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Biomedical subjects

J Giordano

Publications and source records attributed to J Giordano.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Comparison of the benzoyl-DL-arginine-naphthylamide (BANA) test, DNA probes, and immunological reagents for ability to detect anaerobic periodontal infections due to Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, and Bacteroides forsythus.

Most forms of periodontal disease are associated with the presence or overgrowth of anaerobic species that could include Treponema denticola, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Bacteroides forsythus among others. These three organisms are among the few cultivable plaque species that can hydrolyze the synthetic trypsin substrate benzoyl-DL-arginine-naphthylamide (BANA). In turn, BANA hydrolysis by the plaque can be associated with periodontal morbidity and with the presence of these three BANA-positive organisms in the plaque. In this investigation, the results of the BANA test, which simultaneously detects one or more of these organisms, were compared with the detection of these organisms by (i) highly specific antibodies to P. gingivalis, T. denticola, and B. forsythus; (ii) whole genomic DNA probes to P. gingivalis and T. denticola; and (iii) culturing or microscopic procedures. The BANA test, the DNA probes, and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or an indirect immunofluorescence assay procedure exhibited high sensitivities, i.e., 90 ot 96%, and high accuracies, i.e., 83 to 92%, in their ability to detect combinations of these organisms in over 200 subgingival plaque samples taken from the most periodontally diseased sites in 67 patients. This indicated that if P. gingivalis, T. denticola, and B. forsythus are appropriate marker organisms for an anaerobic periodontal infection, then the three detection methods are equally accurate in their ability to diagnose this infection. The same statement could not be made for the culturing approach, where accuracies of 50 to 62% were observed.

Bacteria, Anaerobic↗
PubMed1991

Analgesic effects of S and R isomers of the novel 5-HT3 receptor antagonists ADR-851 and ADR-882 in rats.

The present study examined analgesia produced by S and R isomers of the novel 5-HT3 receptor antagonists, ADR-851 and ADR-882 (0.1-10 mg/kg s.c.) against acute thermal, mechanical and formalin-induced inflammatory pain in rats. Neither isomer of ADR-851 or ADR-882 was analgesic in the thermal or mechanical test. Similarly, neither S or R forms of ADR-882 produced significant anti-nociception in the formalin test. In contrast, ADR-851R produced significant analgesia at 3 and 10 mg/kg doses in this test, while ADR-851S produced significant analgesia only at 1 mg/kg.

Analgesics↗
PubMed1991

Analgesic profile of centrally administered 2-methylserotonin against acute pain in rats.

The present study examined patterns of analgesia by intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) or intrathecal (i.t.) administration of the serotonin 5-HT3 receptor agonist, 2-methylserotonin (1-100 micrograms) against acute thermal, mechanical or formalin-induced chemo-inflammatory pain in male rats. Neither i.c.v. or i.t. 2-methylserotonin produced motoric, sedative or respiratory effects. I.c.v. 2-methylserotonin was not analgesic at any dose in the pain assays employed. I.t. 2-methylserotonin produced dose-related analgesia in the formalin test with significant effects at 20-100 micrograms doses. In contrast, only the 100 micrograms dose of 2-methylserotonin produced analgesia against thermal pain, and analgesia was not observed at any dose in the mechanical pain test. The effects of 2-methylserotonin (100 micrograms) in the formalin test were attenuated by pretreatment (10 micrograms i.t.) with the 5-HT3 receptor antagonist MDL-72222, opioid antagonist naloxone or GABA antagonist bicuculline; the 5-HT2-receptor antagonist ketanserin or 5-HT1 receptor antagonist mianserin did not affect 2-methylserotonin-induced analgesia. In the thermal test, i.t. pretreatment with MDL-72222, ketanserin, naloxone or bicuculline, but not mianserin, reduced analgesic effects of 2-methylserotonin (100 micrograms i.t.). These findings suggest that spinal 5-HT3, opioid and GABA receptor systems interact to mediate acute chemo-inflammatory pain, and implicate the interaction of these systems with 5-HT2 receptor substrates in analgesia against acute thermal nociception.

Analgesics↗
PubMed1991

Effects of selective opiate antagonists on morphine-induced hyperalgesia in domestic fowl.

Although morphine typically produces analgesia in a variety of species, recent research has identified a biological model in which morphine produces a naloxone-reversible, paradoxical hyperalgesic response to a noxious thermal stimulus in young domestic fowl. The present study examined opioid receptor-mediation of this atypical opiate effect. Patterns of morphine hyperalgesia (1.25 to 5.0 mg/kg IM) were examined on a standard hot-plate test following administration (10 micrograms/5 microliters ICV) of the mu antagonist beta-funaltrexamine, the delta antagonist naltrindole, or the kappa antagonist nor-binaltorphimine in 15-day-old White Leghorn cockerels. Respiration measures were also recorded because they are indicative of opiate effects. Morphine produced a dose-dependent decrease in mean jump latencies (i.e., hyperalgesic effect). Mu receptor antagonism attenuated this morphine-induced hyperalgesic effect. Kappa receptor antagonism attenuated morphine-induced hyperalgesia only at the highest morphine dose (i.e., 5.0 mg/kg) and delta receptor antagonism failed to attenuate morphine-induced hyperalgesia. These results suggest that morphine-induced hyperalgesia, like morphine-induced analgesia, is mediated primarily by mu receptor activation.

Analgesia↗
PubMed1990

Effects of systemically administered monoamine reuptake blocking agents on patterns of buspirone-induced analgesia in rats.

We have recently shown the serotonin 5-HT1A receptor agonist buspirone to produce analgesia in several pain tests in rats. As a 5-HT1A agonist, buspirone may change serotonergic (5-HT) tone to alter the balance of central monoaminergic (MA) systems that function in analgesia. MA-reuptake blocking drugs have been shown to produce analgesia, both when given alone and in combination with a variety of other agents, presumably via their action upon MA neurochemistry. The present study was undertaken to examine the effect of systemic administration of the 5-HT-reuptake blocker amitriptyline (AMI: 10 mg/kg), NE-reuptake blocker desipramine (DMI: 10 mg/kg) or DA-reuptake blocker GBR-12909 (7.5 mg/kg) on patterns of analgesia produced by buspirone (1-5 mg/kg) in thermal and mechanical pain tests in rats. Neither reuptake blocking agents or buspirone, when administered alone or in combination, produced overt changes in motor activity at the doses tested. AMI alone was not analgesic in either thermal or mechanical pain tests. In both assays, AMI reduced the analgesic action of buspirone, with greater effects seen in the thermal test. When administered alone, DMI produced significant analgesia against thermal and mechanical pain. DMI significantly attenuated the analgesic action of all doses of buspirone in both pain tests. Alone, GBR-12909 did not affect nociception in thermal or mechanical tests. GBR-12909 decreased buspirone-induced analgesia at all doses in the thermal test, while having no effect on buspirone-induced analgesia against mechanical pain. These results demonstrate that facilitation of 5-HT, NE and DA function with reuptake blocking drugs did not enhance the analgesic action of buspirone. These data indicate against the adjuvant use of reuptake blocking compounds and buspirone as analgesics. Furthermore, such findings may suggest other possible non-MA substrates of buspirone-induced analgesia.

Amitriptyline↗
PubMed1990

The utility of the BANA test for monitoring anaerobic infections due to spirochetes (Treponema denticola) in periodontal disease.

Treponema denticola, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Bacteroides forsythus each possesses an enzyme(s) that hydrolyzes the synthetic substrate benzoyl-DL-arginine-naphthylamide (BANA). The presence of these organisms in a subgingival plaque sample can be determined by the ability of the plaque to hydrolyze BANA. In the present study, we describe the usefulness of the BANA test at various stages of a clinical trial of the efficacy of metronidazole in the treatment of periodontal disease. A BANA-positive test was significantly associated with high levels and proportions of spirochetes in the plaque, so that it provided information comparable with that which could be obtained by a microscopic examination of the plaque. Patients with such anaerobic spirochetal infections were randomly assigned to a group receiving either metronidazole or placebo (250 mg, three times a day) for one week and whose teeth were scaled and root-planed. The advantages of the decision that metronidazole be used were apparent from the comparison with the results obtained in the patients who received only the scaling and root planing. The initially BANA-positive teeth in the patients treated with metronidazole, scaling, and root planing gained attachment and exhibited a significant reduction in the need for periodontal surgery, when compared with the BANA-positive teeth in the patients who received only placebo, scaling, and root planing. After the conclusion of this therapy, those teeth with persistent BANA-positive plaques had significantly higher proportions and levels of spirochetes than did the teeth with BANA-negative plaques.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1990

Ethical issues in high-risk infant care.

Much controversy exists today regarding the "salvaging" of high-risk infants. There are many ethical concerns surrounding these children. The advancement of technology has had a profound effect on the treatment of preterm infants or infants with deformities. In this article the authors address selected ethical concerns regarding personhood, autonomy, beneficence, parental authority, quality of life, sanctity of life, and optional, obligatory, and wrong forms of treatment. The article begins with an overview of the history of infanticide as well as the history of neonatal intensive care units. Financial and legal issues are also discussed. In addition, the nurse's role in working with high-risk infants and their families is briefly explored.

Beneficence↗
PubMed1990

Regional differences in serotonergic contractile sensitivity mediated by 5-HT2 receptors in rat aorta.

The present studies examined serotonergic contractile sensitivity mediated by 5-HT2 receptors in thoracic and abdominal regions of rat aorta. Increasing concentrations of 5-HT (10 nM-100 microM) in the presence or absence of the selective 5-HT2 antagonist ketanserin (5 nM) produced differential concentration-response curves in thoracic and abdominal aortic ring preparations. Abdominal aortic preparations were significantly more sensitive to 5-HT than thoracic regions. Regional variations in maximal response produced by 5-HT were not observed. Ketanserin produced distinct rightward shifts in the 5-HT concentration-response curves, revealing a similar profile of sensitivity in thoracic and abdominal aorta. These data suggest that regional patterns in 5-HT-induced contractile responses in rat aorta are mediated by 5-HT2 sites exhibiting differential, site specific sensitivity.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Ethical considerations in fetal tissue transplantation.

Recent research using fetal tissue transplants has expanded possible treatment options for several traumatic and degenerative neurologic disorders. However, the expectations of therapeutic benefit to be gained from these methods have been challenged by an equivalent degree of controversy. Fundamental viewpoints regarding abortion, physical autonomy and the principle of harm have been raised against continuing research and the use of fetal tissue transplants. In this article, we first attempt to elucidate the practice, potential and limitations of such techniques. The critical, yet unresolved issues of supply and sources of fetal tissue are also discussed. In light of these concepts, we examine certain pertinent obligations and ethical concerns that may clarify the nurses' role in dealing with cases involving the use of fetal tissue transplants.

Abortion, Legal↗
PubMed1989

Peripherally administered serotonin 5-HT3 receptor antagonists reduce inflammatory pain in rats.

Intraplantar administration of serotonin 5-HT3 receptor antagonists ICS 205-930 and MDL 72222 (1-100 micrograms; 50 microliters) produced dose-related analgesia against formalin-induced acute- and Freunds adjuvant-induced chronic-inflammatory pain in rats. 5-HT3 receptor antagonists had greater effect in the chronic pain test than in the acute paradigm. In both tests, ICS 205-930 was more potent than MDL 72222. These data further support the involvement of peripheral 5-HT3 sites in inflammatory pain, and suggest the utility of selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonists as peripheral analgesics.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1989

Differential analgesic actions of serotonin 5-HT3 receptor antagonists in the mouse.

The present study examined the analgesic effects of the serotonin 5-HT3 receptor antagonists ICS-205-930, MDL-7222 and GR-38032F in mice using acute thermal, mechanical and chemical pain tests. Subcutaneous administration (1-10 mg/kg) of these agents did not produce analgesia in either the thermal or mechanical pain tests. However, ICS-205-930, MDL-72222 and GR-38032F all produced dose-dependent analgesia in the chemical pain test, that was not altered by systemic naloxone administration (1 mg/kg, s.c.). Intracerebroventricular administration of these drugs (0.1-10 micrograms) was ineffective in producing analgesia in acute thermal, mechanical and chemical pain tests. These results suggest that peripheral 5-HT3 receptors play a role in chemical, but not thermal or mechanical nociceptive mechanisms.

Analgesics↗
PubMed1989

Mycotic aneurysm of the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery: successful nonoperative management.

Although mycotic aneurysms of small visceral arteries are rare, they have a high morbidity and mortality due to rupture and sepsis. Any patient with abdominal pain and bacterial endocarditis should be suspected of having a mycotic aneurysm. Selective arteriography confirms the diagnosis. In the case we have reported, diagnosis of a mycotic aneurysm of the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery was established by angiography, and the patient was treated by percutaneous transcatheter embolization. This case demonstrates that mycotic aneurysms of small visceral arteries may be managed nonoperatively with antibiotics and percutaneous transcatheter embolization therapy.

Aneurysm, Infected↗
PubMed1989

Vasodepressor syncope induced by lower body negative pressure: possible relevance to +Gz-stress training--a case report.

We present a case report of vasodepressor syncope with brief sinus pause in a 26-year-old male subject following a graded lower body negative pressure (LBNP) challenge culminating at -70 mm Hg. Cessation of the LBNP protocol resulted in the return of heart rate and blood pressure activity to pre-challenge levels. Sinus arrest during central hypovolemic stress has been noted in the literature. Its potential in rare cases during exposure to high levels of LBNP should be noted as increasing numbers of investigators utilize presyncopal LBNP testing to assess the orthostatic responses of pilots and astronauts.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1988

Effects of neonatal spinal cord serotonin depletion on opiate-induced analgesia in tests of thermal and mechanical pain.

There is considerable evidence that serotonin (5-HT) is involved in the analgesic actions of various opiates. However, it is less clear which opioid receptor types interact with these descending systems and whether the various monoaminergic pathways are specific for different types of nociceptive signals. In the present study we lesioned the spinal cord serotonin pathways by neonatal spinal injections of 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT) and tested the analgesic effects of morphine and ketocyclazocine one and two weeks later using both mechanical and thermal noxious stimuli. The treatment depleted spinal cord serotonin by more than 90% while not affecting norepinephrine levels. The effects of morphine were greatly attenuated in the depleted animals when the thermal noxious stimulus was applied. The analgesic actions of morphine were only slightly affected when the mechanical stimulus was applied. The effects of ketocyclazocine were not reduced by the treatment. The results further buttress the conclusion that at least part of morphine's analgesic effects are mediated by descending serotonin systems and that these systems are primarily effective against a thermal stimulus. The data suggest that non-5-HT brainstem system(s) are involved in morphine-induced analgesia to a mechanical noxious stimulus.

5,7-Dihydroxytryptamine↗