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Biomedical subjects

A Rustici

Publications and source records attributed to A Rustici.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Blood volume modeling and refilling rate estimation in hemodialysis by continuous hemoglobin monitoring.

Eleven bicarbonate hemodialyses (HD) of 6 patients under constant ultrafiltration were continuously monitored with an optical Hb-meter, considered to be a marker of blood volume (BV) changes. A theoretical model was fed experimental data for prediction of blood volume and estimation of vascular parameters, and a time course of rate of refilling was extrapolated. The adequacy of the model was very good for the time course of BV prediction (r2 = 0.85-0.95, n = 11) and for plasma protein concentration (r2 = 0.83-0.86, n = 2). Parameters estimated included (mean-DS): filtration coefficient (Cf) = 0.22 (0.16) dl/min*mmHg, transcapillary hydrostatic pressure (DP) = 17.80 (3.44) mmHg and protein concentration of the refilling fluid (Cref) = 0.45 (0.30) g/dl. In conclusion our study has shown that the model chosen fits the observed BV profile well in all cases, thus the Hb data series can be used for BV dynamic modeling and for estimation of vascular parameters.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Molecular mapping and detoxification of the lipid A binding site by synthetic peptides.

Endotoxin [lipopolysaccharide (LPS)], the major antigen of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, consists of a variable-size carbohydrate chain that is covalently linked to N,O-acylated beta-1,6-D-glucosamine disaccharide 1,4'-bisphosphate (lipid A). The toxic activity of LPS resides in the lipid A structure. The structural features of synthetic peptides that bind to lipid A with high affinity, detoxify LPS in vitro, and prevent LPS-induced cytokine release and lethality in vivo were defined. The binding thermodynamics were comparable to that of an antigen-antibody reaction. Such synthetic peptides may provide a strategy for prophylaxis and treatment of LPS-mediated diseases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

[Which moments in the respiratory cycle have the most influence on right ventricular dynamics?].

The performance of the right heart during respiratory activity has mostly been studied in terms of changes in flow and pressure in pulmonary circulation. The aim of this study was to identify which moments of the respiratory cycle exert the greatest influence on right ventricular dynamics. Thus, the behaviour of the right ventricular systolic time intervals and pulmonary artery pressures, expressed both as intravascular (Piv) and transmural (Ptm), were investigated to this end. Investigations were carried out on 10 anesthetized spontaneously breathing beagle dogs using high-fidelity pressure transducers (MPC 500, Millar Instr.) and by making use of a computerized system of signal recording and analysis. Changes in right ventricular systolic time intervals were evident during transition from inspiration to expiration and at the beginning of expiration. In fact, compared to spontaneous post-expiratory pause values, the so-called Rapid Ejection and Slow Ejection Phases, and therefore the Total Ejection Period, were significantly shortened (p less than 0.01 for both) only at early expiration, whereas during the same phase of the respiratory cycle the Isovolumetric Contraction Time and the total Pre-ejection Period were significantly prolonged (p less than 0.01 for both). During the transition from inspiration to expiration, the right ventricular systolic "plateau" very often presented an ascending slant, i.e., reaching maximum pressure in late instead of early systole, as usually observed in the other moments of the respiratory cycle.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1986

[Torsade de pointes caused by tricyclic antidepressive agents. Description of a clinical case].

Tricyclic antidepressant drugs are known to cause often electrocardiographic abnormalities and to induce sometimes cardiac rhythm disturbances. We report a case of a patient on antidepressant therapy (Desipramine Hydrochloride, 50 mg/die, and Dothiepin Hydrochloride, 150 mg/die), without any underlaying heart disease, admitted to our Coronary Care Unit for recurrent syncopal episodes. An ECG on admission showed Sinus Tachycardia with Ectopic Ventricular Beats and recurrent runs of Torsade de Pointes, a distinctive form of Ventricular Tachycardia. Lignocaine i.v. was only transiently effective. Both Isoprenaline and Atropine Sulphate i.v. were uneffective. Ventricular Fibrillation occurred and cardioversion was achieved by a single DC shock. Amiodarone i.v. and electrical overdrive only temporarily suppressed ventricular arrhythmias. Magnesium Sulphate i.v. (bolus + infusion) induced a definitive suppression of Torsades de Pointes. One day later no more arrhythmias were present.

Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus associated with nonalcoholic liver cirrhosis: an evaluation of treatment with the intestinal alpha-glucosidase inhibitor acarbose].

Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus not responding to diet only in patients with non-alcoholic liver cirrhosis is characterized by high post-prandial hyperglycemia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of 24 weeks of treatment with 300 mg acarbose per day in 76 consecutive outpatients affected by type 2 diabetes and well-compensated liver cirrhosis. The study design was double-blind cross-over vs placebo. All patients tolerated both treatments well, and no significant variations in liver function tests were observed (< 5% vs pre-treatment). A significant reduction of several parameters was observed only after acarbose: fasting glycemia (19 +/- 6 vs 2 +/- 0.5%; p < 0.01), post-prandial glycemia (41 +/- 9 vs 3 +/- 0.6%; p < 0.01), mean glycemia (30 +/- 8 vs 14 +/- 5%; p < 0.01), daily glycemic variation (52 +/- 8 vs 8 +/- 1%; p < 0.01), HbA1c (16 +/- 1 vs 2 +/- 0.5; p < 0.05), incremental area of C-peptide after a standard meal (80 +/- 19 vs 200 +/- 36 ng/mL/300 min; p < 0.01). After acarbose a significant increase of intestinal voiding/week (98 vs 28%; p < 0.01) and a parallel reduction of blood ammonia levels (52 +/- 9 vs 9 +/- 5%; p < 0.01) were observed. Results clearly document the good tolerability and the absence of toxic effects of acarbose on the liver, due to a theoretic absence of both absorption by the gut and hepatic metabolism of the drug. In fact, acarbose increases peristaltic movement of the gut, stimulates the proliferation of saccharolytic bacteria and simultaneously reduces proteolytic bacterial proliferation, thus actively reducing blood ammonia levels. These unexpected effects of acarbose may be used to advantage for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus in patients with well-compensated liver cirrhosis.

Acarbose↗