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D Brancaccio

Publications and source records attributed to D Brancaccio.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Beta2-microglobulin can be refolded into a native state from ex vivo amyloid fibrils.

Beta2-microglobulin fibrils have been extracted from the femoral head of a patient who has been under chronic haemodialysis for 11 years. The primary structure of the N-terminal portion of the protein and mass determination by electrospray mass spectrometry demonstrate that beta2-microglobulin, extracted as fibrils by the water extraction procedure, was not glycated and that Asn17 was not deamidated. Limited proteolysis was observed in more than 20% of beta2-microglobulin molecules and the main cleavage sites were at the C-terminus of Lys6 and Tyr10. Beta2-microglobulin from fibrils has been purified by gel filtration in 6 M Gdn/HCl and submitted to a refolding procedure. The refolding conditions have been determined through the study of the unfolding pathway of the native protein. Beta2-microglobulin is stable at neutral pH where it displays a lower tendency to self-aggregate than in acidic conditions. Pulse dilution and extensive dialysis in refolding buffer at pH 7.5 yields beta2-microglobulin with a tertiary structure identical to that of the native form. The CD spectrum in the near-ultraviolet region and the spectrum of the intrinsic fluorescence of Trp overlap those of the native protein, but the CD spectrum in the far-ultraviolet region is affected by the contribution of oligomers created by beta2-microglobulin fragments that reduce the positive light polarisation at 205 nm typical of native beta2-microglobulin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Low-dosage ibopamine treatment in progressive renal failure: a long-term multicentre trial.

A multicentre trial (11 nephrology centres) was carried out to test the effects of ibopamine, an orally active dopamine-like drug, on the progression of chronic renal failure. For a 2-year period 189 chronic renal failure patients (serum creatinine level 1.5-4.0 mg/dl) were observed. They were homogeneous for basic nephropathy, degree of residual renal function, blood pressure, and proteinuria. The patients were randomly divided into two groups: 96 took ibopamine at a dosage of 100 mg/day (group A) and 93 served as controls (group B). All were on a low-protein diet (mean 0.8 g/kg body weight). By the end of the observation period, the rate of decrease of the renal function indexes in time proved significantly slower (1.8 times) in group A than in group B. The survival curves for renal function (pre-established end points were creatinine level increases equal to or > 20% and equal to or > 40% of the basal values) proved significantly better (p < 0.02 and p < 0.002 respectively) in group A than in group B. The mean plasma creatinine values rose by 17% in group A and by 36% in group B. The creatinine clearance decreased by 5% in treated patients and by 14% in the controls. Statistical analysis ruled out any possible centre effect. The trial suggests that low-dosage ibopamine administration may be used as a valid and safe pharmacological adjunct for retarding the progression of renal failure in patients with mild or moderate chronic renal impairment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Deposition of kappa and lambda light chains in amyloid filaments of dialysis-related amyloidosis.

beta 2-Microglobulin (beta 2m) is considered to be the amyloidogenic precursor in dialysis-related amyloidosis, although the implication of other relevant cofactors in the pathogenesis of this disease has also been hypothesized. It is conceivable that substances found in amyloid deposits might represent something more than simple codeposition, possibly playing a pathogenic role in amyloidogenesis. Along these lines, a detailed analysis of the protein composition of amyloid fibrils purified from synovial material surgically obtained from nine patients on long-term dialysis was carried out. By the use of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, several other protein components, in addition to beta 2m, were found. These were characterized by NH2 amino-terminal sequencing and immunoblotting. In fibrils obtained by water extraction, which fulfill the electron microscopy criteria of highly pure amyloid material, polyclonal kappa and lambda light chains were detected with a concentration of 15 micrograms/mL in the water extraction material; the beta 2m concentration was 200 micrograms/mL. Light microscopy immunohistochemistry was performed on samples from five patients. Amyloid deposits reacted with anti-beta 2m, and anti-light (kappa, lambda), chain antibodies. The immunoreaction of amyloid filaments to anti-beta 2m, anti-lambda, and anti-kappa light chain antibodies was also tested by electron microscopy by use of the immunogold staining procedure. Amyloid filaments were labeled by the three antibodies and showed a different intensity of immunostaining apparently related to their different aggregation pattern. These observations demonstrate that polyclonal immunoglobulin light chains (kappa and lambda) are not contaminants but, together with beta 2m, represent a major constituent of amyloid deposits in dialysis-related osteoarticular amyloidosis, thus indicating their possible role in amyloidogenesis.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Effect of gastric acid secretion on intestinal phosphate and calcium absorption in normal subjects.

BACKGROUND: Phosphate-induced hyperparathyroidism still represents an intriguing problem in dialysis patients. Postprandial hyperphosphataemia is considered to be the main stimulus to parathyroid hyperfunction, and therefore many efforts have focused on the use of phosphate binders to prevent phosphate absorption. METHODS: We investigated whether the pH-mediated gastric ionization of calcium phosphate dietary salts is necessary for its intestinal absorption. In eight normal subjects we measured 24-h urinary calcium phosphate excretion and the postprandial blood calcium phosphate profile after a meal containing 1 g of calcium and 2 g of phosphate salts in a crossover placebo-omeprazole study. On two occasions the subjects received either placebo or omeprazole 60 mg/day 2 days before and during the day test. RESULTS: Serum gastrin levels were measured as an indicator of achlorhydria and were 13.7 +/- 1 pg/ml after placebo and 30.4 +/- 4.7 after omeprazole (P < 0.003). Postprandial plasma phosphate profiles were not significantly different between the two studies (+36 +/- 8% after placebo and +24 +/- 8% after omeprazole, NS), while plasma calcium increased by +6.1 +/- 1% after placebo and decreased by -4.2 +/- 0.7% after omeprazole (P < 0.01). The 24-h urinary phosphate excretion was 1068 +/- 85 mg after placebo and 773 +/- 55 after omeprazole (P < 0.002), while the 24-h urinary calcium excretion was 360 +/- 21 after placebo and 238 +/- 15 after omeprazole (P < 0.0001). A negative relationship was observed between absolute changes in plasma gastrin and those in urinary calcium (P < 0.009) and phosphate (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The inhibition of gastric acid secretion by omeprazole significantly reduces both urinary phosphate and calcium excretion after an oral load. The behaviour of the postprandial calcium-phosphate plasma profile suggests that gastric acid inhibition is more effective in reducing calcium rather than phosphate dietary salts absorption in normal subjects.

Absorption↗
PubMed1994

Recent advances in intravenous calcitriol treatment.

Ten years after the pioneering data by Slatopolsky, there is growing evidence that calcitriol given intravenously is able to improve secondary hyperparathyroidism better than the traditional daily oral administration. However, the scenario is changing again after the observation that oral bolus therapy, in equivalent doses to the intravenous route, is also able to effectively control parathyroid hormone secretion. This review reports and comments on the most recent controlled and uncontrolled observations dealing with calcitriol therapy of hyperparathyroidism in patients with uremia. There are currently no convincing data about the superiority of one route of administration over the other, although intravenous boluses appear to be more attractive both from a theoretical (higher plasma levels and reduced action on intestinal receptors) and practical (compliance) point of view. The higher cost of the injectable drug is the crucial factor limiting its wider clinical use. Large and carefully designed controlled clinical trials are still awaited to elucidate the most important aspects of calcitriol treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism, such as dose, interval, and route of administration.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1993

[Amyloid osteoarthropathy in dialyzed patients: integrated imaging].

We studied with US both the knees of 32 long-term dialysis patients (mean dialysis age: 69.7 months), 7 of whom exhibited palpable joint swelling. In 29/32 patients, US scans were combined with knee X-ray films, patellar views included. In one case, opaque arthrography was performed too. US demonstrated the presence of fluid collections within both joint space and synovial cavities in 19/32 patients (59%). Their content was transonic or mildly hypoechoic. X-ray films were positive for amyloid bone involvement in 19/29 cases (66%), with evidence of intra-osseous cysts and cortical erosions. There was a good general agreement between the results obtained with the two techniques: therefore, in some cases only one examination was positive. Needle aspiration of synovial fluid was performed in 18/32 patients (56%). The 2 cases of diffusely hypoechoic collections yielded very dense jelly material, that was highly positive for beta-2-microglobulin. US is proposed, combined with conventional X-ray films, as a simple and reliable method for the diagnosis of articular amyloidosis in dialysis patients and for the follow-up of this disease.

Amyloid↗
PubMed1992

Low-dose intravenous calcitriol treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism in hemodialysis patients. Italian Group for the Study of Intravenous Calcitriol.

Intravenous calcitriol is known to directly suppress PTH secretion and release. We evaluated the effect of four months of treatment with low-dose intravenous calcitriol on PTH levels in 83 hemodialysis patients. The criteria for including patients in the study were a serum PTH levels at least four times the normal limit, a serum total calcium less than 10 mg/dl and good control of the serum phosphorus level. All patients underwent standard bicarbonate or acetate dialysis; dialysate calcium level was maintained at the usual 3.5 mEq/liter concentration. Initial calcitriol dose was 0.87 +/- 0.02 (SEM) micrograms (0.015 micrograms/kg body wt) thrice weekly at the end of dialysis, and it was reduced in case of hypercalcemia or elevated calcium-phosphate product. Seven out of 83 patients dropped out during treatment. Among the 76 patients who completed the study, 58 (76%) showed a highly significant decrease of intact PTH levels (average reduction 48%) and of alkaline phosphatase levels after four months of therapy. Total serum calcium increased slightly but significantly in the responder group but remained unchanged in the non-responders. No significant changes in ionized calcium levels could be detected, even in responders. Treatment was well tolerated by patients, but 60% of them had transient episodes of hyperphosphatemia. Mean serum phosphate was 4.95 mg/dl at the beginning of the study. It increased significantly after four months of treatment in patients who showed a decrease of PTH levels, although it remained within acceptable limits, below 5.5 mg/dl. Twenty-eight of 76 patients (37%) reduced the dose of calcitriol because their calcium-phosphate products exceeded 60.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1992

Trace elements in dialysis fluids and assessment of the exposure of patients on regular hemodialysis, hemofiltration and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

Forty-four elements (Al, Sb, As, Ba, Be, B, Br, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Eu, Ga, Au, Hf, In, Ir, Fe, La, Lu, Mn, Hg, Mo, Nd, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sm, Sc, Se, Ag, Sr, Ta, Tb, Tl, Th, Sn, W, U, V, Zn, Zr) have been determined in the dialysate for hemodialysis (HD) and fluids for hemofiltration (HF) and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Multiple determinations have been performed for each dialysis fluid. Several trace elements (TE) showed remarkably elevated average levels; moreover, different bathes of the same commercial product may present a wide variability in TE concentration. The data point out the pivotal role of dialysis fluids in contributing to TE imbalance in dialysis patients and allow the assessment of the potential element exposure of patients on regular dialytic treatment. Patients on HD treatment would be exposed on a weekly basis to milligrams of Al, B, Ba, Br, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sr and Zn; on HF, the highest exposures are due to Al, B, Br, Fe, Pb and Zn; on CAPD to B, Br, Fe and Zn. The weekly exposure for several TE appears to be 50- to 12,000-fold higher than the corresponding values on the amount absorbed via the diet (HD: Au, Ba, Be, Ce, Ga, La, Sc, Ta, Th, V, Zr; HF: Be, Ce, Ta, Th, V, Zr; CAPD: Au, Be, Ce, Ga, V, Zr).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Hemodialysis Solutions↗
PubMed1991

Purification and partial characterization of a new 85 KDa amyloidosis-related protein in chronic hemodialysis.

An 85 KDa protein was purified by a multistep procedure (ultracentrifugation, HPLC, SDS-PAGE) from sera and amyloid deposits of patients on chronic hemodialysis and was characterized as a novel protein on the basis of its NH2 terminus (KVQLVE-V). This protein was formed by two subunits with Mr of 55 and 30 KDa and had affinity for Thyoflavin T, a fluorescent dye which was employed for labelling the protein prior HPLC. The 85 KDa was the only fluorescent component of ultracentrifugates from the serum of hemodialyzed patients while in amyloid fibrils it coexisted in roughly equimolar amounts with beta 2-microglobulin. This new high molecular weight protein which accumulates in uremia, could be co-responsible with beta 2-microglobulin for hemodialysis-related osteoarticular amyloidosis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Desferrioxamine infusion can modify EEG tracing in haemodialysed patients.

Neurological derangement has been reported in haemodialysed patients receiving intravenous desferrioxamine (DFO) for aluminium-related disorders. The possible direct effects of desferrioxamine on EEG recordings were investigated in ten haemodialysed patients who underwent a DFO test 2 h after the end of dialysis. According to a commonly accepted protocol, 40 mg/kg body-weight of desferrioxamine was infused in 60 min. EEG recording was continuously performed, starting 30 min before and stopping 30 min after the desferrioxamine infusion. Besides visual inspection, EEG records were digitised, tapered, and spectrally analysed with Digital PDP 11/73 microcomputer. Basal EEG recording was normal in all patients. In three patients a progressive EEG slowing was detected by visual inspection during desferrioxamine infusion; in these cases automatic analysis revealed a 50% increase in power of slower frequencies 30 min after starting the infusion, when no changes in plasma aluminium concentrations are detected; a complete recovery was observed 30 min after desferrioxamine withdrawal. In one patient bilateral paroxysms of slow waves appeared, so we stopped desferrioxamine infusion. Two of the three patients who developed EEG abnormalities also had an increased aluminium body burden (positive DFO test). Results indicated that desferrioxamine per se can modify EEG in haemodialysis patients and that its effect is not mediated by acute increases of plasma aluminium concentrations. The finding of a positive DFO test in two of three patients with EEG changes may suggest that an aluminium-induced blood-brain barrier derangement could have played a role. However, prompt recovery after ceasing desferrioxamine infusion strongly suggests a direct role of desferrioxamine in the induction of EEG changes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aluminum↗