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Biomedical subjects

A Volpe

Publications and source records attributed to A Volpe.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Hyperosmotic glucose infusion during hemorrhage does not reduce bacterial translocation in 24 hour-starved rats.

Food deprivation 24 h before stress increases bacterial translocation in hemorrhage. Presently it tested whether hyperosmolality, induced by exogenous glucose infusion to improve plasma refill, prevents or reduces bacterial translocation after experimental hemorrhage in 24 h food-deprived rats. Rats were given an i.v. infusion of either 2 mL of 30% glucose (G) or the same volume of .9% NaCl (C) while simultaneously being submitted to a standardized 60 min hemorrhage period, of moderate or more severe hemorrhage. Blood was not reinfused. Despite development of marked hyperglycemia (p < .001, G vs. C) resulting in significantly greater reductions in packed cell volume (p < .001, G vs. C), bacterial translocation was detected similarly in both groups regardless of whether moderate (10/12-G, 9/12-C) or severe (15/19-G, 15/18-C) hemorrhage was inflicted. It was concluded that hyperglycemic hyperosmolality did not prevent bacterial translocation in these models of hemorrhagic stress in 24 h-starved rats.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Effect on plaque removal and gingivitis of a triclosan-copolymer pre-brush rinse: a six-month clinical study in Canada.

The effect on plaque removal and gingivitis of using a pre-brush rinse containing 0.03 per cent triclosan (Irgacare MP, Ciba-Geigy Corp.) and 0.125 per cent of a copolymer of polyvinylmethyl ether and maleic acid over a six-month period, versus using a matching placebo pre-brush rinse, was assessed in this clinical study. Subjects were instructed to rinse their mouths for one minute, twice daily (morning and evening), with 15 mL of their assigned pre-brush rinse. Immediately after rinsing, subjects brushed their teeth for 30 seconds using the dentifrice and toothbrush supplied to them at the outset. Subjects were instructed to refrain from any other oral hygiene procedures throughout the duration of the study. Plaque and gingivitis examinations were conducted after three months and again after six months. At the conclusion of the study (six months), the triclosan/copolymer pre-brush rinse demonstrated an advantage of 24.8 per cent for plaque removal and a 22.1 per cent reduction in gingivitis, when compared to the matching placebo pre-brush rinse. These advantages in plaque removal and gingivitis reduction were statistically significant. The six-month effect of the triclosan/copolymer pre-brush rinse was even greater on "the more difficult to brush" surfaces of the teeth, as determined by the use of the Plaque Severity Index and the Gingivitis Severity Index.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Efficacy on hyperandrogenism and safety of a new oral contraceptive biphasic formulation containing desogestrel.

A new biphasic oral contraceptive (OC) containing ethinylestradiol and desogestrel (DGS) in both phases of the cycle (7 days 40/25 micrograms + 15 days 30/125 micrograms) was tested for its reliability, tolerability, safety and effectiveness on endocrine correlates of hyperandrogenism and acne in normal women (n = 30) and women suffering from acne (n = 33). Contraceptive efficacy was absolute and, despite 3 drop-outs in the group with acne (4.7% of total patients), subjective complaints were limited to a small number of women. Cycle control was satisfactory in both groups. Fibrinopeptide A remained stable under the treatment, whereas HDL-chol increased and the ratio between LDL-chol and HDL-chol decreased during pill intake. Other advantageous effects were obtained on the circulating androgen profile with increased sex hormone binding globulin concentrations coupled with significantly reduced total and free testosterone levels. In 23 out of 30 patients with acne (76.6%) the skin disease disappeared after 9 months of therapy and in 3 severely affected subjects the pathology changed into a pattern of mild or moderate degree. Our results indicate that the tested new biphasic OC combination is reliable, well tolerated, safe and effective against hyperandrogenism.

Acne Vulgaris↗
PubMed1994

Management of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

More than 25% of postmenopausal women are at risk of osteoporosis. In order to avoid its consequences, it is necessary to find an appropriate prevention and/or treatment. We studied: (1) 15 postmenopausal women treated with percutaneous estradiol (50 micrograms/24 h) plus MPA (10 mg/10 days/month); (2) 15 postmenopausal women treated with synthetic calcitonin nasal spray at the daily dose of 100 IU; (3) 10 postmenopausal women treated with nandrolone decanoate (50 mg every 3 weeks); (4) 10 postmenopausal women treated with ipriflavone (600 mg/day); and (5) 10 postmenopausal women treated with sodium fluoride (20 mg) plus calcium (600 mg). Clinical examination, bone mass measurement (total BMD), hematochemical and urinary parameters of bone metabolism (calcium, urinary hydroxyproline, PTH) and growth factors (as IGF-I and TNF-beta) were evaluated. After 6 months of therapy, a complete prevention of bone resorption was achieved. In agreement with current literature, we observed that the various therapeutic approaches have all some positive effect on BMD, with different results on pain, blood biochemical parameters and growth factors' concentrations.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Preovulatory human follicular fluid in vitro inhibits interleukin (IL)-1 alpha, IL-2, and production and expression of p55 chain IL-2 receptor of lymphomonocytes.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the immunoactivity of human follicular fluids (FFs) of ovaries stimulated with exogenous gonadotropins. PARTICIPANTS: Follicular fluids and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained at the time of ovum pick-up from 15 women (25 to 34 years of age) undergoing gonadotropin stimulation for GIFT. METHODS: The evaluation of the blastic response of PBMC to phytohemagglutinin (PHA), PHA plus recombinant interleukin (IL)-2, and recombinant IL-2 alone was performed by measuring 3H-thymidine (3H-TdR) incorporation by the cells cultured in media with or without FF. The percentage of CD25 expression on PHA-stimulated T lymphocytes was evaluated by flow cytofluorometry. The levels of IL-1 alpha and IL-2 in supernatants from PHA-stimulated PBMC were evaluated by an ELISA. RESULTS: The PBMC blastic response to PHA, to recombinant IL-2 alone, and to PHA plus recombinant IL-2 was suppressed by the addition of FF. However, the percentage of inhibition of 3H-TdR incorporation induced by FF in cultures performed in the presence of PHA alone was significantly higher than that obtained in cultures performed in the presence of PHA plus recombinant IL-2. The percentage of expression of the CD25 on PHA-stimulated lymphocytes was also significantly lower in presence of FF in comparison with the controls. Similarly, the production of IL-1 alpha and IL-2 in culture media of PHA-stimulated PBMC was significantly lower when FF was added in culture medium. CONCLUSIONS: The present data confirm that preovulatory FFs obtained by gonadotropin-stimulated ovaries contain unknown factors that induce immunosuppression. Furthermore, our study explains that the immunosuppressive activity of FF is mediated by the specific inhibition of the production of IL-1 alpha and IL-2 and by the decreased expression of the CD25.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Relationship between human oocyte maturity, fertilization and follicular fluid growth factors.

Follicular fluid concentrations of growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), epidermal growth factor (EGF) and oestradiol were related to diversities in oocyte maturation and fertilization among oocytes obtained for in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Follicular fluid GH, IGF-I and oestradiol concentrations were significantly correlated with increasing follicular size. Follicles with immature oocytes had concentrations of oestradiol that were significantly lower when compared to follicles with intermediate and mature oocytes. Follicular fluid EGF concentration was similar for all oocyte maturational stages. In follicular fluids with mature oocytes we found IGF-I and GH concentrations were significantly higher compared to those of follicular fluid with atretic oocytes. Follicular fluids with immature and intermediate oocytes had similar concentrations of GH and IGF-I to follicular fluid containing mature oocytes and higher concentrations than follicular fluid with atretic oocytes. No statistically significant difference was found between fertilized and unfertilized oocytes. We conclude that maturation of oocytes is associated with higher concentrations of GH, IGF-I and oestradiol, but follicular fluid IGF-I and GH concentrations cannot serve as a predictor for IVF.

Epidermal Growth Factor↗
PubMed1994

[Magnetic resonance with intrarectal coil in the study of the prostate].

The objective of this study was to determine the usefulness of the endorectal surface coil in the evaluation of the prostate. The endorectal surface coil provide more detailed visualization of the prostate and periprostatic structures than the body coil. Seminal vesicle architecture and the prostatic capsula are well seen on all of the endorectal coil images thus, disruption of the capsule on the endorectal coil images could be used as a sign of capsular invasion. Furthermore, focal thickening of the tubular walls on the endorectal coil images is considered to be evidence of early seminal vesicle invasion. The limits are represented essentially by the dimension of the endorectal surface coil.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed1994

[Paget's disease of bone associated with autoimmune thyroiditis and joint chondrocalcinosis].

A case of scapular Paget's disease of bone with concurrent autoimmune thyroiditis and articular chondrocalcinosis is reported. Although infrequent, this combination suggests the involvement of common pathogenic mechanisms: thyroiditis and Paget's disease may stem from the same viral infection and/or autoimmune disorder, whereas chondrocalcinosis may be the consequence of thyroiditis-related hypothyroidism. In contrast, the association of Paget's disease and chondrocalcinosis may be fortuitous, since both disorders are common.

Chondrocalcinosis↗
PubMed1994

[Role of imaging technics in the identification, characterization and staging of lung neoplasms].

The findings in different imaging techniques in the diagnosis of bronchogenic carcinoma are discussed in this report. Conventional radiology is useful for diagnosis, but is insufficient for characterising and assessing the extension of neoplastic masses of the lung. CT and MR imaging are not essential for the diagnosis and characterization of these lesions, but they certainly allow a more accurate evaluation of staging than normal X-ray examination.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1994

[Re-evaluation of bronchogenic carcinoma after radiochemotherapy. Role of CT and MR].

The above paper was intended to evaluate the usefulness of CT and MR in the study of radiation and chemotherapy induced pulmonary changes. CT proved very useful in the evaluation of the remission rates of the tumor and of radiation-induced pulmonary effects and, hence to minimize its confusion with malignancies and other abnormalities. On the other hand, MR proved very useful in the differentiation between post-therapy fibrosis and recurrent tumor at least 13 months after chemo-radiotherapy.

Carcinoma, Bronchogenic↗
PubMed1994

[Magnetic resonance in the diagnosis, characterization, and assessment of renal carcinoma extension].

Many authors discussed the reliability of MR imaging in the diagnosis of small tumoral masses (less than 1.5 cm) affecting the kidney, and stressed its low diagnostic power. On the other hand, MR imaging is a useful technique in the study of renal masses, for its capability in the differentiation of adipose tissue (angiomyolipomas), fluid content (cystic lesions), parenchymatous tissues (neoplastic lesions). The distinction between malignant and benign masses is often impossible on the basis of MR except in the cases of invasion of the adjacent structures. MR imaging is, at present, the most accurate method in the staging of neoplastic masses of the kidney.

Humans↗
PubMed1994

[Focal lesions of the spleen: contribution of magnetic resonance imaging].

MR findings in the study of focal splenic pathology are discussed in this paper. MR examination of the spleen shows some technical limits in the diagnosis of masses affecting this organ. On the contrary, the introduction of new paramagnetic contrast agents, with organospecific affinity, will no doubt improve the diagnostic power of MR imaging, in order to gain more information about these diseases.

Cysts↗
PubMed1994

[Characterization of hepatic neoplasms: contribution of magnetic resonance].

The reliability of MR imaging in the diagnosis and characterization of space occupying lesions affecting the liver are discussed in this study. We discuss the role of MR imaging in the diagnosis of these tumours and its advantages compared with other available techniques such as ultrasonography and CT. We also discuss the results of MR in the characterization of focal neoplastic masses.

Adenoma, Liver Cell↗
PubMed1994

[Role of magnetic resonance in the evaluation of space-occupying mediastinal pathology].

All MR findings in the study of mediastinal masses are discussed in this report, with the aim of evaluating the reliability of MR imaging in this pathology. The results obtained in the assessment of the extension of these masses are very useful and MR imaging appears to be the most informative of all techniques. Masses originating from the thymus, cystic lesions, substernal goitre, and esophageal tumors were considered. MRI results were compared to those obtained by CT scan which is considered of proven reliability for the evaluation of mediastinal masses.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed1994

[Images of pancreatic pathology: advantages and limitations of magnetic resonance compared with computerized tomography and ultrasound].

We discuss the usefulness of MR examination in the diagnosis of pancreatic diseases, in addition to the other available imaging techniques. MR imaging yields important information in diagnosis and staging of pancreatic tumours, and in the characterization of pancreatic masses. MRI is also valuable for the study of chronic as well as acute pancreatitis, although there are some limits such as the poor detection of calcifications in the chronic, and the excessively long time required to complete the examination in the acute form.

Adenocarcinoma↗