Biomedical subjects

P Muttini

Publications and source records attributed to P Muttini.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1995

SPECT and epilepsy with continuous spike waves during slow-wave sleep.

Ten cases of epilepsy with continuous spike waves in slow-wave sleep (CSWS) were evaluated using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT); in eight patients the EEG paroxysmal abnormalities showed a predominant localization. SPECT carried out using 99mTc-HMPAO allows study of cerebral blood flow (CBF); the examination was performed during phases of drowsiness and the results compared to the EEG data. In four cases SPECT revealed areas of low CBF in sites corresponding to those of the prevalent EEG discharges; in two cases the areas of hypoperfusion did not correspond to those indicated by the EEG; lastly, in four cases SPECT results were negative. The areas of hypoperfusion were predominantly located in the frontal, temporal, and parietal regions. Furthermore, the percentage of positive SPECT results was significantly higher (five cases out of six) in the group in which the CSWS phase was prolonged for at least 1 year, compared to the group in which this phase lasted less than 1 year. Thus, in this type of epilepsy, SPECT reveals focal cortical areas of decreased CBF which correlated generally to the predominant sites of EEG abnormalities. A longer duration of the CSWS phase seems to be associated with a more significant cortical disorder, documented by the presence of areas of hypoperfusion.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1994

99mTc-HMPAO and mobile gamma-camera in the diagnosis of brain death.

The determination of brain death relies on unequivocal clinical data and on supportive studies. The replacement of the electroencephalogram (EEG) as the gold standard is unanimously felt as appropriate. Scintigraphic imaging with technetium-99m hexamethylpropylenamineoxime (99mTc-HMPAO) seems to offer an adequate substitute given its metabolic features, ideally to be used with a mobile gamma-camera which simplifies the approach to this type of patient. We correlated EEG with the scintigraphic data, which were found to be concordant and therefore substitutive in the establishment of brain death.

Adult↗

PubMed1984

Naturally-occurring cellular cytotoxicity mediated by neutrophil polymorphonuclears: requirements for the target cell lysis.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the general conditions under which neutrophil polymorphonuclears (PMN) mediate antibody-independent cytolysis in the presence of normal human serum (NHS). Normal PMN were found to kill rabbit red blood cells (RRBC) only when cultured with 1% NHS. NHS was per se incapable of lysing RRBC. PMN from a patient with Chronic Granulomatous Disease did not destroy RRBC targets even in the presence of 1% NHS. In addition, cytotoxicity by normal PMN was significantly reduced by scavengers of oxygen metabolites. The results suggest that the target cell lysis by PMN in the presence of NHS requires a synergistic interaction between at least two mediators: serum factor(s) and oxygen metabolite(s).

Animals↗

PubMed1984

Neutrophil-mediated cellular cytotoxicity induced by zymosan-activated serum.

Human neutrophils, incubated in the presence of zymosan-activated serum ( ZAS ), were able to damage ox red blood cells ( ORBC ) as assessed by a 4-hr 51Cr-release assay. Cells from a patient with chronic granulomatous disease were incapable of mediating ZAS -induced cytolysis. Cytotoxicity by normal neutrophils was prevented by N-ethyl-maleimide as well as by catalase, but heat-inactivated catalase and superoxide dismutase were completely ineffective. Heme enzyme inhibitors, azide and cyanide, only partially reduced the target cell lysis. The results indicate the involvement of products of the oxidative metabolism, mainly hydrogen peroxide, as cytolytic mediators. These mediators released by neutrophils may contribute to the tissue injury occurring during inflammation.

Azides↗

PubMed1982

Role of the oxidative metabolic burst in the antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity mediated by neutrophil polymorphonuclears.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the mechanisms by which neutrophil polymorphonuclears (PMN) mediate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). Under experimental conditions which allow target cell phagocytosis, PMN were found to efficiently kill IgG-sensitized ox erythrocytes, as determined by the 51Cr release assay. Inhibition of the target cell ingestion by colchicine did not affect the PMN cytotoxic activity, suggesting that target cell phagocytosis does not represent an essential step in the PMN-mediated ADCC against erythrocytes. PMN from patients with Chronic Granulomatous Disease, who have defective oxidative metabolic burst, displayed an impaired ADCC activity, which was unaffected by changes in the phagocytic capacities induced by colchicine. The results indicate that, under the experimental conditions employed, both the intracellular and the extracellular target cell destruction by PMN involve oxygen-dependent mechanisms.

Animals↗

PubMed1977