PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R Motta

Publications and source records attributed to R Motta.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Molecular adsorbent recirculating system (MARS) application in liver failure: clinical and hemodepurative results in 22 patients.

PURPOSE: Acute liver failure (ALF) and acute on chronic liver failure (ACLF) still show a poor prognosis. MARS was used in 22 patients with ALF or ACLF to prolong patient survival for liver function recovery or as a bridge to transplantation. DESIGN: Evaluation of depurative efficiency, biocompatibility, hemodynamics, encephalopathy (HE) and clinical outcome. PROCEDURES: During 71 five-hour sessions we evaluated (0', 60', 120', 180', 240', 300'): bilirubin, ammonia, cholic acid (CCA), chenodeoxycholic acid (CCDCA), leukocytes, platelets, hemoglobin and mean arterial pressure (MAP). Serum creatinine, electrolytes, cardiac output, cardiac index (bioimpedence) and HE (West Haven Criteria score) were evaluated at 0' and 300'. STATISTICAL METHODS AND OUTCOME MEASURES: Student's t-test for pre- vs. end-session values was used. For bilirubin and ammonia the correlation test was made between pre- and end-session values and between pre-session values and removal rates (RRS). MAIN FINDINGS: Survival was 90.9% at 7 days, 40.9% at 30 days. Pre- vs. end-session: bilirubin from 37.2 +/- 12.5 mg/dL to 24.9 +/- 8.9 mg/dL (p < 0.01), ammonia from 88.0 +/- 60.4 micromol/L to 43.6 +/- 32.9 micromol/L (p < 0.01), CCA from 42.8 +/- 21.0 micromol/L 18.2 +/- 9.8 micromol/L (p < 0.01), CCDCA from 26.3 +/- 6.3 micromol/L to 15.7+/-7.6 micromol/L (p<0.01). The correlation test between pre-session values of bilirubin and ammonia vs. RR S was respectively 0.32 (p = 0.01) and 0.30 (p = 0.04). Leukocytes, platelets and hemoglobin remained stable. MAP increased from 82.0 +/- 12.0 mmHg to 87.0 +/- 13.0 mmHg (p < 0.05), West Haven Criteria score decreased from 2.7 +/- 0.7 to 0.7 +/- 0.7 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: MARS treatment led in all patients to an improvement of clinical, hemodynamic and neurological conditions, with significant reduction in the hepatic toxins blood level. Treatment biocompatibility and tolerance were satisfactory.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed2001

K-Cl cotransport modulation by intracellular Mg in erythrocytes from mice bred for low and high Mg levels.

Mg is an important determinant of erythrocyte cation transport system(s) activity. We investigated cation transport in erythrocytes from mice bred for high (MGH) and low (MGL) Mg levels in erythrocytes and plasma. We found that K-Cl cotransport activity was higher in MGL than in MGH erythrocytes, and this could explain their higher mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, median density, and reduced cell K content. Although mouse KCC1 protein abundance was comparable in MGL and MGH erythrocytes, activities of Src family tyrosine kinases were higher in MGH than in MGL erythrocytes. In contrast, protein phosphatase (PP) isoform 1 alpha (PP1 alpha) enzymatic activity, which has been suggested to play a positive regulatory role in K-Cl cotransport, was lower in MGH than in MGL erythrocytes. Additionally, we found that the Src family kinase c-Fgr tyrosine phosphorylates PP1 alpha in vitro. These findings suggest that in vivo downregulation of K-Cl cotransport activity by Mg is mediated by enhanced Src family kinase activity, leading to inhibition of the K-Cl cotransport stimulator PP1.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Audiogenic seizure sensitivity in mouse lines genetically selected for high versus low blood magnesium levels.

The MGH and MGL mouse lines, genetically selected for high and low blood magnesium (Mg) levels, respectively, exhibit marked differences for characteristics expected to be related to blood Mg levels, such as increased stress sensitivity and stress-induced aggressivity in MGL mice. However, although Mg deficiency experimentally induced by low oral Mg intake has been shown previously to increase susceptibility to audiogenic seizures, MGL were less sensitive to audiogenic seizures than MGH mice. The MGH-MGL lines may, therefore, provide a beneficial and complementary model for the study of the relationships between audiogenic seizures and blood Mg levels.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1998

The rat microphthalmia-associated transcription factor gene (Mitf) maps at 4q34-q41 and is mutated in the mib rats.

The rat gene encoding the microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (Mitf) was assigned to rat Chromosome (Chr) 4q34-q41, as well as the Gata2 and Mem1 genes. Rat Chr 4 is homologous to mouse Chr 6 and human Chr 3, which carry the Mitf (MITF) gene in these species (MMU 6, 40.0 cM, and HSA 3p14.1-p12.3). mib/mib rats, which are characterized by depigmentation, microphtalmy, osteopetrosis, and neurological disorders were shown to bear a deletion covering several kilobases of genomic DNA in the Mitf gene and to lack Mitf mRNA. The Mitf mutation in the mib/mib rats is thus very likely to be a Mitf null mutation, causing a phenotype similar to the one observed in the miVGA-9 mice, but including osteopetrosis as an additional feature.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Mice selected for low and high blood magnesium levels: a new model for stress studies.

Extra- and intracellular magnesium levels have previously been shown to be genetically controlled in humans and in the mouse. To further study this genetic regulation, mice were selected from a heterogeneous population, for low (MGL mice) and high (MGH mice) red blood cell (RBC) magnesium values. These values diverged rapidly in the two strains, to reach a stable difference between the 14th and 18th generations. MGL mice also exhibited significantly lower plasma, kidney, and skull bone magnesium contents and higher urinary magnesium excretion and total brain weights. Moreover, in stressful conditions, MGL mice displayed a more aggressive behavior that the control MGH strain. Altogether, MGL mice showed a more restless behavior, a higher rectal temperature, and much higher brain (+17%) and urine (+200%) noradrenaline levels than the MGH animals. These strains, thus, constitute a new animal model for the study of magnesium metabolism and its relationships with catecholamines, stress sensitivity, and aggressive behavior.

Aggression↗
PubMed1997

[Role of surgical therapy in the treatment of refractory ascites].

In 5-10% of cases ascites is not controlled by medical therapy and is defined refractory. These patients may be submitted to one of the four following surgical options: portal-systemic shunt, peritoneo-venous shunt, transjugular intrahepatic portal-systemic shunt, orthotopic liver transplantation. Although the portal-systemic shunt is efficient in clearing ascites, it does not improve the survival, which depends on liver function, and it is complicated by an important incidence of encephalopathy. Since the patients with refractory ascites and good hepatic risk are not usually many, it is possible to understand why derivative surgery has been disappointing with this indication. Although the peritoneo-venous shunt is associated with a significant rate of valve obstruction, it is an easy, effective and not expensive treatment. So, till now, it has been considered the first choice procedure of refractory ascites, if any situations, determinating the onset of postoperative complications, are not present. Recently a new method has been introduced in the therapy of portal hypertension, the transjugular intrahepatic portal-systemic shunt. This is a bloodless portal-systemic derivation and so it has caused great enthusiasm even if the available data are insufficient to give a definitive opinion on its role in management of ascites. Certainly the liver transplantation, which presents the great advantage to treat both the cirrhosis and its complications, seems to be the most rational therapy for these patients. However, at least for this moment, the well-known absence of organ donors makes still actual the palliative surgical measures.

Ascites↗
PubMed1996

Imbalance towards Th1 predominance is associated with acceleration of lupus-like autoimmune syndrome in MRL mice.

To investigate the respective roles of Th1 and Th2 cells in the pathogenesis of lupus-like autoimmune disease, we have analyzed the spontaneous and antigen-induced productions of IgG1 vs IgG2a and IgG3 subclasses in relation to the mRNA expression of INF-gamma (Th1 cytokine promoting IgG2a and IgG3 production), IL-4 (Th2 cytokine promoting IgG1 production), and IL-10 (Th2 cytokine) in CD4+ T cells from lupus-prone MRL mice. For this purpose, two paired sets of MRL mice were chosen for the comparison of these parameters: (a) MRL-lpr/lpr (lpr for lymphoproliferation) and its recently described substrain with a prolonged survival, termed MRL-lpr/lpr.ll (ll for long lived) and (b) MRL male mice bearing the Yaa (Y-linked autoimmune acceleration) gene (MRL.Yaa) with an accelerated disease and their male counterparts lacking the Yaa gene. We demonstrate herein that the accelerated development of lupus-like autoimmune disease in MRL-lpr/lpr and MRL.Yaa mice, as compared with MRL-lpr/lpr.ll and MRL-+/+ mice, respectively, was correlated with an enhanced expression of IFN-gamma vs IL-4 and IL-10 mRNA in CD4+ T cells, which paralleled with an increase of spontaneous and foreign T cell-dependent antigen-induced productions of IgG2a and IgG3 vs IgG1 antibodies. These data suggest that an imbalance towards Th1 predominance may play a significant role in the acceleration of lupus-like autoimmune disease in MRL mice.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

A combined regimen of cyproterone acetate and testosterone enanthate as a potentially highly effective male contraceptive.

In this study we tested the effectiveness of the combined administration of cyproterone acetate (CPA) and testosterone enanthate (TE) in suppressing spermatogenesis. After a control phase of 3 months, 15 normal men were randomized to receive TE (100 mg/week) plus CPA at a dose of 100 mg/day (CPA-100; n = 5) or 50 mg/day (CPA-50; n = 5) or TE (100 mg/week) alone (n = 5) for 16 weeks. Semen analysis was performed every 2 weeks. Every 4 weeks, fasting blood samples were drawn for the measurement of LH, FSH, testosterone, estradiol, and biochemical and hematological parameters; subjects underwent a physical examination; and they and their partners filled in a sexual and behavioral questionnaire. Regardless of the dose, each of the 10 subjects receiving CPA plus TE became azoospermic, whereas only 3 of 5 subjects treated with TE alone achieved azoospermia. Times to azoospermia were 6.8 +/- 0.5, 8.4 +/- 1.0, and 14.0 +/- 1.2 weeks in groups CPA-100, CPA-50, and TE alone, respectively (P = NS). Throughout treatment, both gonadotropins tended to be higher in the TE alone group than in the other groups. This difference was mostly due to the higher gonadotropin levels present in the 2 men treated with TE alone that remained oligospermic. No difference in testosterone or estradiol levels was found among the groups. No significant change in lipoprotein levels or liver function tests could be detected. In the CPA-100 and CPA-50 groups, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and red blood cells were lower at the end of the treatment phase, whereas no change was detected in TE alone group. A tendency for a decrease in body weight was detected in subjects treated with CPA, whereas there was no change in subjects receiving TE alone. At the end of the treatment phase, a decrease in testis size was present in all groups. There was no significant change in sexual function, aggressive behavior, mood states, or satisfaction with relationship in any group. These results suggest that the combined administration of CPA and TE is very effective in suppressing spermatogenesis and may represent a promising regimen for reversible contraception in males.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[The correlation between morphology, electrolytic content and risk factors in breast cysts].

Many studies on the biochemical composition of the liquid aspirated from breast cysts have identified three types of cysts: type I (apocrine) cysts, with a high concentration of K+ and low levels of Na+ and C1-; type II (transudate) cysts, with an electrolytic content similar to that of plasma and high Na+ levels and, finally, type III cysts, with intermediate characteristics. The literature data appear to indicate that the women with type I cysts are at higher risk for breast cancer. The authors report the results of a study carried out on 143 women from October, 1991, through October, 1994, in the Radiology Department of the University of Bologna, to investigate the correlations between some risk factors for breast cancer, the characteristics of cyst fluid and the morphology of the cysts after pneumocystography. Of 186 cysts, 104 (55.9%) were type I, 49 (26.4%) were type II, and 33 (17.7%) were type III. Among the risk factors we considered, only the premenopausal state (41 to 45 years of age) exhibited a statistically significant correlation with the presence of type I cysts. The morphological study of the cysts after pneumocystography showed a surprisingly high correlation between the honeycomb pattern and type I cysts. The constant correlation between cyst morphology and electrolytic content may allow the easy identification of the subgroups of patients eligible for a closer follow-up.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Fully and long-term xenogeneic hematopoietic chimeras created in poorly concordant rat-mouse combinations: expression of hereditary donor characteristics.

We created fully and stable xenogeneic hematopoietic chimeras in "poorly concordant" rat-mouse strain combinations defined by their high histocompatibility-antigen disparity and by the high titer of mouse-serum natural cytotoxic antibodies (NcAb) to rat donor bone marrow cells (BMC). Recipients were adult male (C57BL/6 x DBA/2)F1 (BDF1) mice, and donors of untreated BMC were adult male WAG strain rats. We tried several approaches to improve the quality and the stability of the rat-cell engraftment and to avoid the risk of graft-vs.-host reaction (GVHR). Best results were obtained when: 1) BDF1 recipients were previously thymectomized and then heavily irradiated to lower their immunocompetence; 2) irradiated recipients were implanted with a newborn BDF1 thymus, which allows maturing rat T lymphoid cells to be made tolerant to mouse antigens in vivo, which lowered the risk of GVHR; and 3) recipients were given a high number of untreated rat BMC (4-5 injections of 1.6 x 10(7) cells) to reduce the risk of rejection of rat BMC by mouse NcAb. We found that rat BMC engraftment was highly effective (75 to 100% rat hemoglobin and 100% rat IgG) and long-lasting (more than 10 months). The grafted rat cells were very tolerant toward host histocompatibility antigens but maintained all their immunological potentialities. Moreover, using the "poorly concordant" Wistar Furth (WF)-BDF1 combination, we showed that a genetically controlled characteristic of the hematopoietic system of the WF rat donor was maintained and functionally expressed in the xenogeneic environment of BDF1 mice.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Sclerotherapy plus octreotide versus sclerotherapy alone in the prevention of early rebleeding from esophageal varices: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial. New Italian Endoscopic Club.

Because of its ability to decrease portal pressure, azygos blood flow, and postprandial splanchnic hyperemia, octreotide administration could be effective in reducing early rebleeding in patients undergoing endoscopic variceal sclerotherapy (EVS). We report the results of a trial comparing EVS + octreotide versus EVS alone. Consecutive patients with cirrhosis and endoscopically proven variceal hemorrhage were considered eligible for the trial if hemodynamically stable for at least 24 hours after bleeding stopped. Patients with advanced liver cancer or having received EVS treatment in the past were not enrolled. After enrollment patients were submitted to EVS (day 1); all patients were randomized to receive octreotide, 100 micrograms three times a day subcutaneously, or an identical placebo, up to day 29; EVS was repeated at days 8, 15, and 29. Fifty-eight patients were randomized to receive either EVS + octreotide (n = 26) or EVS alone (n = 32). The two groups were evenly balanced for sex, age, Child-Pugh class, history of previous bleeding, endoscopic appearance of varices, or treatment received in emergency. Eight of 26 (31%) patients in the EVS + octreotide group rebled, compared with 11 of 32 (34%) in the EVS group. Four of the eight (50%) patients in the former group and 8 of 11 (73%) in the latter, respectively, bled within day 15. There were 10 (38.5%) deaths in the EVS + octreotide group (seven bleeding-related), compared with seven (21.9%) (five bleeding-related) in the EVS group; these differences did not reach statistical significance. Administration of octreotide, 100 micrograms three times a day, subcutaneously, to patients undergoing EVS for prevention of recurrent variceal bleeding does not decrease the incidence of early rebleeding.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Quality of clinical information: a new approach of EQA in Emilia-Romagna, Italy.

For correct enforcement of an external quality assessment (EQA) scheme, suitable parameters are required for the assessment of analytical performance. Traditional EQA schemes have always been chiefly concerned with the agreement of analytical results between laboratories. Although we consider this concept to be important, we also believe that particular attention must be paid to the quality of the clinical information, in relation to correct use of the results. On the basis of this principle, we have developed an EQA model which, besides considering the absolute value, also take the reference limits (RLs) into consideration by means of the normalization procedure. The evaluation of clinical information is of vital importance, especially in relation to immunoassays, since the low degree of standardization between methods, and the ensuing phenomenon of relative inaccuracy, make the use of suitable RLs essential. Actually, analysis of the results reveals a high degree of heterogeneity in the RLs used by the laboratories, even within the same method-groups.

Clinical Laboratory Information Systems↗
PubMed1994

Effects of aerobic and nonaerobic exercise on anxiety, absenteeism, and job satisfaction.

The effects of aerobic and nonaerobic exercise on employee state and trait anxiety levels, absenteeism, job satisfaction, and resting heart rate were investigated within a worksite setting. Results indicated that aerobic subjects significantly reduced their state anxiety levels over a single exercise session. Post-exercise state anxiety decreased over the 8 weeks for both groups. Aerobic subjects who were not previous exercisers decreased their trait anxiety. No changes in job satisfaction, absenteeism, or resting heart rate were evident. These results support past findings that concluded that aerobic exercise is superior to nonaerobic exercise for anxiety reduction. Tentative evidence was found to oppose the hypothesis that cardiovascular conditioning is the mechanism responsible for the psychological benefits because no significant cardiovascular changes occurred.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1994

Evidence for a multigenic system controlling methyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylate (beta-CCM)-induced seizures.

beta-CCM is a beta-carboline known to have properties opposite to those of benzodiazepines. Our approach was to analyze, in mice, the genetic mechanisms involved in beta-CCM-induced myoclonic seizures using recombinant congenic strains and F1 hybrids issued from these strains. Our aim was to define the extent of the multigenic character of beta-CCM-induced myoclonic seizures, while also evaluating the distribution of the strength of the genes implicated in this trait. The results show that the control of reactivity to beta-CCM is multigenic with notable epistatic involvement.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

An MRL/MpJ-lpr/lpr substrain with a limited expansion of lpr double-negative T cells and a reduced autoimmune syndrome.

The autosomal recessive mutant gene, lpr, has been shown to accelerate the progression of lupus-like autoimmune disease, which is associated with a massive expansion of a unique CD4-CD8- double-negative T cell subset, in MRL/MpJ mice. Here we report a substrain of MRL/MpJ-lpr/lpr (MRL-lpr) mice which live almost twice as long with delayed development of glomerulonephritis, compared with conventional MRL-lpr mice. This substrain, termed MRL-lpr.II (II for long-lived), develops generalized lymphadenopathy characteristically seen in MRL-lpr mice. However, the expansion of a double negative lpr T cell subset is markedly limited with a mean value of 15% in their lymph nodes compared to about 70% in conventional MRL-lpr mice. Overall production of autoantibodies, such as anti-DNA and rheumatoid factors, does not significantly differ between the two MRL-lpr mice. However, serum levels of cryoglobulins, whose major component is IgG3, are markedly diminished in MRL-lpr.II mice with a parallel decrease in IgG3. Since MRL-lpr.II mice still carry the lpr mutation, as documented by the presence of defects in the Fas antigen, a possible new mutation in this substrain may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of lupus-like autoimmune syndrome.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Prevention of reperfusion syndrome in acute muscular ischaemia with free radical scavengers and membrane-protecting compounds: an experimental study.

The prevention of oxidant-induced damage following reperfusion was experimentally evaluated. Two pharmacological regimens containing different combinations of antioxidant factors and membrane-stabilizing compounds, such as alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E), methionine, dexamethasone, mannitol and cysteine, were administered. The reduced/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) ratio in muscle was used to evaluate oxidative stress. Ischaemia was induced by occluding the aorta and the inferior vena cava with an irrigation-occlusion catheter. After 4 h of ischaemia, five sheep were reperfused without any treatment (control group) and five treated with an endoaortic bolus administered at declamping (treatment 1). In five other sheep, treatment started during ischaemia (treatment 2). Ischaemia and, in particular, reperfusion significantly reduced the muscle GSH content, compared with the basal value in the control group; thus the GSH/GSSG ratio decreased significantly in the control group from 10.5(2.2) (mean(s.e.) basal value) to 0.687(0.3) at reperfusion (P < 0.009). Both treatments 1 and 2 significantly prevented a reduction in GSH content induced by reperfusion following ischaemia; the GSH/GSSG ratio (10.5(2.2) basal value) increased to 19.67(4.6) with reperfusion in the treatment group 1, mainly because of a lower decrease of GSH and a lower level of GSSG while it did not change in treatment group 2 (10.7(5.0)). Levels of creatine phosphokinase did not change in the treated groups, although they increased significantly in the control group (P < 0.006). Although oxidative stress is not the only cause of damage in revascularization, this study confirms the protective ability of treatment with free radical scavengers and membrane-stabilizing compounds.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

gamma-Glutamyltransferase isoenzyme pattern in workers exposed to tetrachloroethylene.

In compliance with the mandatory medical surveillance of workers exposed to tetrachloroethylene (PCE) in Italy, isoenzyme fractioning of serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) was performed on 141 workers of both sexes and on 130 control subjects. None of the workers showed any clinical symptoms of liver disease and their enzymatic profiles, including AST, ALT, 5'-NU, ALP, and GGT, were within the normal reference limits. A statistically significant increase in total GGT serum level was found in the exposed subjects, which was associated with an increase in one of the two fractions normally present in healthy individuals (GGT-2), as well as with the appearance and progressive increase of the level of a fraction (GGT-4) considered to be an expression of hepato-biliary impairment. Further research is ongoing among these workers, which will clarify whether or not electrophoretic GGT tests may be useful in detecting liver function changes due to occupational exposure to PCE.

Adult↗