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C Costagliola

Publications and source records attributed to C Costagliola.

71 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

In vivo measurement of human lens aging using the lens opacity meter.

Lens aging has been measured in vivo using a new instrument: the lens opacity meter 701 (Interzeag, Schlieren, Switzerland). Statistical analyses have been performed to verify the occurrence of the phenomenon, the sex differences and the reproducibility of the obtained results. The findings demonstrate an increase in the light scattering in the normal lens with aging, which is similar in both sexes. The instrument detects this process and the measurements have a high degree of reproducibility.

Adolescent↗

Inhibition of rat lens aldose reductase by bendazac-L-lysine salt.

Authors describe the in vitro effect of bendazac-L-lysine salt on the activity of enzyme aldose reductase from rat lens. In the presence of bendazac the activity of the tested enzyme was inhibited. Lineweaver-Burk plot demonstrated that the inhibition was noncompetitive. The possible curative effects on diabetic cataract together with a better way of administration are pointed out.

Aldehyde Reductase↗

Systemic human diseases as oxidative risk factors in cataractogenesis. I. Diabetes.

In this study we have investigated the oxidative metabolism of red blood cells (RBC), plasma, serum, aqueous humor, and lens of healthy subjects and of age-matched cataractous patients with and without diabetes. Reduced and oxidized glutathione (GSH GSSG) levels in RBC were similar among the three groups. Plasma levels of GSSG were higher in diabetics than in cataractous and control subjects. No differences in plasma content of GSH were noted among the three groups. The activity of the enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was significantly diminished in diabetic patients. Controls and cataractous patients showed similar levels of malondialdehyde (MDA). Although not significant the MDA content in RBC from diabetics was elevated. No differences in plasma levels of vitamin E were noted among the three groups. The biological liquid oxidant activity of serum in diabetic patients was significantly higher than in controls and cataractous patients. GSH levels in aqueous humor were similar in diabetic and nondiabetic cataractous patients. The content of GSSG in aqueous humor was highest in diabetic patients. Control clear lenses showed low levels of MDA. The MDA levels in cataractous lenses from nondiabetic patients were significantly higher than those of controls. In diabetic patients the content of MDA in the lens was approximately twice as high as the cataractous values. Our results seem to demonstrate that oxidative damage could play a role in the pathogenesis of cataract in diabetes.

Adult↗

Oxidative state of glutathione in arterial and venous red blood cells and plasma of rabbit.

Reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) glutathione levels in arterial and venous rabbit red blood cells (RBC) and plasma are reported. No significant differences were noted between arterial and venous erythrocytes GSH and GSSG content. Plasma GSH levels were found to be the same in both arterial and venous samples. Contrarily, the concentrations of GSSG were higher in venous than in arterial plasma. These findings cannot be attributed solely to the increased RBC oxidative activity that occurs in the venous system. The phenomenon may reflect the oxidative state present in other tissues and may thus be a harbinger of differences in GSH content.

Animals↗

Effect of topical glucocorticoid administration on the protein and nonprotein sulfhydryl groups of the rabbit lens.

The effects of topical administration of glucocorticoids on rabbit lenses are described. Animals were divided into three groups. The first group (A) served as control, the second (B) and the third (C) group were treated with betamethasone and fluorometholone, respectively. After 40 days of treatment there was a significant fall in the levels of nonprotein sulfhydryl (-SH) groups (group A: 3.82 +/- 0.21; group B: 2.61 +/- 0.11; group C: 1.93 +/- 0.13 mumol/lens) and of protein -SH groups (group A: 8.215 +/- 1.023; group B: 4.120 +/- 0.631; group C: 4.068 +/- 0.538 mumol/lens). Also ascorbic acid levels showed a significant decrease both in lens and in aqueous humor. No differences were noted in the reduced glutathione content in aqueous humor. The fall in nonprotein and protein -SH could be the first event in the well-known biochemical changes that occur in steroid-induced cataract. The mechanism underlying steroid-induced damage could be due to a conformational change of lens crystallins which results in an unmasking of -SH groups with a consequent increased susceptibility to oxidation. The decrease of ascorbic acid should represent an effect of the fall in the glutathione system. Lastly, it is hypothesized that the protective effect exerted by some substances, such as vitamin E and ascorbic acid, occurs by counteracting this oxidation.

Administration, Topical↗

Effect of vitamin E on glutathione content in red blood cells, aqueous humor and lens of humans and other species.

High doses of orally administered vitamin E have been given to humans, rabbits and rats. Placebo has been given to control groups. At the end of the treatment period, enhanced levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) were found in the red blood cells (humans and rabbits), aqueous humor (humans and rabbits) and lens (rabbits and rats) of treated subjects and animals. The percentage of GSH converted to oxidized glutathione (GSSG) was the same in both vitamin E-supplied and control groups. The GSSG--GSH ratio remained unchanged. The plasma levels of vitamin E were significantly higher in treated than in control subjects and animals. At the end of the study, the levels of vitamin E in aqueous humor and lens of rabbit were the same in animals which received vitamin E and in animals which received placebo. Lastly, vitamin E administration did not influence ascorbic-acid levels in plasma (humans and rabbits), aqueous humor, lens and vitreous body (rabbits).

Animals↗

[Blood glutathione levels in rabbits treated with high doses of vitamin E].

High doses of parenterally administered vitamin E (30 mg/kg/die) have been given to albino rabbits. We have found a significant elevation of red blood cells reduced glutathione, while the percent level of oxidized versus the reduced form falls from 2% to 1.3%. This finding could be explained with an elevation of the synthesis of this tripeptide, depending on the stimulation of glutathione-synthetase activity. On the other hand, a reduced utilization of this tripeptide for the free radicals detoxifying activity could be claimed for.

Animals↗

Vitamin E and red blood cell glutathione.

High doses of orally administered vitamin E (1000 IU/day) have been given to ten normal volunteers. Ten control subjects received placebo. Red blood cell glutathione was significantly higher in treated subjects than in the controls (controls: 267.5 +/- 15.7 micrograms/mL; treated: 374.8 +/- 17.3 micrograms/mL). These findings could be explained by an increase of glutathione synthesis brought about by the stimulation of glutathione synthetase activity. An alternative possibility is a reduced utilization of glutathione for the detoxification of free radicals. These two mechanisms could be effective in counteracting the glutathione content feedback of the synthetizing enzymes.

Adult↗

High frequency of lactose absorbers among adults with idiopathic senile and presenile cataract in a population with a high prevalence of primary adult lactose malabsorption.

22% of a group of adult Neapolitans were found to have persistent high lactase activity, and 16% were lactose absorbers as indicated by measurement of breath hydrogen concentration and rise in blood glucose after oral lactose administration. Among adults in the same area with idiopathic senile or presenile cataract 49% were identified as lactose absorbers with the breath hydrogen test and 55% by the rise in blood glucose. These results suggest that adults able to absorb galactose from a lactose-containing diet are especially susceptible to senile or presenile cataract.

Adult↗

Bilateral central serous chorioretinopathy in a patient treated with systemic cortico-steroids for non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

PURPOSE: To describe the concomitant occurrence of systemic cortico-steroid treatment and the development of bilateral central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC), which promptly regressed after the reduction of the drug dosage, up to its scheduled withdrawal. METHODS: Case report. RESULTS: A 46-year-old white male, with a history of monolateral CSC, had a non-Hodgkin lymphoma on his right cheek. Soon after surgical excision of the tumoral lesion, he received a standard post-operative regimen of decreasing intramuscular betamethasone for 25 days, followed by 10 day's withdrawal, then cycles of intravenous cyclophosphamide and vincristine, followed by 7-day oral prednisone, repeated monthly for three months. Fluorescein angiographies at the end of the first oral cortico-steroid cycle and before starting the second, documented the occurrence of bilateral CSC and its regression, which were chronologically related respectively to the cortico-steroid administration and withdrawal. CONCLUSIONS: This case further demonstrates that systemic cortico-steroids can be responsible for the occurrence of CSC. The patient's history should always be checked for any previous CSC episodes. In these subjects, periodical ophthalmoscopic examination is essential to discover early or asymptomatic steroid-related CSC patterns, to prevent complications of the disease.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Management of incontinentia pigmenti: a case of monolateral preretinal fibrovascular proliferations adjacent to snail-track degeneration areas.

PURPOSE: To report a case of monolateral preretinal fibrovascularproliferations in a young adult woman, who had suffered from incontinentia pigmenti (IP) during her first month of life. METHODS: Case report. RESULTS: Circumscribed preretinal fibrovascular proliferations, adjacent to a mid-peripheral area of snail track degeneration, were occasionally diagnosed in the left eye of an asymptomatic 18-year-old white female. Careful ocular examination did not reveal any cause of the monolateral vascular abnormalities observed in the posterior segment. A detailed medical history brought to light that the patient has suffered infantile IP, like four other females in her family. The patient did not present any evident malformation of teeth, nails, skeleton or hair. A cytogenetic linkage study documented a chromosomal aberration in the Xq28 band, which confirmed the diagnosis of familial IP (type 2). The fluorescein angiography findings clearly illustrated the minimal retinal involvement in the course of IP. CONCLUSIONS: This case shows that a wide range of etiologies must be considered in patients presenting monolateral preretinal fibrovascular proliferations. To correctly manage these uncommon, inherited or acquired, retinal diseases it is better to do a mid-term follow-up, rather than operate immediately, and this enabled us to observe the natural course of the lesion, while awaiting a definitive diagnosis.

Adolescent↗

Effect of oral captopril (SQ 14225) on intraocular pressure in man.

The effects of the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor captopril (SQ 14225) on intraocular pressure (IOP) were studied. Four groups were analyzed: group A, ten control subjects; group B, ten hypertensive patients with normal IOP; group C, ten normotensive patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG); and group D, ten hypertensive patients with POAG. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, pupil diameter, IOP and total outflow facility were recorded at baseline and at 1-h intervals up to 3h after an oral dose of 25 mg captopril or placebo, given in a randomized, double-blind cross-over fashion. The alternative treatment was given a week later. Captopril significantly lowered IOP in all patients, with no effects on heart rate and pupil diameter. Blood pressure changed only in patients with hypertension (groups B and D). Total outflow facility, measured by conventional tonography, increased significantly in all groups. These findings indicate that oral captopril could represent a new antiglaucomatous compound.

Administration, Oral↗

Recurrent central retinal vein occlusion in a young thrombophilic patient with factor V Leiden mutation.

PURPOSE: To investigate the cause of recurrent central retinal vein occlusion in a 26-year-old white woman. METHODS: Case report. Complete blood analyses were done, including HLA tissue typing, immunoserologic and coagulation tests, with cardiovascular and capillaroscopy investigations. Factor V:R506Q and prothrombin 20210 GIA mutations were checked by polymerase chain reaction and restriction enzyme analysis. RESULTS: DNA analysis showed the patient to be heterozygous for factor V:R506Q mutation. During a follow-up of 18-months, after starting anticoagulant therapy, the patient had not suffered from any other ocular or systemic occlusive vascular accident. CONCLUSIONS: The R506Q factor V gene mutation may be associated with recurrent central retinal vein occlusions. Genetic investigation should be promptly recommended in thrombotic patients to establish a specific preventive treatment.

Adult↗

Red cell glutathione in Leber's optic atrophy.

Red cell glutathione has been assayed in a family affected by Leber's optic atrophy. The results are in agreement with a defective cyanide metabolism. The transmission mechanism of the disease is discussed. Lastly, a preventive and therapeutic approach is proposed.

Adult↗