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Biomedical subjects

M Fantoni

Publications and source records attributed to M Fantoni.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Symptom profile in terminally ill AIDS patients.

A study protocol to record prospectively, frequency and intensity of symptoms in terminally ill AIDS patients was developed. Other information included mode of transmission, active intravenous drug use, regular visits of family/friends to the ward, the use of symptom-control drugs, and death without family or partner. The study population was selected from patients admitted to the wards or followed in the Clinic or Day Center of the Department of Infectious Diseases of the Catholic University, Rome. Inclusion criteria were diagnosis of AIDS prior to 12 months and advanced stage AIDS (defined with standardized criteria). To standardize the analysis of data, the terminal phase was considered to start 3 months before death (T1). From January 1, 1993 to December 12, 1993, 266 patients (208 males, 58 females) were enrolled. By June 30, 1995 168 patients had died and were considered for analysis. The most frequent symptoms at T1 were anorexia (63.1%), fatigue (60.1%), pain (60.1%), fever (47.6%), and cough (37.5%). At the end week (T6) the most frequent symptoms were fever (81.5%), fatigue (70.2%), dyspnea (68.1%), and pain (58.9%). In two-thirds of the patients, symptom-control drugs were used, most frequently nonopioid analgesics (39.9% at T1 and 56.5% at T6) and antipyretics (38.7% at T1 and 53.6% at T6). Opioid analgesics were used in 19% of patients at T1 and in 28.6% at T6. Almost one-third of the patients (29.2%) died alone without having family, their partner, or a friend near. Considering the high frequency of treatable symptoms in terminally ill AIDS patients, the use of palliative therapy should be emphasized. Flexibility and patient-directed care should be used in deciding care plans to avoid overhospitalization and promote alternative care.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1996

Z1046: biochemical characterization of its dopaminergic activity.

Affinity of Z1046 for dopamine receptor subtypes, its ability to modulate D1- and D5-mediated AC stimulation and D1-induced cAMP accumulation were evaluated. On D1-like receptors Z1046 and fenoldopam (fen) showed a similar high affinity, being more potent than DP-5,6-ADTN and 5,6-ADTN. For the D2-like receptors, the affinity rank orders were: D2: Z1046 > or = DP-5,6-ADTN > fen = 5,6-ADTN; D3: Z1046 > DP-5,6-ADTN > fen = 5,6-ADTN; D4: Z1046 = DP-5,6-ADTN > fen = 5,6-ADTN. In AC studies the rank order was: Z1046 = fen > DP-5,6-ADTN > 5,6-ADTN. Z1046 was more efficient than fen in stimulating cAMP accumulation. These results make Z1046 an innovative agent combining D1-like and D2-like activities.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Characterization of big endothelin-1-induced contraction in rabbit saphenous artery.

We have characterized the endothelin-converting enzyme (ECE)-like activity involved in big endothelin (ET)-1-induced contraction in rabbit saphenous artery (RSA). Big ET-1 30 nM caused a contraction that was independent of the vascular endothelium. Phosphoramidon and the neutral endopeptidase (NEP) inhibitors thiorphan and candoxatrilat blocked the vasoconstriction caused by big ET-1 in endothelium-denuded RSA. Candoxatrilat (IC50 17 nM) and thiorphan (IC50 2.5 nM), were 5- to 30-fold more potent than phosphoramidon (IC50 83 nM). Other protease inhibitors were inactive. In cultured endothelial cells the ET-1 release was inhibited only by phosphoramidon (IC50 16 microM) but at a concentration 200-fold that required an endothelium-denuded RSA. In conclusion, we can speculate that the big ET-1 contraction in RSA is mediated by an ECE, probably present on smooth muscle cells, which is susceptible to NEP inhibitors and is different from the ECE on endothelial cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Comparison between endogenous digoxin-like immunoreactivity and 86Rb uptake by erythrocytes in extracts of human plasma.

1. To investigate endogenous cardiac glycoside-like compounds in plasma and their ability to inhibit the sodium pump, digoxin-like immunoreactivity [digoxin-like immunoreactive substance(s), DLIS] and 86Rb uptake by erythrocytes were measured in plasma extracts from normal adults, hypertensive adults and neonates. 2. DLIS levels in neonate plasma extracts were significantly higher than those found for normotensive or hypertensive adults. No difference was observed between normotensive and hypertensive subjects. DLIS was significantly increased when boiled plasma was extracted. 3. Extracts of boiled neonate and adult plasma inhibited 86Rb uptake. Instead, when boiling was omitted, no detectable inhibition was found in extracts of plasma from normotensive or hypertensive adult subjects. When present, the inhibition resulted from a depression of the ouabain-sensitive (sodium-pump-mediated) component, and, for the boiled neonate plasma only, also of the ouabain-resistant component. When the data from the different groups were pooled, a statistically significant inverse relationship between DLIS and erythrocyte 86Rb uptake was observed. Furthermore, in a subgroup of samples in which determinations were made before and after boiling in the same samples, an inverse correlation was found between changes in DLIS and changes in ouabain-sensitive (but not ouabain-resistant) 86Rb uptake. 4. Plasma extracts incubated with albumin at a physiological concentration significantly decreased (by approximately 20%) the inhibition of 86Rb uptake observed. 5. These findings support the existence of one or more endogenous compounds which both bind to antidigoxin antibodies and inhibit transmembrane cation transport. Part of this inhibition may, however, not involve the sodium pump. Furthermore, this chemically unidentified substance(s) may be bound to plasma proteins which partly reduce its action in vivo.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Influence of ofloxacin and pefloxacin on human lymphocyte immunoglobulin secretion and on polymorphonuclear leucocyte superoxide anion production.

The influence of two fluoroquinolone derivatives, ofloxacin and pefloxacin, on lymphocyte immunoglobulin secretion and on polymorphonuclear leucocyte superoxide anion production was assessed. Pharmacological concentrations did not influence the studied functions, while suprapharmacological concentrations decreased immunoglobulin production.

Humans↗
PubMed1987

A study on the incidence of postoperative infections and surgical sepsis in a university hospital.

Reported are the results of a study on the incidence of nosocomial surgical infections in ten wards of the university hospital A. Gemelli, Rome. One thousand, five hundred five patients were studied and the overall incidence of surgical infections was 8.7%. Factors that influenced infection rates included age, immunosuppressive diseases, and immunosuppressive therapy. We assessed the inutility of antibiotic prophylaxis in clean operations and its usefulness in clean operations with insertion of prostheses or other devices. The importance of the duration of preoperative hospitalization and of the length of the operation were also noted. The most frequent etiological agents proved to be Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli. The average hospital stay for patients with surgical infection was more than double that of patients with no infection (25.7 days v 11.7 days).

Age Factors↗
PubMed1986

Correlations between digoxin-like immunoreactivity and electrolyte values in urinary samples of newborns.

Elevated levels of a group of substances with digoxin-like immunoreactivity (DLIS) are present in biological fluids of newborns. These endogenous substances could also have the biological properties of cardiac glycosides, such as natriuretic and vasoconstrictor activity. Therefore, DLIS could be involved in electrolyte and volume regulation in infants. We measured DLIS, electrolyte (Na+, K+, Cl-) and creatinine concentrations in 157 urine samples collected from full-term and preterm infants, with the aim to establish if a correlation exists between the urinary DLIS levels and the respective values of these electrolytes. Significant and positive correlations were found between the urinary concentrations of DLIS and electrolytes. In addition, electrolyte values correlated significantly between themselves. DLIS, K+ and Cl- values correlated positively with urinary creatinine concentrations (n = 142). A significant multiple correlation was found among DLIS concentrations and creatinine and Cl- values. We also studied the DLIS concentrations in serum samples collected at birth in peripheral blood of the mothers and in umbilical cord and gastric aspirate of 5 full-term infants. We observed that DLIS values in newborns are significantly higher than the respective values of the mothers. In conclusion, our data do not demonstrate a clear relationship between DLIS and electrolyte concentrations in urine samples of newborns. Further investigations are necessary to elucidate the biochemical and physiological properties of DLIS.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

[In vivo study in healthy volunteers on the effect of tetracycline and cotrimoxazole on chemiluminescence and granulocyte adhesion].

The influence of tetracycline and cotrimoxazole on polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL) chemiluminescence and adherence to nylon was investigated in vivo on healthy volunteers. A significant impairment of chemiluminescence and (although not statistically significant) an inhibitory effect on adherence to nylon was observed in subjects receiving tetracycline. Cotrimoxazole did not appear to have a significant influence on PMNL function.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

A study on the incidence of nosocomial infections in a large university hospital.

The results of a study on the incidence of nosocomial infections in a 1800 bed University hospital are reported. The study, carried out over a 9 months period, included: continuous microbiological surveillance, and a clinical and epidemiological survey. On the basis of the microbiological data collected and analyzed by a computer data system, developed and employed for the control of nosocomial infections, a weekly bed-to-bed survey was carried out by the staff of the Institute of Infectious Diseases. Among 2777 suspected nosocomial infections, as revealed by microbiological monitoring, 701 were confirmed after the bed-to-bed survey. The nosocomial infection rate was 6.75 per 100 discharges. It was higher in the surgical than in the medical wards (7.3 and 6 per 100 discharges, respectively). Nosocomial urinary tract infections were the most frequent (74.2%). The urinary infection rate was higher in the surgical than in the medical wards (5.3 and 4.6 per 100 discharges, respectively). Escherichia coli (19.4%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (19.3%), Proteus spp. (18.4%) were the pathogens most frequently associated with nosocomial infections. They were followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (7.8%) and Staphylococcus aureus (6.5%) in frequency. Among the risk factors, involved in nosocomial infections, the importance of catheterization was confirmed: among our patients with nosocomial urinary tract infections, 73.4% and 79.5%--in the medical and surgical wards, respectively--underwent urological instrumentation, mainly catheterization. An analogous and more detailed study is now in progress and will be extended in the next years.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Chromatographic characterization of endogenous digoxin-like immunoreactive substances present in serum and urine of infants using gel filtration with Sephadex G 25.

We assayed digoxin-like immunoreactivity in the serum of 19 healthy neonates (blood sample from umbilical cord), not receiving digoxin therapy, using a solid-phase radioimmunological method. In addition, urinary concentrations of a digoxin-like immunoreactive substance (DLIS) were assayed throughout the first 10 weeks of extrauterine life in 50 healthy infants. The mean (+/- SD) serum DLIS concentration obtained was 211 +/- 60 ng/l digoxin equivalents (d.e.) while, in the urinary samples of the first day of life, the mean concentration was 818 +/- 560 ng/l d.e. (n = 20). These DLIS values in infants were higher (about 5- to 10-fold) than those previously observed in adults. In addition, urinary DLIS values were very high in the first week of life and fell quite rapidly in the next weeks of life. We used serum and urine pools from neonates for gel filtration experiments using a Sephadex G 25 column. In the urine sample we found some immunoreactive peaks eluted at the end and after the region of salts, while the chromatographic profiles of the serum pool showed only a major peak eluted with the peak of proteins. After boiling, the same serum pool showed an elution pattern characterized by a smaller immunoreactive peak eluted with that of proteins and by other peaks similar to those observed for the urine sample. Our study demonstrated that a substance or more substances which cross-react with digoxin-specific antibodies are present in blood and urine of healthy infants. In addition, our chromatographic studies indicate that DLIS is probably a low molecular weight substance(s) which circulate(s) in blood bound to a higher molecular weight molecule.

Chromatography, Gel↗
PubMed1985

[Study of IgG antibodies to PPD with an immunoenzyme method (ELISA) in the serum of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis].

ELISA has been used for the detection of IgG antibodies against PPD in 48 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, in 10 individuals with previously treated tuberculosis and clinically recovered, in 22 PPD skin-test positive healthy volunteers and in 48 blood donors with unknown PPD skin-test. Positivity was obtained in 29 patients (83%) with active tuberculosis, in one patient (10%) with clinical recovery, in none of the healthy controls. This technique may have a potential diagnostic relevance in evaluating patients with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis.

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay↗
PubMed1984

[Analysis with immunofluorescence of antibodies attached to bacteria in urinary sediment in the diagnosis of the site of urinary infections].

The authors assess the sensitivity and specificity of the antibody-coated bacteria assay for the localization of urinary tract infections. The results are compared with those obtained from cultures of urine samples taken from the upper tract either by ureteral catheterization or by direct puncture of the renal pelvis. In upper urinary tract infections the research of total immunoglobulins has proven positive in 71.4% of the cases; of the IgA class in 71.4%; of the IgG class in 57.1%; of the IgM class in 28.6% and of the secretory component of IgA in 60% of the patients. In case of lower urinary tract infections the research of total immunoglobulins was positive in 25% of the cases: that of the IgA class in 8.3%; of the IgG in 25%; of the IgM in 25% and of the secretory component of IgA in 22.2% of patients.

Diagnosis, Differential↗