PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R A Troiano

Publications and source records attributed to R A Troiano.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Free light chains in multiple sclerosis urine.

We measured free kappa (kappa) and lambda (lambda) light chains in urine from patients with definite multiple sclerosis (MS), other neurologic diseases (OND), and normal controls by using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Both kappa and lambda light chains were higher in MS than OND or controls. In seven of eight relapsing-remitting (R-R) MS patients serial studies showed that urinary kappa chains were elevated during periods of worsening, and decreased during clinical recovery. In contrast, the levels of kappa chains did not correlate with clinical activity in 10 progressive (P) MS patients. Further correlation of urinary light chains with neurologic evaluations in R-R and P MS patients over a longer period are needed to determine their clinical and biological relevance.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed1992

Rate and types of fractures in corticosteroid-treated multiple sclerosis patients.

In a retrospective study of 103 corticosteroid-treated MS patients, the average rate of fracture events was 3.2% of the patients per year over 7.1 (+/- 5.7 SD) years at risk. Fractures of the ribs, pelvis, hip, or vertebrae occurred in 11 patients and became most common 5 years after starting steroids. Relatively high or low cumulative doses of steroids did not correlate predictably with the occurrence of fractures.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1991

Increased free light chains in the urine from patients with multiple sclerosis.

We quantitated free kappa (kappa) and lambda light (L) chains in coded urine specimens from subjects with clinically definite multiple sclerosis (MS) (N = 56), other neurologic diseases (OND) (N = 30), and age-matched normal controls (N = 28). Urine from MS patients showed statistically significant increases in free L chains compared with the other groups, although there was overlap between MS patients and OND patients. The ratio of kappa/creatinine was significantly greater in the relapsing-remitting MS group than in patients with clinically stable MS, OND, and normal controls. Elevated free L chains were usually independent of urinary albumin and beta 2-microglobulin levels. Serial studies showed that urinary free kappa/creatinine ratios were elevated during periods of clinical worsening in seven of eight MS patients and subsequently decreased during clinical recovery. The measurement of free L chains in urine obtained at intervals from MS patients may be useful as a marker to monitor disease activity.

Albuminuria↗
PubMed1990

Sera from MS patients and normal controls opsonize myelin.

Fc receptor-dependent myelin phagocytosis has been proposed as a mechanism of demyelination in multiple sclerosis (MS). The object of this study was to determine whether MS patients' sera are more opsonic for myelin than normal controls' sera. Opsonization was tested by culturing thioglycollate elicited murine peritoneal macrophages with 125I-labelled, serum-sensitized bovine central myelin. The two groups of sera were found to opsonize myelin equally well after 30 and 120 min incubations. We conclude that MS patients' sera are not more opsonic for myelin than sera from normal controls.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

The effect of oral corticosteroid dosage on CT enhancing multiple sclerosis plaques.

Fifty high-dose delayed CT scans were performed on 36 patients with definite MS within 4 months of a clinical relapse. The number of enhancing lesions visualized was compared in patients being treated with high- or low-dose oral corticosteroids and untreated controls. High-dose oral corticosteroid treatment significantly but incompletely reduced enhancement of MS plaques. Lower doses were less effective, especially when the latter were given on alternate days.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1978

Plasma calcium, copper, magnesium, and zinc concentrations in patients with the alcohol withdrawal syndrome.

We determined zinc, copper, magnesium, and calcium concentrations by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in the plasma of 30 patients hospitalized for treatment of seizures during a period of alcohol withdrawal. Those patients who developed delirium tremens or a prolonged hallucinatory state had significantly higher plasma copper concentrations (P = 0.026), significantly lower zinc concentrations (P = 0.004), and significantly higher copper/zinc ratios (P = 0.001) than the patients who recovered uneventfully. Zinc deficiency may be one of the factors that contribute to the neurologic complications of alcoholism. A determination of the plasma copper/zinc ratio early in the course of alcohol withdrawal could be of value in indicating which patients have the most substantial underlying disease or metabolic imbalance and therefore may be at greatest risk of developing delirium tremens or prolonged hallucinosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Copper, zinc, magnesium, and calcium in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with neurological diseases.

We investigated whether information on concentrations of some trace-mental concentrations in blood plasma or cerebrospinal fluid, or both, could be of value in diagnosis or management of various neurological diseases, and whether concentrations in plasma could serve as a means of estimating the protein or metal concentrations in cerebropsinal fluid. Samples of both from 82 patients were analyzed for copper, zinc, magnesium, and calcium by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Protein concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid were also determined. Metal and protein concentrations in plasma and in cerebrospinal fluid were not strongly enough correlated to permit the estimation of one from the other. However, the correlation coefficients between calcium in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (r = 0.41), magnesium and protein in cerebrospinal fluid (r = 0.40), magnesium in plasma and calcium in cerebrospinal fluid (r = 0.36), and magnesium and calcium in cerebrospinal fluid (r = 0.66) were statistically significant (P less than .01). Patients with cerebral infarctions had abnormally high copper concentrations in their plasma and cerebrospinal fluid. The ratio of plasma copper to plasma zinc was also significantly higher in cases of cerebral infarction.

Adolescent↗