Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

G Testa

Publications and source records attributed to G Testa.

64 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

[Effects of phosphatidylserine in an experimental model of generalized epilepsy].

The possible antiepileptic activity of PS has been tested in a model of generalized epilepsy induced by penicillin in the cat. In acute experiments, topical application to the cortex of PS (from 20 mg/ml to 50 mg/ml) produced a reverse in the polarity of the spike and wave complex and, sometimes, a decrease in the voltage as well as a morphological deformation of s-w bursts. Chronic intraperitoneal administration of PS induced a decrease of the epileptic burst frequency. The effect was already apparent after 14 days and of greater extent after 21 days. Finally the antiepileptic effect of 0,2-0,5 mg/Kg diazepam, given in a single dose during the maximal epileptic activity resulted markedly reinforced in animals chronically treated with PS.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Lafora disease complicating myoclonus epilepsy. Report of 3 cases].

We studied four patients affected by progressive myoclonic epilepsy: three patients had the clinical features of Lafora's disease while the fourth was affected by a Lundborg's type of myoclonic epilepsy. In all above cases we found no specific electroencephalographic records of Lafora's disease; muscle histochemistry was useful for the diagnosis and the demonstration of PAS positive and NADH-TR positive Lafora's bodies. The Authors discuss the nosographic situation of Lafora's body disease among the progressive myoclonic epilepsies.

Biopsy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Primidone kinetics and analysis of its interactions with the major antiepileptic drugs].

In 5 volunteers, after single oral administration of 10 mg/Kg of primidone (PRM) plasmatic concentration of the drug has been monitored during 24 hours. PRM plasma half life was found longer than in previous reports. It was however confirmed that its metabolite phenobarbital (PB) is not present in the blood for at least 48 hours. Moreover 166 patients under long term PRM treatment were investigated as to the influence of phenytoin (DPH) and carbamazepine (CBZ) on the PB serum levels. It was found that patients in therapy with PRM + DPH showed a better relationship between PRM oral dose and PB plasma level and also between oral dose and plasma level of DPH than in patients in monotherapy with PRM or DPH, whereas these effects were not evident in patients taking PB + DPH.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Clinicopharmacologic study of blood carbamazepine levels in a group of epileptic patients].

Clinico-pharmacological evaluation on Carbamazepine serum levels was performed in a group of epileptic patients. CBZ (Carbamazepine) blood levels have been detected in a heterogeneous group of epileptic patients taking several other antiepileptic drugs. Patients in which there was a good reduction of epileptic seizures after CBZ was added, had a mean blood level of 4.2 plus or minus 1.4 microgram/ml. When Dyphenilhydantoine (DPH) and/or Phenobarbital (PB) were associated with CBZ they both decreased CBZ blood levels; on the contrary CBZ did not appear to modify DPH and PB blood levels.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Effect of gamma-amino-beta-hydroxybutyric acid (GABHB) on experimentally-induced epileptic activity].

Effects of GABOB on experimental induced epileptiform activities. Antiepileptic activity of gamma-amino-beta-hydroxybutyric acid (GABOB) has been tested on different models of either generalized or focal epilepsy induced by penicillin in cat. In acute experiments, topical application to the cortex of GABOB (from 1% to 10%) during feline generalized epilepsy produced a reverse in polarity of the spike and wave complex, while in the so called "epileptogenic corticopathy" it induced a decrease in voltage as well as in frequency of the bilateral spikes and polyspikes. A similar effect was seen after parenteral injection of GABOB in acute preparations in which a penicillin focus was created. In chronic animals, in which feline generalized penicillin epilepsy had been produced, a single i.v. injection of GABOB induced a significant decrease of the epileptic bursts during the first 30' after the antiepileptic drug was injected. Finally in 4 animals chronic administration of GABOB leaded to a mean decrease of the epileptic bursts higher than 50%. These data support the antiepileptic activity of GABOB. However the high doses used in this study to achieve the antiepileptic effect could make difficult its use in human patients.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Thymus gland scan in myasthenia gravis: experience in 52 patients].

A firm relationship has been established between thymus gland pathology and myasthenia gravis. The most frequent changes observed in this gland consist in simple hyperplasia of germinal centers or thymoma. In order to detect these alterations it is necessary to have a suitable reliable technique, beside routine radiological exams: thymus scan has been proposed as an useful tool. Since 1968 we submitted 52 patients to this procedure; we used as a tracer 75Se-Seleniomethionine in most cases, 57Co-bleomycin and 67Ga-citrate in a few cases. The scan was found positive in 22 cases (42%) showing either localized or diffuse uptake in the region of the sternum. Thymus changes were subsequently examined in 26 cases: 22 cases after thymectomy in 4 cases at autopsy. We found a good correlation between positive scan and pathological changes of the gland such as thymoma or germinal center hyperplasia. However in 4 patients with negative scan that previously received radiation therapy or immunosuppressive therapy such pathology was missed: 3 cases of hyperplasia and 1 residual thymoma. We conclude that thymic scan an useful and highly specific diagnostic procedure and should be done before any kind of treatment which affects thymus.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Water activity and food stability. I. Effects on viability of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells (author's transl)].

Biological activity of microorganism is related to water activity (aw). In this paper the effect of glicerol as humectant on Saccharomyces cerevisiae viability was considered. The irreversible loss of viability was observed only for values inferior than 0,75. The K+ presence promoted an increasing of cell viability and growth. We have evaluated the changes of the most important components of cell poll; the increasing of glicerol amount of the system induced a drastic fall of aminoacids, purines and K ions content, but it increased the Na ions content. The exposure of cells to increasing glicerol concentrations, caused an aminoacids and purines excretion related to contact time; after a few hours this material was readsorbed by cells.

Desiccation↗