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Biomedical subjects

A Pinto

Publications and source records attributed to A Pinto.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Motor neuron disease presenting with respiratory failure.

Respiratory failure accounts for the majority of deaths in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) but only rarely is ALS diagnosed on the basis of respiratory insufficiency. We report four ALS patients presenting with acute respiratory failure. In three patients we have performed EMG needle examination of both hemidiaphragms which showed severe denervation. We reviewed 25 patients previously described presenting with respiratory failure. Almost all patients showed upper limbs weakness and diaphragm involvement; few patients had bulbar dysfunction. The prognosis of these patients is not always in permanent ventilator dependence. Rapidly progressive ventilatory failure may be a striking initial sign of ALS; the main reason is a weakened diaphragm. There are possibilities of significant improvement after a period of rest with ventilatory assistance. In the initial phase of the disease, bulbar dysfunction is not the more common reason of acute respiratory failure.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Motor neuropathies mimicking amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/motor neuron disease.

We report three patients in whom the initial diagnosis was of possible A myotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS/MND) according to the 'El Escorial Criteria'. All of them presented with monomelic paresis, atrophy of the paretic muscles and generalised brisk reflexes. The initial electromyograms showed a neurogenic pattern in the limbs with normal sensory and motor conduction velocities. Laboratory evaluation and imagiological investigations were normal in all of them. The previous diagnosis was changed in to demyelinating motor neuropathy with conduction block in 2 patients and tomaculous neuropathy in one after clinical and electromyographic follow-up and nerve biopsy. Patients 1 and 2 were given intravenous immunoglobulin treatment and showed moderate improvement.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis↗
PubMed1996

Indomethacin and thromboxane A2/prostaglandin H2 antagonist SQ29,548 impair in vitro contractions of aortic rings of ex vivo-treated lipopolysaccharide rats.

Lipopolysaccharide treated rats (25 mg/kg i.v.) were killed after 60 min and rat aortic rings were mounted in an isolated organ bath for measurement of isometric contractions in response to phenylephrine (0.01-10 microM) or potassium chloride (10 mM). Aortic rings from lipopolysaccharide-treated rats showed reduced contractility to phenylephrine and potassium chloride when compared to those from saline-treated rats. Indomethacin 10 microM, added in vitro further impaired phenylephrine-induced contraction of aortic rings from lipopolysaccharide ex vivo treated rats but was ineffective on aortic rings from saline treated rats. A similar pattern was observed when potassium chloride was used. Administration in vitro of thromboxane A2 receptor antagonist SQ29,548 gave a similar effect to indomethacin. Aortic rings collected from rat treated in vivo with dexamethasone (10 mg/kg) showed a reduction in phenylephrine induced contractions that was not further reduced by in vitro treatment with indomethacin (10 microM). Similarly, when rat aortic rings were incubated in vitro (60 min) with lipopolysaccharide (0.4 mg/ml) a reduction of phenylephrine- and potassium chloride-induced contraction was observed, but addition of either indomethacin or SQ29,548 did not further reduce contraction. Our results suggest that under these experimental conditions, in the early phase of endotoxin shock, synthesis of cyclooxygenase products (such as endoperoxides or thromboxane A2) occurs probably as a compensatory mechanism to lipopolysaccharide induced hypocontractility from the interaction, in vivo, between lipopolysaccharide, endothelium, circulating cells and vascular smooth muscles.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗
PubMed1996

Hyperdiploid karyotype in a choroid plexus papilloma.

A choroid plexus papilloma from a 23-month-old child was found to have a hyperdiploid karyotype. This karyotype is compared with that of other choroid plexus papillomas. Our results are also compared with flow cytometry results and the karyotypes of choroid plexus carcinomas.

Choroid Plexus Neoplasms↗
PubMed1996

Central obesity and hypertension: the role of plasma endothelin.

Hypertension and central obesity are two conditions closely linked, but the mechanisms responsible for obesity-associated hypertension are still unclear. In the last few years, several studies addressed the role of endothelin-1 (ET-1) in the development and maintenance of hypertension. This study was designed to evaluate plasma ET-1 in normotensive and hypertensive central obese subjects compared with a lean healthy group. Our final goal was to analyze the relationship between plasma ET-1, blood pressure, and left ventricular structure and function in central obese subjects (both normotensives and hypertensives). ET-levels have been assessed by the radioimmunoassay method in 20 lean normotensives and in 57 central obese subjects; 30 of them were hypertensives and 27 of them were normotensives. Twenty-four-hour mean blood pressure (MBP/24 h) by noninvasive ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, left ventricular mass/ height (LVM/H), and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) by echocardiography and peak filling rate (PFR) by radionuclide study were also measured. ET levels were significantly (P < .05) higher in obese hypertensives and obese normotensives than in lean normotensives. In addition, ET levels were significantly (P < .05) higher in obese hypertensives than in obese normotensives. ET were directly related to LVM/ H (r = 0.86; P < .001) and MBP/24 h (r = 0.48; P < .009) but only in obese hypertensives. Multiple regression analysis indicated that ET-1 plasma levels remain an independent predictor of MBP/ 24 h and LVM/H also when age was included in the analysis. These data suggest that obesity-associated hypertension is characterized by an endothelial dysfunction that may contribute to the higher cardiovascular risk detectable in these patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Echo-Doppler left ventricular filling abnormalities in patients with rheumatoid arthritis without clinically evident cardiovascular disease.

Our investigation aimed at verifying diastolic abnormalities in rheumatoid patients, without clinically evident cardiovascular disease and other confounding complaints, by using pulsed Doppler examination of transmitral blood flow. We selected 40 patients fulfilling revised American Rheumatism Association (ARA) criteria for the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis having no symptoms of cardiac disease or clinical findings of other extracardiac diseases. We also studied 40 rheumatoid-matched healthy volunteers as a control group. An echocardiographic examination was carried out on each subject. Left ventricular structural and functional measurements were obtained. Interventricular, septal thickness and left ventricular mass index were significantly higher in rheumatoid patients than in the control group. We also found in rheumatoid patients higher mean values of peak A velocity and A/E ratio. When multiple linear regression analysis was performed on the data of rheumatoid patients we found an independent relationship only between A/E ratio and left ventricular mass. In conclusion, our results confirm diastolic abnormalities in rheumatoid patients and point out that these abnormalities also affect echo-Doppler parameters of left ventricular filling. Moreover, further analysis of our data may suggest the possibility that structural left ventricle changes could be responsible for left ventricular filling impairment.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMed1996

Negative affect and cognitive biases in suicidal and nonsuicidal hospitalized adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the main and interactive effects of suicidal behavior and gender on negative affect and cognitive biases in hospitalized adolescents (N = 228) aged 13 to 18 years, identified as suicide ideators (n = 68), attempters (n = 90), and nonsuicidal (n = 70). METHOD: Standardized measures of negative affect (depression, anxiety, anger) and cognitive biases (hopelessness, self-concept) were administered upon admission. RESULTS: Suicide ideators reported significantly greater hopelessness and poorer self-concept than did nonsuicidal controls; suicide attempters did not differ from either group. Regression analysis indicated that negative affect and cognitive bias variables accounted for 48% of the variability in suicidal ideation; however, only anxiety and depression were uniquely related to suicidal ideation. Females reported greater depression severity and anxiety than did males; no interaction effects were evident. CONCLUSIONS: Suicide ideators and attempters may have different psychological profiles, with the former reporting greater cognitive biases than nonsuicidal adolescents. The findings regarding suicidal ideation support a mediational model in which negative views of the self and the future contribute to negative affect, and ultimately, suicidal ideation. An integrated assessment of suicidal ideation and affective and cognitive variables is recommended for early risk detection and treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Borderline personality disorder in adolescents: affective and cognitive features.

OBJECTIVE: To examine systematically the affective and cognitive features of borderline personality disorder (BPD) in adolescence, using standardized measures of these constructs and controlling for depression. METHOD: Nineteen depressed female adolescents with BPD were compared with 21 non-BPD depressed inpatients on measures of affect and cognitive style. RESULTS: Both BPD and non-BPD adolescents endorsed significantly elevated levels of self-reported depression, anger, anxiety, hopelessness, self-deprecatory attributional style, and external locus of control. Adolescents with BPD endorsed significantly poorer self-concept than their non-BPD peers; this difference was not an artifact of depressive severity. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that adolescents with BPD experience significant impairments in self-concept, suggestive of pervasive emptiness and identity disturbance associated with BPD.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Increase in the basal tone of guinea pig thoracic aorta induced by ouabain is inhibited by spironolactone canrenone and potassium canrenoate.

Guinea pig aorta rings repeatedly stimulated with phenylephrine (1 microM) in the presence of Krebs solution containing ouabain (0.8 microM) or low K+ (0.5 mM) concentration produced an increase in basal tone. This effect is due to an increase in intracellular Ca2+ as a consequence of Na(+)-K+ATPase pump inhibition induced by receptorial (ouabain) or ion imbalance (low K+) mechanism. We investigated the effect of spironolactone and its metabolites canrenone and potassium canrenoate on the increase in basal tone of guinea pig aorta rings. Spironolactone, canrenone, and potassium canrenoate, in a concentration-dependent manner (3-30 microM), inhibited the increase in basal tone induced by ouabain, most likely acting as antagonist for ouabain binding site on Na(+)-K+ATPase pump. Indeed, this effect appears to be a feature of these drugs since structurally related drugs, such as aldosterone and hydrocortisone, were ineffective. Conversely, all the drugs tested reduced, to a certain degree, the increase in basal tone produced by low K+ Krebs solution, implying that this could be a non-specific effect. Our results may indicate that spironolactone, canrenone, and potassium canrenoate act in hypertension by interfering with mechanisms in which an ouabain-like factor is involved.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Effects of adrenomedullin and calcitonin gene-related peptide on airway and pulmonary vascular smooth muscle in guinea-pigs.

1. The airway and pulmonary vascular effects of adrenomedullin were studied in the guinea-pig isolated trachea, main bronchi and pulmonary artery in vitro and compared to the effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). 2. In tracheal rings, CGRP (1 nM to 1 microM) potentiated the cholinergic contractions induced by electrical field stimulation (EFS) at 5 Hz in a concentration-dependent manner. At a concentration of 1 microM, CGRP slightly decreased the responses to log EFS frequency, producing 50% of the maximum contraction from a control value of 0.77 +/- 0.10 Hz to 0.54 +/- 0.05 Hz without a significant effect on the concentration-response curves to acetylcholine (ACh). In contrast, adrenomedullin (1 nM to 1 microM) did not alter either EFS-induced cholinergic or ACh-induced contractions. 3. In bronchial strips, CGRP (1 nM to 1 microM) slightly reduced both the non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) contraction induced by EFS at 10 Hz and the substance P (1 microM)-induced contraction in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas adrenomedullin (1 nM to 1 microM) was without effect. 4. Neither CGRP (1 microM) nor adrenomedullin (1 microM) altered NANC relaxation induced by EFS at 5 Hz in tracheal rings precontracted with histamine (10 microM). 5. Adrenomedullin (1 nM to 1 microM) and CGRP (1 nM to 1 microM) induced a concentration-dependent relaxation of the histamine (10 microM)- and prostaglandin F2 alpha (10 microM)-precontracted pulmonary arterial rings with intact endothelium with a similar potency. 6. Neither removal of the endothelium nor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (100 microM) altered the vasorelaxant effects of adrenomedullin (1 nM to 1 microM) and CGRP (1 nM to 1 microM). 7. The putative CGRP receptor antagonist, CGRP8-37 (1 microM to 10 microM) concentration-dependently attenuated the CGRP (3 nM to 30 nM)-induced vasorelaxant actions, whereas it had no effect on the relaxation of vessel rings induced by adrenomedullin (3 nM to 30 nM). 8. These results suggest that adrenomedullin is a potent vasodilator of the pulmonary artery without any bronchomotor effect in the guinea-pig lung, and that the vasorelaxant actions of adrenomedullin are not mediated via the activation of CGRP1 receptors.

Adrenomedullin↗
PubMed1996

Tolerability and clinical efficacy of desmin in the treatment of superficial thrombovaricophlebitis.

Fifty-six patients with superficial thrombovaricophlebitis of the lower limbs were enrolled in an open and multicenter (4 centers) trial for a period of thirty days. Patients were randomly allocated to three treatment groups to receive a new low-molecular-weight dermatan sulfate (Desmin) at the dose, respectively, of 100 mg once daily by subcutaneous (SC) route, 100 mg twice a day SC, and 200 mg once daily by intramuscular (IM) route. The general and local tolerability and the clinical efficacy of the drug were evaluated by means of clinical, instrumental, and laboratory parameters. Desmin proved capable of effectively improving the symptoms of patients affected by thrombovaricophlebitis, inducing rapid regression by the tenth day of treatment. The daily dose of 200 mg (either SC or IM) was more effective than the 100 mg dose. The systemic tolerability of the drug, administered for the first time for one month, was extremely good, without significant variations in the relevant laboratory tests. Local tolerance (at the site of injection) of the drug was also good.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Case report: identification of the transverse mesocolon and root of small bowel mesentery; a new sign of pneumoperitoneum.

A new sign of pneumoperitoneum was observed in a patient with perforation of the ascending colon. The presence of free air in the peritoneal cavity allowed identification of the transverse mesocolon and the root of the small bowel mesentery on plain abdominal radiographs obtained in the supine and in the prone position. This sign may be an aid in the diagnosis of pneumoperitoneum.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

[The echographic anatomy of the larynx and the perilaryngeal structures].

The normal laryngeal and perilaryngeal structures (neither nodal nor vascular) of 120 healthy and informed volunteers and of 46 patients with extralaryngeal neck conditions were studied with ultrasonography (US). The study was performed with a high-frequency linear probe on the transverse and sagittal planes; the patients were examined supine, with neck hyperextension, during quiet breathing, in inspiratory and expiratory breath-holding, during Valsalva maneuver or phonation. Axial scans clearly depict, in cranio-caudal direction, the base of the tongue, the hyoid and adjacent muscular structures. At the laryngeal vestibule epiglottis is always clearly demonstrated as a thin hypoechoic curvilinear rim and the pre-epiglottic space as a fat-filled and markedly echogenic structure. Pyriform sinuses are more difficult to study with US and should therefore be always distended by air during Valsalva because no suitable US contrast agent is available for their exploration yet. The ossification of thyroid laminae prevents or hinders the exploration of endolaryngeal structures because of consequent posterior acoustic shadow. In case of partial ossification or cartilaginous thyroid laminae, paraglottic spaces are easily demonstrated with US, as well as the false cords and, partially, arytenoids and posterior laryngeal wall muscles. The muscular structure of the true cords, their mobility in the M-mode and, in half of the cases, the thin vocal plicae joining anteriorly in the anterior commissure, are easily depicted with US. To conclude, US permits to demonstrate normal laryngeal anatomy by a quick and harmless examination in several breathing and phonation phases, which is an essential premise to the correct interpretation of abnormal US findings.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

[Dacryocystography in digital subtraction technique].

The authors emphasize the usefulness of dacryography to approach patients affected by epiphora. Digital dacryocystography had improved the anatomic and functional assessment of lacrimal apparatus. The methodology allowed in all patients an accurate visualization of the lacrimal system and the identification, in twenty cases, of pathological causes of epiphora. One patient was examined after dacryocystorinostomy. Digital dacryocystography is a very valuable technique for better contrast resolution, the subtraction of images, and continuous acquisition.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

CD30 ligand expression in nonmalignant and Hodgkin's disease-involved lymphoid tissues.

The CD30 ligand (CD30L) is a type II transmembrane glycoprotein of the tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily. Recent cloning of CD30L has enabled studies to explore its function and tissue distribution. For instance, recombinant CD30L has been shown to co-stimulate T cells and to act as mitogen for Hodgkin's disease (HD)-derived cell lines. The counter-receptor for CD30L, ie, CD30, is a type I cytokine receptor that is highly expressed by activated T cells, Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (H-RS) cells, and anaplastic large cell lymphoma cells. In the present study, recombinant membrane-bound and soluble human CD30L were instrumental to raise a monoclonal antibody (M80) recognizing membrane-bound CD30L on transfected and native cells. With this reagent, a panel of cultured lymphoma-derived cell lines as well as primary normal, reactive, and HD-involved lymphoid tissues were examined for expression of CD30L by immunostaining and flow cytometry. In reactive lymphnodes and tonsils, CD30L was expressed by a small subset of lymphoid cells, histiocytes, and granulocytes. Higher levels of CD30L expression were noted in HD lesions among bystander cells; ie, T cells and granulocytes that surrounded H-RS cells. Native CD30L displayed at the cell surface was functionally active as shown by the ability of fixed granulocytes to interact with CD30+ cell lines. Moreover, CD30L was detectable, although to a lower staining intensity, in primary H-RS cells of all HD tissues investigated regardless of the histological subtype and the phenotype of H-RS cells (ie, CD30+/CD40+ versus CD30-/CD40+). Co-expression of CD30 and CD30L that was seen on H-RS cells of all, except the CD30- nodular lymphocyte predominant, subtypes of HD may point to the use of this pair of molecules in paracrine and/or autocrine mitogenic cell interactions. Monoclonal antibody M80 may thus represent a useful tool for studying CD30L expression on cultured cell lines and primary cells from normal, reactive, and malignant tissues.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1996

Human osteoclasts and preosteoclast cells (FLG 29.1) express functional c-kit receptors and interact with osteoblast and stromal cells via membrane-bound stem cell factor.

Bone remodeling requires cooperation between osteoclasts and other specialized or accessory bone cell populations by mechanisms that have not been completely elucidated. Here we describe the expression and functional role of the proto-oncogene c-kit and of its specific ligand stem cell factor (SCF) on human osteoclasts, osteoblasts, and stromal cells derived from different sources. Our results indicate that primary osteoclasts in imprints of metaphyseal bone and giant cell tumors (GCTs) of bone, as well as a bone marrow-derived preosteoclast cell line of human origin (FLG 29.1), expressed immunodetectable c-kit protein. In contrast, tissue osteoclasts did not react with anti-SCF antibodies, and barely detectable levels of SCF mRNA and protein were found in FLG 29.1 cells. Conversely, a strong expression of membrane bound-SCF was found in primary cultured bone marrow stromal cells, in a stromal cell line (C433) derived from the mononuclear component of GCT of bone, and in a human cell line with osteoblast features (Saos-2). FLG 29.1 preosteoclast cells displayed about 29,000 binding sites/cell of a single class of high affinity c-kit receptors (Kd 6.12 x 10(-10) mol/L) with a molecular weight of about 140 kDa, along with a structurally normal c-kit mRNA. Proliferation of FLG 29.1 preosteoclast cells was stimulated by exogenous SCF, indicating that c-kit was capable of transducing growth signals. Finally, in vitro adhesion of FLG 29.1 cells to primary bone marrow stromal cells, GCT-derived stromal cells (C433), and Saos-2 osteoblast cells was significantly inhibited by an excess of soluble SCF or by monoclonal antibodies recognizing SCF binding sites on the c-kit receptor. These results indicate that c-kit is constitutively expressed on human osteoclasts and that it may be directly implicated in cell contact-dependent interaction of osteoclasts with other specialized or accessory cell populations of the bone microenvironment. Our observations suggest a role for SCF in human diseases characterized by abnormal bone resorption and remodeling.

Bone Marrow↗
PubMed1996

Plasma levels of the molecular markers of coagulation and fibrinolysis in patients with peripheral arterial disease.

In 103 patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) of the lower limbs, coagulation and fibrinolytic parameters were evaluated to identify hemostatic abnormalities characteristic of this patient population. PAD was defined as clinically stable Leriche stage 2 (based on clinical history, peripheral pulses, ankle-arm index, and treadmill test) for at least 3 months, walking distance > 100 m, and no other major illnesses, rest pain, or trophic lesions. Defibrotide, a polydeoxyribonucleotide derivative with vascular effects, was administered to the patients as part of a multicenter trial. The PAD patients exhibited a prothrombotic state as evidenced by high D-dimer in all but 24% of the patients (average 797 +/- 802 vs. 163 +/- 54 ng/mL normal population; p < 0.001) and high thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT) levels (10.2 +/- 8.9 vs. 2.5 + 1.5 ng/mL; p < 0.001) with low to normal levels of protein C (86 +/- 25 vs. 102 +/- 18%; p < 0.01) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) antigen (5.9 +/- 4.5 vs. 1.3 + 0.7 ng/mL; p < 0.001) were elevated in 79% of the patients. These results suggest that there is ongoing thrombosis in the majority of PAD patients. Differences from normal controls were observed for t-PA, PAI-1, protein C, and protein S; however, it is not certain that the thrombosis in patients with PAD is due to these factors.

Adult↗