Biomedical subjects

F Nobili

Publications and source records attributed to F Nobili.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2001

Brain perfusion spect in juvenile neuro-Behçet's disease.

UNLABELLED: Regional cerebral blood flow was evaluated by (99m)Tc-hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime SPECT in 7 patients (age range, 7--18 y; mean age, 9.1 y) affected with Behçet's disease and signs or symptoms of central nervous system involvement at different times of their clinical history. METHODS: Three patients suffered from seizures, 3 patients were affected with severe persistent headache that was refractory to common analgesic and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, and 1 patient had recurrent episodes of acute intracranial hypertension. Electroencephalography was performed on all patients, MRI on 5 patients, and CT on 1 patient. Brain SPECT was performed using a high-resolution, brain-dedicated camera. After conventional visual analysis by 2 expert readers, 2 transaxial sections were drawn parallel to the bicommissural line: the first across the thalami and the second across the temporal lobe at the level of the mesiotemporal structures. Cortical regions of interest were drawn automatically on the cortical ribbon on the 2 sections, whereas other regions of interest were drawn by hand around the basal ganglia, the thalami, and the mesiotemporal structures. Asymmetry analysis was then applied, and hypoperfusion was considered when the asymmetry value was >10%. RESULTS: Hypoperfusion was observed in all patients by visual and asymmetry analyses; this finding was localized mainly in the basal ganglia, the thalami, and the temporal cortex, including its mesial portion. Temporal hypoperfusion was found primarily in patients with seizures, and hypoperfusion of deep gray nuclei was found mainly in the other patients. Electroencephalography disclosed brain functional impairment in 5 of 6 patients, where- as MRI showed multiple bilateral white matter lesions in 1 patient suffering from persistent headache. CONCLUSION: As in adults, perfusion SPECT seems to be very sensitive in disclosing brain abnormalities in children and adolescents with Behçet's disease and signs or symptoms of central nervous system involvement, even with negative findings on brain MRI.

Behcet Syndrome↗

PubMed2000

Hippocampal perfusion in mild Alzheimer's disease.

Perfusion and metabolic studies in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) have so far yielded conflicting results on the functional status of the hippocampal region, whose deep location in the brain makes it critical to optimize the image-reconstruction technique employed in emission tomography. We used a brain-dedicated device (CERASPECT) to perform single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) studies with 99mTc-hexamethylpropylene-amine-oxime in 22 consecutive patients (mean age: 74+/-6.5 years) with mild [mini-mental status examination (MMSE) score > or =15, mean 20.8+/-3.2], probable AD. The control subjects were 11 healthy elderly people (mean age: 70.5+/-6.5 years). In patients, the total score on the selective reminding test (SRT) was used as an index of memory function. Counts from a hippocampal and a temporoparietal region of interest in each hemisphere were referred to the average thalamic counts. To optimize SPECT images, we used conventional filtered back-projection (FBP) reconstruction and a new iterative method of conjugate gradients (CG), which takes into account the geometrical and physical characteristics of the gamma-camera. Hippocampal perfusion in the two hemispheres was significantly lower in patients than in control subjects, regardless of which reconstruction method was used, and correlated with the MMSE score. The correlation between hippocampal perfusion and the SRT score was significantly (bootstrap procedure) higher with the CG method than with the FBP method (CG: r=0.52 and 0.54; FBP: r=0.39 and 0.47, for the right and left hemisphere, respectively). These results show hippocampal hypoperfusion in patients with mild AD, a correlation between hippocampal perfusion and the severity of cognitive impairment, and enhanced identification of these subtle perfusional changes with the use of an alternative image-reconstruction method that improves the spatial resolution of SPECT images.

Aged↗

PubMed2000

Reduction of oxidative stress and cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC) expression by red wine polyphenols in zinc deficiency induced intestinal damage of rat.

Consumption of red wine has been associated with health promotion and disease prevention. We have previously found that the intestine of zinc-deficient (ZD) rats develop oxidative damage associated with inflammation. Here we have used this model to investigate whether red wine polyphenols could protect against intestinal injury and, if so, whether this protection was achieved through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. The intestinal alterations induced by zinc deficiency such as morphological damage, increased TBA-RS level and CuZn-superoxide dismutase activity, and decreased glutathione peroxidase activity, did not develop with the administration to ZD rats of a suspension of dealcoholated red wine (RWS). The same treatment induced in control rats a decrease of TBA-RS level but also of glutathione peroxidase and catalase activity. Treatment with RWS to ZD rats prevented a marked mucosal macrophage and neutrophil infiltration. The expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor alpha and cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC), was induced by zinc deficiency, whereas that of the anti-inflammatory interleukin-10 was suppressed. Treatment with RWS reduced CINC expression. These results report a novel activity of red wine polyphenols in downregulation of intestinal CINC expression, which likely protects cells against inflammatory processes.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Dexamethasone effects on cortisol secretion in Alzheimer's disease: some clinical and hormonal features in suppressor and nonsuppressor patients.

Alterations in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA) and failure of dexamethasone (DXT) to suppress cortisol secretion occur in Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study was aimed to settle possible differences in some clinical (age, body weight, body mass index, dementia severity) and hormonal parameters in AD patients non-responders to overnight 1 mg-DXT suppression test compared with the responder subjects. ACTH, cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) day-time levels were assessed in 25 AD patients and in 12 age-matched healthy controls before DXT administration. In view of their neuroprotective effects, plasma levels of Insulin-like Growth Factor-I (IGF-I) and of IGF-Binding Proteins (IGFBPs) were also determined. After DXT, 8 AD subjects (32%) showed cortisol levels above the conventional cut-off of 140 nmol/L. No significant differences were found in clinical parameters in suppressor vs nonsuppressor patients. AD subjects showed higher cortisol, cortisol/DHEAS ratios, and lower DHEAS levels in comparison with controls. Both ACTH and cortisol levels were not different in suppressor and nonsuppressor patients, but DHEAS levels were significantly lower in nonsuppressor cases, who also exhibited ACTH and cortisol periodicities more altered than in suppressor and in control subjects. IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels were lower and those of IGFBP-1 higher in nonsuppressor than in suppressor cases and in healthy controls. IGF-I/IGFBPs system data were correlated with cognitive impairment and adrenal steroid levels in AD patients.

Aged↗

PubMed2000

Evidence of cerebral hypoperfusion in scleroderma patients.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate regional cerebral blood flow by (99m)Tc-hexamethylpropylenamineoxime (HMPAO) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in a series of 40 patients (mean age 58.5+/-11.5 yr) affected by systemic sclerosis (SSc) in comparison with age-matched healthy controls. METHODS: Subjects affected by concomitant severe pathologies that might interfere with the interpretation of the SPECT results were excluded. SPECT findings were correlated with the severity of peripheral microvascular involvement, as assessed by nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC). Whenever possible, patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain. RESULTS: Twenty-one SSc patients (52%) showed hypoperfusion in two or more regions of interest (ROIs) at the SPECT analysis. MRI was available in 14 of these patients, and was shown to be altered in eight of them (57%). One patient with both abnormal SPECT and abnormal MRI was affected by mild cognitive impairment. Transcranial Doppler sonography was normal in all but one of these patients with hypoperfusion. Nineteen patients exhibited a normal brain SPECT scan, but the MRI was shown to be altered in 3/12 of them (25%). No significant differences were found between the group of SSc patients showing hypoperfusion and those showing a normal SPECT scan regarding age, the duration of disease, the presence of vascular risk factors or damage of other organs typically involved in the disease, and the severity of peripheral microvascular involvement (NVC). CONCLUSIONS: Focal or diffuse cerebral hypoperfusion was found in more than half of the neurologically asymptomatic SSc patients studied, paralleling the incidence of altered brain MRI. The hypoperfusion was not linked to ageing and possibly reflects the cerebral location of the microangiopathic process characterizing the disease.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Hippocampal perfusion and pituitary-adrenal axis in Alzheimer's disease.

The hippocampus is involved in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and regulates the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA). Enhanced cortisol secretion has been reported in AD. Increased cortisol levels affect hippocampal neuron survival and potentiate beta-amyloid toxicity. Conversely, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate (DHEAS) are believed to antagonize noxious glucocorticoid effects and exert a neuroprotective activity. The present study was aimed at investigating possible correlations between hippocampus perfusion - evaluated by SPECT - and HPAA function in AD. Fourteen patients with AD and 12 healthy age-matched controls were studied by (99m)Tc-HMPAO high-resolution brain SPECT. Plasma adrenocorticotropin, cortisol, and DHEAS levels were determined at 2.00, 8.00, 14.00, 20.00 h in all subjects and their mean values were computed. Cortisol/DHEAS ratios (C/Dr) were also calculated. Bilateral impairment of SPECT hippocampal perfusion was observed in AD patients as compared to controls. Mean cortisol levels were significantly increased and DHEAS titers were lowered in patients with AD, as compared with controls. C/Dr was also significantly higher in patients. Using a stepwise procedure for dependent SPECT variables, the variance of hippocampal perfusional data was accounted for by mean basal DHEAS levels. Moreover, hippocampal SPECT data correlated directly with mean DHEAS levels, and inversely with C/Dr. These data show a relationship between hippocampal perfusion and HPAA function in AD. Decreased DHEAS, rather than enhanced cortisol levels, appears to be correlated with changes of hippocampal perfusion in dementia.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

PubMed2000

Morning increase of whole blood viscosity in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Patients affected by obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) have an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases such as stroke and myocardial infarction. The pathophysiological mechanisms leading to increased vascular risk are still matter of debate. A relative morning hyperviscosity could be one of the leading mechanisms of cardiovascular morbidity which is actually known to be especially high in the morning hours. METHODS: Whole blood viscosity (WBV) at seven shear rates, ranging from 0.47 to 118 sec(-1), haematocrit (Hct), and plasma fibrinogen (F) concentration, were measured on venous blood samples in 12 patients with OSAS and in 8 healthy controls at 8-9 p.m. and at 7-8 a.m. the morning after. WBV values were normalized on Hct by the computation of the standardised normal deviate z on the normal database of the laboratory. RESULTS: No changes were observed in controls. Hct, F and normalized WBV (independently from Hct changes) significantly increased in the morning hours in OSAS patients. CONCLUSIONS: Viscosity of whole blood increases in the morning in OSAS patients but not in healthy controls. This condition may be related to the increased susceptibility to cerebral ischemia in patients affected by OSAS, particularly evident in the early morning.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Intestinal damage induced by zinc deficiency is associated with enhanced CuZn superoxide dismutase activity in rats: effect of dexamethasone or thyroxine treatment.

Zinc has a wide spectrum of biological activities and its deficiency has been related to various tissue dysfunctions and alterations of normal cell metabolism. Zinc also plays an important role in the antioxidant cellular defenses being a structural element of the non-mitochondrial form of the enzyme superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD). We have already reported that Zn deficiency induces severe alterations in the rat intestine, that are reverted by treatment with dexamethasone (Dex) or thyroxine (T4). Here we report a paradoxical increase of CuZnSOD activity in rat intestine after 20 and 40 days of zinc deficiency. The increase of CuZnSOD activity is not due to an upregulation of gene expression because both Northern and Western blot analysis indicate that CuZnSOD mRNA and protein levels are not affected by zinc deficiency. A significant increase of lipid peroxidation was also observed in duodenum and jejunum associated with zinc deficiency. Treatment with either Dex or T4 to zinc-deficient rats protects against intestinal oxidative damage and results in SOD activity similar to control rats. Because glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities decreased in zinc deficiency, we speculate that the increase in SOD activity may be associated with an accumulation of hydrogen peroxide that may activate inflammatory molecules, further worsening tissue damage.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

EEG spectral profile to stage Alzheimer's disease.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was undertaken to investigate whether a synoptic parameter of quantitative EEG (qEEG), such as the power spectral profile, may be used as a simple marker to stage Alzheimer's disease (AD) in the clinical setting. METHODS: To this purpose, the qEEG spectral profile was examined in 48 patients (mean age: 73 years) with probable (NINCDS-ADRDA criteria) AD, who were divided into 4 groups, according to the Global Deterioration Scale (GDS; score: 3-6). The spectral profile of each patient was expressed by the relative power of seven frequency bands (2-3.5, 4-5.5, 6-7.5, 8-9.5, 10-11.5, 12-13.5, 14-22.5 Hz). Mean values in each of the four GDS groups as well as in a control group of 18 healthy elderly subjects underwent multivariate analysis of variance. RESULTS: A normally shaped but shifted-to-the left spectral profile was found in GDS 3 group, whereas a reduced background rhythm with various increase in slow activity power characterized both GDS 4 and 5 groups. Finally, an 'exponential asymptotic' profile with the highest power in the lowest frequencies was the hallmark of GDS 6 group. Overall, the 4-5.5 Hz and the 10-11.5 Hz band powers showed the highest statistical significance in differentiating the patient groups between one another and from controls (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: These data show that spectral profile is a very simple parameter which can be used to stage the disease on a pathophysiological basis.

Aged↗

PubMed1999

Bifidobacterium animalis protects intestine from damage induced by zinc deficiency in rats.

We investigated the potential beneficial effects of Bifidobacterium animalis on intestinal damage using zinc-deficient (ZD) rats as a model for intestinal alterations. The ZD rats were fed diets containing 1 mg Zn/kg for 20 (ZD(20)) or 40 (ZD(40)) d to induce damage that differed in severity. Subgroups of these rats, the ZD(20) + B and ZD(40) + B groups, received a suspension of B. animalis (3.5 x 10(8) colony forming units) daily for the last 10 d. Another subgroup, the ZD(40) + B + 7 d group, was fed the ZD diet for 7 d after the B. animalis treatment period. Zinc deficiency induced ulcerations, edema, inflammatory cell infiltration and dilatation of blood vessels in duodenum, jejunum and ileum, with increasing severity between 20 and 40 d of zinc deficiency. The mucosa of the ZD(20) + B group was well preserved, and most of the morphologic alterations induced by zinc deficiency were normalized in the ZD(40) + B group. The high fecal concentrations of B. animalis in the ZD(40) + B and ZD(40) + B + 7 d groups indicate that these bifidobacteria survived passage through the gastrointestinal tract and proliferated. Electron microscopy confirmed the elevated numbers of bifidobacteria in cecum. Treatment with B. animalis resulted in greater epithelial cell proliferation and disaccharidase activities in the ZD(40) + B group compared with the ZD(40) group. These findings indicate that B. animalis can protect the intestine from alterations induced by zinc deficiency, suggesting that this bacterium may play a role in intestinal mucosal defense.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Timing of disease progression by quantitative EEG in Alzheimer' s patients.

This prospective study was planned to assess whether quantitative EEG (qEEG) can give an estimate of the timing of achievement of three endpoints (loss of activities of daily living, incontinence, and death) in 72 consecutive patients (53 females, 19 males; mean age, 70.8) affected with probable Alzheimer's disease, as defined according to the NINCDS-ADRDA criteria. Power-weighted, log-transformed relative values of the four conventional EEG bands were considered in a central-posterior temporal region for each hemisphere. The hypothesis was tested by the lifereg procedure of the Statistical Analysis System package (first significance level accepted, P < or = 0.01). Because patients were in different stages of the disease, the statistical analysis was performed in the entire group as well as in the subgroup of 41 patients (mean age, 69.6) with mild dementia (scoring 3 or 4 on the global deterioration scale). In the whole group, the loss of activities of daily living was predicted by delta power in either side (P = 0.01), incontinence was predicted by alpha power in the right side (P < 0.01), whereas the statistical significance was not reached for death (P < 0.05). In the subgroup of mild demented patients, the loss of activities of daily living was predicted by delta power in the left side (P = 0.01), incontinence by both delta (P < 0.01) and alpha (P < 0.001) power in the right side, and death was not significantly predicted (P = 0.08). Quantitative EEG is a low-cost, discomfort-free technique which may be used to obtain information on the timing of disease evolution. The results showed in mild Alzheimer's disease appear especially interesting to attempt a prediction of the future time course of the disease from its beginning.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed1999

Cloning, expression, and vesicular localization of zinc transporter Dri 27/ZnT4 in intestinal tissue and cells.

We have identified the Dri 27 cDNA on the basis of its upregulated expression during rat intestinal development. It encodes a hydrophobic protein of 430 amino acids that shares significant homology with members of the mammalian zinc transporter family ZnT. The murine homologue of Dri 27 (named ZnT4) was recently associated with the mouse mutation "lethal milk." The primary sequence of Dri 27/ZnT4 displays features characteristic of polytopic membrane proteins. In this paper, we show that Dri 27/ZnT4 is localized in the membrane of intracellular vesicles, the majority of which concentrate in the basal cytoplasmic region of polarized enterocytes. A Dri 27/ZnT4 myc-tagged construct, transiently transfected in intestinal Caco-2 cells, partially colocalizes with the transferrin receptor and with the beta-subunits of the clathrin adaptor complexes AP-1 and AP-2 in a subpopulation of endosomal vesicles. By subcloning distinct portions of the protein in frame with glutathione-S-transferase, we also provide experimental evidence of their function as zinc-binding and protein-protein-interaction domains.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1999

99mTc-HMPAO regional cerebral blood flow and quantitative electroencephalography in Alzheimer's disease: a correlative study.

UNLABELLED: In this study the neuropsychological status of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) was correlated with quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) both in the cortex and in deep gray matter structures. METHODS: Forty-three outpatients (mean age 72.4 +/- 7.5 y) with probable AD underwent 99mTc-hexamethyl propyleneamine oxime SPECT with a brain-dedicated gamma camera and qEEG (relative values) within 1 mo. Preliminary factorial analysis with promax rotation identified four qEEG bands (2-5.5, 6-7.5, 8-11.5 and 12-22.5 Hz, with no distinction as to topography) and six SPECT regions (the two thalami together, the two parietal cortices together, the right temporal cortex, the right hippocampus, the left hippocampus and the remaining cortical areas together) as the variables with highest statistical power. All these variables and the Mini-Mental Status Examination score (MMSE, a sensitive marker of neuropsychological deficit) were processed by a final factorial analysis and multivariate analysis of variance. RESULTS: Both the 2-5.5 Hz and the 8-11.5 Hz powers were correlated with the perfusion level in the parietal regions of interest (ROls) (P = 0.0009), whereas the 2-5.5 Hz power was correlated with the right hippocampal perfusion level (P = 0.007). The MMSE score was significantly correlated with the perfusion level, both in the right (P = 0.006) and in the left (P = 0.004) hippocampal ROls and in the parietal ROls (P = 0.01); moreover, it was correlated with both the 2-5.5 Hz (P = 0.0005) and the 8-11.5 Hz (P = 0.004) power. CONCLUSION: rCBF (bilateral parietal perfusion) and qEEG (especially the slowest frequencies, i.e., 2-5.5 Hz) are confirmed to be good descriptors of AD severity. It is especially noteworthy that bilateral hippocampal CBF was the perfusional index best correlated with the MMSE as well as being significantly correlated to qEEG. Hippocampal SPECT imaging appears to be a promising index to improve characterization of AD in respect to other forms of primary degenerative dementia and may be proposed as a marker for evaluating the effects of pharmacotherapy of AD at the neuronal level.

Aged↗

PubMed1999

Detection of viral and bacterial infections in women with normal and abnormal colposcopy.

Signs and symptoms of sexually-transmitted diseases (STD) do not allow any etiological diagnosis in women. Colposcopic findings are seldom pathognomic. Consequently, the microbiology laboratory with the recent availability of molecular diagnostic tools is required to detect the infectious bacterial and/or viral agents involved in STD. In cervical samples of women submitted to gynaecological screening for past or present signs and symptoms of inflammation and with different colposcopic findings, we searched by molecular approaches Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium, herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2, adenovirus and 45 genotypes of papillomaviruses and, by cultural methods Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum. Colposcopy permitted us to divide the studied population into three groups: 48 women had negative colposcopic findings, 50 presented signs of flogosis and 100 resulted positive for an abnormal transformation zone (ANTZ) and/or for HPV colposcopic findings. Results obtained by microbiological assays indicated that the prevalence of infectious agents did not always correlate with colposcopy. Double and triple infections were found in groups 2 and 3, with mycoplasmas being the most common microrganisms present in association and quite almost copresent with papillomaviruses.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Long-term effects of boxing and judo-choking techniques on brain function.

Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was measured by 133-xenon inhalation in 24 amateur and 20 professional boxers, and in 10 judoka. Results were compared with those from age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Eighteen boxers (9 amateurs and 9 professionals) and all judoka also underwent electroencephalography (EEG). Mean rCBF values did not differ between either amateur boxers orjudoka and controls, whereas in professional boxers rCBF was significantly (p<.001) reduced in the whole brain, especially in the frontocentral regions. Healthy subjects, judoka, and amateur boxers showed a similar distribution of global CBF (gCBF, the mean of 32 probes) values, although 12.5% of amateurs had a significantly lower gCBF than controls. Among professional boxers, 25% showed a significantly low gCBF value; in the remaining 75%, gCBF was below the mean value of controls but did not reach statistical significance. Regional hypoperfusion, mainly in the frontocentral regions of both sides, was found in 35% of professional and in 29% of amateur boxers. A correlation between gCBF values and number of official matches was not found in boxers. EEG was normal in all judoka and amateur boxers, but it was abnormal in 3 professionals. This study shows the relevance of the neurophysiological assessment of athletes engaged in violent sports which can cause brain impairment. In fact, while professional boxers may show brain functional impairment in comparison to normal subjects, judoka do not. The lack of correlation between CBF values in boxers and the number of official matches points to the difficulty of taking into account variables, such as the number and the severity of matches during training.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Feasibility in the clinical setting of perfusion brain SPECT imaging employing a brain-dedicated gamma camera and the conjugate gradients with modified matrix reconstruction method.

In the present study, we compared Tc-99m HMPAO single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) brain images obtained using the conventional filtered backprojection (FBP) reconstruction method with the new reconstruction method of conjugate gradients with modified matrix (CGMM). The two methods were employed to generate SPECT images of a brain perfusion study in a 41-year-old patient who had suffered from multiple embolisation of the right hemisphere. Marked improvement in spatial resolution was achieved by CGMM reconstruction as compared to FBP reconstruction; this considerably helped in defining grey matter structures and low-uptake white-matter areas, both in the normal cerebral areas and in the hemisphere that had been affected by stroke. Although the relatively long time still required by the CGMM procedure might be considered as a significant drawback to date, with the increasing diffusion of the new computer facilities the CGMM method can be proposed as a valuable alternative to the standard FBP technique in order to better recognise cerebral areas with different tracer uptake.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Involvement of interleukin-1beta in zinc deficiency-induced intestinal damage and beneficial effect of cyclosporine A.

In a previous study we have shown that zinc deficiency caused several alterations in intestine of rats. Here we report that interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) is involved in the zinc deficiency-induced mucosal damage and that cyclosporine A (CsA) protects the intestine against both structural and functional alterations by different mechanisms. The zinc deficient (ZD) rats were maintained on a zinc deficient diet for 40 days. They received a daily injection of CsA (12 mg/kg) for the last 10 days. The histological analysis of small intestine revealed that the dramatic alterations induced by zinc deficiency (ulcerations, inflammation, edema, vasodilatation), were not present after CsA treatment. The IL-1beta gene expression, analyzed by PCR, was increased in the three intestinal regions of ZD rats, as compared to C rats. There was a relation between increasing IL-1beta expression and increased severity of damage, and the highest cytokine elevation was in the most damaged region, i.e. the jejunum. After CsA administration the IL-1beta mRNA was similar to control rats. The intestinal cell proliferation, measured as crypt cell production rate and labelling index, as well the cell renewal, measured as cell migration rate and turnover time, were affected by zinc deficiency. After CsA treatment, all these variables were similar to control rats, suggesting that CsA induces a stimulation of intestinal cell proliferation in zinc deficiency. Finally, the decrease in the disaccharidase activities induced by zinc deficiency was abrogated by CsA treatment.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

[Constipation and chronic intestinal pseudoobstruction as a clinical expression of intestinal neuronal dysplasia (IND)].

BACKGROUND: Intestinal neuronal dysplasia (IND) belongs to the group of dysganglionosis. It may occur as part of a syndrome of early chronic constipation, neonatal intestinal occlusion, chronic intestinal pseudo obstruction. The aim of this study was to report the cases examined by the Istituto G. Gaslini in Genoa and to discuss the numerous aspects of this disease which are still unclear. METHODS: 787 children were included in the study and underwent biopsy between 1984 and 1997. Rectal biopsies were obtained by suction or in some cases during surgery and were treated using enzymohistochemical techniques, such as acetylcholinesterase, rapid acetylcholinesterase and alpha-naphthylesterase. RESULTS: 574 children were found to be suffering from innervative alterations: 348 (60.6%) presented isolated Hirschsprung's disease, IND was found in 83 (14.5%), in 8 of the latter in association with other dysganglionosis. IND was accompanied by other diseases in 40 cases (48.2%). Over the past three years (since October 1994) a total of 164 dysganglionosis have been diagnosed, including 55 cases of aganglia. During this period IND was the most frequently observed alteration and affected 61 children. CONCLUSIONS: Rectal biopsy is the essential diagnostic test for the diagnosis of intestinal dysganglionosis. Biopsies are performed in outpatient clinics without sedation, and do not represent an invasive procedure for the young patients. Radiological and manometric examinations cannot provide reliable data for the diagnosis of IND. In our experience, the incidence of IND over the past few years has increased and its diagnosis is essential for correct treatment which is not surgical in the majority of cases. The real incidence of IND and its pathogenesis still need to be clarified.

English Abstract↗