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Biomedical subjects

E Baldi

Publications and source records attributed to E Baldi.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

[Hormonal, beta-endorphin and renin activity changes in man during partial immersion, as a therapeutic method, in water at 38 degrees C].

This research was carried out to define the effects on men of head-out water immersion in a bath at 38.41 +/- 0.04 degrees C (mean +/- S.E.) with a method similar to that used for therapeutical rehabilitation and time of immersion of 30 minutes. Beta-endorphin, renin activity, aldosterone, cortisol, HGH, FSH, LH, TSH, T3, T4 and prolactin haematic levels were analysed. Seventeen healthy subjects (fourteen males and three females), aged 21-65 years (mean age 29.8 +/- 2.6) were studied. Water immersion caused a decrease in FSH and LH haematic concentrations; no significant changes occurred in beta-endorphin, renin activity, aldosterone, prolactin, cortisol, HGH, TSH, T3, T4 and FTI values. Thirty minutes after the end of immersion, FSH and LH levels returned to pre-immersion values. The probable pathogenesis of these observations is suggested.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Usefulness of basal catecholamine plasma levels and clonidine suppression test in the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma.

In the present paper we report our experience on the utility of basal plasma catecholamine (CA) measurement and of the clonidine-suppression test in the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. Basal noradrenaline (NA) and adrenaline (A) were assayed in plasma samples of 27 subjects affected by pheochromocytoma. When compared to basal values obtained in hypertensive patients without pheochromocytoma, one or both the CA resulted pathologically elevated in all patients except one. The response to the clonidine-suppression test was evaluated in 41 hypertensive patients suspected of having a pheochromocytoma measuring plasma NA and A in basal conditions and 2 and 3 h after oral administration of 300 micrograms clonidine. Extensive laboratory and instrumental findings confirmed the presence of pheochromocytoma only in 12 patients. Among the other 29 patients basal plasma CA resulted higher than normal in 4 patients. In patients without pheochromocytoma clonidine induced a significant fall in both NA and A plasma levels. The decrease in NA was observed in each patient. The 12 patients with pheochromocytoma showed a pathological elevation of one or both the CA. In this group clonidine did not significantly suppress plasma CA. The individual responses were extremely variable. Our data confirm the validity of plasma CA measurement as a diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. The results of the clonidine-suppression test were generally confirmatory of the basal CA plasma values but in the 4 hypertensive patients without pheochromocytoma who showed basal plasma CA higher than normal clonidine resulted a useful tool in excluding the presence of pheochromocytoma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

[Plasma beta endorphin in man during partial immersion in water using the therapeutic method].

The following study was designed to evaluate plasma beta-endorphin (beta-EP) variations in healthy volunteers during thermoneutral head-out water immersion while prevalently in the standing position. The type of immersion was similar to that currently adopted for therapeutic rehabilitation. Plasma beta-EP was evaluated by RIA previous beta-lipotropin stripping and Sep-Pack cartridge methanol extraction. Plasma beta-EP levels significantly decreased during water immersion from a value of 12.71 +/- 2.04 pmol/l to 7.46 +/- 1.09 pmol/l at 15 min (P less than 0.05) and to 6.08 +/- 1.87 pmol/l at 30 min (P less than 0.01). Thirty min after the end of immersion, plasma beta-EP levels showed a slight increase to 6.98 +/- 1.88 pmol/l but were still significantly below the basal level (P less than 0.05). These results are consistent with the previously demonstrated decrease of ACTH and prolactin and the increase of plasma dopamine and decrease of norepinephrine, suggesting that thermoneutral head-out water immersion is not a stressful condition in healthy subjects. Further studies are necessary in order to clarify the mechanism involved in beta-EP decrease in normal subjects during thermoneutral head-out water immersion.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1986

Opioid modulation of normal and pathological human chromaffin tissue.

To evaluate whether opioid receptor blockade might modulate sympathetic-adrenal activity, we studied the effects of placebo or naloxone administration on plasma catecholamine (CA) levels in a group of 13 normal subjects and 15 hypertensive patients suspected to have a pheochromocytoma. Diagnostic evaluation confirmed the presence of pheochromocytoma in 9 patients. Among these, 4 had a unilateral epinephrine (E)-secreting tumor, 3 had bilateral E-secreting tumors due to multiple endocrine adenomatosis type IIa, and 2 had a unilateral norepinephrine (NE)-secreting tumor. In each subject studied, CA secretion was evaluated by calculating the area (0-30 min) under the plasma hormone curves after placebo or naloxone administration. In normal subjects naloxone caused a significant increase (P less than 0.005) of E secretion, whereas NE did not change. Similarly, in the group of hypertensive patients, E secretion increased after naloxone (P less than 0.01). In pheochromocytoma patients naloxone caused a significant increase in E (P less than 0.05) and NE (P less than 0.01) secretion from E-producing tumors but no increase in the patients with NE-secreting pheochromocytomas. The study suggests that CA secretion from normal and pathological chromaffin tissue is modulated by endogenous opioids; this modulation seems particularly evident in patients with E-secreting pheochromocytoma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Hypernociceptive syndromes and pharmacological inhibition of endogenous opioid degradation.

Endogenous opioid peptides, by modulating the release of sympathetic transmitters, may play a role in the pathogenesis of migraine and related headaches which are considered hypernociceptive syndromes. Hypoendorphinaemia has been demonstrated in migraine attack. Captopril, a drug able to potentiate morphine analgesia in rats and inhibit enkephalinase in animals and in man, improves the clinical course of migraine. In the present research the cerebrospinal fluid and plasma beta-endorphin (beta-EP) levels have been evaluated following a single oral dose of captopril. The drug increased plasma beta-EP levels in migraine sufferers, and these data may be relevant in the mechanism of action of this drug in migraine and related headaches.

Captopril↗
PubMed1986

Met-enkephalin-like immunoreactivity (MELI) and enkephalinase activity (EKA) in cord blood and newborns in the first hours of life.

Recently, the presence and the concomitant release with catecholamines of metenkephalin and other pro-enkephalin A deriving peptides have been demonstrated in the adrenal medulla of various mammals and man. As high amounts of catecholamines are released in the newborn at delivery, probably following the stress of parturition, a similar release of met-enkephalin and other pro-enkephalin A deriving peptides from the newborn chromaffin tissue may be hypothesized. In the present study we investigate the occurrence of met-enkephalin-like immunoreactivity and enkephalinase (quite a specific enkephalin degrading enzyme) in cord and newborn plasma at different hours after birth. Our results show the presence of high met-enkephalin-like immunoreactivity levels in cord and newborn plasma with respect to normal adult values. On the contrary, cord blood enkephalinase activity was lower than in adult subjects and further decreased during the first hours of life. A positive correlation was found between the two parameters. These data seem to indicate a release of met-enkephalin-like peptides from the newborns' sympathoadrenal tissue following the stress of delivery and in the first hours of life.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMed1986

Measurement of transferrin in human seminal plasma by a chemiluminescent method.

We describe a luminescence immunoassay for measuring transferrin in human seminal plasma. Human transferrin conjugated with 7-[(N-4-aminobutyl)-N-ethylamino]naphthalene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid hydrazide was used to monitor the immunological reaction. The conjugate was stable for at least one year. The sensitivity (2 ng per tube) of the assay allows measurement of this protein in diluted seminal plasma. Results by this method (y) correlated well (r = .9681) with those by a conventional RIA method (x): y = 1.000x + 1.646 micrograms per ejaculate. Seminal transferrin concentrations are reported for normal control subjects, vasectomized subjects, and infertile patients. The method described appears suitable for measurement of seminal transferrin as an index of Sertoli cell function in male infertility.

Humans↗
PubMed1982

Intermittent hypoendorphinaemia in migraine attack.

Beta-endorphin (RIA method, previous chromatographic extraction) was evaluated in plasma of migraine sufferers in free periods and during attacks. Decreased levels of the endogenous opioid peptide were found in plasma sampled during the attacks but not in free periods. Even chronic headache sufferers exhibited significantly lowered levels of beta-endorphin, when compared with control subjects with a negative personal and family history of head pains. The mechanism of the hypoendorphinaemia is unknown: lowered levels of the neuropeptide, which controls nociception, vegetative functions and hedonia, could be important in a syndrome such as migraine, characterized by pain, dysautonomia and anhedonia. The impairment of monoaminergic synapses ("empty neuron" condition) constantly present in sufferers from serious headaches, could be due to the fact that opioid neuropeptides, because of a receptoral or metabolic impairment, poorly modulate the respective monoaminergic neurons, resulting in imbalance of synaptic neurotransmission.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

[Toxic occupational liver diseases. Therapeutic effects of silymarin].

We considered two groups, one of 35 and the other of 20 patients, with occupational toxic hepatopathy caused by various toxic substances (mostly solvents, paints and glues). The patients were mostly suffering from chronic or subacute forms. We considered the work conditions in the anamnesis, the period of exposure and most important laboratory parameters of hepatic function checked before and after treatment with Silymarin (420 mg/die/os) for the first group and with "placebo" for the second group. Five patients of the first group were diagnosed by biopsy. The treatment with Silymarin has shown slight variations in some parameters. The therapeutic effect is probably not dependent upon the kind of pathogen noxa; it seems instead to be more evident when the exposure period is shorter. The group "placebo" does not show significant variations.

Adhesives↗