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Biomedical subjects

M Corradi

Publications and source records attributed to M Corradi.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Increased 8-isoprostane, a marker of oxidative stress, in exhaled condensate of asthma patients.

Oxidative stress has an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma. 8-Isoprostane is a prostaglandin (PG)-F2-like compound belonging to the F2 isoprostane class that is produced in vivo by the free radical-catalyzed peroxidation of arachidonic acid. 8-Isoprostane is a biomarker of oxidative stress, and its concentration is increased in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of patients with interstitial lung diseases. We measured 8-isoprostane concentrations in exhaled breath condensate in healthy subjects and in patients with mild (steroid naive, n = 12), moderate (inhaled steroid treatment, n = 17), and severe asthma (oral steroid treatment, n = 15). We also measured exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) and nitric oxide (NO), which may also reflect oxidative stress in the airways. 8-Isoprostane was detectable in breath condensate of normal subjects (15.8 +/- 1.6 pg/ml), and was increased in the breath condensate of patients with mild (33.7 +/- 2.8, p < 0.001), moderate (38.3 +/- 3.7 pg/ml, p < 0. 001), and severe asthma (48.9 +/- 5.0 pg/ml, p < 0.001). There was a positive correlation (r = 0.68, p < 0.05) of 8-isoprostane with NO, but not with CO, in the exhaled air of patients with mild asthma, but not in that of patients with moderate or severe asthma. There was no correlation between 8-isoprostane and lung function tests in any group of patients. Our study shows that oxidative stress is increased in asthmatic subjects as reflected by 8-isoprostane concentrations in breath condensate.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Influence of atmospheric nitric oxide concentration on the measurement of nitric oxide in exhaled air.

BACKGROUND: Measurement of nitric oxide (NO) in exhaled air shows promise as a non-invasive method of detecting lung inflammation. However, variable concentrations of NO are measured in environmental air. The aim of this study was to verify a possible relationship between exhaled NO and atmospheric NO values during high atmospheric NO days. METHOD: Exhaled air from 78 healthy non-smokers of mean age 35.3 years was examined for the presence of NO using a chemiluminescence NO analyser and NO levels were expressed as part per billion (ppb). The exhaled air from all the subjects was collected into a single bag and into two sequential bags. Before each test atmospheric NO was measured. RESULTS: The mean (SE) concentration of exhaled NO collected into the single bag was 17.1 (0.6) ppb while the mean values of exhaled NO in bags 1 and 2 were 16.7 (1.3) ppb and 13.8 (1.2) ppb, respectively. The atmospheric NO concentrations registered before each test varied from 0.4 to 71 ppb. There was a significant correlation between exhaled NO in the single bag and atmospheric NO (r = 0.38, p = 0.001). The atmospheric NO concentration also correlated with exhaled NO both in bag 1 (r = 0.44, p = 0.0001) and in bag 2 (r = 0.42, p = 0.0001). These correlations disappeared with atmospheric NO concentrations lower than 35 ppb. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate a relationship between atmospheric NO and NO levels measured in exhaled air, therefore exhaled NO should not be measured on very high atmospheric NO days.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Internal neurolysis and flexor tenosynovectomy: adjuncts in the treatment of chronic median nerve compression at the wrist in hemodialysis patients.

This retrospective clinical study reports our results with surgical treatment of chronic median nerve compression at the wrist in 27 hemodialysis patients with a mean follow-up of 22 months. Due to the high incidence of amyloidosis in our patient population, an extensive tenosynovectomy was done in all patients. Statistically significantly (P = .03) better results were obtained when a microsurgical internal neurolysis was added to the procedure, than simple decompression alone (82% vs. 63% good to excellent results).

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Carpal tunnel syndrome in long-term hemodialyzed patients.

The etiopathology, clinical features, and treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in long-term hemodialyzed patients, are discussed in the light of new clinical findings. Conclusions summarizing the specific characteristics of CTS in hemodialyzed patients include the following. 1) There is a relatively equal sex ratio of patients. 2) The pathogenesis is complex and includes a) the presence of hemodynamic alterations related to the AV fistula; b) the presence of beta 2 M amyloid deposits related to biocompatibility of the dialysis membranes; and c) a correlation between CTS and the duration of hemodialysis related to years and hours/week. 3) A dramatic increase of CTS incidence occurs after five years of dialysis treatment. Prevention as a realistic goal in dialysis CTS is discussed, and specific recommendations are offered by the authors.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

The treatment of tibial fractures by elastic nailing and functional plaster cast.

From June 1984 to December 1985, 32 fractures of the tibia were treated by elastic nailing by the Ender method with functional plaster casts according to the Sarmiento method. They represented 28% of all tibial fractures treated during the same period by the traditional conservative method or by external fixators. Elastic nailing was reserved for unstable fractures produced by high velocity trauma. Union occurred in all cases after an average of 13 weeks. Complications were insignificant: shortening by 1.2 cm (1 case); recurvatum (1 case); varus (1 case); valgus (1 case), both less than 8 degrees, and thus within functionally insignificant limits for axial deviation. In one case, a 15 degree internal rotation deformity was corrected after 5 weeks by osteoclasis and fresh elastic nailing which also healed. The advantages of this type of treatment are rapid union and no pseudarthrosis or infection.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Non-invasive assessment of airway inflammation in ship-engine workers.

Smoking is harmful for respiratory function. In young to middle-aged men the damage is insidious and difficult to demonstrate. The respiratory impairment could increase under specific stressful conditions in the professional environment. On the hypothesis that exhaled markers are useful for assessing airway susceptibility to inhaled irritants, we measured exhaled markers and lung function in smoking and non-smoking engine-driver military coastguards before and after a patrol at sea. Eighteen men, mean age 39 yrs (range 23-58 yrs), 8 smokers, underwent spirometry, exhaled and nasal nitric oxide (eNO, nNO), exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) and exhaled breath condensate (EBC) for measures of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), leukotriene B4 (LTB4), proteins (Prots), 8-isoprostanes (8-IsoPs), nitrite (NO2-) and nitrosothiols (RS-NOs) at baseline and after an 8-hour patrol navigation on board small, high-speed diesel-powered ships. At baseline, the smokers showed higher middle flows and CO levels, lower eNO and nNO than non-smokers, but similar levels of EBC markers; geometric means (95% confidence interval), CO: 23.6 (14.5 to 38.3) vs. 3.5 (2.5 to 5.3) ppm; eNO: 7.9 (4.8 to 12.9) vs. 26.7 (15.7 to 45.5) ppb, p=0.000. After navigation, Prots, 8-IsoPs and RS-NOs (but not lung function variables or other markers) significantly increased only in smokers; baseline vs post-navigation RS-NOs: 0.27 (0.11 to 0.65) vs. 1.30 (0.58 to 2.89) micromol, p=0.012. The respiratory consequences of a stressing environment in engine-driver military coastguards who actively smoke are better assessed by measuring EBC markers than by eNO, nNO or lung function. By increasing airway inflammation from oxidative-stress, tobacco smoking appears to interact with other chemical or physical factors elicited during sea navigation. Precisely what these factors are deserves further investigation.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Clinico-diagnostic criteria of hypochondriac syndromes].

The aim of this study was to examine the vast field of hypochondriac symptoms and to put forward diagnostic criteria following the analysis of recent studies on this topic. The "descriptions" based on DSM III trace a partial and selective picture of hypochondriac disorders which is only applicable to a small group of patients in which "somatic complaints" are emphasised in comparison to other less evident psychological variables. The symptom therefore becomes a sign of a pathology which is not defined according to the same complex of symptoms from which it arose. There is in fact no nosological model of hypochondria: we are only likely to meet a "potential hypochondriac" whose pathological expression is limited to part of the population.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Volatile hydrocarbons in exhaled air: preliminary data on the characteristic profile associated with lung tumors].

The aim of this pilot study was to identify and quantify selected volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons in exhaled air from patients with non small cells lung cancer (NSCLC) as compared to healthy subjects, either smokers or non smokers. Exhaled air has been collected by repeated expirations in Tedlar bags. VOCs were sampled by solid phase micro-extraction (SPME) and analyzed by gascromatography/mass spectometry. NSCLC patients showed higher levels of pentane, 2-metilpentane, 2,4-dimetilheptane in the exhaled air as compared to smokers and non smokers. BTEX (benzene, toluene, etilbenzene and xylenes) concentrations were higher in smokers compared to other groups, whereas no differences were observed between subjects with NSCLC and smokers for heptane and octane. In summary, selected VOCs have sufficient diagnostic power to differentiate among the three groups we examined. These differences might be exploited to identify characteristic fingerprints of various lung diseases.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[New biomarkers of exposure].

In this paper we have defined the new biomarkers of exposure (NBE) as those biomarkers discovered in the last five years and, among previously validated biomarkers, also those applied in different ranges of doses or those determined in biological matrices which differ from matrices originally considered. We examined the results from the surveys carried out by the main Italian research units involved in biological monitoring, i.e. those from the Universities of Brescia, Milan, Naples, Padua, Parma, Pavia, Turin and Verona. The data were collected using a standardized model and included the following: type of element or organic compound, type of biomarker, analytical technique and method, their relationship with environmental monitoring data, their relationship with effect indicators or effects in general, improvement with respect to old biomarkers, reference values. Twenty two NBEs were identified: 14 elements and chemical compounds as such or as metabolites, 4 examples of mixtures, 3 of new matrices, one of speciation. Among the others, aspects such as interest in requiring NBE, quality assurance, availability, cost-benefit ratio were discussed. We conclude that development of this specific field of research appears to be a crucial point for future improvement in risk assessment and health surveillance procedures.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[New effect biomarkers].

The major research goals for researchers developing biomarkers of effect are the development and validation of biomarkers that permit the prediction of the risk of disease in individuals and groups. One important objective is to prevent human cancer. This article reviews the most recent analytical methodologies, validation studies and field trials together with auditing and quality assessment of the necessary data based on scientific grounds. Consideration is given to new developments in the relatively young field of toxicogenomics, possibly leading to the identification of early changes that may lead to both cancer and non-cancer end points. Although the creation and development of reliable databases integrating information from genomic and proteomic research programmes should offer a contribution to the prediction of risks and prevention of diseases related to chemical exposure, the most promising future application of these technologies lies in the molecular diagnosis of diseases whose nosography will probably be redefined.

Biomarkers↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Recent developments in human biomonitoring: non-invasive assessment of target tissue dose and effects of pneumotoxic metals.

Tobacco smoke and polluted environments substantially increase the lung burden of pneumotoxic chemicals, particularly pneumotoxic metallic elements. To achieve a better understanding of the early events between exposure to inhaled toxicants and the onset of adverse effects on the lung, the characterization of dose at the target organ would be extremely useful. Exhaled breath condensate (EBC), obtained by cooling exhaled air under conditions of spontaneous breathing, is a novel technique that could provide a non-invasive assessment of pulmonary pathobiology. Considering that EBC is water practically free of interfering solutes, it represents an ideal biological matrix for elemental characterization. Published data show that several toxic metals and trace elements are detectable in EBC, raising the possibility of using this medium to quantify the lung tissue dose of pneumotoxic substances. This novel approach may represent a significant advance over the analysis of alternative media (blood, serum, urine, hair), which are not as reliable (owing to interfering substances in the complex matrix) and reflect systemic rather than lung (target tissue) levels of both toxic metals and essential trace elements. Data obtained among workers occupationally exposed to either hard metals or chromium (VI) and in smokers with or without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are reviewed to show that--together with biomarkers of exposure--EBC also allows the simultaneous quantification of biomarkers of effect directly sampled from the epithelial lining fluid, thus providing novel insights on both kinetic and dynamic aspects of metal toxicology.

Aerosols↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Mitochondrial DNA deletion in a case of progressive ophthalmoplegia].

Mitochondria are unique among intracellular organelles because they contain their own DNA, which can be transcribed and translated to form proteins. Mitochondrial diseases include myopathies and multisystem disorders. The case of a patient showing bilateral ophthalmoplegia with proximal limb weakness, severe dysphagia and short stature, without family history, is described. The analysis of mitochondrial DNA of the patient muscle revealed a deleted form accounting for 65% of the total mitochondrial DNA. The Southern Blot Analysis of mtDNA allows a rather precise localization of deletions giving new insights in the pathogenesis of mitochondrial myopathies and representing a new precious diagnostic tool in these diseases.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Polymerase chain reaction for the diagnostic identification of HIV infection].

The Acquired Immune deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is now a worldwide social problem. Routine diagnostic procedures to identify infected individuals are based on the presence of antibodies against viral epitopes in the serum. There is nevertheless impelling need to detect directly the virus in people infected by HIV, independently of a serological response. In this study we describe the procedure which allows amplification of a specific segment of the HIV genome, through the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), in infected individuals. This new approach represents a precious tool towards the diagnosis of HIV infection, it can be easily and quickly carried out on a large scale and will be capable of identifying HIV infected subjects before the development of antibodies.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗