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Biomedical subjects

A Basile

Publications and source records attributed to A Basile.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Reversible tubular dysfunction in alcohol abuse.

The discovery of an unexplained alkaline urine pH in a significant percentage of chronic alcoholic patients prompted us to evaluate some aspects of their tubular function. We studied 60 patients with a history of alcohol consumption of at least 160g daily for 10 years or more. Only patients without clinical and histopathological evidence of chronic liver disease were included in the study. The endogenous creatinine clearance was in the normal range in all patients. On the first day of hospitalisation 22 patients (36.6%) had a urine pH greater than 6.4 and a daily bicarbonate excretion ranging from 5.8 to 25.9mmol. The fractional urinary excretion of beta 2-microglobulin, sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, phosphorus and uric acid were significantly increased compared with those of 38 alcoholic patients with urine pH less than 6.4 and those of 50 healthy controls. All these indices of tubular function improved during withdrawal, and after 30 days of abstinence their values did not differ from those of controls. This data provides evidence that in one-third of heavy drinkers alcohol abuse causes a complex tubular dysfunction which, at least in this stage of alcoholic disease, recovers with abstinence.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Close genetic linkage between HLA and renal glycosuria.

Renal glycosuria is an inherited disorder of renal tubule function in which significant amounts of glucose are excreted in the urine in the simultaneous presence of normal blood glucose levels. Renal glucose titration analyses and HLA genotypes were performed in 5 unrelated affected families with a total of 25 patients and 40 healthy relatives. In each family the gene responsible for renal glycosuria segregates with the HLA complex suggesting a close genetic linkage. 2 cases carry intra-HLA recombinant haplotypes; in these subjects our findings indicate that the abnormal gene is closer to the HLA-A locus than the HLA-B locus. No HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C specific antigen is selectively increased among the 5 unrelated families affected with renal glycosuria.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Immunological characterization of renal glycosuria patients.

We have evaluated the autoantibody pattern, the production of specific immunoglobulins against bacteria in the urinary tract and lymphocytes populations in peripheral blood of primary renal glycosuria patients. All the affected members present autoantibodies against various antigens. In nine patients immunofluorescence revealed antibody coated bacteria in urine specimens. Imbalances in lymphocytes subpopulations are also present, with a reduction of OKT8+ cells and an increase of B and natural killer cells. These results support previous observations about immunological abnormalities in these patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Differential sensitivity of cerebellar purkinje neurons to ethanol in selectively outbred lines of mice: maintenance in vitro independent of synaptic transmission.

The effects of ethanol on spontaneous firing of cerebellar Purkinje neurons were examined in outbred lines of mice (short-sleep, SS; and long-sleep, LS) which exhibit differential behavioral sensitivity to ethanol. In order to determine whether the differences in Purkinje cell ethanol sensitivity which are observed in situ reflect differences in intrinsic properties of Purkinje neurons, we developed an isolated in vitro preparation of mouse cerebellum. Even when synaptic transmission was largely inhibited by elevating Mg2+ and decreasing Ca2+ concentrations, Purkinje cells demonstrated stable long-term firing rates quite similar to those observed in vivo. Purkinje cells responded to superfusion of ethanol with both increases and decreases in firing rate. Inhibition of rate was more commonly observed, and was the only response which was demonstrably dose-dependent. The differential sensitivity to ethanol which we have previously reported in vivo was maintained even under under these conditions, with the LS mice being approximately 5 times more sensitive to the depressant effects of ethanol. In addition, it was shown that ethanol, at the concentrations used in these experiments, decreased the amplitude and increased the duration of single action potentials. Thus, taken together, these results suggest that the differential sensitivity of outbred lines to the soporific effects of ethanol are paralleled by differences in the sensitivity of Purkinje neurons in vitro to superfusion with ethanol. Because these differences can be observed even when synaptic transmission is largely suppressed, it would appear that these differences are intrinsic to the purkinje neurons themselves.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

[Alcoholism and the hospital. The treatment of alcoholism in a general medicine department].

Starting from the premise that a period in a General Hospital is an opportunity to cure the alcoholic, a treatment of alcohol dependence was undertaken during normal working hours based on the principles of social psychiatry and group therapy adapted for use in a General Hospital. The data on 71 alcoholics over a maximum period of eleven months are described. Relapses vary according to groups, which in their turn reflect the different degrees of problem involved. The total percentage of cures was 56%. The results were satisfactory especially when the type of treatment, cost-free and employing little time, is considered. A similar experiment in other hospitals in the area might offer effective cure and prevention of alcoholism in the Region.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

[Renal glycosuria: dominant or recessive autosome anomaly? Mode of hereditary transmission based on the analysis of a 3-generation family tree].

Assessment of the pedigree of 7 persons in 3 generations showed that interpretation of the transmission modality of renal glycosuria may be influenced by the diagnostic criteria employed. Analysis of renal glucose curves and evaluation of glycosuria after an oral glucose tolerance test made it clear that albeit slight detects could be detected in family members who would be regarded as healthy according to the criteria of Marble. Distribution of the character pointed to dominant transmission, as opposed to the recessive autosomal transmission favoured in the literature. Variations in the clinical gravity of the tubular defect may be ascribable to a difference in the expressiveness of the abnormal gene or to genetic heterogeneity. Persons homozygous and heterozygous for the gene were present in the pedigree concerned.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

More on the increase of hemoglobin A1 in chronic renal failure: the role of acidosis.

In chronic renal failure both Hb A1 and Hb A1c levels have been reported to be elevated. In order to investigate the causes of such increase we measured Hb A1 (cation-exchange chromatography), blood urea nitrogen, arterial blood pH and plasma bicarbonate in 40 patients with chronic renal failure receiving conservative treatment, 45 uremic patients on intermittent hemodialysis and 60 subjects with normal renal function. In patients with chronic renal failure Hb A1 highly correlates with arterial blood pH and plasma bicarbonate, thus emphasizing the major role played by uremic acidosis in the increased Hb A1 fraction in chronic renal failure.

Acidosis, Renal Tubular↗
PubMed1983

The use of brain slices in central nervous system pharmacology.

Brain slice preparations have most frequently been employed to answer questions of a biochemical or physiological nature. Nevertheless, in vitro brain slices also have considerable value as pharmacological tools with which to study the physiological actions of neurotransmitters and drugs on the central nervous system. Several aspects of the slice preparation facilitate this type of analysis. Because drugs can be applied and tested in a relatively quantitative manner, many classical pharmacological techniques (e.g., dose-response curves, tests for competitive vs. noncompetitive antagonism) can be used to examine drug responses. At the simplest level, these techniques facilitate the differentiation of specific (primarily receptor-mediated) and nonspecific actions of drugs and neurotransmitters. As another consequence, the electrophysiological actions of drugs can be directly compared to their biochemical effects in vitro (receptor binding, activation or inhibition of adenylate cyclase, etc.). Ultimately, parallel studies of this type can be used to establish mechanisms of action for various neurotransmitters, particularly those that may employ biochemical substrates as second messengers. In this paper we describe in general terms many of the advantages of the slice preparation as a neuropharmacological tool. Some of the criteria useful in determining the involvement of various receptors in drug-induced changes in electrophysiological responses are discussed in detail. Finally, the responses of hippocampal slices to various adrenergic agents are used to illustrate the way in which various features of this preparation can be exploited pharmacologically. The results of these experiments constitute a significant advance in terms of our understanding of the neuropharmacology of catecholamine responses in this brain region.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Is renal glycosuria a benign condition?

HLA typing and a range of autoantibodies were evaluated in five families affected with type A renal glycosuria. HLA typing demonstrates that this inherited disease is controlled by an autosomal dominant gene located on chromosome six in close genetic linkage with the HLA complex. All affected family members have significant titres of autoantibodies to nuclear antigens, native DNA, smooth muscle, mitochondria, liver antigens, thyroglobulin, thyroid microsomes and renal tubule brush border with variable association. This suggests that renal glycosuria is a complex HLA-linked disease with increased susceptibility to multiple autoantibody production and this urges caution with respect to its classical definition as a benign condition.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Increased prolactin reserve in alcoholics.

The prolactin response to oral metoclopramide (10 mg) was investigated in 53 chronic alcoholics (26 with alcoholic cirrhosis and 27 without evidence of liver disease) from two to seven days after alcohol suspension. The response appeared significantly higher in patients than in healthy controls and was not related to the presence of liver disease. This finding may depend on the deactivation of the dopaminergic activities secondary to alcohol suspension; alternatively, ethanol could have a direct action on prolactin secretion.

Adult↗