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Biomedical subjects

P Bramanti

Publications and source records attributed to P Bramanti.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Effects of felbamate on brain polyamine changes following transient cerebral ischemia in the Mongolian gerbil.

We sought to determine whether treatment with felbamate was capable to reduce the accumulation of putrescine induced by transient forebrain ischemia in the Mongolian gerbil. Gerbils underwent 10 min ligation of common carotid arteries followed by recirculation. Immediately after the release of the arterial occlusion, felbamate (75 and 150 mg kg(-1) i.p.) was administered. Putrescine and polyamine levels were measured in hippocampus and striatum at 1, 8, 24 and 48 h after recirculation. Putrescine levels appeared enhanced already 8 h after the release of the arterial occlusion and kept increasing up to 48 h in the hippocampus and striatum. No significant changes in spermidine levels during recirculation were detected. Conversely, spermine appeared to decrease in the hippocampus while it did not show changes in the striatum. Felbamate significantly reduced the ischemia induced changes in putrescine brain content only at the dose of 150 mg kg(-1) i.p.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Changes in somatosensory evoked potentials following forebrain ischemia in the gerbils: effects of felbamate.

Somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) as well as change following transient cerebral ischemia in the gerbil were characterized in this study. SEPs were measured in each gerbil before ischemia (day -1), during ischemia, 10 min, 2, 4, 8, 24, 48 h and 8 days after recirculation. During bilateral carotid occlusion, SEP amplitude was dramatically reduced and central conduction time was significantly increased. During recirculation these values showed an improvement when compared to ischemic but not to control values. Moreover at 8 days of recirculation they were still statistically different from control values. Felbamate administration at the dose of 150 mg kg(-1), immediately after recirculation was shown to ameliorate neurophysiological recovery following cerebral ischemia.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Immunohistochemical study of epidermal nerve fibres in involved and uninvolved psoriatic skin using confocal laser scanning microscopy.

Psoriasis is a typical hyperproliferative epidermal disease whose aetiopathogenesis is still to be defined. One of the most likely hypotheses is that it has a neurogenic origin correlated with an altered release of some neuropeptides by sensitive cutaneous nerves via antidromic pathways. As there are conflicting reports about the existence of cutaneous nerve alterations in psoriasis, we carried out an immunolocalization study using the protein gene product 9.5 as a marker for neuronal structures observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy in order to determine the pattern of sensory nerves in psoriatic skin. The investigation was carried out on cutaneous biopsies taken from involved (mature and long-established lesions) and uninvolved skin of ten patients with extensive chronic plaque psoriasis. In uninvolved psoriatic skin a significant decrease in epidermal nerve fibres was found, a further decrease was observed in mature lesions and almost a complete lack of epidermal nerve fibres in long-established psoriatic lesions. The reduction in epidermal nerve fibres and the consequent loss of relationship between these nerve structures and the skin immunocompetent cells (antigen-presenting cells, Langerhans cells, keratinocytes) might be a factor of fundamental importance in the self-maintenance of the disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Epileptic seizure associated with intracerebroventricular and intrathecal morphine bolus.

We report on two patients with morphine-related seizures associated with either intrathecal or intracerebroventricular administration. Both patients had a history of malignant tumor and both experienced the seizures following bolus application of morphine, while even higher dosages were well tolerated when continuously infused. Seizures occurred without signs of intoxication. Initiation of intrathecal morphine therapy and bolus application should be performed carefully and only when constant monitoring is provided for at least 12 h. Animal data and possible mechanisms for morphine-related seizures are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Enhanced spasticity in primary progressive MS patients treated with interferon beta-1b.

Spasticity is a disabling symptom of MS that is enhanced during interferon beta-lb (IFNbeta-1b) treatment. Nineteen patients with primary progressive MS were treated with IFNbeta-1b; an additional 19 patients did not receive this treatment. Thirteen of the 19 patients treated with IFNbeta-1b had increased spasticity requiring increased antispasticity drug administration. This observation suggests that further studies are needed before interferons can be so widely used in primary progressive MS patients.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1997

The first in vivo experience of the effects of the continuous intrathecal infusion of clonidine on the locus coeruleus in the regulation of cerebral blood flow: a TCD study.

UNLABELLED: This was a study of the action of continuous intrathecal clonidine infusion on the locus coeruleus in the regulation of cerebral blood flow (CBF) by means of a test of the activation of the locus coeruleus (cold pressure test, CPT). METHOD: The effects on CBF of intrathecal clonidine used for analgesic purposes in a patient with a chronic painful benign syndrome were studied by means of transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD) before and after administering the CPT. RESULTS: TCD with the infusion device activated revealed an increase in CBF velocities compared with those recorded when the device was inactivated. During CPT with the infusion device inactivated, TCD showed a decrease in CBF velocity: this decrease was less when the device was activated. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the intracerebral vascular responses induced by CPT and intrathecal clonidine infusion may be related to a sympathetic regulating mechanism of cerebral vascularization, possibly mediated by locus coeruleus.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Immunolocalization of the costameres in human skeletal muscle fibers: confocal scanning laser microscope investigations.

BACKGROUND: The costameres in skeletal muscle fibers were first described by Pardo et al. (1983a) and have been defined as transverse circumferential elements of the cytoskeleton associated to the sarcolemma. Specific immunostaining for vinculin shows that the costameres overlie I bands. However, an exact correlation between the costameres and the Z line is uncertain, although approximately 10 proteins so far have been localized in the costameres. To define the exact localization of costameres in human skeletal muscle fibers, we carried out an immunofluorescence study using confocal scanning laser microscopy on the fascia lata muscle of adult males. METHODS: Samples were fixed in 3% paraformaldehyde; frozen sections were treated with antivinculin, antitalin, antidesmin, and anti-alpha-actinin, then immunostained with TRITC. For double localization, the TRITC-streptavidin, as a marker for vinculin and FITC-streptavidin a marker for desmin, were used. RESULTS: The distance between two subsequent transverse lines of actininf indicated that muscle fibers were well stretched. Processing, with different software functions of the images obtained using CLSM, shows that vinculin and talin are only present in the sarcolemmal lattice. Immunostaining for vinculin and double immunostaining for vinculin and desmin demonstrate that costameres superimpose underlying I bands without interruption at the Z line. Immunostaining for talin showed that the protein is located in correspondence with the I band and M line. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that costameres are "proteic machinery." The findings of the present study suggest that it is possible to determine the width and the period of each proteic component. In addition, we indicate that costameres are present in correspondence with M line.

Actinin↗
PubMed1994

Sleep spindles in the initial stages of the vegetative state.

The aim of this study was to look for the presence of spindling in the different stages of remission of the vegetative state to underline all possible correlations with lesional sites, severity of coma and final outcome. The nocturnal polygraphic recordings from 30 patients were examined: 20 (15M, 5F, mean age 31.7 years, range 16-41) had originally suffered a traumatic brain injury, 10 (4M, 6F, mean age 40.5 years, range 24-48) had hypoxic brain lesions. Evidence of spindling, always reduced in density and duration, was found in 44% of these patients, prevalently in the traumatic patients (53.3% versus 30% of hypoxic patients). No subjects in the full stage 0, 0-1 of the vegetative state (apallic syndrome) presented spindling. No significant correlation was found between spindling and the following parameters: gender, the time between the onset of coma and the polygraphic recording, or the site of the lesion.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Post-traumatic mutism.

We report on the infrequent verbalisation disorder called "post-traumatic mutism" observed in 12 subjects with severe traumatic head injuries. These patients during the recovery of their conditions showed for a certain period a speechlessness even though some of them could communicate through gestures and writing. The nature and the possible mechanism of the disorder are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Imaging of inner cerebral trauma.

The concept of "Inner cerebral trauma" (ICT) has been preliminary defined as a characteristic topographic pattern of deep brain lesions produced by physical forces occurring within the cranial cavity in closed head injury of the acceleration/deceleration type. The lesions, based on neuropathological examinations, are characteristically localized in the "centro-axial" regions of the brain. The extent of ICT is often underestimated by CT. Due to assess the value of MR imaging, 83 patients with ICT were examined on a 1.5 T unit in different stages after trauma. The pattern of lesions, as shown with MR imaging, correlated well with neuropathological studies, suggesting a multifocal pathogenesis of severe traumatic brain injury.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

The presence of anti-Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies in a group of multiple sclerosis patients in eastern Sicily. Preliminary data.

The authors evaluate the presence of anti-Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies in a group of polysclerotic patients of Eastern Sicily, in order to verify or dismiss a correlation between Borrelia infection and demyelinizing syndrome. 460 samples of serum were examined, of which 60 belonged to patients affected by definite multiple sclerosis; the other 400 were taken from a group of apparently healthy subjects. From the analysis of the data obtained it can be seen that of the 60 polysclerotic subjects examined, 12 equal to 20% were found to be positive for the presence of IgG anti-Borrelia burgdorferi, while in the control group 30 subjects were found to be positive, equal 7.5%.

Adolescent↗