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Biomedical subjects

M Sebastiani

Publications and source records attributed to M Sebastiani.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Prostate-specific antigen expression in a case of intracystic carcinoma of the breast: characterization of immunoreactive protein and literature surveys.

A case is presented of female breast intracystic carcinoma with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) expressed in high amounts in aspirated cystic fluid (55 micrograms/L). Tumor extract analysis revealed the presence of both estrogen and progesterone receptors (0.38 and 1.87 nmol/L, respectively) and high quantities of PSA too (19.52 micrograms/L). Chromatographic analysis of cystic fluid revealed two peaks of PSA, at the expected positions for free and bound serine protease. A major proportion of 33-kDa free from was also confirmed by Western blotting analysis. Free PSA was heat-stable at 56 degrees C and displayed no change after freezing-thawing. These findings are discussed in the context of a detailed literature survey. Our data support the contention that PSA immunoreactivity in intracystic fluid of breast carcinoma is partly the result of secretory activity by the neoplastic cells and that the steroid receptors can also modulate its expression.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

[Protection of mangroves in Venezuela and its impact on environment management: retrospective].

In Venezuela, the law protects mangroves specifically. This paper is a retrospective review of the existing regulations on mangrove to find out: how has it been protected?; which have been the results of different approaches followed to do so?; which could be the problems for its protection in the near future? The result from the analysis indicates that regulations should not protect a specific mangrove species. The focal point on the regulation should be the protection of mangrove, as well as the vital relationships between this landscape unit and the existing others. Therefore, decisions of mangrove should be proposed as part of a plan for the basin where it belongs. Intervention on mangrove must be based on expert judgement, due to high uncertainty about the success of corrective or mitigative actions.

Conservation of Natural Resources↗
PubMed1993

Alkalinization improves the quality of lidocaine-fentanyl epidural anaesthesia for caesarean section.

This double-blind randomized study of 116 healthy women was undertaken to evaluate whether alkalinization potentiated the analgesic effects of epidural fentanyl-lidocaine for elective Caesarean section. After a test-dose of 3 ml, lidocaine 2% with adrenaline 1:200,000, all patients received 100 micrograms, fentanyl in 5 ml saline and they were then divided into two groups, to receive incremental doses of 5 ml lidocaine 2% with adrenaline 1:200,000 with or without 0.1 mEq.ml-1 sodium bicarbonate, to obtain anaesthesia to T4. The addition of bicarbonate to lidocaine resulted in a mean (SD) pH increase from 6.58 (0.01) to 7.14 (0.02) and in a mean PCO2 increase from 3.8 (0.8) to 345.1 (5.9) mmHg. Onset of sensory analgesia to the S1 segment as well as the interval between the block and the delivery of the baby were shorter in the bicarbonate group (respectively 15.4 (6.9) vs 18.9 (4.8) min and 28.9 (9.5) versus 33.9 (11.8) min; P < 0.01 and 0.05). No differences were noted in the onset to T4 or in the degree of motor block. The percentage of patients experiencing pain during surgery and requiring intravenous analgesics was higher in the group which did not receive bicarbonate (3% vs 16%; P < 0.05). There were no differences in intraoperative maternal side-effects, neonatal outcome or in maternal venous and umbilical venous and arterial lidocaine concentrations between the groups. The concentrations of fentanyl in maternal plasma, umbilical artery, and the umbilical artery to maternal vein ratio were greater in the alkalinized group (P < 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Further considerations on the changing face of pneumonia in Marche Region (central Adriatic coast of Italy).

The present paper provides a more detailed review of some themes already discussed in previous papers concerning the changing face of pneumonia in an area of the central Adriatic coast of Italy, including an ex novo examination of the correlations between radiological findings and serological groups not previously reported. The discussion concentrates particularly on some questions raised by the research, such as the apparent rarity of pneumococcus, the elevated number of seronegatives appearing as atypical pneumonia, the high percentage of "bacterial-type" cases occurring among the viral-like, and the therapeutic problem.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1992

Ventilatory effects of subarachnoid fentanyl in the elderly.

Twenty-eight elderly patients scheduled for urological surgery were randomly assigned to receive, in a double-blind study, subarachnoid hyperbaric bupivacaine 15 mg with 50 micrograms (group A, n = 7), 25 micrograms (group B, n = 7), or 12.5 micrograms (group C, n = 7) of fentanyl or 1 ml of saline (group D, n = 7) in a total volume of 4 ml. The pattern of breathing and the ventilatory response to CO2 were studied before and 90, 150 and 480 min after the subarachnoid injection. In group A, mild pruritus and sedation occurred in five patients, while nausea, vomiting and periodic breathing occurred in two. In group B, mild pruritus and sedation were observed in four patients, while nausea and vomiting occurred in two. No significant differences in minute ventilation, respiratory drive and respiratory timing were observed between the groups. Patients receiving fentanyl 50 micrograms showed a percentual change from baseline values as function of time (slope VE/PE'CO2) significantly below baseline at 90 and 150 min (p less than 0.05). However, the baseline values in this group reverted after 480 min. No side effects were observed in groups C or D. It is concluded that subarachnoid fentanyl 50 micrograms can cause an early respiratory depression and its use as a postoperative analgesic should be avoided in the elderly.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Propofol and thiopentone for caesarean section revisited: maternal effects and neonatal outcome.

In 56 women undergoing elective caesarean section, general anaesthesia was induced with either propofol 1% or thiopentone 2.5% followed by 50% nitrous oxide in oxygen and isoflurane 0.75% until delivery. In the thiopentone group the arterial pressure rose following tracheal intubation and skin incision, while in the propofol group there was a significant tendency to hypotension immediately following induction of anaesthesia. There were differences in electroencephalogram (EEG) between the groups, while laryngoscopy, intubation and surgical stimulation had no effect on EEG pattern. Recovery after anaesthesia did not differ between groups. None of the patients had recall of the intraoperative period, but 53% of patients induced with propofol showed signs of light anaesthesia between induction and delivery. Neonates in the propofol group had lower Apgar scores 1 min after birth than those in the thiopentone group, but these differences were no longer significant at 5 min. No differences were noted in neurobehavioural status at 1, 4 and 24 h.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1991

[Post-operative analgesia with sub-arachnoid fentanyl: ventilatory effects in elderly patients].

Twenty eight elderly patients scheduled for urologic surgery were randomly assigned to receive in a double blind fashion subarachnoid hyperbaric bupivacaine 15 mg with the addition of 50 micrograms (group A, n = 7), 25 micrograms (group B, n = 7), 12.5 micrograms (group C, n = 7), of fentanyl or 1 ml of saline (group D, n = 7) for a total volume of 4 ml. The pattern of breathing and the ventilatory response to CO2 were studied before 90, 150, 480 minutes after the subarachnoid injection. In group A mild pruritus and sedation occurred in 5 patients, nausea, vomiting and periodic breathing occurred in 2 patients. In group B mild pruritus and sedation were observed in 4 patients, nausea, vomiting in 2 patients. No significant changes in VE, Vt/Ti and Ti/Ttot were observed between the groups. Patients receiving 50 micrograms of fentanyl showed a slope VE/PET CO2 significantly below baseline values at 90 and 150 minutes (p less than 0.05). In this group the baseline values were restored after 480 minutes. No side effects were observed in group C and D. 25 micrograms fo fentanyl is the only dose with a significant analgesic effect without any respiratory depression.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

[Abnormal coronary vasomotility in subjects with normal coronary arteries and reduced reserve of coronary flow].

A reduced coronary flow reserve has been reported in patients with ischemia-like symptoms and normal coronary arteries. In 13 such subjects both coronary vasomotion and flow reserve were studied. The luminal area of the proximal and distal third of the left anterior descending and left circumflex artery were determined by biplane quantitative coronary arteriography using a computer-assisted system. Subjects were studied at rest, during submaximal supine bicycle exercise (4.0 min, 116 W) and 5 min after sublingual administration of 1.6 mg nitroglycerin. Heart rate, mean pulmonary and aortic pressure as well as the percent change of both proximal and distal luminal area were determined. In 10 of the 13 subjects, coronary sinus blood flow was measured by coronary sinus thermodilution technique at rest and after dipyridamole infusion (0.5 mg/Kg in 15 min) 10 +/- 5 days after quantitative coronary arteriography. Coronary flow ratio (dipyridamole/rest) and coronary resistance ratio (rest/dipyridamole) were determined in these subjects. Subjects were divided into 2 groups according to the behaviour of the coronary vessels during exercise (vasodilation = Group 1, vasoconstriction = Group 2). Coronary vasodilation of the proximal (luminal area + 26%; p less than 0.001) and distal (+ 45%; p less than 0.001) artery was observed in 7 subjects (Group 1) during exercise and after sublingual nitroglycerin (+46%; p less than 0.001 and +99%; p less than 0.001, respectively). In Group 2 (n = 6), however, there was coronary vasoconstriction of the distal vessel segments (-24%; p less than 0.001) during exercise, whereas the proximal coronary artery showed vasodilation (+ 26%; p less than 0.001) during exercise. Following sublingual nitroglycerin, both vessel segments elicited vasodilation (distal coronary + 44%; p less than 0.001, proximal coronary artery +47%; p less than 0.001). Coronary flow ratio amounted to 2.5 in Group 1 and to 1.2 in Group 2 (p less than 0.05) and coronary resistance ratio to 2.7 in Group 1 and to 1.2 in Group 2 (p less than 0.05), respectively. Thus, among subjects with ischemia-like symptoms and normal coronary arteries there is a subgroup of patients (Group 2) with an abnormal dilator response of the distal coronary arteries to the physiologic dilator stimulus of exercise and a reduced dilator capacity of the resistance vessels after dipyridamole (= abnormal coronary vasodilator syndrome). The nature of this exercise-induced distal coronary vasoconstriction is not clear but might be due to an abnormal neurohumoral tone which may cause or contribute to the blunted vascular response during exercise.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Adenine and pyridine nucleotides in the red blood cells of subjects with solid tumors.

The concentration of adenine (ATP, ADP, AMP) and pyridine (NADP+, NADPH, NAD+, NADH) nucleotides in the erythrocytes of subjects affected by solid tumors was evaluated using a method which allows their simultaneous extraction and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis. The results showed a lower level of ATP in the erythrocytes of subjects affected by solid tumors, whereas no significant modifications were observed in the other compounds. In fact, the mean value of ATP in these subjects was 27% lower than that of normal adults. This fact is discussed in relation to other enzymatic and metabolic modifications previously observed in red blood cells.

Adenine Nucleotides↗
PubMed1987

Solid tumors and enzyme activity in human lymphocytes.

A study on the enzyme activity of glucose metabolism in the lymphocytes of patients with solid malignant tumors is reported. The results have shown a 30% mean increase of the hexokinase (HK) activity in patients with solid malignant tumors as compared to the mean value observed in a group of healthy subjects. A relationship between level of HK increase and stage of tumor was also observed. The other examined enzyme activities, phosphofructokinase (PFK), pyruvate-kinase (PK), phosphoglycerate-kinase (PGK), phosphoglucoisomerase (PGI), glyceraldehyde-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPD) glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6PD), 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6-PGD) and enolase did not show significant changes. It is concluded that even though the use of HK as tumor marker cannot be hypothesized at the present time, a significant relation between an increased activity of this enzyme and presence of the tumor is unquestionable. Therefore, this biochemical effect induced away from the neoplastic tissue deserves further study.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1987

Conservative treatment in the clinical stage T1N0 of breast cancer.

A 18-year experience with 643 cases operated for breast cancer is reported. 161 cases belonged to the clinical stage T1N0: 78 underwent modified radical mastectomy (group 1) and 83 underwent conservative surgery (group 2). Conservative treatment consisted in quadrantectomy and axillary dissection of 1st, 2nd and 3rd level with postoperative radiotherapy (5000 rad). Within the two groups the patient's characteristics were homogeneous with juxtaposable curves of overall and disease-free survival after modified radical mastectomy and after conservative surgery. In 15.38% of cases undergoing modified radical mastectomy and in 13.25% of cases undergoing quadrantectomy, histologic examination showed the presence of lymph node metastases (pT1N1) not identified at the clinical examination. The analysis of results showed that early neoplastic recurrence is almost exclusively limited to cases pN1, but the fall in the survival curve it similar in group 1 as well as in group 2. Therefore it should be understood that the prognostic risk is related to positive lymph nodes and not to the chosen treatment. Postoperative complications, irrelevant in group 1, tend to disappear in group 2. The cosmetic result after conservative surgery was excellent in 37.3%, satisfactory in 54.2% and poor in 8.4% of cases, respectively.

Adult↗