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E Motta

Publications and source records attributed to E Motta.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

[Epilepsy and hormones].

The paper contains a review of reports concerned with how for hormones, epileptic seizures and antiepileptic drugs can be influenced by one another. Hormones influence brain excitability but, on the other hand, both epileptic seizures and antiepileptic drugs may alter hormone secretion and metabolism. Effect of hormones on seizures--Experimental studies revealed the properties which inhibit or stimulate convulsive reactivity of different hormones. Progesterone, testosterone, adrenocorticotropin and desoxycorticosterone are responsible for an increase in seizure threshold, while estradiol, cortisol and thyroid hormones cause a reduction. Effect of seizures on hormones--Epileptic seizures, chiefly tonic-clonic, also complex partial and sometimes simple partial seizures, result in "the hormonal storm". Immediately after an epileptic seizure, an increase is found in serum concentrations of prolactin, cortisol, adrenocorticotropin, triidothyronine, thyroxin, thyrotropin, luteotropin, follicular stimulating hormone and growth hormone. These changes may persist for two hours, while prolactin concentration even for 24 hours after a seizure. Effect of antiepileptic drugs on hormones--Antiepileptic drugs may affect hypothalamus-pituitary function directly or indirectly through neurotransmitter system. By induction of hepatic microsomal enzymes, some antiepileptic drugs cause acceleration of hormone metabolism, reducing hormone serum concentrations. Moreover, antiepileptic drugs enhance sex hormone binding globulin SHBG/synthesis, increase binding of these hormones and reduce their active fraction concentration in serum. Recognition of the relationship between epilepsy and hormonal system is necessary to obtain better understanding of this disease.

Anticonvulsants↗
PubMed2000

Distinct patterns of microvasculature in the cutaneous lesions of leprosy.

This work is an investigation on the microvasculature of the cutaneous infiltrates of leprosy with the immunohistochemical staining of endothelial cells in cutaneous biopsies. Anti-Factor VIII-related antigen antibody (anti-FVIII-ra) and Ulex Europaeus-1 lectin (UEA-1) binding were utilized as endothelial cell markers. Thirty-nine patients grouped according to the Ridley-Jopling classification (14 borderline tuberculoid, 18 borderline lepromatous, 6 lepromatous, and 1 indeterminate leprosy) were selected for this study. Two microvascular architectural patterns could be clearly distinguished: lepromatous lesions presented a dense and tortuous mesh of microvessels among the Mycobacterium leprae-glutted macrophages; whereas the microvessels in the tuberculoid lesions were restricted to the periphery of the granulomas and were not seen among the central epithelioid cells. We were able to distinguish three basic morphological kinds of infiltrate distribution related to the microvessels: micronodules, cords and macronodules. Intensifications of the FVIII-ra immunoreactivity and UEA-1 binding capacity were observed in the endothelial cells of microvessels involved by the inflammatory infiltrate. A distinct cytokine expression profile at the leprosy poles and the role of mast cells in angiogenesis were speculated as factors contributing to these distinct patterns. Growth of the lesion and systemic dissemination of M. leprae in the bipolar spectrum of leprosy may hypothetically be influenced by the vascular-infiltrate relationship. The detection of angiogenesis in the cutaneous lesions of leprosy may bring about alternate and/or additional strategies for leprosy treatment.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1999

Diagnosing dementia and normal aging: clinical relevance of brain ratios and cognitive performance in a Brazilian sample.

The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic value (clinical application) of brain measures and cognitive function. Alzheimer and multi-infarct patients (N = 30) and normal subjects over the age of 50 (N = 40) were submitted to a medical, neurological and cognitive investigation. The cognitive tests applied were Mini-Mental, word span, digit span, logical memory, spatial recognition span, Boston naming test, praxis, and calculation tests. The brain ratios calculated were the ventricle-brain, bifrontal, bicaudate, third ventricle, and suprasellar cistern measures. These data were obtained from a brain computer tomography scan, and the cutoff values from receiver operating characteristic curves. We analyzed the diagnostic parameters provided by these ratios and compared them to those obtained by cognitive evaluation. The sensitivity and specificity of cognitive tests were higher than brain measures, although dementia patients presented higher ratios, showing poorer cognitive performances than normal individuals. Normal controls over the age of 70 presented higher measures than younger groups, but similar cognitive performance. We found diffuse losses of tissue from the central nervous system related to distribution of cerebrospinal fluid in dementia patients. The likelihood of case identification by functional impairment was higher than when changes of the structure of the central nervous system were used. Cognitive evaluation still seems to be the best method to screen individuals from the community, especially for developing countries, where the cost of brain imaging precludes its use for screening and initial assessment of dementia.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1998

[Concentration of copper and ceruloplasmin in serum of patients treated for epilepsy].

In 54 epileptic patients (28 females and 26 males) aged 21-48, serum copper (Cu) and ceruloplasmin (Crl) concentrations were assessed. Comparing with control group mean serum Cu and Crl concentrations were significantly increased. We suspect that antiepileptic drugs may influence the serum Cu and Crl concentrations by hepatic enzymes induction. Clinical picture of epilepsy and treatment duration does not influence serum Cu and Crl concentrations.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

The galactose elimination capacity test: a study of the technique based on the analysis of 868 measurements.

OBJECTIVES: Our objective in this study was to analyze the correspondence of galactose concentration-on-time-decay curve to theoretical assumptions and the confidence limits of the determination of galactose elimination capacity. METHODS: We analyzed a retrospective series of 868 galactose elimination tests, performed on subjects with and without liver disease. Zero-order kinetics of galactose elimination was tested by comparison of the residual variance of linear regression with that obtained after quadratic transformation. The uncertainty in determination of galactose elimination capacity was calculated on the regression line by computing the 95% confidence limits of the estimate. RESULTS: The time-course of galactose concentration suggested an initial uneven distribution, and the first (20-min) data point deviated significantly from the regression. The galactose decay curve in plasma rejected linearity in 13% of tests; after exclusion of the first data-point, linearity was rejected in only 3% of cases. The 95% confidence interval of galactose elimination capacity was on average +/- 16%, but in individual tests it was as large as +/- 60-80%. The uncertainty of the test was not affected by linearity. It was larger, with poor fitting of the experimental data on the regression of galactose concentration on time, low number of data points, and low galactose elimination. It was maintained within +/- 20% only when residual variance was > or = 2% of total variance (nearly 50% of tests). CONCLUSION: The methodology for the determination of galactose elimination capacity leads to considerable uncertainty as to the final result, which must be considered whenever the test is used for clinical purposes in the decision-making process. It tends to be larger in patients with advanced disease and can be accurately calculated so as to contribute to a proper evaluation of the test result.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Hemiplegic migraine with CSF abnormalities.

A 30-year-old woman with hemiplegic migraine and an elevated CSF protein level with considerable pleocytosis is described. Fourteen other cases of hemiplegic migraine with cerebrospinal fluid abnormalities reported in the literature are reviewed.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Hepatic conversion of amino-nitrogen to urea in thyroid diseases. II. A study in hyperthyroid patients.

Conflicting data have been reported on the influence of thyroid hormones on hepatic nitrogen metabolism and on liver metabolic activity. We studied the urea-nitrogen synthesis rate (UNSR) and the kinetics of the process of hepatic amino-nitrogen to urea-nitrogen conversion in response to constant alanine infusion (ie, the functional hepatic nitrogen clearance [FHNC]) in five hyperthyroid female patients before and after the achievement of a stable euthyroid status. In the same patients, galactose elimination capacity and antipyrine clearance were also measured as quantitative indices of hepatic function. The basal urea synthesis rate was nearly doubled in hyperthyroid patients (35.6 +/- 8.5 mmol.h-1 v 17.6 +/- 7.7 in euthyroid patients, P < .05) and increased linearly with increasing alpha-amino-nitrogen (alpha-AN) concentrations in both conditions. The urea synthesis rate during alanine infusion was still higher by approximately 30 mmol.h-1 in hyperthyroid subjects. The FHNC, calculated as the slope of the linear relation between the UNSR in each time interval and the corresponding average alpha-AN concentration, was not different (hyperthyroidism, 30.6 +/- 7.2 L.h-1; euthyroidism, 28.5 +/- 4.4; normal values > 25). The hepatic microsomal and cytosolic activities (antipyrine clearance and galactose elimination) were normal in hyperthyroid patients and did not change significantly after therapy. Our data show that the hepatic nitrogen metabolism of hyperthyroid patients is characterized by an upregulation of amino-nitrogen catabolism and loss of the sparing mechanism at low plasma amino acid levels, without any change in different metabolic activities.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

High-dose methotrexate treatment and liver function in patients with osteosarcoma.

OBJECTIVES: To study the effects of short-term high-dose methotrexate therapy on liver function in patients with osteosarcoma. DESIGN: Open prospective study. SETTING: Department of Internal Medicine and Oncology, Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy. SUBJECTS: Fourteen patients with osteosarcoma, with no evidence of previous or actual liver disease at the time of diagnosis. INTERVENTIONS: All patients received a cumulative dose of 30-57 gm-2 of methotrexate within 6 months as neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (pre- and post-surgery). Each course of chemotherapy included methotrexate at a dose of 8-12 gm-2 and, in addition, adriamycin and cisplatinum. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Galactose elimination capacity and antipyrine clearance were measured at baseline, after the first course of chemotherapy, at the end of the pre-operative period and at the end of chemotherapy. In each case they were carried out after transaminase levels had returned to normal. RESULTS: Galactose elimination capacity decreased from 2.45 (+/- 0.48) mM min-1 to 2.04 (+/- 0.60) mM min-1 after the five planned courses of chemotherapy (P = 0.013, Wilcoxon signed-rank test), without any change in routine liver function tests. No differences in antipyrine clearance and half-life were demonstrated (n = 8). CONCLUSIONS: The data are consistent with a decreased reserve capacity of the liver after short-term, high-dose methotrexate. Long-term survivors deserve monitoring of liver function for safer methotrexate use, in the light of progressive dosage increments to improve prognosis in neoplastic diseases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

[Level of myoglobin in serum of patients with epilepsy after generalized tonic-clonic seizure].

In 11 patients with epilepsy serum myoglobin level determinations were performed by the RIA method 10 minutes, 1 hour, 4, 12, and 24 hours after tonic-clonic seizure and were compared with myoglobin concentrations in a group of 30 healthy persons. A statistically significant increase of myoglobin concentration was shown already in the first hour after the seizure with maximal level, almost five times exceeding the baseline level in the fourth hour, and slightly lower--four times exceeding the baseline--12 hours after the seizure. The correlative studies, comparing the profile of myoglobinaemia with the clinical picture (duration of the disease, age and sex, presence or lack of EEG changes, type of therapy used) showed no statistical significance.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Hepatic conversion of amino nitrogen to urea nitrogen in hypothyroid patients and upon L-thyroxine therapy.

Conflicting studies have been reported regarding the influence of thyroid hormones on hepatic nitrogen metabolism and liver metabolic activity. We studied urea N synthesis rate (UNSR), functional hepatic N clearance (FHNC), galactose elimination capacity, and antipyrine clearance in six hypothyroid female patients before and after achievement of a stable euthyroid status. In both conditions, UNSR measured at intervals in response to constant alanine infusion was linearly related to the average alpha-amino N concentrations. In the hypothyroid state, peak UNSR was decreased by 31% in comparison with values measured in euthyroidism, which were in the normal range. FHNC (ie, the slope of the linear relation between UNSR and blood alpha-amino N concentration) is a measure of the kinetics of the process of hepatic amino N to urea N conversion; it was 19.8 +/- 4.0 L.h-1 in hypothyroid patients and increased to normal values after L-thyroxine replacement (30.4 +/- 3.3 L.h-1, P < .01; normal values > 25 L.h-1). Hepatic microsomal and cytosolic activities (antipyrine clearance and galactose elimination) were normal in hypothyroid patients and did not change significantly after therapy. Our data show a specific defect in hepatic handling of amino acids in hypothyroid patients, leading to reduced alpha-amino N to urea N conversion, in the absence of any detectable impairment in different hepatic metabolic activities.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Not Available].

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History of Medicine↗