Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Borsatti

Publications and source records attributed to A Borsatti.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

[7-year-follow up (1987-1994) of a population with asymptomatic persistent microhematuria and normal renal function].

A group od 129 patients with persistent asymptomatic microhematuria was studied for 7 years (1987-1994). At the beginning of the study, 31 patients showed mild proteinuria (less than 1 g/day) and in the rest of 98 patients, 21 showed microalbuminuria. At the end of the study none of the patients developed renal failure, urological disease, hypertension. Six patients out of 31 with mild proteinuria (less than 1 g/day), developed an increase of proteinuria over 2 and 3/day and underwent a renal biopsy while 2 out of 21 patients with altered microalbuminuria completely recovered after the follow-up period. The rest of 77 patients at the end of the study still showed isolated microhematuria. The results of this study support the hypothesis that in a population with age range between 16 and 28 years, the presence of persistent microhematuria, also associated with mild proteinuria, even for a long time, does not seem to lead to changes of renal function or to urological diseases.

Adolescent↗

Effect of second messenger systems on oxalate uptake in renal epithelial cells.

The oxalate transport system along with protein phosphorylation appears to be deranged in stone formers. This study was undertaken to characterize in LLC-PK1 cells in culture the effect of altering specific intracellular second messenger systems on oxalate uptake. Cellular uptake experiments were performed at 37 degrees C in buffer [265 mM mannitol, 5 mM NaOH, 5 mM KOH, 10 mM Ca-EGTA, 25 mM HEPES/TRIS, pH = 7.4 or in Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS)] containing 200 microM labeled oxalate (1-14C, 0.3 microCi). Cells were preincubated with DAG (final concentration of 100 microM), phorbol myristate acetate (10 microM), forskolin (50 microM), 8-bromo-cyclic AMP (50 microM), trifluoroperazine (20 microM) and low molecular weight heparin (1 mg/ml) for 10 min in the presence and absence of the anion transport inhibitor DIDS (100 microM) and the effect(s) on oxalate uptake at 10, 25 and 45 min incubation were determined. Chemicals (DAG, forskolin, TPA and 8-bromo-cAMP) which stimulate protein kinase A or C activity resulted in an increased uptake of oxalate while inhibitors of these systems (trifluoroperazine and low molecular weight heparin) resulted in decreased oxalate uptake. The results demonstrate that oxalate uptake in renal tubular cells is modulated by protein kinase C and A dependent mechanisms.

4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid↗

Kaliuresis in normal subjects following oral potassium citrate intake without increased plasma potassium concentration.

Ingestion of potassium salts typically induces both a kaliuresis and an increase in the systemic plasma potassium concentration. In this study normal healthy adults undergoing water diuresis ingested potassium citrate or sodium citrate (0.5 mmol/kg body weight) or continued without ion ingestion (a time control group). Urine was collected over 20-min intervals and venous blood sampled at midinterval. Intake of potassium citrate led to a significant increase in potassium excretion that began during the first postingestion collection and peaked 60-80 min after intake with a maximal increase in potassium excretion above baseline of 1.60 mumol/min.kg-1. The kaliuresis occurred without changes in plasma potassium concentration, excretion of creatinine or calcium, or urine hypo-osmolality and was associated with a briefer, smaller, and less regular increase in sodium excretion and a pronounced but irregular increase in chloride excretion. Plasma aldosterone was insignificantly elevated above baseline, and the initial increase did not occur until 40-60 min after potassium intake. Intake of sodium citrate did not produce a kaliuresis. The cause of the kaliuresis does not appear to be an increased systemic plasma potassium concentration, an increased plasma level of aldosterone, intake of citrate, or an elevated excretion of sodium. The mechanism inducing the kaliuresis following oral potassium intake in the absence of changes in systemic plasma potassium may involve a reflex initiated at potassium sensors in gut, portal vein, or liver.

Administration, Oral↗

Endothelium-derived vasoactive substances in Bartter's syndrome.

An imbalance between endothelium-derived vasoactive substances such as endothelin and endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) might be viewed as a possible determinant of vascular hyporeactivity. To check this possibility the authors evaluated the role of endothelin and NO in the reduced vascular reactivity of Bartter's syndrome. Plasma immunoreactive endothelin (22.07 +/- 7.06 vs 13.80 +/- 1.43 pmol/L, P < 0.011), urinary excretion of NO2- (0.28 +/- 0.10 vs 0.15 +/- 0.02, mumol/mumol of urinary creatinine, P < 0.01) and NO3- (0.17 +/- 0.07 vs 0.09 +/- 0.02 mumol/mumol of urinary creatinine, P < 0.011), and forearm resting blood flow (FRBF) (6.67 +/- 1.69 vs 4.30 +/- 0.38 mL/m'/100 mL, P < 0.005) were increased in patients with Bartter's syndrome in comparison with normal controls (C). No difference in postischemic maximal FBF was found (34.14 +/- 4.67 vs 31.35 +/- 2.86 mL/minute/100 mL), while patients showed a slower recovery after peak flow (PF) (77.57 +/- 61.35 vs 9.42 +/- 3.69 seconds, P < 0.013). Higher plasma endothelin supports the defect in vascular reactivity of Bartter's syndrome already shown for angiotensin II and norepinephrine and is in keeping with the altered intracellular calcium signaling previously demonstrated by the authors in this syndrome. The increased excretion of NO2- and NO3- in this syndrome, together with the higher FRBF and the slower recovery of the FBF and PF, argues in favor of an increased NO synthesis in Bartter's syndrome and of assigning it a role in the vascular hyporeactivity of Bartter's syndrome.

Adolescent↗

Heparin modulates proliferation and proteoglycan biosynthesis in murine mesangial cells: molecular clues for its activity in nephropathy.

Glycosaminoglycan administration has favourable effects on morphological and functional renal abnormalities in different models. The possibility that exogenous glycosaminoglycans modulate glomerular matrix synthesis was explored in both primary and SV40-MES13 murine mesangial cell cultures. On both cell types, both low-molecular-weight heparin and different glycosaminoglycans showed dose-dependent inhibition of proliferation and increase of 35SO4(2)-uptake. After 36 h the cell compartment contained a spectrum of 35S-molecules of less than 200 kDa; under heparin treatment, the two main 35SO4(2)-components (high and medium MW) increased by 16 and 37% respectively. Susceptibility to glycosidases revealed that heparin promotes the expression of heparan sulphate and increases that of chondroitin sulphate. Moreover, heparin modifies the expression of decorin and biglycan, involved in adhesion and fibrillogenesis, while not affecting perlecan. The extracellular matrix modulation in renal cells, for which the sulphation type and ratio of heparin are crucial, may thus explain the beneficial renal effects of heparin.

Animals↗

Treatment with a glycosaminoglycan formulation ameliorates experimental diabetic nephropathy.

Previous studies have indicated that administration of glycosaminoglycans can prevent some of the morphological and physiological alterations which occur in experimental diabetic nephropathy. The aims of this study were to further elucidate the effect of these drugs on glomerular basement membrane permeability by dextran clearance studies, to test the ability of glycosaminoglycans to revert established diabetic nephropathy and to examine the effect of glycosaminoglycans on renal extracellular matrix synthesis. Five groups of Sprague-Dawley rats were studied for 12 months: two control groups (treated or untreated non-diabetic), three streptozotocin diabetic animal groups, two of which received a glycosaminoglycan formulation, one from the induction of diabetes and the other after the fifth month of diabetes. At five months the 35S-sulfate glomerular incorporation, albuminuria, glomerular basement membrane thickness and anionic charge density were determined. At 12 months albuminuria, renal collagen IV and perlecan mRNA levels, anionic and neutral dextran clearances, glomerular basement membrane morphometry, and mesangial cell proliferation were evaluated. We demonstrate that long-term administration of glycosaminoglycans prevents renal morphological and functional alterations in diabetic rats and appears to revert established diabetic renal lesions. Glycosaminoglycan administration modified renal matrix composition by the normalization of collagen gene expression and increasing glomerular 35S-sulfate incorporation.

Animals↗

Familial hypertension in Morgagni's De Sedibus et Causis Morborum per Anatomen Indagatis.

Morgagni was a contemporary of Malpighi, but unlike the latter he concentrated on macroscopic clinical and anatomic observations. His De Sedibus et Causis Morborum per Anatomen Indagatis consists of 5 books, written as letters to other scientists and members of foreign academies. He dealt with diseases of the head, the chest and the abdomen and with surgically treatable diseases. The final book contains corrections to the previous 4 in the light of new studies and extended clinical experience. One case history presented, of a patient of Valsalva's who died with edema and a bladder stone, can probably be considered as the first description of familial hypertension. From his clinical and autopsy investigations, Morgagni concluded that the patient died of hereditary bladder stone disease and apoplexy.

Anatomy↗

Renal synthesis of prostaglandins and thromboxane has no causative role for protein-induced glomerular hyperfiltration in healthy humans.

The study was devised to establish the role of prostaglandin E2, prostaglandin1 alpha and thromboxane A2 in the genesis of glomerular hyperfiltration response to a meat meal in healthy humans. To this end, a group of 8 healthy women was studied 4 times: in the control state (study 1), after a meat meal (study 2), following a meat meal associated with intravenous aspirin (study 3) and finally after a meat meal associated with intravenous aspirin following 2-day pretreatment with oral aspirin (study 4). Urinary excretion of prostaglandins and thromboxane increased during the glomerular hyperfiltration response to a meat meal and was suppressed by aspirin administration which did not suppress the renal hemodynamic response to the meat meal. The data do not support a causal role for prostaglandins and thromboxane A2 in the hemodynamic response to acute protein loading.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗

Renal prostaglandins and thromboxane A2 lack a functional significance in the genesis of protein-induced glomerular hyperfiltration in human renal disease.

The study was devised to assess the effects of a protein load (2 g/kg BW) on urinary prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and thromboxane A2 (TxA2) in patients with renal failure of glomerular origin. To this end, 8 women with a glomerular filtration rate of 55 +/- 12 ml/min x 1.73 m2 underwent the following studies: study 1: control; study 2: meat meal; study 3: meat meal+intravenous aspirin; study 4: pretreatment with oral aspirin for 2 days+protocol in study 3. Glomerular hyperfiltration was seen after the meat meal (study 2) and was not suppressed by aspirin (studies 3 and 4). Urinary PGE2, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and TxA2 increased after the meat meal in study 2 and were suppressed by aspirin in studies 3 and 4. The ratio between vasodilative (PGE2 + 6-keto-PGF1 alpha) and vasoconstrictive (TxA2) autacoids increased during the meat meal (study 2) and was suppressed when aspirin was injected at the time of the oral protein load, thus, the effect of aspirin was much greater for PGE2 and PGF1 alpha than for TxA2. These data do not support that urinary prostaglandin and TxA2 have a direct role in renal hyperfiltration due to an acute protein load.

Adult↗

Oxalate transport in cultured porcine renal epithelial cells.

Oxalate-containing kidney stones are the most common type (75%) of renal stones. In order to control oxalate excretion in the urine, a basic understanding of the cellular transport of oxalate is imperative. We have utilized the technique of continuous cell culture to establish and characterize a model system to study renal epithelial cell (LLCPK1) oxalate transport. Our data demonstrate that oxalate uptake in these cells is dependent on time, concentration and energy. The Km for oxalate uptake was 200 microM. Oxalate uptake was decreased at lower temperatures and elevated in an acidic extracellular environment. Both anion exchange inhibitors DIDS and SITS inhibited oxalate uptake. Sulfate, chloride, and bicarbonate decreased oxalate uptake, as did the diuretics bumetanide and furosemide. There was no evidence for the co-transport of oxalate with sodium. Our data show that monolayers of cultured kidney epithelial cells are a valuable model system for study of the basic cellular mechanisms of oxalate transport.

Animals↗

Glycosaminoglycans prevent morphological renal alterations and albuminuria in diabetic rats.

Abnormal glycosaminoglycan metabolism is involved in the onset of anatomo-functional derangements in diabetic nephropathy, and determines the loss of glomerular basement membrane anionic charges leading to albuminuria. Glycosaminoglycan administration was shown to increase the negative electrical potential of the vessel wall, inhibit mesangial cell proliferation, which is an anatomical hallmark of diabetic nephropathy, and slow down the progression to uremia in subtotally nephrectomized rats, a model that shares some pathogenetic key events with diabetic nephropathy. Based on these considerations, we verified the effect of exogenous glycosaminoglycans on renal involvement in streptozotocin diabetic rats. Long-term administration of two glycosaminoglycans (low-molecular weight heparin and dermatan sulphate) prevented glomerular basement membrane thickening, glomerular anionic charge reduction, as well as the onset of albuminuria without affecting glomerular filtration rate and metabolic control of the disease. Our data demonstrate that the long-term administration of glycosaminoglycans has a favorable effect on morphological and functional renal abnormalities in diabetic rats.

Albuminuria↗

Correction of erythrocyte abnormalities in idiopathic calcium-oxalate nephrolithiasis and reduction of urinary oxalate by oral glycosaminoglycans.

Calcium-oxalate nephrolithiasis is associated with a defect in erythrocyte oxalate self-exchange and an abnormal rate of erythrocyte membrane protein phosphorylation. There is evidence that glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) have a regulatory effect on both of these processes. This study tested the hypothesis that modifications of erythrocyte oxalate self-exchange induced by oral GAGs are paralleled by similar changes in overall oxalate metabolism. 40 patients with idiopathic calcium-oxalate nephrolithiasis were treated for 15 days with 60 mg/day of a mixture of GAGs. By day 15 of treatment there were significant reductions from baseline in erythrocyte oxalate self-exchange (mean [SD] 1.67 [1.18] vs 2.59 [1.63] x 10(2) per min; p less than 0.005) and erythrocyte membrane protein phosphorylation (55.8 [7.3] vs 72.9 [6.8] x 10(-3) cpm/mg protein; p less than 0.005), but also in urinary oxalate excretion (0.24 [0.09] vs 0.31 [0.15] mmol/24 h; p less than 0.005). This finding suggests similar changes in both erythrocytes and other cells more important in oxalate handling. The changes had reversed by 15 days after withdrawal of treatment. Acute intravenous administration of GAGs (60 mg) induced a fall in carbon-14-labelled oxalate renal clearance (143 [13] vs 169 [28] ml/min; p less than 0.005), which strongly suggests the participation of the kidney. However, reduced oxalate absorption from the intestine, and even decreased synthesis of oxalate, cannot be ruled out.

Administration, Oral↗

Effects of the oral administration of glycosaminoglycans on cellular abnormalities associated with idiopathic calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis.

Oral administration of mixture of extractive glycosaminoglycans to a group of renal stone formers led to a significant decrease in oxalate self-exchange and in erythrocytes membrane protein phosphorylation traits that are abnormal in the majority of patients with idiopathic calcium nephrolithiasis. The action of glycosaminoglycans at the cellular level is probably due to their modulating activity on certain membrane protein kinases. The proven effect of the glycosaminoglycans opens a new pharmacological approach to the prevention of recurrent nephrolithiasis.

Administration, Oral↗