Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Martini

Publications and source records attributed to A Martini.

At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Diclofenac increases beta-endorphin plasma concentrations.

Plasma and ventricular cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) Beta-endorphin concentrations were evaluated after chromatographic separation in patients carrying a ventricular shunt before and after the administration of diclofenac or placebo. In the same subjects the ventricular CSF concentrations of the serotonin and the catecholamine metabolites 5-hydroxyindole-acetic acid (5-HIAA), homovanillic acid (HVA) and MOPEG were also evaluated. Plasma, but not ventricular, Beta-endorphin concentrations increased significantly after diclofenac, while placebo was ineffective. No significant changes in ventricular 5-HIAA, HVA or MOPEG levels were observed. These data suggest a role for Beta-endorphin in the analgesic effect of diclofenac.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Activity of classical and alternative pathways of complement in preterm and small for gestational age infants.

Complement activity was compared in 50 low birth weight infants divided into appropriate and small for gestational age groups; the influence of birth weight and gestational age on complement development was also investigated. CH50 and kinetics (tH50) of both classical and alternative pathway activity of complement, C3, and Factor B levels were significantly higher in small for gestational age infants (classical pathway CH50, 630 HU/ml +/- 184 SD; CP tH50, 77 min +/- 47; aternative pathway CH50, 44.8 HU/ml +/- 11.3; AP tH50, 56 min +/- 43; C3, 73.98 mg/dl +/- 12.68; and Factor B, 13.17 mg/dl +/- 3.67) than in weight-matched appropriate for gestational age infants (CP CH50, 523 HU/ml +/- 152; CP tH50, 105 min +/- 49; AP CH50, 38.8 HU/ml +/- 13; AP tH50, 90 min +/- 53; C3, 58.14 mg/dl +/- 9.43; and Factor B, 9.32 mg/dl +/- 1.73). Complement values were lower in low birth weight infants than in adult controls (P less than 0.001 in all cases). All complement parameters were mainly correlated with gestational age; CH50 values of the classical and alternative pathways were also highly correlated with each other (r = 0.64; P less than 0.001). Low birth weight infants, especially preterm infants, have an important defect of complement activity. Complement factors increase gradually during gestation and intrauterine growth retardation does not affect complement development. Classical and alternative complement pathway activities have a similar development pattern.

Complement Activation↗
PubMed1984

Impaired auditory brainstem-evoked responses in insulin-dependent diabetic subjects.

Auditory brainstem-evoked responses (ABR) were recorded from the scalp of 30 normoacoustic insulin-dependent diabetic subjects, aged between 15 and 41 yr (29 +/- 7 yr). Three different stimulus repetition rates (11, 37, and 87 cps) were used. The results were compared with those obtained from 20 age- and sex-matched, normoacoustic control subjects. In diabetic patients, metabolic control (mean daily plasma glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin) and the presence of retinopathy, nephropathy, and somatic neuropathy were also investigated. The latencies (ms) of ABR waves were significantly impaired in diabetic subjects as compared with normals. Peripheral transmission time (wave I) and central transmission time (waves I-V) were also significantly delayed in diabetic subjects. Moreover, by increasing stimulus repetition rates, a significant increase in waves I-V shift was observed in diabetic patients. ABR impairment was not related to glucose balance, to the duration of diabetes, or to the presence of the diabetic retinopathy, nephropathy, and somatic neuropathy. In conclusion, diabetic neuropathy is characterized not only by somatic and autonomic nerve dysfunctions, but also by the early involvement of the central nervous system (CNS). ABR recording can represent a useful, noninvasive, simple procedure to detect both acoustic nerve and CNS damage.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Immunofluorescence and enzyme histochemistry on consecutive sections from glycol-methacrylate-embedded bone marrow, lymph node and kidney specimens.

We describe an immunohistochemical technique adapted to tissues embedded in glycol-methacrylate (GMA). 1-micron-thick GMA sections from kidney, lymph node and bone marrow biopsies were trypsinized and then incubated with F(ab)2 antisera. GMA sections presented some distinct advantages with respect to compared paraffin and cryostatic sections: (1) reduction of background fluorescence, (2) higher resolution of morphologic details, (3) possibility of studying undecalcified bone marrow specimens and (4) possibility of coupling histochemistry with immunofluorescence on consecutive sections. Moreover, in a case of lymphoplasmacytoid lymphoma specific immunostaining for membrane IgM was obtained on GMA sections.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMed1984

Group B streptococci: extracellular neuraminidase production and virulence in mouse.

Neuraminidase production by reference strains of various group B streptococci serotypes was investigated before and after serial passages in mouse. The enzyme production was tested in culture filtrates using bovine submaxillary mucin as substrate. Although passages in mouse markedly increased the virulence of all the strains it was not possible to demonstrate a relationship between the increased virulence and the enzyme production.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Cross-over study of pharmacokinetics and haematological toxicity of 4'-epi-doxorubicin and doxorubicin in cancer patients.

Eight cancer patients were given 4'-epi-DX and DX (70 mg/m2) by i.v. route at three-week intervals according to a randomized cross-over design. Blood samples were drawn at different intervals of time after each drug administration and plasma levels of the unchanged drugs and of their main metabolites were determined by HPLC. 4'-epi-DX gave plasma levels constantly lower than those observed after DX; the pharmacokinetic study showed that 4'-epi-DX was eliminated from the body more rapidly (t1/2 30 hours as compared with 43 hours). The 13-dihydroderivatives of both drugs behaved in much the same way as the unchanged drugs; in fact the AUC values were lower for 13-OH 4'-epi-DX than for 13-OH DX. The cross-over design gave statistical confirmation of the lower haematological toxicity of 4'-epi-DX in comparison to DX. The reduced toxicity of 4'-epi-DX with respect to DX may be related to its pharmacokinetic behaviour.

Aged↗
PubMed1983

[Microcytological characteristics of reticulocytes in heterozygous beta-thalassemia].

Mean reticulocyte volume (MRV) and reticulocyte/nonreticulated erythrocyte (R/E) area ratio were determined by a planimetric method in normals and in heterozygous beta-thalassaemia subjects. The MRV in beta-thalassaemia group was significantly less, whereas no difference in the R/E area ratio was observed. These data suggest that in both groups the extent of splenic surface remodeling of the red cells should overlap, whereas the small reticulocyte size of beta-thalassaemia is determined by some alteration of bone marrow function. We suggest that a small MRV in beta-thalassaemia trait could also account for ineffective erythropoiesis, a major bone marrow feature of heterozygous beta-thalassaemia.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Brain cholecystokinin-8 immunoreactivity in rats with experimental liver cirrhosis.

Cholecystokinin-8 like immunoreactivity (CCK-8 IR) was measured in different brain regions of rats with experimental liver cirrhosis. A statistically significant reduction of CCK-8 content was observed in the hypothalamus of cirrhotic rats. No significant modification of brain CCK fractionation pattern was observed in treated animals as compared to controls. The decrease of CCK-8 IR parallels the recently reported hypothalamic depletion of beta endorphin in cirrhotic rats confirming that central neuropeptides are affected by chronic liver failure.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Opiates and their antagonists modulate luteinizing hormone acting outside the blood brain barrier.

The effects of morphine methyl-iodide and naloxone methyl-bromide, two quaternary derivatives of morphine and naloxone, were evaluated on the modulation of luteinizing hormone secretion in intact and gonadectomized rats. Quaternary compounds are effective in modulating LH release, indicating a site outside the blood brain barrier for their action. More precisely, the median eminence and not the pituitary seems to be the site of action of opiates in modulating LH secretion, since the effect of the quaternary derivatives is abolished by surgical ablation of the median eminence.

Animals↗