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Biomedical subjects

R Neri

Publications and source records attributed to R Neri.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of flutamide.

Flutamide is rapidly metabolized by hydroxylation of the side chain to SCH 16423 (alpha, alpha, alpha-trifluoro-2-methyl-4'-nitro-m-lactotoluidide), the major metabolic product in all species studied, which is biologically active in vivo and in vitro studies. Flutamide exhibits its antiandrogenic activity by inhibiting androgen uptake and/or inhibition of nuclear binding of the androgens in the target tissues. At daily doses from 1 to 50 mg/kg body weight, flutamide reduced seminal vesicle and ventral prostate weights of intact male rats without affecting sexual potency. In addition, flutamide reduced the rate of DNA synthesis in the prostate of rats to a greater degree than other steroidal antiandrogens. The antiandrogenic activity was corroborated by the inhibition of androgen-induced prostate hypertrophy in orchiectomized rats through the use of testosterone, testosterone propionate, dihydrotestosterone, androstenedione, and dehydroepiandrosterone. Flutamide, given orally, reduced prostatic size in aged dogs with benign prostate hyperplasia after six weeks and one year. The baboon prostate was also reduced in size when flutamide was administered three times a week for four weeks.

Anilides↗
PubMed1989

Fibromyalgia features in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome. Evidence of a relationship with psychological depression.

The prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints suggestive of the fibromyalgia syndrome (FS) was evaluated in 30 patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (1 degree SS) and in two control groups of patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and diabetes mellitus (DM). In addition, the presence of depressive state was investigated in patients and controls using the Hamilton rating scale and an Italian self-evaluating test. Fibromyalgia features were found in 14 1 degree SS patients (47%), in 21 OA (70%) and in 10 DM (33%) controls. 1 degree SS patients showed the highest prevalence (47%) of moderate-severe depression with respect to OA (20%) and DM (7%) groups (p less than 0.01). Furthermore, while FS features correlated closely with both tests for depression in 1 degree SS (p less than 0.001), this correspondence was absent or much less significant in the other disease groups. Finally, neither psychopathological features nor FS complaints appeared to be related to the other clinical and serological findings of 1 degree SS.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Parotid sialography and minor salivary gland biopsy in the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome. A comparative study of 84 patients.

Parotid sialography and labial salivary gland biopsy were performed in 84 patients with clinical features of primary or secondary Sjögren's syndrome (SS). Signs of focal sialoadenitis were found in 73/84 patients (87%), but only 37 (44%) scored 4 which is considered diagnostic for classic SS. In contrast 55/84 patients (66%) showed some sialographic abnormalities. In patients with both primary and secondary SS, hypergammaglobulinemia and anti-SSA antibodies appeared to be the serological variables more closely related to the entity of either sialographic or histologic abnormalities. In primary SS extraglandular manifestations and recurrent parotid swelling were significantly associated with parotid sialography and labial salivary gland biopsy changes, respectively. Our study indicates that currently both radiological and histological examination are necessary for the assessment of salivary gland involvement in SS.

Antibodies, Antinuclear↗
PubMed1987

Ventricular arrhythmias in dilated cardiomyopathy: efficacy of amiodarone.

Sixty-five patients with dilated cardiomyopathy were studied by means of 24-hour ECG monitoring. Ventricular arrhythmias were present in 62 (95.4%), of whom 52 (80%) showed a complex form (multiform ventricular extrasystoles, pairs, and ventricular tachycardia). Forty-one patients, presenting with complex ventricular arrhythmias, received antiarrhythmic treatment with amiodarone (600 mg/day in the first week, 400 mg/day in the second week, and 200 to 400 mg/day chronically), and were then controlled with periodic 24-hour ambulatory monitoring. A significant reduction in the number of ventricular extrasystoles was seen in over 70% of patients during a 3-year period. There was also a significant decrease in the incidence of complex ventricular arrhythmias (particularly of ventricular tachycardia). Adverse effects were noted in 23 patients, but only four had to stop treatment. During the follow-up period, 19 patients died: 14 of heart failure, four of sudden death, and one of a noncardiac cause; all patients who died suddenly were not treated with amiodarone (p = 0.022). Complex ventricular arrhythmias are frequent in dilated cardiomyopathy and it is suggested that amiodarone is effective in short- and long-term control of these arrhythmias.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

The clinical relevance of antinuclear antibodies in connective tissue diseases.

Detection of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) is of growing relevance in the management of connective tissue diseases (CTD). ANA are useful diagnostic tools, since most CTD have a peculiar ANA profile, characterized either by restricted specificities, abnormally high titers, or both. Furthermore, the study of the intimate structure and function of nuclear antigens, and of their corresponding antibodies may provide important insights to understand both origin and pathogenesis of CTD. Finally, the more or less close association of ANA levels and/or specificity with certain signs or symptoms of CTD is of increasing help to the clinician in the correct monitoring and management of CTD.

Antibodies, Antinuclear↗
PubMed1987

[Ambulatory ECG in cardiomyopathies].

DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY - Conduction and rhythm disturbances are frequent findings in dilated cardiomyopathy. 65 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy underwent 24-hour electrocardiographic monitoring: 95.4% showed ventricular arrhythmias, 80% complex ventricular arrhythmias and 44% runs of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia. Over 1000 ventricular extrasystoles in 24 hours were present in 44% of cases. Ventricular tachycardia and multiform and paired ventricular extrasystoles correlated significantly with the severity of cardiac dysfunction and with a worse prognosis. Patients undergoing antiarrhythmic therapy (amiodarone) showed a significant reduction in the number of ventricular extrasystoles and in the incidence of complex ventricular arrhythmias. HYPERTROPHIC CARDIOMYOPATHY - The high incidence of arrhythmias, particularly ventricular arrhythmias (approx. 70% of cases) in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is well recognized: episodes of ventricular tachycardia are present in 20% of cases and are related to an elevated risk of sudden death. Antiarrhythmic treatment with amiodarone significantly reduces the number of ventricular extrasystoles and the episodes of ventricular tachycardia, may prevent sudden death and improve survival. RESTRICTIVE CARDIOMYOPATHY - Very little information is present in literature concerning this extremely rare form, in which every type of rhythm and conduction disturbance has been observed. CONCLUSIONS - Electrocardiographic monitoring is nowadays a very important tool in the management of cardiomyopathy patients, to identify possible patients at risk and to monitor the antiarrhythmic treatment.

Amiodarone↗
PubMed1986

HLA antigens in Italian patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Twenty eight Italian patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome were typed for class I and class II alloantigens of the major histocompatibility complex. Patients with Sjögren's syndrome had higher prevalence of DR3 (46.4% v 14% in the control population, p corrected less than 0.02), while similar prevalence was found for DR2 and DRw52 alloantigens. DR3 correlated with DRw52 (p less than 0.0001), anti-Ro(SSA) (p less than 0.0002) and anti-La(SSB) (p less than 0.02) antibodies, and extraglandular manifestations (p less than 0.02). In addition, extraglandular involvement was associated with anti-Ro antibodies (p less than 0.05) and raised gammaglobulins (p less than 0.02). In Italian patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome DR3 is the genetic marker related to this clinical entity and seems to identify a disease subset characterised by autoantibody production and extraglandular manifestations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Arrhythmias in dilated cardiomyopathy.

Sixty-five patients with dilated cardiomyopathy underwent 24 hour electrocardiographic monitoring: 62 (95.4%) showed ventricular arrhythmias and 52 (80%) complex ventricular arrhythmias (multiform ventricular extrasystoles, paired ventricular extrasystoles and ventricular tachycardia). Complex ventricular arrhythmias correlated significantly with some haemodynamic indices of ventricular dysfunction: patients with multiform and paired ventricular extrasystoles and with ventricular tachycardia had lower values of ejection fraction (31.9 +/- 11.8%, P = 0.002) and of cardiac index (2.9 +/- 0.7 litres/min/m2, P = 0.029) than the others (41.1 11.1% and 3.5 +/- 0.9 litres/min/m2 respectively). Patients were followed for a period of 30 +/- 18 months (20 days to 64 months). During follow-up 19 died and mortality was higher among patients with multiform and paired ventricular extrasystoles and/or ventricular tachycardia. Complex ventricular arrhythmias are frequent in dilated cardiomyopathy: ventricular tachycardia and multiform and paired ventricular extrasystoles seem to be related to a more depressed ventricular function and to a poor prognosis. The importance of antiarrhythmic treatment in these patients has still to be evaluated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

[The electrocardiogram in dilated cardiomyopathy].

The electrocardiogram (ECG) of 80 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy was studied. An abnormal ECG was present in 100% of our patients, and in 25% it was the first sign of the disease. Thirty-eight cases (47.5%) showed left atrial enlargement, 22 (27.5%) prolonged PR interval, 33 (41.2%) left bundle branch block, 15 (18.7%) abnormal Q waves, 9 (11.2%) primary S-T and T changes. There were significant differences in ejection fraction and in left ventricular end-diastolic volume between patients with right bundle branch block (p less than 0.05 and p = 0.05 respectively). Patients were followed for a period of 29.5 +/- 28.8 months (min. 2 days, max. 10 years): during the observation period the ECG showed in 28 cases an increasing left ventricular conduction delay and a leftward shifting of mean QRS axis. Patients with left ventricular conduction delays showed a worse prognosis. ECG in dilated cardiomyopathy is a nonspecific but sensitive tool, which may be related to different degrees of myocardial impairment and may be useful in the definition of a prognostic profile.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Recombinant interferon alpha-2 (INTRON A) in a phase II study of renal cell carcinoma.

Because two of five patients with renal cell carcinoma in a Phase I study had partial response to recombinant alpha-2 interferon (IFN), we treated 26 patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma with a 3-month regimen of IFN. Patients were randomized to receive IFN either subcutaneously (2 X 10(6) IU/m2 3 times a week) or intravenously (3 X 10(7) IU/m2 for 5 consecutive days every 2-3 weeks). Patients whose disease was responding or stable were treated further, while those with progressive disease on subcutaneous treatment were offered intravenous therapy. Sites of metastasis included lung (14 patients), bone (7 patients), soft tissue (7 patients) and liver (2 patients). Twenty patients were evaluable for response. One patient had a partial response at the end of the third course of intravenous IFN and subsequently had complete disappearance of a 12 X 7 cm subcutaneous mass after the seventh course of treatment. The disease was stable in 13 patients including two minor responses, and six patients had progressive disease (5 with subcutaneous treatment; 1 with intravenous treatment) including one mixed response. All patients experienced early flu-like symptoms of fever, chills, and rigors during the first few days of treatment and most had mild to moderate fatigue. Three patients left the study because of fatigue, and one had an urticarial rash. From these results and our previous experience, it appears that IFN has activity against renal cell carcinoma with acceptable toxicity.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

[Negativity of myocardial scintigraphy with technetium-pyrophosphate in a case of primary cardiac amyloidosis].

We describe herein the case of a 62-year-old man affected by congestive heart failure of obscure origin, in which the clinical history, the electrocardiographic and echocardiographic findings were compatible with the diagnosis of amyloid cardiomyopathy. Cardiac catheterization disclosed a restrictive physiology. Tc-99m-pyrophosphate myocardial scintiscan was negative despite the markedly increased left ventricular wall thickness on echocardiographic examination. A definite diagnosis was obtained by means of endomyocardial biopsy.

Amyloidosis↗
PubMed1985

[Reduction of doses in teleradiography of the spine. Criteria of radiation protection and studies of dosimetry].

To reduce the radiation exposure during full spine X-ray examinations, the following techniques were instituted: 72" tube to film distance; X-ray beam collimation; fast screen-film combination (rare earth gradual screens with high speed films); additional compensation filters; shielding of the most radiation-sensitive organs. Dosimetric measurements are reported. A very high reduction in exposure, above all of breasts and gonads, was obtained, without significant loss in the quality of radiographs.

Breast↗
PubMed1984

Vasodilators in left ventricular failure.

Vasodilator drugs are generally classified according to their prevalent site of action: arteriolar vasodilators (e.g. phentolamine, hydralazine, nifedipine) which reduce peripheral resistance and, therefore, increase stroke volume and cardiac output; venodilators (e.g. nitrates), which decrease filling pressure, redistributing intravascular blood volume from the central to the peripheral reservoirs and therefore relieve signs and symptoms of congestion; "balanced" vasodilators (e.g. nitroprusside, prazosin, captopril) which present both effects. Vasodilator therapy is indicated in heart failure caused by impaired contractility (congestive cardiomyopathy, ischemic heart disease) and volume overload (mitral and aortic regurgitation, ventricular septal defect). Hemodynamic studies of acute pharmacological effects are necessary for a correct drug choice, even if they are not always predictive of the long-term efficacy. Non-invasive studies (in particular echocardiography) don't seem actually adequate for vasodilator therapy evaluation. Finally it is not known if vasodilator treatment influence prognosis of chronic heart failure (especially survival), but there is evidence that it can lessen symptoms and increase effort tolerance.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed1980

Oscillations of IgM antibody affinity at the level of single immunocytes.

IgM antibody affinity was measured by hemolytic plaque inhibition assays on spleen cells from mice immunized with a single injection of DNP-dextran. Maturation of affinity was found to occur with time after 1 to 1000 microgram of immunogen and to be characterized by rapid oscillations independent from changes inFC number/spleen and in antibody secretion rate. Analysis of affinity heterogeneity showed that such oscillations occur in higher affinity PFC subpopulations. The origin of affinity oscillations was discussed in terms of interactions among antigen and the elements of the immune network.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Time and antigen dose-dependent variations of IgM antibody affinity.

Affinity of IgM antibodies elicited in mice by a single injection of dinitrophenylated dextran was measured by equilibrium dialysis. Maturation of affinity was found to occur with time, the rate of increase being higher after larger antigen doses. Maturation was followed by a decrease of affinity with time, the fall being more pronounced after lower antigen doses. These findings are more in line with the theory of antigen-induced diversity rather than with the maturation theory.

Animals↗