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Biomedical subjects

G Lenzi

Publications and source records attributed to G Lenzi.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

Free tryptophan decrease in jaundiced newborn infants during phototherapy.

Tryptophan and nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) are bound to serum albumin. NEFA displace tryptophan from their binding sites. Since NEFA decrease during phototherapy, we examined reciprocal variations of NEFA, total and free tryptophan in jaundiced newborn infants during phototherapy. After 24 h of phototherapy, we noticed a significant decrease of both NEFA and free tryptophan (p less than 0.001). Free tryptophan variations might affect the synthesis of cerebral neutrotransmitter 5-hydroxytryptamine, which depends on the passing of free tryptophan through the blood-brain barrier.

Bilirubin

DHPR activity decrease in dried blood spots stored at 4 degrees C.

Dihydropteridine reductase (DHPR) activity has been measured in dried blood spots by the Arai method in 286 subjects divided into 4 groups: 45 newborns aged between 4 and 7 days; 40 subjects with hyperphenylalainaemia; 199 apparently normal subjects, and 2 patients with DHPR deficiency. Furthermore, a study of the persistence of enzymatic activity on the spots stored at 4 degrees C revealed that after 1 year it decreased to one third of the original value, corresponding to the mean value of controls minus 2 SD.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors

Effects of dynorphin on the PHA-induced lymphocyte proliferation in vitro.

The effect of the opioid peptide dynorphin (DYN) on PHA-induced lymphocyte proliferation has been evaluated in the present study. A significant increase in PHA-induced lymphocyte activation was observed when DYN was added to cultures 48 hr after the mitogenic stimulation. This effect occurred at suboptimal (3.12 and 6.25 micrograms/ml) PHA concentrations and at DYN doses ranging from 10(-9) to 10(-12) M. Conversely, DYN did not affect the lymphocyte blastogenic process either when added before, or simultaneously or after intense PHA (12.5 micrograms/ml) stimulation. Naloxone preincubation did not modify the above described effects. Results suggest that DYN might play a role in neuroendocrine regulation of the lymphocyte blastogenic process.

Adult

[Osteomyelitis caused by atypical mycobacteria in multiple colonies].

The authors describe a seven months and a half little girl, A.B., affected by multiple localization osteomyelitis caused by an Atypical Mycobacterium, with the culture identifies as M. Avium, belonging to the third group of Runjon classification. The radiographic tests show a primary pulmonary complex and some osteolytic areas of the seventh right rib and of the bones of the lower legs (femur and tibia). From the beginning a multiple antituberculous chemotherapy against non tuberculous mycobacterial disease has initiated: Streptomycin (for two months) associated with Rifampicin, Isoniazid and Pyridoxine. The patient responds very slowly to the treatment and only three years later the whole radiologic regression of the lesions occurs. The interest of the case comes from the extreme rarity of disseminated bone localization during an atypical mycobacterial infection, and also from the early beginning of the clinical and radiologic manifestations.

Bone and Bones