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Biomedical subjects

A Moretti

Publications and source records attributed to A Moretti.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Effect of aging on monoamines and their metabolites in the rat brain.

Concentrations of dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), serotonin (5-HT) and their acid metabolites were assayed in specific brain areas of Wistar rats of various ages. DA and its metabolite 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) were significantly lower in striatum and mesolimbic areas of old (24 mos) rats than young adult (3 mos), but not mature (12 mos) rats. The decrease of homovanillic acid (HVA) was significant in mesolimbic areas but not in striatum. Neither cortical NE nor its metabolite methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol sulphate (MHPG-SO4) were significantly changed by aging. 5-HT and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in the brainstem showed a tendency to a decrease and increase respectively in aged animals compared with young adults, but the differences were not statistically significant. However, the ratio of 5-HIAA to 5-HT concentrations was significantly higher in aged animals. The conclusion can be drawn that, in these brain areas, DA is more vulnerable to aging than NE and 5-HT, the metabolism of the latter being even enhanced.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid↗
PubMed1987

[Computerized tomography in pulmonary sequestration].

The authors describe two cases of intra and extralobar pulmonary sequestration and evaluate its principal clinical and pathological characteristics. They outline the key role of T.C. in the approach to this pathology. The T.C. enables to collect in a short time a large quantity of useful information for a correct diagnosis which could not be obtained by means of other methods of imaging.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

[Bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity, resistance and tolerance of 16 strains of thermophilic Campylobacter to 12 antibiotic drugs].

The majority of gastrointestinal infections due to "thermophilic" Campylobacter is self limiting and does not need antibiotic treatment. Anyhow there are some serious cases (sepsis, persistent and relapsing gastroenteritis, severe immunodeficient patients) which require appropriate therapy. The susceptibility of 15 strains of Campylobacter jejuni and of 1 strain of C. coli, isolated from patients with acute gastroenteritis, has been studied against 12 antibiotics with the broth microdilution method at two different inocula (10(3)-10(4) CFU/ml and 10(7)-10(8) CFU/ml), and with the standard agar disk diffusion test, modified to allow sensitivity testing of Campylobacter. For each antibiotic, the geometric mean of MIC and of MBC and the concentrations of the various drugs needed for inhibition and killing of 50 and 90% of the strains (MIC-MBC50 and MIC-MBC90 respectively) have been calculated. Finally the percentage of resistant strains and the percentage of tolerant strains (ratio MBC/MIC: greater than or equal to 32) at low and high inoculum was determined. Erythromycin and aminoglycosides resulted the most active antibiotics against Campylobacter, being bactericidal as well as bacteriostatic at both low and high inoculum. Among the beta-lactams, cefotaxime was the most active, followed by piperacillin and ampicillin. Ceftazidime, aztreonam and rifampin were inactive. Ciprofloxacin, cotrimoxazole and tetracyclines showed some activity against Campylobacter at low inoculum. The agar disk diffusion method cannot be used for the "routinary" assay of susceptibility of Campylobacter, because it is a "naggy" microaerophilic organism.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1986

Brain dopamine autoreceptors in aging rats.

The function of dopamine (DA) autoreceptors is evaluated in vivo in striatum and mesolimbic regions of young adult (4 months), mature (14 months) and old (26 months) male Wistar rats. gamma-Butyrolactone (GBL)-induced dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) accumulation in rats also treated with an inhibitor of aromatic L-aminoacid decarboxylase was used to determine the presence of synthesis-modulating nerve terminal autoreceptors while its reversal with apomorphine served as an index of autoreceptor stimulation. GBL-induced DOPA accumulation in striatum is very high at all three ages (130-150% increase in comparison with controls) as is its reversal by apomorphine (65-80% decrease in comparison with GBL alone). In mesolimbic regions, GBL has much less effect than in striatum (31% rise at 4 and 26 months, 12% rise at 14 months), but apomorphine's effect is of the same order of magnitude (down 60-80%). The conclusion can be drawn that aging does not significantly affect DA autoreceptor function in striatum and mesolimbic areas.

Aging↗
PubMed1985

Brain catecholamine content and turnover in aging rats.

The content and turnover of catecholamines were evaluated in various brain regions of young adult (4-months) and aged (24-months) male rats. Turnover was assessed from the concentrations of acid metabolites and the decline of catecholamine content after synthesis blockade with alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine. Dopamine was reduced by aging in striatum, mesolimbic areas, and hypothalamus. Dopamine metabolites and turnover rate were significantly lower in striatum and mesolimbic areas of aged than of young animals. Hypothalamic norepinephrine content and turnover rate were unchanged in aged compared to young rats but its metabolite (MHPG-SO4) was increased in the cortex. These findings point to an extensive impairment of brain dopamine metabolism in aging rats, whereas norepinephrine seems to be less impaired.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid↗
PubMed1984

Cross-resistance between methicillin and cephalosporins for staphylococci: a general assumption not true for cefamandole.

The antibacterial activity of cefamandole was evaluated against 120 methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococcal strains, using both large (10(8) CFU per ml) and small (10(4) CFU per ml) inocula. Cefamandole appeared superior to cephalothin against methicillin-resistant strains, displaying at 10 micrograms/ml a bacteriostatic and for some strains a bactericidal action against a large inoculum of bacteria.

Cefamandole↗
PubMed1984

Effect of hypoxia and pharmacological treatment on some enzyme activities in dog brain areas.

The effects of nicergoline on changes in enzymatic activities induced by hypoxia and post-hypoxic recovery were studied in various brain areas of young-adult and mature Beagle dogs. In different fractions (homogenate in toto, purified mitochondria, crude synaptosomes, SM1 and SM2 synaptic mitochondria) the maximal rate (Vmax) was investigated of the more representative enzymatic activities of: a) glycolysis, b) Krebs' cycle, c) electron transfer chain, d) amino acid and acetylcholine metabolism, e) lysosomal function. The physiopathological conditions caused alterations in different enzymatic activities depending on the area and subfraction investigated. Nicergoline tended to antagonize some of these alterations. Its action was mainly on non-synaptic mitochondria by a "braking" effect on some key enzyme activities of mitochondrial metabolism (i.e. citrate synthase, cytochrome oxidase and glutamate dehydrogenase) which suggests a sparing action in the brain.

Aging↗
PubMed1984

[Effect of maternal anxiety (unrest) on the health status of the fetus].

The aim of our study was to clarify the question, to what extent the anxiety of the gravida during gestation is capable to influence the fetal condition.--For that reason, besides of a statistical analysis of a standardized interview the basal heart frequency and the reaction in a non-stress CTG over 20 min has been examined. The data of 101 women between the 36th and 42nd week of gestation were included. The age of our patients ranged from 20 to 30 years.--For assessment of the degree of anxiety we used the STAI X-1 test (questionnaire for self-assessment of anxiety as condition and characteristically personal property, resp.). Cases of pathologic gestation were excluded by history and a carefully clinical examination. No significant correlations between the level of anxiety and fetal condition could be demonstrated. We detected only a slight tendency of decreasing heart-rate variability and increasing frequency of accelerations in the CTG, as well as an increase of active fetal movements with a raising maternal level of anxiety.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Effect of protein concentration and blood clots on the "in vitro" anti-Pseudomonas aeruginosa activity of cefoperazone.

The effect of the protein content in the medium and blood clots on the anti-Pseudomonas aeruginosa activity of cefoperazone was studied and its activity against strains of the bacteria in the blood clots investigated. Medium protein content, blood clots and the localization of the microorganism all appeared to effect the antibacterial activity of cefoperazone: the therapeutic implications of these findings are briefly discussed.

Blood Coagulation↗