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Biomedical subjects

A Catania

Publications and source records attributed to A Catania.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Corticotropin releasing factor stimulates cAMP formation in pituitary corticotropic tumor cells.

Addition of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) to membranes from two ACTH-secreting pituitary tumors strikingly increased in a dose-dependent fashion adenylate cyclase (AC) activity. Significant stimulation was already apparent at 10(-9)M CRF. Stimulation of AC activity by CRF in membranes from non-tumoral tissue adjacent to tumoral corticotrophs was considerably lower, and was lacking in membranes from a growth hormone secreting tumor. These data correlated well with in vivo pre-surgery and post-surgery ACTH responsiveness to CRF of the tumor bearing patients. Basal AC activity was higher in pituitary adenomas than in non-tumoral adjacent tissue. It is concluded that 1) a CRF-sensitive AC exists in ACTH-secreting tumor cells and, 2) increased sensitivity to CRF, as evidenced by greater stimulation of AC activity, may be responsible for the increased ACTH output of tumoral corticotrophs.

Acromegaly↗
PubMed1984

Plasma ACTH-response to the corticotropin releasing factor in patients with Cushing's disease. Comparison with the lysine-vasopressin test.

In three female patients with Cushing's disease, 100 micrograms of synthetic ovine corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) were administered before surgery and 1 week after transsphenoidal microadenomectomy. In these patients a test with lysine-vasopressin (LVP), 10 U intramuscularly, was also performed before and after pituitary surgery. Before surgery, both stimuli induced a clear increase in plasma ACTH and cortisol in all patients; the response of ACTH to CRF was of greater magnitude. Postoperatively, the responses were virtually absent in two patients, but were still present in the third one in whom the removal of adenoma had been partially unsuccessful. The CRF test was also performed in a female patient with Cushing's syndrome due to adrenal adenoma; in this patient no responses of plasma ACTH and cortisol to CRF were recorded. This paper demonstrates that pituitary microadenomas causing Cushing's disease may retain the ability to respond to CRF; this stimulus may be useful in the differential diagnosis between ACTH-dependent and independent Cushing's syndrome; the lack of response after microadenomectomy indicates successful removal of the tumor. CRF is more potent than LVP in releasing ACTH at the doses employed.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1984

Gonadotropin response to gonadotropin releasing hormone in acute schizophrenia.

To evaluate hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in acute schizophrenia, plasma FSH and LH concentrations were estimated both in basal conditions and after stimulation with gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH, 200 micrograms i.v.) in 14 young male patients with acute schizophrenia and in a age-matched group of 14 healthy male controls. Basal plasma PRL and testosterone levels were also measured. The mean basal levels of LH and FSH were slightly lower in schizophrenics, while the mean testosterone and prolactin levels were similar in the two groups. The FSH response to GnRH was significantly reduced in patients with acute schizophrenia, while the response of LH was similar in schizophrenics and in the controls. The possible significance of these findings is discussed in the contest of the complex neuroendocrine regulation of gonadotropin secretion and the overactivity of dopaminergic systems in acute schizophrenia.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1984

Thyrotoxicosis and thyroid cancer: a report on eight operated cases.

Eight cases of hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer, representing 0.96% of overall hyperfunctioning thyroid diseases (835), surgically treated are reported. Clinical and pathological data, and type of treatment are summarized. The etiopathogenic hypotheses about possible relations between thyrotoxicosis and thyroid cancer are discussed. In the presence of thyrotoxicosis, preoperative diagnosis of thyroid cancer is rather difficult, but awareness of the potential association and careful examination of any suspect nodularity make it possible to recognize minimal malignant foci and adequately treat them with total thyroidectomy and, when required, modified neck dissection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

[Acute intermittent porphyria].

Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) is a congenital disease which as its name suggests, runs intermittently. Biochemically it is characterised by over-production of hepatic ALA synthetase (ALA-s), inducible mitochondrial enzyme and an increase in prophyrinic precursors (PBG, ac S-ALA). Clinically it is characterised by an abdominal nervous symptomatology. The primary metabolic error has been identified as a deficiency in enzyme activity which partially blocks haem biosynthesis. During the appearance of clinical manifestations, certain factors are present which have the capacity of inducing hepatic ALA-s production in vitro. Apart from some preventive measures treatment is mainly of symptomatology and complications. More recently the use of ALA-s inhibitors has been introduced.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1983

Essential hypertension. The behaviour of the haemorheological determinants and their trends during beta-blocker treatment.

We examined the haemorheological determinants in a group of 52 hypertensives (diastolic basal pressure greater than 100 mmHg) subdivided in relation to the clinical stage (I and II or III according to the WHO classification) and in a group of 50 normal controls, matched for age and sex. From this study, it is evident that only plasma viscosity, fibrinogen and the fibrinogen/albumin ratio are able to distinguish normals from hypertensives. It is also clear that the clinical stage does not influence the haemorheological findings. These haemorheological factors were also measured in 3 groups of hypertensives treated with either timolol (20 mg/day), metoprolol (200 mg/day) or oxprenolol (160 mg/day). After a basal evaluation, measurements were performed, at regular intervals of 10 days, for a period of 30 days. The only significant changes were obtained using timolol; metoprolol and oxprenolol, did not affect these haemorheological parameters.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1983

[Hemorrheological survey in a group with arteriosclerotic vascular disease treated with suloctidil].

In 17 patients affected by atherosclerotic vascular disease and showing in basal conditions a hyperviscosity state, we have monitored the main hemorheological determinants during treatment with Suloctidil. At the end of treatment carried out for 5 months the results showed that erythrocyte filterability was the only hemorheological determinant influenced. The possible causes of this action are therefore considered.

Aged↗
PubMed1983

[Hemorrheological survey in dystrophia myotonica and other muscular dystrophies].

We have determined the main hemorheological parameters in a group of patients suffering from myotonic dystrophy and in another group with oculopharyngeal or limb-girdle myopathy. From the results we have obtained it is evident that of all the rheological parameters considered only hematocrit, fibrinogen and fibrinogen/albumin ratio are different in patients with myotonic dystrophy when compared to that of normal controls. There were no variations in blood, plasma and serum viscosities and in erythrocyte filterability. In addition, hemorheological alterations were not present in patients with oculopharyngeal or limb-girdle myopathy.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

[Erythrocyte filterability in diabetes mellitus (a survey carried out by two methods)].

In 45 diabetic patients (22 men and 23 women) subdivided in relation to type and vascular complications we have evaluated the erythrocyte filterability either by filtering whole blood (VRBC) or red blood cells suspended (5%) in autologous prefiltered plasma (deformability index). From the obtained results it is evident that VRBC is able to distinguish diabetic patients from normal subjects, whereas this does not happen with the deformability index. The explanation of these data is that the whole blood filterability, especially in diabetic patients, depends on the behavior of both cellular and plasmatic extraerythrocyte parameters.

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1↗
PubMed1983

[Blood viscosity in diabetes mellitus (evaluation on the basis of high shear rates)].

In 45 diabetic patients (22 men and 23 women) subdivided in relation to type and vascular complications we have evaluated the blood viscosity at high and low shear rates. From the obtained results it is evident that only at low shear rates this hemorheological parameter distinguishes diabetic patients from normal subjects and diabetic patients without vascular complications from those with these complications. This result is present only because these shear rates are dependent on the influence of the erythrocyte aggregation which is altered in the diabetic disease.

Blood Viscosity↗
PubMed1980

[Study of behaviour of fibrinogen and of some glycoproteins in arteriosclerotic clinical situations (author's transl)].

The behaviour of fibrinogen, haptoglobin alpha 1-acid GP, ceruloplasmin, alpha 2-macroglobulin and alpha 2-HS in patients with acute myocardial infarction (in the initial stage and in the following two weeks), chronic ischaemic heart disease, chronic atherosclerotic vascular disease and hyperlipoproteinemia was evaluated. According to the obtained results the utility of their evaluation is evident and, especially for the chronic situations, some therapeutic considerations emerge.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1978

Inhibitory effect of calcitonin on growth hormone and insulin secretion in man.

The effect of calcitonin administration on basal and arginine-stimulated growth hormone and insulin plasma levels was investigated. The intramuscular injection of synthetic salmon calcitonin (100 U MRC) in five normal subjects produced a significant decrease (p less than 0.05) in insulin concentration. The same amount of calcitonin given 15 min before an arginine infusion test in seven normal subjects significantly reduced the response of growth hormone (p less than 0.025) and insulin (p less than 0.005) to the stimulus.

Adult↗