Biomedical subjects

C Musolino

Publications and source records attributed to C Musolino.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1980

[Calcium and endocrine pancreas secretion. II. Effects of an infusion of calcium on insulin and glucagon secretion induced by intravenous administration of glucose].

IRI, IRG and blood glucose levels after I.V.G.T.T. in normal subjects were not significantly modified when I.V.G.T.T. was repeated during a prolonged calcium infusion (15 mg/Kg body weight per 90'). The Authors advance the hypothesis that no closed relationships exist between serum calcium levels and insulin secretion, in these experimental conditions; with regard to glucagon secretion, further experiences are of course required namely during alpha-cell stimulation.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor reverts vascular dysfunction.

The aim of our study was to investigate the vascular effects of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rh G-CSF) in a rat model of irreversible vascular failure. Male anesthetized rats were subjected to the clamping of the splanchnic arteries for 45 min. This surgical procedure resulted in an irreversible state of shock (splanchnic artery occlusion shock) characterized by high mortality rate (0% survival, 120 min following the release of clamps), a profound hypotension and vascular dysfunction consisting of a marked hyporeactivity to phenylephrine (PE 1 nM-10 microM) of aortic rings. Administration of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (20 micrograms/kg i.v. 5 min after the release of occlusion) increased survival rate (90% 4 h after the release of occlusion), blunted the profound hypotension and reverted the marked vascular dysfunction. Finally, rh G-CSF inhibited the activity of inducible nitric oxide synthase in peritoneal macrophages activated with endotoxin. Our data suggest that rh G-CSF may influence vascular function when low-flow states occur.

Acute Disease↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Premixed insulin at ratio 3/7 and regular + isophane insulins at mixing ratios from 2/8 to 4/6 achieve the same metabolic control.

The insulin regimen with two daily injections is still that more frequently used. Often regular and NPH insulins are mixed at different ratios according to the patient's need; however, the mixture preparation can involve several errors. Efficacy, safety and compliance were evaluated comparing a premixture 3/7 (Actraphane HM) with extemporary mixtures of regular + NPH at mixing ratios ranging from 2/8 to 4/6, in a cross-over study of 8 weeks involving 20 insulin dependent diabetics. Metabolic control, hypoglycaemic episodes, insulin dose and proportions were similar with both treatments while a higher compliance was achieved with the premixture. In conclusion, premixture 3/7 and extemporary mixture (from 2/8 to 4/6) obtain the same efficacy and safety but the former shows a higher acceptability.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Prognostic value of serum thymidine kinase and beta 2 microglobulin in subjects affected by multiple myeloma.

The authors, using a radio-enzymatic and a radio-immunological method, investigated the serum levels of Thymidine Kinase (TK) and Beta 2 Microglobulin (Beta 2M) in 24 subjects affected by Multiple Myeloma (MM) and in 10 controls. The data obtained confirm the good prognostical significance already reported for TK and Beta 2M in subjects with MM. First of all, the results indicate higher levels of TK compared to the controls (9.31 U/l vs 2.9 U/l - p less than 0.005). Similarly, also the levels of Beta 2M indicate a significant increase compared to the healthy subjects. Both TK and Beta 2M levels increased with the progression of the stage of the disease (6.69 mg/ml vs 1.67 mg/ml - p less than 0.005). After therapy there was a significant decrease of TK and Beta 2M levels in responders. Finally, TK demonstrated to be able to detect during the follow-up a possible relapse of the disease.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Different daily blood glucose control and free insulin levels during treatment with mixtures of soluble and lente or soluble and NPH semisynthetic human insulins.

To compare daily blood glucose and free-insulin profiles after the administration of two different mixtures of semisynthetic human insulins (soluble + lente or soluble + NPH), 8 well-controlled insulin-dependent diabetic patients with identical basal blood glucose levels were studied. At the beginning of the first daily period of study, each subject was connected to an Artificial Pancreas to achieve a standard blood glucose (100 mg/dl); after at least 4 hours of normoglycemia, feed-back control was interrupted and the insulin mixture injected, at 8 p.m. and 8 a.m., at the dose previously optimised but always in the ratio 1:2 (1/3 rapid-acting + 2/3 intermediate-acting insulin). Blood glucose and free-insulin were then monitored for a 24-hour period, starting from 8 p.m. The same observation was repeated for each patient a few days later, only changing the intermediate-acting insulin. After dinner (8.30 p.m.) and after breakfast (8.30 a.m.) mean blood glucose was lower with soluble + NPH mixture, while early in the morning and in the late afternoon better glycaemic control was achieved with soluble + lente. F-IRI showed an almost specular behaviour: lower values soon after mixture injection and higher levels 8-12 hours later were observed with soluble + lente than with soluble + NPH. These data indicate that, at the ratio 1:2, the mixture of short-acting with lente HM insulin differs from the one with NPH not only for a lower activity of soluble insulin but also for a stronger and more prolonged effect of the intermediate preparation. This difference should be carefully taken into account in clinical practice.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of hepatitis B and C virus infections in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and without liver disease.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are hepatotropic and lymphotropic viruses endemic to Sicily. To evaluate whether these viruses may chronically infect patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and without liver disease, we examined serum samples from 24 such patients. Five cases (20.8%) revealed HCV infection, as shown by the detection of viral RNA through the polymerase chain reaction technique, while HBV-DNA was not found in any of them by the same method. These results provide one more epidemiological element supporting the hypothesis that the association between HCV infection and lymphoproliferative diseases is not a casual event, and show that HCV may chronically infect patients with NHL without producing liver damage.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Circulating levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and soluble interleukin 2 receptors (IL-2R) in patients with B cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

The serum concentrations of circulating ICAM-1 (cICAM-1) and soluble receptors for interleukin-2 (sIL-2R) were evaluated on 48 patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL) and on 15 healthy control subjects. The mean +/- SD concentration of cICAM-1 was significantly higher (p < 0.002) in B-CLL patients (407.7 +/- 164.3 ng/ml) than in healthy controls (245.4 +/- 76.7 ng/ml). Patients with progressive disease had higher cICAM-1 levels than patients with "indolent" disease (440.38 +/- 32.3 ng/ml versus 321.36 +/- 14.45 ng/ml; p < 0.0001). Serum levels of cICAM-1 were also significantly higher (p < 0.0002) in patients with advanced stage (III-IV) than in those with early stage (I-II). The increase of cICAM-1 levels was positively correlated to increases of soluble receptors for interleukin-2 (r = 0.9; p < 0.0001). These results seem to show that the measurement of serum levels of cICAM-1 may be an useful tool for monitoring disease activity and tumoral mass in patients with B-CLL. However, further studies are needed to define the functional role of high cICAM-1 levels in the immunological dysregulation of patients with malignancy.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The in vitro cytotoxic effect of mitoxantrone in combination with fludarabine or pentostatin in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Clinical studies indicate that combination chemotherapy with mitoxantrone (Mitox) and a purine analog can improve the response rate in indolent lymphoproliferative disorders. We explored the in vitro Mitox- fludarabine (FAMP)- and pentostatin (Pento)-induced cytotoxicity and their interactions in CLL. METHODS: The peripheral lymphocytes of 24 CLL patients were tested at different drug concentrations, with Mitox, FAMP or their combinations in 22 cases, and with Mitox, Pento or their combinations in 20 cases, 18 of which were the same from the FAMP group. The MTT assay was chosen for the drug-induced cell cytotoxicity and flow cytometry analysis of the DNA hypodiploid peak for the study of the apoptotic process. Drug interactions were calculated in the MTT assay according to both multiplicative and maximum models. RESULTS: According to the lethal dose (LD) 50 values, when the three drugs were tested alone, 11 out of 22 and 8 out of 20 samples were sensitive to Mitox in the FAMP and Pento groups, respectively; on the other hand, 2 out of 22 and 0 out of 20 samples appeared sensitive to FAMP or Pento alone, respectively. Analyzing the MTT assay data with the multiplicative and maximum model, the combinations of Mitox+FAMP and Mitox+Pento at different drug concentrations were synergistic in 28.2% and 39.3%, respectively. At leukemic cell survival < or = 50%, 11.7% and 11.1% of all combinations were synergistic in the Pento and FAMP group, respectively. The number of synergistic interactions at a therapeutically achievable plasma-drug concentration was an inverse function of the Mitox concentration. In the FAMP group, a direct correlation was found between the LD50 values of both FAMP and Mitox and the number of synergistic interactions, while the Pearson correlation coefficient was not significant in the Pento group. Finally, as measured by the DNA hypodiploid peak, Mitox (0.25 microgram/mL) plus Pento (0.16 microgram/mL) showed a significantly enhanced apoptosis in comparison to each single drug, while Mitox failed to demonstrate an additive effect with FAMP (1 microgram/ml). INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: This experience demonstrates the extent of the in vitro synergism of Mitox with FAMP and Pento in inducing cell cytotoxicity; it also shows an adjunctive apoptotic effect for the Mitox-Pento association only.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗