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Biomedical subjects

C Orlandi

Publications and source records attributed to C Orlandi.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Early scintigraphic detection of experimental myocardial infarction in dogs with technetium-99m-glucaric acid.

Recent data have generated some interest in technetium-99m-(99mTc) glucaric acid as an in vivo viability marker. We studied 99mTc-glucaric acid retention in canine models of myocardial ischemia (20-min occlusion of the LAD/40-min reperfusion), acute myocardial infarction (MI) (90-min LAD occlusion/3-hr reperfusion), and chronic MI (90-min occlusion and either 48-hr or 10-day reperfusion). Regional myocardial blood flow was measured by radiolabeled microspheres. No preferential uptake of glucaric acid was observed in ischemic but viable myocardium. The compound showed high affinity for necrotic myocardial tissue for several days following injury. The preferential uptake in infarcted tissue disappeared by 10 days following injury. This study shows that 99mTc-glucaric acid acts exclusively as a marker of necrosis in canine models of MI. Technetium-99m-glucaric acid may have clinical utility in early cardiac imaging of myocardial infarction and in differentiating recent from old injuries.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Maternal and fetal prolactin in pregnancy-induced hypertension.

In plasma from 35 women with pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) and 35 normal pregnant women both at 39 weeks of gestation, plasma prolactin levels were measured at 8.30 a.m. (PRL1) and 9.30 a.m. (PRL2) under basal conditions. At delivery umbilical cord blood samples were taken for measurement of fetal prolactin (PRLF). PRL1 and PRL2 were higher in women with PIH, but no significant relations were found between PRL1/PRL2 and blood pressure. PRLF did not differ when infants of mothers with PIH and infants of normal pregnant women were compared, but PRLF had a significant direct independent relation with PRL2. The latter relation may be due to the increase in placental oestrogens during pregnancy, which stimulate both the maternal and fetal hypophyses and their prolactin secretion. PRLF did not show any relation with neonatal morbidity, but PRL1 showed a significant direct relation with the Apgar score at 5 min.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

In vivo demonstration of enhanced arterial constrictor response to serotonin following focal endothelial cell loss.

Arterial sensitivity to vasospasm was assessed prior to and 2 weeks following a 15-min period of external compression of the superficial femoral artery in dogs. Compression was achieved by placing a plastic cuff around the artery to produce a 40-60% reduction in the artery cross-sectional area. An additional six dogs were used to assess morphologic changes produced in the artery immediately and at 2 weeks after compression. Angiography following intraarterial infusions of serotonin (10 and 30 micrograms/min), norepinephrine (0.1 microgram/min), ergonovine (20 micrograms/min), and the thromboxane mimic U-46,619 (0.1 microgram/min) demonstrated a specific sensitivity to serotonin 2 weeks after the 15-min application of external arterial compression. The serotonin response was antagonized by the specific serotonin (5-HT2) receptor antagonist, ketanserin. Scanning electron microscopy of the acutely injured luminal surface revealed loss of endothelium and deposition of platelets. Patchy areas with intact endothelium and migrating leukocytes were located within the denuded sites. Two weeks after constrictor placement, the compressed area appeared as a raised or semiraised lesion in which the orientation and shape of the luminal cells were distinctly delineated from the adjacent noninjured segments. However, the luminal cells appeared to be endothelium that had regrown over the previously denuded area. The results of this study demonstrate, in an in vivo model, an enhancement in serotonin-mediated vasoconstriction following intimal injury and repair and support the suggestion that endothelial damage or dysfunction may play a role in the pathophysiology of arterial spasm.

15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5↗
PubMed1990

Autonomic nervous system and microcirculation in diabetes.

In order to evaluate the occurrence of sympathetic impairment of skin microvascular control in diabetes, we evaluated the spectral analysis of forearm skin laser-Doppler fluctuations in nine insulin-dependent diabetic subjects and in 21 controls of similar age. Low-frequency oscillations (around 0.1 Hz) were significantly lower in diabetics than in controls (2.333 +/- 0.340 (mean +/- SEM) units vs. 3.486 +/- 0.093 units, P less than 0.001), whereas no significant differences were found between the two groups regarding high-frequency respiration-related oscillations. These results suggest that the loss of rhythmicity in diabetic subjects is selectively related to low-frequency oscillations, mostly under sympathetic control, and is likely to be dependent on autonomic abnormality.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Proliferative and lipid metabolism response to balloon angioplasty in canine renal arteries.

The mechanisms responsible for reocclusion after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty are still poorly understood. The effects of angioplasty on arterial morphology, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis (3H-thymidine incorporation) and lipid metabolism (14C-oleate incorporation) were studied in renal arteries of 24 male mongrel dogs. Balloon-dilated (identified by Evans blue dye accumulation) and adjacent normal arterial segments were collected 90 min and 2, 5 and 14 days after the procedure. The immediate vascular response was endothelial cell denudation and platelet accumulation. Two weeks after angioplasty, healing of the luminal surface by "endothelial-like" cells, mild smooth muscle cell proliferation and an angiogenic response with capillary growth into the media were observed. DNA synthesis was increased in balloon-dilated segments at day 5 compared with adjacent nonballoon-dilated artery. This increase in DNA synthesis persisted in the 2 week postangioplasty segments. Additionally, angioplasty produced both quantitative and qualitative changes in arterial lipid synthesis. The most dramatic change was an increase in sterol esterification that was apparent as early as 90 min after angioplasty; the change persisted through day 5 but diminished toward baseline by day 14. Angioplasty-induced alterations of arterial metabolism parallel aspects of the atherogenic process and may be involved in the pathogenesis of postangioplasty reocclusion, particularly in the presence of additional risk factors, such as hyperlipemia.

Angioplasty, Balloon↗
PubMed1990

Hypochondriacal fears and beliefs in pregnancy.

Illness attitudes were evaluated in 26 pregnant women and 26 control subjects matched for sociodemographic variables, by means of a self-rating scale, on 3 different occasions. For each trimester of pregnancy, women displayed more hypochondriacal fears and beliefs and conviction of disease (disease phobia) than normal controls. In the third trimester, they also reported more fear of dying and bodily preoccupations. The findings should alert physicians to ask their pregnant patients whether they are preoccupied with fear of dying, or are concerned that they suffer from an undiagnosed physical illness, or dread a specific illness such as cancer or heart disease. Hypochondriacal fears and beliefs are liable to affect well-being and the health attitudes of pregnant women. If properly recognized, they may effectively be treated.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Regional cerebral blood flow and distribution of [99mTc]ethyl cysteinate dimer in nonhuman primates.

Increases in regional cerebral blood flow have been described in a variety of cerebral pathologic states, including stroke and seizure disorders. The usefulness of technetium-99m-labeled cysteinate dimer as a marker in the measurement of regional cerebral blood flow was tested in five cynomolgus monkeys. To expand the range of blood flow to beyond the normal limits, 40 mg/kg i.v. of the carbonic anhydrase inhibitor acetazolamide was administered. Regional cerebral blood flow in all five monkeys was measured using radiolabeled microspheres (before and after acetazolamide) and the marker (after acetazolamide) in 60-70 samples from 12 brain regions. Acetazolamide significantly increased the mean +/- SEM regional cerebral blood flow measured using microspheres from 0.56 +/- 0.21 to 1.71 +/- 0.9 ml/min/g (p less than 0.01 for each region). A significant positive correlation was found between regional cerebral blood flow values calculated using microspheres and the marker after normalizing the values to those in the cerebellum (r = 0.773, p less than 0.0001). The mean +/- SEM regional cerebral blood flow determined using the marker in a single monkey (1.21 +/- 0.04 ml/min/g) did not differ significantly from that determined in the same monkey using microspheres (1.13 +/- 0.04 ml/min/g). These data support the potential use of this new brain perfusion imaging agent to assess regional cerebral blood flow over a clinically relevant range of blood flows.

Acetazolamide↗
PubMed1990

Search for herpes simplex virus 2 and human papillomavirus genetic expression in vulvar neoplasia.

Specimens from vulvar carcinomas and vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) of various degrees were analyzed for the presence of herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV 2) and human papillomavirus (HPV) genetic information. A search for the HPV 16 E6 protein as well as the HSV 2 antigenic determinant LA1 and ICSP 11/12 protein was carried out with an immunoperoxidase assay on 12 vulvar carcinomas and 6 VINs. Seven invasive cancers and four VINs were screened for the presence of homology to HPV 16 DNA and HSV 2 DNA transforming sequences with Southern blot hybridization. We used specimens from labial tumors and from normal vulvas and cervixes as controls. The preliminary results showed that one vulvar carcinoma and two VINs contained HPV 16 DNA. Four vulvar carcinomas expressed the E6 protein, while all the VINs were negative. Homology to HSV 2 DNA transforming sequences was detected in one vulvar cancer but not in any VIN cases. Positivity to HSV 2 ICSP 11/12 was observed in 33.3% of VIN cases and 75% of invasive cancers. HSV 2 LA1 antigenic determinant was expressed in 33.3% of VIN and 66.6% of cancer cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Relationship between phasic changes in human skin blood flow and autonomic tone.

Heart rate beat-to-beat oscillations synchronous with respiration and blood pressure waves, have been found to be a marker of sympathovagal interaction in man and animals. Oscillations of heart rate, respiration, and cutaneous blood flow were simultaneously recorded to assess the relationship between autonomic nervous control and cutaneous circulation in a group of 21 healthy subjects and in a group of 6 healthy patients after brachial plexus anesthesia and consequent sympathetic blockade. In the first group, changes in posture were employed to modify autonomic tone. Relative changes in cutaneous blood flow were recorded by laser-Doppler flowmetry. Spectral analysis techniques (cross-correlation) were used to quantify the relationship between oscillations common to the recorded signals. A standing maneuver induced a significant decrease of the cross-correlation between respiratory and heart rate fluctuations (from 4.93 +/- 0.16 to 4.44 +/- 0.16 a.u.; P less than 0.001), and a significant increase of the cross-correlation between heart rate and skin blood flow fluctuations (from 0.64 +/- 0.31 to 1.33 +/- 0.21 a.u.; P less than 0.001), but did not modify the cross-correlation between respiratory and skin blood flow fluctuations (from 2.87 +/- 0.15 to 3.04 +/- 0.14 a.u.; NS). After the standing maneuver the maximum correlation between heart rate and skin blood flow was always due to oscillations in the range of 0.1 Hz (or 10-sec period), similar to the oscillations described in large arteries. Sympathetic blockade reduced significantly the cross-correlation between heart rate and skin blood flow (P less than 0.001). These results suggest that the cross-correlation between skin blood flow and heart rate at 10-sec period fluctuations can be used as an index of the influence of the autonomic tone on skin blood circulation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Psychosomatic assessment of hirsute women.

Psychiatric illness, psychological distress and illness behavior were investigated in 30 hirsute women and 30 nonhirsute healthy control subjects matched for sociodemographic variables. The majority of patients showed a good psychological adaptation to illness: they did not report significantly more anxiety, depression, and abnormal illness behavior than controls. One-sixth of the patients, however, suffered from a clinically meaningful affective disorder. Further, hirsute patients displayed significantly more hostility and irritable mood than controls (p less than 0.01).

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Hypochondriacal symptoms in pregnancy.

Illness attitudes were evaluated in 26 pregnant women and 26 control subjects matched for sociodemographic variables, by means of a self-rating scale, on three different occasions. In each trimester of pregnancy, women displayed more hypochondriacal fears and beliefs and conviction of disease (disease phobia) than normal controls (p less than 0.001). The findings should alert physicians to ask their pregnant patients whether they are preoccupied with fear of dying, or are concerned that they suffer from an undiagnosed physical illness, or dread a specific illness such as cancer or heart disease. Hypochondriacal fears and beliefs are liable to affect the well-being and health attitudes of pregnant women. If properly recognized, they may effectively be treated.

Female↗
PubMed1989

Plasma concentrations of atrial natriuretic factor in normal pregnancy and early puerperium.

The atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) and parameters related to renal sodium handling and renal function were evaluated in 92 normotensive pregnant women at different gestational ages (1st group: 7th-13th week, 2nd group: 14th-20th week; 3rd group: 21st-27th week; 4th group: 28th-34th week; 5th group: greater than 34th week), in 15 normotensive non-pregnant women and in 15 normotensive women 6 days after spontaneous delivery at the end of a normal pregnancy. ANF did not differ significantly between the 5 groups of pregnant women while, concurrently with a further increase in plasma volume (as shown by our data) it was significantly higher in late pregnancy (3rd and 5th groups) than in the non-pregnant women. ANF in post-partum women was significantly higher than in non-pregnant and pregnant women. Only in post-partum women was ANF significantly directly related to sodium excretion. Even though ANF does not seem to play an important role in water and sodium excretion in pregnancy in comparison with other hormones such as progesterone, oestriol and aldosterone, the higher levels of ANF in late pregnancy probably represent a compensatory increase when a given threshold of plasma volume (and therefore of atrial stretch) is reached. However ANF does seem to play a more important role in the induction of diuresis and natriuresis in early puerperium.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Clinical and biochemical aspects of pregnancy-induced hypertension.

In order to study what characteristics accompany the development of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) and what parameters, if any, differentiate hypertension alone from hypertension with proteinuria, we evaluated 119 women with PIH who had hypertension alone, 73 women with PIH who had hypertension and proteinuria greater than or equal to 0.3 g/l, 63 women with normal pregnancy, 20 normal non-pregnant women. In comparison with normal pregnant women and normal non-pregnant women, women with PIH showed an increase in heart rate, suggesting an increased peripheral sympathetic tone, and an initial derangement in renal function as shown by the increase in serum uric acid and reduction in sodium excretion and total and fractional calcium excretion at any given level of sodium excretion. These changes were more marked in patients with hypertension and proteinuria. Higher levels of systolic blood pressure (SBP) were present in women with hypertension alone who subsequently developed proteinuria, compared with those who had only hypertension until term. According to our data hypertension alone and hypertension with proteinuria seem to be two aspects of only differing severity of the same disease.

Female↗
PubMed1988

Breast contact thermography for differentiation between premature thelarche and true precocious puberty.

Breast contact thermography was used to differentiate between premature thelarche and true precocious puberty. The technique was applied to 10 girls with premature thelarche, 12 with precocious puberty and 105 controls (Tanner B1-5). In controls, the scores attributed to the maturative thermographic signs correlated with breast development stages. In premature thelarche thermographic signs of vascularization were always absent, while in precocious puberty they were always observed, although in some cases unilaterally. The thermographic index (higher total score between the two breasts) ranged from 0 to 3 in girls with premature thelarche and from 4 to 10 in girls with precocious puberty. The thermographic pattern in premature thelarche was similar to that in prepubertal girls and did not progress in two girls who were repeatedly examined. We emphasize the useful role of contact thermography in evaluating pubertal breast development and in differentiating between premature thelarche and true precocious puberty.

Age Determination by Skeleton↗
PubMed1988

Evaluation of the dilator capacity of skin blood vessels of hypertensive patients by laser Doppler flowmetry.

Knowledge of regional circulation in the skin of hypertensive patients is largely incomplete. We examined the vasodilator capacity of skin blood vessels in the foot in 20 hypertensives and in 20 age- and sex-matched normal control subjects. Vasodilator capacity was assessed by measuring skin blood flow (laser doppler flowmetry) and cutaneous vascular resistance at rest and at the peak of the postocclusive reactive hyperemia response. Skin blood flow was higher in hypertensive patients than in controls at rest (69.4 +/- 23.6 vs. 44.2 +/- 17.5 mV; P less than 0.003), but did not differ significantly after reactive hyperemia (89.2 +/- 23.5 vs 88.2 +/- 25.4 mV; N.S.). Calculated cutaneous vascular resistance was higher in controls at rest (2.99 +/- 1.06 vs 2.22 +/- 0.81 a.u.; P less than 0.3), but lower after reactive hyperemia (1.43 +/- 0.44 vs 1.64 +/- 0.43 a.u.; N.S.). Laser Doppler flowmetry is a technique suitable for studying the alterations in cutaneous microcirculation induced by hypertension. These data are compatible with structural changes in the vascular wall of hypertensive patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Evaluation of angiogenesis in chronic inflammation by laser-Doppler flowmetry.

1. A non-invasive method is described for the assessment of angiogenesis in chronic inflammation using laser-Doppler flowmetry. 2. Significant increases in capillary blood flow were seen on days 5 and 7 after induction of subcutaneous granulomatous lesions, as compared with control skin. 3. Changes in blood flow were accompanied by changes in pulsatile flow pattern and by an intense angiogenic response observed by light microscopy. 4. The potential application of laser-Doppler flowmetry to quantitative and qualitative studies of evolving angiogenesis in pathological responses is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Psychological reactions to ultrasound. Examination during pregnancy.

Twenty women underwent ultrasound examination three times during low-risk pregnancy. Before and after ultrasonography, the Symptom Questionnaire was applied to evaluate changes in psychological distress. Anxiety, depression, somatic symptoms, and hostility significantly decreased after the patients received video and verbal feedback during the first ultrasound examination. Such changes were consistently observed also during the subsequent two examinations.

Adaptation, Psychological↗