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Biomedical subjects

L Mainardi

Publications and source records attributed to L Mainardi.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Renal response to atrial natriuretic peptide in patients with advanced liver cirrhosis.

Sodium retention in liver cirrhosis is thought to be due to, among other things, lack of a natriuretic factor or failure to respond to one. alpha-Human-atrial natriuretic peptide is a peptide that accounts partly or entirely for the circulating natriuretic activity in man. In the present study, we have evaluated the effects of the bolus administration of synthetic alpha-human-atrial natriuretic peptide (1 microgram per kg) to patients with liver cirrhosis and variable degrees of sodium retention. alpha-Human-atrial natriuretic peptide induced rapid and marked increases of diuresis and natriuresis in patients without sodium retention or with moderate retention. The results were comparable to those obtained in six healthy control subjects. Conversely, the diuretic and natriuretic effects of alpha-human-atrial natriuretic peptide were attenuated or completely blunted in patients with avid sodium retention. The two groups of patients differed not only in basal sodium excretion, but also in plasma renin activity and in plasma aldosterone levels, suggesting that the reduced responsiveness to atrial natriuretic peptide might be due to excessive antagonism by antinatriuretic factors. The direct relationship between baseline sodium excretion rate and that stimulated by human-atrial natriuretic peptide administration was consistent with this interpretation. In none of the subjects did plasma renin activity peptide and cortisol levels change after human-atrial natriuretic peptide, while plasma aldosterone slightly declined in cirrhotics. Blood pressure fell after the administration of the peptide, with the drug greater in cirrhotic than in normal subjects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Results of photochemotherapy in a series of 47 patients with mycosis fungoides].

Oral photochemotherapy has been employed in the treatment of mycosis fungoides for more than 13 years. The Authors report their 9 year experience in a series of 47 patients affected by mycosis fungoides and treated by means of PUVA-therapy. All the patients were staged according to TNM system. 81.5% of 38 cases in the I stage of the disease obtained a complete remission, as did 50% of 6 cases in the II stage and one patient out of 3 in the III stage. Photochemotherapy seems to give satisfactory results mainly in the first stages of the disease. In fact, 45% of the patients who had obtained complete remission ot the end of the treatment were still free from disease after 5 years. Photochemotherapy, which in this series has not shown any important side effect, is a safe non-aggressive therapeutic choice in the management of the first stages of mycosis fungoides.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Phototherapy of psoriasis of the scalp. Results in 21 patients treated with a special portable ultraviolet rays lamp].

The presence of hair hampers the performance of photo- and photochemotherapy and blocks the efficacy of exposure to sunlight in patients affected by scalp psoriasis. A portable source of ultra-violet rays was tested on 21 patients: the device is equipped with a special comb which, by separating the hair, partially overcomes the protective shield formed by the latter. The light source's physical parameters were experimentally evaluated and it is worth noting the high concentration of UVB in the emission spectrum. No topical or systemic drugs were used during treatment. A complete remission of dermatosis was achieved in 6 cases, a marked improvement in 11 (50-95%), and a slight improvement in 4 (20-30%). The source used was found to be efficacious especially in those forms of slight to medium psoriasis of the capillitium; it was handy and easy to use making it suitable for home use.

Adolescent↗