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Biomedical subjects

G Re

Publications and source records attributed to G Re.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Fever in acute stroke worsens prognosis. A prospective study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: No definitive data are yet available on the effects of body temperature on neurological damage after cerebral ischemia in humans. Experimental animal models have provided much evidence, but to our knowledge, only two studies on the relationship between fever and prognosis of stroke in humans have been published. The aim of our study was to investigate the prognostic role of fever in the first 7 days of hospitalization in a cohort of patients admitted to our hospital for acute stroke. METHODS: We analyzed the data of 183 patients included in a prospective observational prognostic study. Vital status at 30 days was considered the main outcome and was obtained for all patients. Age, level of consciousness, and glycemia at the time of hospitalization were considered covariates for an exact logistic regression analysis. The maximum temperature recorded during the first 7 days dichotomized as "no or low fever" versus "high fever" was added to the model. Death within 10 days, taken as a secondary outcome suggestive of death from neurological causes, was analyzed with exact permutation tests. RESULTS: Of the 183 patients analyzed in this study, 43% had fever during the first 7 days after hospitalization. The mean value of the maximum temperature recorded during the first 7 days in the 78 febrile patients was 38.3 degrees C, and the median was 37.9 degrees C. Onset of fever occurred in only 15% of febrile patients during the first day and in 49% on the second. The prognostic roles of age, level of consciousness, and glycemia were confirmed by exact logistic regression. Degree of consciousness impairment was the strongest prognostic variable, with an odds ratio (OR) of 11.4 (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.4 to 31.6). High fever (maximum temperature recorded during the first 7 days > or = 37.9 degrees C) was an independent factor for a worse prognosis, with an OR of 3.4 (95% CI, 1.2 to 9.5). The OR of dying within 10 days versus dying between 11 and 30 days was 4.9 (95% CI, 1.2 to 25.2) in patients with high fever with respect to all other patients. CONCLUSIONS: Fever in the first 7 days was an independent predictor of poor outcome during the first month after a stroke. No data were available on the underlying causes of fever, but the higher risk of death in the first 10 days, most frequently attributed to neurological mechanisms, suggested that high temperature was an independent component of poor prognosis and not only an epiphenomenon of other complications in the course after a stroke. In agreement with animal studies, we found that patients with higher temperature had a worse stroke outcome.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Whole bowel irrigation after delayed release fenfluramine overdose.

We report a patient who intentionally ingested a large amount of delayed release fenfluramine and was successfully treated with whole bowel irrigation. To our knowledge this is the first case of this kind to be reported in the literature. This therapeutic method, commonly used for acute poisonings with enteric coated and other modified release pharmaceuticals appears effective and risk-free in the treatment of delayed release fenfluramine overdose.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Down-regulation of beta-adrenergic receptors and up-regulation of estrogen and progesterone receptors induced in the reproductive system of female veal calves by dietary clenbuterol.

Effects induced by long-term administration of clenbuterol at anabolic dosages (20 micrograms/kg of body weight for 40 days) on beta-adrenergic receptor (beta-AR) subtypes, estrogen receptors (ER), and progesterone receptors (PgR) in the reproductive system of female veal calves were investigated. Clenbuterol treatment induced a significant (P < 0.01) down-regulation of beta-AR subtypes (beta 1-AR, beta 2-AR, myometrial high-affinity beta 2-AR, and ovarian low-affinity beta 2-AR). On the other hand, a significant (P < 0.01) increase of uterine and ovarian ER and PgR receptors was observed in treated calves. Treatment did not affect dissociation constant values of beta-AR, ER, or PgR. In similar manner, clenbuterol did not significantly modify distribution of ER and PgR in the various tissues of the genital tract. In fact, these receptors were significantly (P < 0.05) more concentrated in the uterus than in the vagina in treated and untreated calves. Data indicated that prolonged clenbuterol exposure induced homologous beta-AR down-regulation (down-regulation of its specific receptors) and heterologous ER and PgR up-regulation (up-regulation of different types of receptors, not specifically bound by clenbuterol) in the genital tract of veal calves. Modification of the receptorial status could be reasonably related to the pathologic changes observed in long-term treated calves (eg, hydrometra, dilatation of uterine glands, cystic ovaries). The increased concentrations of ER and PgR suggested the possible existence of subcellular mechanisms regulated by repeated beta-adrenergic stimulation.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗
PubMed1994

Potentiation of antibiotic activity by EDTA-tromethamine against three clinically isolated gram-positive resistant bacteria. An in vitro investigation.

The in vitro synergistic effects of combinations of EDTA-tromethamine and five antimicrobial agents (ampicillin, cephalexin, oxytetracycline, streptomycin and sulphadimethoxine) on three clinically isolated Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus hominis and Streptococcus faecium) were investigated. The bacteria had been isolated from three cases of canine otitis resistant to beta-lactam antibiotic therapy. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by measuring the minimal inhibitory concentration for the antibiotics alone or in combination with EDTA-tromethamine. EDTA-tromethamine potentiated the activity of cefalexin against S. aureus and S. hominis, of oxytetracycline against S. aureus and S. faecium and of streptomycin against S. faecium. No significant effects were noted on the activity of oxytetracycline against S. hominis. The remaining combinations gave a slight synergistic effect. As previously shown for Gram-negative resistant bacteria, these data suggest that the association of EDTA-tromethamine and appropriate antibiotic therapy may be useful to overcome persistent infections of soft tissues in domestic animals.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Pathology and residues in veal calves treated experimentally with clenbuterol.

Six veal calves were medicated with clenbuterol at 20 micrograms kg bodyweight-1 day-1 for 42 days before they were slaughtered, to evaluate the lesions and residues in target organs. Compared with six unmedicated calves the most noticeable changes were tracheal dilatation, decreased uterine weight, slight mucous hypersecretion in the uterus and vagina and depletion of liver glycogen. The highest concentrations of clenbuterol (62 to 128 ng/g-1) were recorded in the choroid/retina, and the aqueous humour had the lowest concentration (0.5 to 2.4 ng ml-1). The residue concentrations were higher than the maximum residue level set for clenbuterol (0.5 ng g-1).

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Treatment with a glycosaminoglycan formulation ameliorates experimental diabetic nephropathy.

Previous studies have indicated that administration of glycosaminoglycans can prevent some of the morphological and physiological alterations which occur in experimental diabetic nephropathy. The aims of this study were to further elucidate the effect of these drugs on glomerular basement membrane permeability by dextran clearance studies, to test the ability of glycosaminoglycans to revert established diabetic nephropathy and to examine the effect of glycosaminoglycans on renal extracellular matrix synthesis. Five groups of Sprague-Dawley rats were studied for 12 months: two control groups (treated or untreated non-diabetic), three streptozotocin diabetic animal groups, two of which received a glycosaminoglycan formulation, one from the induction of diabetes and the other after the fifth month of diabetes. At five months the 35S-sulfate glomerular incorporation, albuminuria, glomerular basement membrane thickness and anionic charge density were determined. At 12 months albuminuria, renal collagen IV and perlecan mRNA levels, anionic and neutral dextran clearances, glomerular basement membrane morphometry, and mesangial cell proliferation were evaluated. We demonstrate that long-term administration of glycosaminoglycans prevents renal morphological and functional alterations in diabetic rats and appears to revert established diabetic renal lesions. Glycosaminoglycan administration modified renal matrix composition by the normalization of collagen gene expression and increasing glomerular 35S-sulfate incorporation.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Specific binding of dl-cloprostenol and d-cloprostenol to PGF2 alpha receptors in bovine corpus luteum and myometrial cell membranes.

Prostaglandin F2 alpha receptors (PGF2 alpha Rs) were measured in bovine corpus luteum and myometrial cell membranes using a radiometric method. The inhibition of labelled PGF2 alpha binding exerted by d-cloprostenol, dl-cloprostenol, PGF2 alpha and PGE1 (10(-11) M to 10(-4) M) was evaluated in vitro. Results strongly suggest that cloprostenol binding to PGF2 alpha Rs is stereospecific. d-Cloprostenol and PGF2 alpha were equipotent, about 150 times more potent than dl-cloprostenol (P < 0.05) and approximately 280 times more potent than PGE1 (P < 0.05) in inhibiting [3H]PGF2 alpha binding to corpus luteum cell membranes. Such differences were less evident in myometrial cell membranes, where d-cloprostenol and PGF2 alpha were about 10 times more potent than dl-cloprostenol (P < 0.05) and approximately 95 times more potent than PGE1 (P < 0.05).

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Genital lesions following long-term administration of clenbuterol in female pigs.

Pathologic findings, lectin histochemistry, and nuclear estrogen receptors were studied in the reproductive organs of gilts treated with clenbuterol. A ration containing 1 ppm of clenbuterol was fed for 40 days to four Landrace x Large white, 9-month-old gilts, weighing 134 to 172 kg at slaughter (gilt Nos. 5-8). Four gilts (Nos. 1-4) served as controls. Treated animals had macroscopic lesions characterized by microcystic ovaries and uterine atrophy. Histopathologic lesions included atretic degeneration of many ovarian follicles, complete absence of functional corpora lutea, a reduction in the number of endometrial glands, and a decrease in cytoplasmic volume of endometrial and glandular epithelial cells. In ovaries, uterus, and vagina lectin histochemistry, performed with thirteen different biotinylated lectins, revealed a different staining distribution between control and treated gilts. The binding pattern of Ricinus communis agglutinin-I (RCA-I) and -II (RCA-II) in the ovaries of control gilts, displayed labeling of cytoplasm in theca interna cells of Graafian follicles. There was no labeling of the same cells in treated gilts. Labeling patterns with Griffonia simplicifolia agglutinin-I (GS-I), Phaseolus vulgaris agglutinin (PHA), RCA-I and RCA-II documented a difference in the vascularity of the theca interna between Graafian follicles of control and treated gilts. The GS-I and Ulex europaeus agglutinin-I (UEA-I) binding patterns in uterus and vagina of treated gilts when compared to control gilts suggested that there was a block of the cycling activity in the proliferative stage. Immunohistochemical staining for estrogen receptors in the endometrium was positive in all but one treated gilts, and negative to weakly positive in control gilts. Serum progesterone concentrations were decreased in treated animals when compared to control; estradiol concentrations were similar in both group of gilts. Cystic ovaries, uterine atrophy, and reduction in progesterone concentrations suggested that clenbuterol changed ovarian hormonal activity in treated animals.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Pathological findings in rabbits and sheep following the subacute administration of triphenyltin acetate.

Organotins are used worldwide in agricultural practice as fungicides and herbicides. In this study morphological and ultrastructural investigations related with the subacute administration of the fungicide triphenyltin acetate (TPTA) were carried out in rabbits and lambs. Twenty-eight New Zealand White male rabbits were fed diets containing 0, 15, 75 or 150 ppm TPTA for 70 d; comparable doses (1 or 7.5 mg/kg bw) were administered daily to immature male lambs. After 70 d of treatment dose-dependent decreases in body weight gain and thymus relative weights were seen in both species. In rabbits, the main histological lesions were found in the thymus and mesenteric and retropharyngeal lymph nodes, confirming the immunosuppressive activity reported by TPTA in other rodents. Lambs showed similar, but less severe lesions. However, the involvement of the immune system was noted in both species, but at doses much higher than those reported for rats and guinea pigs. This different immunotoxic activity of TPTA might be related to species differences in the toxicokinetics of the fungicide.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Potentiation of the in vitro activity of some antimicrobial agents against selected gram-negative bacteria by EDTA-tromethamine.

The in vitro synergistic effects of combinations of EDTA-tromethamine and six antimicrobial agents (ampicillin, chloramphenicol, oxytetracycline, streptomycin, nalidixic acid and sulphadimethoxine) on clinically isolated strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis and Escherichia coli were investigated. The antibacterial activity was assessed from the minimal inhibitory concentration for the antibiotics alone or in combination with EDTA-tromethamine. EDTA-tromethamine potentiated the antibacterial activity of ampicillin, chloramphenicol, oxytetracycline and streptomycin up to four-fold. There were no significant or consistent synergistic effects with nalidixic acid or sulphadimethoxine.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1993

Regulation of uterine estrogen receptors (ER) by beta-adrenergic stimulation in immature rats.

The effects of a 3-day intramuscular (i.m.) administration of clenbuterol (25 micrograms/Kg), propranolol (12 mg/kg), clenbuterol (25 micrograms/kg) plus propranolol (12 mg/Kg) and estradiol (0.5 microgram) upon the female reproductive system were investigated in immature Sprague-Dawley rats. Clenbuterol and estradiol treatments induced a significant increase in uterus weight and in relative uterus weight, whereas in the groups treated with propranolol and clenbuterol plus propranolol no differences were detected versus controls. The uterine estrogen receptor levels were significantly increased by clenbuterol administration. In the rats dosed with propranolol and clenbuterol plus propranolol, no modifications occurred in estrogen receptor concentrations when compared with control values. Uterine progesterone receptors were never significantly affected by any of the considered treatments. Data obtained indicate that clenbuterol treatment induces an increase in uterus weight and in estrogen receptor levels and that these effects are regulated by acute beta-adrenergic stimulation, as the contemporaneous administration of high doses of a beta-blocker inhibit such effects.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

[Cocaine poisoning in acute renal insufficiency].

We report the case of a young man who developed acute renal failure after ingestion of cocaine wrapped in foil. We did not find either clinical or clear biochemical signs of rhabdomyolysis. The possible role of high blood cocaine level in the development of acute renal failure has been speculated and a direct vasoconstrictive effect on renal vessels followed by acute tubular necrosis has been hypothesized.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed1993

Effects of long-term administration of clenbuterol in mature female rats.

Female Sprague-Dawley rats were treated IM with 0, 2.5, 25, and 50 micrograms of clenbuterol HCl/kg of body weight/d for 21 days. In all treated rats, significant increase in body weight gain (P < 0.05) and improvement in feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05) were recorded. Hydrometra was observed in the uterus of treated rats, and histologically, it was possible to see dilatation of luminal glands and ovarian alterations. Clenbuterol treatment induced significant (P < 0.05) increase in uterine estrogen receptor concentration of rats treated with the 2 higher doses. Treatment apparently failed to enhance the rate of oxidative and conjugative biotransformations, except for glucuronidation of p-nitrophenol (P < 0.05). On the basis of the data obtained, we could affirm that high doses of clenbuterol affect the female reproductive system of rats inducing, almost in part, estrogen-like modifications, but probably by a different mechanism of action correlated to intense adrenergic stimulation.

7-Alkoxycoumarin O-Dealkylase↗
PubMed1992

Effects of a beta 2-agonist (clenbuterol) on cultured human (CG-5) breast cancer cells.

In order to gain further knowledge about the possible oestrogen-like activities of clenbuterol (a beta 2-adrenergic drug illegally used as partitioning agent in food producing animals), we treated a hormone dependent human breast cancer cell line (CG-5) with different concentrations of the drug (10(-3) M to 10(-8) M). The effects of clenbuterol and oestradiol on cell proliferation were compared. Both oestradiol and clenbuterol, at low concentrations (10(-7) M and 10(-8) M) stimulated cell proliferation, but the effects of clenbuterol were less marked and significant. Probably clenbuterol elicited cell proliferation through a different mechanism, since it did not affect the cellular oestrogen receptor concentration. Clenbuterol failed in binding to the high affinity oestrogen receptors present in the CG-5 cells. As the beta-adrenergic receptors and the susceptibility to their stimulation have been recently demonstrated in vivo and in vitro in many tumour and normal cells, it is reasonable to suppose that clenbuterol may induce cell proliferation through beta-adrenergic stimulation.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1992

[Rhabdomyolysis during acute poisoning with drugs and narcotics. Experience with 7 clinical cases].

Numerous and extremely varied conditions (intense muscular activity, ischemia, metabolic and genetic disorders, infections, immunological diseases and toxic causes) may play a role in the genesis of non-traumatic rhabdomyolysis. Over the past years there has been an increased number of reports of forms due to drug or narcotic intoxication. Seven cases of rhabdomyolysis are reported in patients admitted to emergency wards in a state of coma due to heroin overdose (4 cases), cocaine overdose (1 case), carbamazepin (1 case), and tricyclic anti-depressives (1 case). In all cases it was possible to hypothesise a multifactorial pathogenesis of the disease in which other factors, such as acidosis, hypoxia, hypothermia and compression of the muscle mass during coma, were associated with the direct toxic damage caused by the drug. The most frequent complication was acute renal failure. One case of myocardial involvement with non-Q infarction characteristics was also observed.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Exocrine pancreatic involvement in Wegener's granulomatosis. A case report.

A rare case of exocrine pancreatic damage in a patient with Wegener's granulomatosis is reported. The pancreatic amino acid consumption test, a new tubeless technique, revealed exocrine pancreatic insufficiency before and after immunosuppressive therapy. The presence of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in this patient raises the possibility of pancreatic involvement in Wegener's granulomatosis.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Pathologic changes, tissue distribution, and extent of conversion to ethylenethiourea after subacute administration of zinc ethylene-bis-dithiocarbamate (zineb) to calves with immature rumen function.

The toxicity of zinc ethylene-bis-dithiocarbamate (zineb), a widely used fungicide, was studied in four 4-week-old Friesian calves with immature rumen function. Calves were first subjected to liver biopsy, and thereafter, 3 of them were orally administered 200 mg of zineb/kg of body weight daily for 80 days, whereas the fourth calf served as control and remained untreated. Clinical, hematologic, and pathologic (including ultrastructural) findings were recorded. The distribution in body fluids and tissues of the parent compound and one of its main metabolites, ethylenethiourea (ETU), also was examined. Treated calves had unthrifty appearance and reduction in weight gain. They also had remarkable impairment of thyroid function, as reflected by reduction in serum concentrations of triiodothyronine and thyroxine and increase in weight of the thyroid gland associated with epithelial vacuolization and foci of hyperplasia. Moderate increase in liver glycogen content and impairment in maturation of germ cells were recorded consistently. Whereas zineb was widely distributed in body tissues, ETU accumulated mainly in the liver and the thyroid gland, although noticeable concentrations also were attained in muscle. Data were consistent with involvement of ETU mainly in the pathogenesis of thyroid gland lesions, and indicate that unweaned calves given zineb develop a clinicopathologic syndrome that does not differ qualitatively from that already described in adult cattle exposed to zineb.

Age Factors↗