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Biomedical subjects

C Romagnoli

Publications and source records attributed to C Romagnoli.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Failure of fibrinolytic endoventricular treatment to prevent neonatal post-haemorrhagic hydrocephalus. A case-control trial.

Post-haemorrhagic hydrocephalus is assumed to result from obstruction of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pathways by blood clots and subsequent chronic infiltration with collagen. The aim of this work was to evaluate the possibility of preventing permanent shunt dependence by enhancing the endoventricular fibrinolysis by means of an endoventricular streptokinase infusion in babies affected by posthaemorrhagic ventricular dilation. A case-control trial was carried out in 12 neonates affected by intraventricular haemorrhage and subsequent progressive ventriculomegaly. Six of them were treated with 20,000 U/day of streptokinase infused over 96 h through a percutaneous ventricular catheter. Our results show that the percentage of shunted babies was identical in treated and control patients despite the enhancement of endoventricular fibrinolysis obtained in all treated patients. On the basis of our results we do not recommend intraventricular streptokinase infusion for routine use in post-haemorrhagic ventricular dilatation.

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMed1997

Furosemide does not prevent indomethacin-induced renal side effects in preterm infants.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether furosemide could prevent renal side effects of indomethacin (INN, indometacin) used for the pharmacologic closure of the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in preterm infants. METHODS: Thirty-six preterm infants with birth weights < 1750 gm affected by hemodynamically significant PDA were randomly assigned to one of two study groups. Group 1 consisted of 18 infants treated with three doses of indomethacin (0.20 mg/kg every 12 hours); each dose was followed by a dose of furosemide (1 mg/kg). Group 2 consisted of 18 infants treated only with the same doses of indomethacin. Body weight, urine output, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), fractional excretion of sodium (FENa+) and potassium (FEK+), and osmolal and free water clearance were evaluated in both groups before, during, and after treatment. RESULTS: The body weight trend, serum sodium, chloride and potassium concentrations, plasmatic and urinary osmolality were similar during the treatment in both the groups. A significant reduction of urine output (p < 0.01) was detected in group 2 but not in group 1. A significant increase of blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine was detected at the end of treatment in group 1 compared with group 2. During the treatment, a significantly higher GFR (p < 0.05) was found in group 2 than in group 1. FENa+ and FEK+ were significantly higher (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively) in group 1 than in group 2 during and after the treatment. The osmolol clearance and free water clearance were significantly higher during and after treatment (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively) in group 1 than in group 2. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that furosemide cannot prevent the indomethacin-induced renal failure, but it does not have any negative influence on its therapeutic effectiveness.

Body Weight↗
PubMed1996

Antifungal screening of seven new azole derivatives.

Two strains of the dermatophyte Epidermophyton floccosum were treated with seven new synthetic azole derivatives to determine their possible antifungal activity. Among these, two diazopyrazoles (1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-diazo-5-methanesulphonamid and 1,3-dimethyl-4-diazo-5-methanesulphonamid) and the triazole (4-methyl-6-t-butylpyrazolo[3,4-d] [1,2,3]triazole) were inactive at the highest dose tested (100 micrograms/ml). The 4-methyl-6-phenyl-pyrazolo[3,4-d] [1,2,3]triazole produced only a partial inhibition of growth, whereas the most active compounds were the two thiadiazines (6H-3-phenyl-5-methyl-7-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)pyrazolo[3,4-c] [1,2,5]thiadiazine-2,2-dioxide and 7-methyl-2-phenyl-4H-pyrazolo[1,5-c] [1,3,5]thiadiazine-4-one), and an aminoisoxazole (3-methyl-5-aminoisoxazole-4-thiocyanate), which induced a remarkable and sometimes complete reduction in the growth rate of the fungus. The structure-activity relationships are discussed.

Antifungal Agents↗
PubMed1995

[Immigrant women and health services. Experience with hospital obstetric-gynecologic department (1992-94)].

In order to know more about immigrant women who have applied for obstetrical and gynaecological care and the results of these requests, data on those admitted have been analyzed at the obstetric and gynaecological ward of the general hospital of Perugia during the period from July 1992 to June 1994. The following observations were made: a) African and eastern european women comprised the group that most frequently applied for abortion; b) the percentage of cesarean sections was lower among foreign women than Italians women; c) with respect to average of all immigrant admitted for obstetrical pathologies, the largest group, according to the area of origin, was comprised of women from Africa and it was decided that the quality of obstetrical assistance received by this group should be verified.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Effect of omega-conotoxin and verapamil on antinociceptive, behavioural and thermoregulatory responses to opioids in the rat.

This study with the rat evaluated the contribution of omega-conotoxin GVIA-(omega-CgTx) and verapamil-sensitive Ca2+ channels in behavioural, antinociceptive and thermoregulatory responses to intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of [D-Ala2,NMePhe4,Gly-ol5]enkephalin (DAMGO), [D-Pen2,D-Pen5]enkephalin (DPDPE) and dynorphin A-(1-17), which are selective agonists for putative mu, delta and kappa-opioid receptors, respectively. The rats treated with omega-CgTx (8-32 pmol i.c.v.) showed transient, dose-dependent shaking behaviour, hyperalgesia and hypothermia which gradually disappeared within 4 h. The behaviour of the rats was normal by 24 h. Histological examination of brain sections showed morphological alterations of neurons in the hippocampus, medial-basal hypothalamus and pyriform cortex. antinociception, catalepsy and thermoregulatory responses elicited by DAMGO (0.4 and 2.0 nmol) were significantly prolonged and potentiated by verapamil (20 pmol i.c.v. 15 min before) or omega-CgTx (8 pmol 24 h before). Antinociception and hypothermia induced by DPDPE were antagonized by verapamil and omega-CgTx, whereas only omega-CgTx prevented the behavioural arousal observed after DPDPE. Similarly, hypothermia induced by dynorphin A-(1-17) (5.0 nmol) and by the kappa-opioid receptor agonist U50,488H (215 nmol) was antagonized by the two Ca2+ channel blockers but only omega-CgTx prevented the barrel rolling and bizarre postures caused by the opioid peptide.

Analgesia↗
PubMed1993

Non-peptide ligands for opioid receptors. Design of kappa-specific agonists.

A series of phenyl carboxyl esters 5a-d derived from N-(cyclopropylmethyl)normetazocine was synthesized and evaluated for its selectivity at mu, kappa, and delta opioid receptors. Compound 5a, although 43 times less potent than the reference compound U50488, was specific for kappa receptors, having no detectable affinity for either mu or delta receptors. Greater binding affinity was seen with the diastereoisomer having the 1'R,2'S stereochemistry in the cyclopropyl ring of the nitrogen substituent, which was only 12 times less active than U50488. Antinociceptive activity in the mouse tail flick was only slightly lower than that of U50488 (ED50 = 7.66 vs 4.52 mg/kg). Naloxone fully prevented antinociception induced by (1'R,2'S)-5a at the doses of 2.0 mg/kg. Compound (1'R,2'S)-5a is one of the most kappa-selective non-peptide compounds reported to date. The implications of these results in terms of requirements for kappa ligands are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Biosynthesis and cytoplasmic accumulation of a chlorinated catechol pigment during 3-chlorobenzoate aerobic co-metabolism in Pseudomonas fluorescens.

A strain of Pseudomonas fluorescens was capable of co-metabolizing 3-chlorobenzoic acid with the production of a chlorinated catechol black pigment. A peroxidase and another enzymatic activity referred to as a polyphenol oxidase were found to be involved in the oxidation of 4-chlorocatechol to 4-chloro-1,2-benzoquinone, i.e. in the production of highly reactive substrates for pigment formation. Therefore, P. fluorescens cells were seen to take an active part not only in 3-chlorobenzoate mineralization but also in overall pigment production. pH was found to be a key parameter in the regulation of the activity of P. fluorescens oxidoreductive enzymes. Ultrastructural investigations showed that electron dense granules of pigment were distributed throughout the cytoplasm of Pseudomonas fluorescens cells grown in presence of 3-chlorobenzoate, as confirmed also by Thiéry cytochemical investigations. In these cells, an extensive contraction of the cytoplasm as well as a significant damage to the cell wall after two days of incubation, suggested that pigment production caused a premature death of the cells accompanied by the leakage of the cell content. Pigment production seemed to occur mostly in the cytoplasmic context where the electron dense material accumulates until it is released in the medium after the cell lysis.

Aerobiosis↗
PubMed1993

[The growth of the low-birth-weight neonate: assessment at 3 years].

Follow-up studies of low-birth-weight (LBW) neonates have shown a high incidence of growth failure in the first years of life. We evaluated the growth attainment (weight, length and head circumference) in 182 LBW neonates discharged from our Intensive Care Unit between 1982-84 and included in a 3 years follow-up program. The aim of the study is to analyze the correlation between gestational age (GA) and subsequent growth failure. Neonates included in the study were divided in 4 groups (G) according to GA: I G < or = 30 weeks GA; II G = 31-33 weeks GA; III G = 34-36 weeks GA; IV G > or = 37 weeks of gestational age. Growth was evaluated at 40 weeks GA on the basis of Lubchenco and Battaglia centiles, and thereafter at 12, 24 and 36 months according to Scalamandrè greeds. Subnormal weight (< 10 degrees centile) was still evident at 3 years of age in 16.7% of the most premature babies (group I), in 6.2% of babies born between 31 and 33 weeks GA (group II), in 7.1% of babies in group III and in 16.6% of LBW babies born at term of gestation (group IV). Length measurements were satisfactory in PT babies as none of them showed a length < 10 degrees centile by 24 months of age. On the contrary, in the term LBW neonates group 15.6% of babies still showed subnormal length at 3 years of age. Head circumference remained < 10 degrees centile in 16.6% in the I group, in 6.2% in the II group, 21% in the III group and 30% in the IV group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Anthropometry↗
PubMed1993

Effects of spermine and spermidine on cell division and wall morphogenesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The effect of polyamines (PA) on the synthesis and deposition of wall constituents in Saccharomyces cerevisiae was investigated. Spermidine (Spd) in various doses was ineffective whereas spermine (Sp) in the same concentrations caused a marked inhibition (25-60%) of cell proliferation accompanied by evident morphogenetic malformations. Sp-treated cells were elongated, grouped in small clusters, and showed malformed septa and aberrant wall thickenings. The PATAg technique revealed that the aberrations consisted of an abnormal accumulation of both reactive materials, like 1,3-beta-glucans, and unstained chitin components. Since 1,3-beta-glucan synthases and chitin synthases are inserted in the plasma membrane, whose anionic sites interacted with the cation groups of Sp, it is assumed that the molecule determines a condition resulting in an unregulated activation of the two enzymes. The fact that Spd, which contains three cationic groups instead of the four contained in Sp, is without effect suggests that a compound must have at least four cation sites in order to affect the cell division and wall morphogenesis of S. cerevisiae.

Cell Division↗
PubMed1992

Effectiveness and side effects of two different doses of caffeine in preventing apnea in premature infants.

The effectiveness of caffeine citrate in preventing idiopathic apnea in premature infants was evaluated. Thirty-seven preterm infants born before the 32nd week of gestation were studied. After an intravenous loading dose of 10 mg/kg of caffeine citrate, two different oral maintenance regimens were followed: 5 mg/kg in Group I and 2.5 mg/kg in Group II. A significant decrease in the number of apneic spells occurred in both treated groups as compared with a control group. In Group II, the frequency of side effects such as tachycardia and gastrointestinal intolerance was significantly lower than in Group I. Group II theophylline plasma levels were significantly lower than those of Group I. The lower Group II theophylline levels presumably explain the reduced frequency of side effects.

Apnea↗
PubMed1992

Early prenatal diagnosis and therapy of fetal hypothyroid goiter.

We report a case of early diagnosis of iodide-induced fetal hypothyroidism at 22 weeks of gestation, confirmed at 29 weeks by cordocentesis and successfully treated intra-amniotically. The ultrasonographic feature was the presence of two echogenic masses in the fetal neck; polyhydramnios was absent. Mild hypothyroidism was diagnosed based on fetal serum obtained by percutaneous umbilical blood sampling at 29 weeks of gestation. The persistence of fetal hypothyroidism in spite of maternal thyroid improvement was confirmed by a second cordocentesis at 35 weeks of gestation, and a single injection of intra-amniotic levothyroxine (250 micrograms) was performed. The serial ultrasonographic examinations showed disappearance of the fetal goiter. A healthy female baby (3,630 g) was delivered at term. At birth, the thyroid gland was not enlarged, and neonatal thyroid hormones were within the normal range. This case suggests that cordocentesis is a reliable method to assess the fetal thyroid status; moreover a single injection of intra-amniotic thyroxine was effective in treating fetal hypothyroid goiter.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Placental transfer of phenobarbital: what is new?

The placental transfer of phenobarbital was investigated in 35 mother-infant pairs at birth. The drug was administered prenatally to the mothers for maternal epilepsy (group 1, n = 5), gestational hypertension and preeclampsia (group 2, n = 20) and prophylaxis of intraventricular hemorrhage in premature deliveries (group 3, n = 10). The phenobarbital levels in arterial cord blood were 100 +/- 2.8% in group 1, 89 +/- 21% in group 2 and 77 +/- 16% in group 3 with respect to the levels observed in the mothers. The most important factor influencing the transplacental passage was the duration of maternal treatment in the infant of group 1 (r = 0.80, p < 0.01), the gestational age in the infants of group 2 (r = 0.74, p < 0.01) and the arterial cord pH in the infants of group 3 (r = 0.89, p < 0.001).

Blood Gas Analysis↗
PubMed1992

[A new device for phototherapy of neonatal jaundice].

The effectiveness of a new device for phototherapy in the treatment of nonhemolytic hyperbilirubinemia (Wallaby Phototherapy System) was evaluated. 46 healthy term infants, appropriate for gestational age and with serum bilirubin > 12 mg/dl in the first 3 days of life or > 15 mg/dl after 3rd day were randomly assigned to a treatment group (24 hours of light exposure with Wallaby Phototherapy System) and to a control group (any treatment for hyperbilirubinemia). Body temperature, weight, feeding and hydration were recorded during the study period. Serum bilirubin and haematocrit were done every 12 hours in all babies. In the treated group we found a decrease of 5.1% and of 7.8% at 12 and 24 hours, while an increase of 3.37% and of 2.9% at 12 and 24 hours was found in the control group. After 24 hours the serum bilirubin level was significantly lower in the treated group than in the control group (p < 0.05). No newborn of the treated group needed conventional phototherapy versus 4 control infants (17.4%). The conclusion of our study is that the Wallaby System is useful in the treatment of neonatal nonhemolytic hyperbilirubinemia even if its effectiveness for higher bilirubin levels has still to be tested.

Bilirubin↗