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Biomedical subjects

A D'Alessandro

Publications and source records attributed to A D'Alessandro.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Effects of defined formula diets with and without fibre on ultratrace mineral serum levels in rats.

34 female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided to receive one of 3 diets; a standard diet, a defined formula diet (DFD) or DFD plus fibre, which were administered through a catheter using a pump infusion system. Serum levels of selenium, molybdenum, and chromium were measured before and after 4 weeks of the respective diets. Rats fed the standard diet adequately maintained serum levels of the 3 minerals, but in those fed DFD the levels were reduced. Selenium levels declined by 14.5% in rats fed DFD and by 23.4% in rats fed DFD plus fibre. Molybdenum levels decreased by 23.6% and 22.8% in rats fed DFD with and without fibre, respectively. Chromium levels decreased by 45.5% in rats fed DFD and by 67.7% in rats fed DFD plus fibre. These results corroborate previous evidence that prolonged enteral or parenteral feeding may deplete ultratrace minerals and suggest that addition of ultratrace minerals to DFD may be beneficial.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1994

Osmolar gap with minimal acidosis in combined methanol and methyl ethyl ketone ingestion.

Methyl ethyl ketone is a common solvent but data on overdose in humans are scarce. We report a case of co-ingestion of methyl ethyl ketone together with methanol associated with a hyperosmolar coma without anion gap metabolic acidosis. Blood levels of methyl ethyl ketone and its metabolite, 2-butanol, indicated that this solvent did contribute approximately 20 mosm/L to an observed osmolar gap of 99 mosm/L. At the levels detected, methyl ethyl ketone may have inhibited methanol metabolism, contributing to the low serum formate (1.3 mmol/L) and normal anion gap despite a blood methanol of 67 mmol/L.

Acidosis↗
PubMed1993

Synthesis and A1-adenosine receptors affinities of purino[7,8-c]quinazoline-8,10(9H,11H)-diones as rigid analogues of 8-arylxanthines.

Title compounds were prepared by a cyclocondensation reaction between 8-(2-aminophenyl)xanthines and trialkyl orthoesters. Some of them showed activities as A1-adenosine receptor antagonists with binding values in the micromolar range. Results are discussed with reference to 1,3-dialkyl-8-arylxanthines. Considerations on the role played by both electronic and conformational factors are also reported.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Impact of Schistosoma haematobium infection and of praziquantel treatment on anaemia of primary school children in Bertoua, Cameroon.

There is some debate as to the extent to which Schistosoma haematobium haematuria may be the cause of anaemia. Our goal was to evaluate the impact of a single 40 mg kg-1 dose of praziquantel on anaemia. Since praziquantel does not reduce the hookworm intensity of infection (a major cause of anaemia in children in the area) changes in the prevalence of anaemia in the study population should be due only to the elimination of S. haematobium. Seven hundred and seventy-one primary schoolboys from Bertoua (East Cameroon) were divided into four groups: high infection, moderate infection treated with praziquantel or placebo, and non-infected. Haemoglobin concentrations of the children were determined at the onset of the study and 6 months after the praziquantel intervention. Mean haemoglobin concentrations were not significantly different for no infection or for mild or heavy infection by S. haematobium. A factorial analysis of variance using S. haematobium intensity of infection, malaria and intestinal parasite infections and age as independent variables and haemoglobin concentration as the dependent variable show that only age and malaria infection show a significant relationship with haemoglobin concentration. Despite treatment with praziquantel, all the children in the treatment groups had lower mean haemoglobins 6 months after intervention. A factorial analysis of variance using age, malaria infection and the treatment category as independent variables and the difference in haemoglobin concentration as the dependent variable shows that only malaria infection showed a significant relationship with haemoglobin concentration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Mitochondrial DNA detection and copy number determination in the spermatozoa of the sea urchin Arbacia lixula.

The Polymerase Chain reaction technique has been used in order to detect and amplify a specific region of mtDNA, in a total DNA preparation extracted from the sperm of the sea urchin Arbacia lixula. The amplified fragment is the D-loop region which hybridizes with the homologous region extracted from the egg mtDNA. The results demonstrate that mtDNA is present in sperm cell, and, since the replication origin is present it is potentially able to replicate in the zygote. Furthermore, the technique used allowed us to estimate mtDNA copy number in sea urchin sperm, which has never been done before. Our results are that sea urchin sperm cell contains between 4 and 28 mtDNA molecules.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Sonography of renal transplants in dogs: the effect of acute tubular necrosis, cyclosporine nephrotoxicity, and acute rejection on resistive index and renal length.

Results of studies on the accuracy of the resistive index as a predictor of acute renal transplant rejection have varied widely. Clinical evaluations are limited by the inability to control the numerous coincidental factors that affect vascular resistance. We performed a controlled study in dogs to isolate the effects of acute tubular necrosis, cyclosporine toxicity, and acute rejection on the resistive index, and to compare them with a population of normal control subjects. By doing so, we hoped to identify the patterns of change in the resistive index over time and possibly explain the wide spectrum of resistive index data reported in the literature. Resistive index, a parameter calculated from relative systolic and diastolic velocity, indicates parenchymal resistance to perfusion. Since an increase in renal length also has been reported useful in predicting rejection, we studied changes in length in each of the isolated conditions. The normal control group (four dogs) had heterotopic autotransplantation with minimal cold ischemic time. The acute tubular necrosis group (six dogs) had heterotopic autotransplantation with 1 hr of warm ischemic time. The cyclosporine toxicity group (four dogs) was allowed approximately 3 months to heal from heterotopic autotransplantation. Very high (toxic) doses of cyclosporine were then administered. The acute rejection group (five dogs) had heterotopic allografting with minimal cold ischemic time. No medications were administered. In all groups, the abnormalities induced were confirmed by biopsy. Creatinine levels were also used to monitor cyclosporine toxicity. In the normal control and acute tubular necrosis groups, resistive index increased immediately after surgery, returning to baseline within 10 days. Renal length increased slightly in both groups, but the duration of increase was longer in the acute tubular necrosis group. No significant change in resistive index or renal length was seen in the cyclosporine toxicity group. In the acute rejection group, an initial decrease in resistive index during the mild to moderate phase was followed by a rapidly progressive increase with worsening rejection. Renal length increased progressively beginning immediately after surgery. Our study determined the patterns of change in resistance and renal length over time as caused by the isolated pathologic states. Our finding that vascular resistance decreased in mild to moderate acute rejection was unexpected, since almost all the literature reports resistive index elevation. This may explain some of the conflicting results obtained in Doppler investigations of rejection. Our results on renal length reinforce the positive clinical reports of its predictive value in rejection.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Comparison of three different methods for evaluation of Helicobacter pylori (H.P.) in human dental plaque.

Helicobacter pylori (H.p.) is a microorganism involved in peptic ulcer disease. To clarify the role of human dental plaque as a reservoir of H.p. and to compare different methods of investigation the authors studied 20 patients, 17 males main age 56 +/- 12 and 3 females 52 +/- 7, gastro-duodenal H.p. positive. The trial was carried out by cultural, biochemical and microscopical plaque analysis. Cultural and microscopical method were H.p. positive in 80% patients, urease in 100%, alkaline phosphatase in 80%, gamma glutamyltransferase in 70%, nitrate in 70%. To minimize the possibility of false results in H.p. plaque analysis it is necessary to use the three methods simultaneously. Further trials both on human plaque and on food and beverages will be useful to clarify the role of H.p. in human pathology.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

The impact of Schistosoma haematobium infection and of praziquantel treatment on the growth of primary school children in Bertoua, Cameroon.

Our objective was to determine in a Cameroonian school population the effect of mild to moderate S. haematobium infection intensity on growth and development of children before and 6 months after praziquantel treatment. Previous studies have yielded contradictory results. Children from Bertoua schools were divided into four study groups: heavily infected (> 500 eggs 10 ml-1), moderately infected (1-499 eggs 10 ml-1) treated with praziquantel, a similar group treated with placebo, and an uninfected control group. Anthropometric measures--height for age per cent median (HAPM), and weight for age per cent median (WAPM)--were significantly higher among the uninfected children. Stepwise regression analysis showed that S. haematobium and Ascaris infections were the strongest predictors of the HAPM with hookworm and malaria infections playing a lesser role. Post treatment comparison of the praziquantel treatment group and the placebo group showed no significant differences for the anthropometric indicators except for mid-arm circumference. Longer observations of growth after treatment as well as monitoring of the rate of reinfection would be necessary to understand better the effect of S. haematobium on growth.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[Reactive arthritis HLA B27 correlated in hospital patients in a general medicine department].

We examined 14 cases of reactive arthritis seen during the four year period 1982/1985 out of a total of 7,380 admissions. The average age of the patients was 40.1 years, while hospitalisation averaged 15.6 days. More than half the patients presented oligoarthritis manifestations which were also characterized by asymmetry and migratory behavior. Visceral manifestations were noted in 10 of 14 patients (71.4%). Etiological diagnosis was arrived at in only two cases, whereas half the cases showed no positive enteral or urogenital infectious antecedents. The HLA B-27 determination resulted positive in 25% of the cases. This is highly significant (p < 0.01) when compared to the control group 4% positivity. The follow-up was carried out medially for 4 years in all patients and evidenced only one case of persistent joint inflammation at the knee level and another case of relapsing uveitis. This study, performed on a random group of patients hospitalized in a General Medicine Department, confirms for the most part data appearing in the literature.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Seasonal pattern of glycosylation in frog liver.

The circannual behaviour of glycosylation and protein synthesis in frog liver slices was studied following the incorporation of 3H-galactose and 14C-glucosamine into glycolipids and glycoproteins and 3H-leucine into proteins. The activity of two enzymes the galactosyl-transferase and the N-acetyl-glucosaminyl-1-P-transferase was determined. The incorporations of both sugars into the soluble fraction and into the lipid extract present a maximum during the spring-summer period. The incorporation into the protein fraction displays a different pattern: 14C-Glucosamine and 3H-leucine incorporation increases from winter to a maximum in autumn; the incorporation of 3H-Galactose has a sharp peak during spring. The pattern of glycosyltransferase activities is similar to the pattern of incorporation of the two saccharides into proteins, indicating these enzymes as important control points for glycosylation in Anurae.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

The therapeutic effect of L-carnitine in patients with exercise-induced stable angina: a controlled study.

An investigation on the therapeutic effect of L-carnitine was performed at three different centres and included two hundred patients, 40 to 65 years of age, with exercise-induced stable angina. In one hundred randomly selected patients the drug was administered orally in daily doses of 2 g in addition to the already instituted therapy, and the effect studied over a 6-month period. Compared with the control group, these patients showed a significant reduction in the number of premature ventricular contractions (PVC) at rest, as well as an increased tolerance during ergometric cycle exercise as demonstrated by an increased maximal cardiac frequency, increased maximal systolic arterial blood pressure and therefore also increased double cardiac product and reduced ST-segment depression during maximal effort. This was accompanied by improvement in cardiac function and resultant performance, as shown by an increase in the number of patients belonging to class I of the NYHA classification and a reduction in the consumption of cardioactive drugs. Laboratory analysis showed an improvement in plasma lipid levels. The authors conclude, after having discussed the particular metabolic mechanisms, that L-carnitine undoubtedly represents an interesting therapeutic drug for patients with exercise-induced stable angina.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Effects of the treatment with matrix on elderly people with chronic articular degeneration.

Clinical trials have been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of Matrix in osteoarthritis, mainly as regards the advantages offered by its physiological mechanism of action. The experiment, lasting 6 months, was performed on two hundred patients in four different Hospital Departments and one University Center. The results showed a considerable improvement both in pain and in mobility. No relevant side effects were found; only 3% of patients, with oral administration, noticed slight nausea and found it necessary to interrupt treatment.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

[Cystic adventitial disease of the popliteal artery. Report of 2 cases and review of the literature].

Two cases of cystic adventitial degeneration of the popliteal artery are reported and aetiopathogenetic theories, diagnosis and treatment discussed. One of the cases presented is of special interest because, at surgery, it was possible to observe the relationships of the artery with the articular capsule of the knee through a genicular vessel which, when sectioned, showed an exit of mucinous material the equivalent of that contained in the vasal cyst. This observation gives even more credence to the so-called "articular" aetiopathogenetic theory. The two cases were treated surgically with resection of that segment of the artery and contralateral saphenous vein graft giving an excellent short-term and long-term result and protecting from recurrences.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Amebiasis then.

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Amebiasis↗