciably increase the blood ammonia levels (PIO). Blood stored 7 days has been found to contain over 1100 /xg/ml. A case has been reported of a patient receiving massive blood transfusions whose serum contained an additional lactic dehydrogenase isoenzyme (a splitting of the LDH-1 band). The authors concluded that the extra band was not an artifact, but rather represented an abnormal H subunit present in one or more of the transfused plasmas (F6). 

The following are examples of substances that may increase the blood glucose-lowering effect and susceptibility to hypoglycemia oral antidiabetic products, ACE inhibitors, disopyramide, fibrates, fluoxetine, MAO inhibitors, pentoxifylline, propoxyphene, salicylates, and sulfonamide antibiotics. 

Noradrenaline and adrenaline increase blood pressure, although in various organs the perfusion can actually be reduced. Since adrenaline, in contrast to noradrenaline, stimulates a-and jSi-adrenoceptors and the jSi-subtype as well, its vascular effects are more complex than those of noradrenaline. In many vessel beds like the splanchnic area and the skin the O -adrenoceptor-mediated vasoconstriction is dominant. However, in others, like the active skeletal muscles, the jS2-adrenoceptor-mediated vasodilatation increases the blood flow. In the lower concentration range adrenaline induce an increase in blood pressure without elevated diastolic values. Catecholamines reduce the permeability of the vascular endothelium which might be of some importance for their antiallergic properties. 

ADH in larger dose increases the blood pressure by direct stimulation of vascular smooth muscle. It also stimulates the smooth muscle of gastrointestinal tract and increase the peristalsis. It is inactive orally because it is destroyed by trypsin. It can be administered by any parenteral route or by nasal spray. Vasopressin is indicated in diabetes insipidus and in treatment of postoperative abdominal varices. 

The drug disulfiram interferes with the oxidation of acetaldehyde formed during the metabolism of alcohol. This increases the blood level of acetaldehyde which acts directly on cardiovascular system and produce these toxic reactions. Disulfiram also inhibits dopamine beta oxidase and thus interferes with the synthesis of noradrenaline, which causes depletion of catecholamines. 

Cyclosporin is metabolised by the hepatic cytochrome P-450 enzyme system, and enzyme induction by phenobarbital, phenytoin, carbamazepine, or rifampicin will drastically increase the clearance of cyclosporin. Concurrent administration of these drugs has caused rejection of transplanted organs. Conversely, the use of enzyme inhibitors, such as erythromycin or the azole antifungal agents, e.g. ketoconazole, will increase the blood concentrations of cyclosporin leading to an increased risk of toxic side effects. 

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