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Biomedical subjects

F Orlando

Publications and source records attributed to F Orlando.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Imiquimod and S-27609 as adjuvants of DNA vaccination in a transgenic murine model of HER2/neu-positive mammary carcinoma.

DNA vaccination against HER-2/neu is an effective way to induce an immune response able to oppose the spontaneous development of mammary tumours occurring in HER-2/neu transgenic mice. In this study, we have evaluated the potential of Imiquimod and the analogue S-27609 as adjuvants of DNA vaccination against HER-2/neu in transgenic mice. The association of a DNA vaccine encoding a portion of rat HER2/neu with either Imiquimod or S-27609 was found to delay the development of spontaneous mammary tumours and to reduce their incidence, in comparison with DNA vaccination alone. Almost 80 or 40% of tumour-free mice were found at the end of measurement time in mice vaccinated and supplemented with Imiquimod or S-27609, respectively. The antitumour preventive effect was associated with increased antibody and cell-mediated immune responsiveness against HER-2/neu. In mice vaccinated and supplemented with Imiquimod, a small but significant increase of rat p185neu-specific cytotoxicity and of IFN-gamma and IL-2-producing CD8T cells, together with a reduction of IL-4-producing CD4T cells, and a switch from an IgG1 towards a IgG2a phenotype of anti-p185neu antibodies, suggested a TH1 polarization of the immune response. The immunoregulatory efficacy of S-27609 was lower than that observed for Imiquimod. These data highlight the potential of Imiquimod, and, to a lower extent, of S-27609, as immunological adjuvants of therapeutic DNA vaccines.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed2004

RNAIII-inhibiting peptide and/or nisin inhibit experimental vascular graft infection with methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of RNAIII-inhibiting peptide (RIP) and nisin as prophylactic agents in a rat model of vascular graft infection. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, controlled animal study. MATERIALS: Two hundred and twenty adult male Wistar rats. Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12228 and one clinical isolate of methicillin-resistant S. epidermidis. Drugs: RIP, nisin and rifampin. METHODS: Graft infections were established in the dorsal subcutaneous tissue by implantation of 1 cm(2) sterile Dacron grafts, followed by topical bacterial inoculation: grafts were retrieved at 7 days. The study included a control group (without inoculation) and two series composed of five groups for each staphylococcal strain: one contaminated group that did not receive any antibiotic prophylaxis, three contaminated groups that received grafts soaked with 10 mg/l RIP, 10 mg/l nisin, 10 mg/l rifampin, or RIP+nisin. The main outcome measure was the extent of bacterial at graft harvest. RESULTS: The bacterial counts for methicillin-resistant S. epidermidis on explanted grafts were 6.1+/-2.8x10(2), 7.8+/-3.0x10(3) and 5.5+/-2.9x10(4) for RIP, nisin and rifampin, respectively. RIP and nisin used in combination reduced the bacterial count to <10. The results for S. epidermidis were similar. CONCLUSIONS: RIP and nisin could be used in combination to coat medical devices to prevent drug resistant S. epidermidis infections.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Administration of protegrin peptide IB-367 to prevent endotoxin induced mortality in bile duct ligated rats.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative morbidity in patients with obstructive jaundice remains high because of increased susceptibility to endotoxin and the inflammatory cascade. AIMS: An experimental study was designed to investigate the efficacy of protegrin peptide IB-367, an antimicrobial positively charged peptide, in neutralising Escherichia coli 0111:B4 lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in bile duct ligated rats. METHODS: Adult male Wistar rats were injected intraperitoneally with 2 mg/kg E coli 0111:B4 LPS one week after sham operation or bile duct ligation (BDL). Six groups were studied: sham with placebo, sham with 120 mg/kg tazobactam-piperacillin (TZP), sham with 1 mg/kg IB-367, BDL with placebo, BDL with 120 mg/kg TZP, and BDL with 1 mg/kg IB-367. RESULTS: Main outcome measures were: endotoxin and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) concentrations in plasma, evidence of bacterial translocation in blood and peritoneum, and lethality. After LPS, TNF-alpha plasma levels were significantly higher in BDL rats compared with sham operated animals. IB-367 caused a significant reduction in plasma endotoxin and TNF-alpha concentrations compared with placebo and TZP treated groups. In contrast, both TZP and IB-367 significantly reduced bacterial growth compared with saline treatment. Finally, LPS induced 60% and 55% lethality in BDL placebo and TZP treated rats and no lethality in sham operated rats, while only IB-367 significantly reduced lethality to 10%. CONCLUSIONS: By virtue of its dual antimicrobial and antiendotoxin properties, IB-367 could be an interesting compound to inhibit bacterial translocation and endotoxin release in obstructive jaundice.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Antiendotoxin activity of antimicrobial peptides and glycopeptides.

An animal study was performed to investigate the efficacy of two glycopeptides and two cationic peptides in the prevention of lethality in a septic shock rat model. Adult Wistar rats were given an intraperitoneal injection of 2x10(10) CFU of Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, with the exception of an uninfected control group (C0). Animals were randomized to receive, immediately after bacterial challenge, intraperitoneally isotonic sodium chloride solution (control group C1), 3 mg/Kg teicoplanin (group 1), 7 mg/Kg vancomycin (group 2), 1 mg/Kg colistin (group 3), 1 mg/Kg buforin II (group 4), or 60 mg/Kg piperacillin (group C(PIP)). In addition, four groups (1a, 2a, 3a, and 4a) received the above mentioned drugs in combination with piperacillin. All compounds and combinations significantly reduced the lethality and the number of E. coli in abdominal fluid compared with C1 group, with the exception of the glycopeptides. Colistin and buforin II combined with piperacillin significantly decreased the lethality compared with piperacillin alone. Finally, colistin, buforin II, and teicoplanin significantly reduced plasma endotoxin concentration in comparison with piperacillin and saline treatment. Antimicrobial peptides and teicoplanin act as antiendotoxin agents and enhance the efficacy of piperacillin.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Quinupristin/dalfopristin bonding in combination with intraperitoneal antibiotics prevent infection of knitted polyester graft material in a subcutaneous rat pouch model infected with resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis.

OBJECTIVE: to investigate the efficacy of quinupristin/dalfopristin in the prevention of prosthetic graft infection in a rat subcutaneous pouch model. METHODS: graft infections were established in the subcutaneous tissue of 140 male Wistar rats by implantation of Dacron prostheses followed by topical inoculation with Staphylococcus epidermidis with intermediate resistance to glycopeptides. The study included one group without contamination, one contaminated group without prophylaxis, one contaminated group that received 50mg/l quinupristin/dalfopristin-soaked graft, one contaminated group that received 10mg/kg intraperitoneal levofloxacin, one contaminated group that received 3mg/kg intraperitoneal doxycycline, and two contaminated groups that received 50mg/l quinupristin/dalfopristin-soaked plus 10mg/kg intraperitoneal levofloxacin or 3mg/kg intraperitoneal doxycycline. Each group included 20 animals. The grafts were removed after 7 days and evaluated by quantitative culture. RESULTS: quinupristin/dalfopristin showed a significantly higher efficacy than levofloxacin and doxycycline, even though quantitative graft cultures for rats that received only quinupristin/dalfopristin-soaked graft showed bacterial growth. Otherwise, the efficacy of levofloxacin was similar to that of doxycycline. Only the group treated with quinupristin/dalfopristin combined with levofloxacin or doxycycline showed no evidence of staphylococcal infection. CONCLUSIONS: quinupristin/dalfopristin as adjunctive topical antibiotic prophylaxis can be useful for the prevention of vascular graft infections caused by staphylococcal strains with high levels of resistance.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Prophylaxis against Staphylococcus aureus vascular graft infection with mupirocin-soaked, collagen-sealed dacron.

A rat model was used to investigate the efficacy of mupirocin in the prevention of vascular prosthetic graft infections. The effect of mupirocin-soaked Dacron was compared with the effect of rifampin-soaked, collagen-sealed Dacron in the rat model of graft infection caused by methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus. Graft infections were established in the back subcutaneous tissue of 195 adult male Wistar rats by implantation of 1-cm(2) Dacron prostheses followed by topical inoculation with 5 x 10(7) colony-forming units of S. aureus. The study included a control group (no graft contamination), two contaminated groups that did not receive any antibiotic prophylaxis, two contaminated groups in which perioperative intraperitoneal amoxicillin clavulanate prophylaxis (50 mg/kg) was administered, four contaminated groups that received mupirocin- or rifampin-soaked graft, and four contaminated groups that received mupirocin- or rifampin-soaked graft and perioperative intraperitoneal amoxicillin clavulanate prophylaxis (50 mg/kg). The grafts were sterilely removed 7 days after implantation and the infection was evaluated by using sonication and quantitative agar culture. Data analysis showed that the efficacy of mupirocin against both strains was significantly different from that of the untreated control. In addition, mupirocin was more effective than rifampin against the methicillin-resistant strain. Finally, only the combination of mupirocin and amoxicillin clavulanate produced complete suppression of growth of all strains.

Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination↗
PubMed2001

Therapeutic efficacy of the polymyxin-like peptide ranalexin in an experimental model of endotoxemia.

BACKGROUND: A rat model was used to investigate the efficacy of a polycationic peptide, the polymyxin-like ranalexin, in the prevention of lethality in a rat model of septic shock. The effect of ranalexin was compared with those of polymyxin B and imipenem. METHODS: Adult male Wistar rats (weight range: 250-300 g) were used for all the experiments. The study included five groups: an uninfected control group C(0), an untreated control group C(1), and three drug-treated groups that received 1 mg/kg ranalexin (group 2), 20 mg/kg imipenem (group 3), and 3 mg/kg polymyxin B (group 4). Rats, with the exception of the uninfected control group (C(0)), were given an intraperitoneal injection of 2 x 10(10) colony-forming units of Escherichia coli. Each group included 15 animals. Bacterial growth in abdominal exudate and plasma; endotoxin and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) concentrations in plasma, and mortality were evaluated. RESULTS: Results were evaluated 48 h after inoculation. Ranalexin, imipenem, and polymyxin B significantly reduced the lethality (survival was 93.3, 80.0, and 93.3%, respectively) and the growth of E. coli both in abdominal fluid and plasma compared with saline treatment. Ranalexin showed higher antimicrobial activity than polymyxin B and imipenem and, at the same time, exhibited an antiendotoxin activity similar to that of polymyxin B (< or =0.015 EU/mL). Finally, ranalexin and polymyxin B significantly reduced plasma TNF-alpha levels (< or =4 pg/mL). CONCLUSION: Monodose ranalexin treatment prevents bacterial growth, endotoxemia, and mortality in rats with septic shock.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

rhVEGF and experimental rat skin flaps: systemic or local administration and morphological characteristics.

Skin flap survival is a significant problem in skin surgery; in particular, inadequate arterial or venous blood supply results in necrosis of the distalmost portion. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) of modifying the morphological features of skin flaps. Bilateral epigastric skin flaps were raised in 16 Wistar male rats. The epigastric artery and vein of the left flaps were clamped and then injected with rhVEGF (8 rats) or saline (8 rats). The right flaps were not clamped and received rhVEGF or saline systemically. The rats were euthanized on the seventh day and flap skin samples collected. Tissue fragments were subject to immunohistochemical (rhVEGF, VEGFr, VIII factor, CD34 antibodies), ultrastructural and morphostructural investigations. The results showed that rhVEGF improved the condition of flaps and that systemic administration was effective in promoting the development of an adequate vascular network.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Mupirocin prophylaxis against methicillin-susceptible, methicillin-resistant, or vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus epidermidis vascular-graft infection.

A rat model was used to investigate the efficacy of mupirocin in the prevention of vascular prosthetic graft infection due to Staphylococcus epidermidis strains with different susceptibility patterns (methicillin susceptible, methicillin resistant, and with intermediate resistance to vancomycin). The effect of mupirocin-soaked Dacron was compared to that of perioperative intraperitoneal prophylaxis with vancomycin. Graft infections were established in the back subcutaneous tissue of adult male Wistar rats by implantation of Dacron prostheses (1 cm(2)) followed by topical inoculation with 5 x 10(7) CFU of one staphylococcal strain. The study included a control group (no graft contamination), three contaminated groups that did not receive any antibiotic prophylaxis, three contaminated groups that received mupirocin-soaked grafts, three contaminated groups in which perioperative intraperitoneal vancomycin prophylaxis (10 mg/kg of body weight) was administered, and three contaminated groups that received mupirocin-soaked grafts and perioperative intraperitoneal vancomycin prophylaxis (10 mg/kg). The grafts were sterilely removed 7 days after implantation, and the infection was evaluated by using sonication and quantitative agar culture. Data analysis showed the efficacy of mupirocin against all three strains, with growth of the strains in treated rats significantly different than that in the untreated control. In addition, mupirocin was more effective than vancomycin against the strain with intermediate susceptibility to the glycopeptide. Finally, the combination of mupirocin and vancomycin produced complete suppression of the growth of all of the strains.

Aminoglycosides↗
PubMed1989

Glaucoma and its relationship to intraocular lens implantation.

The management of glaucoma and cataract is a complex subject that has remained controversial until recently. Extracapsular cataract surgery with posterior chamber lens implantation has made the procedure safe to perform in most eyes with glaucoma controlled medically, by laser trabeculoplasty or after filtering surgery. This paper will review the literature to establish rational guidelines for this particular group of patients.

Cataract↗
PubMed1989

[Antithrombin activity in chronic obstructive bronchopneumopathy].

In a group of 22 patients affected by chronic obstructive bronchopathies (COBP) with respiratory insufficiency and at the same time in a group of 12 controls, were determined plasma Antithrombin (AT) III concentrations. The mean of AT III level in patients with COBP was 40.5% and was 96.8% in the controls. On the basis of these data, the authors think that in patients with COBP decrease AT III can cause the rising of bleeding complications.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

The usefulness of routine alcian blue staining of corneal specimens.

To determine the diagnostic usefulness of routine staining of corneal buttons with alcian blue, we evaluated 150 consecutive corneal specimens with hematoxylin and eosin and alcian blue stains. Overall, 67% of specimens demonstrated deposition of acid mucopolysaccharide. More specifically, positive alcian blue staining was observed in 88% of specimens with pannus, 83% of specimens with stromal downgrowth, 71% of specimens with stromal scarring, and 67% of specimens with interstitial keratitis. In 80% of these cases, the positive alcian blue stain correlated to pathology noted on hematoxylin and eosin sections. In 20% of cases, we could not explain the reason for the presence of alcian blue staining. Except for macular dystrophy of the cornea, the presence, strength, and location of staining did not provide useful information in terms of making a specific clinical diagnosis. Consequently, alcian blue should be used only in those settings in which the pathologist needs to document or confirm the abnormal presence or absence of acid mucopolysaccharide deposition.

Alcian Blue↗
PubMed1985

Histopathologic condition of fascia lata implant 42 years after ptosis repair.

Fascia lata implants have been employed since the early part of this century in the repair of blepharoptosis. Although much has been written concerning surgical techniques and results of implanting different preparations of fascia lata, there are relatively few reports of long-term histopathologic follow-up of recovered tissue. In the case described herein, autogenous fascia lata was recovered at the time of repeated surgery and examined 42 years later. On microscopic examination the tissue was viable but demonstrated significantly more vascularization, fibroblastic infiltration, and incorporation with surrounding structures than previously reported implants.

Aged↗