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Biomedical subjects

L Motta

Publications and source records attributed to L Motta.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion: a long-term study.

The authors report data obtained from a 3-year study of CSII and humanized insulin (semi-synthetic human insulin) administered to 18 insulin-dependent subjects in the outpatient clinic. The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of insulin pumps in long-term treatment. Metabolic parameters were significantly improved (p less than 0.001) in the first month and remained so with only slight alterations throughout treatment. The authors underline some metabolic problems (ketosis) caused by malfunctioning of the insulin pumps, by the difficulties with the infusion system or by nodular skin lesions at the infusion site. Only these lesions called for treatment to be discontinued in 4 patients. The highest incidence of nodular skin lesions was seen after one year's uninterrupted treatment and they seem connected to the duration of treatment rather than to the patients' negligence (inadequate hygiene, delayed needle substitution). The authors conclude that CSII treatment is valid over short-term periods, whereas it presents drawbacks over long-term administration.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Expression of cell cycle-dependent genes and proliferative state of lymphocytes in aging.

The authors analyzed the expression of some genes involved in the control of T lymphocyte proliferation in a group of healthy elderly subjects. They focused their attention on genes involved in the G(0)/G(1) transition (TK, PCNA, H3, IL2-R) and showed decreased expression in the TK, H3 and IL2-R genes. Using flow cytofluorimetry, delayed transition from the G(0)/G(1) to the S stage was observed.

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Expression of ornithine decarboxylase gene in elderly human monocytes.

The proliferative capacity of the immune system is impaired in elderly subjects and the expression of various genes involved in cell cycle progression is reduced in PHA stimulated lymphocytes during the aging process. Macrophages play a fundamental role in the immune system response. It has recently been demonstrated that the process of macrophage activation is accompanied by a rapid, transient rise of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) mRNA levels. In fact, the ODC gene seems to be involved in macrophage activation and differentiation. The authors demonstrated that the steady-state levels of ODC mRNA and the correlated superoxide anion production are lower in the monocytes of elderly subjects with respect to those in young subjects used as control. These results confirmed the impaired immune function of the elderly.

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ipriflavone-treatment of senile osteoporosis: results of a multicenter, double-blind clinical trial of 2 years.

Eighty-four out of 100 enrolled female patients affected by osteoporosis completed a double-blind, randomized trial, using ipriflavone (IP) in a dose of 3 x 200 mg/day (41 patients) or placebo (P)(43 patients). All patients received 1 g/day oral calcium supplementation. Inclusion criteria were: age over 65 years; at least one vertebral fracture in the past; bone mineral density measured at the distal tenth of the radius lower than the normal average -2 x S.D. The trial period was between June 1990 and November 1993. Patients of the IP group showed a significant increase in bone mineral density (P < 0.05) compared with the starting values during the whole study period. Pain decreased rapidly, intake of analgesics dropped, and often significant decreases in calciuria, hydroxyprolinuria, alkaline phospatase, osteocalcin and parathormone values were observed. Only two new fractures occurred during the trial in the IP group. Patients of the P group at the end of the study displayed decreased bone mineral densities (P < 0.05), increased pain, greater consumption of analgesics, and often significant increases in the bone metabolism parameters listed for the IP group. In the

Clinical Trial↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Successful aging in centenarians: myths and reality.

The term "successful aging" appeared in the first issue of "The Gerontologist" in 1961. During the successive years, this expression has changed its meaning. Nowadays, successful aging means "absence of diseases and disabilities, maintenance of high levels of physical and cognitive abilities, preservation of the social and productive activities". It has become a common opinion that the centenarians may represent the prototypes of the successful aging. This motivated our work to study the clinical, psychical, and functional aspects in a centenarian group, verifying the real autonomy, instrumental capacities, and working abilities. Our study pool consisted of 602 centenarians, who were also subjects of then epidemiological studies of the Italian Multicenter Studies on Centenarians (IMUSCE). All subjects underwent a clinical-anamnestic evaluation, cognitive-functional tests by means of the mini mental state examination (MMSE), the independence index in activities of daily living (ADL), the instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) scale. The centenarians were classified in three groups, according to the criteria elaborated previously by us, based on their psychophysical status and autonomy, as follows. Group A: centenarians in good health status; Group B: centenarians in an intermediate health status. Group C: centenarians in bad health status. Group A represented 20.0% of the total pool, Group B amounted to 33.4%, and the Group C was 46.6%. The centenarians of Group A presented normal ADL values, and 47.9% of them were autosufficient in all functions; 5.7% of them were independent in all IADL items. These data confirm that the centenarians of Group A are free of invalidating chronic diseases, are autonomous, maintain good physical and cognitive capacities, however, have not maintained any social or productive activities. Therefore, they cannot be considered as prototypes of successful aging.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Increased sleeping time after pentobarbital anesthesia in rats treated with intravenous injection of BCG.

Intravenous injection of BCG in rats induces protection against liver cell necrosis produced by CCl4. Impairment of hepatic mixed function oxidases by cytokines produced by activated Kupffer cells is the mechanism proposed to explain that protection. To verify the function of hepatic mixed function oxidases after Kupffer activation, the sleeping time after sodium pentobarbital anesthesia was evaluated in rats after intravenous injection of BCG. Male adult albino rats received BCG (50 micrograms, intravenous) and 48 h or 6 days after were anestethized with sodium pentobarbital (33 or 66 mg/g i.p.). The sleeping time was measured from the beginning of sleep until the animal started having spontaneous movement and stand up on the forepaws. The results showed that the animals treated with BCG presented a significative increase in the sleeping time, indicating reduced inactivation of the pentobarbital, an indirect evidence of inhibition of mixed function oxidase system. BCG treated rats showed hepatic and splenomegaly, both 48 and 6 days after treatment. Histology showed an increase in number of mononuclear cells in the sinusoids in the liver and in the red pulp of the spleen 48 h after injection. Small epitheliod granulomas scattered in the hepatic lobules and in the red pulp were observed in rats killed six days after the BCG injection. Hepatocyte injury, induced by activated macrophages, would be not responsible for the reduced pentobarbital inactivation, because at six days there were several granulomas scattered in lobules, but the increase of sleep time in this group was similar to that observed in rats 48 h after injection of BCG. These results demonstrate that activation of Kupffer cells with BCG induces impairment of mixed function oxidase system soon as 48 h after injection of activator, probably due to production of IL-1, IL-6 and TNF alpha by activated Kupffer cells and other mononuclear cells migrated to the liver.

Adjuvants, Anesthesia↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The complications of lumbotomies].

After having described the surgical anatomy of the lumbar region, with particular regard to the relationships with pleura and peritoneum, as well as to the course of the nervous structures of the region (12th intercostal, ileohypogastric and ileoinguinal), the authors describe the possible complications related with the surgical approaches to the lumbar region. Pathogenesis of post-operatory pains and parietal hypotonies is especially evaluated; these complications may be caused by section, ligature or compression of one or more nervous trunks. The authors conclude that the respect of the anatomic structures located in the lumbar region represents the best way in order to prevent most complications related to lumbotomies.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Transitory postoperative anuria after transvesical prostatic adenomectomy: review of the literature, description of new clinical cases and physiopathological considerations].

Anuria is a rare complication after prostate adenomectomy. Three cases of complete bilateral anuria and one case of monolateral anuria are reported following transvesical prostate adenomectomy, characterized by immediate onset without any apparent cause and by spontaneous resolution within 48 hours. After a thorough review of the literature, the authors analyze the pathophysiological and clinical aspects of post-prostate-adenomectomy anuria and postulate an "obstructive" aetiology for the anuria cases observed in their series.

Aged↗