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Biomedical subjects

A Tubaro

Publications and source records attributed to A Tubaro.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Magnetic resonance imaging in the localization of undescended abdominal testes.

In children with nonpalpable undescended testes, preoperative localization is very helpful prior to surgical investigation both to reduce the time required for complete exploration and to plan the correct surgical procedure. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was accomplished in 23 patients with a clinical diagnosis of cryptorchidism after ultrasonographic studies were inconclusive in identifying the undescended testis. An abdominal testis was correctly located in 16 cases. No structures resembling testicular parenchyma were detected in 4 instances. The surgical findings confirmed the absence of testes in 2 patients but showed 2 abdominal testes not seen by MRI. The movements of 5 patients caused inadequate MRI examinations, so these patients were not considered in the results. In our experience MRI proved to be effective in locating undescended abdominal testes with a diagnostic accuracy of 90%. Therefore MRI should be performed before any invasive diagnostic procedure. Lack of cooperation in young patients could reduce the accuracy of the procedure, so we think that sedation should be performed in children under 6 years of age.

Abdomen↗

Review of norfloxacin in lower urinary tract infections.

A review of worldwide clinical trials with norfloxacin in the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs), as well as our personal experience with 215 assessable patients, is presented. Almost all patients received 400 mg b.i.d. for 3-15 days. Bacteriological eradication (10(4) CFU/ml of urine or less) was achieved in more than 90% of patients. Short-term therapy (3 days) with norfloxacin proved to be as effective and tolerable as a 10- to 14-day conventional therapeutic schedule in the treatment of lower uncomplicated UTIs. Overall incidence of drug-related adverse experiences was 2.3%.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

Local/regional recombinant interleukin 2 (rIL-2) immunotherapy of tumors. Intra-arterial continuous infusion of rIL-2 in bladder cancer patients: a phase I study.

We have investigated clinical and immunological effects of two 5-day cycle continuous infusion of four escalating doses (3,000; 30,000; 300,000; 3,000,000 U/m2/day) of intra-arterial (i.a.) rIL-2, in ten patients with superficial (Ta-T1, N0, M0) bladder TCC. Tumor TUR was performed four days after the end of the second IL-2 cycle. No clinical or laboratory toxicity was detected in any but one patient, who developed grade III hypotension and grade III neurological toxicity. Two CR and two PR were observed in patients treated with 30,000 and 300,000 U/m2/day of rIL-2, respectively. Clinical responses lasted 8+, 8+, 4+ and 4+ months, respectively. Two out of ten patients developed recurrences two months after tumor resection. In the peripheral blood, no changes in the percentage of T (CD3+) lymphocytes were observed, while a significant increase of CD3+ CD16+ T cells was found in 6/9 patients. In contrast, NK (CD3- CD16+) cells were augmented only in 2/9 patients. An increase of B lymphocytes (CD19+ cells) and monocytes (CD14+ cells) was also observed in 3/9 and 7/9 patients, respectively. Lymphocyte activation marker expression (CD25, CD71, HLA-DR) increased mainly on T lymphocytes. NK and LAK activities were enhanced in 4/10 patients, while ADCC activity augmented in 2/10 patients. No detectable increased levels of plasmatic lymphokines (gamma-IFN and alpha-TNF) were found. Enhanced CD8+ and CD4+ tumor infiltrating lymphocytes were demonstrated after IL-2 treatment. Moreover, at the tumor site, lymphocytes expressing CD25 and HLA-DR antigens were noted. Tumor infiltrating macrophages were positive for IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta and alpha-TNF.

Adult↗

[Dermatotoxicity caused by Chrysaora hysoscella. Presentation of a case].

Chrysaora hysoscella L. rarely occurs in coastal waters of the Adriatic sea and is usually considered an innocuous jellyfish. In June 1989, P.D.N., a 29 year old healthy female, biologist at the Marine Biology Laboratory of Trieste, treated some samples of Chrysaora hysoscella captured that day. She took the animals from the transport tanks and cut the tentacles and oral arms from their bell. About ten minutes later she felt itching and burning of her hands, especially the right one. Twenty minutes later erythematous and slightly edematous lesions appeared on her fingers. These lesions spontaneously disappeared in about 2 hours. We decided to test Chrysaora hysoscella dermotoxicity on healthy volunteers by cutting a Chrysaora hysoscella tentacle and placing it on a gauze soaked in a solution of 3% NaCl and applying then to the volar side of the right wrist for one minute. Both volunteers presented itching and burning within forty seconds of contact. Three minutes later erythematous and vesicular lesions appeared on the sting site. To the best of our knowledge this is the second reported but first documented report of the dermotoxic effect of Chrysaora hysoscella. We underline that the absence of other previous reports may be due to both the relative rarity of this jellyfish and to the fact that people often confuses Chrysaora hysoscella with other more common jellyfish.

Adult↗

Anti-inflammatory and peripheral analgesic activity of esculetin in vivo.

Esculetin determined a reduction in oedema and granulocyte infiltration in the Croton oil ear test in vivo. The drug was able to inhibit Acethylcholine-writhing test and showed a LD50 of 1450 mg/kg i.p. and greater than 2000 mg/kg by mouth. In our experimental conditions, esculetin has an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect.

Acetylcholine↗

Anti-inflammatory activity of Echinacea angustifolia fractions separated on the basis of molecular weight.

Five fractions of an aqueous extract obtained from the roots of Echinacea angustifolia were separated on the basis of molecular weight. The topical anti-inflammatory activity of the fractions has been evaluated in mice using the Croton oil ear test. The fraction with a molecular weight between 30,000 and 100,000 was the most active in inhibiting the oedema; it also reduced the infiltration of inflammatory cells. The activity of this fraction was comparable with that of a raw polysaccharidic extract obtained from E. angustifolia roots by differential solubility. The high-molecular weight polysaccharides are therefore proposed as the anti-inflammatory principles of the plant.

Animals↗

Anti-inflammatory activity of benzopyrones that are inhibitors of cyclo- and lipo-oxygenase.

The anti-inflammatory activity of three benzo-pyrones with prevalent lipooxigenase-inhibitory activity was studied using the Croton oil ear test in mice, in comparison with nordihydroguaieretic acid (NDGA) and indomethacin. Kaempferol, quercetin and NDGA possess a strong and prolonged anti-inflammatory effect, whereas the action of indomethacin appears relevant, but not long-lasting. In contrast the anti-inflammatory activity of esculetin is rather weak, but persistent.

Animals↗

Anti-inflammatory activity of a polysaccharidic fraction of Echinacea angustifolia.

The anti-inflammatory activity of a polysaccharidic fraction (EPF) obtained from Echinacea angustifolia roots has been examined using the carrageenan paw oedema and the croton oil ear test. EPF (0.5 mg kg-1 i.v.) almost inhibited the carrageenan-induced oedema over 8 h and furthermore, EPF, topically applied, inhibited mouse ear oedema induced by croton oil. EPF also reduced the leukocytic infiltration of the croton oil dermatitis, evaluated both as peroxidase activity and histologically. After topical application EPF appears to be slightly inferior in potency to indomethacin. The results suggest that the anti-inflammatory activity of E. angustifolia resides in its polysaccharidic content.

Administration, Topical↗

Impairment of motor coordination induced by doxorubicin in mice.

The neurotoxic effects of a single intraperitoneal or intravenous injection of doxorubicin were evaluated in CD1 mice by means of the rotarod test. The test was performed daily for nine weeks after treatment. For both routes of administration, animals were treated with various doxorubicin dosages ranging from 18 to 5.9 mg/kg. The three higher i.v. doses (18, 14.4 and 12.5 mg/kg) of doxorubicin induced a severe motor coordination impairment. The histopathological analysis of these animals showed severe damage of sensory nerves. On the contrary, all the i.p. treated animals did not show any sign of motor impairment and of appreciable neurohistological lesion.

Animals↗

Evidence from two classic irritation tests for an anti-inflammatory action of a natural extract, Echinacina B.

The roots of Echinacea angustifolia (fam. Compositae) were used to obtain an antiphlogistic, immunostimulating and skin repairing extract. On the basis of these potential actions, the extract is used in cosmetic preparations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of the extract using different irritation tests. The irritation reaction was induced by application of 0.015 ml of 0.25% croton oil in water to the ears of mice. The raw extract (Echinacina B), topically applied, inhibited oedema both at the maximum (6 hr) and in the decreasing phase (18 hr), and this effect was directly proportional to the doses used. Echinacina B was found to be more potent than the positive control, benzidamine, a topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. In addition, the extract given iv 1 hr before injection of 0.05 ml of 1% carrageenan into the hind paws of rats inhibited oedema in the histaminic and in the later phases of the phlogistic process. These data show the qualitative value of irritation tests for studying the anti-inflammatory action of a natural plant extract.

Animals↗