Biomedical subjects

Francesco Alamanni

Publications and source records attributed to Francesco Alamanni.

22 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2002

Lack of association between serum immunoreactivity and Chlamydia pneumoniae detection in the human aortic wall.

BACKGROUND: Only a few studies have focused the attention on the relation between elevated anti-Chlamydia pneumoniae (CP) antibodies and the detection of CP in the arterial wall. The aim of our study is thus to investigate the relationship between immune response to CP and detection of CP in the aortic walls of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm. METHODS AND RESULTS: A specimen of aortic wall was obtained from 102 consecutive patients who underwent abdominal aneurysm repair. The possible presence of CP was studied by polymerase chain reaction and confirmed by nonradioactive DNA hybridization. Antibody response to CP was studied (IgG, IgA titers). We found 33 patients (32.4%) with CP DNA+. No correlation between CP DNA detection and antibody titers was found (IgG P=0.52, IgA P=0.66). High correlation between IgG and IgA titer was observed (P<0.01). Endovascular presence of CP and antibody titers was not related to the age of the patient. CONCLUSIONS: CP antibody titers are not associated with the presence of CP in the aortic wall of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

PubMed2002

Endothelial damage during myocardial preservation and storage.

Preservation and storage techniques represent two major issues in routine cardiac surgery and heart transplantation. Historically, these methods were conceived to prevent ischemic injury to myocardium after cardiac arrest during heart operations. Evidence shows that endothelium plays a critical role in the maintenance of normal heart function after cardiac operation, mainly by controlling the coronary circulation. Methods for preservation and storage, developed initially to protect cardiomyocyte function, may be deleterious for vascular endothelium and compromise myocardial protection. In this review article the present knowledge about endothelial injury secondary to preservation and storage techniques is discussed.

Cardioplegic Solutions↗

PubMed2002

Endothelial cell injury induced by preservation solutions: a confocal microscopy study.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the effects of standard preservation solutions on cultured human greater saphenous vein endothelial cells. METHODS: Endothelial cells (eight strains) were preincubated for 6 or 24 hours at 4 degrees C in Celsior, Euro-Collins, St. Thomas Hospital II, and University of Wisconsin solutions, reincubated in warm oxygenated culture medium 199, and observed up to 48 hours. Culture viability was assessed through cell counting and confocal microscopy of calcein loaded cells. RESULTS: Incubation in both Euro-Collins and St. Thomas, but not in Celsior or University of Wisconsin solutions, caused significant cells losses and diffuse morphological damages characterized by solution-specific distinctive alterations. Injury caused by 6-hour, but not by 24-hour treatment, was reversible. CONCLUSIONS: The incubation with Celsior and University of Wisconsin solutions substantially preserved endothelial viability and proliferative capability. Conversely, a prolonged incubation in either Euro-Collins or St. Thomas solutions caused severe and potentially irreversible damage referable to the induction of, respectively, apoptotic or necrotic changes.

Aged↗

PubMed2002

[Autologous cellular cardiomyoplasty in humans: can we hit the mark?].

Myocardial cell therapy is a new promising therapeutic option for patients with heart failure. In this paper, we review the main experimental evidences and the first clinical researches in this field. Moreover, a comment on the theoretical and practical aspects for a pilot clinical use and a glance to the future are also provided.

Cell Transplantation↗