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Biomedical subjects

P Renzi

Publications and source records attributed to P Renzi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Self-management reduces both short- and long-term hospitalisation in COPD.

The aim of the present study was to assess the long-term impact on hospitalisation of a self-management programme for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. A multicentre, randomised clinical trial was carried out involving 191 COPD patients from seven hospitals. Patients who had one or more hospitalisations in the year preceding study enrolment were assigned to a self-management programme "Living Well with COPD(TM)" or to standard care. Hospitalisations from all causes were the primary outcome and were documented from the provincial hospitalisation database; emergency visits were recorded from the provincial health insurance database. Most patients were elderly, not highly educated, had advanced COPD (reflected by a mean forced expiratory volume in one second of 1 L), and almost half reported a dyspnoea score of 5/5 (modified Medical Research Council). At 2 years, there was a statistically significant and clinically relevant reduction in all-cause hospitalisations of 26.9% and in all-cause emergency visits of 21.1% in the intervention group as compared to the standard-care group. After adjustment for the self-management intervention effect, the predictive factors for reduced hospitalisations included younger age, sex (female), higher education, increased health status and exercise capacity. In conclusion, in this study, patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who received educational intervention with supervision and support based on disease-specific self-management maintained a significant reduction in hospitalisations after a 2-year period.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Detection of functional platelet-activating factor receptors on human tonsillar B lymphocytes.

Although platelet-activating factor (PAF) receptors have been found on B lymphoblastoid cell lines, the action of PAF on freshly isolated human B cells has not been clearly demonstrated. Using a sensitive semiquantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR, we have found PAF receptor mRNA expressed by tonsillar B lymphocytes, but little in T lymphocytes. Examination of Percoll-fractionated tonsillar B cells indicated that the low density (primarily germinal center cells) and medium density fractions had approximately twofold more PAF receptor mRNA relative to the high density fraction. PAF (10-7 M) stimulated increases in intracellular Ca2+ that were consistently higher in the low and medium density B lymphocytes compared with high density cells. The PAF receptor antagonist Web 2170 inhibited this. Addition of PAF, but not lyso- or enantio-PAF, induced four- to sixfold greater synthesis of IgM and IgG in low and medium density cells compared with unstimulated controls, but had little effect on Ig production by high density cells. To investigate how PAF may influence Ig synthesis, PAF-stimulated B cells were examined for production of the Th2-type cytokines IL-4 and IL-13. PAF induced IL-4 and IL-13 mRNA expression in 17% of CD20+ cells, and IL-4 was detected in cell supernatants after 48-72 h of culture. Together, these data strongly suggest that functional PAF receptors are expressed on B cells in tonsils.

B-Lymphocytes↗
PubMed1998

Ultradian rhythms in young and adult mice: further support for the basic rest-activity cycle.

Basic Rest-Activity Cycle (BRAC) rhythmicity has been shown in many parameters in animals as well as in humans. A similarity between the periods of BRAC and REM/NREM cycles has been frequently reported. However, this does not necessarily prove the idea that BRAC is a diurnal extension of the REM/NREM cycle. A concurrent variation of the BRAC and REM/NREM cycles during ontogenetic development would confirm the link between these rhythms. For this purpose, we investigated the existence of a BRAC periodicity in young (23 days of life) and adult (90 days of life) mice, in comparison with the REM/NREM species-specific cycle. Reaction times of the avoidance response to a visual warning stimulus that preceded an electric shock were measured by a computer-controlled shuttle-box. Results revealed the existence of an evident ultradian rhythm in all subjects confirming previous reports of a 20-min BRAC in avoidance behavior of adult mice. Furthermore, young mice showed a shorter periodicity of about 9 min, which is analogous to their 10-min REM/NREM cycle. These results seem to confirm the hypothesis of a strong relationship between BRAC and REM/NREM sleep cycle.

Activity Cycles↗
PubMed1998

Interleukin-6 expression in chronic sinusitis: colocalization of gene transcripts to eosinophils, macrophages, T lymphocytes, and mast cells.

Chronic sinusitis in allergic (ACS) and nonallergic (NCS) patients is characterized by persistent inflammation and subepithelial fibrosis of the sinus mucosa. The inflammatory infiltrate is rich in T lymphocytes, monocyte/macrophages, plasma cells, and eosinophils. Th2-type cytokines are thought to regulate inflammatory cell recruitment, activation, survival, and the release of tissue-damaging mediators. Interleukin-6 is a proinflammatory Th2-type cytokine that stimulates fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis. Expression of interleukin-6 has been reported in pulmonary fibrosis and a number of other conditions associated with fibrotic tissue changes. In vitro studies have indicated that interleukin-6 is produced by macrophages, T cells, eosinophils, mast cells, and other cell types. Here we examined interleukin-6 messenger RNA and immunoreactivity in the sinus epithelium and subepithelium of subjects with ACS and NCS by in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry, performed on sinus biopsy and polyp sections obtained from patients. Nasal turbinate biopsy specimens from normal volunteers were used as controls. Interleukin-6 messenger RNA and immunoreactivity were expressed by a significantly greater proportion of epithelial and subepithelial cells in ACS and NCS subjects than in normal controls. There was no difference in epithelial or subepithelial interleukin-6 expression between ACS and NCS patients. Colocalization studies revealed that macrophages, T cells, eosinophils, and mast cells are sources of interleukin-6 messenger RNA in ACS and NCS. The numbers of interleukin-6 messenger RNA-positive cells coexpressing immunoreactivity for the mast-cell marker were significantly greater in ACS than in NCS subjects. The results of this study suggest a role for interleukin-6 in the inflammatory response of chronic sinusitis.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Ultradian rhythms in the N1-P2 amplitude of the visual evoked potential in two inbred strains of mice: DBA/2J and C57BL/6.

Ultradian rhythmicity has been showed in many behavioural parameters in animals as well as in humans. We investigated the existence of a Basic Rest-Activity Cycle (BRAC) rhythm in amplitude fluctuations of mice's visual evoked potential (VEP) primary component. Two inbred strains of mice, C57BL/6 and DBA/2J, were used to verify the influence of genetics on biological rhythm as well. Results revealed the existence of an evident rhythm in the parameter under study and confirm previous reports of a 20 min. BRAC in avoidance behavior in DBA mice. This rhythm shows similar period within each strain, but significatively different periods between strains. Observed periods are near to species-specific reported BRAC cycle. Genetic hypothesys is suggested to explain differences between strains in expression of ultradian rhythm.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Ultradian rhythms of reaction times in performance in vigilance tasks.

This study examined the presence of rhythmic fluctuations in vigilance tasks. The hypothesis was that individual attentional performance is subject to rhythmic variation beyond a linear decrease over time. In the first study the reaction times to an acoustic stimulus were recorded. The analysis of the individual periodograms indicated a rhythm in attentional capacity with periods ranging from 5 to 30 min. These findings indicate that considerable individual variation can be accounted for by considering individual periodicity in performance. Although marked individual differences between subjects are present, the rhythmic fluctuations are stable within each subject and between experimental sessions.

Activity Cycles↗
PubMed1994

Ultradian rhythms in avoidance behavior of DBA mice.

This study investigates ultradian rhythm in avoidance behavior of mice, which may constitute a basic rest activity cycle (BRAC). Reaction times (RTs) of an avoidance response to a visual warning stimulus that preceded an electric shock were measured by the use of a computer-controlled shuttle box. The male naive DBA mice were brought to a criterion of 98% correct responses in numerous training sessions. For each subject, all the temporal sequences of the RTs in the trials following achievement of the criterion were examined with discrete Fourier transform. Periodograms were obtained from three sessions for each of the two animals in the first experiment and from 15 subjects in the second experiment. Analysis of the periodograms reveals a stable rhythm in avoidance behavior of mice, with a period of about 14 min. The presence of these periodicities could show the existence, also in small rodents, of a BRAC rhythm.

Activity Cycles↗
PubMed1993

Amodal completion in mouse vision.

The question of whether phenomena of human perception such as amodal completion are also present in visual perception in the mouse was investigated. Three experiments based on a simultaneous-discrimination task were carried out with the aid of a jumping-stand similar to the one used by Lashley. The subjects were 36 male mice (DBA/J); 12 took part in each experiment. After reaching the learning criterion (87% correct responses), the mice performed 15 test trials which were interpolated between the learning trials. The test trials were constructed so as to allow the observation of any perceptual phenomena similar to amodal perception. Of the 36 subjects, 23 reached the criterion necessary to access the test phase. A significant number of them (17 out of 23, chi 2 = 5.261, p = 0.021) adopted a decisional strategy that seemed to indicate the occurrence of phenomena similar to amodal completion, and a trend in the same direction was observed in the performance of the other 6 subjects. The results allow the conclusion that a perceptual phenomenon which is similar to amodal completion in humans is present even at this phylogenetic level. Alternative interpretations are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

The relationship between late asthmatic responses and antigen-specific immunoglobulin.

The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between allergen-induced early and late airway responses and antigen-specific IgE, IgG, and lymphocyte subsets in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). Brown Norway rats were sensitized at 7 weeks of age with ovalbumin (1 mg s.c.) with use of Bordetella pertussis as an adjuvant. Three weeks after sensitization, animals were anesthetized and challenged with an aerosol of ovalbumin (5% wt/vol in saline) for 5 minutes. Each animal was studied for 8 hours with repeated measurements of lung resistance. Blood was obtained at 0, 1, 2, and 3 weeks before ovalbumin challenge. Ovalbumin-specific IgE and IgG were determined by ELISA. No specific antibody was detectable before sensitization. Ovalbumin-specific IgE and IgG rose between 1 to 2 weeks after sensitization and peaked at 3 weeks. The IgE level did not correlate with the magnitude of either the early or the late responses. In a similar manner no correlation existed between the magnitude of specific IgG and the late response. However, a significant inverse correlation (r = -0.73; p < 0.01) occurred between specific IgG and the early response. No correlation occurred between the ratio of helper (W3/25 +) to suppressor (OX-8 +) lymphocytes in blood and BAL and airway responses to allergen. The size of the early and late responses were correlated, suggesting a common stimulus. Despite the blunting of the early response by repeated sensitization the late response was unaffected, suggesting that the factors that determine the physiologic expression of the early and late responses are different.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

High-intensity nociceptive stimuli minimize behavioral effects induced by restraining stress during the tail-flick test.

Analgesia following exposure to various stressors is a well-documented phenomenon. Restraint of an animal during the tail-flick test (TFT) represents a potent stressor that can induce both altered baseline latencies and enhanced response to opioids. The present study shows that the use of higher stimulus intensities during TFT minimizes the stress influences produced by restraint on the animal's response rendering the test more sensitive to the pharmacological action of analgesic drugs.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[Physiopathology of asthma].

The author reviews some of the physiopathologic aspects of asthma. Airway obstruction is related to several factors which include airway contraction, sub-mucosal edema and mucus hypersecretion. Bronchial hyperresponsiveness is related to inflammatory factors which occur at the periphery of the airways. Inflammatory cells include mastocytes, macrophages, lymphocytes, eosinophils, neutrophils and platelets. These cells can release inflammatory mediators including metabolites of cyclooxygenase pathway, leukotrienes and PAF. Chronic inflammatory changes can occur and can be explained by the persisting release of inflammatory mediators and abnormalities of cellular activation. Cytokines might be involved in this process as shown by the author's recent findings.

Asthma↗
PubMed1987

Analysis of T cell subsets in normal adults. Comparison of whole blood lysis technique to Ficoll-Hypaque separation by flow cytometry.

Analysis of peripheral blood T cells and T cell subsets by immunofluorescence and flow cytometry is employed commonly in studies of normal individuals and in certain disease states. Methods for separating T cells from granulocytes and erythrocytes vary. We have sought to determine whether or not such procedures alter the composition of cells being analyzed. In this communication, we report that, in normal individuals, Ficoll-Hypaque separation of lymphocytes selectively decreases the OKT8+ subset compared to the whole blood lysis technique (P less than 0.01). The decrease in the OKT8+ subset results in a significant increase (P less than 0.01) in the OKT4/OKT8 ratio. This disparity appears to be due to a selective loss of OKT8+ cells during centrifugation over Ficoll-Hypaque. With the Ficoll-Hypaque method, we have also found that the fixation of lymphocytes reacted with monoclonal antibodies is less stable than cells prepared by the whole blood lysis method. The interpretation of measurements of T cell subsets is influenced by the method by which these cells are isolated.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Antihistaminics enhance morphine-, but not amphetamine- and scopolamine-induced hyperactivity in mice.

Three histamine H1-receptor antagonists, chlorpheniramine, diphenhydramine and tripelennamine, were tested alone or in combination with morphine, amphetamine and scopolamine on locomotor activity in mice. All three antihistaminics, at some dosage levels, enhanced morphine-induced hyperactivity, but did not change or even reduce locomotor stimulation induced by amphetamine and scopolamine. The results suggest that H1-blocking agents may specifically interact, though not necessarily directly, with opiate mechanisms in producing behavioural effects.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Metallic mercury pulmonary emboli.

We report the radiographic appearance of a patient with metallic mercury pulmonary emboli. The mercury emboli appear as metallic densities in both a branching pattern and as tiny spherules. The differential diagnosis includes aspirated mercury or barium and barium pulmonary emboli. The recognition of either intracardiac or intragastrointestinal mercury can limit this differential diagnosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Facilitation of stimulatory effect of chlordiazepoxide-amphetamine combination by subacute administration of chlordiazepoxide in mice.

Spontaneous locomotor activity was tested in CD-1 mice receiving subacutely (for 4 days) chlordiazepoxide (10 mg/kg) and then treated with d-amphetamine (0.5 or 1 mg/kg) and various doses of chlordiazepoxide (2.5, 5 or 10 mg/kg) separately or in combination. Chlordiazepoxide pretreatment enhanced the stimulatory effect of the chlordiazepoxide-amphetamine combination.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Diurnal variations in electroconvulsive shock-induced seizures: involvement of endogenous opioids.

Electroconvulsive shock (ECS)-induced seizures present a clear cut diurnal rhythmicity when BALB/c mice are subjected to a light-dark (L/D) schedule. On the contrary, in the absence of external synchronizers no evident fluctuations in epileptic behaviour were evident. Naloxone decreased the threshold of ECS-induced convulsions, thus confirming an involvement of opioids in this type of behaviour. These findings indicate that opioids present a diurnal (L/D) but not circadian (L/L) rhythmicity in BALB/c mice.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1985

Genetic differences in daily rhythms of pain sensitivity in mice.

A dark phase increase in pain sensitivity was evident in C57BL/6 inbred mice. On the contrary Swiss mice are characterized by decreased nocturnal pain sensitivity. The latter finding is in agreement with a number of previous studies based on albino mice. However, our findings indicate that (1) nocturnal decreased pain sensitivity is not the rule in the mouse and (2) large differences are evident when the onset in peak nocturnal analgesia is considered.

Animals↗