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Biomedical subjects

A Dal Lago

Publications and source records attributed to A Dal Lago.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

The -174 G/C polymorphism of the interleukin-6 gene promoter is associated with peripheral artery occlusive disease.

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: high plasma levels of Interleukin-6 (IL-6) are found in patients with atherosclerotic disorders. Recently, a common polymorphism of the IL-6 gene promoter, influencing the transcription rate of the gene, has been described and associated with atherosclerosis of carotid and coronary arteries. The objective of this study was to test whether IL-6 gene promoter polymorphism is associated with peripheral artery occlusive disease (PAOD) in a case-control study. METHODS: IL-6 gene promoter polymorphism was evaluated by polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction enzyme analysis in 84 patients affected by PAOD and 183 controls. RESULTS: the distribution of IL-6 genotypes was: patients with PAOD: 44 GG, 30 GC, 10 CC; control subjects: 53 GG, 80 GC, 50 CC. The GG genotype was significantly more common in the PAOD group (p<0.0001), while the CC genotype was significantly more common in control patients (p=0.005). CONCLUSIONS: this study indicates a strong association between IL-6 gene polymorphism and PAOD and support the hypothesis that IL-6 and IL-6 gene polymorphism are important in the pathophysiology and evolution of ischaemic diseases of the lower limbs.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Effects of propionyl-L-carnitine on peripheral arterial obliterative disease of the lower limbs: a double-blind clinical trial.

The authors evaluated the efficacy of propionyl-l-carnitine, a drug able to reduce peripheral resistance and protect the cells against oxidative stress damage, in patients affected by peripheral arterial obliterative disease at class II of Fontaine. The study was performed on 22 patients according to a double-blind, randomized design in parallel with placebo. The drug was administered at a dosage of 1 g three times a day orally for 90 days. At recruitment and at the end of the study all patients underwent physical examination, treadmill test, doppler C.W. of the lower limbs, ankle/brachial index, dosage of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), hematocrit, hematic filtration, and viscosity. In the group treated with propionyl-l-carnitine a statistically significant increase of claudication distance, blood flow velocity, PAI-1 activity and red blood cell deformity was observed. These data suggest the usefulness of propionyl-l-carnitine in the treatment of patients affected by peripheral arterial obliterative disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Helicobacter pylori eradication ameliorates primary Raynaud's phenomenon.

Raynaud's phenomenon is defined by an intermittent vasospasm of the arterioles of the distal limbs. Helicobacter pylori infection has been recently associated with Raynaud's phenomenon. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of H. pylori eradication on Raynaud's attacks. Forty-six patients affected by primary Raynaud's phenomenon were evaluated. H. pylori infection was assessed by [13C]urea breath test. Eradication therapy was given to infected patients for seven days. Discomfort and the duration and frequency of attacks of Raynaud's phenomenon per week were assessed. Thirty-six subjects were infected with H. pylori; the bacterium was eradicated in 83% of these after therapy. Attacks of Raynaud's phenomenon completely disappeared in 17% of the patients with H. pylori eradication. Discomfort and the duration and frequency of attacks of Raynaud's phenomenon were significantly reduced in 72% of the remaining patients. Conversely, attacks of Raynaud's disease did not change significantly during the 12-week follow-up period either in the H. pylori-negative patients or in the infected subjects in whom the bacterium was not eradicated by therapy. The study shows that H. pylori eradication causes a significant decrease in clinical attacks of Raynaud's disease. The reduction of vasoactive substances determined by the eradication of the bacterium may be the pathogenetic mechanism underlying the phenomenon.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Macrodystrophia lipomatosa. A case report.

Macrodystrophia lipomatosa, a rare form of localized gigantism of unknown cause, is characterized by a dramatic overgrowth of all the mesenchymal elements, particularly the fibroadipose tissue, of one or more digits of the foot or hand. Of the known forms, static and progressive (1), we report the case of an African patient, of Bantu origin, who had a progressive deformity of his left hand.

Child↗
PubMed1994

The reasons for amputations in children (0-18 years) in a developing country.

This study describes 49 young amputees who either have attended or have been operated at the Orthopaedic Department of Dodoma Regional Hospital from 1983 to 1991. Emphasis has been put on the aetiological factors of 56 amputations under review, underlying those that are typical of the Least Developed Countries in Africa and highlighting how they interrelate with the beliefs and traditions of the African society. Apart from 14 amputations performed for trauma of different type, important roles were played by home environment, tumours, wild animal bites and the health system itself. Nine amputations have been carried out for burns, while complications after medical care, particularly operative, have called for 12 amputations. Bone tumours have been responsible for eight and hyena assaults and snake bites have resulted in seven amputations. Special interest has been raised by four amputations performed for the so-called 'idiopathic tropical lower limbs gangrene' whose aetiology is still unknown.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Effect of l-carnitine on lipid pattern in debilitated patients treated with Intralipid.

Ten surgical patients--4 males and 6 females, mean age: 46.7 years--affected by various pathological conditions were selected for this clinical trial. The patients were divided into two groups of 5 as follows: Group I on the third day received 10%. Intralipid (500 mg) + l-carnitine i.v. (100 mg/kg); on the sixth day 10% Intralipid (500 mg) infusion was given alone. Group II on the third day received 10% Intralipid (500 mg) infusion, and on the sixth day 10% Intralipid (500 mg) + l-carnitine (100 mg/kg). The laboratory parameters (cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL, VLDL, apolipoprotein A and B) showed that the lipids administered with l-carnitine were more rapidly metabolized than those without.

Carnitine↗
PubMed1977

Autoradiographic study of the distribution of LH(HCG) receptors in the ovary of untreated and gonadotrophin-primed immature rats.

The LH(HCG) receptors in the ovaries of immature rats which were either untreated, or primed with PMSG and HCG, have been studied with a histochemical method which has proved to be as effective as when earlier used in the rat testis. This method, which consists of the topical application of 125I-HCG to picric acid-formaldehyde (PAF) fixed frozen sections followed by autoradiography, is also suitable for quantitative studies on the distribution of receptors. In the ovary of the immature 26 days old rat, the LH(HCG) receptors are localized exclusively in the interstitial and thecal tissues. After PMSG treatment many receptors appear in the granulosa of the large antral follicles. These receptors are most numerous in the outer layers of cells and least numerous in the inner. At the same time there are fewer receptors in the thecal and interstitial cells which have undergone the process of luteinization. After PMSG and HCG treatment the newly formed corpora lutea have few receptors, but these become progressively more numerous on subsequent days. It is suggested that, in the rat, the luteinization of the ovarian LH-target cells is associated with an initial decrease in the number of their LH(HCG) receptors.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Effects of picric acid-formaldehyde fixation on the LH(HCG) receptors' binding activity in the rat testis. A histochemichal model for qualitative and quantitative studies.

PAF (picric acid-formaldehyde) fixation of rat testis for a short time at 0-4 degrees C was found to give satisfactory histological results and to preserve most of the specific binding activity of LH(HCG) receptors. Investigations of the characteristics of the hormone-receptor reaction after mild PAF fixation indicated that this reaction was not substantially affected in hormne receptor affinity and its own specificity; only the capacity of the receptors was lowered by about 20%. A histochemical model is presented whose main features are: fixation of testis tissue in PAF; freezing in liquid nitrogen and cutting in the cryostat; radiolabelled hormone-receptor binding reaction performed on the sections; autoradiography to reveal the binding reaction. The utility of the method for qualitative and quantitative receptor studies and its possible application to biopsy and surgical specimens, are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

A histochemical approach to the study of human chorionic gonadotrophin receptors in the rat testis.

Standard suspensions of interstitial cells in PBS were exposed to the action of various fixatives, solvents (clearing agents), temperatures and U. V. light, in order to establish the effects of such chemical and physical agents on the HCG receptors. After exposure to the various agents, the interstitial cells were incubated with [125I]HCG for 2 h at 37 degrees C. To check the specificity of the reaction, competitive tests were performed with added excess non-iodinated HCG. Only formaldehyde fixation for short periods of time, preserved satisfactorily the specific binding activity of the receptors. A different degree of thermolability of the receptors was demonstrated, in relation to 37, 45, 54 and 60 degrees C, while freezing in liquid nitrogen had no effect on the receptors binding activity. After the binding reaction, solvents had a significant solubilizing effect on the HCG-receptor complexes. U. V. light had no significant damaging effect on the receptors. The application of the results for a histochemical approach to the study of the HCG receptors is discussed.

Animals↗