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Biomedical subjects

A Catania

Publications and source records attributed to A Catania.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Proopiomelanocortin-derived peptides and cytokines: relations in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

alpha-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), beta-endorphin, cortisol, and the cytokines interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) were measured in 80 AIDS patients (group IV CDC) and in healthy hospital personnel. The average plasma alpha-MSH was significantly greater in AIDS patients than in control subjects; no significant differences between groups were observed in the average concentrations of ACTH, cortisol, and beta-endorphin; plasma cytokines were likewise similar in the two groups. Plasma concentrations of alpha-MSH and ACTH were inversely related in AIDS patients and a similar inverse relation between alpha-MSH and IL-6 was also observed in these patients. There were positive relations among elevated circulating ACTH, cortisol, IL-6, and high fever in AIDS patients with severe concomitant disease. Plasma alpha-MSH concentrations within a specific range correlated positively with 6 month survival. Because cytokines can stimulate HIV expression in certain cell types and they are believed to have a role in disease progression in HIV-infected patients, it may be that a potent endogenous modulator of cytokine action such as alpha-MSH is crucial to survival in these patients.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1993

Inhibition of IL-1 beta-induced peripheral inflammation by peripheral and central administration of analogs of the neuropeptide alpha-MSH.

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is a proinflammatory cytokine, alpha-MSH(1-13) molecules inhibit inflammation induced by cytokines, other mediators of inflammation, and by peripheral irritants. D-valine substitution in the antiinflammatory/antipyretic message sequence [alpha-MSH(11-13), Lys-Pro-Val] of alpha-MSH(1-13) increases the activity of the tripeptide. Our aim was to learn if D-valine substitution also enhances the antiinflammatory activity of the entire alpha-MSH(1-13) molecule and to determine if an antipyretic D-valine-substituted alpha-MSH(8-13) molecule is also antiinflammatory. Intraperitoneal injection of alpha-MSH(1-13) and of (D-Val13)alpha-MSH(1-13) caused dose-related suppression of ear edema induced in mice by intradermal injection of IL-1 beta; the two molecules were equipotent. (D-Val13)alpha-MSH(8-13) likewise inhibited inflammation, but the potency was less than that of the larger molecules. Intracerebroventricular injections of (D-Val13)alpha-MSH(1-13) and of the unsubstituted molecule were equipotent in reducing inflammation; the (D-Val13)alpha-MSH(8-13) molecule was less effective. The results support the idea that the alpha-MSH(1-13) molecule inhibits inflammation and suggest that the L-conformation of alpha-MSH(1-13) is maximally effective with regard to its antiinflammatory activity. The results with alpha-MSH(8-13) are consistent with previous findings of lesser antihost response activity of alpha-MSH fragments that contain the COOH-terminal tripeptide Lys-Pro-Val.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

[The treatment of benign lesions of the liver. Indications and surgical approach].

Benign formations in the liver constitute a heterogeneous group of pathology lesions that are rarely found clinically. In the period between January 1985 and June 1992, 81 patients, affected by benign formations of the liver, were observed at the Institute of the III Surgical Clinic of Rome "La Sapienza". Most of these lesions are asymptomatic and their diagnosis is mostly casual. Among these we found 48 cases of echinococcus cystis, 13 cases of congenital cystic formations, 2 amoebiasis cases, and 1 case the ecografic exam, which shows an hepatic formation to the fifth segment, was not in conformity with the cytologic exam which proved negative because of cellular abnormalities of any nature, therefore it's constituted by normal parenchyma. Consequently the patient was discharged. We operated on 65 patients. The complications found in the patient operated on were not important and we had the death of only 1 patient affected by hepatic abscess on the 3rd day after surgery because of septicemia and cardio-circulatory problems. The follow-up made after a certain time has resulted negative because of relapses if we exclude 1 case of echinococcus cystis wherein we found a serological relapsing. In our experience and according to most of the authors, the operation must take place always in cases such as: adenoma, cystoadenoma, hemangiomas having a diameter higher than 3 cm, echinococcus cysts, syntomatic formations and when we have complications. For all other cases we must limit ourselves to observation over a certain period both the dimensions and morphological modification of the lesions.

Follow-Up Studies↗
PubMed1993

[Preoperative diagnosis of thyroid nodule. Ultrasonography-guided fine-needle aspiration].

Nodular thyroid pathology weighs heavily for 4-5% of the general population, being the most common among the endocrinopathies. Because of this these diagnostic methods have gained more and more importance as FNA able to select already in the pre-operation phase the malignant nodules from the benign ones and to decide on the most suitable surgical intervention. In the period of time between January 1989 and June 1992 in the Institute of the III Surgical Clinic in Rome there have been performed 403 FNA. From the whole total we have extrapolated 221 patients. In this study we stressed how the FNA method has a sensibility of 80%, a specificity of 93% and afterwards an accurate diagnosis of 92%. Besides we have verified that sonography and radionuclide scanning have a truth worthiness respectively of 64% and 52%. The FNA in our opinion allows us to have in the pre-operation phase a much more accurate diagnosis as regards that obtained with only sonography and radionuclide scanning therefore the latter methods must be considered complementary to FNA.

Biopsy, Needle↗
PubMed1993

[Autotransfusion in general surgery].

Self-transfusion represents a clinical method used for the restoration of haematic losses that, in recent years has been employed more and more widely in the surgical ambit. The utilisation of this method has become increasingly frequent because of the high diffusion of haemotransmitted diseases, and of the incidences, not negligible, of complications relative to the transfusions of homologous blood. The techniques that are currently used are: self-donation with predeposit; inter-surgery recovery; hemodilution normal blood volume. From 1989 until now 260 patients have been performed, in the Institute of III Surgical Clinic of University of Rome, to self-transfusional method with predeposit and intersurgery recovery. In practice this technique did not present any complications.

Blood Transfusion, Autologous↗
PubMed1993

Comparison of pertechnetate and radioiodine thyroid scintiscans in thyroid disease.

In a retrospective study, thyroid scintiscan with technetium-99m-pertechnetate at 30 minutes was compared with the iodine-131 scan at 24 hours in 273 patients with various thyroid diseases. The pertechnetate scan showed normal or diffusely enlarged thyroid glands in 64 patients, cold nodules in 36, and hot or warm nodules in 173. The radioiodine and pertechnetate scintiscans were concordant in all patients without nodules and in those with cold nodules. Minor discrepancies were observed in 24 patients with hot or warm nodules. Only 2 patients, both euthyroid, showed major discrepancies in which nodules appeared hot with pertechnetate and cold with radioiodine. Sequential scintiscans with radioiodine performed in both of these patients, and a perchlorate test performed in one, demonstrated organification defects in the nodules. The data indicate that there is a high correlation between the results of scintiscans using the two tracers; discrepancies in results with the two imaging techniques were rare.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Alpha-MSH peptides inhibit acute inflammation induced in mice by rIL-1 beta, rIL-6, rTNF-alpha and endogenous pyrogen but not that caused by LTB4, PAF and rIL-8.

The neuropeptide alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone [alpha-MSH(1-13)] occurs in the pituitary, brain, skin and other tissues and receptors for this molecule are likewise widespread. In previous research, this tridecapeptide, which shares its amino acid sequence with ACTH(1-13), was shown to have both potent antipyretic activity and a role in the endogenous control of the febrile response. alpha-MSH(1-13) and its COOH-terminal tripeptide were subsequently found to inhibit inflammation induced by general stimuli such as topical application of an irritant. The aim in the present experiments was to determine if these peptides can inhibit acute inflammatory responses induced in mice by injection of individual cytokines, endogenous pyrogen (EP), a natural cytokine mixture, and other mediators of inflammation. Inflammation induced in the mouse ear by rIL-1 beta, rIL-6 or rTNF-alpha was inhibited by alpha-MSH and a D-valine-substituted analog of alpha-MSH(11-13) whereas substantial doses of alpha-MSH(1-13) did not alter inflammation induced by LTB4, PAF and IL-8. Both peptides inhibited edema caused in the mouse paw by local injection of EP. The results indicate that alpha-MSH molecules antagonize the actions of certain cytokine mediators of inflammation, consistent with previous observations of anti-cytokine activity of these peptides. Failure to inhibit edema caused by LTB4, PAF and IL-8 suggests that, in inflammation induced by general stimuli, such as EP, the peptides act prior to the release of these mediators of the inflammatory response. Because of the anticytokine/anti-inflammatory actions of the alpha-MSH molecules they may be useful in understanding the cytokine network and for treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Inhibitory effect of somatostatin on abnormal GH response to TRH in primary hypothyroidism.

Thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) does not promote GH secretion in normal subjects but it stimulates GH in a proportion of hypothyroid patients. In this study the response of GH to thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) was evaluated in 21 patients with primary hypothyroidism of different origin: 12 with autoimmune thyroiditis, 3 idiopathic, 3 congenital, 3 iatrogenic. 11 of these patients had never been treated, the others were tested after a drug-free period of at least two weeks. Basal plasma concentration of GH was normal in all patients; after TRH administration, a significant increase in plasma GH was observed in 4 patients. In these responsive patients, somatostatin infusion inhibited the abnormal GH response to TRH. It is suggested that the abnormal GH response to TRH in primary hypothyroidism might be caused by a relative deficiency of somatostatinergic control, which is corrected by exogenous somatostatin administration.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Scintigraphic study of extra-adrenal ganglioneuroma in a patient with overlap between multiple endocrine neoplasia types 1 and 2.

A 27-year-old woman was diagnosed with a pituitary prolactinoma. Seven years later, when she was 34, an abdominal mass was incidentally discovered and ascribed to the right adrenal gland on the basis of evidence from ultrasonography, computed tomography, and arteriography. Adrenal scintigraphy with Se-75 selenomethylcholesterol imaged both adrenal glands, but the right gland was distorted, suggesting external compression. I-131 MIBG was not taken up by the mass. At surgery, an extra-adrenal ganglioneuroma was found and excised. This case represents an overlap between multiple endocrine neoplasia types 1 and 2. The failure of the ganglioneuroma to concentrate MIBG was likely caused by secretory inactivity of a biologically mature tumor.

3-Iodobenzylguanidine↗
PubMed1991

Inhibition of acute inflammation in the periphery by central action of salicylates.

Understanding of the antiinflammatory actions of nonsteroidal drugs is incomplete, but these actions are believed to occur in the periphery, without any contribution from the central nervous system. Recent research on the antipyretic antiinflammatory neuropeptide alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone indicates that it can act centrally to inhibit peripheral inflammation; this raises the possibility that other agents, such as nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, may have similar activity. In the present research both lysine acetylsalicylate and sodium salicylate inhibited edema, induced in the mouse ear by topical application of picryl chloride, when injected into the lateral cerebral ventricle. This inhibitory activity on a measure of acute inflammation was not due to escape of the drugs into the periphery, because systemic injection of doses that were effective centrally did not affect inflammation. In contrast, central administration of a dose of indomethacin that was antiinflammatory when given intraperitoneally did not inhibit peripheral inflammation. Thus indomethacin apparently lacks the central antiinflammatory action of the salicylates. This observation, plus our inability to demonstrate either an antiinflammatory effect of intracerebroventricular dexamethasone, a prostaglandin inhibitor, or a pro-inflammatory influence of prostaglandin E2, suggests that prostaglandins are not important to central modulation of inflammation. The results indicate that, in addition to having central influences on fever and pain, salicylates can act within the brain to inhibit acute inflammation in the periphery.

Animals↗