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Biomedical subjects

A Romano

Publications and source records attributed to A Romano.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Total red cell Ca2+ content and rheological determinants in a group of subjects with vascular atherosclerotic disease.

We evaluated the total red cell Ca2+ content and the macro- and microrheological determinants in a group of subjects with vascular atherosclerotic disease (VAD). From the results obtained it is evident that, compared to controls, the VAD group presents an alteration of the macro- and microrheological parameters. No difference is evident for the red cell Ca2+ content in normals and in VAD subjects. No relationship is present between total red cell Ca2+ content, VBC (volume blood cells), MEA (mean erythrocyte aggregation) and red cell membrane fluidity expressed as Iex/Im ratio. In contrast to the latter, are the correlation between the red cell Ca2+ content and the degree of polarization obtained with fatty acid probes.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Differential hypomethylation of the c-myc protooncogene in bladder cancers at different stages and grades.

The 5-methylcytosine content of c-myc proto-oncogene DNA obtained from samples of normal bladders and of bladders with transitional cell carcinoma of different stage and grade was analyzed. Five CCGG sites (from the third coding region to the 3' flanking region of the gene) which showed different methylation in normal and neoplastic samples were identified. The overall c-myc methylation levels were significantly reduced in carcinomas. Furthermore, a significant correlation between disease invasiveness and methylation level was found. Nevertheless, in each group of patients with the same histological grade, heterogeneity has been observed. This might be suggestive of different prognosis of the disease.

5-Methylcytosine↗
PubMed1989

Opioid action on response level to a danger stimulus in the crab (Chasmagnathus granulatus).

When a passing shadow is presented to the crab (Chasmagnathus granulatus), an escape response is elicited that habituates after repeated stimulation. Results of previous papers suggest that this habituation might be mediated by endogenous opiates, entailing the postulate that opiates may inhibit the response to a danger stimulus. This contention is tested herein. Two trials (T1, T2) of shadow stimulation were given 30 min apart, and the response activity was recorded. In Experiment 1 a range of morphine doses (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 micrograms/g) were injected into crabs immediately after T1. Analysis of the M response values showed a morphine dose-dependent reduction in the crab's reactivity to the danger stimulus in T2. In Experiment 2, groups of crabs were injected with 1 of 4 solutions; saline, 70 micrograms/g morphine, 70 micrograms/g morphine plus 1.6 micrograms/g naloxone. Results suggest that morphine acts through an opiate receptor to inhibit the crab's response level to a danger stimulus. Three possible mechanisms of the morphine effect are discussed, and the most viable one suggests a central site of action.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Pancuronium allergy: a case report.

A case of anaphylactic shock to pancuronium bromide is described in which a type I immunological reaction occurred. A 33-yr-old male anaesthetist, with no family or personal history of allergy, collapsed soon after induction of anaesthesia. The drugs used included fentanyl, droperidol, thiopentone and pancuronium. Diffuse erythema occurred, with probable cardiac arrest. The patient was treated with cardiac massage, sympathomimetics and cortisone, and made a complete recovery. Examination (skin tests, passive transfer according to Prausnitz and Küstner, in vitro lymphocyte transformation test, total IgE assay) revealed that the allergic reaction was to pancuronium bromide.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Serum IgE and atopy in drug-sensitive patients.

One of the most interesting aspects of the pathogenesis of the allergic and pseudo-allergic reactions to drugs is the one concerning the possible roles of genetic factors, in general, and the relationship with atopy, in particular. We decided to study the correlation between the serum level of total IgE, the personal and familial history of atopy, and the allergologic tests (skin test, PRIST, RAST, etc) for one or more drugs taken by 465 patients with personal history of allergic reactions. From the data, we observed that the average amount of total IgE lies within the norm, 125.4 KU/L (+/- 209.2), without any significant difference between the allergic (132 KU/L) and the pseudo-allergic (121.8 KU/L) patients. The IgE levels tend to be higher in that part of the tested population which presented a circumstantial atopic status (11.8%) and they are not influenced by an allergic or pseudo-allergic reaction to drugs. According to these results, the relationship between drug hypersensitivity and atopy needs further investigation.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1988

Effect of morphine and naloxone on a defensive response of the crab Chasmagnathus granulatus.

Male crabs (Chasmagnathus granulatus) exhibited a defensive response (DR) to an electric shock (8 V, 50 Hz, 1 sec). The DR so elicited was used as a model for studying the antinociceptive effect of morphine. Injections of morphine-HCl (MP) (25, 50, 100 and 150 micrograms/g) were administered and the DR was examined at 2, 7.5, 15, 30, 45 and 75 min post-injection. (a) MP produced a dose-dependent reduction of the crab's sensitivity to the nociceptive stimulus. (b) A 100 micrograms/g dose of MP caused a 50% response inhibition with an injection-shock interval of 30 minutes, but no inhibition occurred when the same dose was administered with 1.6 micrograms/g of naloxone-HCl, suggesting that MP acts through an opiate receptor. (c) The ED50 at 2 min post-injection was roughly 33 micrograms/g and the threshold dose was estimated to be 6.8 micrograms/g. These doses are lower than ED50 values reported for other arthropods (90 to 930 micrograms/g) and approach those of vertebrates. (d) The peak MP effect was reached quickly, within 2 min post-injection. The duration of the MP effect was calculated to be 45.0-75.0 min depending on the dose, and an indirect estimate of half-life elimination was 15.7 min. These values are remarkably lower than those reported for vertebrates. The shorter duration of the MP peak effect is attributable to a greater permeability of the arthropod blood-brain barrier as compared to that of vertebrates.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Herpetic imprint on privileged areas of its target organs: local latency and reactivation in herpetic keratitis.

Herpetic ocular disease is still one of the major causes of corneal blindness. Due to its unique morphological structure, the eye is one of the most studied organs--in both clinical and experimental models of herpetic infections. Herpes simplex virus (HSV) can react with human host cells to produce cytocidal infection, persistent infection, or latent infection. Whilst the establishment of viral latency in the sensory ganglia was demonstrated and extensively studied, recent evidences based on: (a) demonstration of viral particles by electron microscopy and of HSV positive antigen cells in human corneae with inactive stromal keratitis; (b) experimental animal and in vitro studies with the use of organ cultures, co-cultivation methods and molecular biology techniques; suggest the possibility of local latency in non-neural tissues as an additional source of dormant viruses that could reactivate and lead to local reinfection of the affected target organ. Reactivation of a herpetic infection may therefore require both the existence of a dormant herpetic reservoir in the ganglia, and a predilected target organ with possible independent mechanisms of local latency and reactivation. Possible mechanisms of triggers for reactivation of herpetic ocular disease are discussed.

Conjunctivitis, Viral↗
PubMed1988

Development of blood flow velocimeter for ocular vessels.

Clinical evidence suggests that blood flow in the retinal vessels varies in progressing diabetic retinopathy, coronary arteriole disease, hypertension and some other clinical situations. The changes of the flow in the blood vessels may serve as a monitor of the disease and as a follow up device for treatment success. Despite their importance direct blood flow velocity measurements are not easily obtainable. Recent advances in the development of a laser Doppler anemometry for the determination of in-vivo retinal blood velocity enables to obtain, with a noninvasive technique, information relevant to the flow of blood in the human retina. The described anemometry system is designed to be integrated, self-aligned and to operate with backscattered light. The influence of the important design parameters as well as focusing of the control volume on the retinal arteries is analyzed. Due to multiscattering of light from the blood cells present simultaneously in the control volume, the electronic signal obtained is very difficult to process and sophisticated signal processing routines are still being developed. At present measurements are used to obtain results with blood flowing in glass tubes of an inside diameter of 50 to 2000 microns. Preliminary experimental and theoretical simulations are currently being performed to validate the principle of the proposed data processing technique. Initial measurements have already produced relative high quality (and thus processable) signals, indicating good prospects for a practical ophthalmic system operation.

Blood Circulation↗
PubMed1988

Herpes (Shalbeket) in judaic sources: a synopsis of a book in preparation.

It is generally accepted that the earliest reference to Herpes is that of the Greek historian Herodotus and was used as a description of various "creeping skin diseases"--approx. 2000 years ago. Herpes, known in Hebrew as Shalbeket (boil, vesicle) is mentioned in the Book of Exodus as early as about 3500 years ago. This is a significant revelation in medical history that the earliest reference to Herpes (shalbeket) was mentioned 3500 years ago as Shalbukin (vesicles) in conjunction with Shekhin. These names, "boils," "creeping" are two descriptions of the external signs of Herpes; indicative of the ability of the ancients to identify diseases by their external appearances and to deal with their medical and sociological aspects.

Herpes Simplex↗
PubMed1988

Ten years of experience with human fibroblast interferon in treatment of viral ophthalmic infections.

This review of ten years of experience presents the results of clinical use of human beta-interferon (Frone) in viral ocular disease. Two forms of human beta-interferon have been used: (a) Frone cream 20,000 IU/g (Inter-Yeda Ltd.) for local treatment and prevention of HSV-1 periocular skin lesions and for Herpes zoster ophthalmicus. (b) Frone eye drops (500,000-1,000,000 U) for prophylaxis and treatment of adenovirus infections and for prevention of recurrent HSV-1 keratitis. Our results show that Frone cream or drops, applied at an early stage, is: (a) Effective in significantly shortening the course of the disease; (b) Has a drying effect on herpetic skin lesions, and tear secretion in adeno viral disease; (c) Reduces the frequency from 1.2 to 0.04 attacks per year for patients with known biological rhythm of the disease; (d) Prevents subepithelial keratitis in 45% of the study population; (e) Prophylactic treatment of interferon in families reduces the incidence of contamination from 65% to 20%.

Administration, Cutaneous↗