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Biomedical subjects

F Ferrante

Publications and source records attributed to F Ferrante.

102 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Age-related changes of the noradrenergic innervation of the uterine vasculature: a fluorescence histochemical study.

Age-related changes in the density of the noradrenergic perivascular plexus supplying the uterine artery and its intrauterine branches were studied in rats 4, 12 and 24 months old using the glyoxylic acid fluorescence technique. Moreover, uterine noradrenaline levels were determined by means of high pressure liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. No changes in the density of noradrenergic innervation or in uterine noradrenaline levels were noticeable in 12 month in comparison with 4 month rats. In contrast, a significant decrease in the density of the noradrenergic perivascular plexus of uterine artery and of its intrauterine branches as well as decrease in noradrenaline concentrations of uterine horns and cervix were observed in 24 month rats. The above findings indicate an age-related impairment of uterine noradrenergic innervation.

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Age-related changes in substance P and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide immunoreactivity in the rat stomach and small intestine.

Immunoreactivity for substance P (SP-LI) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP-LI) in the stomach, duodenum, jejunum and ileum of young (3-month-old), adult (12-month-old) and old (28-month-old) male Wistar rats were determined by radioimmunoassay. SP-LI and VIP-LI did not show changes in the stomach or in the small intestine portions investigated in adult in comparison with young rats. In old rats SP-LI levels were unchanged in the stomach and in the duodenum, reduced in the jejunum and increased in the ileum. VIP-LI concentrations were unchanged in the stomach, and remarkably reduced in the duodenum, jejunum and ileum of old rats. Since the two neuropeptides investigated are localized primarily within different intrinsic gastrointestinal neurons, the present findings suggest that the various populations of gastrointestinal neurons are affected in a different manner during aging.

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The noradrenergic innervation of spinal cord blood vessels in old rats.

The density and pattern of the sympathetic noradrenergic innervation of the extramedullary and intramedullary blood vessels of the spinal cord was studied in 3-, 12- and 25-month-old male Wistar rats using combined catecholamine histofluorescence and quantitative image analysis techniques. The study of innervation of intramedullary vessels was accomplished in spinal cord-transected rats to avoid the interference of descending spinal monoamine fibres in the observations. No age-related changes in the density of noradrenergic innervation of the anterior spinal artery or of sympathetic fibres associated with spinal cord blood vessels occurred. These results suggest that unlike perivascular noradrenergic nerves supplying the cerebrovascular tree, the sympathetic innervation of spinal cord blood vessels does not undergo age-dependent changes. It cannot be excluded that the lesser vulnerability of the spinal compared to the cerebral vascular tree to certain kinds of age-related diseases, may depend on the unchanged sympathetic trophic regulation of spinal vessels with age.

Adrenergic Fibers↗
PubMedDate not supplied

3H-muscimol binding sites within the rat choroid plexus: pharmacological characterization and autoradiographic localization.

By using combined radioreceptor binding and autoradiographic techniques, we were able to localize the GABA 'A' receptor agonist 3H-muscimol in the rat choroid plexus. Within sections of rat choroid plexus, 3H-muscimol was bound specifically with a KD of 37 nM and a Bmax of 253 pmol/mg tissue. These values are consistent with the labelling of GABA 'A' receptor sites. The autoradiographic studies demonstrated that 3H-muscimol was attached to the epithelium of the choroid plexus. The blood vessels of the plexus did not exhibit specific labelling. Examination of these data suggests the existence of GABAergic mechanisms which control cerebrospinal fluid production or flow.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Evidence against the existence of GABA-B receptor sites in rat cerebrovascular tree.

By the use of combined radioreceptor binding and autoradiographic techniques we attempted to analyse the biochemical characteristics and the anatomical localization of GABA-B receptors in sections of rat circle of Willis and pialarachnoid arteries. 3H-GABA in the presence of 40 microM isoguvacine and 2.5 mM CaCl2 was used to label GABA-B receptor sites. Sections of rat cerebellar cortex were also processed as a reference tissue. No specific 3H-GABA binding was detectable either in radioreceptor binding or autoradiographic experiments. In contrast, the ligand was bound to sections of cerebellar cortex in a manner consistent with the labelling of GABA-B receptor sites. These findings indicate that cerebrovascular physiological responses to GABA are not linked, in the rat cerebrovascular tree, to the activation of GABA-B receptors.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Phyto-oestrogens in the prophylaxis of menstrual migraine.

BACKGROUND: Falling levels of estrogen is the major provocative factor in migraine associated with menstruation. OBJECTIVE: We assessed the efficacy of the combination of two phyto-oestrogens, as perimenstrual, prophylactic treatment of menstrual migraine and tested their effect on cerebral haemodynamic. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Women with a history of menstrual migraine (i.e., attacks occurring exclusively on day 1+/-2 days of menstruation and at no other time of the cycle) were included in the study. Eleven women fulfilling the inclusion criteria underwent to a 3-month cyclic treatment with 56 mg of genisteine and 20 mg of diadzeine per day. Transcranial doppler evaluation (TCD) was performed at baseline and after treatment. RESULTS: Among the ten women who completed the study the average number of days with migraine during the baseline period decreased significantly after 3 months of therapy (P < 0.005). There were no major side-effects. Therapy did not affect cerebral blood flow velocities. CONCLUSIONS: Phyto-oestrogens appear to be an effective treatment in menstrual migraine prophylaxis. This effect seems to be unrelated to cerebral hemodynamic. Placebo-controlled trials on larger number of patients are necessary to confirm our findings.

Adult↗
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[Late post-traumatic diaphragmatic hernia: unusual cause of colonic occlusion].

Traumatic diaphragmatic rupture is not an uncommon problem, particularly in the last few years because of the increasing number of road accidents, improved diagnostic techniques and resuscitation techniques after serious traumas. In a certain number of cases, post-traumatic diaphragmatic hernias may become clinically manifest only months or years after thoracic or abdominal trauma and are still a challenge to surgeons because of the vague clinical symptoms and the diagnostic difficulties involved. The Authors report a case of acute colon occlusion due to diaphragmatic hernia 24 months after thoraco-abdominal trauma. None of the radiological or endoscopic examinations demonstrated the presence of diaphragmatic hernia. Laparoscopy showed a diaphragmatic rupture with incarceration of the left colonic segment. The laparoscopic procedure was converted for technical reasons and the diaphragmatic defect was closed with a primary suture.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Autoradiographic localization of octylonium bromide binding sites in the rat gastrointestinal tract.

The anatomical localization of the binding sites of the spasmolytic drug octylonium bromide (OB) in the rat gastrointestinal tract was analyzed by use of light microscope autoradiography. The drug was visualized after in vitro incubation of frozen sections of the gastrointestinal tract with a 10 nM concentration of 14C-OB and after in vivo injection into the ascending, transverse, descending and sigmoidal portions of the colon. In vitro experiments demonstrated the specific accumulation of 14C-OB within the colonic and rectal smooth muscle. In contrast, no specific binding of the radiolabeled drug was noticeable in the stomach or in the small intestine. In vivo intracolonic injection of 14C-OB showed a significant accumulation of the drug in the colonic musculature 2 min after administration. The predominant localization of 14C-OB in the colonic and rectal musculature could explain its effectiveness in suppressing the amplitude and frequency of colonic contractions and in controlling the irritable bowel syndrome.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Autoradiographic localization of the dopaminergic agonist 3H-dihydroergotoxine within the male reproductive system.

By the use of combined radioreceptor binding and autoradiographic techniques, we analyzed the anatomical localization of the dopaminergic agonist 3H-dihydroergotoxine in tissue sections of rat male sex organs. The drug was bound by smooth muscle cells of the deferent duct, seminal vesicles and prostate gland as well as by the glandular tissue of seminal vesicles and prostate gland. These data allow us to hypothesize that the effect of dopaminergic agonists on male sexual function may be due, at least in part, to a direct interaction with dopamine receptors present in the reproductive organs.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

New trends in the diagnosis and therapy of acute cholangitis.

For a long time, acute cholangitis has been a difficult therapeutic problem, mostly due to the limited information about the jaundiced patient available from diagnostic investigations. The diagnostic precision of percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography in association with the great therapeutic possibilities of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage has solved this problem. The successful results obtained in 37 patients with acute cholangitis prove the value of this approach.

Cholangiography↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The prediction of academic success/failure in a school for professional nurses].

Before being admitted to nursing schools students are very often exposed to selection tests. Use and predictivity of tests is widely debated in the literature with an overall agreement on their usefulness. Some data on the predictivity of the tests are presented, based on the final results of first year nursing students. The selection consisted of five written and one oral test (educational and previous professional qualifications were also considered). Students who performed well on oral and general information written tests reported good results on first year final examinations.

Achievement↗