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Biomedical subjects

R Albertini

Publications and source records attributed to R Albertini.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

[Vasodilator hormonal agents in chronic heart failure: effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors].

BACKGROUND: Administration of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors to patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) is associated to a decrease in the abnormal vasoconstrictor neurohormonal activity. This contributes to the sustained benefits of these drugs on symptoms and survival of patients with CHF. There is little information, however, regarding the effects of ACE inhibition on vasodilator and natriuretic hormones. AIM: To evaluate the chronic effects of enalapril, in addition to digitalis and diuretics in patients with chronic cardiac failure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Nine patients with an idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (8 male, aged 48 to 76 years old) under treatment with digitalis and diuretics, received enalapril 20 mg bid during eight weeks. Before and after this treatment period resting left ventricular ejection fraction, functional class, plasma levels of atrial natriuretic factor and bradykinins (BK) and urinary excretion of kalikreins (BK) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were measured. RESULTS: After enalapril therapy, there was a significant increase in maximal O2 consumption (14.8 +/- 1.2 to 18.6 +/- 1.5 ml/kg/min, p < 0.05) and radionuclide LV ejection fraction (27.4 +/- 1.1 to 31.4 +/- 0.9% p < 0.05). This was associated with a significant decrease in plasma ANP levels (559 +/- 158 to 178 +/- 54.8 pg/ml) and UK (391 +/- 112 to 243 +/- 92 Cu/24 h). CONCLUSIONS: The decrease in ANP levels, which is a well known marker of prognosis in CHF, could contribute to explain the sustained clinical benefits observed with ACE inhibitors in patients with CHF.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Heparin protection against Fe2+ -and Cu2+ -mediated oxidation of liposomes.

Heparin (HE) exhibited a protective effect on liposome peroxidation induced by Fe2+ and Cu2+, decreasing the formation of both conjugated dienes and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in a dose-dependent manner. The antioxidant activity was more relevant in the oxidizing system employing Fe2+ and H2O2 and generating the highly reactive OH radical. The analysis of liposome size distribution by quasielastic laser light scattering showed that: (1) the native structure of the particles was completely lost after exposure to Fenton reagent; (2) the presence of HE in the reaction mixture completely prevented the peroxidative damage on liposomes. Thus, HE acts as an antioxidant factor on membrane lipid bilayer. This suggests that HE, released from mast-cell granules during inflammatory processes, might locally protect the cell membrane from the oxidative injuries.

Copper↗
PubMed1996

The effect of cornea proteoglycans on liposome peroxidation.

Proteoglycans (PGs) from bovine cornea showed a protective effect on liposome peroxidation induced by Fe2+. Both chondroitin sulfate, dermatan sulfate-containing PG (CS,DS-PG) and keratan sulfate-containing PG (KS-PG) inhibited thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance formation when incubated with liposomes and Fe2+, CS,DS-PG being more effective than KS-PG. The native structure of PGs contributed markedly to antioxidant activity. Papain digestion of core protein reduced the protective effect of CS,DS-PG, whereas it abolished completely that of KS-PG. Apparently only hexuronate-containing glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chains may exert a significant antioxidant activity and this was confirmed using standard GAGs. Quasielastic laser light scattering was used to evaluate the structural consequence of peroxidative damage induced by Fenton reagent on liposomes. After exposure to the free-radical-generating system, a bimodal distribution of liposomes was observed, probably depending on the loss of native structure and fragmentation. Both CS,DS-PG and KS-PG prevented liposome breakdown. Again, free KS chains were ineffective against liposome damage, whereas DS and CS maintained the normal distribution of liposome size. These data support the hypothesis that PGs may represent part of the antioxidant mechanisms of organisms and suggest that modifications of PG content and/or composition might affect tissue sensitivity to oxidative stress.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Proteoglycan alterations in skin fibroblast cultures from patients affected with pseudoxanthoma elasticum.

Proteoglycans (PGs) were investigated in fibroblast cultures from both apparently normal and involved areas of skin from two patients affected with Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) and compared to control normal cells. Biochemical analysis showed that cells from the PXE-affected patients produced a PG population with stronger polyanion properties, as well as a markedly increased amount of high hydrodynamic-size PGs. Moreover, PGs from PXE-affected cells showed abnormal hydrophobic interaction properties when examined under associative conditions and included heparan sulphate (HS)-containing populations with anomalous electrophoretic mobility. These phenomena were particularly evident in the case of PGs secreted into the growth medium. In agreement with these findings immunohistochemical study showed alterations affecting decorin and biglycan, as well as a different content and distribution of HS-PGs in PXE-affected cells. The same biochemical and morphological alterations were confirmed for both patients on different cell cultures and were present in cells from both apparently normal and affected skin areas, being more pronounced in the latter. Our results indicate that PXE-affected fibroblasts in culture exhibit an abnormal PG metabolism, which could affect the normal assembly of extracellular matrix.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Synthesis, structure, and spectroscopic properties of acetato(dimethyl)(pyridine-2-carbaldehydethiosemicarbazonato)tin(IV) acetic acid solvate, [SnMe2(PyTSC)(OAc)].HOAc. Comparison of its biological activity with that of some structurally related diorganotin(IV) bis(thiosemicarbazonates).

The synthesis, X-ray structure, behavior in solution, and biological properties of the complex [SnMe2(PyTSC)(OAc)].HOAc (HPyTSC = pyridine-2-carbaldehydethiosemicarbazone) are reported. The tin atom of this complex is coordinated to an N,N,S-tridentate PyTSC- anion, to a monodentate acetate ion, and to the two methyl groups in an approximately pentagonal bipyramidal environment with a vacant equatorial position. The complex partially evolves in DMSO and in DMSO/CHxCl4-x (X = 1, 2) mixtures, giving HPyTSC and SnMe2(OAc)2. [SnMe2 (PyTSC)(OAc)].HOAc, [SnMe2(DAPTSC)], and [SnPh2(DAPTSC)].2DMF (H2DAPTSC = 2,6-diacetylpyridine bis(thiosemicarbazone)) all suppress proliferation of Friend erythroleukaemia cells (FLC). DMSO-induced differentiation of FLC is slightly suppressed by [SnMe2(DAPTSC)] and is unaffected by [SnPh2(DAPTSC)].2DMF and [SnMe2(PyTSC)(OAc)].HOAc.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Serum cardiac troponin T after repeated endurance exercise events.

Recently Dr. Rowe made a hypothesis according to which small areas of myocardial necrosis can be caused by microvascular spasm, related to high catecholamine concentrations and other mechanisms, following extraordinary unremitting endurance exercises or due to the cumulative effect of several endurance events. It was this last suggestion which prompted us to investigate 25 top cyclists, taking part in the 77th Giro d'Italia. Blood samples were obtained the day before the start of the competition and once a week thereafter until the end. We measured myoglobin, lactic dehydrogenase, total creatine kinase, creatine kinase isoenzyme MB and serum cardiac troponin T (Tn-T), a highly sensitive and specific method for the detection of myocardial injury. While at measuring time points which followed we found a significant increase in the serum indicators of muscle damage, compared with their values at the beginning of the race, creatine kinase isoenzyme MB did not rise significantly and cardiac Tn-T was found in the serum of only 5 athletes, repeatedly in some cases, but always below the cut off values considered as indicating myocardial ischemia. On the basis of the behaviour of creatine kinase isoenzyme MB and, above all, of cardiac Tn-T, we can conclude that heavy endurance exercises, repeated daily for 22 days, as was the case in our study, do not seem able to produce, in top athletes, permanent heart damage by means of acute myocardial injury.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

A fragment of human kininogen containing bradykinin blunts the diuretic effect of atrial natriuretic peptide.

A synthetic 15 aminoacids kinin, named PU-15, is able to block the diuretic natriuretic action of Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP). The structure of PU-15 is Met-Lys-Arg-Pro-Pro-Gly-Phe-Ser-Pro-Phe-Arg-Ser-Ser-Arg-Iso, having the aminoacid sequence of a fragment of human kininogens. The increase in the urinary excretion of sodium, potassium, and water, elicited by a bolus of 0.5 microg of ANP in anesthetized rats, is blocked by PU-15 (100-150 ng) given either intravenously 3 min before ANP injection, or injected intraperitoneally or in the duodenal lumen, 40 min before ANP. This ANP blockade, which mimics the action of pepsanurin, is only obtained with doses of PU-15 in a narrow range around 100 picomol/rat, and do not modify blood pressure. Larger doses, 2- to 8-fold the effective dose, either do not change the response to ANP or raise the excretion of sodium and water. The administration of HOE-140, a bradykinin B2 receptor blocker, prior to PU-15, completely abolishes the anti-ANP action of PU-15. These findings lend support to the proposal that kinins released from the intestinal tract during prandial period can modulate renal excretory function.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

BCL2 oncogene protein expression in human hematopoietic precursors during fetal life.

BCL2 proto-oncogene encodes a 25-kD protein that is characteristically localized in the inner mitochondrial membrane of the cell. It has been reported that BCL2 protein has the unique functional role of blocking programmed cells death without affecting proliferation. We have analyzed the expression of the BCL2 protein in fetal hematopoietic tissues from the 10th week of gestational age onward. Fetal thymus, liver, and bone marrow and cord blood were investigated. The experiments were performed by the alkaline-antialkaline phosphatase (APAAP) technique by staining air-dried acetone-fixed cytospins and by dual-color immunofluorescent assay by staining mononuclear cell suspensions with monoclonal antibodies detecting BCL2 protein and antigens expressed by different hematopoietic subsets. Flow cytometric analyses were performed on FACSort's Comsort 32 (Becton Dickinson, San Jose, CA). The results have shown that the BCL2 protein is expressed in human fetal ontogenesis at the earliest stages examined. The major conceptual aspects of the results are 1) BCL2 is largely expressed in the hematopoietic cells during ontogenesis. BCL2+ cells include both immature and more differentiated subsets. Moreover, the 25-kD protein is expression in cell subsets well known to be high proliferating. This behavior suggests that BCL2 could have more complex functions than those previously described. 2) The expression in the major part of CD34+ cells suggests that BCL2 could play a role in stem cell survival. 3) BCL2 is expressed in not only medullary but also cortical thymocytes, where it could cooperate in positive selection processes. 4) The involvement of BCL2 in the immunosurveillance is indicated not only by its role in B and T cell lineages but also by its expression in particular subsets like that of the cytoplasmic CD3+ fetal liver NK cells. 5) The discrepancy observed between the results of transgenic mice analysis and in vitro inhibition experiments by antisense oligonucleotides performed for understanding BCL2 functions must stress the importance of the direct immunologic analysis of BCL2 in human hematopoietic cells.

Bone Marrow↗
PubMed1995

The effect of heparin on Cu(2+)-mediated oxidation of human low-density lipoproteins.

The effect of heparin (HE) on the susceptibility of human low-density lipoprotein (LDL) to Cu(2+)-induced oxidation was investigated by monitoring conjugated diene formation. HE did not modify the maximum formation of conjugated diene, but increased markedly the lag phase. The plot of change in oxidation rate vs. time showed that the absolute value of Vmax was dependent on Cu2+ concentration and that HE increased the time necessary to reach Vmax. The value of constant K (the Cu2+ concentration producing a tlag of twice the minimum value) increased in the presence of HE, whereas the value of tmin (the time theoretically required for LDL oxidation at an infinite Cu2+ concentration) was not substantially affected. These results indicate that HE might play a protective antioxidant effect on LDL, probably affecting both the structural properties of the particle and the amount of Cu2+ available for the oxidation.

Antioxidants↗
PubMed1995

2,6-diacetylpyridine bis(thiosemicarbazones) zinc complexes: synthesis, structure, and biological activity.

The reaction of zinc chloride, acetate, or perchlorate with two bis(thiosemicarbazones) of 2,6-diacetylpyridine [H2daptsc = 2,6-diacetylpyridine bis(thiosemicarbazone) and H2dapipt = 2,6-diacetylpyridine bis(hydrazinopyruvoylthiosemicarbazone)] leads to the formation of four novel complexes that have been characterized by spectroscopic studies (NMR, IR) and biological properties. The crystal structures of the two compounds--[Zn(daptsc)]2.2DMF (1) and [Zn(H2dapipt)(OH2)2](CIO4)2.3H2O (2)--also have been determined by x-ray methods from diffractometer data. Compound (1) is dimeric and the two zinc atoms have a distorted octahedral coordination. The ligand is deprotonated. In compound (2), the coordination geometry about zinc is pentagonal--bipyramidal and the ligand is in the neutral form. The molecular structure of (2) consists of cations [Zn(H2dapipt)(OH2)]2+, CIO4- disordered anions, and three water molecules of solvation. Biological studies have shown that the ligands and the complexes Zn(daptsc).1/2EtOH and Zn(H2daptsc)Cl2 have an effect in vitro on cell proliferation and differentiation (inhibition); both are concentration dependent. [Zn(daptsc)]2.2DMF (1) shows the effects at lower concentration values with respect to other compounds.

Cell Division↗
PubMed1994

Synthesis, spectroscopic and structural characterization, and biological activity of aquachloro (pyridoxal thiosemicarbazone) copper(II) chloride.

The synthesis, spectroscopic studies, x-ray crystal structure, and biological properties of the complex [Cu(H2L)(OH2)Cl]Cl (1) (H2L = pyridoxal thiosemicarbazone) are reported. The compound crystallizes in space group P2(1)/n, a = 12.128(2), b = 9.096(2), c = 13.592(2) A, beta = 108.65(2) degrees, U = 1420.7 A3, and Z = 4. The molecular structure consists of discrete cations [Cu(H2L)(OH2)Cl]+ and Cl- anions. Each copper atom is in an approximately square pyramidal environment involving the phenolic oxygen, the imine nitrogen, the sulphur, and a water oxygen in the equatorial positions, while a chlorine atom occupies the axial position. The structure of this complex is compared to that of the dimeric [(Cu(HL)(OH2))2]Cl2.2H2O (2) obtained under different experimental conditions, to that of a Co(III) complex with the same ligand [Co(HL)L].4.5H2O (3) and to that of the free ligand H2L, especially in relation to its biological activity. Compounds 1 and 2 have not antiviral action in vitro with respect to RNA viruses, show an inductive effect on Friend erythroleukemia cells (FLC), erythroid differentiation and a suppressive effect regarding FLC proliferation. Complex 3 and the free ligand do not have biological activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

[Digestive process and regulation of renal excretory function: pepsanurin and prokinin inhibit the natriuretic peptide diuretic action].

In order to clarify the blunting effect of peptides released by pepsin from blood plasma on ANP diuretic action, two prokinins designated PU-18 and PU-16 were tested. Both of them were able to inhibit in nanomolar doses the diuretic-saluretic action of 0.5 ug i.v. bolus of ANP given to anesthetized rats either by intravenous route or introduced in the duodenal lumen. PU-16 in doses of 0.5 and 1 ug were able to reduce in 72 and 96.5% respectively the natriuresis induced by 0.5 ug intravenous bolus of ANP. The data support the hypothesis that prokinins liberated in the digestive tract, could be physiological factors involved in hydrosaline homeostasis, moderating the ANP mediated increase of water, Na and K excretion during digestion.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Modifications of proteoglycans produced by human skin fibroblast cultures during replicative senescence.

The properties of proteoglycans (PGs) produced by normal human skin fibroblasts were investigated with increasing passage. The increase of subculture number was associated with a constant increase in PG molecular size, which was particularly evident in cell layer extracts. In the cell layer, the ratio of DS-PGs/HS-PGs was markedly higher in early passage cultures. Moreover, the cell layer from young cells contained lower amounts of radioactivity incorporated into the most hydrophobic PG populations, suggesting that the PG core protein might also undergo significant modification with increasing subcultures. There was no significant difference in energy charge value between early and late passage cultures, whereas the NAD/NADH ratio was found to decrease markedly in senescent cells.

Cell Division↗
PubMed1993

Blunting effect of pepsanurin introduced in the duodenum on the atrial natriuretic peptide diuretic action in rats.

Pepsanurin (PU) is a peptide(s) obtained by pepsin hydrolysis of human plasma or its globulin fraction. We have reported that the accelerated renal excretory rate induced by atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) can be considerably blunted by PU either in the intact rat or in the isolated perfused rat kidney. We explored whether or not PU can be part of a signaling mechanism originated in the digestive tract, involved in the regulation of water and electrolyte homeostasis. PU obtained either from human (0.5 ml) or rat plasma (0.25-0.5 ml) administered into the duodenal lumen of rats, counteracted significantly the diuretic-saluretic action of a 0.5- microgram bolus of ANP, reproducing qualitatively the effect of its intraperitoneal administration. Human PU reduced the ANP-stimulated renal excretion by 67-90% for Na (P < 0.001) and by 35-54% for water (P < 0.02-P < 0.001); the inhibition induced by rat PU was 45-96% for Na (P < 0.05-P < 0.01) and 35-65% for water (P < 0.05-P < 0.01). Rat PU (0.5 ml) abolished the rise of glomerular filtration rate induced by ANP without affecting fractional Na excretion. All the samples tested decreased K excretion, but in some experiments, the difference did not reach statistical significance. Contrary to the effect of PU, the introduction in the duodenum of (i) isotonic glucose solution, (ii) hydrolysate of bovine serum albumin, or (iii) hydrolysate of casein prepared after the same procedure yielding PU from plasma failed to produce an inhibition of the ANP stimulation of renal excretory rate. In addition, human plasma incubated at 37 degrees C for 24 to 48 hr, prior to pepsin digestion, did not yield PU, which indicates that PU is generated from a substrate sensitive to endogenous enzymes and/or that its stability is vulnerable to endogenous enzymes.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Multiple biological markers in germ cell tumor patients treated with platinum-based chemotherapy.

Blood samples from 36 germ cell tumor patients receiving chemotherapy with either cisplatin or carboplatin in combination with other drugs [etoposide or vinblastine, cyclophosphamide, dactinomycin, and bleomycin (VAB-6)] were analyzed for the presence of 7 different biological markers. The biomarkers included platinum-protein adducts, platinum-DNA adducts, sister chromatid exchange (SCE), micronuclei (MN), and somatic gene mutation at the hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase (HPRT) locus and the glycophorin A (GPA) loci (NO and NN). Patients were asked to donate 9 serial blood samples: a pretreatment sample followed by another drawn 12-24 h after each of four cycles of treatment and a final sample provided 3-6 months after the last cycle. Most individuals gave 7-8 samples; 7 individuals donated all 9. Because of limited amounts of cells in some cases, it was not possible to carry out all 7 assays on every sample. Pt-protein adducts, Pt-DNA adducts, and SCE showed a direct and consistent effect of treatment and were very highly correlated. A significant correlation was also seen between both Pt-protein and Pt-DNA adducts and HPRT mutation. All of the posttreatment samples were significantly elevated compared to the baseline sample. These markers also remained elevated 3-6 months after the end of treatment. By contrast, MN, HPRT mutation, and GPA mutation (both NO and NN variants) showed varying patterns of dose response, probably reflective of the differing biology of these markers scored in lymphocytes (MN and HPRT) and erythrocytes (GPA). MN were significantly elevated in the posttreatment samples drawn at cycles 2 and 3. Although induction of HPRT mutation was only of marginal significance, results here are for the mutant frequency determination assay only. In progress is the potentially more informative analysis of the type of mutations by Southern blot and the sequencing of mutations to look for characteristic mutational spectra. The GPA assay showed a significant increase over baseline in samples drawn after cycles 3 and 4 (NO variants) and after cycles 2, 3, and 4 (NN variants). The level of GPA mutation (both NO and NN variants) was clearly elevated even 3-6 months after the last cycle of chemotherapy. Correlations were seen between HPRT and MN as well as between GPA NO and GPA NN variants. Analysis of biomarkers by treatment group does not reveal a consistent pattern or trend across all cycles.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Inhibition of atrial natriuretic peptide-induced natriuresis by plasma hydrolysates containing pepsanurin.

The specificity of antidiuretic actions of pepsanurin, a peptidic fraction obtained by pepsin hydrolysis of plasma, was studied in anesthetized rats and in isolated perfused rat kidneys. Pepsanurin was obtained from fresh dialyzed human plasma digested with pepsin (2,400 units/ml, 18 hours at 37 degrees C, pH 2.5), deproteinized (10 minutes at 80 degrees C), and centrifuged. In the rat, intraperitoneal injections of pepsanurin (0.5 ml/100 g body wt) significantly inhibited the effects of an intravenous bolus of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) (0.5 micrograms) on water, sodium, and potassium excretion without altering systemic blood pressure. In addition, pepsanurin abolished the peak in glomerular filtration rate and reduced the ANP-induced rise in fractional sodium excretion. Pepsanurin also inhibited the natriuretic effects of amiloride (10 micrograms/100 g body wt i.v.) without changing glomerular filtration rate, but it did not inhibit the potassium-retaining effect of amiloride. In contrast, pepsanurin had no effect on basal urinary excretion, and it did not affect the diuretic response induced by furosemide (doses of 25, 50, or 100 micrograms i.v.). Control peptidic hydrolysates prepared from human plasma preincubated 48 hours at 37 degrees C (PIPH), bovine albumin (BSAH), or human albumin did not inhibit ANP, amiloride, or furosemide. In perfused kidneys, pepsanurin significantly and reversibly reduced sodium and water excretion. Furthermore, pepsanurin, but not PIPH or BSAH, blocked the natriuretic and diuretic effects of ANP. These results support the existence of a specific plasma substrate able to release a peptide or peptides that counteract distal tubule diuresis and natriuresis by an intrarenal mechanism.

Amiloride↗
PubMed1991

Positive modulation of hemoglobin, heme, and transferrin receptor synthesis by murine interferon-alpha and -beta in differentiating Friend cells. Pivotal role of heme synthesis.

Administration of highly purified preparations of murine interferon (IFN)-alpha 1, -alpha 4, -alpha 6, or -beta to Friend leukemia cells induced to differentiate by dimethyl sulfoxide leads to a 100% increase of benzidine-positive (B+) cells. Different efficiencies for the two IFN species have been observed; a 10-fold higher dose of IFN-alpha is needed for stimulation of hemoglobin production and inhibition of cell growth as compared with IFN-beta. Both species of IFN induce a substantial increase in heme, hemoglobin, and transferrin receptor levels. In vitro run-on transcription assays indicate that IFN-beta moderately stimulates transcription of the alpha-globin gene but not the transferrin receptor gene. It is postulated that IFN induces the enhancing effect on differentiation via a marked increase of heme synthesis and number of transferrin receptors, which in turn leads to an enhancement of globin chain synthesis. In this regard, the negative feedback reported in a variety of other cell types for the regulation of transferrin receptor expression by heme does not seem to be operative in maturing Friend erythroleukemia cells, which present evidence for a positive mechanism.

Animals↗