[Use of prostaglandin F2 alpha in pregnancy at term and beyond term].
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Adult↗
Biomedical subjects
M Fiorini
Publications and source records attributed to M Fiorini.
Impaired glutathione reductase activity and levels of collagenase and elastase in synovial fluid in rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE: To test the activity of elastase, collagenase and glutathione reductase in the synovial fluid (SF) of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and in patients with osteoarthritis (OA); to correlate the elastase and collagenase activity with the glutathione reductase activity, which is important for the inactivation of oxygen free radicals. METHODS: 24 patients affected by osteoarthrosis and 24 patients affected by rheumatoid arthritis took part in the study. We measured elastase activity towards the substrate metoxysuccinyl-alanyl-alanyl-prolyl-valyl-p-nitroanilide (MeOSuc-ala-ala-proval-p-NA) which is highly specific for elastase, and insensitive to the other serine proteases, such as cathepsin G; collagenase activity was measured using [14C]-acetylated collagen as the substrate. Glutathione reductase activity was measured following the oxidation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate reduced (NADPH) in the presence of oxidized glutathione (GSSG). RESULTS: The concentrations of elastase, collagenase and glutathione reductase were statistically higher in patients with RA than in patients with OA. Moreover, in the SF of patients with RA we found positive correlation between enzyme activity levels. CONCLUSION: These results confirm a high activity of collagenase and elastase in the SF of patients with RA, which is about 30 times higher than that found in the SF of patients with OA. These data underline the synergic action of these enzymes in the pathogenesis of joint damage. RA patients also exhibit higher levels of glutathione reductase, which is important for the detoxification pathway of oxygen free radicals. However, compared with findings for collagenase and elastase, the increase in glutathione reductase is only three times higher than level found in the SF of OA patients. The limited increase in glutathione reductase activity during the inflammatory process might lead to an insufficient protective effect at the joint level in rheumatoid arthritis.
Adult↗
Tissue engineering for cartilage repair: in vitro properties of a hyaluronan-derivative.
Association of biomaterials with autologous cells can provide a new generation of implantable devices for cartilage and bone repair. Such scaffolds should provide a performed three-dimensional shape, prevent cells from floating out of the defect, have sufficient mechanical strength, facilitate uniform spread of cells, and stimulate the phenotype of transplanted cells. Hyaff-11 is a recently developed hyaluronic-acid based biodegradable polymer, that has been shown to provide successful cell scaffolds for tissue-engineered repair. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro the potential of Hyaff-11 to support the growth of human chondrocytes and to maintain their original phenotype. Our data indicate that human chondrocytes seeded on Hyaff-11 express and produce collagen type II and aggrecan and downregulate the production of collagen type I. These results provide an in vitro demonstration of therapeutic potential of Hyaff-11 as a delivery vehicle in tissue-engineered repair of articular cartilage defects.
Adolescent↗
[Two cases of accidental hypothermia].
We report two cases of accidental and moderate hypothermia in drug/addict subjects who came to our attention in coma, shock and respiratory distress, metabolic acidosis and characteristic ECG alterations. We used the methods of minimal invasivity to rewarm them, with good results. The two cases had a different clinical course: the first one presented some important cardiac and respiratory problems, that required 30 days of permanence in our ICU, while the second one had a quick resolution. We believe that the critical time for arrhythmias goes beyond the hypothermic period.
Adult↗