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Biomedical subjects

A Balestrieri

Publications and source records attributed to A Balestrieri.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis of heroin addicts.

The hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis of heroin addicts was investigated by evaluating plasma cortisol levels throughout the day in 37 heroin abusers (HA), 17 of whom showed detectable morphine levels, indicating heroin administration in the previous hours and in 12 controls. All HA showed lower cortisol levels in basal condition (100.7 +/- 61.7 ng/ml, M +/- S.D.) compared to the control group (159.7 +/- 40.6, P less than 0.05). Moreover all HA (65.1 +/- 28.9%), and in particular those taking heroin during the study (39.1 +/- 41.4%), show a reduced cortisol decrease in the evening, which was significantly lower than in controls (85.3 +/- 10.1%; P less than 0.01). As far as the acute effects of opiates are concerned morphine (0.1 mg/kg) significantly reduced plasma cortisol levels within 60 min in a group of 8 healthy subjects. The same pattern was displayed by only 3/8 HA whose morphine levels were higher than 1 ng/ml, i.e. in those reaching the highest plasma morphine concentrations. These data indicate that chronic opiate abuse leads to a hypoadrenalism which could be the result of morphine-induced changes at the hypothalamic level.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Lack of corneal chrysiasis in rheumatoid arthritis patients undergoing oral gold therapy.

Corneal chrysiasis is a common consequence of parenteral chrysotherapy in patients affected by rheumatoid arthritis. Concerning the factors and conditions that could be determinant for the gold accumulation in the cornea, there are contradictory opinions. Total or weekly gold dose and its accumulation quota, and the frequency of drug administration, seemed to be parameters to which corneal chrysiasis could be related. Since all these parameters are completely different during oral gold therapy, previous investigations on corneal chrysiasis are inapplicable to patients undergoing oral treatment. This study, performed on rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with auranofin, orally administered for 8-34 months, did not reveal any appreciable corneal deposits of gold.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1985

Ultrastructural, immunological and clinical findings in two cases of hairy cell leukemia.

In two cases of hairy-cell leukemia were studied the transmission and scanning electron microscopy morphology, the cell surface markers with monoclonal antibodies and the response to polyclonal mitogens, the clinical course and staging. We have found in the hairy cells of both cases a characteristic membranous system consisting of several parallel cisternae arranged in series at regular intervals each bounded by a smooth membrane and interrupted at intervals by electron-dense structures: this structure can be identified with the 'annulate lamellae', as yet reported in many cells but never described in hairy cells. The results of immunological investigations are presented and discussed. Our data seem to support the neoplastic B lymphocyte nature of the hairy cells. Some interesting findings of the clinical course of the two patients are also stressed.

Aged↗
PubMed1980

Failure of ketamine to interact with opiate receptors.

Ketamine, an anesthetic agent endowed with several morphine-like effects, failed to displace 3H-dihydromorphine or 3H-methionine-enkephalin from opiate receptors in the rat brain synaptosomal-mitochondrial membrane preparations. Furthermore, ketamine-induced analgesia in rats was not antagonized by naloxone, suggesting that this effect is not mediated by opiate receptors.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

The choice of neuroleptics in the treatment of schizophrenia: a critical review.

The selective use of different neuroleptics in the treatment of schizophrenia by some psychiatrist according to the greater need for a sedative, antidelusional or activating effect is supported only by some uncontrolled clinical observations. Most extensive controlled studies done until now showed no significant differences among neuroloptics in their therapeutic efficacy. The hypothesis that these drugs have specific and selective actions therfore cannot be accepted. In the single patient it seems more rational to choose the right dosage schedule instead of the "right drug". Though the study of the metabolism of these drugs remains the most interesting approach to the problem of the individualization of the therapy., the results of these studies have until now been disappointing e.g. plasma levels of chlorpromazine correlated weakly with clinical improvement. In clinical practice an important element in the process of choosing is still the incidence of side effects and in fact at the moment "the drug of choice" can only be the drug best tolerated by the patient.

Antipsychotic Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Hepatitis B viral nucleotide sequences in non-A, non-B or hepatitis B virus-related chronic liver disease.

The presence of serological markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and of hepatocellular HBV DNA were investigated in 19 HBsAg-negative patients with clinically and histologically significant chronic liver disease. Four cases negative for antibodies to HBsAg (anti-HBs), to the core antigen (anti-HBc), and to the e antigen (anti-HBe) were classified as non-A, non-B hepatitis. The remainder, positive for one or more of the three antibodies, were classified as hepatitis B. Histologic diagnosis was chronic active hepatitis in five, chronic persistent hepatitis in 11, micronodular cirrhosis in two, and fatty liver in one patient. The DNA extracted from limited amounts of liver biopsies, without cleavage by restriction endonucleases, was analyzed by the Southern blot technique for the presence of episomal HBV DNA. Autoradiographs showed a single band of less than 4.0 kilobase (kb) corresponding to the monomeric form of HBV DNA in five patients, several bands of larger forms (4.0 to 18.0 kb) in three patients, both the monomeric and the larger forms in eight patients, and no HBV DNA in three patients. While HBV DNA was detected in the hepatocellular DNA of six patients who underwent splenectomy, hybridization was negative with the DNA extracted from their spleens. The episomal viral DNA larger than 4.0 kb may represent concatemeric forms or free oligomers which could not be distinguished from rearranged and/or integrated viral DNA in the limited analyses of the hepatocellular DNA hydrolyzed with HindIII or EcoRI. Our observations suggest the presence of HBV-like agents in the liver of serologically HBsAg-negative patients with chronic liver disease.

Adolescent↗