PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Latteri

Publications and source records attributed to S Latteri.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Long-term ethanol administration enhances age-dependent modulation of redox state in different brain regions in the rat: protection by acetyl carnitine.

Chronic alcoholism is a major public health problem and causes multiorgan diseases and toxicity. Although the majority of ethanol ingested is metabolized by the liver, it has intoxicating effects in the brain. Evidence is accumulating that intermediates of oxygen reduction may be associated with the development of alcoholic disease. Several studies have shown the capacity of carnitine and its derivatives to influence ethanol metabolism. We have previously demonstrated that preadministration of L-carnitine to rats receiving ethanol significantly reduced fatty acid ethyl esters in different organs and that the carnitine/acylcarnitine system is crucial for maintaining a functional acetyl-CoA/CoA ratio under conditions in which cellular homeostasis is exposed to the deleterious effects of accumulating organic acids. Ethanol, administered to rats for 20 months, induced significant changes in the status of glutathione, primarily in the brain regions of hippocampus and cerebellum, followed by cortex and striatum, where a decrease in reduced glutathione (GSH) and the GSH/oxidized glutathione ratio was found. The same brain regions showed a significant increase in free radical-induced luminescence and hydroxynonenal (HNE), which were associated with decreased GSH reductase activity. Long-term supplementation with acetyl carnitine significantly reduced GSH depletion, particularly in the brain regions of hippocampus, an effect associated with decreased luminescence and HNE formation. In addition, acetyl carnitine treatment increased GSH reductase and arginase activities. Our results indicate that decreased GSH reductase activities associated with thiol depletion are important factors sustaining a pathogenic role in alcohol-related pathologies. Administration of acetyl carnitine greatly reduces these metabolic abnormalities. This evidence supports the pharmacological potential of acetyl carnitine in the management of alcoholic disturbances.

Acetylcarnitine↗
PubMed2001

Effectiveness of porto-intracaval shunt to reduce the negative effects of portal and caval clamping in the rabbit.

In performing experimental liver surgery, it is difficult to prolong anhepatic time because the animals do not tolerate prolonged portal and caval clamping. To counteract prolonged venous stasis, the authors previously developed a simple porto-intracaval shunt. The shunt consists of a self-constructed inverted Y silicone tube. The effectiveness of this shunt was studied comparing two groups of 10 rabbits with shunt (S) versus those with clamped portal and inferior caval vein (C). In the group of rabbits that underwent porto-intracaval shunt, the results concerning intraoperative mortality, intraoperative increase in distal portal vein pressure, and incidence of the histologic signs of gut damage were clearly improved. The proposed porto-intracaval shunt was therefore effective in reducing some principal negative effects of portal and caval clamping. This type of porto-intracaval shunt can be therefore useful allowing improvement of experimental models concerning liver surgery in little animals.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Palliative treatment of malignant esophageal stenosis: the role of self-expanding stent endoscopic implantation.

Endoscopic tube implantations were carried out in 40 patients with malignant stenosis of the esophagus and gastric cardia using self-expanding metallic stents. The indications for endoscopic intubation were the advanced stage of the tumor in 27 cases and risk factors that made resection inadvisable in 13 cases. In three patients, it proved impossible to implant a stent endoscopically because we were not able to pass the guide wire through the stenosis, whereas correct stent placement was achieved in 37 cases. Functional results were good in 33 patients, but four patients did not show any improvement of symptoms. Complications occurred in nine patients (24.3%): two bleedings, three neoplastic obstructions, one food obstruction, and three distal dislodgements of the prosthesis were observed, but could be readily corrected. No deaths occurred. The median survival time was 151 days (range 25-545 days). This study suggests that endoscopic placement of metallic self-expanding stents is safe and is to be preferred to plastic stents for easier implantation and lower morbidity.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

[The physiopathological and therapeutic aspects of esophageal diverticula].

The authors reviewed 23 surgical cases of symptomatic oesophageal diverticula. In Zenker's diverticula (7 cases) the surgical treatment consisted of extramucosal cricopharyngeal myotomy and diverticulectomy (6 patients) or diverticulum suspension (1 patient). The operations in epiphrenic (15 patients) and mid-thoracic (1 patient) diverticula were as follows: diverticulectomy, longitudinal extramucosal myotomy and antireflux surgery (11 cases); myotomy and antireflux surgery (4 cases); myotomy alone (1 patient). There was no operative mortality. Postoperative complications occurred in 3 patients (13%). 15 patients were followed for an average time of 60 months. None of them developed postoperative dysphagia. Pathogenesis, diagnostic methods and surgical options are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Mixed-type pancreatoblastoma. Report of a clinical case].

Pancreatoblastoma is a very rare tumor of the pancreas, affecting children in the first decade of life. Ultrasound and CT scan may be useful but pre-operative diagnosis is often quite difficult. High level of seric alpha-fetoprotein could be suggestive of pancreatoblastoma. The definitive diagnosis is however made by histologists when an organoid structure, well encapsulated, consisting of acinar cells with zymogen-like granules and squamoid corpuscle is demonstrated, sometimes associated with mesenchymal tissue (mixed-type pancreatoblastoma). Immunohistochemical studies may help in differentiating pancreatoblastoma from papillary cystic tumors, acinar cell carcinomas and endocrine pancreatic tumors of the pancreas. We report a case of mixed-type pancreatoblastoma in a 12-year-old female patient, located in the head of the pancreas. The treatment has been surgical, consisting of a duodeno-cephalo-pancreasectomy. Neither radiotherapy nor chemotherapy has been performed. The patient is alive, without recurrence, four months after the operation. Diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic aspects are discussed.

Child↗
PubMed1992

[Esophageal achalasia: cardiomyotomy or pneumatic dilatation?].

Sixty-four patients with achalasia of the esophagus were surgically treated during the period 1973-1990. They were analyzed a late follow-up (mean = 78 months) by means of subjective and objective parameters. The Authors emphasize the efficiency of the diagnostic approach so that surgical treatment offers better results. The surgical technique of choice consists of an anterior esophagomyotomy (extending from 6 cm above the esophagogastric junction down to 1-2 cm below it) with the addition of an anterior Dor antireflux procedure through a laparotomy. The other therapeutic approach to achalasia is pneumatic dilatation of lower esophageal sphincter. A retrospective comparison of two different treatments is made through the analysis of the literature (medlars 1986-1990). Relief of dysphagia is reported in 92.78% of patients treated by myotomy and in 78.71% of those treated by forceful dilatation. The morbidity rate is greater after pneumatic dilatation (6% vs 5%) and the mortality rate is 1.1% after myotomy and 0.2% after dilatation. There are not rigorous criteria of choice between the two treatment methods but the Authors indicate that Heller's myotomy with an antireflux procedure achieve better and lasting results.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Current role of radical surgery in the treatment of breast tumors].

Though currently conservative surgical procedures have an ever-growing importance in breast cancer treatment, there is still place for radical surgery. The Authors describe radical techniques and their indications. The surgeon must know how to choose the proper radical technique, when it is not possible to perform a conservative surgical procedure.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1986

[Neuroendocrine response to anesthesia with isoflurane].

The effects during surgery of a new halogenated volatile anaesthetic, isoflurane, on the hypothalamo-hypophyseal-thyroid-suprarenal axis were studied. In fact, it was important to prove whether this new halogenated anaesthetic would provide better protection, for the patient, from surgery and anaesthetic stress compared with other anaesthetic agents in use. The study was carried out in 16 young class ASA I patients who were to undergo appendicectomy. Before and during operation, blood was taken to measure ACTH, cortisol, TSH, T3, T4 and PRL plasma levels. A remarkable increase of PRL, cortisol and T4 plasmatic rate was found, especially at the end of the operation. It was concluded that isoflurane, just like enflurane, did not prevent the increase of PRL, cortisol and T4 that usually takes place during surgery.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Plasma and CSF morphine concentrations after i.m. and epidural administration.

Morphine concentrations in plasma and CSF after i.m. and epidural morphine administration were assayed in patients undergoing surgery of the low abdomen. Morphine concentration in CSF after i.m. administration of this drug is remarkably lower than morphine concentration in plasma. The highest value is attained in CSF after about 90' and is followed by a slow downsloping to lowest values, which were observed 4 hours after drug administration. Kinetics of morphine passage into plasma after epidural administration is similar to that found after i.m. administration. In the latter experimental condition (epidural administration), concentrations of morphine in CSF 30' after administration are markedly lower than those found in plasma. However, 60 min. after epidural administration plasma and CSF morphine concentrations are similar, in particular CSF concentrations are 4 to 8 times higher than those obtained after i.m. administration. Such high levels persist for a long time.

Anesthesia, Epidural↗
PubMed1985

Ultrastructural changes of the pulmonary parenchyma after experimentally induced endotoxic shock in dogs with and without drug protection.

The authors describe the ultrastructural alterations of the pulmonary parenchyma produced in dogs by endotoxic shock, and they examine the effects that a 'secretolytic' drug (bromexine) has in modifying those changes. In the animals under shock there is a complete breakdown of the normal structure of the pulmonary parenchyma. According to the authors, these lesions are caused by the damage of the lining layer and of the cells which produce the constituents of the surfactant system. In dogs under shock and treated with bromexine the authors have seen a better organization of the pulmonary parenchyma: the cellular limits of the pneumocytes of types I and II were more clearly defined and the osmiophilic bodies were increased both in number and volume. The authors conclude that the damage of the lining layer and of the pneumocytes of type II plays an important role in the development of the ARDS and they say that bromexine can improve clinical and morphological aspects of that syndrome.

Animals↗