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Biomedical subjects

A Pezzoli

Publications and source records attributed to A Pezzoli.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Veralipride-induced tardive dystonia in a patient with bipolar psychosis.

Veralipride is a benzamide derivative effective in the treatment of menopausal syndrome. Despite its antidopaminergic action, extrapyramidal side effects seem to be very uncommon. We observed a patient with bipolar psychosis, who developed segmental dystonia after taking the drug. The disorder slowly receded in 14 months, but reappeared during neuroleptic therapy a few months later. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of veralipride-induced tardive dystonia, and the affective disorder might have predisposed our patient to the development of this tardive side effect.

Dystonia↗

[Bence-Jones proteinuria in multiple sclerosis: a possible indicator of disease activity].

The protein patterns of the serum, cerebrospinal fluid and urine from 32 patients with definite multiple sclerosis and 30 control patients with neurological non-demyelinating disorders were simultaneously analyzed by means of high-resolution agarose gel electrophoresis combined with immunofixation. About one-third (31%) of the patients with multiple sclerosis were found to excrete monoclonal free light chains of immunoglobulins, i.e., Bence Jones proteins, in the urine without any concurrent immunoproliferative disease. Bence Jones proteinuria, at concentration generally not exceeding 0.2 g/24 hours, was demonstrated exclusively in multiple sclerosis patients in a phase of active disease (44% of the cases) or in chronic progressive disease (25% of the cases). The results of the study suggest that the presence of Bence Jones protein in the urine from multiple sclerosis patients may be utilized as an indicator of disease activity.

Adolescent↗

Synthesis of the dodecapeptide corresponding to domain III of bovine brain calmodulin: alpha-beta shift side reactions during the synthesis by the classical method in solution.

We report details of the chemical synthesis of the dodecapeptide corresponding to the calcium binding loop III of bovine brain calmodulin (sequence 93-104) and its fragments 96-04, 93-98, and 99-104. The preparation of the peptides employed classical solution methods and a fragment-condensation strategy. The major difficulties were encountered during the synthesis of the peptides containing the N-terminal sequences -Gly-Asn-Gly- and -Asp-Lys-Asp-Gly-Ans-Gly-, in which alpha-beta shift side reactions were observed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The clinical significance of pure Bence Jones proteinuria at low concentration.

The clinical significance of Bence Jones (BJ) proteinuria at low concentration (less than 0.2 g/24 hours) was investigated in 33 unselected patients who had no intact monoclonal immunoglobulin in their serum. The great majority (79%) of the patients were recognized as having malignant lymphoproliferative diseases, such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia (46%), hairy cell leukemia (6%), and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (27%), whereas only two patients (6%) had multiple myeloma or systemic amyloidosis. Five patients (15%) had no evidence of definite malignant immunoproliferative disorders at the time of recognition of BJ proteinuria. Three of them, who were excreting steadily low amounts of BJ protein in their urine for 47, 61, and 73 months, respectively, without development of any B-lymphocytic malignancy, were classified as having a monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance. In the remaining two patients, BJ protein disappeared spontaneously 14 and 18 months, respectively, after its recognition. The study indicates that pure BJ proteinuria, even when occurring at low concentration, is most consistently associated with malignant proliferations of B-lymphocytic origin. However, the possibility should be considered that the clinical spectrum of the monoclonal gammopathy of the light chain type also includes benign and transient forms.

Adult↗

The clinical spectrum of pure Bence Jones proteinuria. A study of 66 patients.

Sixty-six consecutive patients exhibiting isolated urinary excretion of monoclonal free light chains, i.e. Bence Jones protein (BJP), on screening investigation for serum and urine monoclonal immunoglobulins were studied in order to better define the spectrum of immunoproliferative disorders associated with such a protein abnormality. The typical plasma cell neoplasms accounted for only one third of the cases, multiple myeloma (MM) and systemic amyloidosis (AL) being diagnosed in 18% and 15% of the patients, respectively. Eighteen (27%) of the patients were recognized as having malignant nonHodgkin's lymphomas (NHL), 21 (32%) had chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and 2 (3%) had hairy cell leukemia (HCL). Three patients (5%) without apparent evidence of any malignant immunoproliferative disease were classified as having a monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). The greatest urinary concentrations of BJP were found in plasmacytic neoplasms, the daily excretion of MM patients being significantly higher than that of AL patients. Considerably lower BJP outputs were recorded in the other diseases, the lowest ones being associated with MGUS. NHL patients had a daily excretion four times higher as compared with that of CLL patients. The distribution of NHL by histologic type was: follicular center cell lymphomas (FCCL) 39%, small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) 33%, immunoblastic lymphoma (IBL) 17%, and plasmacytoid lymphocytic lymphoma (PLL) 11%. The highest BJP levels were found in PLL, and the lowest ones in FCCL. In CLL patients the amount of urinary BJP correlated significantly with the tumor load, as estimated by the number of enlarged lymphoid areas. The study suggests that detection and measurement of isolated urinary BJP may provide useful data for the clinical evaluation of a wide spectrum of immunoproliferative disorders.

Aged↗

Bence Jones proteinuria in multiple sclerosis.

We report our findings of Bence Jones proteins (monoclonal free light chains of immunoglobulins) in concentrated urines of patients with multiple sclerosis, by using agarose electrophoresis and immunofixation. The lack of such findings in urines from healthy subjects and patients with other neurological disorders should stimulate further investigation.

Adolescent↗

Monoclonal Bence Jones proteinuria in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

A series of 52 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) was investigated for the presence of serum and urine monoclonal immunoglobulins. The overall incidence of monoclonal gammopathy (MG) was 69%. Serum M components belonging to the IgG and IgM classes were found in 27% of cases with a concentration ranging from 1.7 to 40.3 g/l (mean 10 g/l). A monoclonal free light chain, i.e. Bence Jones protein (BJP), was documented in the urine of 65% of cases. In 42% of the 52 patients the urinary excretion of BJP represented the sole detectable monoclonal immunoglobulin abnormality. The occurrence of serum monoclonal immunoglobulins was not found to correlate with the stage or progression of the disease. Conversely, the isolated urinary excretion of BJP showed a relationship with the tumour load, as evaluated in terms of clinical enlargement of lymphoid areas. The presence of BJP alone was also a major distinctive feature of patients with more aggressive disease. These preliminary data would suggest that the isolated urinary excretion of BJP may represent a parameter of clinical significance in evaluating patients with CLL.

Adult↗

Serum and urine monoclonal immunoglobulins in malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

62 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) were investigated for the presence, type, and amount of serum and urine monoclonal immunoglobulin abnormalities. The overall incidence of monoclonal gammopathy (MG) was 81%. M components of the IgM and IgG classes were found in the serum of 52% of the patients. Their concentration was below 10 g/l in 54% of cases and above 20 g/l in 26% of cases. The highest incidence of serum M components (75%) was seen in plasmacytoid lymphocytic lymphoma (PLL) and the lowest (38%) in follicular center cell lymphoma. A monoclonal free light chain, i.e., Bence Jones protein (BJP), was documented in the urine of 61% of cases with a daily excretion comprised between 0.01 and 9.24 g. The isolated urinary excretion of BJP was a major finding accounting for 36% of all MG found in association with NHL. It occurred in all histopathological subtypes with a frequency ranging from 17% of PLL to 37% of small lymphocytic lymphoma.

Adult↗

Synthetic and binding studies on the calcium binding site I of bovine brain calmodulin. II. Synthesis and CD studies on the cyclic 20-31 sequence.

The synthesis of the cyclic 20-31 sequence of bovine brain calmodulin corresponding to the loop of the hypothetical calcium binding site I of the protein has been accomplished by classical solution methods. The interaction of the synthetic cyclic fragment with calcium ions has been investigated by CD spectroscopy in water and in 98% trifluoroethanol solution. Calcium ions have no effect on the dichroic absorption of aqueous solution of the cyclic dodecapeptide in the wavelength range 200-250 nm. In 98% trifluoroethanol the CD spectrum of the cyclic compound in the absence of calcium ions is almost identical to that of the linear dodecapeptide in the presence of saturation concentrations of calcium. This result supports our previous hypothesis of a folding of the linear sequence upon interaction with the metal ion. The cyclic peptide also interacts with calcium ions in 98% trifluoroethanol forming a 1:1 complex.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Chronicity in major depression. A naturalistic prospective study.

In a prospective naturalistic study many of the 120 patients treated for a current major depressive episode continued to meet the criteria for a major depressive episode as defined by DSM-III during the whole follow-up period (from 1 to 4 years). The problem of compatibility between the chronicity of a full depressive syndrome and the definition of the major depression as episodic with possible relapses or recurrences is discussed. A relationship between chronicity and lack of adequate treatment at onset was found.

Age Factors↗

'Senile' myeloma: a possible variant form of multiple myeloma.

Fifty-four patients were recognized as having multiple myeloma after the coincidental finding of a serum and/or urine M component on agarose gel electrophoresis during a survey for monoclonal gammopathies of a large random hospital population sample over 70 yr of age. Analysis of the presenting features and the clinical characteristics revealed that about two-thirds of the myeloma patients over 80 yr were asymptomatic at the time of the discovery of their monoclonal gammopathy. Follow-up studies and serial evaluations of changes in the myeloma cell mass without chemotherapy showed a subset of the older patients exhibiting a distinct pattern of slow tumor growth. The results of the study would suggest the possible existence of a variant form in the advanced age group of myeloma patients. This 'senile' type of myeloma would appear to be characterized primarily by non-specific presenting features, a fairly symptom-poor status, and a relatively protracted and benign course without chemotherapy.

Aged↗