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Biomedical subjects

C Fanelli

Publications and source records attributed to C Fanelli.

63 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

The relationship of the dexamethasone suppression test to subtypes of depression and to symptomatic severity in the elderly.

Dexamethasone Suppression Tests (DSTs) were performed on 91 subjects consisting of 66 elderly outpatients diagnosed as having major depression according to RDC and 25 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Postdexamethasone plasma cortisol levels were significantly higher in depressed patients than in normals. The depressed patients were subdivided into endogenous and nonendogenous groups by alternately, RDC and Newcastle Diagnostic Scale (NDS). A significant difference in postdexamethasone plasma cortisol levels between endogenous and nonendogenous groups was noted only when NDS was used, but this difference was found to be related to a significant difference in severity of depression.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The usefulness of DST in predicting response to antidepressants: a placebo-controlled study.

Seventy-two out-patients, 55 years or older, suffering from major depression were treated with either nortriptyline or phenelzine for seven weeks under placebo-controlled double-blind conditions. The dexamethasone suppression test (DST) was administered at baseline and at weeks 3 and 7 of treatment, and its usefulness in predicting and/or paralleling clinical response was examined. No correlation was found between baseline DST results and treatment response with antidepressants. Of 13 patients whose abnormal baseline DSTs normalized during treatment, six were responders and seven were nonresponders (P = 0.24). However, all (seven) patients whose DSTs persisted to be abnormal throughout the seven weeks did not respond. The authors conclude that the DST has not been shown to have practical value as an indicator of impending recovery from major depression in the elderly, but its failure to normalize may have ominous prognostic significance.

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PubMedDate not supplied

White cell apoptosis in packed red cells.

BACKGROUND: After the removal of the buffy coat, packed red cell (RBC) transfusion units still contain white cells that may undergo apoptosis as a result of storage conditions (1-6 degrees C). The aim of the present study was the evaluation of this phenomenon in view of the possible influence it may have on febrile nonhemolytic transfusion reactions. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Three independent methods (microscopy, DNA electrophoresis, and cytometry) were used to evaluate apoptosis in white cells present in 13 RBC units. Of these units, 10 had been collected into CPD/saline-adenine-glucose-mannitol and 3 into CPDA-1; each bag was split in two parts, one of which was irradiated. RBCs were stored at 1 to 6 degrees C, and samples were periodically withdrawn for study. The proliferative capacity of stored lymphocytes was evaluated after phytohemagglutinin stimulation and tritiated thymidine incorporation. RESULTS: Apoptosis was found to occur in both granulocytes and lymphocytes, starting from the first 48 to 72 hours of storage. The choice of the anticoagulant-preservative solution and the effect of irradiation did not influence the amount and the timing of the apoptotic phenomenon. Lymphocyte proliferative capacity was found to decrease sharply with storage time. CONCLUSION: Conditions of storage in RBCs induce consistent apoptosis in residual white cells. The possible clinical implications of the relationships between apoptosis and the induction of biologic response modifiers (that may cause interleukin-mediated febrile non-hemolytic transfusion reactions) and between apoptosis and immune reactions remain to be elucidated.

Adenine↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of some food preservatives on aflatoxin production.

The effect of some food preservatives, such as sorbic (SA) and propionic (PA) acids, on aflatoxin production in synthetic media or in moistened (20%) wheat seeds, was investigated. The preservatives tested, added to synthetic media at sublethal concentrations both at the inoculum and after 5 days of incubation, stimulated aflatoxin production by Aspergillus parasiticus. Sorbic and propionic acids are metabolized by the fungus in vivo and in vitro. Lower concentrations of PA and SA (0.05 to 0.1% w/w) in wheat seeds are ineffective against both fungal growth and aflatoxin production, whilst the combined use of butylated hydroxy toluene (BHT), and PA or SA was more effective in controlling aflatoxin production than their use as single components.

Aflatoxins↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ergosterol oxidation may be considered a signal for fungal growth and aflatoxin production in Aspergillus parasiticus.

The addition of compounds able to peroxidize cell lipids (carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), cumene hydroperoxide (CUH), or linoleic acid hydroperoxide (LAH)) to 5-day-old Czapek-Dox Medium cultures of Aspergillus parasiticus induces a significant reduction of the tri-unsaturated ergosterol (ERG) levels in fungal microsomes and mitochondria, whereas the concentrations of the di-unsaturated linoleic acid (LA; C18:2 n-6) are unaffected. Aflatoxin (AFT) output follows ERG reduction and is associated with both a renewal of fungal growth and a slow increase of ERG concentration in subcellular membranes. We suggest that, by analogy with the regulatory role played on cell proliferation and metabolism by polyunsaturated fatty acid by-products (eicosanoids) in mammalian membranes, by-products of ERG oxidation may be considered triggers sufficient to induce both further fungal growth and AFT biosynthesis.

Aflatoxins↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Short-term metabolic effects of the ACE-inhibitor benazepril in type 2 diabetes mellitus associated with arterial hypertension.

To assess the short-term metabolic effects a long-acting non-sulphydryl ACE-inhibitor benazepril on glycaemic control in Type 2 diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension, 10 hypertensive diabetic patients treated with glibenclamide were studied in a double-blind, crossover fashion over two 10-day periods in which either benazepril (10 mg/day) or placebo was given. At the end of the 10 day treatment, both blood pressure and plasma glucose concentrations were lower after benazepril versus placebo (benazepril, blood pressure: 143 +/- 11/83 +/- 5 mmHg, plasma glucose: 7.1 +/- 1.2 mmol/l; placebo: blood pressure: 157 +/- 10/99 +/- 2 mmHg, plasma glucose: 8.2 +/- 1 mmol/l, p < 0.05). In response to an oral glucose tolerance test combined with 1 mg intravenous glibenclamide, plasma glucose levels were lower after benazepril versus placebo (0-460 min: 8.4 +/- 0.8 versus 10.5 +/- 0.9 mmol/l, p < 0.05), whereas plasma insulin, C-peptide and glibenclamide concentrations were not different. It is concluded that a short-term administration of benazepril in Type 2 diabetes mellitus reduces blood pressure and improves blood glucose control, most likely by decreasing insulin resistance.

Administration, Oral↗