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Biomedical subjects

A Gemma

Publications and source records attributed to A Gemma.

65 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Right ventricular aneurysm: a new prognostic indicator after a first acute myocardial infarction.

The prognostic implication of a right ventricular aneurysm after a first acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was assessed on a series of 137 AMI patients 12 of whom had a right ventricular aneurysm detected at radionuclide angiocardiography. The follow-up lasted 36 months. Mortality was 50 and 18.4% in patients with and without right ventricular aneurysm, respectively (p less than 0.02). Groups did not differ in age, male-to-female ratio, AMI site, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), peak filling rate (PFR), left ventricular size. A multivariate logistic analysis showed that only three out of ten clinical and functional variables qualified to be independent predictors of death: right ventricular aneurysm (odd ratio = 2.48, confidence limits = 1.21-4.98), LVEF less than 52% (odd ratio = 1.91, confidence limits = 1.03-3.48), abnormal terminal P wave forces (odd ratio = 1.72, confidence limits = 1.07-2.75). The analysis of single case histories did not provide a clue to clarify the reasons accounting for the negative prognostic implication of a right ventricular aneurysm. In conclusion, a significant positive relationship between right ventricular aneurysm and mortality after AMI has been demonstrated; further study is needed to clarify the relevant mechanisms.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Efficacy of almitrine-raubasine in cognitive disorders of aging: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical and psychometric study.

Early treatment of age-related cognitive impairment can be decisive in enabling elderly patients to remain at home. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of almitrine-raubasine was conducted in 40 elderly outpatients (25 women, 15 men; mean age: 73.5 years) with moderate cognitive impairment randomized into two groups, one receiving almitrine and raubasine, the other placebo, two tablets daily for 90 days. They were assessed at T0, T45 and T90 days, using the Toulouse-Pieron test, 8 subtests from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) and the Sandoz Clinical Assessment for Geriatrics (SCAG). End-of-study results were significantly better in the almitrine-raubasine group in all tests: Toulouse-Pieron test (p less than 0.001), WAIS (p less than 0.001), and SCAG (p less than 0.001).

Aged↗
PubMed1990

[The relation between myc family gene abnormality in lung cancers and xenotransplantability].

Thirty-four primary lung cancers were analyzed for abnormalities in the myc family genes (c-myc, N-myc, L-myc), using the Southern blot hybridization method. They were subcutaneously transplanted into nude mice. The Southern blot analysis showed that c-myc and L-myc genes were amplified in 4 non-small cell carcinomas and 3 small cell carcinomas respectively. Allelic deletion of the L-myc gene was observed in 7 cancers, including 2 carcinomas which also had an additional band of the c-myc gene or amplification of the L-myc gene. No abnormalities in the N-myc gene were observed in this study. Of 13 cancers with abnormalities in the myc family genes, 11 including all tumors with myc gene amplification were transplantable to nude mice. Of 21 tumors without any abnormalities in the myc family genes, however, only 6 were transplantable to nude mice (p less than 0.005). These results indicate that abnormalities in the myc family genes, especially gene amplification might promote tumor-forming capacity in xenotransplantation of lung cancers and this phenomenon might be closely related to the function of the myc gene.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Verapamil disposition and cardiovascular effects in elderly patients after single intravenous and oral doses.

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of verapamil were studied in 11 elderly subjects (age = 79.67 +/- 4.74 years) and in 11 middle-aged subjects (age = 45 +/- 11.37 years) following intravenous (IV), single oral, and long-term oral administration. Plasma verapamil concentrations were determined using high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Twenty-four hour dynamic Holter electrocardiographic (ECG) recordings were employed to study heart rate (HR) and P-R interval. No difference in plasma half-life, distribution volume, body clearance, and area under the curve (AUC) was observed between the two groups after IV and oral verapamil administration. Blood pressure (BP) and HR were significantly reduced after verapamil IV administration in the elderly group only (p less than 0.05, p less than 0.01, respectively). After single and long-term oral administration, variable HR and BP responses were observed in both groups. The P-R prolongation following both IV and single oral doses exhibited a delay with respect to the peak plasma concentration, inducing a definite hysteresis loop. The slope of P-R variations (using a linear pharmacodynamic model) was greater in the elderly both after IV and single oral verapamil administration, but statistical significance was obtained only after the single oral dose (p less than 0.05). In the elderly group, after long-term oral administration, there was a significant prolongation of the P-R interval (p less than 0.0001) with respect to the corresponding time point of the 24-hour predrug period. Such variations in pharmacodynamic parameters in the elderly did not, however, cause any clinical problem.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1989

Low atrial tachycardia as primary cause of the heart failure complicating congestive cardiomyopathy.

A 50-years-old man with severe heart failure was diagnosed to have congestive cardiomyopathy and low atrial tachycardia at a fixed rate of 103 bpm. Conventional therapy for heart failure exerted a beneficial effect but complete clinical improvement was achieved only by reducing the rate of low atrial tachycardia with amiodarone. This suggests that in this situation tachycardia itself played a main role in the genesis of hemodynamic derangement.

Amiodarone↗
PubMed1988

myc family gene abnormality in lung cancers and its relation to xenotransplantability.

In order to study the relationship between tumor transplantability to the nude mouse and abnormality of the myc family genes (c-myc, N-myc, L-myc) in human primary lung cancers, 32 various lung cancers were analyzed for abnormality of the myc family genes by Southern blot hybridization, and were transplanted s.c. into nude mice. Southern blot analysis showed that four non-small cell carcinomas and three small cell carcinomas had amplified c-myc and L-myc genes, respectively. Allelic deletion of the L-myc gene was observed in seven cancers, of which two also had an additional band of the c-myc gene or amplification of the L-myc gene. No abnormality of the N-myc gene was observed in this series. Of 13 cancers with abnormality of the myc family genes, 11, including all tumors with myc gene amplification, were transplantable to nude mice. Of 19 tumors without any abnormalities of the myc family genes, however, only five were transplantable to nude mice (P less than 0.005). These results indicate that abnormality of the myc family genes, especially gene amplification, might promote tumorigenic ability in xenotransplantation of lung cancers and this phenomenon might be closely related to the function of the myc gene.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Plasmacytoma of the lung associated with nodular deposits of immunoglobulin.

A case of extramedullary plasmacytoma of the lung associated with nodular immunoglobulin deposits is presented. The main tumor was located in the posterior basal segment of the lower lobe of the left lung and showed intrabronchial polypoid growth. Multiple metastatic tumors were observed in regional lymph nodes and the visceral and parietal pleura. Histologically, the tumor was composed of sheets of plasma cells with mild atypia. A large amount of amorphous material resembling amyloid was observed in the tumors, and was more marked in the metastatic lesions. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were shown to contain monoclonal IgG-kappa immunoglobulin. The amorphous deposits were not identical to amyloid since congo red stain was negative and amyloid fibrils were not observed ultrastructurally. By Western blotting, immunoglobulin (IgG, kappa) was identified as the major component in an extract from the nodular deposits. In the preoperative serum from the patient, M-protein (IgG-kappa) was detected by immunoelectrophoresis. Bone marrow examination revealed no abnormality.

Female↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pilot trial of a combination comprising of consecutive oral administration of UFT, and two-divided administration of CDDP in non-small cell lung cancer.

A pilot study of a combination therapy comprising of consecutive oral administration of UFT, and two-part divided administration of CDDP was undertaken in patients with inoperative non-small cell lung cancer, based on the synergistic effects of CDDP and 5FU. UFT was administered orally at a dosage of 400 mg/m2 for two consecutive weeks (Day 1-Day 14) and CDDP was administered twice by intravenous infusion, once on Day 4 and again on Day 8. The unit dose of CDDP was increased sequentially, from 40 mg/m2 in step 1, to 50 mg/m2 in step 2, and then to 60 mg/m2 in step 3, with safety being confirmed during the process. The numbers of patients registered for each dose level were 3, 3, and 20, respectively. Evaluation of toxicities could be conducted for all the patients except one. No toxicities of grade 3 or higher were observed in step 1 or 2. There was no problem with continuous administration of UFT. The following toxicities of grade 3 or higher were observed in step 3: leukocytopenia in 2 patients; reduction of the hemoglobin count in 1; decrease in creatinine clearance in 2; anorexia in 3; and nausea and vomiting in 3. Bone marrow suppression was mild and transient. Renal failure and digestive symptoms, which were proved to be transient and treatable by symptomatic treatment, were also observed. The step 3 administration was effective in 8 (47.1%) of the 17 patients with measurable lesions (95% CI: 23-71%). In conclusion, since it was determined that the dose employed in step 3 should be recommended and that it could be expected to exhibit antitumour effects with mild bone-marrow suppression, a large scale phase II study should be conducted in no prior treatment non-small cell lung cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗