Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to L Maggi.
Dermal electrodes allowed the recording of retinal oscillatory potentials with similar shape and timing as tracings obtained with conventional corneal electrodes. Normative data is presented. We concluded that dermal electrodes were a reproducible and more comfortable method of testing.
Single intramuscular doses of scopolamine and matching placebo were administered to young, healthy, and emmetropic volunteers. Electroretinograms and visual evoked potentials (flash and pattern stimuli) were recorded prior to and 30, 90, and 120 min after administration. The effects of scopolamine at the central nervous system level were monitored also by quantitative electroencephalographic methods. Scopolamine reduced the peak-to-peak amplitude of the late components of the flash-evoked potential without affecting latencies. A decrease of the N75 latency and increment of N175 latency of pattern-evoked potentials were observed without any apparent modification of the amplitude values. These changes were not produced by administering topical cyclopentholate. Electroencephalographic effects were apparent with a longer delay after administration than were those on the visual evoked potentials. No significant modification was observed in the electroretinogram under these recording conditions.
There has been clinical and experimental evidence that cholinergic compounds and precursors of choline are potentially useful in the treatment of dementia. Anticholinergic compounds have also been proposed as a possible acute model for pharmaco-EEG studies focussed on CNS aging. Single doses of scopolamine (0.25-0.75 mg i.m.) and a matching placebo were administered to 8 young healthy volunteers. Quantitative EEG recordings and neuropsychological testing were performed in baseline conditions prior to and 30, 90 and 120 min after drug administration. Scopolamine induced a dose-related increase of relative power in low- and high-frequency components and a decrease in the range 8.0-13.5 Hz and in total signal power. These modifications were found to be limited to the posterior scalp electrode derivations and were observed from the 90-min control onwards. Concomitantly, there was a significant impairment in the subjects' response to neuropsychological testing after the administration of 0.50 and 0.75 mg of scopolamine. At a dose of 0.75 mg, volunteers complained about subjective symptoms which were definitely unpleasant. The effects of this dose on the EEG and the neuropsychological status did not differ significantly from those observed after a dose of 0.50 mg. As regards dose and tolerance, 0.50 mg of scopolamine administered intramuscularly appears to be a suitable dose for pharmaco-EEG studies.
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A substoichiometric isotopic dilution method was coupled to the standard addition technique for the determination of trace-level cadmium. 109Cd carrier-free as a radiotracer and extraction with dithizone in chloroform were used. A preconcentration procedure, which also cuts down the main interferences, for tap and natural waters was suggested. The sensitivity and accuracy of the method are discussed.
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Eledoisin, administered to dogs by intra-carotid route, potently stimulated salivary secretion. The effect was not due to stimulation of cholinergic, adrenergic, histaminergic or 5-hydroxytryptaminergic receptors but was direct on salivary glands.
Eledoisin, administered to dogs by conjunctival route, potently stimulated lacrimal secretion. The effect did not depend on activation of adrenergic, histaminergic or 5-hydroxytryptaminergic receptor and was only in part due to stimulation of cholinergic receptors.
Eledoisin cured corneal lesions produced in the rabbit by cocaine but failed to heal those produced by sodium hydroxide. The effect was probably due to accelerated epithelial proliferation.
To a short treatment concerning the main concepts of this discipline, follows the description on the enzymatic patterns typical of the most frequent diseases of various organs and apparatus, and a review of the literature about the main features of the enzymes of the greatest use and interest for internal medicine.
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The effects of gantrisin on oedema-forming and muscle-stimulating activity of eledoisin and physalaemin were studied. Both in vivo and in vitro the sulfanilamide caused a dose-dependent inhibition of the peptides' effects. The antagonism appeared to be of the non competitive as well as of the non specific type.
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Ketoprofen-loaded microspheres made with a polymeric blend were prepared by a spray-drying technique. Organic solutions of two polymers, cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) and poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL), in different weight ratios, and of ketoprofen (Ket) were prepared and sprayed, in different experimental conditions, achieving drug-loaded microspheres. The obtained spray-dried microspheres were characterized in terms of yield of production, shape, size, surface properties and drug content, and their in vitro drug release behaviours were determined at different pH values.
Ketoprofen (Ket), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, has been incorporated into polymeric micromatrices (microspheres) prepared by a spray drying process and made of cellulose acetate trimellitate (CAT)/ethylcellulose (EC) blends. Drug loaded microspheres were obtained by spray-drying organic solutions of the two polymers and the drug. Characterization of the microparticles (morphology, particle size distribution, drug content, yield of production, surface properties, solvent residues) was carried out and in-vitro release behaviour measured. The release rate of the drug diminished as the proportion of EC was raised.
To evaluate the effect of bacterial antigen lysate on serum immunoglobulin (Ig) levels, we studied 14 children with recurrent infections and hypogammaglobulinemia (IgG and IgA levels below 2 standard deviations for age). Patients were treated for a 60-90 day period with OM-85 BV and reevaluated both clinically and by measuring serum Ig levels at the end of follow-up. The control group consisted of 10 children with recurrent infections who received a placebo. Serum Ig levels were also compared with the reference values for age. The Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests were used for statistical analysis. In the study group, IgG (pretreatment: 707 mg/dl; post-treatment: 1,022 mg/dl; p < 0.004) and IgA levels (pretreatment: 41 mg/dl; post-treatment: 83 mg/dl; p < 0.018) increased significantly. Furthermore, 13/14 children reached normal IgG levels, and 12/14 children reached normal age levels for serum IgA. Similarly, when comparing the pre- and post-treatment levels in the study group with the levels in the control group, they were significant for IgG (p < 0.002) as well as IgA levels (p < 0.04). The overall clinical response was favorable in all patients in the treated group. These results suggest an immunostimulant effect of OM-85 BV, both improving Ig levels and reducing recurrent infections.