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L Rinaldi

Publications and source records attributed to L Rinaldi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Effects of some natural extracts on the acetylcholine release at the mouse neuromuscular junction.

Natural extracts have been proved to be useful in different human pathological conditions. The scientific consideration of the therapeutic potential of plant extracts is still inappropriate due to the lack of both pharmacological and epidemiological basic studies. Here, we started from an electrophysiological point of view, a study on the effects of two extracts on the acetylcholine (ACh) release at the neuromuscular junction. The extracts purified from Sugar cane (policosanol) and Psidium guajava (quercetin) have been submitted to this study. The wide epidemiology of these agents suggests therapeutic potentials not yet well outlined at the basic level. Our data demonstrate some interactions in the modulation of the ACh release at the mouse neuro-muscular junction, which are well correlated with the suggested molecular mechanisms. Policosanol enhances to a small extent either the spontaneous or the evoked ACh release. Furthermore, an increase of the rate of the conformational change induced at the nicotinic receptor-channel complex by ACh is also observed. Quercetin induced a reduction of the ACh evoked release. The possibility that this effect could be ascribed to some interaction with presynaptic calcium channel is noteworthy. The results are discussed in terms of a possible interference with acetylcholinesterase by policosanol and of a presynaptic molecular action of quercetin modulating the cytosolic calcium concentration.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1998

[Blood lead levels in children from a ceramic center with respect to residence and parental occupation].

In a survey carried out in 1981, Pb exposure of children living in two geographical areas of the district of Scandiano and attending the first year of primary school was studied. The two areas were different concerning both traffic and the presence of ceramic tile industries, thus suggesting a different exposure of children. The survey demonstrated blood lead levels (PbB) markedly higher than 10 micrograms/100 ml, a value recently identified by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC, Atlanta, USA) as the limit beyond which children's learning capacity may be damaged. It was evident that both the occupational exposure of parents and, to a lower extent, the residence in zones with higher levels of pollution influenced PbB levels. During the last ten years significant improvements have led to the reduction of atmospheric emissions and of occupational exposure of ceramic workers. A new survey has been carried out in 1995. We examined 147 children attending the first year of primary school, and living in two zones for which a different level of Pb exposure could be assumed. In both zones, a clear reduction of PbB was observed in comparison with data obtained in 1981. Mean and standard deviation for PbB in the two groups were 4.1 +/- 1.71 and 4.5 +/- 2.04 micrograms/100 ml, with median values of 3.7 and 4.0 micrograms/100 ml, respectively. Only two cases (1.4%) exceeded the limit values proposed by CDC. Although the mean PbB were much lower than those observed in 1981, higher PbB were found in children whose parents were occupationally exposed to Pb. Maternal exposure seems to be particularly important in determining PbB in children. In comparison with data from the international literature, our results are very close to those obtained for children living in Scandinavian countries, in Germany or in France and rather different from those obtained by other authors in Italy.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1997

Lead, cadmium, and selenium in the blood of patients with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

We determined whole blood lead and cadmium levels, and serum selenium levels in patients with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and age- and sex-matched controls. Disability due to the disease directly correlated with lead levels, and there was a strong inverse correlation with selenium concentrations. Lead and selenium concentrations tended to be similar in the cases and controls, both in the study population as a whole and after the removal from the analysis of the patients with the highest degree of disability. In the patients with limited disability, cadmium concentrations were higher than in the controls. Our findings lend limited support to a possible involvement of cadmium, but not lead, in the etiology of sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and strongly suggest that short-term indicators of exposure are inadequate to investigate the relationship between selenium and the disease.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Human fertilization with round and elongated spermatids.

Human spermatids from ejaculate and testicular tissue have been utilized for evaluating human fertilization by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and, where possible, compared with spermatozoa utilizing sibling oocytes. Round and elongated spermatids obtained from ejaculates were either prepared through Percoll gradients or isolated and washed individually using subzonal insemination needles (SUZI; 10-14 microm internal diameter). Seminiferous tubules obtained after biopsy were placed into HEPES-buffered Earle's medium and dissected using 21-gauge needles. Spermatogenic cells and spermatozoa were isolated and washed individually using SUZI needles. Spermatozoa were subsequently injected into the ooplasm using 5 microm (internal diameter) ICSI needles, whereas 8-9 microm (internal diameter) needles were used for spermatid injection. Only metaphase II oocytes (n = 207) were injected: 64 with round spermatids, 92 with elongated spermatids and 51 with spermatozoa; the fertilization rate was 30, 24 and 67% respectively. There was a significant (P < 0.001) increase in the fertilization rate using spermatozoa compared with spermatids. The fertilization rate was not different between round and elongated spermatids, although the fertilization rates for round and elongated spermatids in the ejaculate were 33 and 18% respectively, compared with 22 and 38% respectively when testicular spermatids were utilized. In three patients sibling oocytes were used to compare round and elongated spermatids found in the ejaculate with spermatozoa extracted from seminiferous tubules. The fertilization rate was 24% for spermatids and 79% for testicular spermatozoa. This result suggests that, should only spermatids be available in the ejaculate, a testicular biopsy in the hope of obtaining testicular spermatozoa would be worth while.

Cell Size↗
PubMed1996

Phase I study of ifosfamide plus high-dose epirubicin in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

The present phase I study was designed to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of epirubicin given in combination with ifosfamide at a dose of 3 g/m2, recycled every 4 weeks, in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A total of 18 patients entered the study; they received the following four dose levels of epirubicin (i.v., day 1): 75 (6 patients), 90 (3 patients), 105 (3 patients, and 120 mg/m2 (6 patients). The MTD of epirubicin was 120 mg/m2, neutropenia being the dose-limiting toxicity. We observed 1/6, 1/3 1/3, and 2/6 partial responses (PRs) at epirubicin dose levels of 75, 90, 104, and 120 mg/m2, respectively. A phase II study of epirubicin given at a dose of 120 mg/m2, in association with conventional-dose ifosfamide in advanced NSCLC is in order.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Endometrial thickness as a predictor of pregnancy after in-vitro fertilization but not after intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

An ultrasonographic evaluation of the endometrium was performed in 158 patients undergoing ovarian stimulation for an in-vitro assisted reproduction programme. Endometrial thickness was evaluated in 109 patients undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF) for female indications and in 49 patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) for male indications. The maximal endometrial thickness was measured on the day of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) administration by longitudinal scanning of the uterus on the frozen image using electronic callipers placed at the junction of the endometrium-myometrium interface at the level of the fundus. Cases in which the endometrial thickness was >/=10 mm were included in group A; cases in which the endometrial thickness was <10 mm were assigned to group B. The age of the patients, serum 17-beta oestradiol concentrations on the day of HCG administration, the length of follicular stimulation, the number of follicles, 17-beta oestradiol concentrations per follicle on the day of HCG and the number of embryos transferred were analysed in each case. When comparing endometrial thickness and results in IVF and ICSI patients, an endometrium <10 mm predominated in IVF patients (27.5%) compared with those undergoing ICSI (16.7%) (P = 0.05); conversely an endometrium >=10 mm was more frequent in ICSI than in IVF patients. The incidence of pregnancy was higher in IVF group A patients (32/79; 41%) than in IVF group B patients (5/30; 17%) (P = 0.03), whereas no significant difference was found between ICSI group A (13/42; 31%) and ICSI group B (3/7; 43%) patients. Thus, a higher percentage of IVF patients had thin endometrium when compared with ICSI patients; thin endometrium was a prognostic indicator of pregnancy only in the case of a female indication for infertility (IVF). A thin endometrium in cases of female infertility may reflect a previous or present uterine pathology, whereas in indications of male infertility (i.e. cases using ICSI), in the absence of any associated uterine pathology, the presence of a thin endometrium is not predictive.

Cytoplasm↗
PubMed1995

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) versus high insemination concentration (HIC) for human conception in vitro.

The use of high insemination concentration (HIC) for in vitro fertilization (IVF) was compared with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in cases of male factor infertility. Sibling oocytes (n = 252) from 24 patients were used, 123 for HIC and 129 for ICSI. Although the incidence of fertilization was decreased with HIC (48% v. 61%), this treatment was nevertheless a viable option for many patients, especially when ICSI was not available. However, there was a higher incidence of cytoplasmic fragmentation of embryos after HIC compared with ICSI (36% v. 10%, P = 0.003) and the outcome was significantly affected by the severity of teratozoospermia. Using a cut-off of 5% normal forms, the incidence of fertilization with HIC for the group with < 5% normal forms was 37% compared with 72% for the group with > 5% normal forms; there was also a significant decrease in cleavage rate (P = 0.05) and the number of regular embryos (P = 0.005), and an increase in cytoplasmic fragmentation (P = 0.006) in patients with < 5% normal forms. No distinction was made between cases of teratozoospermia when ICSI was used. The present study confirms the value of HIC as a first line treatment for male infertility, as long as ICSI remains significantly more expensive and concerns on safety are mooted. However, the use of sibling oocytes for ICSI is recommended, especially in cases with < 5% normal sperm morphology.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Intrathecal synthesis of interleukin-10 (IL-10) in viral and inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system.

The intrathecal synthesis of interleukin 10 (IL-10) was investigated in 120 paired cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum specimens from patients with various inflammatory and non-inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). IL-10 was not demonstrated in the sera, but detectable levels were found in the CSF from: patients with acute viral ("aseptic") meningitis, but only within 48-72 h of symptom onset; human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV)-infected patients with HIV-related encephalitis/leukoencephalopathy or cryptococcal meningitis; a patient with primary B cell lymphoma of the CNS, and a patient with encephalomeningeal sarcoidosis (in whom IL-10 was demonstrated in all CSF collected over a period of 6-months). In chronic meningeal infections/inflammations, IL-10 seems to be continuously produced within the CSF. Our findings suggest that IL-10, a cytokine which exerts many immunosuppressive actions, may play different immunomodulatory roles in CNS diseases; in particular, its intrathecal synthesis may explain why some infectious and inflammatory meningeal diseases may have slow development and chronic evolution.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗
PubMed1994

Subzonal insemination and zona breaching techniques for assisting conception in vitro.

The following comments can be made with regard to zona breaching procedures (PZD) and SUZI. First and foremost, it is important to establish that fertilization cannot occur with microdrop IVF or conventional IVF before proceeding with microassisted fertilization technology. PZD increases the rate of polyspermy, and this is significantly higher than when utilizing SUZI. SUZI increases the incidence of implantation in cases exhibiting severe teratozoospermia. SUZI increases the fertilization rate per patient and per oocyte in cases where IVF has previously failed on more than one occasion. SUZI increases the incidence of fertilization when very few motile sperm are available, and there is an increase in the incidence of cytoplasmic fragmentation with SUZI, which might be alleviated by improving methods of penetrating the zona pellucida, for example by using the Sonic Sword or utilizing a thinner, sharper injection needle alone or in addition to increasing the perivitelline space by dehydrating the oocyte (Yang et al, 1988). Morphology is an important parameter in predicting the outcome of IVF and therefore in guiding patients on the relevance of microinjection technology.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Micro-assisted fertilization in patients who have failed subzonal insemination.

During the past 3 years we have used direct injection of spermatozoa into the cytoplasm of the oocyte (DISCO) in an attempt to procure conception in vitro where subzonal insemination (SUZI) has failed. Acknowledging the paucity of information about this invasive procedure in humans, it was clearly the only alternative for some patients. A total of 58 patients (cycles) who had had previously failed SUZI elected for this approach. Sibling oocytes, where possible, were used as a comparison between DISCO, SUZI, partial zona dissection (PZD) and microdrop in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Fertilization and embryo transfer was achieved by 66% (n = 38) of patients. Patients with embryos derived solely from DISCO (n = 19) produced four clinical pregnancies (21%), four patients had embryo transfer from SUZI embryos only with no pregnancies, and 15 had embryo transfer from a mixture of SUZI and DISCO embryos, with one dizygotic twin pregnancy from a combined SUZI and DISCO embryo transfer (7%). Twins, one male and one female, have been delivered, there has been one miscarriage and two pregnancies are ongoing. Of the 627 oocytes, 251 were used for DISCO and 71 (28%) were fertilized, 296 were used for SUZI and 29 (10%) were fertilized; 70 were used for PZD, two (3%) were fertilized, and none of the 10 undergoing microdrop IVF were fertilized. Of the 58 patients (cycles) 31% (n = 19) had fertilization with DISCO only, 8% (n = 4) with SUZI only, 28% (n = 15) with both SUZI and DISCO, while only one (2%) had fertilization with PZD.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Value of the CD25+ CD16+ cell determination in defining the prognosis of operable breast cancer patients.

The immunologic status of 40 breast cancer patients with operable disease and 50 healthy women was studied at the Division of Medical Oncology of the 2nd Medical School in Naples. Skin tests and lymphocyte subpopulation determination were performed. The same tests were repeated after surgery in the cancer patients. At the same time, the immunologic modifications during chemotherapy (CMF) were studied in a further 25 premenopausal breast cancer patients. The cancer patients did not show significantly different reactivity to recall antigens, nor did surgery or chemotherapy modify this parameter. The breast cancer patients showed a significantly higher CD4+/CD8+ ratio (2.07 +/- 1.06 vs. 1.56 +/- 0.58; p < 0.05) and a higher percentage of CD16+ cells (15.7 +/- 7 vs. 9.1 +/- 6; p < 0.001), than controls. Patients without axillary lymph node involvement showed higher CD4+/CD8+ ratio, CD16+ and CD25+ percentage than the N+ patients. The percentage of CD25+ cells (expressing functional IL-2 receptor) and CD16+ cells proved to be predictive of early relapse: in 14 patients who had relapsed at a 37 month median follow-up, mean CD25+ and CD16+ cell values at diagnosis were significantly lower than those in the remaining 26 (CD25+: 0.87 +/- 0.7 vs. 2.44 +/- 2.19, p < 0.01; CD16+: 9.4 +/- 6 vs. 17.3 +/- 5, p < 0.001). These data suggest that a functional activation may occur in operable breast cancer patients except those with axillary node metastatization (especially when more than 3 axillary lymph nodes are involved).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Evaluation of 225 patients undergoing subzonal insemination for the procurement of fertilization in vitro.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate subzonal insemination for the procurement of fertilization in infertile males. DESIGN: The spermatozoa of infertile males was used, where possible, for in vitro fertilization (IVF) and subzonal insemination with the same cohort of oocytes obtained from their partner. SETTING: An individual unit in a general hospital, Clinical Nomentana, Rome, Italy. PATIENTS: Males who had repeatedly failed to achieve conception in vitro by IVF or in whom seminal parameters were unacceptable for IVF were treated. INTERVENTIONS: Two hundred twenty-five transvaginal oocyte retrievals were performed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The incidence of fertilization, cleavage, and pregnancy was evaluated in relation to the numbers of spermatozoa injected and the individual spermatozoa parameters. RESULTS: Fertilization occurred in 39% of patients and 16% of eggs, and 12 clinical pregnancies were established. Fertilization increased with increasing numbers of spermatozoa injected. Fertilization with subzonal insemination was significantly greater (39%) than after in vitro insemination (6%) (P less than 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Subzonal insemination improved the incidence of fertilization in this series of patients, and a new classification of spermatozoa based on total motile count aided prognosis for fertilization.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Presentation of six pregnancies established by sub-zonal insemination (SUZI).

Clinical trials were undertaken to evaluate sub-zonal insemination (SUZI) for the procurement of fertilization in infertile couples. We present here the six pregnancies resulting from this work. Insemination of multiple sperm was used, with a mean of 3.7 +/- 2.1 (SD) per oocyte. One hundred and thirty patients presented either with previous failures of fertilization in vitro and/or with severe seminal defects, including oligo-, astheno-, oligo-astheno- or necro-zoospermia. Forty-one (31.5%) patients achieved fertilization and 39 had replacement of conceptuses. Six patients achieved a pregnancy (4.6% overall, 15.4% per replacement), four have delivered and two have miscarried. The implantation rate was nine conceptuses from a total of 61 replaced (14.8%); and of the six women who conceived, nine of 11 replaced conceptuses implanted. Of the oocytes recovered, 539 were used for SUZI, of which 69 (12.8%) fertilized. Three singleton pregnancies resulted, two from patients having one conceptus replaced, the other from the replacement of three conceptuses. Two twin pregnancies were produced, both in patients having two conceptuses replaced. The sixth pregnancy, a triplet, occurred in a patient having three conceptuses replaced, one conceived after standard in-vitro fertilization (IVF), the other two after SUZI. Two sets of non-identical twins, both one male and one female, a singleton female and female (non-identical) triplets have been born, normal and healthy.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Doppler flowmetry in a case of single umbilical artery].

A case of sonographic diagnosis of single umbilical artery associated with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and left renal agenesis is reported. Umbilical artery Doppler waveforms are presented and discussed for the first time.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Plasma levels of atrial natriuretic factor in mild to moderate hypertensives without signs of left ventricular hypertrophy: correlation with the known duration of hypertension.

The relationship between plasma atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), blood pressure (BP), age, plasma renin activity (PRA) and urinary sodium excretion was studied in 64 normal subjects (mean age 48.7 +/- 2.1 yrs; BP: 126.5 +/- 1.6/79.5 +/- 0.9 mmHg) and in 104 untreated uncomplicated essential hypertensives (50.8 +/- 1.1 yrs; BP: 164.7 +/- 1.6/105.2 +/- 0.6 mmHg). ANF was measured by radioimmunoassay after extraction on C18 columns. ANF was significantly higher in the hypertensives than in the normal subjects (37.1 +/- 1.2 vs 29.7 +/- 1.5 pg/ml, P less than 0.01). In normals plasma ANF was significantly correlated with age (r = 0.72, P less than 0.001), Na excretion (r = 0.42, P less than 0.001) and PRA (r = -0.71, P less than 0.001) whereas in the hypertensives ANF plasma levels correlated only with systolic (r = 0.46, P less than 0.001) and diastolic (r = 0.51, P less than 0.001) BP. In addition in hypertensive patients, by multivariate linear regression analysis, a significant correlation was found between age, known duration of hypertension and plasma ANF. The partial correlation coefficient between duration of hypertension and plasma ANF was highly significant (r = 0.80, P less than 0.001). These findings suggest that in essential hypertension the level of arterial BP is a main determinant of the ANF plasma values offsetting the ability of other physiological factors to regulate plasma ANF levels.

Aged↗