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Biomedical subjects

A Caruso

Publications and source records attributed to A Caruso.

At least 343 records · Page 19Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Antibiotic resistances and plasmids in Staphylococcus aureus from Italian hospitals.

A total of 473 Staphylococcus aureus isolates from six Italian hospitals was examined for susceptibility to several antimicrobial agents and for plasmid content. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) were characterised by a plasmid of mol. wt (10(6)) 18-22 or 25 that carried the determinants for penicillinase production, resistance to cadmium ions and resistance to tetracycline. MRSA isolates usually harboured other smaller plasmids of mol. wt (10(6)) 2.8, 2.6 and 1.65 that encoded resistance to tetracycline, chloramphenicol and erythromycin, respectively, and cryptic plasmids of mol. wt (10(6)) c. 2 and 1 were found frequently. Methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) that produced penicillinase often carried plasmids of mol. wt (10(6)) 11 or 13. No particular difference was found in plasmid patterns of strains from the various sources. Analysis of plasmids by EcoRI digestion showed that plasmids of similar mol. wt and phenotypic characteristics may have different restriction patterns, but often share one or more fragments in common.

Cross Infection↗
PubMed1987

Luteal responses to gonadotropin-releasing hormone during the luteal phase: relation to the age of corpus luteum.

The pituitary and luteal responsiveness of GnRH were studied in 20 normal women at different stages of the luteal phase (LP). Blood samples were collected every 15 min for 180 min before and 120 min after the iv injection of 25 micrograms GnRH. The studies were performed in the early LP (ELP; days 2-3 of LP; n = 5), mid-LP (MLP: days 4-8 of LP; n = 11), late LP (LLP; days 9-12 of LP; n = 13), and premenstrual phase (PMP; days 13-14 of LP; n = 3). Plasma LH, FSH, progesterone (P), and estradiol (E) levels were assayed by RIA. The data were analyzed as integrated secretory area before (ISAb) and after GnRH stimulation (ISAs) and in terms of their percent increase with respect to the basal value. In all studies, GnRH elicited increases in plasma LH and FSH (P less than 0.001). On the other hand, in the ELP, GnRH did not alter steroid ISAs compared to their ISAb, while significant increases in plasma P and E levels were found in the MLP (P, P less than 0.01; E, P less than 0.02) and LLP (P and E, P less than 0.01). In the PMP, two women had no increase in steroid secretion; in the remainder of the subjects, both P and E ISAs markedly increased. This different pattern was not related to basal steroid levels. All women who had a blunted steroid response in the ELP or PMP had a normal secretory response of both P and E when studied at the other LP stages of the same cycle. Furthermore, there was a positive linear correlation between plasma P and E for the ISAb and ISAs values, while the secretory patterns of gonadotropins and steroids were not related to each other. In conclusion, the corpus luteum is able to respond to GnRH to GnRH at a well identified period of the LP. This pattern indicates variable dependence of the corpus luteum on the functional activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Successful induction of ovulation and conception with combined gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist plus highly purified follicle-stimulating hormone in patients with polycystic ovarian disease.

Five women (group A) with polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD) and sterility for at least 3 yr were treated for 1 cycle for ovulation induction with a combined regimen of GnRH agonist (GnRH-A) plus highly purified FSH. The patients received GnRH-A (Buserelin; 200 micrograms, sc, twice a day) for 6 weeks and then GnRH-A combined with FSH highly purified (2 ampules a day; 75 IU FSH and less than 0.11 IU LH in each ampule). Ovarian response was evaluated by plasma estradiol (E2) assay and ultrasound examination, performed daily. Furthermore, plasma FSH and LH levels were assayed 3 times a week. Once a follicle was considered sufficiently developed, the combined regimen was withheld, and 24-48 h later hCG (5000 IU, im) was given. The results are compared with those of 31 ovulatory cycles induced by im FSH highly purified (group B) in PCOD patients with the same FSH administration, clinical, and monitoring protocols. Ovulation was achieved in all cycles treated by GnRH-A plus FSH. Two singleton and a twin pregnancy resulted. Multiple follicular development occurred in all cycles. Plasma E2 levels were generally in the normal range. Echographic and endocrine features in the 2 groups were as follows. 1) basal ovarian volume and ovarian enlargement were similar. 2) Group A had a greater number of follicles than did group B (P less than 0.01), while E2 to number of follicles and E2 to ovarian volume ratios were greater (P less than 0.01) in group B. 3) The linear correlations between plasma E2 levels and ovarian volume were markedly different in groups A and B (P less than 0.01). The regression line for group B had a steeper slope than that for group A. This finding indicates that at a fixed ovarian volume plasma E2 levels were significantly lower in group A than in group B. We conclude that the combined GnRH-A and FSH regimen may constitute an alternative and promising tool for the induction of ovulation in patients with PCOD.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

[Reactivity of 3-aryl-4-amino-5-mercapto-4H-1,2,4-triazoles: synthesis and biological evaluation of 3,6-diaryl derivatives of 7H-1,2,4-thiazole[3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazines, of 3-aryl-4-amino-5-carboxymethylthio-4H-1,2,4-triazoles].

Starting from 3-aryl-4-amino-5-mercapto-4H-1,2,4-triazoles (II), two series of 3,6-disubstituted 7H-1,2,4-triazol [3,4-b] [1,3,4] thiadiazines (III) and their 5-carboxymethylthio derivatives (IV) were prepared. From the mercapto-amino-triazoles (II) because of their reactivity in some oxidising media, were obtained the triazole derivatives (V), (VI) and (VII). The synthesis of the alpha-thioketones (VIII) of 3-aryl-5-mercapto-1,3,4-oxadiazoles (I), used in alternative synthesis of triazole-thiadiazines (III), is also reported. All the substances described were subjected to biological screening. In the tests, the carboxymethylthiotriazole (IV) showed weak antiinflammatory activity (carrageenin edema) and more consistent scavanger activity, in vitro, on superoxide anions. The triazole-thiadiazines (III) and triazoles (II), (V) and (VI) showed moderate antimycotic activity.

Analgesics↗
PubMed1987

Ornithine decarboxylase activity and polyamines level from red cells lysate of uraemic patients and normal healthy subjects.

We studied the ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity and polyamines (PAs) content in the red cells lysate before and after haemodialysis of 15 uremic patients and 15 healthy subjects. ODC activity is significantly increased after haemodialysis but the PAs concentrations (particularly spermine and spermidine) do not increase. This could be because of a minimal loss of PAs surplus production. On the contrary the increase of ODC activity could be explained in several ways, e.g. by stimuli during haemodialysis (hypoxia of the first hour of treatment, decrease of plasmatic osmolarity and biological stimulation of the blood during its passage through the filter).

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Synthesis and pharmacological properties of benzothienothiadiazolopyrimidine derivatives. III.

2-Substituted derivatives of 5H-benzothieno [3,2-d] [1,3,4]-thiadiazolo [3,2-a]pyrimidin-5-one and of 10H-benzothieno [2,3-d] [1,3,4]-thiadiazolo [3,2-a]pyrimidin-10-one have been synthesized. The analgesic, antiinflammatory and ulcerogenic activities of these derivatives were evaluated. Some derivatives showed an analgesic activity similar to or a little lower than that of indomethacin, and much higher than that of mefenamic acid, acetylsalicyclic acid and phenylbutazone, with a lower acute toxicity and a better gastric tolerance.

Analgesics↗
PubMed1987

Synthesis and biological activity of acetamides, arylureas and 2-alkoxyphenyl-6-phenyl-1,3,4-oxa(thia)diazole-[3,2-a]-S- triazin-5,7-diones derived from 2-amino-5-alkoxyphenyl-1,3,4-oxa(thia)diazole.

The syntheses of some acetamides (II) and phenylureas (III) derived from 2-amino-5-alkoxyphenyl-1,3,4-oxa(thia)diazoles (I) and some 2-alkoxyphenyl-6-phenyl-1,3,4-oxa(thia)diazole-[3,2-a]-s- triazin-5,7-diones (IV) are described. Pharmacological tests showed antiinflammatory and analgesic activities of bicyclic derivatives. A probable influence of alkoxyphenyl substituents, present in three kinds of structures, was observed.

Acetamides↗
PubMed1986

Development of quantitative liquid competition radioimmunoassays for the ras oncogene and proto-oncogene p21 products.

The ras gene family of rodents and humans is highly conserved and consists of several distinct genes, i.e., rodent Harvey and Kirsten, and human Harvey, Kirsten and neuroblastoma. This gene family mediates transformation via (1) a point-mutation resulting in the change of one amino acid in the 21 kDA ras gene product (p21) or (2) increased expression of ras p21. Group-specific, type-selective and interspecies indirect binding liquid competition radioimmunoassays (RIAs), capable of providing truly quantitative analyses of the 21 ras oncogene and proto-oncogene products, have been developed. Using purified recombinant ras p21 from Escherichia coli expressing the full-length T24 mutant human Harvey-ras gene protein product as a standard in these RIAs, we have defined the absolute numbers of pg, fM and molecules of ras p21 in: (1) E. coli expressing the point-mutated or proto-ras p21 and (2) mammalian cell lines of human and murine origin. Two of the RIAs developed can be termed group-specific in that they have the ability to detect the point-mutated and proto forms of all 3 human ras genes (Harvey, Kirsten, and neuroblastoma), while the third RIA is type-selective, since it detects an antigenic determinant located primarily on the Harvey ras p21. All 3 RIAs are interspecies-specific since they are able to detect ras p21 in rodent as well as human cells. The adaptability of the RIAs to various assay conditions and ease of methodology make these immunoassays applicable to the study of several parameters associated with ras p21 expression. These assays, used in conjunction with specific cDNA probes to identify specific ras proto-oncogenes or point-mutated oncogenes being expressed, now provide truly quantitative analysis of ras p21 in mammalian cells to further the study of the association between ras p21 expression and transformation.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Urine beta-thromboglobulin concentration or beta-thromboglobulin/creatinine ratio in single voided urine samples cannot be reliably used to estimate quantitative beta-thromboglobulin excretion.

Different procedures are currently used in the urine beta-thromboglobulin (BTG) assay. We investigated the reliability of limited urine collections and of different expressions of urine BTG results (concentration, urine BTG/creatinine ratio) for the measurement of hourly or daily BTG excretion rates. BTG was measured by a sensitive RIA method in various urine collections of normal subjects (n.80) and patients (n.120) with miscellaneous diseases where an enhanced in-vivo platelet activation could be expected. The BTG concentration in a 6-hour urine collection appeared to change in relation to the urine flow rate (r = -0.53 in normals, r = 0.27 in patients, p less than 0.01) and urine osmolality (r = 0.46 in normals, r = 0.31 in patients, p less than 0.01). In both normals and patients not a very good correlation was observed between the urine BTG/creatinine ratio and the BTG excretion rate (r = 0.54 and r = 0.48; p less than 0.001, respectively). Variable coefficients of correlation (r = 0.83-0.34) were observed between the BTG excretion rate of single voidings of the morning, afternoon-evening and night and the daily BTG excretion both in normals and patients. Reliable measurements of the BTG in urine should be expressed as the hourly excretion rate in a given period of the day for limited urine collections or as the daily excretion for 24-hour urine collections.

Beta-Globulins↗
PubMed1986

Abnormal diurnal changes in in-vivo platelet activation in patients with atherosclerotic diseases.

We measured the urinary excretion of beta-thromboglobulin in timed urine samples collected by 2 groups of healthy volunteers, (group I, n = 20, mean age 34 years, group II, n = 15, mean age 64 years) and by patients (n = 40) with symptomatic atherosclerotic diseases. Older healthy subjects were found to excrete high amounts of BTG in comparison to young subjects (302.25 +/- 50.61 vs 219.65 +/- 59.31 ng/day, P less than 0.05). Higher (P less than 0.01) levels of urinary BTG were observed in patients with coronary (427.61 +/- 179.96 ng/day), cerebral (422.13 +/- 223.2 ng/day) and peripheral (454.16 +/- 269.05 ng/day) arterial diseases and in diabetic patients with diffuse vascular complications (613.71 +/- 253.07 ng/day). The diurnal variability of BTG excretion, measured as coefficient of variation (C.V. %) of the mean daily excretion rate, was higher (P less than 0.001) in atherosclerotic patients (70.59 +/- 26.57) as compared with the similar values observed in the control groups of young (32.05 +/- 14.54) and older subjects (26.38 +/- 8.4). Comparable diurnal variabilities of the creatinine excretion rate were observed in the control groups and in patients. These data indicated that in vivo platelet activation may occur in atherosclerotic patients with a distinctive high fluctuation rate.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Progesterone and LH variations after LH-RH administration in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle.

We have investigated the pituitary and luteal responses to LH-RH and their related changes. 11 normal women were studied during the luteal phase (day +4/+11). Blood samples were collected every 15 min for a basal period of 180 and 120 min after the intravenous administration of 25 micrograms of LH-RH. Progesterone (P) and LH were assayed by radioimmunoassay. Data were analyzed as maximum peak and its percent increase (delta max), integrated secretory area (ISA) and percent increase of ISA (delta A) in respect to basal values for both P and LH. LH-RH elicited a secretory response of both hormones in all cases. ISA of LH was significantly greater after LH-RH administration in respect to basal values (p less than 0.001) and delta max accounted to 475 +/- (SE) 36% of the basal concentration. Luteal responsiveness varied from about 115-130% to more marked increments. ISA of P differed from basal to stimulated conditions (p less than 0.05) and delta max was 166 +/- (SE) 14%. The analysis of temporal relationship between P and LH secretion showed that LH promptly rose after LH-RH, while the enhancement of P plasma levels occurred within 31 +/- 19 min after LH rise. Then P levels reached a plateau, values of which were statistically different from those observed before LH-RH administration. In two cases where luteal function was blunted or absent, in spite of marked increments of LH, P secretion did not occur. These data are consistent with the presence of close relationships between hypothalamic, pituitary and luteal functions and strengthen the contention about the usefulness of LH-RH during luteal phase for the lifespan and maintenance of corpus luteum.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) in pregnant diabetic women.

Insulin infusion pump treatment (CSII) in pregnancy was compared with conventional therapy (IIT) in 12 pregnant diabetic women. In patients poorly controlled on IIT a plasma glucose equilibrium was achieved with CSII (mean of: glucose levels = 84 vs 137 mg/dl; SD = 36 vs 63 mg/dl; MAGE = 65 vs 112 mg/dl). In patients well controlled on IIT, CSII led to a reduction in the variation of glucose excursions (SD = 29 vs 36 mg/dl; MAGE = 48 vs 76 mg/dl). CSII generally led to a reduction of 20-37% of daily insulin dose but in 3 cases there was an increase of dose with the achievement of glycaemic control. A significant relation between bolus/basal ratio of insulin daily dose and the quality of glycaemic control was also found during CSII. All infants were born at or near to term and none were macrosomic or had neonatal complications. It is concluded that CSII is highly efficient in pregnancy not only in type I but also in type II or gestational diabetes.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

The analgesic activity of calcitonin and the central serotonergic system.

The effect of peripherally administered cyproheptadine or reserpine and the administration of 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT) in the nucleus raphe dorsalis on the analgesic activity of salmon calcitonin (sCT) injected into the lateral ventricle were investigated in male rats. Cyproheptadine or reserpine, given respectively 30 min or 24 h before the peptide, completely abolished the analgesic activity at all the times studied. However, when reserpine was given before the peptide it increased the effect of sCT at 30 (P less than 0.01), 60 (P less than 0.001), 120 (P less than 0.01) and 180 (P less than 0.01) min. 5,7-DHT injected in the nucleus raphe dorsalis 15 days before the peptide led to complete abolition of the analgesic activity. If neurotoxin was injected 4 days before sCT, the effect of the peptide was significant (P less than 0.05) only at 60 min. The results obtained confirm that the analgesic activity of sCT may involve central serotonergic pathway(s), and that the midbrain raphe nuclei 5-HT content is an important focus for this activity.

5,7-Dihydroxytryptamine↗
PubMed1985

Inhibition of restraint stress by systemic (Asu1,7) eel-calcitonin.

The effects of different doses of (Asu1,7) eel-calcitonin, iv injected, on gastric secretion were studied in conscious rats with pyloric occlusion. Moreover, we evaluated the activity of this analogue on gastric ulcer formation by restraint stress. It was found that 2.5 or 5 Ul/kg (Asu1,7) eel-calcitonin decreased gastric acid secretion and inhibited the development of stress-induced ulcers in rats. In the isolated rat stomach the peptide at the concentrations of 1 nM to 1 microM did not modify acetylcholine, histamine or 5-hydroxytriptamine-induced contractions. These results suggest that this peripheral activity of (Asu1,7) eel-calcitonin does not involve a direct interference with cholinergic, histaminergic or serotonergic pathways at gastric level.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Effect of (Asu1,7)E-CT, synthetic analogue of eel-calcitonin, on nociceptive transmission.

The effect of (Asu1,7)E-CT a deaminodicarba-analogue of the synthetic eel-calcitonin on the nociceptive transmission has been studied in mice. The analogue was intracerebroventricularly (0.0.5-0.01-0.02 U.I./kg) or intravenously (0.02-0.04-0.05 -0.1 U.I./kg) injected. This synthetic derivative of eel-calcitonin increased the antinociceptive effect also after peripheral administration. Moreover, preliminary studies on the time-course of this analogue showed that the dose of 0.1 U.I./kg i.v. injected, was able to elicit antinociceptive effect, already 5 min after the administration.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Prolapse of the "floppy" aortic valve as a cause of aortic regurgitation. A clinico-morphologic study.

A clinico-pathologic study was performed in 25 patients undergoing aortic valve replacement because of regurgitation, caused by myxoid degeneration of the valve leaflets. Associated cardiac anomalies were floppy mitral valve (2 cases), floppy mitral valve and idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis (1), left atrial myxoma (1), and aortic coarctation at the isthmus (1). Three patients died (2 immediately and 1 on the 30th postoperative day). Pathological studies of the explanted valves showed deformities characterized by redundant thin leaflets which appeared soft and gelatinous. On histologic examination the fibrous layer of the leaflets was seen to be infiltrated by myxomatous tissue. Echocardiography showed the aortic root to be dilated in 13 patients and normal in the others. In those with normal aortic root, the histological examination of aortic wall disclosed minimal cystic medial necrosis in two cases. In contrast, more severe forms of cystic medial necrosis were evident in all patients having a dilated aortic root. Aortic valve replacement was performed in all cases. It was accompanied by a Bentall procedure (1 case), repair of ascending aorta dissection (2), replacement of the ascending aorta (1), mitral valve replacement (2), mitral valve replacement and apico-ascending aorta conduit (1) and excision of a left atrial myxoma (1). Our experience suggests that prolapse of the aortic valve due to floppy leaflets is a common degenerative disease which is generally associated with noninflammatory aortic root degeneration. This, together with aortic root dilatation, contributes to valve insufficiency. Nevertheless, the disease, when isolated (with normal aortic root), is liable in itself to produce aortic regurgitation. The need for early diagnosis is stressed, so as to be able to perform valve replacement.

Adult↗