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Biomedical subjects

A Caruso

Publications and source records attributed to A Caruso.

At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Synthesis and evaluation of the analgesic and antiinflammatory activities of N,N'-bis(2-hydroxybenzoyl)-diaminoalkanes.

The analgesic and antiinflammatory activities of some N,N'-bis(2-hydroxybenzoyl)-diaminoalkanes 3 a-l were studied. The compounds were prepared very conveniently by fusion of phenyl salicylate 2 and diaminoalkanes 1 a-l. The pharmacological activities were influenced by the number of carbon atoms in the polimethylenic chain. Some derivatives were more effective and less gastrolesive than salicylamide.

Analgesics↗
PubMed1990

Researches on antiinflammatory agents. Studies on some new 3-(pyrazol-5-yl)-1,2,3-benzotriazin-4(3H)-ones and -quinazolin-4(3H)-ones.

Following our research on analgesic and antiinflammatory active compounds containing the pyrazole nucleus, a number of 3-(pyrazol-5-yl)-1,2,3-benzotriazin-4(3H)-ones and quinazolin-4(3H)-ones was synthetized and tested. The results of tests for analgesic, antiexudative and antioedema activities, as well as for induction of lesion in the gastric mucosa, are reported and discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Effect of parathyroid hormone, centrally or peripherally injected, on gastric activity in male rats.

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) injected peripherally did not interfere with the development of experimental ulcers. Conversely, when PTH was administered i.c.v. the development of ulcers was significantly inhibited. The gastric secretory volume and acid output were also reduced. The possibility is discussed that this antisecretory activity of PTH may be due to a direct effect at the CNS level.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Effects of calcitonin on morphine tolerance and withdrawal syndrome in morphine physically dependent rats.

We investigated the effect of acute or chronic peripheral administration of [Asu1.7]eel-calcitonin on the development of tolerance to the analgesic effect of morphine and on the naloxone-precipitated withdrawal syndrome in morphine-dependent rats. Neither the analgesic effect of acute morphine nor the development of tolerance to the antinociceptive effect of this drug was modified by calcitonin. However, the chronic but not the acute administration of calcitonin attenuated some signs and symptoms of morphine withdrawal.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Amiodarone hepatotoxicity: prevalence and clinicopathologic correlations among 104 patients.

The prevalence of apparent amiodarone-related hepatic injury in 104 patients followed prospectively is compared to that reported in the literature. Asymptomatic elevation of serum aminotransferase levels was detected in approximately one-fourth of the patients, a figure similar to the average of reported cases. The frequency of extrahepatic organ toxicity was increased in patients with elevated levels. Symptomatic "hepatitis" developed in 3% of this series and in less than 1% of cases in the literature. Evidence of hepatic phospholipidosis and the development of pseudoalcoholic liver injury is most likely due to the biochemical effects of the drug and to possible metabolic idiosyncrasy, respectively. Serial blood enzyme measurements, as recommended by the manufacturer, may offer some protection against the development of more serious liver injury. However, levels of amiodarone may persist in various tissues for weeks to months following withdrawal, and stopping the drug does not guarantee the prompt reversal of any organ toxicity. Accordingly, the risks posed and benefits offered by amiodarone should be carefully weighed prior to discontinuing the drug, as the risk of sudden cardiac death may outweigh the hazards of ongoing hepatic, pulmonary or other toxicity.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1989

HTLV-1 seroprevalence in AIDS patients and in HIV-1 seropositive and seronegative subjects at risk for AIDS in northern Italy.

Sera of 1023 subjects belonging to categories at risk for AIDS, positive for HIV-1, were tested for antibodies to human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV-1) by ELISA, Western blotting, and radioimmunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. Sera of these subjects were positive for antibodies to HTLV-1 in a percentage of 18.54%. Nine out of 18 sera from patients with AIDS had antibodies to HTLV-1 (50%). Sera of 207 intravenous drug abusers and 64 homosexual males, seronegative for HIV-1, were tested for antibodies to HTLV-1 and 6.7% of intravenous drug abusers and 7.8% of homosexual males were found to be HTLV-1 antibody positive, showing that HTLV-1 infection occurred independently of HIV-1 and HIV-2 infections. In fact the same HIV-1 seronegative patients were also tested for the presence of antibodies to HIV-2 and none of them was found to be positive.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1989

Importance of echographic and endocrine monitoring for the assessment of ovulation by follicle stimulating hormone in polycystic ovarian disease.

Sixteen patients with polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD) were treated for 39 cycles with pure follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) for the induction of ovulation. At ovulation time human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) was administered. Twenty-one cycles were ovulatory. Twenty-three were classified as normostimulated (N): six pregnancies and three abortions were observed. In the remaining eight hyperstimulated (H) cycles there were four full-term pregnancies. Dosage and length of treatment were greater in patients with excess body weight (P less than 0.01). H cycles were characterized in respect to N cycles by: (1) higher baseline values of 17-hydroxy progesterone (17-OHP) plasma levels and LH/FSH ratios; (2) higher plasma concentrations and rate of increase of 17-OHP periovulatory levels. E2 plasma levels did not permit a clear differentiation between H and N cycles, and it was not useful for the timely recognition of hyperstimulation. Our data show that a slight controlled degree of ovarian hyperstimulation is beneficial to pregnancy rate and outcome.

17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone↗
PubMed1989

Inhibitory effect of papaverine on HIV replication in vitro.

The ability of papaverine to inhibit human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication in H9 cell line and in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) culture was examined. HIV-infected H9 cells were exposed to different concentrations of papaverine for 20 days. Reverse transcriptase (RT) activity and the presence of p24 in the supernatant were determined to assess the level of viral replication in treated and control cultures. The most effective concentration of papaverine in the culture medium was 10 micrograms/ml, a dose that did not significantly affect cell proliferation. At this drug concentration the treatment resulted in no RT activity or p24 expression in the supernatant and no virus antigen detection at the cellular level as demonstrated by Western blot (WB) analysis. The activity of the drug occurred in a short period of time (60 hours) as shown by radioimmunoprecipitation (RIP) assay and affected the synthesis of the env precursor protein gp160. The drug was also effective in inhibiting HIV replication in PBMC cultures and influenced specific viral markers, namely, RT and p24. Evidence of the efficacy of papaverine treatment was enforced by the finding in the treated PBMC cultures, compared with the untreated ones, of a reduced percentage of cells forming syncitia and of the inhibition of the virus-induced decrease in the number of cells. When an equal number of virus-infected H9 cells exposed or unexposed to papaverine was analyzed for HIV-specific proteins, a marked decrease in the expression of the viral proteins was observed in the treated cultures. At the same time, one cellular protein of molecular weight 69,000 was not inhibited by papaverine. This may indicate that, at least for one protein, synthesis may not be affected by the drug. Our data suggest that papaverine merits attention as a possible nontoxic candidate for the treatment of HIV infection.

Blotting, Western↗
PubMed1989

Interferon-gamma is associated with the surface of the human immunodeficiency virus and binds to the gag gene product p17.

Purified HIV-1 antigen preparations produced in cell culture were found to contain interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). Electron microscopic examination of HIV-1 released by H9 cells, a cell line found to produce IFN-gamma, showed the presence of this molecule on the surface of the virus particle. The HIV-1 protein p17 was found to bind IFN-gamma by a solid-phase radioimmunoassay. The specificity of the reaction was confirmed by Western blot analysis. This finding opens new questions about the biologic role of IFN-gamma itself and of its interaction with HIV.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed1989

Effect of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone and related analogue on human luteal cell function in vitro.

The possible direct effect of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and GnRH agonist (GnRH-A; buserelin) on basal and human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG)-stimulated progesterone (P) and cyclic AMP (cAMP) production by cultured human luteal cells was examined. Luteal cells from the early or mid-luteal phase were incubated in long-term cultures. They responded to HCG stimulation with a 2- to 3-fold increase in P production and a 2-fold increase in cAMP production. The addition of GnRH (10(-7) and 10(-5) M) or GnRH-A (10(-7) and 10(-5) M) to the medium had no effect on either basal or HCG-stimulated secretion. These results indicate that both GnRH and GnRH-A have no direct effect on human luteal steroidogenesis in vitro.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Expression of gamma interferon on circulating lymphocytes in viral infections.

Peripheral blood lymphocytes from a total of 111 patients and 40 healthy individuals were studied for gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) expression on their surfaces by indirect immunofluorescence assay and flow cytometry, with a new anti-IFN-gamma monoclonal antibody (IGMB-14) as a specific reagent. Of 64 patients with proven acute viral infections, 59 had a significantly higher percentage of lymphocytes expressing IFN-gamma on their membranes than healthy individuals did. On the other hand, only 3 (8.9%) of 34 patients with proven bacterial infections had an increased percentage of IFN-gamma-expressing lymphocytes. None of the eight patients with other infections and none of the five with systemic lupus erythematosus showed an increased percentage of IFN-gamma-positive lymphocytes. The percentage of IFN-gamma-expressing lymphocytes during a viral infection was found to be related to different stages of the disease. Finally, some applications of this rapid IFN-gamma assay method in viral diseases are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Effect of luteal metoclopramide-induced hyperprolactinemia on pituitary and luteal responsiveness to gonadotropin-releasing hormone.

The pituitary and corpus luteum responses to acute gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) administration at the mid-luteal phase (LP) were studied in 24 infertile women. Patients were randomly divided into two groups. In one group (n = 12) metoclopramide (MCP, 10 mg orally 3 times daily) was administered from day 0 or 1 of the LP for 7 days. On day 7 or 8 of LP blood samples were taken every 15 min for 180 min; then 25 micrograms GnRH were acutely administered intravenously and blood samples taken at 185, 195, 210, 225, 240, 255, 270, 285 and 300 min. In the other 12 patients the same experimental design was performed on day 7 or 8 of an untreated LP. Plasma prolactin (PRL), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), progesterone and estradiol (E2) were assayed. The responsiveness of the different hormones to GnRH was evaluated as the integrated secretory area for 120 min after injection (sISA = stimulated integrated secretory area) and as the percentage increase (delta A) with respect to the area under basal conditions before GnRH administration (bISA = basal integrated secretory area). MCP-treated women showed higher basal PRL levels (p less than 0.01) and lower basal plasma concentrations and bISA (p less than 0.01) values of LH than controls. After GnRH a more marked response of LH secretion was observed in the treated group (p less than 0.01), so that the absolute values of sISA were superimposable in both groups. Basal and stimulated FSH secretion did not differ significantly in the study groups. Basal plasma and bISA values of progesterone were also decreased in MCP-treated subjects. After GnRH injection the absolute values of progesterone sISA were greater in controls (p less than 0.01), but delta A values were similar in both groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Effect of human chorionic gonadotropin administration on pituitary and luteal response to gonadotropin-releasing hormone.

The effect of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration on the pituitary and luteal responses to acute gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) administration at the mid luteal phase (LP) were studied in 20 infertile women. Patients were divided into 2 groups. In 1 group (n = 8), hCG (5,000 IU i.m.) was injected in a single shot on day 5 of LP. Sixty hours later (day 8 of LP) blood samples were taken every 15 min for 180 min; then 25 micrograms GnRH were acutely administered intravenously and blood samples taken at 185, 195, 210, 225, 240, 255, 270, 285 and 300 min. In the other 12 patients the same experimental design with GnRH was performed on day 8 of an untreated LP. Plasma LH, FSH, beta-hCG, progesterone and estradiol (E2) were assayed. The responsiveness of different hormones to GnRH was evaluated as integrated secretory area for 120 min after injection (sISA) and as the absolute increase with respect to the area under basal conditions before a GnRH administration (bISA). hCG-treated patients showed higher basal and bISA plasma values of LH/hCG than controls (p less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Prenatal diagnosis of congenital uropathies.

We discuss data on urinary tract dilatations diagnosed in utero from February 1980 to May 1988. Over 8,900 pregnancies prenatally investigated with ultrasound during second and third trimester in our center. We diagnosed 401 fetal defects (4.5%) with 121 urinary system anomalies (1.35%). In 90 cases (1.01%) urinary tract dilatation was present, representing the most frequent urinary pathology in utero (74.3% of all urinary anomalies). We describe some diagnostic findings as particularly useful in differential diagnosis of functional and obstructive conditions, stressing the possibility and the difficulty of diagnostic accuracy for urinary tract anomalies. The perinatal outcome of each condition is reported.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed1989

LH surge induction by GnRH agonist at the time of ovulation.

Eight women were treated for 1 cycle at the time of ovulation with GnRH agonist (3 injections of 0.2 mg buserelin s.c. at 12-hour intervals) to obtain follicular rupture. Clomiphene citrate was administered to 1 patient and pure FSH to 2 patients, whilst in the case of a woman with hypothalamic amenorrhea a pulsatile GnRH regimen was used. Four patients had an untreated follicular phase. When the maximal follicular diameter was 20-22 mm all treatments were withheld and GnRH-A was administered. Plasma LH, FSH, progesterone and estradiol were determined 24 hours before, at the time of and 12, 24 and 48 hours after the 1st injection of buserelin. Ovulation was detected in all cycles. LH levels increased dramatically from baseline levels of 14.4 +/- 4.1 to 155 +/- 48 IU/l 12 hours after the beginning of treatment, then returned to preovulatory values 48 hours later (13.0 +/- 3.9 IU/l). The duration of the luteal phase was 13.2 days and normal mid-luteal progesterone plasma levels were detected (39.8 +/- 9.3 nmol/l). These data suggest that the GnRH agonist can be successfully used at the time of ovulation to induce an endogenous ovulatory LH peak and that it can be used in conjunction with different medical treatments to induce follicular maturation.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Antigen capture ELISA for HTLV I in cell culture.

Recent reports have shown that HTLV I infection is widespread and that HIV/HTLV I combined infections may accelerate the progression of seropositive patients towards AIDS. In order to obtain a tool for the detection and identification of HTLV I in cell culture we have developed an antigen-capture ELISA, which is based on the use of rabbit hyperimmune serum on solid phase and mouse monoclonal antibodies against p19 and p24 as tracers. This assay has a sensitivity of 50 ng/ml, it can be used to test cell-culture fluids and does not cross-react with any other known human retroviruses.

Cell Line↗