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Biomedical subjects

F Drago

Publications and source records attributed to F Drago.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Acetylcarnitine reduces the immobility of rats in a despair test (constrained swim).

Male rats forced to swim in a cylinder adopted an immobile posture. Immobility was reduced by acetylcarnitine (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg) and by antidepressant drugs, such as desipramine and iproniazid, injected 24, 5, and, again, 1 h prior to behavioral testing. Acetylcarnitine also potentiated the anti-immobility effect of antidepressant drugs in the despair test. Chronic (10 days) treatment with acetylcarnitine mimicked the effect found after acute administration. It is possible that the action of the acetylcarnitine on the despair test is indicative of an antidepressant activity of this drug that is dependent on a change in the sensitivity of monoamine receptors in the brain.

Acetylcarnitine↗
PubMed1990

Rehabilitation of children after total correction of tetralogy of Fallot.

Nine children who had undergone total correction of tetralogy of Fallot were studied with the purpose of observing the physical changes that might be produced by a period of rehabilitation in hospital and comparing these results with those of a control group having the same pathology but which had not followed a protocol for physical activity. Precise criteria were used in the selection of the patients. Careful clinical examinations and exercise tests were conducted before and after the programme, in particular maximal stress testing on the bicycle ergometer and submaximal exercise on the treadmill. The sessions were held three times weekly in a gymnasium over three months, gradually increasing the duration of each session to a maximum of one hour. During the session, heart rate was monitored with a Sport-tester 3000 so as not to exceed 60%, then 70%, of the maximal heart rate recorded during the stress test. Testing at the end of the programme demonstrated an improvement in tolerance under maximal stress in 7 of the 9 patients. As for submaximal performance, 8 out of 9 children covered a greater distance using the same parameters as for initial testing. At the end of the programme, the children all showed increased independence and initiative and more self-confidence in establishing social relations. The programme has proven to be a comprehensive method for safely improving physical fitness in these patients and represents an important starting point for a better future.

Child↗
PubMed1990

Effects of TRH and prolactin in the behavioral despair (swim) model of depression in rats.

The neuropeptides thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) and prolactin (PRL), which affect various behaviors in animals, showed "antidepressant" properties in an experimental model of depression. Subcutaneous administration of TRH reduced the total immobility time of rats tested in the despair (constrained swim) test and potentiated the anti-immobility effect of intraperitoneally administered desimipramine (DMI). This effect was not mimicked by the peripheral injection of TSH, T3 or T4. Hyperprolactinemia induced by pituitary homografts under the kidney capsule and the intracerebroventricular injection of PRL also potentiated the DMI-induced reduction of total immobility time of rats in the despair test and exerted "antidepressant" effects in aged rats.

Aging↗
PubMed1990

Memory deficits of aged male rats can be improved by pyrimidine nucleosides and n-acetyl-glutamine.

The pyrimidine nucleosides uridine (URI) and cytidine (CYT), alone or associated with n-acetyl-glutamine (NAG), were injected acutely or subchronically to aged (26 months old) male rats of the Sprague-Dawley strain. Learning and memory abilities of the animals were studied with tests of avoidance behavior. The acquisition of active avoidance behavior was studied with the shuttle-box test. A step-through type of passive avoidance task was used to examine the retention of passive avoidance responses. The acquisition of the active avoidance behavior and the retention of the passive avoidance response were reduced in aged animals as compared with those of young animals. Neither the acute treatment of old rats with URI and CYT alone nor that associated with NAG exerted any effect on the behavioral tests. In contrast, the subchronic treatment with URI and CYT was followed by a facilitation of acquisition of active avoidance behavior in the shuttle box and of retention of passive avoidance responses in the dark box. A more potent effect on the acquisition of the shuttle-box behavior and on the retention of passive avoidance reaction was found in animals treated subchronically with the pyrimidine nucleosides associated with NAG. These effects may be related to the role of pyrimidines in the synthesis of ribonucleic acid, which is indispensable for learning and memory processes.

Aging↗
PubMed1990

Effects of hyaluronic acid fractions in the rabbit eye.

Two fractions of hyaluronic acid with different molecular weight (Ial, molecular weight 500,000-730,000 and Healon, molecular weight 750,000) were injected intracamerally or intravitreously in the rabbit eye. Although the fraction with higher molecular weight caused an increase in intraocular pressure, no change of this parameter was found after administration of the fraction with the lower molecular weight. Furthermore, various inflammatory reactions in ocular tissues were observed during slit-lamp biomicroscopy after administration of Healon but not of Ial. No inflammatory reaction was found after subchronic instillation of the compounds.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

[Cycloergometric exercise test in normal children: comparison of an Italian and a North American population].

The need for a more complete protocol for bicycle ergometer exercise testing in children in our country, induced the Authors to apply the F.W. James protocol to healthy Italian children and then compare the results with a study on a similar american sample population. A total of 102 children, 67 males and 35 females, age range 4.4 - 17 years (mean 10.3 yrs), were examined following the F.W. James protocol. The Authors report the anthropometric and ergometric data obtained, the comparison with James' results and the linear correlation coefficients. Normal reference data were obtained. There were no significant differences between the results obtained from the Italian and American groups, and the correlation coefficients were satisfactory. The results will enable us to benefit from a simple and complete protocol which can be applied to healthy and sick children alike in our country.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Effects of calcitonin on morphine tolerance and withdrawal syndrome in morphine physically dependent rats.

We investigated the effect of acute or chronic peripheral administration of [Asu1.7]eel-calcitonin on the development of tolerance to the analgesic effect of morphine and on the naloxone-precipitated withdrawal syndrome in morphine-dependent rats. Neither the analgesic effect of acute morphine nor the development of tolerance to the antinociceptive effect of this drug was modified by calcitonin. However, the chronic but not the acute administration of calcitonin attenuated some signs and symptoms of morphine withdrawal.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Prolactin as a protective factor in stress-induced biological changes.

The adenohypophyseal hormone prolactin (PRL) is released during stress of physical and psychological nature. In animals, this hormone facilitates adaptive behavior, induces analgesia, and enhances grooming behavior. It also reduces corticosterone secretion and the incidence of gastric ulcers induced by physical stress. It is possible that PRL plays a protective role against stress-induced biological modifications in animals.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Aging related changes of neurotransmitters in the visual system.

Different neurotransmitter systems in the retina and optic nerve can be modified during aging. An increase in GABA and dopamine receptor density in the retina of senescent rats has been demonstrated. Lack of data exists on the aging-related changes in optic nerve neurotransmitters. However, it is possible that neurotransmitter changes in the optic nerve at the lateral geniculate nucleus are similar to those in other areas of central nervous system.

Aging↗
PubMed1989

[Diagnostic usefulness of Holter monitoring in pediatric fainting and syncope].

The aim of the study was to assess the diagnostic efficacy of ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring in children with a previous history of fainting and/or syncope. Sixty-one children, from 2 months to 17 years of age, all at the time undergoing different physical examinations because of previous syncopal episodes were examined. All the children had a normal electrocardiogram at rest and all underwent 24 hour electrocardiographic monitoring (Holter). The ECG was normal in 48 patients. Eight children had several dysrhythmias, classified as "borderline" and five children showed a clearly pathological trend. These results are even more significant considering that standard electrocardiogram results are negative. These data underline the diagnostic importance of the dynamic electrocardiogram particularly in cases of very frequently repeated symptoms.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Dihydroergocristine and memory alterations of aged male rats.

The ergot alkaloid derivative dihydroergocristine (DHECS) was injected acutely or subchronically to aged male rats of the Sprague-Dawley strain, 26 months old, at the dose of 0.05 or 0.1 mg/kg. Learning and memory ability of the animals were studied with tests of avoidance behavior. The acquisition of active avoidance behavior was studied with the shuttle-box and pole-jumping tasks. In the latter, the extinction of active avoidance behavior was also studied. A step-through type of passive avoidance task was used to examine the retention of passive avoidance responses. The acquisition of the active avoidance behavior and the retention of the passive avoidance response were reduced in aged animals as compared to those of young animals. Acute treatment of old rats with DHECS was followed by a facilitation of acquisition of active avoidance behavior in the shuttle box and of retention of passive avoidance responses in the dark box. The effect on the acquisition and extinction of pole-jumping behavior after a single injection of DHECS at the beginning of the acquisition session was restricted to the first acquisition trial. A more potent effect on the acquisition of the shuttle-box behavior and on the retention of passive avoidance reaction was found in animals treated subchronically with the ergot derivative (0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg for 10 days). These rats also showed a facilitation of acquisition and an inhibition of extinction of pole jumping behavior.

Aging↗