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Biomedical subjects

M Marchese

Publications and source records attributed to M Marchese.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Role of desmopressin in the treatment of a case of septic shock refractory to catecholamines.

The authors describe a case of septic shock refractory to high-dose catecholamines after adequate volemic filling, rapidly corrected with the administration of desmopressin at a dose of 0.02 U/min. There are, in the literature, several cases of septic shock refractory to high-dose catecholamines successfully treated with arginine-vasopressin, a selective V1 agonist. This agent can potentially induce coronary vasoconstriction and presents a very difficult weaning, that imposes a slow reduction of the infusion amount. On the contrary, desmopressin does not present those adverse effects and is able to maintain a high renal blood flow, for its prevalent action on V2 instead of V1 receptors.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

[Treatment of the ingrown toenail by phenol cauterization (ASLUF)].

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and the ethiopatogenetic aspects of the ingrown toenail, treated by usual surgical technique versus phenol wedge cauterization (ASLUF). METHODS: From June 1990 to June 1999, 388 patients (218 male and 170 female patients, age range 9-90 years) were treated by 413 wedge ablation, surgical or chemical. After the operation, patients were controlled after 2 days, 1 week, 1 month, 6 months and 1 year. 109 patients were treated by usual surgical treatment, 260 patients by phenol cauterization (ASLUF), 19 by total ablation. RESULTS: 23 patients presented again ingrown toenail in the same place after few months, 20 patients after surgical treatment and 3 patients after phenol cauterization. All 23 patients were treated again without problems. CONCLUSIONS: In our personal opinion, the treatment of ingrown toenail is necessary soon, without the routine use of antibiotic therapy and the total ablation of the nail is not necessary. On this basis phenol wedge cauterization is the most suitable treatment for ingrown toenail with good cosmetic results, lower recurrence rate and from the functional point of view.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Treatment of v-Ki-ras-transformed SVC1 cells with low retinoic acid induces malignancy reversion associated with ras p21 down-regulation.

The effect of nontoxic, low concentrations (10(-8) M) of retinoic acid (RA) for a relatively long time (28 days) on a Kirsten ras-virus transformed cell line (Ki-SVC1), derived from the rat seminal vesicle epithelium, was investigated. In these experimental conditions, the cell treatment with RA induced a decrease of the proliferation rate, apoptosis and a marked reduction of both anchorage-independent growth and tumorigenicity. These biological responses were either preceded or associated with important changes in adenylate cyclase/protein kinase C signaling pathways, the activation of important apoptosis-linked genes and a marked decrease of the v-Ki-ras p21 protein. The significance of these findings is discussed.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed2000

Inhibition of antithrombin by protein SV-IV normalizes the coagulation of hemophilic blood.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of the protein Seminal Vesicle Protein No. 4 (SV-IV), a potent inhibitor of antithrombin III (antithrombin), on the coagulation of blood obtained from patients affected by hemophilia A. In the coagulating blood of these patients, the antithrombin/thrombin ratio was found to be markedly higher (about 44) than in normal individuals (about 4. 4). This high ratio was related to the low efficiency of thrombin-generating reactions induced by the factor VIII deficiency and to the high levels of free (not bound to serine proteases) antithrombin present in the hemophilic serum (antithrombin concentration was the same in normal and hemophilic plasma). The elevated concentration of free antithrombin in hemophiliacs was primarily a consequence of a reduced consumption caused by the scarce availability in the hemophilic serum of factors Xa and IIa, which are serine proteases possessing strong binding affinity for antithrombin. Addition of SV-IV to coagulating hemophilic blood reduced markedly the serum antithrombin and thrombin-antithrombin complexes, normalizing, as a consequence, the clotting time and other coagulation parameters. Similar results were obtained by using appropriate concentration of factor VIII.

Antithrombin III↗
PubMed2000

Dynamics of the reactivity to MBP in multiple sclerosis.

Though many lines of evidence support the importance of myelin basic protein (MBP) in the pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), its role in multiple sclerosis (MS) is still debated as well as the significance of epitope spreading in disease progression. We characterised the response to MBP in eight MS subjects and three of these were followed over time. In one case, the follow up lasted over a 6-year period. Clonal expansion, clonal persistence and epitope spreading against other MBP determinants was detected irrespective of disease course. In one patient we identified a novel T-cell receptor variable gene (BV28S2) which may be involved in the selection of MBP determinants, as suggested by experiments performed in the presence of mismatched antigen presenting cells (APC) between two subjects compatible for HLA-DR2 subtype but differing for the epitope recognised. Our findings do not sustain a role for the response to MBP effecting on clinical course and suggest that a novel TCR gene may be involved in the recognition of unusual self antigens.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Genotoxicity testing of potassium canrenoate in cultured rat and human cells.

Potassium canrenoate (PC), a competitive aldosterone antagonist used as a diuretic and in the treatment of hypertension, was examined for its capacity to produce genotoxic effects in cultured rat and human cells. At subtoxic concentrations (10-90 microM) PC was found to induce a dose-dependent degree of DNA fragmentation, as detected by the Comet assay, and of DNA repair synthesis, as measured by quantitative autoradiography, in primary cultures of hepatocytes from rat and human donors of both genders. In rat hepatocytes both DNA fragmentation and DNA repair were more marked after 3 h than after 20 h exposure and in cultures from females than from males. In human hepatocytes from one male and two female donors, PC caused a similar effect in terms of DNA fragmentation, whereas DNA repair was detected in cultures from only two of the same three donors and was less marked than in rat hepatocytes. A modest but statistically significant increase in micronucleated cells was present in primary cultures of replicating rat hepatocytes exposed to 10 or 30 microM PC for 48 h, the response being, in this case also, more evident in females than in males. In contrast, PC did not induce micronucleus formation in human hepatocytes from two female donors. Any evidence of DNA fragmentation and micronucleus formation was absent in cultured human lymphocytes. Taken as a whole these findings support the hypothesis that hepatocytes activate PC to DNA-damaging reactive species. PC induced the observed genotoxic effects at concentrations close to those produced in humans by the administration of therapeutic doses, but these effects were as a whole more marked in rat than in human hepatocytes. Since PC shares the 17-hydroxy-3-oxopregna-4,6-diene structure with cyproterone acetate, chlormadinone acetate and megestrol acetate, previously found to be genotoxic to both rat and human hepatocytes, the potential carcinogenic hazard of this type of steroids cannot be neglected.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Muscle test comparisons of congruent and incongruent self-referential statements.

This study investigated differences in values of manual muscle tests after exposure to congruent and incongruent semantic stimuli. Muscle testing with a computerized dynamometer was performed on the deltoid muscle group of 89 healthy college students after repetitions of congruent (true) and incongruent (false) self-referential statements. The order in which statements were repeated was controlled by a counterbalanced design. The combined data showed that approximately 17% more total force over a 59% longer period of time could be endured when subjects repeated semantically congruent statements (p < .001). Order effects were not significant. Over-all, significant differences were found in muscle-test responses between congruent and incongruent semantic stimuli.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Personality assessment of patients with complex regional pain syndrome type I.

OBJECTIVE: There is controversy regarding the importance of psychological/psychiatric factors in the development of the Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). Our objective was to determine whether CRPS type I patients were psychiatrically different from other chronic pain patients, with particular attention to personality pathology. DESIGN: A standardized clinical assessment of all major psychiatric categories, including personality disorders, was performed on 25 CRPS type I patients and a control group of 25 patients with chronic low back pain from disc-related radiculopathy. MEASURES: Both sections of the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (3rd ed., rev.) and the visual analog scale. RESULTS: Both groups were similar in terms of pain intensity and duration. Statistical analysis showed both groups to have a significant amount of major psychiatric comorbidity, in particular major depressive disorder, and a high incidence of personality disorders. Therefore, intense chronic pain was associated with significant psychiatric comorbidity in both groups and in similar proportions. CONCLUSION: The high incidence of personality pathology in both groups may represent an exaggeration of maladaptive personality traits and coping styles as a result of a chronic, intense, state of pain.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Giant diverticulum of the duodenum. Case report].

The authors describe the case of a 49-year-old man with a giant diverticulum of the duodenum, with apparently scarce symptoms, pointed out by gastroscopy and X-ray of the upper gastrointestinal duct with barium meal. The removal of the lesion, obtained after surgical operation, showed a diverticulum with a 6 cm diameter, with signs of diverticulitis; the histological test did not point out is degenerative lesions. A survey of the recent literature on the matter is presented.

Diverticulum↗
PubMed1997

SV-IV, a major protein secreted from rat seminal vesicle epithelium, promotes lymphocyte cytotoxic activity against the lymphoblastoid Raji cell line in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

The treatment of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with micromolar concentrations of SV-IV, a major protein secreted from the rat seminal vesicle epithelium, promotes in this cell population a marked cytotoxic activity against the Raji lymphoblastoid cell line. This activity is apparently due to cell-to-cell contact interactions. The expression of HLA DR on Raji cells has a modulatory effect on the SV-IV-induced cytotoxic activity. The experimental evidence strongly suggests that the cytotoxic effector cells are functionally activated NK cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

A peptide derivative (1-70 fragment) of protein SV-IV accelerates human blood coagulation in vitro by selective inhibition of the heparin-induced antithrombin III activation process.

The effect of two peptide derivatives of the rat SV-IV (SV-IV/A: 1-70 fragment; SV-IV/B: 71-90 fragment) on human blood coagulation was investigated. The SV-IV/A fragment was found to possess the same procoagulant activity of the native protein, whereas SV-IV/B retained only a very small fraction of the activity. The results obtained strongly suggest that the procoagulant activity of SV-IV/A is due, like SV-IV, to a selective inhibition of the antithrombin III (AT III) activation process induced by heparin, an essential cofactor of AT III. The main data supporting this hypothesis are the following: 1) the concentration of active serum AT III decreases when SV-IV/A is present in the clotting system; 2) the plasma treatment with SV-IV/A reduces the concentration of AT III, but not that of other plasma serine protease inhibitors; 3) the recalcification time (RT) of the plasma treated with a rabbit anti-AT III polyclonal antiserum is not modified by SV-IV/A; 4) the presence of SV-IV/A in a reaction mixture containing pure fibrinogen, alpha-thrombin, heparin, and AT III neutralizes the thrombin inhibition induced by AT III; 5) the concentration of the thrombin-AT III complexes, occurring in sera obtained from CaCl2-coagulated plasma, is markedly reduced in the presence of SV-IV/A; 6) appropriate concentrations of heparin neutralize the inhibitory effect of either SV-IV/A or SV-IV on the AT III activity in vitro.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

[Rupture of the duodenum caused by closed abdominal trauma].

A duodenal lesion due to blunt abdominal trauma is an infrequent eventi which makes important diagnostic and therapeutic problems. The preoperative diagnosis is not always easy, especially with retroperitoneal lesion or in injured patients. A plain abdominal radiography or a duodenal radiography with soluble contrast medium helps to achieve a proper diagnosis. Prognosis strictly depends on time between injury and surgical procedures. We report two successfully treated lesions of fourth duodenal due to a blunt abdominal trauma.

Abdominal Injuries↗
PubMed1993

ras oncogene-induced transformation of a rat seminal vesicle epithelial cell line produces a marked increase of adenylate cyclase and protein kinase C activities.

Cells transformed by Kirsten murine sarcoma virus (Ki-MSV) have basal adenylate cyclase activity (AC) higher than control cells and comparable level of forskolin-stimulated AC activity. Moreover, a higher protein kinase C (PKC) activity was found to be present in the transformed cells. The molecular mechanism underlying the increase of AC activity was investigated. Our findings strongly suggest that this biochemical event is due to a marked decrease of the alpha i negative control of the enzyme, even though the alpha i of transformed cells appears to possess fully functional domains interacting with both the effector enzyme and the agonist-activated receptor.

Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose↗
PubMed1991

Insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia induce hyperandrogenism in a young type B insulin-resistant female.

An adolescent female with type B insulin resistance and hyperandrogenemia is described. Evidence presented suggests that hyperinsulinemia leads to an increase in serum total and free testosterone. Support for this hypothesis is noted during an in vivo experiment in which large doses of regular insulin (305 U/kg-day) were infused iv, and multiple serum total testosterone measurements obtained. After 35 days of iv insulin therapy, the serum total testosterone values rose from 4.9 nmol/L (142 ng/dL) to 22.8 nmol/L (660 ng/dL), and the ovarian volume increased 2-fold. Basal (9.8 nmol/L; 282 ng/dL) and stimulated (16.8 nmol/L; 481 ng/dL) androstenedione measurements were elevated, and the dehydroepiandrosterone/androstenedione ratio was low, suggesting increased 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity. After resolution of the insulin-resistant state and the concomitant hyperinsulinemia, the serum total testosterone values returned to normal. This case illustrates that long term hyperinsulinemia leads to elevation of serum total testosterone.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Transglutaminase in cell proliferation and transformation.

Transglutaminase (TGase) activity was reduced in intact mitogen-stimulated human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) when compared to intact resting PBL. Moreover, a treatment of the same quiescent immunocompetent cells with purified liver TGase and Ca2+ completely suppressed the mitogen-induced blast transformation. A decrease in TGase activity in neoplastically transformed seminal vesicle epithelial cells with respect to their normal parent counterpart was also observed. Our data support the notion of a possible implication of TGase in cell proliferation and transformation.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Low-dose rate irradiation.

There are a number of rather obvious conclusions from these experimental data that have implications in clinical radiotherapy: (1) Survival curves for cells of human origin, in general, have a smaller initial shoulder and exhibit greater sensitivity to ionizing radiation than cells of rodent origin. (2) Nevertheless, the response of human cells to gamma-rays, in a fractionated or low-dose schedule, is dominated by repair. (3) Radiosensitivity, as well as the repair of sublethal damage as evidenced by the dose rate effect, is very similar for a range of normal human cells, including skin and lung fibroblasts, as well as endothelial cells from umbilical cord veins. (4) Human tumor cells are much more variable than normal cells in radiosensitivity, and in the repair of sublethal damage, evident in the dose rate effect. Some show a smaller, and some show a larger dose rate effect than normal cells. (5) Consequently, the use of a large number of fractions, as for example in hyperfractionation regimens, is contraindicated in those tumors that show repair factors larger than for normal tissues; though of course it is a substantial advantage in other cases.

DNA Repair↗