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Biomedical subjects

B Palumbo

Publications and source records attributed to B Palumbo.

29 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

1H-MRS, MRI-based hippocampal volumetry, and 99mTc-HMPAO-SPECT in normal aging, age-associated memory impairment, and probable Alzheimer's disease.

OBJECTIVE: To better understand how to differentiate the "in vivo" normal aging brain from pathological conditions, namely dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT), by means of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT), and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS), to show neuroanatomical, perfusional and neurochemical details, respectively. DESIGN: 1H-MRS, MRI-based hippocampal volumetry and 99mTc-HMPAO SPECT were performed in healthy older subjects as well as patients suffering from age-associated memory impairment (AAMI) and dementia of Alzheimer type (DAT). SUBJECTS AND SETTING: Eighteen subjects were selected from those referred to an outpatient clinic for diagnostic evaluation of cognitive impairment entered the study. Six patients fulfilled NINCDS-ADRDA diagnostic criteria for DAT, six subjects were affected by AAMI, and six cognitively healthy subjects, selected from among relatives of the patients, were defined as controls. METHODS: The 1H-MRS and MRI studies were performed on a 1.5 Tesla NMR-imaging system equipped with a spectroscopy research package. SPECT scans were performed on a Gamma 11 computer system. FINDINGS: 1H-MRS showed significantly lower N-acetylasparatate concentration in DAT and AAMI compared with controls. Conversely, mean inositol concentration was significantly higher in DAT than in controls, whereas AAMI subjects registered intermediate values. MRI measurements showed significantly reduced volumes of hippocampal formations in DAT and AAMI groups compared with controls. Finally, 99mTc-HMPAO SPECT showed a significant frontal, temporo-parietal, and occipital hypoperfusion in DAT patients only. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the hypothesis of a continuum among the three conditions studied, or at least between AAMI and DAT, where AAMI seems to be an early, monosymptomatic stage of Alzheimer disease. Accepting this view, it would be questionable to maintain the term "age-associated memory impairment" as a discrete entity.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Increased cerebrospinal fluid pyruvate levels in Alzheimer's disease.

Impaired energy metabolism is an early, predominant feature in Alzheimer's disease. In order to find out simple, reliable 'in vivo' markers for the clinical-biological typization of the disorder, we measured cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) glucose, lactate and pyruvate levels in patients suffering from dementia of Alzheimer type (DAT) and in healthy elderly controls. DAT group showed remarkably higher levels of pyruvate (P = 0.01), with no overlap with the values obtained in controls. CSF pyruvate levels were also significantly associated with the severity of dementia. Therefore, CSF pyruvate levels neatly separate DAT patients from controls, having also pathogenetic value.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Cerebrospinal fluid neuron-specific enolase in Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.

Levels of neuron-specific enolase (NSE), a glycolytic enzyme localized in neurons, were measured in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with early-onset (e-AD) and late-onset (l-AD) Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia (VD) and controls. Mean CSF NSE levels in patients with Alzheimer's disease did not significantly differ from those in controls, although in the AD group a correlation was found between NSE levels and severity of cognitive deficits. In VD patients, CSF NSE was lower than in controls or in AD patients. These findings are of physiopathological interest but suggest that CSF NSE is not a useful biological marker in dementia disorders.

Age of Onset↗
PubMed1995

Serum anti-GFAP and anti-S100 autoantibodies in brain aging, Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.

Autoantibodies against glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and S100 protein were measured in sera of patients suffering from vascular dementia (VD), presenile Alzheimer's disease (AD), senile Alzheimer's disease (SDAT) and aged healthy controls by means of ELISA test. VD and SDAT showed the highest levels of both autoantibodies, AD the lowest. From these results a relationship between autoantibody titers and aging seems possible. Dosage of anti-GFAP and anti-S100 autoantibodies does not appear useful for diagnostic purpose because of the overlap observed among groups. Rather, the presence of these antibodies seems to reflect an alteration of the blood-brain barrier that promotes the access of central nervous system antigens to immunocompetent cells.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Interferon-alpha-induced biologic modifications in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia.

Serum neopterin (Np), beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-M), and 2',5'-adenylate (2',5'A) levels and intracellular 2',5'A and human Mx (Hu-Mx) protein synthesis were measured in 20-24 chronic myeloid leukemia patients before and during 1 year of IFN-alpha treatment and in a further 8-9 patients before and at the end of the first and second treatment weeks only. Univariate analysis showed that IFN-alpha increased Np and 2',5'A serum levels and intracellular concentrations of 2',5'A and Hu-Mx significantly from the end of the first week to month 12 of therapy. The biologic marker profiles were similar in cytogenetic responders and nonresponders, as well as in patients treated with IFN-alpha early (< 12 months from diagnosis) or late (after > 12 months standard chemotherapy). Further, there were no differences in the short-term (first 14 days) or long-term (during 12 month therapy) induction of the biologic markers irrespective of whether IFN-alpha 2a or IFN-alpha 2b was given. Because multivariate analysis revealed no significant interactions between cytogenetic response, time to treatment, and type of IFN-alpha used, increments in intracellular 2',5'A and Hu-Mx protein were similar at all study times for all factor combinations tested. Np levels varied significantly only during the first 14 therapy days; changes in serum 2',5'A were never statistically significant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenosine Monophosphate↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pharmacokinetics and metabolism of N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2,5-[14C]-pyrrolidine (HEP, Epolamine) in male healthy volunteers.

N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-pyrrolidine (HEP, Epolamine) is a strong base used to salify organic acids of pharmaceutical interest in order to improve their solubility in water. Diclofenac-HEP (Flector) is the first example of an epolamine salt of a drug. In this study, [14C]-HEP was administered by oral route (300 mg, about 50 microCi/subject) to 3 volunteers with the aim to investigate its plasma profile and to calculate the relevant pharmacokinetic parameters. The experimental data correlated with a two-compartment pharmacokinetic model. Total radioactivity in urine and faeces was also measured. The radioactivity was excreted preferentially by the faecal route (about 65% of the dose administered in the 0-72 h collection interval). Urinary excretion accounted for about 30% of the dose and occurred very rapidly (about 22% of the dose was in the 0-8 h collection interval). Metabolic investigations were carried out on urine samples. TLC analysis with radioscan detector indicated a main radioactive zone, accounting for about 98% of the radioactivity in the plate. After scraping off and purification of the radioactive areas, the compound isolated (Met I) was analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with electron-impact ionization process. The structure of the metabolite was postulated to be pyrrolidine N-oxide.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Dexamethasone suppression test in elderly patients with dementia of Alzheimer type, vascular dementia and stroke: a re-evaluation of its applicability.

In order to evaluate the prevalence of non-suppression after dexamethasone in psychogeriatrics and to further verify the reliability of the neurobiological information obtained, dexamethasone suppression test was carried out in a geriatric population composed of patients with dementia of Alzheimer type, vascular dementia, stroke and age and sex-matched controls. Basal cortisol levels did not differ among groups and was positively correlated to age. Prevalence of non-suppression, defined according to Carroll's criterion was high in the pathological groups studied, and relatively high in controls, showing no diagnostic value. Unlikely suppressors, the time course of mean plasma corticol levels of non-suppressors was highly heterogeneous in each group considered, especially in the pathological groups. More restrictive criteria for the definition of non-suppressors are proposed, in order to increase the specificity of the test when applied to psychogeriatrics.

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

(Iso) Prostaglandins in saliva indicate oxidation injury after radioiodine therapy.

UNLABELLED: As salivary glands concentrate radioiodine the radiation injury associated with 131I-therapy may result in sialoadenitis and xerostoma leading to a lasting impaired quality of life. Recently we reported about prostaglandin concentration changes as biochemical markers for radiation injury. Isoprostanes, a new family of prostaglandin-like compounds, have been demonstrated to be reliable markers for oxidation injury in vivo. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this study we examined the levels of 8-epi-PGF2alpha, the major member of the isoprostane family in 24 patients undergoing 1311 treatment in different doses for hyperthyroidism and differentiated thyroid cancer. 6 healthy sex and age-matched volunteers were monitored in parallel. Saliva(iso)prostaglandins were determined before 131I treatment, as well as 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days, and 2, 3, and 6 months after therapy. RESULTS: 8-epi-PGF2alpha showed a significant 1311 dose-dependent temporary increase. The alterations were comparable in all investigated patients and significantly higher in cigarette smokers. TXB2 and 6-oxo-PGF, showed a dose-dependent increase too. TXB2 was higher in cigarette smokers and 6-oxo-PGF1alpha lower as compared to non-smokers. CONCLUSION: These results clearly demonstrate a dose- and time-dependent tissue (TXB2, 6-oxo-PGF1alpha) and oxidation in-jury (8-epi-PGF2alpha) after 131I-therapy in the salivary glands.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Psychological aspects of orthognathic treatment.

AIM: The aim of this study was to examine the psychological state of 30 patients subjected to corrective orthognathic surgery and their expectations, as well as the influence of an in-depth psychological evaluation on the success of the operation. METHODS: The study was performed by giving 30 patients (12 men, 18 women), affected by dental-skeletal facial abnormalities and treated with orthognathic surgery, a questionnaire with 19 questions aimed at examining their preoperative emotional state (desired esthetic and functional improvements) and postoperative emotional state (expectations after surgery and associated psychological state of anxiety and depression). RESULTS: All patients (100%) expressed a clearly positive reaction to their experience. Approximately 70% of the patients observed an improvement in their masticatory function following surgery and 96.6% an improvement in esthetic appearance. Almost none of the patients (96.6%) experienced difficulty in adapting to a change in appearance, while as a result of the surgery 66.6% experienced an increase in self-esteem and confidence. In addition, the opinion of relatives and friends of the patients was favorable in most cases (76.6%). CONCLUSIONS: In order to enable the patients to face their therapeutic program with greater confidence, a team of orthodontists, surgeons and psychologist observe the patients from the beginning of treatment, having them interact with other patients who have already experienced the same situation and by showing them pre- and postoperative pictures of other patients subjected to orthognathic surgery.

Adult↗