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Biomedical subjects

G Rossi

Publications and source records attributed to G Rossi.

At least 451 records · Page 25Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Prevalence of extracranial carotid artery lesions at duplex in primary aldosteronism.

Renovascular hypertension and high renin hypertension were found to be associated with an excess prevalence of carotid artery atherosclerotic lesions and to a higher risk of stroke, respectively, as compared to low-to-normal renin hypertension. Primary aldosteronism, being characterized by hypertension and a chronically suppressed plasma renin activity, should be accompanied by a low prevalence of carotid artery lesions. To verify this hypothesis we investigated prospectively, by a high resolution duplex ultrasound technique, the prevalence of extracranial carotid artery lesions in a case-controlled study of 34 (22 women and 12 men, aged 22 to 76 years) patients with no history or symptoms of cerebrovascular disease. Primary aldosteronism was diagnosed in 17 patients; 12 had a surgically confirmed unilateral aldosterone-secreting adenoma; and 5 had idiopathic hyperaldosteronism. Each primary aldosteronism patient was individually matched with a control with primary hypertension for sex, race, age, body mass index, casual blood pressure levels, duration of hypertension, smoking, diabetes mellitus, total serum cholesterol, and triglycerides. After the matching, the two groups were similar in terms of demographic features and overall cardiovascular risk profile (all P = NS). However, plasma renin activity and aldosterone levels were significantly lower and higher, respectively, in primary aldosteronism than in primary hypertensive patients. In primary aldosteronism the overall prevalence of carotid artery lesions at duplex was 59%, not significantly different from that (53%) found in primary hypertensives. Thus, at variance with renovascular hypertension, primary aldosteronism is not associated with an excess prevalence of carotid artery lesions.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Detection of BCR/ABL transcripts in chronic myeloid leukaemia by polymerase chain reaction and DNA enzyme immunoassay: a DNA probe assay without DNA labelling.

The detection of the t(9;22) translocation, typical of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), can be accomplished by cytogenetical detection of Philadelphia (Ph1) chromosome or by molecular analysis of the bcr/abl fusion gene with nucleic acid probes after amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR-based approaches are now widely used for follow up of CML patients during therapy or after bone marrow transplantation (BMT). We describe here a microtitre, colorimetric assay (DNA Enzyme Immunoassay, DEIA) for analysis of t(9;22) translocation after enzymatical amplification of RNA from CML patients. This assay is based on the use of a monoclonal antibody specifically reacting with double stranded DNA, i.e. with hybridized DNA. The assay represents a nonisotopic alternative to other current hybridization assays and requires no modifications of primers, probe or target DNA.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Necrosis of a phaeochromocytoma associated with spontaneous remission of diabetes and hypertension.

The diagnosis of phaeochromocytoma is sometimes difficult since its clinical presentation is quite variable. We report a 52-year-old woman who presented with acute diabetes mellitus and severe hypertension, which spontaneously disappeared. MIBG-scintigraphy and urine and plasma catecholamines were normal. At surgery, a largely necrotic phaeochromocytoma was found. Pathological examination demonstrated extensive avascular necrosis, which had occurred spontaneously without any major symptoms.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
PubMed1993

Feeding of rapeseed presscake meal to pigs: effects on thyroid morphology and function and on thyroid hormone blood levels, on liver and on growth performance.

Effects of feeding soybean meal (SBM) or a mixture of SBM and 5%, 10% and 15% of either 0- and 00-rapeseed presscake meal (RPM) on thyroid, liver and growth performance were studied in castrated boars. Goitrin (G) intake was closely correlated with total glucosinolate intake and blood thiocyanate concentration. In pigs fed 10% and 15% 0-RPM refused feed was enhanced and daily gain decreased. Liver weight and DNA/total liver increased with increasing G intake. Thyroid weights increased up to a G intake of 4.6 mmol/d and then decreased with higher G intake. DNA content/g dry matter (DM) increased continuously and total thyroidal DNA content up to a G intake of 4.6 mmol/l, indicating hyperplasia. Epithelial thickness increased up to a G intake of 13.3 mmol/d, whereas follicular area only up to an intake of 4.6 mmol G/d and then decreased, mirrored by a decrease of DM content. Thyroidal thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) content decreased with increasing G intake. Blood serum levels of T4 decreased with increasing G intake, whereas T3 levels only tended to decrease. Therefore, measured parameters differently reacted to different G intake. In groups fed high amounts of G, hyperplasia was not sufficient to maintain physiological circulating T4 levels, but enhanced thyroidal secretion T3 and/or extrathyreoidal T4 to T3 conversion obviously allowed maintenance of near normal circulating T3 concentrations and barely reduced growth rate despite marked hypothyroidism.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1993

Use of cryotherapy in the treatment of keloids.

BACKGROUND: Numerous approaches are used to treat keloids, but none is ideal for all scars and recurrence after treatment is frequent. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of cryotherapy for treatment of these scars. METHODS: Sixty-five lesions of various sizes and ages were treated with a hand-held liquid nitrogen spray unit; freeze times and number of sessions varied. Scar volume was measured before and after treatment. RESULTS: Complete flattening was achieved in 48 scars (73%), most of which were less than 2 years old. Unacceptable responses were seen in six scars. No recurrence was seen during follow-ups ranging from 17 to 42 months. Side effects were limited to hypopigmentation and slight to moderate atrophy in three cases. CONCLUSION: Cryotherapy is an effective, low-risk approach to keloid treatment associated with a low rate of recurrence.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Microbial purification technique of mineral dressing plants reject waters.

Earlier investigations on laboratory and pilot plant scale have shown the resort to microorganisms to be a practicable approach to the problem of purifying mineral dressing plant reject waters from residual flotation reagents and/or metal ions. In spite of the proven effectiveness of this method, one major drawback, namely the pathogenicity of some microorganisms, has so far hampered its application on a commercial scale. A research programme, aimed at developing a microbial reject water purification technique utilizing non-pathogenic strains was thus drawn up and is currently being implemented. Strains such as Bacillus subtilis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, which are not harmful to human health, some of them being commonly found in the human intestine, have been successfully tested for removing alkylsulphates, alkylamines and fatty acids from solutions simulating flotation plant tailings waters. Removals as high as 90% in less than 48 h can be easily achieved with no nutrient requirements, since in most cases the flotation reagent residue to be removed is metabolized by the microorganisms themselves.

Acinetobacter calcoaceticus↗
PubMed1993

Temporal changes in insulin resistance and secretion in 24-h-fasted conscious pregnant rats.

To determine the temporal sequence of pregnancy-induced changes in insulin action and secretion, awake midpregnant (11-12 days) and late pregnant (19-20 days) rats underwent a two-step euglycemic hyperinsulinemic or a hyperglycemic clamp study after a 24-h fast. During euglycemia, insulin-stimulated increments in glucose uptake and clearance in midpregnant rats were reduced by 60-70% at the lower dose (insulin approximately 360 pM) and by 20-30% at the higher dose (insulin approximately 1,750 pM; P < 0.01 vs. virgin controls). Insulin action was also diminished in late pregnant rats. However, the magnitude of resistance did not increase. Insulin-mediated suppression of glucose production was only minimally impaired in midpregnancy. In contrast, glucose production was virtually unchanged in late pregnancy, even at the highest insulin dose. During hyperglycemia, insulin responses in late pregnancy were markedly increased 5-fold above controls and 2.5-fold above midpregnant rats (P < 0.05). We conclude that rat pregnancy is characterized by the early appearance of peripheral insulin resistance. As pregnancy progresses toward term, marked hepatic insulin resistance and insulin hypersecretion develop, whereas peripheral insulin resistance demonstrates negligible changes. These data imply that insulin hypersecretion during late pregnancy is most closely linked to hepatic insulin resistance, at least in 24-h-fasted animals.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Intravenously infused substance P is unable to change basal and TRH-stimulated PRL secretion in normal men.

In order to test the possible effects of an intravenous administration of substance P (SP) on basal and TRH-stimulated PRL release, SP was infused alone (0.5 or 1.5 pmol/kg-1/min-1 for 60 min) or after TRH (20 or 400 micrograms in an i.v. bolus) in 21 normal male subjects. In addition, plasma cortisol levels during SP infusion were measured. In agreement with previous findings, a significant increase in plasma cortisol levels was observed when the higher (1.5 pmol/kg-1/min-1) but not the lower (0.5 pmol/kg-1/min-1) amount of SP was given. In contrast, basal and TRH (20 or 400 micrograms)-induced PRL release were not modified by SP at any tested amount. These data suggest that, in normal men, plasma SP is not involved in the control of PRL release at the anterior pituitary level.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Integrin expression in thyroid cells from normal glands and nodular goiters.

To assess the expression of the very late antigens family of the integrin superfamily in normal and diseased thyroid glands, tissue specimens were digested to a single cell suspension and analyzed by flow cytometry with antibodies against the common beta 1 chain and the six alpha chains known to be associated to beta 1. In multinodular goiters, two cell populations were recognized. The thyroglobulin containing follicular cell population, represented the majority of cells; a minor population was composed of leukocytes. In normal glands, more than 97% of follicular cells expressed the beta 1 chain, associated with high levels of alpha 3 and very low levels of alpha 1, alpha 5, and alpha 6. The remaining cells (< 3%) expressed the beta 1 chain with a 10-fold higher intensity, associated with relatively high levels of alpha 1, alpha 5, and alpha 6, in addition to alpha 3. This small subset was much more represented in multinodular goiters, where it ranged from 10-60% of the total follicular cell population. Immunofluorescence on tissue sections showed that very late antigens were mostly located on the basal cell membrane and that in multinodular goiters cells expressing the alpha 1, alpha 5, and alpha 6 chains occurred in clusters.

Flow Cytometry↗
PubMed1993

Inhibitory effect of pregnancy on counterregulatory hormone responses to hypoglycemia in awake rat.

Intensive insulin treatment during diabetic pregnancy is complicated by maternal hypoglycemia. To investigate whether pregnancy may contribute as an independent hypoglycemia risk factor, awake pregnant rats that were near term underwent stepped insulin hypoglycemic (3.4 and 2.3 mM) clamp studies in the fasted and nonfasted states. In the fasted state, the glucagon response to hypoglycemia was completely suppressed in the pregnant rats (P < 0.01). Epinephrine, but not norepinephrine, was also diminished by approximately 70-75% at both hypoglycemic steps, and more exogenous glucose was needed to maintain hypoglycemia during pregnancy. To avoid the potential confounding effect of increased ketone levels (beta-hydroxybutyrate was approximately 170% higher in the pregnant rats), experiments were repeated in the nonfasting state when ketosis was eliminated in both groups. The nonfasted pregnant rats continued to show near complete suppression of the glucagon response, even at glucose levels of 2.3 mM. In contrast, a brisk response occurred in nonpregnant controls when glucose fell to 3.4 mM. Although epinephrine levels in the pregnant rats were also markedly suppressed during the milder hypoglycemic stimulus, they approached values seen in nonpregnant controls when glucose was lowered further to 2.3 mM. We concluded that in the rat, pregnancy markedly suppresses glucagon responses to hypoglycemia. The release of epinephrine, but not norepinephrine, is also blunted, especially during mild hypoglycemia. These findings suggest that pregnancy may impair glucose counterregulation by inhibiting glucagon and epinephrine release during hypoglycemia.

3-Hydroxybutyric Acid↗
PubMed1993

Idarubicin in the initial treatment of adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: the effect of drug schedule on outcome.

Fifty two adults (aged 15 to 66 years) with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL, n = 47) or lymphoid blast phase chronic myelogenous leukemia (Ly-CML, n = 5) were managed with three distinct protocols containing idarubicin at a cumulative dose of 36, 20, and 10 mg/m2, respectively, plus vincristine, L-asparaginase, and prednisolone (IVAP-1, -2, -3). IVAP-1 was highly toxic and gave a low complete remission (CR) rate (7/17, 41%). Nine patients died of complications while severely neutropenic, and one had resistant disease. In contrast, 24 of 28 patients subsequently treated with IVAP-2 achieved a CR (86%, p 0.005), the rate of both hematological and extrahematological toxicity being significantly reduced compared with IVAP-1 (p < 0.05). With IVAP-3, 6/7 patients aged > 60 years achieved CR. IVAP-2 with total idarubicin 20 mg/m2 is a very effective and well tolerated regimen for the initial treatment of adults with ALL.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Anthracycline containing regimens in intermediate grade lymphoma. Italian Cooperative Study Group on Intermediate Grade Malignant Lymphoma.

From March 1991 to April 1992, 44 previously untreated patients with stage II to IV intermediate-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (according to the Kiel classification) were entered in a phase III comparative trial. The objectives of the study were to compare the efficacy and safety of using idarubicin instead of doxorubicin in the combination chemotherapeutic regimen CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisolone). Forty-four patients were randomly assigned to receive either CI(idarubicin)OP or CH(doxorubicin)OP. The study is ongoing and so far no significant differences in complete response rate and (non-)hematologic toxicity have been observed.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Intensive therapy for adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia: preliminary results of the idarubicin/vincristine/L-asparaginase/prednisolone regimen.

Between June 1991 and September 1992, 80 patients with adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) (newly diagnosed, n = 68; relapsed or refractory ALL, n = 7; lymphoid blast transformation of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia [LT-CML], n = 5) were managed with a combination regimen consisting of idarubicin 36, 20, or 10 mg/m2 plus vincristine, L-asparaginase, and prednisolone (IVAP-1, -2, -3). Three patients with LT-CML and four with relapsing ALL had a complete remission. In the group of newly diagnosed patients aged 15 to 60 years treated with IVAP-1, the complete remission rate was only 44% due to the high incidence of toxic deaths. In contrast, 39 of 44 cases who subsequently received IVAP-2 achieved a complete remission (89%, P = .001), as did 62% of elderly patients who received IVAP-3. Hematologic and nonhematologic toxicity was significantly reduced with IVAP-2 compared with IVAP-1. The use of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in 24 patients was not associated with a reduced duration of granulocytopenia less than 0.5 x 10(9)/L, although there was a lower incidence of documented infections in patients receiving granulocyte colony-stimulating factor than in controls. Post-remission intensification with idarubicin-based courses, high-dose therapy with autologous bone marrow stem cell rescue, and rotational weekly therapy was feasible and its toxicity was manageable. These preliminary findings indicate that IVAP-2 (idarubicin 20 mg/m2) is a highly effective and well-tolerated regimen for remission induction of adult ALL.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Counter-regulatory response to hypoglycemia in the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether the phase of the menstrual cycle influences the counter-regulatory response to hypoglycemia. DESIGN: Prospective randomized euglycemia-hypoglycemia clamp studies in the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle in the same woman. SETTINGS: Clinical Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine. PATIENTS: Eight regularly menstruating nonobese women. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Counter-regulatory hormonal response to hypoglycemia-epinephrine, norepinephrine, glucagon, cortisol, GH, and PRL; glucose homeostasis: rates of whole-body glucose appearance and utilization, and the rate of hepatic glucose production. RESULTS: In the follicular and luteal phases of the cycle fasting glucose levels (88 +/- 1 and 85 +/- 2 mg/dL, mean +/- SEM, respectively; conversion factor to SI units, 0.05551), basal glucose turnover (2.37 +/- 0.20 and 2.63 +/- 0.13 mg/kg per minute), basal insulin levels (10 +/- 1 and 9 +/- 1 microU/mL; conversion factor to SI units, 6.0), and insulin levels during the clamp study (53 +/- 3 and 45 +/- 4 microU/mL) were not significantly different. During the euglycemic phase of both studies, glucose utilization rose twofold (to 4.73 +/- 0.31 and 4.39 +/- 0.31 mg/kg per minute): hepatic glucose production was suppressed; and counter-regulatory hormones remained unchanged. Induction of hypoglycemia produced increases in the concentrations of counter-regulatory hormones that were indistinguishable in both phases of the cycle. Similarly, the increase in hepatic glucose production provoked during hypoglycemia was similar in each phase of the cycle (1.20 +/- 0.24 and 1.28 +/- 0.36 mg/kg per minute). CONCLUSION: The counter-regulatory hormonal response to hypoglycemia, as well as the metabolic sequelae of these hormonal changes, are similar in the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle.

Adult↗