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Biomedical subjects

A Agnoli

Publications and source records attributed to A Agnoli.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

[Copper and nervous system. An experimental study (author's transl)].

Sodium azide is known to produce alterations in mammalian copper proteins, thus rendering them unable to bind exogenous metal, which remains in the "labile pool" condition. Continuous administration of sodium azide at LD50 for 30 days causes copper accumulation in several tissues and even in the nervous system, with characteristic changes in neurones and glial cells, very much resembling the alterations observed in Wilson's disease. Dietary copper administration, on the contrary, though raising the level of tissue-bound metal, does not produce cellular damage. These findings allow us to suppose that sodium azide may alterate the coppper chelating proteins in the tissues, especially in the nervous system, thus causing the storage of cell-toxic "labile pool" metal. The pathogenesis of Wilson's disease and the problem of "pathoclisis" in the nervous system are debated.

Animals↗

Biochemical pathogenesis and therapeutical prospectives in degenerative chorea.

In the last few years both neuropathological and neurochemical data have contributed towards a classification of the pathogenesis of degenerative chorea of which Huntington's chorea shows clear evidence of heredity. The role of GABA, DA and Ach in determining chorea seems clear. In 7 patients with degenerative hypotonic-hyperkinetic chorea (the acid metabolites into the cerebrospinal fluid are not available) a neuropharmacological study was conducted. The symptomatology was evaluated both through clinical rating and through phasic and tonic performance tests. The neuropharmacological tests were both acute and chronic. In the acute tests the effect of modification of various neurotransmitters (Ach, DA, NA, GABA) was evaluated. In chronic treatment the effectiveness of haloperidol, PCPA and bromocryptine was evaluated. The results of the acute study were positive both as regards increment of DA (receptors stimulation) and GABA. The chronic study shows any effect of PCPA, positive results both with bromocryptine and with haloperidol. Our results confirm a DA/GABA interaction in the pathogenesis of degenerative chorea.

Acetylcholine↗

[Neuroendocrine aspects of Parkinson's disease. Therapeutic/effect of a prolactin inhibitor].

On the basis of a reassessment of the aetiopathogenetic problem and the neuroendocrine implications, the therapeutic effectiveness of a prolactin inhibitor, 2-alpha-Br-ergocryptine (CB 154), in Parkinson's disease is assessed. Five patients were treated for a total of two weeks using doses between 10 and 15 mg/die. CB 154 was found to act as a dopaminergic receptor agonist at nigro-striatal level, considerably improving tremor and rigidity and to a lesser extent bradykinesia and total disability.

Aged↗

Absence of relationships between L-dopa plasma levels and therapeutic effect in Parkinson's disease treated with L-dopa.

The plasma concentration of dopa was studied in 15 parkinsonian patients after a single administration of L-dopa. The study was undertaken in order to determine if correlation between plasma dopa concentration and clinical performance as a result of the tests carried out before and after a single dose of dopa, was present. Our data confirm the absolute absence of correlation between dopa levels in plasma and clinical improvement during long-term treatment. Moreover, clinical responses to the performance tests were not related to the concentration of circulating L-dopa in the plasma. Therefore dopa levels cannot be useful in clinical practice but only for the prevention of too high concentrations of plasma L-dopa which often cause a few side-effects.

Administration, Oral↗

Ventriculography with water-soluble contrast media.

Ventriculography with water-soluble contrast media is described. The advantage of subtraction and tomography is discussed. The incidence of side effects and complications of ventriculography with air and Dimer-X are given and compared with data about Conray 60.

Cerebral Ventriculography↗

Lumbar tomomyelography with water-soluble contrast medium.

Myelography supplemented by tomography was routinely carried out in 150 cases. The number of false negative findings was reduced practically to nil. At present, this method is only used in cases with equivocal results at conventional myelography or with poor correlation between clinical symptomatology and myelography. The frequency of side effects in 500 examinations with Dimer-X is unimportant.

Adult↗

[Controlled double-blind study (SAMe-imipramine) in depressive syndromes].

Thirty one patients were treated with either S-Adenosylmethionine or Imipramine in a double-blind clinical trial comparing S-Adenosylmethionine (25 mg i.m. three times daily) with Imipramine (25 mg i.m. three times daily) administered for a period of three weeks. Hamilton Rating scores showed no significant differences between treatments, but such slight differences as were observed favoured S-Adenosylmethionine.

Administration, Oral↗