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Biomedical subjects

C Meloni

Publications and source records attributed to C Meloni.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Soluble E-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 plasma levels increase during acute myocardial infarction.

Previous studies have shown that adhesion molecules play a crucial role in leukocyte-endothelium interactions that occur during myocardial ischemia and reperfusion. We assessed the plasma levels of the soluble form of E-selectin (sE-selectin) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) in 15 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and in 15 controls with chronic stable angina. In patients with AMI, the levels of sE-selectin and sICAM-1 increased significantly during the first 8 h after infarction and subsequently decreased. Soluble E-selectin levels were inversely related to the peak plasma levels of creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), and the time course of their appearance in plasma correlated with that of neutrophil count and plasma D-dimer. In individual patients, peak and mean sICAM-1 levels correlated respectively with plasma D-dimer concentrations and monocyte count, but no correlation were found when their time courses were analyzed. Eight hours after symptom onset, the mean plasma sE-selectin levels were higher in patients with AMI than in those with stable angina, whereas no significant differences were found in mean plasma sICAM-1 levels between the two groups at every time analyzed. In the acute phase of MI (a) sE-selectin and sICAM-1 levels increase during the first 8 h and subsequently decrease; (b) the increase in sE-selectin probably reflects activation of endothelial cells, correlates with other inflammatory and coagulation parameters, and is inversely related to the degree of myocardial damage; and (c) sICAM-1 plasma levels do not represent a good marker of "cell activation" because they reflect activation of different cells and may be affected by different conditions.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Blood purification procedures for acute renal failure: convenient strategy related to clinical conditions.

The choice in the renal replacement therapy of acute renal failure (ARF) should match the patients' individual needs and the characteristics of available therapies. 141 ARF patients, 65 with "isolated' ARF (group I) and 76 with ARF in multiorgan failure (group II), have been treated. In 33 patients of group I standard bicarbonate hemodialysis was used, while acetate-free biofiltration was used for the others. In group II, 42 patients have been treated by continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration and 34 patients by daily recycled bicarbonate hemodialysis. Our data show that acetate-free biofiltration and bicarbonate dialysis were both highly dependable, but acetate-free biofiltration was better tolerated. Continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration is the method of choice in high-risk patients; daily bicarbonate hemodialysis is preferable only in patients with hemorrhagic diathesis. The average survival time is 55.2% with a statistically significant difference between groups I and II, while no difference has been observed within the same group according to the procedure.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed1994

Isolated ultrafiltration in refractory heart failure on patients with Cooley's anemia.

Dilatative cardiomyopathy is a late complication of Cooley's anemia resulting in severe heart failure resistant to conventional medical treatment. Anemia, iron and fluid overload are the main causes of this disease entity. Four male patients (mean age 22.3 +/- 5.4 years) with Cooley's anemia associated heart failure--4th NYHA and fluid overload > 20% body weight--resistant to medical treatment, underwent isolated ultrafiltration (IU). During 90 minutes of treatment an average of 1750 +/- 850 ml of fluid were removed using AN69S plate membrane. Each patient received an average of 7 IU sessions (range 4-13). Cardiac function was assessed before and after each session with echocardiography, venous cardiac catheterization and impedence cardiography. Transient cardiac improvement was observed after each IU session: left ventricular systolic diameter decreased, as did central venous pressure and pulmonary wedge pressure, whereas cardiac index increased. All patients died of unrelated causes. In conclusion IU treatment in dilatative cardiomyopathy resistant to conventional medical treatment in Cooley's anemia patients produces only transient cardiac improvement, but no improvement in overall survival.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

The lysosomal N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) isoenzymes in plasma: study of distribution in a general population by a simple routine chromatofocusing procedure.

We have adapted for routine analysis a pre-existing method for separating the three major N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) isoenzyme forms--A, B+I1 and I2--by chromatofocusing followed by fluorimetric assay of the enzyme activity. This method combines good resolution, accurate quantification of the different isoenzymes and high reproducibility with an acceptable degree of analytical precision. We have applied it to studying the isoenzyme levels in the plasma of a general population of 417 subjects and have analysed these enzyme activities as functions of age, sex, body mass and declared alcohol consumption. Unlike the levels of unfractionated enzyme, levels of all the isoenzymes were higher in men than in women at all ages except in the 20-29 year group. Isoenzyme I2 showed the greatest sex difference. On the whole, with increasing age, both sexes showed more or less regular increases in plasma levels of all the isoenzymes. We also found significant correlations for the population as a whole with age and with body mass index. The only significant correlation with alcohol consumption was for B+I1 in men.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗
PubMed1993

Acetate-free biofiltration in acute renal failure.

Hemodialysis treatment for acute renal failure is associated with a high incidence of adverse reactions. Hemodynamic stability and adequate correction of acid-base and hydroelectrolyte imbalance are the main goals of dialytic strategy in acute renal failure. However, the variety of etiology and the diversity of clinical conditions suggest that individualized treatment may be advisable. To this purpose, in 26 patients suffering from "isolated" acute renal failure of different etiologies, we have used acetate-free biofiltration. We have performed 411 dialyses with an extremely low incidence of symptomatic treatments and remarkable cardiovascular stability. Correction of fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base imbalance proved excellent. Dialytic efficacy proved adequate. Our data show that acetate-free biofiltration is an easy technique suitable for individualized treatment and adaptable to changing needs during hemodialysis in patients with isolated acute renal failure.

Acetates↗
PubMed1992

[An analysis of the variability in the heart rate in relation to the presence of transient ischemia and to its physiopathological mechanism].

To assess the differences in the pathogenesis of cardiac ischemic events and the role of the autonomic nervous system, we studied the electrocardiographic measures of tonic vagal activity during 24-hour Holter monitoring. We tested the circadian rhythm of the power in the high frequency energy (HF: 0.15-0.40 Hz) of the normal R-R interval power spectrum, the daily percent of successive normal R-R greater than 50 ms (pNN50) and the roots mean square of successive difference of normal R-R intervals (MMSD) in patients with coronary artery disease of comparable angiographic severity. Group A consisted of 5 patients (mean age 62 +/- 8) with chronic stable angina and Group B of 5 patients (mean age 61 +/- 8) with variant angina. Characteristic anginal pattern, typical ST changes during ischemic events on Holter monitoring and angiographic evidence of vasoconstriction induced by hyperventilation distinguished the 2 groups. Mean Cosinor analysis showed the presence of a significant circadian rhythm of HF only in Group A with a peak in the early morning hours (phi at 03.45, % rhythm 50.0, p less than 0.03); a significant reduction of parasympathetic activation was also found in Group B (MSSD: 27.8 vs 15.4, p less than 0.05; pNN50: 2.9 vs 0.6, p less than 0.05). These results suggest a different pattern in circadian variation of HF and lower degree of time and frequency domain of heart rate variability, as a marker of vagal tone in patients with high susceptibility to coronary vasospasm.

Angina Pectoris, Variant↗
PubMed1990

Oxygen tension monitoring in uremic patients during hemodialysis treatment.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence on cerebral and cutaneous vascular regions of PaO2 reduction during acetate dialysis, by monitoring conjunctival oxygen tension (PcjO2) and transcutaneous oxygen tension (PtcO2) during hemodialysis (HD) treatment. The study was performed on 23 patients with end-stage renal disease in chronic HD. All patients underwent dialytic treatment with cuprophan membranes and acetate containing dialysate. PcjO2 and PtcO2 were recorded and PaO2 and arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) were also measured. Results of the study show that hypoxemia during acetate dialysis with cuprophan membranes is not accompanied by changes of PcjO2 and therefore by changes in cerebral oxygenation. Moreover, PtcO2 remains constant during dialysis treatment. Furthermore, maintenance of normal oxygen tension at the conjunctival level is not obtained at the expense of the peripheral region of the skin.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

An Na-23 and P-31 NMR investigation of sonicated cardiolipin sodium salt in aqueous medium.

Na-23 and P-31 nuclear magnetic resonance was used to investigate the structure and dynamics of Na+ trapped in the enclosed aqueous spaces of unilamellar vesicles of Cardiolipin sodium salt. After sonicated Cardiolipin sodium salt forms a clear solution in aqueous medium and gives rise to a narrow, isotropic P-31 NMR line. This line was attributed to the presence of either vesicles or more complex liquid crystalline structures showing superposed-signals for inner and outer phosphate groups. The use of paramagnetic shift reagent Dy(PPPi)2 made it possible to observe only the line of the phosphate groups arranged within the structures. From an analysis of the spin-lattice relaxation parameters of Na-23 at 21.04 MHz and 52.6 MHz, the correlation time tau = 1.3 x 10(-9) sec was estimated. It was then possible to calculate the value of 1.9 MHz for the quadrupolar coupling parameter. These findings were interpreted in terms of the occurrence of specific bindings between Na+ and the phosphate moieties within the unilamellar structures of Cardiolipin.

Cardiolipins↗
PubMed1989

Platelet lipid peroxidation in haemodialysis patients: effects of vitamin E supplementation.

In haemodialysis patients, increased concentrations of malonyldialdehyde and decreased vitamin E content indicate lipid peroxidation in the platelets from oxidative damage. The same process has been described in red blood cells and in mononuclear cells in peripheral blood. However, platelet aggregation is within normal limits and does not change after treatment with vitamin E. On the other hand vitamin E supplementation reverts completely the biochemical abnormality of the platelets.

Blood Platelets↗
PubMed1989

Histological and morphological aspects of muscle in infantile cerebral palsy.

There is very little in the literature on the histology and morphology of muscle in cerebral palsy. The authors studied the histology of antigravitational spastic muscles, which are different from the nonspastic muscles. The study established that they have no endomysial fibres and that their inelasticity and inextensibility is due to syncytial atrophy. This is in conformity with clinical findings and calls for further research into the ultrastructural nature of the muscle so that treatment can be based on a more complete understanding of the disease and not solely on clinical observations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Lack of oxidative damage in serum polyunsaturated fatty acids before and after dialysis in chronic uremic patients.

We described previously that in the erythrocytes and mononuclear blood cells from uremic patients on chronic hemodialysis, the membrane concentrations of malonyldialdehyde (MDA), resulting from peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the membrane itself increased, and the concentrations of vitamin E (VIT E), the major antioxidizing agent, were lower. In the present study we analysed whether similar oxidative damage is seen in the serum from hemodialysis patients and whether the serum fatty acid pattern is affected. No evidence was found of oxidative damage in the serum during hemodialysis, serum concentrations of MDA and VIT E remaining constant before and after dialysis. No change was observed in serum pattern of PUFA, particularly linoleic acid. We therefore assume that the oxidative damage described in uremic patients is mainly intracellular.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Discrepancies between serum and erythrocyte concentrations of vitamin E in hemodialysis patients: role of HDL-bound fraction of vitamin E.

Recently, we have demonstrated that hemodialysis (HD) patients have higher serum and lower erythrocyte concentrations of vitamin E than controls. It is known that transfer of vitamin E from serum to erythrocyte is mostly due to high-density lipoproteins (HDL). For a better definition of the pattern of distribution of vitamin E in HD patients, we have dosed the amount of vitamin bound to serum HDL fraction. In 8 patients and in 8 healthy controls, we have determined the concentration of serum erythrocyte and HDL-bound vitamin E. The latest was obtained on an ultracentrifuged HDL fraction. HDL fractions from HD patients have been found to contain larger amounts of vitamin E than controls. The previously described higher serum and lower erythrocyte concentrations of vitamin E in HD patients have been confirmed in the study. The deficit of vitamin E in the membranes of erythrocytes from HD patients has been shown to be the result of increased consumption of the vitamin in the erythrocyte membranes, where it represents the major antioxidant agent. However, the finding of increased amounts of vitamin bound to HDL in HD patients suggests that the transfer of the vitamin to the erythrocyte membranes may also be defective.

Adult↗