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Biomedical subjects

M Altomonte

Publications and source records attributed to M Altomonte.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

Traumatic posterior fossa extradural hematomas.

17 cases of operated Posterior Fossa Epidural Hematomas (PFEDH) of traumatic origin are reported. Clinical and neuroradiological findings are presented and discussed. Authors emphasize the importance of CT scan in determining a more precise diagnosis and the related improvement in the morbidity (13%) and mortality (12%) rates.

Adolescent

Reduction in susceptibility to natural killer cell-mediated lysis of human FO-1 melanoma cells after induction of HLA class I antigen expression by transfection with B2m gene.

Induction of HLA class I antigens on cultured melanoma cells FO-1 after transfection with a human or a mouse B2m gene was associated with a statistically significant reduction in their susceptibility to natural killer (NK) cell-mediated lysis. These results indicate that the structural differences between human and mouse beta 2-mu do not abolish the ability of the HLA class I molecular complex to modulate NK cell-mediated lysis of melanoma cells FO-1. The role of HLA class I antigens in the phenomenon is corroborated by the ability of anti-HLA class I MAb to enhance, although to a different extent, the susceptibility of transfected FO-1 cells to NK cell-mediated lysis. Gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) significantly reduced the susceptibility to NK cell-mediated lysis of transfected FO-1 cells. Surprisingly, TNF-alpha reduced the extent of lysis more than IFN-gamma, although the latter cytokine enhanced HLA class I antigen expression more than the former one. This finding, in conjunction with a reduction in the susceptibility to NK cell-mediated lysis of untransfected FO-1 cells incubated with IFN-gamma or TNF-alpha, suggests that the two cytokines reduce NK cell-mediated lysis of transfected cells by modulating not only the expression of HLA class I antigens, but also that of other structures. Induction of HLA class I antigens and their modulation with IFN-gamma did not affect the susceptibility to lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell-mediated lysis of transfected FO-1 cells. Characterization of the molecular mechanism(s) underlying abnormalities in HLA class I antigen expression by melanoma cells and of the role of these molecules in the interactions of melanoma cells with various types of effector cells may suggest novel immunotherapeutic approaches to melanoma.

Animals

Traumatic posterior fossa extradural hematomas. A report of 22 new cases surgically treated and a review of the literature.

This study reports and discusses clinical and neuroradiological findings in 22 new cases of posterior fossa epidural hematomas (PFEDHs), all of whom underwent surgical treatment after having suffered an occipital head trauma. The authors emphasize the importance of serial CT scans in establishing prompt diagnosis and treatment and in reducing the rates of morbidity (15.7%) and mortality (13.6%).

Adolescent

Reversibility of acute cyclosporin nephrotoxicity by dopamine. Micropuncture study in the rat.

The ability of dopamine to neutralise the effects acutely induced by cyclosporin (CsA) on glomerular dynamics was evaluated in four groups of female Munich-Wistar rats, prepared for micropuncture: group I (n = 9), normal rats receiving saline as placebo; group II (n = 10), rats treated with CsA (20 mg/kg b.w. in 1 h); group III (n = 8) rats treated with CsA, as in group II, and then with vasodilating doses of dopamine (1.2-2.0 micrograms/100 g b.w./min in continuous intravenous infusion); group IV (n = 7), rats administered Cremophore EL, the vehicle of CsA, in corresponding doses. Single nephron GFR (SNGFR), glomerular plasma flow (GPF), afferent and efferent arteriole resistances (Ra and Re, respectively), SN filtration fraction (SNFF), ultrafiltration coefficient (Kf) were measured. Body weight, blood pressure and haematocrit were similar in the four groups. GFR was significantly reduced in group II (0.83 +/- 0.08 ml/min vs 1.29 +/- 0.01 in group I, 1.46 +/- 0.25 in group III, and 1.40 +/- 0.09 in group IV, P less than 0.05 vs all the groups), while no statistical difference was detected in urinary volume. SNGFR was significantly reduced in group II vs group I (18.7 +/- 1.8 nl/min vs 30.6 +/- 1.3, P less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

Glomerular dynamics and salt balance in pregnant rats with renal hypertension.

These studies were aimed at investigating whether chronic hypertension in pregnancy causes changes both in salt excretion (NaE) and in glomerular hemodynamics. Metabolic and renal micropuncture studies were performed in pregnant (P) and Virgin (V) Munich-Wistar rats with normal blood pressure (N) and two-kidney Goldblatt hypertension (H). Mean NaE was higher in PN than VN (2.7 vs. 1.7 meq/day, P less than 0.01). Hypertension raised NaE both in P and V rats: in P and V rats with "benign" hypertension (blood pressure less than 180 mmHg) NaE averaged 3.2 and 2.6 meq/day, respectively (P less than 0.05); mean NaE was 5.9 and 3.8 meq/day, respectively (P less than 0.01), in P and V rats with "malignant" hypertension (blood pressure greater than or equal to 180 mmHg). Afferent arteriole resistance (Ra) averaged 1.73 and 3.50 10 dyn.s-1.cm5 in PN and VN, respectively (P less than 0.01). Hypertension raised Ra in V, but not in P rats (4.47 vs. 2.14 10 dyn.s-1.cm5, P less than 0.01). Thus glomerular plasma flow, glomerular capillary hydrostatic pressure, and single-nephron glomerular filtration rate were markedly higher in PH than VH rats: in PH rats single-nephron filtration fraction was significantly lower than in VH. These results show that in PH rats a marked rise in NaE is associated with glomerular vasodilation.

Animals

Acute traumatic vertex epidural haematomas surgically treated.

Eleven consecutive cases of acute traumatic vertex epidural haematomas (VEDHs) among 416 epidural haematomas (EDHs) operated on during the same period in the Neurosurgical Clinic of the University of Genoa, are reported. Clinical features, neuroradiological aspects (X-ray, angiography and CT scan) and results are discussed, in order to point out the problems encountered in the diagnosis, expecially due to the mystifying clinical picture and the unsuitability of the axial CT scan in the detection of these lesions. In this series mortality rate was 18%, against 50% reported in the literature.

Adult

Interhemispheric subdural hematoma. Case report.

A case of interhemispheric subdural hematoma following head injury is presented and discussed, and the literature reviewed. Clinical and neuroradiological features are described together with the surgical treatment and results.

Aged

Bilateral brain abscesses. Report of 2 cases.

This is a report about two cases with bilateral brain abscesses, who will be extirpated with success. The preoperative treatment with antibiotics was without success. CT-control demonstrated the complete removal of both abscesses. The surgical treatment may be indicated in patients affected by supratentorial bilateral cerebral abscesses.

Adult

Renal function in pregnant rats with two-kidney goldblatt hypertension.

This study was carried out in female Wistar-Münich rats with two-kidney, one-clip hypertension, using clipped normotensive rats as controls. Metabolic studies were performed in the first two weeks of pregnancy, consisting of daily measurement of systolic blood pressure (BP) (tail-cuff), body weight (BW), and salt and water balance. At the end of metabolic studies, glomerular dynamics were studied in the unclipped kidney by micropuncture. During pregnancy, urinary output of Na+ and water was greater in hypertensive than normotensive rats. The greater natriuresis accounted for a reduced Na+ retention and a lower increase in maternal BW. Micropuncture studies showed an impaired renal auto-regulation. These results show that hypertension in pregnancy causes a salt-losing tendency, that may be secondary to incomplete renal autoregulation.

Animals