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Biomedical subjects

C Orlandi

Publications and source records attributed to C Orlandi.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Psychological reactions to fetoscopy: a controlled study.

Twenty woman at risk of carrying a fetus with homozygous beta-thalassemia who underwent fetoscopy and a matched control group of pregnant women were administered the Symptom Questionnaire to evaluate changes in distress. Women who were offered fetoscopy had significantly more anxiety, depression, somatic symptoms and hostility than the control group. Psychological distress significantly decreased after the results of fetoscopy were communicated to the patient, and the decrease was similar in normal control women. Five other patients had a diagnosis of homozygous beta-thalassaemia and their pregnancies were terminated. Their psychological distress increased when they learned the outcome of fetoscopy, but decreased again after termination. Psychological reactions to fetoscopy and amniocentesis appear to be similar, yet women who undergo fetoscopy suffer from more psychological distress.

Anxiety↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The microvascular response to growth factors in the hamster cheek pouch.

Implicit in attempts to characterize and purify biologically active factors is the premise that the bioassay system employed will show a progressive increase in the response as the concentration of the responsible factor increases. We employed the hamster cheek pouch to assay the neovascularization potential of growth factors, including endothelial cell growth supplement (ECGS), epidermal growth factor (EGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). Each growth factor was applied to the system in graded concentration and two approaches used to assess neovascularization: first, direct serial inspection of the cheek pouches at 40 power; second, tritiated thymidine incorporation into endothelial cells, assessed by radioautography. PDGF induced a dose-related increase in neovascularization, with a threshold dose of 17.5 micrograms/ml and a peak, 56% response, at a PDGF concentration of 175 micrograms/ml. Progressive increases in PDGF concentration, thereafter, induced progressive reductions in the neovascularization rate. Under some conditions optimal bioassay requires serial dilutions of the assay material over a wide range.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pharmacology of coronary vasodilation: a brief review.

Successful scintigraphic imaging of coronary artery stenosis is dependent on detecting regional differences (nonhomogeneous distribution) in coronary blood flow that can be induced by physiologic or pharmacologic stress. Table 1 represents a summary of major pharmacologic responses of the heart to the four agents discussed above. Both adenosine and dipyridamole produce superior coronary vasodilation and tend to be preferred for use in single-photon emission computed tomography, whereas dobutamine and arbutamine provoke a marked ischemic response and tend to be preferred for use in echocardiography. Which agent employed remains a judgment of the physician based on known side effects of these agents, the patient's ability to tolerate these side effects, and the nature of the test desired.

Adenosine↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Differential large and small vessel responses to serotonin in the dog hindlimb in vivo: role of the 5HT2 receptor.

Serotonin (5HT) constricts large arteries in vitro, an effect which seems contrary to 5HT-induced increases in blood flow observed in vivo. We used angiography to assess large artery responses, and blood flow (Q, electromagnetic flowmeter) to assess arteriolar responses to 5HT, norepinephrine (NE), and antagonists in the femoral circulation of the intact, anesthetized dog. 5HT constricted large arteries at a threshold dose of less than 10 micrograms/min, giving a 45 +/- 3% reduction of popliteal artery diameter at 100 micrograms/min (p less than 0.001). NE failed to constrict large arteries. With 100 micrograms/min 5HT, Q increased (delta Q = 108 +/- 26 ml/min; p = 0.001). NE decreased Q. Ketanserin, a 5HT and alpha 1-adrenergic antagonist, exerted a dose-dependent inhibition of 5HT-induced large artery constriction. Methysergide partially blocked the 5HT-induced large artery constriction. Ketanserin potentiated the Q response to 5HT whereas higher doses of methysergide reduced the Q response to 5HT. Neither indomethacin nor propranolol altered either response. Failure of NE to constrict large arteries in vivo and ketanserin antagonism of constriction produced by 5HT suggest the response to 5HT involves the 5HT2 receptor. No role for the 5HT2 receptor in blood flow responses is suggested. These observations may have implications for therapy of occlusive vascular disease.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The renal response to diltiazem and nifedipine: comparison with nitroprusside.

We undertook a systematic comparison of the effects of diltiazem and nifedipine and a nonspecific vasodilator, sodium nitroprusside, on renal perfusion, function, and activation of potentially relevant neurohormonal systems in the anesthetized dog. These agents were employed to reduce blood pressure to two levels, a mean arterial pressure level of 100-110 mm Hg, and a subtherapeutic level of 75-85 mm Hg. Renal plasma flow (ERPF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were estimated as the clearances of p-aminohippurate and inulin, respectively. All studies with vasodilators were compared with a group which received placebo over an identical time period. The agents differed both in their action on the renal blood supply and in their activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone and sympathetic nervous systems. ERPF was better maintained at both blood pressure levels with nitroprusside than with either diltiazem (p less than 0.005) or nifedipine (p less than 0.005). GFR was better maintained with nitroprusside and diltiazem than with nifedipine. The rise in plasma catecholamines and plasma renin activity was greatest with nifedipine, least with nitroprusside, and intermediate with diltiazem. Diltiazem was also associated with substantially less stimulation of aldosterone release than was nifedipine. Diltiazem and nifedipine are known to have greater renal vasodilator action when infused into the renal artery than nitroprusside. The better-sustained renal plasma flow and glomerular filtration rate during systemic administration with the latter may well reflect the role of calcium in renal autoregulation and the angiotensin-renin feedback loop. Despite an apparent shared mechanism of action, the calcium-entry-blocking agents differ sufficiently that therapeutic implications are possible.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

CA-125 monitoring during chemotherapy for ovarian cancer.

Serum CA-125 was determined in 60 patients with variously extended ovarian cancer and monitored during and after chemotherapy. The study indicates that: 1) prechemotherapy CA-125 shows the presence of an active disease with an accuracy greater than 85%. The antigen is elevated in 97% of patients with greater than 2 cm disease, but sensitivity is low (67%) in patients with minimal residual disease (less than 2 cm); 2) changes in CA-125 correspond well with the response to chemotherapy. CA-125 becomes negative in every patient having clinical CR and increases in every patient with progressive disease. These changes can indicate the type of response some months ahead of time; 3) CA-125 indicates in advance the recurrence of the disease after an objective remission: 4) In the conditions studied CA-125 basal levels do not seem to have prognostic value as regarding either response or survival.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A method for evaluating human tubal motility in vivo: a new approach for infertility investigation.

The motility of the Fallopian tube plays an important role in the gametes and embryo transport. Disorders of the tubal motor function may be involved in a great number of patients with unexplained infertility. The aim of this study was to develop a method to measure the tubal motility by means of an hysteroscopic approach in humans. The following motor parameters were evaluated: 1) the basal pressure of each 1 cm tract of the tube; 2) amplitude and frequency of the tubal contractions; 3) the uterine intraluminal pressure eight patients in the follicular phase (FP group) and 8 in the luteal phase (LP group) of the menstrual cycle, were studied. The duration of the motility recording session was 12 +/- 3 minutes (range 7-19 minutes). No significant differences were shown between the two groups of patients, and no differences were found between the recordings obtained from the right and the left tubes.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pharmacodynamic effects on blood coagulation of a new low molecular weight heparin (alfa-LMWH) in healthy volunteers and gynecological surgery patients.

The pharmacodynamic properties of a new LMWH (alfa-LMWH) were investigated in 8 healthy volunteers after single subcutaneous administrations of 7,500, 15,000 and 30,000 anti-XaU doses at weekly intervals. Anti-Xa and anti-IIa heparin activities were monitored together with aPTT, thrombin time, bleeding time and euglobulin lysis time. No relevant changes in bleeding time or major side-effects were ever recorded. A group of 26 patients submitted to gynaecological surgery were then investigated to determine the dosage schedule for prophylaxis of post-operative deep vein thrombosis. Two subgroups received daily subcutaneous doses of 7,500 and 15,000 anti-XaU alfa-LMWH respectively, beginning 2 h before surgery; the third subgroup received 5,000 IU calcium heparin three times daily over the seven postoperative days. The following tests were peri-operatively monitored: anti-Xa heparin activity, aPTT, PT, fibrinogen, Antithrombin III. No differences in intra-operative bleeding or side-effects were recorded. On the basis of the levels of anti-Xa heparin activity and the negligible effects on aPTT, the dose of 7500 anti-XaU was selected at single daily administration for thromboprophylaxis in gynecological surgery.

Aged↗