Biomedical subjects

A Adduci

Publications and source records attributed to A Adduci.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Pain relief and motor function during continuous interscalene analgesia after open shoulder surgery: a prospective, randomized, double-blind comparison between levobupivacaine 0.25%, and ropivacaine 0.25% or 0.4%.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To compare pain relief and motor impairment of 0.25% levobupivacaine with either an equivalent (0.25%) or equipotent (0.4%) concentration of ropivacaine for continuous interscalene block after open shoulder surgery. METHODS: Seventy-two adult patients scheduled for elective major shoulder surgery received an interscalene injection of mepivacaine 1.5% 30 mL followed by 24 h patient-controlled interscalene analgesia (basal infusion rate: 5 mL h-1; incremental bolus: 2 mL; lockout period: 10 min; maximum boluses per hour: 4) with either 0.25% levobupivacaine (n = 24), 0.25% ropivacaine (n = 24) or 0.4% ropivacaine (n = 24). A blinded observer recorded the evolution of pain relief and recovery of motor block during the first 24 h. Motor function was assessed as the maximum pressure developed while squeezing a sphygmomanometer cuff with the blocked hand. The reduction from preoperative values was considered as an index of motor impairment. RESULTS: No differences were reported among the three groups in the quality of postoperative analgesia. The number of incremental patient-controlled interscalene analgesia doses, total volume of local anaesthetic infused during the 24-h patient-controlled interscalene analgesia, and number of rescue ketoprofen analgesia were higher in the ropivacaine 0.25% group than in the other two groups (P = 0.0005). The hand strength recovered to >or=90% of baseline values within the first 24 h of infusion in all groups, without differences among the three groups. CONCLUSION: When providing patient-controlled interscalene analgesia after open shoulder surgery 0.25% levobupivacaine and 0.4% ropivacaine performed equally in terms of pain relief, motor block and number of patient-controlled boluses required, while patients receiving 0.25% ropivacaine needed significantly more boluses and rescue analgesia to control their pain.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Psychological and adjustment problems due to acquired brain lesions in childhood: a comparison between post-traumatic patients and brain tumour survivors.

OBJECTIVE: To define and differentiate psychological and adjustment problems due to brain injury or brain tumour in children and adolescents. METHODS: Two groups of patients with acquired brain lesions (24 post-traumatic patients and 22 brain tumour survivors), ranging in age between 8-15 years, received a psychological evaluation, including the Child Behaviour Checklist for Ages 4-18 (CBCL) and the Vineland Behaviour Adaptive Scales (VABS). RESULTS: Both groups showed psychological and social adjustment problems. Post-traumatic patients were more impaired than brain tumour survivors. Social adjustment problems were associated to externalizing problems in post-traumatic patients and internalizing problems in brain tumour surviving patients. CONCLUSIONS: These differences in psychological and behavioural disorders between the two groups must necessarily be considered when developing psychological treatment, rehabilitation plan and social re-entry.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2005

Changes in hemodynamics during isoflurane and propofol anesthesia: a comparison study.

OBJECTIVES: Volatile anesthetics are thought to impair cerebral autoregulation more than i.v. anesthetics. However, few comparative studies have been carried out in humans. The aim of our study was to evaluate the differences in cerebral hemodynamic changes after introduction of isoflurane (a volatile anesthetic) and propofol (an i.v. anesthetic). METHODS: Eighteen consecutive patients submitted to laparoscopic cholecystectomy were selected. After the induction, anesthesia was maintained by isoflurane (one minimum alveolar anesthetic concentration) during the first part of the surgical operation, and then by propofol (5 mg/kg/hour i.v.). Ventilation was adjusted to maintain a constant end-tidal CO(2). Middle artery flow velocity was assessed by means of transcranial Doppler ultrasonography. Arterial blood pressure, heart rate (HR), capnometry, pulse oxymetry, inspired fraction of O(2), and body temperature, were monitored. RESULTS: Cerebral artery velocity, HR, and mean arterial pressure all significantly increased from baseline after the introduction of isoflurane (p<0.05); the HR and mean arterial blood pressure showed no significant difference between the isoflurane and propofol phases. Isoflurane anesthesia induced a significant increase in cerebral blood velocity. Propofol introduction led to a significant decrease in cerebral artery velocity (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Propofol but not isoflurane decreased cerebral blood velocity thus restoring cerebral autoregulation and the coupling between cerebral blood flow and cerebral metabolism.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Golgi alkalinization by the papillomavirus E5 oncoprotein.

The E5 oncoprotein of bovine papillomavirus type I is a small, hydrophobic polypeptide localized predominantly in the Golgi complex. E5-mediated transformation is often associated with activation of the PDGF receptor (PDGF-R). However, some E5 mutants fail to induce PDGF-R phosphorylation yet retain transforming activity, suggesting an additional mechanism of action. Since E5 also interacts with the 16-kD pore-forming subunit of the vacuolar H(+)-ATPase (V-ATPase), the oncoprotein could conceivably interfere with the pH homeostasis of the Golgi complex. A pH-sensitive, fluorescent bacterial toxin was used to label this organelle and Golgi pH (pH(G)) was measured by ratio imaging. Whereas pH(G) of untreated cells was acidic (6.5), no acidification was detected in E5-transfected cells (pH approximately 7.0). The Golgi buffering power and the rate of H(+) leakage were found to be comparable in control and transfected cells. Instead, the E5-induced pH differential was attributed to impairment of V-ATPase activity, even though the amount of ATPase present in the Golgi complex was unaltered. Mutations that abolished binding of E5 to the 16-kD subunit or that targeted the oncoprotein to the endoplasmic reticulum abrogated Golgi alkalinization and cellular transformation. Moreover, transformation-competent E5 mutants that were defective for PDGF-R activation alkalinized the Golgi lumen. Neither transformation by sis nor src, two oncoproteins in the PDGF-R signaling pathway, affected pH(G). We conclude that alkalinization of the Golgi complex represents a new biological activity of the E5 oncoprotein that correlates with cellular transformation.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed1996

The serine protease inhibitors TLCK and TPCK react with the RB-binding core of HPV-18 E7 protein and abolish its RB-binding capability.

The human papillomaviruses associated with cervical cancer (e.g., HPV-16 and HPV-18) express an E7 oncoprotein which mediates the immortalization of primary genital keratinocytes and the transformation of rodent cells. The 105-amino-acid HPV-18 E7 protein contains two zinc fingers as well as a conserved amino-terminal motif (Rb-binding core) which binds and alters the interactions of the retinoblastoma susceptibility gene product (Rb). We report here that two serine protease inhibitors, tosyl-L-lysine chloromethyl ketone (TLCK) and tosyl-L-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone (TPCK), reacted with and generated an altered form of the HPV-18 E7 protein. Chemical modification of the E7 protein was initially observed during its extraction and immunoprecipitation from mammalian cells but could also be detected using E7 protein expressed in vitro by reticulocyte lysates. More importantly, TLCK and TPCK were able to modify E7 protein in live keratinocytes following their addition to the culture medium. Site-specific mutagenesis demonstrated that the E7 Rb-binding core (Leu-X-Cys-X-Glu) contained a cysteine residue which was essential for this modification and that the TLCK/TPCK-dependent alteration of the E7 protein abolished its ability to bind Rb. These studies indicate that the E7 protein can be inactivated by a specific class of protease inhibitors and that such reagents may be useful for pharmacologically regulating E7 function in vivo. In addition, these results demonstrate that care must be taken when applying these commonly used protease inhibitors in experiments evaluating E7/cellular protein interactions.

Antibodies, Viral↗

PubMed1994

[Treatment of traumatic injuries of the spleen. Retrospective analysis of 164 cases].

Increased awareness of the spleen's immunologic function and the risk of overwhelming post-splenectomy sepsis has aroused interest in methods of splenic preservation in patients with abdominal trauma. During an 8-year period, 164 patients with documented blunt splenic injuries were treated in accordance with an evolving therapeutic program. Definitive treatment included nonoperative management in 19 patients (group I, 11.6%), repair in 50 (group II, 30.5%) and splenectomy in 95 (group III, 57.9%). Mortality and morbidity were higher in group III (6.3% and 34.3% respectively) according to the Injury Severity Score (ISS 33.3 +/- 13). In group II one patient died from severe head injuries. Only one patient failed nonoperative management and required laparotomy with resultant splenectomy on hospital day 10. Observation without surgery has proved to be safe and effective in children (failure incidence less than 10%); success rates in adults would not parallel the experience reported in children because of differences in anatomy and mechanism of injury. Selective criteria, including hemodynamic stability after initial fluid challenge, normal level of consciousness, lack of peritoneal signs, transfusion requirements of less than 4 units of blood, CT demonstration of minor splenic lesion and exclusion of associated abdominal injuries requiring surgery, make eligible for nonoperative management 12 to 18% of adults with anticipated success in over 75%. Operative repair or partial splenectomy can be employed in many patients, both adults and children, with a 1% incidence of rebleeding necessitating reoperation.

Abdominal Injuries↗

PubMed1994

[Lesions of the spleen caused by blunt trauma. Proposal of a classification based on CT and correlation with prognosis and treatment].

The use of CT scan has had a profound influence on the evaluation and treatment of closed abdominal injuries, enabling a progressive reduction to be achieved in the total number of emergency laparotomies. The authors review CT performed over the past two years in adult hemodynamically stable patients with traumatic splenic lesions. In 19 cases it was possible to commence non-surgical treatment which was successful in 18/19 cases. A simple and precise scoring system was elaborated on the basis of data obtained from CT by evaluating 4 parameters: extent of free intraperitoneal effusion, concomitant lesions to other abdominal organs, severity and site of splenic lesion. This classification gives a high degree of prognostic accuracy and provides a useful guideline in the choice of the most appropriate treatment.

Adult↗