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Biomedical subjects

A Baraldi

Publications and source records attributed to A Baraldi.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Does intravenous streptokinase therapy facilitate the formation of anti-heart antibodies in acute myocardial infarction?

Streptokinase (SK), a nonenzymatic protein produced by group C beta haemolytic streptococci, is a potent antigen. It is used worldwide as a thrombolytic agent in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Specific antiheart antibodies (AHA) have been found with a significantly high incidence in patients with AMI, and after streptococcal infection as a result of stimulation by constituents of the group A streptococci antigenically cross-reactive with sarcolemmal portion of the muscle fiber of the heart. Since there may be partial antigenic identity of group C streptococcal membranes with membranes isolated from group A streptococci, we have designed a prospective study to evaluate the incidence of serum AHA (and of other organ-specific and non-organ-specific antibodies) in 36 patients with AMI, 14 of whom treated with SK. AHA, of IgG class, were of the sarcolemmal-subsarcolemmal type, and did not fix complement. They were found in 4/36 patients already on admission; of the 32 patients negative, none developed AHA later, on days 7, 15 and 21 of hospitalization, also after treatment with SK (in 14 cases). There was no significant difference either within or between the two SK-treated and non-SK-treated groups also with regard to the incidence of organ-specific and non-organ-specific autoantibodies. These findings do suggest that the intravenous SK therapy does not facilitate the formation of AHA in AMI.

Antibody Formation↗

Correlation of MAST chemiluminescent assay (CLA) with RAST and skin prick tests for diagnosis of inhalant allergic disease.

The purpose of this study was to compare the new multiple allergosorbent chemiluminescent assay (MAST CLA) system with the RAST and skin prick tests as an adjunct to the diagnosis of inhalant allergies. In this report, MAST CLA and RAST have given similar results, but no technique is as sensitive as skin tests for allergen-specific diagnosis of inhalant allergic disease.

Adolescent↗

Prostacyclin-lipoprotein interactions. Studies on human platelet aggregation and adenylate cyclase.

The in vitro effects of different lipoprotein fractions (VLDL, LDL and HDL) on human washed platelet aggregation, induced by collagen and thrombin, were evaluated in the presence and absence of PGI2. Although VLDL and LDL increased the platelet aggregation while HDL showed an opposite effect, none of the tested lipoprotein fractions affected the potency of PGI2 as inhibitor of platelet aggregation (IC50). In addition, studies were performed to evaluate the effects of lipoproteins on adenylate cyclase activity in human platelet membranes. The three lipoprotein classes inhibited both basal and PGI2-stimulated adenylate cyclase without affecting the EC50 for PGI2. This inhibitory activity was not specifically elicited by any protein or lipid since neither bovine serum albumin nor a lipid emulsion (Intralipid) displayed any inhibition. The effect on adenylate cyclase elicited by VLDL, LDL and HDL does not seem to be correlated with the activity on platelet aggregation. It is concluded that mediators other than cAMP might be involved in the control of platelet function by lipoproteins.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Polycythaemia following splenectomy in myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia. A reorganization of erythropoiesis.

3 patients with myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia were splenectomized because of anaemia and disturbing splenomegaly. In the course of the 6 months following splenectomy, a polycythaemia developed. Erythrokinetic studies demonstrated that in all cases a reduction in plasma volume and an increase in red cell volume was obtained. Total erythropoiesis decreased along with normalization of ineffective erythropoiesis and peripheral haemolysis. The reappearance of an erythropoietic activity measured over the sacrum was a constant finding, while in 1 patient, a depression of activity over the liver was observed. The new distribution and organization of erythropoiesis in the splenectomized patients is hypothesized as being due to the removal of the influence of an enlarged spleen on erythropoietic organs.

Aged↗

Red cell aplasia in myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia. A distinct functional and clinical entity.

Three patients with myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia are described. All three presented with grave anemia and red cell aplasia. Erythroid failure was the functional characteristic of erythropoiesis as resulted from erythrokinetic studies. Bone marrow was hypercellular or normocellular with hyperplasia of granuloblasts and megakaryocytes. Despite absent or mild splenomegaly at diagnosis, massive splenomegaly associated with a leukoerythroblastic blood film developed during the course of the disease. A relative young age (42-47 years), a subacute course of the disease and terminal blast crisis in two of them were the prominent clinical features of the patients. The differentiation from acute or malignant myelofibrosis is discussed. The patients appear to be a distinct subset within myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia.

Adult↗

Competing models for the analysis of red cell survival obtained with 51Cr labelling technique.

A computer program for the analysis of 51Cr labelled red cell survival data was used in 84 patients and 8 normal subjects to estimate the parameters of 7 competing models derived from different hypotheses of the red cell destruction process. The purpose was to establish the optimal complexity of a red cell survival model to be used. Senescence or random destruction were the most common identified patterns of red cell death (79% of the cases). Models assuming different levels of death probability according to the age of cells, or 2 populations of cells with different death probabilities, were selected in 21% of the cases. These latter patients were characterized by the lowest values of MRCL. The conclusion of the work was that an automatic procedure for selecting the best model of red cell destruction is necessary when information concerning the mechanism of red cell death is required. For the more practical aim of obtaining an accurate measurement of the MRCL, the minimal set of competing models should account of at least 2 different populations of cells in addition to the random or senescence destruction models.

Anemia, Hemolytic↗

Relapse of nephrotic syndrome following remission for 20 years.

Relapse of the nephrotic syndrome in a patient who was in remission for 20 years is discussed. The initial renal biopsy performed 3 years after the onset of the nephrotic syndrome showed focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). The second renal biopsy performed 20 years later was compatible with a diagnosis of minimal change nephropathy (MCN).

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

Erythropoiesis in hairy cell leukaemia: a true erythroid failure.

A quantitative evaluation of erythropoiesis was carried out in 12 patients with hairy cell leukaemia (HCL). The results were compared with those obtained in eight patients with aplastic anaemia (AA) in order to define the characteristics of erythroid failure in HCL. Discriminant analysis was applied to both haematological and erythrokinetic parameters of the two disease groups. Plasma iron concentration and MCV were significantly higher in AA, and allowed a perfect separation of the patients. As regards erythrokinetics, values of ineffective erythropoiesis and peripheral haemolysis were able to separate completely the two disease groups, being significantly lower in HCL than in AA. A true erythroid failure was the peculiar erythrokinetic pattern of HCL. This conclusion allows one to speculate on the nature of the stem cell damage in this disease.

Adult↗

Peripheral neuropathy in multiple system atrophy with autonomic failure.

Two patients with multiple system atrophy, autonomic failure, and peripheral neuropathy are reported. EMG conduction study in both muscle and sural nerve histology in one patient documented the involvement of the neuromuscular system. Morphologic study of the biopsied nerve showed marked reduction of large myelinated fibers, whereas the unmyelinated axons were totally spared. The latter finding provides evidence that the syspathetic nervous system contributes few, if any, axons to the total population of unmyelinated fibers in the human sural nerve. Peripheral nerve damage may be common in the Shy-Drager syndrome.

Atrophy↗

[Transcutaneous renal needle-biopsy guided with ultrasonics].

Authors performed percutaneous renal biopsy guided by ultrasounds in 10 patients in whom urography was dangerous or did not provided good renal images. The advantages of this method are in the directional and dimensional accuracy of ultrasound scanning, so that the exact topography of the kidney can be established. The use of ultrasonically guided renal biopsy is mainly recommended in iodine medium idiosyncrasy, in myelomas and renal failure. This method can be preferred in order to establish the exact topography of kidney, in acute anuric renal failure, in chronic failure (when high doses of iodate contrast are needed), and in the presence of cyst.

Adult↗

Increased whole body hematocrit: venous hematocrit ratio in diabetes mellitus, evidence of microcirculatory hemoconcentration.

Plasma volume and red cell volume were measured in 24 diabetic outpatients. From the blood volume measurements, the whole body hematocrit was derived, and the ratio between whole body hematocrit:venous hematocrit (WBH:VH ratio) was considered to represent an index of the difference in red cell distribution between small and large blood vessels. The WBH:VH ratio was increased in 9 out of 13 males and in 1 out of 11 females, being inversely correlated to the plasma volume (r = -0.51, p less than 0.001). Although the significance of these findings is far from clear, the occurrence of small vessel hemoconcentration in male patients with diabetes mellitus may be relevant to the pathophysiology of vascular complications of diabetes.

Diabetes Mellitus↗