Thyroid function in systemic sclerosis.
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Adolescent↗
Biomedical subjects
G Amato
Publications and source records attributed to G Amato.
HCV infections in dialysis patients.
HCV is seen as an emergent problem in Dialysis Units; in fact, the patients of these centers are at high risk for blood-transmitted infections, through coming microepidemies. For this reason and using the same method, we have studied the prevalence of anti-HCV and virus-derived hepatitis in a dialytic population of 105 patients. The prevalence of anti-HCV was 25.71%.
Cross Infection↗
Hyperprolactinemia and lens opacities.
We report the presence of lens opacities in patients with prolactin-secreting microadenomas of the pituitary gland. The occurrence of lens opacities was related to prolactin serum levels and appeared only in women. The mechanism by which prolactin induces cataract is not known, although this hormone could affect the lens's permeability to ions, water, sugars, and amino acids. Moreover, the lens opacities found in women but not in men seem to indicate synergism with estrogens.
Adult↗
Phenotypic and phoniatric findings in mosaic cri du chat syndrome.
We report on mosaic 46,XY/46,XY,del(5)(p15) cri du chat syndrome. The clinical findings are compared with those compiled from a literature survey. A phoniatric evaluation was performed and compared with that of a cri du chat patient without mosaicism previously observed by the authors.
Chromosome Deletion↗
The role of the claustrum in the bilateral control of frontal oculomotor neurons in the cat.
The effect of claustrum (CL) stimulation on the spontaneous unitary activity of ipsi and contralateral frontal oculomotor neurons, was studied in chloralose-anaesthetized cats. A total of 205 units was bilaterally recorded in the medial oculomotor area, homologous of the primate "frontal eye fields"; 127 neurons were identified as projecting to the superior colliculus; for 33 of these last units stimulation of the ipsilateral CL provoked an excitatory effect lasting 10-25 ms and appearing with a latency of 5-15 ms; on 8 units the excitatory effect was followed by an inhibition lasting 100-250 ms. Ninety-eight of the 127 neurons were also tested through activation of the contralateral CL: 13 cells showed an excitatory effect lasting 10-35 ms and appearing with a latency of 20-50 ms. In three of the thirteen units the excitatory effect was followed by an inhibition lasting 100-150 ms. Complete section of the corpus callosum abolished the contralateral CL effect, suggesting the existence of a direct claustro-contralateral oculomotor cortex pathway running through the corpus callosum. The results could support the hypothesis that the CL may play a role in the bilateral control of the visuomotor performance.
Animals↗
Multiple neurochemical action of clozapine: a quantitative autoradiographic study of DA2, opiate and benzodiazepine receptors in the rat brain after long-term treatment.
The atypical neuroleptic clozapine has clinical and behavioral properties that differ not only from the typical compounds, but also from atypical ones. It interacts with the dopaminergic systems, but also produces effects on the serotoninergic, GABA-ergic, cholinergic systems. In spite of the amount of papers devoted to its study, the profile of the neurochemical action of this drug is still confuse. In this paper we investigated the DA2-, opiate- and benzodiazepine-receptor modifications induced by the long term (21 days) treatment with clozapine 20 mg/kg/day in the rat brain. We found a decrease of DA2 receptor density in the target areas of the mesolimbocortical system (ventral n. caudate-putamen, cerebral cortex except for the anterior cingulate at the most anterior level and the n. accumbens) and a decrease of opiate and benzodiazepine receptors in the cerebral cortex and in the olfactory tubercle. Opiate receptors increase in the patches of the striatum. We also compared these effects with those produced by long-term (21 days), low-dosage (0.5 mg/kg day) haloperidol.
Animals↗
Comparative evaluation of in vitro activity of teicoplanin and vancomycin against coagulase negative methicillin resistant staphylococci isolated from high-risk patients.
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Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
[Our experience in the treatment of upper digestive bleeding due to a nonvaricose lesion].
The authors examine the causes and incidence of upper digestive bleeding by no variceal lesions, emphasizing the better and better results obtained by endoscopic management of this surgical emergency. Personal experience with urgent endoscopic sclerotherapy of these haemorrhages and the good results obtained are then reported.
Adolescent↗
DA2/NT receptor balance in the mesostriatal and mesolimbocortical systems after chronic treatment with typical and atypical neuroleptic drugs.
Typical and atypical neuroleptic drugs show several clinical and behavioral effects, possibly related to the different anatomical sites of the action in the mesolimbocortical or mesostriatal dopaminergic systems. Because of the interaction between dopamine (DA) and neurotensin (NT) in the target areas of these systems, and in order to study if the different action of typical and atypical neuroleptic drugs could be related to a modification of the DA/NT balance, we investigated DA2 and NT receptor modifications--by means of quantitative receptor autoradiography--after chronic treatment with low dosage of haloperidol, chlorpromazine, thioridazine and clozapine. We described a decrease of NT receptor density in the target areas of the mesolimbocortical system produced by all the treatments. This effect does not match with DA2 receptor modifications. On the contrary, the block of DA transmission obtained by high dosage of haloperidol induces an increase of NT receptor density. Our results further demonstrate the regulation of NT transmission by DAergic drugs.
Animals↗
Effect of claustrum stimulation on neurons of the contralateral medial oculomotor area, in the cat.
In chloralose-anaesthetized cats, the extracellular spontaneous unitary activity was recorded from 157 neurons, located in the medial oculomotor area. 98 units were identified as projecting onto the superior colliculus. Electrical stimulations of the contralateral claustrum provoked, on 13 of these cells, an excitatory effect, lasting 10-35 ms and appearing with a latency of 20-50 ms. Full length section of the corpus callosum totally abolished the contralateral claustrum effect. The results suggest that in the cat, the claustrum may have a role in the bilateral control of the visuo-motor performance.
Animals↗
Thioridazine chronic administration: a behavioural and autoradiographic study.
In rats the effects of chronic treatment with thioridazine (5 mg/kg orally administered for 22 days) were studied by means of behavioural supersensitivity to apomorphine and by means of dopamine (DA) receptors quantitative autoradiography. Locomotion and stereotypies induced by apomorphine increased after thioridazine chronic administration, whereas grooming behaviour decreased. Autoradiographic data showed an increase in DA receptors density both in the striatum and in the olfactory tubercle, to which the increase in stereotypies and locomotion could be respectively attributed. DA receptors increased also in the medial and dorsal frontal cortex. Moreover a decrease in DA receptors density appeared in the nucleus accumbens septi and in the lateral frontal cortex. Receptors decrease found in these regions might be associated with thioridazine-induced chronic inactivation of A10 DA neurons, to which the antipsychotic effect of the drug is attributed.
Animals↗
Chronic thioridazine treatment differently affects DA receptors in striatum and in mesolimbo-cortical systems.
Chronic thioridazine administration (5 mg/kg for 22 days) caused both behavioral and dopamine (DA) receptor modifications in rats. After chronic thioridazine administration, a significant increase in both locomotion and stereotypies induced by apomorphine was observed. In particular, only sniffing increased significantly, whereas grooming behavior decreased and the number of rearings did not change. Autoradiographic data were consistent with the behavioral results. Chronic thioridazine caused an up-regulation of DA receptors both in the striatum and in the olfactory tubercle (O.T.). The striatal effect may account for the increase of stereotypies, whereas the effect in the olfactory tubercle may account for the increase in locomotion. An increase in DA receptors was also found in the medial (MCTX) and dorsal cortex (DCTX). However, a decrease in DA receptors appeared in the nucleus accumbens septi (NAS) and in the lateral cortex (LCTX). This decrease, selectively localized in the mesolimbic DA system, may represent the neurobiological substrate of the depolarization block observed in A10 neurons after chronic thioridazine treatment.
Animals↗
[Correlations between vocal qualities and mental retardation].
This research is intended to verify the existence of vocal spectrographic alterations, with particular reference to the values of Fundamental Frequency, in patients with different levels of Mental Retardation. The results show the existence of a direct correspondence between the values of the Fundamental Frequency and the level of Mental Retardation: the spectrographic characteristics appear to be more altered in subjects with severe Mental Retardation. The spectrographics patterns are characterized by the presence of bi-phonation particularly at the onset time and at the end, and by a noise signal on constant frequency. The shifts of Fundamental Frequency and voice breakage are rarely detected.
Adolescent↗
Effect of claustrum activation on the spontaneous unitary activity of frontal eye field neurons in the cat.
The influence of claustrum stimulation on spontaneous unitary activity of the ipsilateral frontal oculomotor area was analyzed in anesthetized cats. Sixty-five neurons were isolated, 37 of which (57%) were identified as projecting to the superior colliculus; on 12 of these last units (32%), electrical activation of the dorsal claustrum provoked an excitatory effect, which appeared after a latency of 5-15 ms and lasted 10-25 ms. These data could suggest the involvement of the claustrum in the visuomotor coordination function.
Action Potentials↗
Circling behavior: ethological analysis and functional considerations.
Head-turning and circling movements evoked by substantia nigra (pars compacta) (SNpc) stimulation have been ethologically analyzed in order to attribute a functional meaning to these lateralization processes. It has been shown that these motor acts, separated by a constant interval, may be considered a fixed action pattern. The duration of the single acts depends on the SNpc stimulation parameters: the increase in the stimulus strength produces an increase in the number of turns but does not induce the disappearance of the orientation movement. The body movement is always preceded by the head-movement. Haloperidol administration induces a dose-related increase of the orientation component of the motor pattern. These data together with others in the literature suggest the participation of the SNpc in the mechanism of shift in the focus of attention from one point to another in the contralateral surrounding environment.
Animals↗
The influence of dopaminergic A10 neurons on the motor pattern evoked by substantia nigra (pars compacta) stimulation.
The influence of the mesolimbic-mesocortical dopaminergic (DA) system on the motor pattern evoked by substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) stimulation was studied. Electrical stimulation of the A10 group of neurons caused an inhibitory effect preferentially directed towards the orientation movement. Sulpiride administration at low dosages (50 mg/kg i.p.) did not modify this movement at the basal condition, but abolished the increase of its duration induced by ventral tegmental area (VTA) co-stimulation. Mesolimbic activation opposes the effects of SNpc stimulation, restraining the animal in its antero-posterior axis by means of orientation movement inhibition. The results suggest a role of the DA mesolimbic-mesocortical system in the maintenance of focused attention.
Animals↗
Claustral influence on ipsi- and contralateral motor cortical areas, in the cat.
The electrophysiological relationships between the claustrum and the contralateral motor areas of the cerebral cortex were studied in anaesthetized cats. The extracellular unitary activity of 207 pyramidal tract neurons (PTNs) was recorded from area 4 (125 cells) and area 6 (82 cells). Single shock activation of the contralateral claustrum affected 26% of the total tested PTNs, causing long lasting inhibition (44 PTNs) or long lasting inhibition preceded by early excitation (10 PTNs). Forty-three neurons of the 54 were also influenced by ipsilateral claustrum stimulation. Surgical removal of motor and insular cortices ipsilateral to the stimulated claustrum did not modify claustrum inhibition on contralateral PTNs, whereas section of the corpus callosum abolished this effect, suggesting the existence of a direct claustro-contralateral motor cortex pathway passing through the corpus callosum. These results support the hypothesis that the claustrum may exert a bilateral control on motor coordination.
Animals↗
Facilitatory effect of ventral tegmental area A10 region on the attack behaviour in the cat: possible dopaminergic role in selective attention.
Lateral hypothalamus (LH) stimulation in cats which do not spontaneously attack rats, produces an attack pattern which may be divided into 3 main stages: the first, defined as exploratory time (ET), begins with an environmental search and culminates in orienting towards the prey; in the second, defined as attack time (AT), the cat stalks the rat; the last is the biting stage in which the cat seizes and kills the prey by biting its head and neck. The effects of ventral tegmental area (VTA) stimulation on the latency of the whole sequence and on the different stages of the attack pattern were studied. VTA activation resulted in a significant decrease of biting latency, due to the reduction of exploratory time. Moreover, a significant period of prey fixation, seldom present during LH stimulation alone, was observed after VTA-LH co-stimulation. Sulpiride injection caused the disappearance of VTA effects on the predatory pattern. The results indicate that VTA activation induces a decrease in behaviour related to exploration of the environment, and an increase in the focusing of attention on the prey, which seems an important component in the regulation of the predatory pattern. Pharmacological evidence indicates that the VTA effect is mediated by the mesolimbic-mesocortical dopaminergic (DA) system.
Animals↗