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Biomedical subjects

A Conti

Publications and source records attributed to A Conti.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Effect of two consecutive administrations of GHRH in children with constitutional growth delay.

It has been suggested that children with constitutional growth delay might have a transient immaturity of the neurotransmitter pathways necessary for the control of growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) secretion. In this study we evaluated the effects of two consecutive GHRH boluses (1 microgram/kg, i.v.) in nine prepubertal boys with constitutional growth delay. Growth hormone (GH) responses to GHRH administration were similar to that observed in normal children (first GHRH bolus, GH net incremental area under the curve (nAUC) +/- SE: 788 +/- 244 vs 984 +/- 242 ng/ml per hour; second bolus, GHnAUC: 657 +/- 122 vs 541 +/- 129 ng/ml per hour, respectively). These data suggest that no relevant abnormalities in the mechanisms determining the somatotroph sensitivity to GHRH are present in children with constitutional growth delay.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Osteocalcin levels in patients with microprolactinoma before and during medical treatment.

Osteocalcin (OC) concentration, a specific index of bone formation, was measured in 29 female patients with microprolactinoma (serum prolactin, PRL: 105 +/- 10.9 ng/ml; mean +/- SE). Mean OC levels were significantly lower than in controls (1.7 +/- 0.2 vs 5.1 +/- 0.3 ng/ml; p less than 0.001), being below the normal range in 28 out of 29 patients. All patients were treated with dopaminergic agents (dihydroergocriptine, bromocriptine or cabergoline). After treatment mean serum PRL levels were significantly reduced (12 +/- 3.1 ng/ml; p less than 0.001), a full normalization being obtained in 26 patients. There were no significant differences in both basal and after treatment PRL levels among patients treated with different drugs, although a greater PRL decrease was induced by cabergoline. Serum OC levels significantly increased after 12 month therapy (4.7 +/- 0.6 ng/ml, p less than 0.001), a normal concentration being reached in 14 of 29 cases. During treatment there were no significant differences in serum estradiol and PRL concentrations between patients who normalized or not their OC levels, while the reduction in PRL levels with respect to baseline was more pronounced in the former group. The absolute increase in OC levels positively correlated with serum PRL decrements (p less than 0.01). It is noteworthy that serum OC normalized in 1/10 patients during dihydroergocriptine, 3/8 during bromocriptine and 10/11 during cabergoline. Four patients, previously treated with dihydroergocriptine and bromocriptine without normalizing OC and PRL levels, underwent a second course of therapy with cabergoline and then normalized OC concentrations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Effects of the enkephalinase inhibitor SCH 34826 on the sleep-waking cycle and EEG activity in the rat.

The sedative effect of SCH 34826, an enkephalinase inhibitor, was evaluated by studying electroencephalographic (EEG) activity, behaviour and the sleep-waking cycle in the rat. The reference opioid, morphine, was used for comparison. After administration of morphine (10 mg/kg s.c.) the rats were motionless and stuporous at first and then hyperactive. An increase of slow wave sleep, at the expense of both wakefulness and REM sleep was recorded, with high-amplitude slow wave bursts appearing in the EEG tracings during the waking, albeit stuporous, phase. Relative spectral power in the 1-4 and 12-16 Hz bands was increased and there was a shift of the dominant frequency to a lower frequency. The specific opioid antagonist, naltrexone, readily reversed most of these effects. The drug SCH 34826 (10-100 mg/kg p.o.) had no effect on the parameters examined; large doses (300 and 1000 mg/kg p.o.) induced restlessness in some animals, resulting in increased waking. This effect was antagonized by naltrexone. The data indicate that SCH 34826, at doses far greater than those proposed for clinical use, is devoid of sedative liability and does not induce any of the behavioural or EEG effects typical of morphine.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

The pineal neurohormone melatonin stimulates activated CD4+, Thy-1+ cells to release opioid agonist(s) with immunoenhancing and anti-stress properties.

In previous studies we showed that in mice the pineal gland modulates the immune response via the circadian synthesis and release of melatonin. Exogenous melatonin proved also to exert immunoenhancing effects and to counteract completely the immunologic effect of acute stress. Melatonin was active only in vivo, in mice primed with T-dependent antigens and its effects on the primary antibody response and thymus weight were abolished by the specific opioid antagonist naltrexone. Here we demonstrate that physiologic concentrations of melatonin stimulate, in vitro, activated L3T4+ (CD4+) cells to release opioid agonist(s) that can reproduce in vivo the immunoenhancing and anti-stress effects on thymus cellularity and antibody production of melatonin and compete with specific binding of [3H]naloxone to mouse brain membranes. Similar results were obtained when mitogen-activated human immunocompetent cells were incubated with melatonin. In the human model the results were, however, less consistent than those obtained with murine cells, in that only four out of ten blood donors provided cells that were responsive to melatonin. This finding elucidates the mechanism of a novel immuno-neuroendocrine connection with relevant implications for our understanding of the neuroendocrine factors that may influence the immune response in vivo in normal and stressful situations. In addition, it opens new perspectives in a wide range of research fields.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

The biological significance of soluble interleukin-2 receptors in solid tumors.

In an attempt to further understand the biological significance of soluble IL-2 receptors (sIL-2R) in solid tumors, we have evaluated 160 cancer patients (breast: 40; lung: 66; colon: 18; stomach: 22; uterine cervix: 14) and 58 healthy subjects, as controls. Serum mean levels of sIL-2R, measured with an enzyme immunoassay, were significantly higher in cancer patients than in controls. Metastatic cancer patients showed significantly higher values than the non-metastatic ones; this difference was significant in all tumor histotypes, except small cell lung carcinoma. Moreover, in 15 patients in whom sIL-2R were evaluated either before or after radical surgery, a significant surgery-induced increase in sIL-R mean values was seen. Finally, the chemotherapy-induced rise in sIL-2R appeared to be associated with a lack of clinical response. These results seem to suggest that sIL-2R may be a marker of host biological response in patients with solid tumors, the significance of which needs further investigation.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Antibodies raised against bovine beta-lactoglobulin react with beta 2-microglobulin. A possible antigenic region at beta-LG positions 124-140.

beta-Lactoglobulin is a major whey protein in bovine milk. Its presence has been demonstrated in all mammals examined except rodents and humans. However a positive cross reaction was observed for human milk proteins with antibodies raised against bovine beta-lactoglobulin. We isolated and characterized a protein fraction of ca. 12 kDa responsible for the positive cross reaction. N-terminal sequencing and amino-acid analysis indicated that this protein is identical with human beta 2-microglobulin. We observed structural homology between beta-lactoglobulin region 124-140 and beta 2-microglobulin 71-86, which suggested that positions 124-140 could be the antigenic region for beta-lactoglobulin. Six highly conserved amino-acid residues are suggested as candidates for the antigenic site.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

The complete primary structure of alpha-lactalbumin isolated from pig (Sus scrofa) milk.

The complete amino-acid sequence of pig alpha-lactalbumin has been determined. It was obtained by microsequencing of the native protein and the peptides derived after tryptic or cyanogen bromide cleavage. The tryptic peptides were separated by a rapid microbore HPLC method. Pig alpha-lactalbumin is 122 amino acids long and differs from the bovine homologue by 26 exchanged residues. Of the two prolines present in bovine alpha-lactalbumin, one has been deleted in the pig structure. All previously sequenced alpha-lactalbumins have shown glutamic acid at position 49, which is known to be the active site in the homologous lysozyme c structure. This residue is replaced by phenylalanine in pig alpha-lactalbumin indicating that the pig protein is the first alpha-lactalbumin with complete loss of all lysozyme functional residues.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Covalent structure of the minor monomeric beta-lactoglobulin II component from donkey milk.

The complete primary structure of the minor beta-lactoglobulin II component from donkey milk is presented. It has been established by amino-acid sequencing and mass-spectrometry analysis of intact protein and peptides obtained after enzymatic and chemical cleavages. The molecular mass and the pI of the protein are calculated to be 18,261 Da and 4.5 respectively. Despite the close structural similarity of the donkey and horse major beta-lactoglobulin I components, their minor beta-lactoglobulin II components show substantial differences in sequence. Most observed exchanges are clustered at residues 78-106 where only 6 amino-acid residues are conserved. The primary structure of donkey beta-lactoglobulin II reveals some unusual features of minor beta-lactoglobulins II and gives new light to the evolution of beta-lactoglobulins and other lipocalins involved in retinol binding or reproductive functions.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

[Comparison of manual and mechanical anastomosis in colorectal surgery].

Between 1981 and 1989, 494 patients had anastomosis involving the colon or rectum (233 ileo-colonic, 156 colo-colonic, 96 colo-rectal and 9 ileo-rectal) in our Institute. 383 patients had manual anastomosis (Group 1), 111 patients had stapled anastomosis (Group 2). There was no statistically significant difference when comparing major anastomotic complications, reoperations and operative mortality of stapled and manual anastomoses. In group 1 a significant increase in complication was related to the presence of obstruction (p. less than 0.01), and to emergency surgery (p less than 0.01). In Group 2 malnutrition had a significant effect on anastomotic complications (p less than 0.01). Therefore, colonic obstruction, emergency surgery and malnutrition have a significant role in anastomotic complications, and particular care should be taken when these factors are present.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

[The importance of glycosylated plasma protein determination in the diagnosis of carbohydrate intolerance in obesity].

To evaluate the possible interest of the dosage of glycated plasma proteins in the diagnosis of glucidic intolerance, OGTT with determination of glycaemia and insulinaemia, HbA1c and fructosamine was determined in 6 normal and 35 obese subjects. On the basis of OGTT the subjects were subdivided into 20 obese with normal glucose tolerance, 7 with IGT and 8 with DM. In the comparison between all the subjects there was a significantly higher plasma fructosamine concentration in the obese with DM (p less than 0.001). No difference was noticed between the normal subjects and the other two classes of obese patients. This suggests that the evaluation of glycated plasma proteins is scarcely sure in a screening plan.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Beta-endorphin and dynorphin mimic the circadian immunoenhancing and anti-stress effects of melatonin.

We have recently demonstrated that the pineal neurohormone melatonin can enhance immune reactivity in normal mice and counteract the effects of acute stress or corticosterone treatment on antibody production, thymus weight and anti-viral resistance. These remarkable immunopharmacologic effects of melatonin were abolished by naltrexone, suggesting an involvement of the endogenous opioid system. Here we compared the immunopharmacologic action of beta-endorphin, dynorphin 1-13, leu-enkephalin and metenkephalin with that of melatonin in restraint-stressed or prednisolone-treated mice and in normal nonstressed animals. We found that beta-endorphin and dynorphin 1-13 can mimic the immunoenhancing and antistress effect of melatonin. However, at variance with the pineal neurohormone, these opioids were effective in umprimed mcie, too. We found also that restraint stress or prednisolone treatment decreases the immunopharmacologic potency of beta-endorphin and augments that of dynorphin 1-13. In fact, at the doses used, beta-endorphin enhanced the antibody response in normal but not in stressed or prednisolone-treated mice, while dynorphin 1-13 was effective only in counteracting the effect of stress or prednisolone treatment. Most interestingly, all these effects proved to be dependent on the time of administration, i.e. showed a circadian rhythm in analogy with the effects of melatonin. Again, naltrexone abolished all the opioid effects, indicating that their action was exerted via opioid receptors. These findings have important scientific and practical implications.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1989

Effect of oral zinc administration on prolactin and thymulin circulating levels in patients with chronic renal failure.

High serum PRL and low zinc (Zn) levels are common findings in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF); in such patients serum Zn concentrations have been reported to be inversely correlated to serum PRL levels. Moreover, Zn regulates both thymus growth and the biological activity of the thymic hormone thymulin, and PRL-thymic interrelationships have been described. To determine whether hypozincemia alters serum PRL and plasma thymulin concentrations in CRF, 9 men with CRF treated by chronic hemodialysis were given 400 mg/day Zn sulfate, orally (4.96 meq/day Zn), for 6 months. Before treatment, serum PRL levels were significantly higher (P less than 0.001) in these patients than in normal men [mean, 28.7 +/- 20.7 (+/-SD) vs. 7.5 +/- 3.7 micrograms/L], and their serum PRL response to TRH (200 micrograms, iv) was impaired (mean maximal percent increase, 38.2 +/- 10.9 vs. 641 +/- 335; P less than 0.001). The plasma Zn-bound bioactive thymulin titer (1.3 +/- 0.7 1/log2), total thymulin titer (Zn-bound plus Zn-unbound forms, 2.1 +/- 0.8 1/log2), and serum Zn (13.1 +/- 2.4 mumol/L) were lower (P less than 0.001) in men with CRF than in normal men. Zn therapy did not induce any significant change in basal and TRH-stimulated serum PRL levels, while serum Zn levels significantly increased, reaching the normal range after the first week of treatment (17.8 +/- 6.3 mumol/L). Plasma total thymulin increased rapidly, reaching normal levels after 1 week, but Zn-bound thymulin increased modestly during the first month of treatment and more after 3 and 6 months of treatment. There was no age-related difference in plasma thymulin levels during therapy. We conclude that oral Zn administration in patients with CRF significantly increases both total and Zn-bound thymulin, but does not modify basal and TRH-stimulated serum PRL levels. The observation that Zn supplementation markedly increased plasma thymulin levels in uremic patients suggests that Zn is a potent stimulus for thymic hormone synthesis, and it can reverse the age-related diminution of thymic activity in CRF patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Isolation and complete primary sequence of a new ovine wild-type beta-lactoglobulin C.

A new wild type of beta-lactoglobulin has been identified in the milk of sheep. It has been designated as ovine beta-lactoglobulin C. Its primary structure has been determined by direct protein microsequencing of intact protein and RP-HPLC-derived tryptic peptides. The new beta-lactoglobulin C is a subtype of ovine beta-lactoglobulin A with a single exchange Arg-Gln at position 148. This exchange may influence polymerisation of beta-lactoglobulin since in the crystal structure of orthorhombic bovine beta-lactoglobulin, residues 145-150 constitute a short beta-sheet region involved in dimer formation by pairing of dyad-related strands.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Factors influencing prognosis of gastric cancer after curative resection.

Four hundred eighty eight patients with gastric cancer were admitted to the Department of III Clinica Chirurgica of the University of Bologna-Italy; 451 patients underwent surgery: there were 17 deaths with an operative mortality rate of 3.8%. Only 286 curative resections were performed 252 sub-total gastrectomies and 34 total gastrectomies. The purpose of this paper is to define the prognostic role of some clinical and pathological variables in patients with carcinoma of the stomach who underwent curative resection. The hospital records of 229 patients submitted to curative resection between 1969 and 1982 were retrospectively reviewed. Fifty two patients were lost to follow-up study and 4 died for post-operative complications. The variables analyzed included: age (greater than 65 years, less than 65 years), sex, time of onset of clinical symptoms (greater than 6 months, less than 6 months), site of cancer (lower, two thirds, upper), size (greater than 3 cm, less than 3 cm), gross appearance (ulcerating, non ulcerating), histologic type (intestinal, diffuse), invasion of the gastric wall (T1-T2 vs. T3-T4), nodal status (negative, positive), stage (S1-S2 vs. S3-S4). The statistical significance of the results was calculated using chi 2 test and comparing survival at 1, 3 and 5 years. Of the variables selected only six (age greater than 65 years, size greater than 3 cm, diffuse histologic type, degree of the gastric wall invasion, positive nodal involvement, stage 3-4) were validated by statistic evaluation, whereas the others lost their prognostic relevance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Is hyperbilirubinemia a risk factor in biliary surgery?].

The Authors, by means of a retrospective analysis of the patients operated on for biliary tract diseases (obstructive or not), evaluated the role of the serum bilirubin level as risk factor in this type of surgery. They show data about 474 patients divided into two groups on the basis of serum bilirubin level, examine mortality and morbidity rates also as a function of the age and analyze the results with the chi-square test. The Authors conclude that the serum bilirubin level have no statistically significant influence on the mortality and the morbidity rates, while elderly age results to be a risk factor.

Aged↗