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Biomedical subjects

G Mele

Publications and source records attributed to G Mele.

53 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

A longitudinal study of valproate free fraction in the specific age group at greatest risk for febrile convulsions (children below 3 years).

The behavior of the free fraction of valproic acid (VPA) was evaluated during long-term treatment of 24 children (9-18 months of age) with febrile convulsions. A series of relevant hematological parameters was monitored for the entire observation period (12 months). VPA plasma levels ranged from 54.3 +/- 26 to 66.6 +/- 32.8 micrograms/ml. The unbound fraction of the drug was determined in tears, which has been shown to be the best practical indicator of the free portion of an anticonvulsant drug, and ranged from 5.1 +/- 4.0 to 6.1 +/- 4.3 micrograms/ml. The tear/plasma ratio (and hence the free/total ratio) ranged from 9.3 to 9.7, in agreement with literature data. No significant variations of VPA plasma and tear levels, and therefore of the tear/plasma ratios, were ever observed. The hematological data revealed no significant alterations during the entire observation time, although some of the variables did fluctuate. Side effects were mild and temporary. The present report indicates that VPA has no particular toxic effect in young children treated for the prevention of febrile convulsions.

Female↗
PubMed1981

Effect of long-term treatment with sodium valproate on gonadotrophin and prolactin secretion in paediatric patients.

1 Luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and prolactin levels were measured in twenty paediatric patients receiving sodium valproate (30 mg/kg body weight daily) and in ten control subjects under control conditions and following LRH-TRH administration. In addition, baseline GH levels were measured in the two groups. 2 No significant differences were observed between the basal and stimulated hormone levels in the two groups. Although sodium valproate may act as anticonvulsant by increasing GABA levels in the central nervous system, the present data indicate that a central GABAergic pathway is probably not involved in the control of gonadotrophin and prolactin secretion.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Pituitary responsiveness to gonadotrophin-releasing and thyrotrophin-releasing hormones in children receiving phenobarbitone.

The effect of long-term treatment with phenobarbitone on pituitary responsiveness to gonadotrophin-releasing hormone and thyrotrophin-releasing hormone was studied in 20 boys being treated with the drug to prevent febrile convulsions. Baseline concentrations of luteinising and follicle-stimulating hormones were reduced as well as the responses of these hormones to stimulation with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone. Baseline prolactin concentrations were raised in comparison with those in normal children. The response of prolactin to thyrotrophin-releasing hormone, however, was impaired only in the children who had been receiving the drug for a long time. Phenobarbitone had no effect on the secretion of growth hormone. Further studies should be carried out to ascertain how long these effects on pituitary function last after phenobarbitone is withdrawn and whether this interference with pituitary function modifies the child's subsequent development.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1980

alpha-Thalassaemia and hyperbilirubinaemia in G-6-PD-deficient newborns.

53 newborn infants with both G-6-PD deficiency (29 male hemizygotes and 24 female heterozygotes) and alpha-thalassaemia, and 120 newborn infants with only the enzymatic defect (60 male hemizygotes and 60 female heterozygotes) were studied. 12 of those with both G-6-PD deficiency and alpha=thalassaemia, and 32 of those with only G-6-PD deficiency showed hyperbilirubinaemia. alpha-Thalassaemia does not seem to be implicated in the development of hyperbilirubinaemia in G-6-PD-deficient newborns.

Female↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cellulose derivative-hyaluronic acid-based microporous hydrogels cross-linked through divinyl sulfone (DVS) to modulate equilibrium sorption capacity and network stability.

The aim of this work is to obtain a chemically cross-linked hydrogel from hyaluronic acid and cellulose derivatives that exhibits sensitivity to variation of the composition of the external absorbing medium and an equilibrium sorption capacity higher than a common hyaluronic acid-based hydrogel, in view of its potential use in prevention of postsurgical soft tissue adhesion. This has been achieved by chemical stabilization of hyaluronic acid (HA) and cellulose derivatives, hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) and carboxymethylcellulose (CMCNa) through the difunctional cross-linker divinyl sulfone. Significant increase in sorption capacity, both in water and in water solutions at different ionic strength, has been observed for these samples in comparison with hydrogels obtained through chemical stabilization of hyaluronic acid. Moreover, different dehydration procedures adopted for the xerogel synthesis have been used, which resulted in a modulation of the equilibrium sorption capacity. Hyaluronic acid stability has been confirmed by means of NMR analysis.

Absorption↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia coexisting with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia.

A case with coexisting chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) is described. A 74-year-old man with a typical B-CLL also showed sustained peripheral blood and bone marrow monocytosis. Typical myelodysplastic changes and monosomy 7 were also found. Cytographic and immunophenotypic analysis confirmed the presence of two distinct cell populations, i.e., lymphoid and monocytoid. Both malignancies presented an extraordinarily benign prognosis. It remains uncertain whether monocytosis was either the expression of a distinct myelomonocytic clone or the progeny of a B/monocytic bipotential precursor able to feed both leukemic phenotypes.

Aged↗