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Biomedical subjects

G Bono

Publications and source records attributed to G Bono.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Electroencephalography in the early diagnosis of HIV-related subacute encephalitis: analysis of 185 patients.

Of subjects with asymptomatic HIV infection or Lymphoadenopathy Syndrome, 185 were studied by means of electroencephalography coupled with computerized spectral analysis and mapping (EEG-CSA). Abnormal EEGs were found in 30 of 118 (25.4%) patients with asymptomatic infection (CDC Group II) and in 20 of 67 (29.9%) patients with Lymphoadenopathy Syndrome (CDC Group III). The most common EEG abnormalities were represented by theta slowing on the frontal and fronto-temporal lobes and, in some cases, by delta slowing and paroxysmal sharp activity on the forebrain. Among 50 patients with abnormal EEGs, 16 showed some abnormalities on neuropsychological testing, whereas mild signs of cerebral atrophy were evident on CT scan in only 12 patients. These findings suggest that EEG-CSA could be a useful and sensitive method in the early detection and monitoring of HIV-related subacute encephalitis.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1988

N-terminal ACTH fragments increase the CSF beta-EP content in Alzheimer type dementia.

Eleven patients with presenile Alzheimer type dementia (ATD) were treated with N-terminal ACTH fragments for 14 days. No change in cognitive functions was observed during the treatment. A significant increase in CSF beta-endorphin (beta-EP) levels was found, while ACTH and beta-lipoprotein remain unaffected. The possibility that ACTH and its moieties could interfere with beta-EP activities in CNS is discussed.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1988

[Alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Effects of short-term treatment with dapiprazole].

A study on dapiprazole, a new psychotropic agent, in the treatment of patients during the alcohol withdrawal syndrome, is reported. On the basis of evaluations made on the severity of the physical and psychic symptoms of withdrawal, the conclusion is drawn that the new psychotropic agent, administered at gradually increasing doses of 40 to 90 mg/kg for 7 days, completely controls the clinical symptomatology at least in 70% of the cases treated.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Italian multicenter study of reversible cerebral ischemic attacks. Part 5. Risk factors and cerebral atherosclerosis.

As part of a prospective study, the influence of several premorbid and environmental factors on the presence, extent and severity of cerebral vessel atherosclerosis was studied in 462 patients with clinical diagnosis of RIA who underwent cerebral angiography. The extent and severity of atherosclerosis of the cerebral vessels was quantified using extracranial and intracranial cerebrovascular scores (ECS, ICS) based on the number and severity of the lesions in 11 extracranial and 21 intracranial arterial segments. Results of univariate and multivariate analyses indicate that the presence of atherosclerotic changes of cerebral vessels, as shown by angiography, was strongly related with age in both sexes. The lesions were more frequent in males, in particular under age 55. Elevated cholesterol was associated with a higher incidence of atherosclerotic lesions. Smoking was associated with a higher incidence of extracranial lesions. Age, smoking and history of hypertension were the best predictors of the extent and severity of cerebral vessel atherosclerosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Reproductive performance of female goats given progestagen associated with PMSG and/or HMG in deep anestrus.

During deep anestrus and after a 21-day fluorogestone acetate (FGA) treatment, 200 pluriparous lactating Alpine goats were given randomly one of four treatments: (A) 500 IU of pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) 48 h before sponge removal; (B) 500 IU of PMSG 48 h before sponge removal and an ampoule of human menopausal gonadotropin (HMG) at sponge removal; (C) two ampoules of HMG at sponge removal; (D) four ampoules of HMG at sponge removal. All the goats were mated naturally during estrus. The percentage of goats kidding (fertility rate) was 6, 34, 40 and 36% for groups A, B, C, and D, respectively; the number of kids/pregnant female (prolificacy) averaged between 1.33 and 1.72. The accuracy of pregnancy diagnosis on the basis of plasma progesterone concentration 20 to 22 days after mating was not particularly satisfactory, mainly because many pregnant goats, and especially group A goats, showed abnormally prolonged luteal activity. The determination of total estrone 60 days after mating gave almost 100% overall accuracy.

Anestrus↗
PubMed1986

Reduced testosterone levels in cluster headache: a stress-related phenomenon?

The circadian changes in testosterone (T) and cortisol secretion and morning luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were evaluated in nine episodic cluster headache (CH) patients in active phase and in seven healthy volunteers, with collection of blood samples every 2 h for 24 h. CH showed a significant reduction of the 24-h integrated mean T value (mesor) (4.4 + 1.1 ng/ml; chi +/- SD) in comparison with controls (6.6 +/- 0.8 ng/ml) (P less than 0.01). Both groups had plasma T circadian rhythm with peak values in early morning, but in CH single cosinor analysis showed its absence in three out of nine CH patients. The rhythm showed an acrophase delay of 101 min in CH. Both patients and controls had a significant circadian rhythm of plasma cortisol concentration. CH patients, however, showed an acrophase delay of 106 min and significantly increased concentrations from 1200 h to 2000 h. Morning LH values were similar in the two groups. The reduced secretion of plasma T in CH patients in the active phase coexisted with an acrophase delay of its circadian rhythm. A similar delay was found in 24-h plasma cortisol levels. We suggest that stress accompanying attack expectancy in the active phase is the mechanism behind the elevated plasma cortisol levels. This in turn could reduce T concentrations, acting at the testicular level. These disturbances in internal chronoorganization support the hypothesis that cluster headache is basically a dyschronic disorder.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Changes in the dopaminergic control of prolactin secretion and in ovarian steroids in migraine.

Prolactin (PRL) responses to dopamine (DA) blockers and to direct and indirect DA agonists have been studied in 23 healthy women, 17 women with catamenial migraine and 17 with non-catamenial migraine in both their follicular and luteal phases. PRL responses to the DA blockers were greater in the follicular phase of both migraine groups than in controls. The inhibitory effect of nomifensine on PRL secretion was dampened in the follicular phase of both migraine groups. These findings demonstrate an increased PRL reserve in migraine and suggest the existence of a dopaminergic supersensitivity of the lactotrophic postsynaptic DA receptors. The impaired inhibitory effect of nomifensine on PRL secretion hints at a decrease of the presynaptic DA content in tuberoinfundibular DA neurons. In migrainous women 17-beta-oestradiol levels are higher in both ovarian phases, whereas progesterone concentrations and the progesterone to oestradiol ratio are lower than in healthy subjects in the luteal phase. These data suggest the existence of a change in the oestrogen-dependent modulation of pituitary DA receptors.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

CSF and plasma levels of pro-opiomelanocortin-related peptides in reversible ischaemic attacks and strokes.

Plasma and CSF beta-endorphin (beta-EP), beta-lipotropin (beta-LPH) and ACTH levels were studied in a group of 25 patients who underwent reversible ischaemic attacks or completed strokes. CSF beta-EP and beta-LPH in ischaemic patients were higher than those of the control population, independently of both clinical reversibility of the cerebral damage, and the time lapse sampling and the acute event. The presence of a CT demonstrable lesion was related to the highest CSF beta-EP levels. These data confirm an involvement of central opioid substances in the phenomena related to brain ischaemia. ACTH levels in the CSF did not differ from the controls; this finding further supports the concept of an independent central secretion of the different pro-opiomelanocortin-related peptides. The peripheral plasma concentrations of beta-EP, beta-LPH and ACTH, were, in contrast, within the normal range, confirming that CSF and plasma contents of pro-opiomelanocortin-related peptides are differently controlled and originate from different sources.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1985

CSF beta-EP in headache and depression.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of beta-endorphin (beta-EP) were measured in 9 migraineurs with interparoxysmal headache (MIH), in 13 patients with major depression in an active phase (5 suffered from MIH), and in 16 age-matched controls. beta-EP was measured by specific RIA after gel-chromatography. While beta-EP levels of depressed patients (58.5 +/- 21.0 fmol/ml, M +/- SD) were similar to those of controls (65.8 +/- 26.6), those of migraineurs (15.0 +/- 11.1) were significantly reduced (p less than 0.01). In depressed patients also suffering from MIH, beta-EP concentrations (22.8 +/- 7.2, p less than 0.05) were half those reported in depressed patients without pain problems. The reduced CSF beta-EP levels in patients whose headache and depression coexist support the notion that this neuropeptide is concerned with chronic pain, independently of the affective state.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Flunarizine in common migraine: Italian cooperative trial. I. Short-term results and responders' definition.

In order to assess the effects of flunarizine in long-term prophylaxis of common migraine, 120 subjects (90 female and 30 male) were treated with 10 mg at bedtime and followed-up for two years. The effectiveness of the drug was assessed by investigating the variations of the Headache Index (HI) and of the intake of analgesics. The patients considered responders were those with an at least 60% reduction of the HI compared with the baseline value. To assess side effects, on each follow-up examination the patients were weighed and submitted to the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, Toulouse-Pieron test for attention, and arousal test. By the third month of therapy, the average monthly HI had decreased from a baseline value of 16.5 +/- 7.0 to 7.5 +/- 4.2. Also by the third month, 60 subjects had proved responders and 50 non-responders; 10 had dropped out of the study because of side effects or for other reasons. The only statistically significant differences between responders and non-responders were in the baseline HI, which was higher among responders, and in the baseline intake of analgesics, which was higher in non-responders.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Flunarizine in common migraine: Italian cooperative trial. II. Long-term follow-up.

The effects of flunarizine administration (10 mg/day, at bed time) were studied in 120 common migraine patients who were followed for 24 months with quarterly controls. Besides headache index (HI) and analgesic use, other variables were monitored, such as arousal (Tolouse Pieron test), mood (Hamilton rating scale for depression), sleep/wake (hrs) and body weight. The study was open-type and after the 6th month control some responder (R) cases (HI reduction greater than or equal to 60%) presenting HI scores less than or equal to 4 could continue the survey off-treatment. The percentage of R cases was 54.5% at the 3rd month, a figure that further increased up to 72% by the 9th month; relapses on treatment were not observed and rebound-headache occurred in 1/4 of R cases let off-treatment. Lower (p less than 0.05) baseline HI values characterized non-responders. Side-effects not requiring withdrawal were drowsiness (42% within the 1st month) and weight gain (mean 7.9 +/- 6.9 kg) in 54% of the cases, while a retarded type depression was the most frequent cause of drop-out from trial (7.5%). The results, while confirming the high prophylactic activity of flunarizine in common migraine, stress the importance of clinical long-term survey of side-effects using antimigraine drugs and suggest the need for further investigations about flunarizine effects on CNS.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

beta-Endorphin cerebrospinal fluid decrease in untreated parkinsonian patients.

We measured CSF and plasma contents of beta-endorphin (beta-EP), beta-lipotropin (beta-LPH), and ACTH in 24 patients with Parkinson's disease; 14 had not been treated. CSF beta-EP concentrations in untreated patients were lower than in 15 controls (p less than 0.005), but values did not differ significantly in treated and untreated patients. In untreated and treated patients, ACTH and beta-LPH CSF, and beta-EP, beta-LPH, and ACTH plasma concentrations were in the same range as controls. The Parkinson's disease-related decrease of CSF beta-EP levels further supports the concept that there is a generalized brain disorder in Parkinson's disease affecting more than dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1984

L-5HTP treatment in primary headaches: an attempt at clinical identification of responsive patients.

The therapeutic response to L-5HTP, a serotonin precursor, was studied in an attempt to identify clinical subgroups of primary headache patients. The results at the 4th month control in 100 patients under L-5HTP treatment at the dose of 300 mg/day confirm previous observations on the activity profile of the drug, the effects of which are equally distributed between recurrent and daily forms as well as among clinical subtypes. The emerging profile of the responsive patients is characterized by such peculiar traits as prevalence of previous major mood disturbances and minor frequency of anxiety, longer duration of the illness and higher occurrence of some associated symptoms, lower incidence of exogenous and hormonal trigger factors, and previously positive response to pizotifen treatment.

5-Hydroxytryptophan↗
PubMed1983

Mathematical analysis of antiserum titre and affinity in rabbits injected with 11 alpha OH-progesterone-hemisuccinate-BSA.

A mathematical procedure is presented here to determine the behaviour of antiserum titre in rabbits, after repeated injections of 11 alpha OH-Progesterone-hemisuccinate-BSA. By means of methods recently applied to the time series, the peaks of maximum response were determined. A common behaviour of rabbits was revealed for the delay times in the response after each booster injection. The titre and affinity of antiserum were determined by means of a special method for mathematical treatment of data in RIA analysis, which gives directly such parameters with a statistical interpretation.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Cluster headache--clinical findings in 180 patients.

Anamnestic data and clinical features were accurately investigated in 180 patients with cluster headache; 161 were episodic sufferers and 19 were chronic. A significantly high familial incidence of coronary heart disease was found. The patients' medical history revealed a significantly high incidence of peptic ulcer disease and head injury with brain concussion. It is stressed that the side on which head injury took place is very frequently the same side on which cluster headache is located, although the latency between the two events appears to be a long one. The study of timing of cluster periods suggests, for some patients, a constant, typical temporal pattern not necessarily related to seasons or the months of of the year. Cluster attacks frequently occur during certain periods of the day (onset being most frequent between 1 and 3 p.m.). Cluster headache cannot be considered as a nocturnal headache.

Adolescent↗