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Biomedical subjects

L Romano

Publications and source records attributed to L Romano.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Cardiovascular changes by long-term inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system in aging.

We studied four groups of 20 female mice to evaluate the long-term effect of an angiotensin-converting enzyme on myocardium and vessels during the natural process of aging. Three groups received enalapril in water from weaning to 24 months of age (group A, 20 mg/L; group B, 10 mg/L; group C, 5 mg/L); group D served as a control. Animals surviving after 24 months were killed, and morphometric studies were performed. Total corporal weight was higher in animals receiving enalapril. Cardiac weight relative to total body weight was lower in the treated groups than in the control group. Cardiac morphometric studies showed lower myocardiosclerosis in animals receiving angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (groups A through D, respectively, 0.9 +/- 0.6%, 1.1 +/- 0.2%, 1.03 +/- 0.1%, and 9.5 +/- 4.3%; P < .01, groups A, B, and C versus D). The number of mitochondria per myocardiocyte was higher in the groups receiving enalapril (A through D, respectively, 85 +/- 7, 85 +/- 6, 83 +/- 8, and 58 +/- 8; P < .01, groups A, B, and C versus D). At the vascular level, vessel diameters were not significantly different between the groups receiving angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and the control group, whereas differences were seen in arterial tunica media thickness (wall-lumen ratio) (groups A through D, respectively, aorta: 0.13 +/- 0.02, 0.11 +/- 0.02, 0.12 +/- 0.01, 2.81 +/- 0.35; intrapulmonary: 0.9 +/- 0.43, 0.6 +/- 0.41, 0.8 +/- 0.46, 1.9 +/- 0.51; intracerebral: 2.18 +/- 0.46, 2.29 +/- 0.45, 2.46 +/- 0.43, 3.30 +/- 0.41; intrarenal: 2.28 +/- 0.46, 2.73 +/- 0.48, 2.70 +/- 0.51, 3.23 +/- 0.41; intracariaciac: 2.27 +/- 0.44, 2.59 +/- 0.41, 2.80 +/- 0.43, 3.68 +/- 0.47; P < .001, groups A, B, and C versus D).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aging↗
PubMed1995

[Incomplete Boerhaave syndrome of the cervical esophagus].

It is known that an acute postemetic injury may evoke a spontaneous rupture of the oesophagus. This spontaneous rupture may produce an intramural hematoma or a laceration of the oesophagus wall. The intramural hematoma is restricted to the esophageal wall and may produce a fistula into the lumen of the oesophagus (with creation of a double lumen) or into the mediastinum (haematoma of the mediastinum). On the other hand the rupture may extend from the mucosa (lesion of Mallory-Weiss) into the complete wall of the oesophagus (Boerhaave's Syndrome). There are reports on a lesion of the exterior muscular layer of the third distal half of the oesophagus, which had evoked an acute haemorrhage into the mediastinum and has been defined as a variant of Boerhaave's syndrome. We now describe a similar case which is confined to the cervical oesophagus and has been treated without surgical intervention.

Airway Obstruction↗
PubMed1994

Some aspects of zinc transport across eel (Anguilla anguilla) red blood cell membranes.

Zinc movement across eel and human red blood cell membranes was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. It was observed that: 1) In human red blood cells zinc uptake is twice as rapid as in fish red blood cells over a temperature range of 10-40 degrees C. The low rate of zinc uptake in eel red blood cell may be simply the side effect of different surface area to volume ratios for the differences in cell size or, it may be due to the low permeability of bicarbonate through the red blood cell membranes. 2) Zinc uptake measured in eel and human red blood cells treated and untreated with external trypsin shows different features. The zinc uptake was reduced by about 40% in treated eel red blood cells with respect to the total uptake of untreated red blood cells. Human red blood cells treated and untreated with trypsin do not show any differences in the amount of zinc transported. 3) In fish red blood cells, zinc uptake in NaNO3 medium is markedly reduced, compared with that measured in NaCl medium. The [Zn2+i slightly increases in the presence of bicarbonate. In human red blood cells in NaNO3 medium the zinc uptake is strongly reduced and the presence of bicarbonate marginally increases the zinc influx. 4) In eel red blood cells there seem to be two independent pathways for zinc uptake: one DIDS-sensitive and the other DIDS-insensitive. DIDS 10 microM inhibits only 64% of the total zinc transported. Increasing the DIDS concentration did not give more inhibition. In human red blood cells only one DIDS-sensitive pathway for zinc transported seems to exist, because, 2, 5 microM DIDS inhibits 97% of zinc uptake.

4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid↗
PubMed1994

Chronic histopathological effects of parathion and 2,4-D on female gonads of Chasmagnathus granulata (Decapoda, Brachyura).

Female crabs of Chasmagnathus granulata, sampled at the external zone of the Rio de la Plata estuary, were chronically exposed to the pesticides parathion and 2,4-D, both of which have been extensively applied to crops in Argentina for a decade and have been detected several times above permissible levels in the estuary. After 2 months of female exposure to the pesticides during the reproductive season, the crabs' ovaries were dissected and fixed in Bouin's solution, to assess the possible effects of pesticides at the histological level. Parathion caused a significant increase in both previtellogenic and vitellogenic oocyte size, as well as a loss of the normal spherical shape of the oocytes. With 2,4-D, a significant decrease in vitellogenic oocyte size was noted, whereas the number of atretic follicles increased as a result of exposure to this herbicide. Several hypothetical mechanisms of action of these pesticides are discussed in relation to the effects observed. Although assayed concentrations were relatively high with respect to mean values detected in the mentioned estuary and its influents, persistent peaks may occur, especially in sediments. This work suggests a high potential risk from the pesticides studied to the reproductive performance of local aquatic fauna.

2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid↗
PubMed1994

Use of a monoclonal antibody and a DNA probe for diagnosing acute toxoplasmosis in ambiguous cases.

An unusual case of cerebral toxoplasmosis in an HIV negative 11 year old child is reported. Central nervous system disease was assessed immunohistochemically in a brain biopsy specimen with TgP8--a specific monoclonal antibody against Toxoplasma gondii antigens--thus confirming IgG and IgM serology, technetium scan findings, and clinical data. In addition, an active parasitaemia was confirmed by DNA in situ hybridisation assay in white cells using an ABGTg4 probe. The child recovered after specific T gondii treatment. Follow up six months later showed that he was immunodeficient.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1994

Protective effects of nedocromil sodium on cellular and biohumoral components present in the bronchial alveolar lavage fluid and in peripheral blood in atopic asthmatics.

Nedocromil sodium, a disodium salt of a pyroquinolinedicarboxylic acid, raises the bronchial hyperresponsiveness threshold, because it inhibits the mediators released by the various cells, and reduces the involvement and activation of inflammatory cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the state of activation of the immunocompetent cells and the main chemical mediators present in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid from 10 atopic asthmatic patients, before and after treatment with nedocromil sodium. The following examinations were performed before treatment and after 120 days of therapy with nedocromil sodium at 16 mg/day (two 2-mg puffs x 4): the level of chemical mediators and the state of activation of immunocompetent cells in BAL fluid; immunological analytes in activation of immunocompetent cells in BAL fluid; immunological analytes in peripheral blood; aspecific bronchial challenge test with ultrasonicated bidistilled H2O fog to evaluate variations in the hyperreactivity threshold; questionnaire to determine any adverse effects of treatment (cough, breathlessness, sleep disorders). Our findings demonstrate that nedocromil sodium prevents the release of chemotactic and inflammatory mediators by the effector cells and thus stabilizes microvascular permeability and epithelial damage, so raising the threshold of response to bronchoconstriction stimuli. Lastly, nedocromil sodium is associated with a better preventive therapeutic efficacy and good tolerance and can therefore be suggested as a valid drug to be used in the long-term treatment of bronchial asthma.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗
PubMed1994

Decreased glomerulosclerosis in aging by angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors.

To evaluate the effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition on renal aging, enalapril was administered in the drinking water to three groups of CF1 mice at doses of 20 mg/L (Group A), 10 mg/L (Group B), and 5 mg/L (Group C). These experimental groups were compared with 20 CF1 mice not receiving enalapril (Group D). At 2 yr, total body weight was 48.1 +/- 7.5 g in Group A, 47.7 +/- 7.1 g in Group B, 47.6 +/- 4.6 g in Group C, and 35.1 +/- 5.4 g in Group D. The ratio of kidney to total body weight, in percentages, was 1.8 +/- 0.3, 1.6 +/- 0.3, 1.9 +/- 0.2, and 1.5 +/- 0.1 in Groups A, B, C, and D, respectively. Morphometric studies of the kidneys revealed the glomerular diameter to be 86.7 +/- 18.0 microns, 96.9 +/- 6.3 microns, 91.1 +/- 11.4 microns, and 106.8 +/- 9.3 microns in Groups A, B, C, and D, respectively. The number of glomeruli per square millimeter of renal cortex was 9.6 +/- 3.7, 12.3 +/- 2.7, 12.4 +/- 8.6, and 3.2 +/- 1.5 in Groups A, B, C, and D, respectively. The mesangial area per glomerulus, in percentages, was 11.6 +/- 4.8, 13.9 +/- 2.9, 14.2 +/- 3.1, and 20.6 +/- 1.9 in Groups A, B, C, and D, respectively. The percentage of glomeruli with sclerosis was 0.1 +/- 0.1, 0.3 +/- 0.1, 0.6 +/- 0.2, and 11.6 +/- 1.9 in Groups A, B, C, and D, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aging↗
PubMed1994

[Cholangiocarcinoma of the main biliary tract. Judging its resectability by imaging procedures].

Eighteen patients with main biliary tract cholangiocarcinomas and no spread to the gallbladder and to the papilla of Vater underwent a combined US, ERCP/PTC and CT study. Angiography was performed on a selected group of 12 patients. We divided the infiltrating, polypoid or stenosing lesions in three groups: upper portion tumors, involving the confluence and the common hepatic duct (8 patients); middle portion tumors, originating from the common bile duct between the confluence of the cystic duct and the upper duodenal profile (6 patients); and finally lower third tumors, originating from the common bile duct between the upper rim of the duodenum and the papilla of Vater (4 patients). According to ERCP and/or PTC, US, CT and angiographic findings, only 9 of 18 cholangiocarcinomas were judged as resectable. The authors stress the need to optimize the use of imaging methods: US can locate the biliary obstruction; ERCP and/or PTC can show the tumor and its spread out of the duct, and finally angiography can exclude or confirm the vascular involvement of the hepatic hilum.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Optimal conditions for detection of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 DNA by polymerase chain reaction with nested primers.

An assessment of optimal conditions for nested primer amplification of low copy number target DNA sequences was made using a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) model. In this polymerase chain reaction (PCR) strategy, an outer primer pair is first used to amplify the target sequence and a fraction of the amplification product is further amplified with a pair of inner (nested) primers. Several methodological parameters were evaluated, including number of cycles in the first and second step of the reaction, proportion of preamplified material to be used as the template for the second amplification, concentrations of primers, deoxynucleotides, and Taq DNA polymerase in the outer and inner PCR. The two-step PCR required minimal amounts of reaction components and was shown to be highly flexible, resulting in exquisite and specificity over a wide range of technical conditions. Potential drawbacks of this practical and effective amplification procedure are also discussed.

Artifacts↗
PubMed1993

Simultaneous amplification of multiple HIV-1 DNA sequences from clinical specimens by using nested-primer polymerase chain reaction.

A sensitive and specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol with nested primers was developed for simultaneous amplification of three independent human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) DNA sequences from clinical specimens. DNA samples were first amplified with gag, pol, and env outer primer pairs and then with the corresponding three inner primer pairs in the same two-step reaction. Detection of the different amplification products was readily accomplished by simple agarose gel electrophoresis of the reaction product, even when starting with a single copy of HIV-1 DNA. Equivalent amounts of the three PCR products were generated, provided that the relative concentrations of the inner primer pairs were optimized. In addition, a beta-globin control primer pair could be conveniently included in the internal amplification step to verify that the DNA sample was suitable for PCR analysis. One nested multiplex PCR test was sufficient to detect HIV-1 DNA in all of 80 HIV-1-seropositive individuals and none of 50 HIV-1-seronegative healthy blood donors. The nested multiplex PCR procedure provides an attractive means for simple, rapid, and cost-effective direct detection of HIV-1 DNA in patient samples.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition on mitochondrial number in the aging mouse.

To investigate the effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors on the cellular function and structure in a variety of organs during the aging process, one hundred CF1 mice were divided into four groups of 25 animals each. Groups A, B, and C received enalapril in drinking water from weaning until the age of 24 mo. Doses administered were (in mg/l): group A, 20; group B, 10; group C, 5. Group D is the control. Animals were killed, and morphometric studies were performed in heart, kidney, liver, and spleen. As a result, there was a decrease of renal and myocardial sclerosis and an increase in the number of mitochondria in heart and liver cells, which is associated with a significant increase in survival of animals receiving ACE inhibitors. These findings lead us to think that natural aging mechanisms have been altered in those animals.

Aging↗
PubMed1993

Increased endothelin-like immunoreactive material on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients with bronchial asthma and patients with interstitial lung disease.

Endothelin (ET) is an endothelial regulatory peptide present also in pulmonary tissue where it exerts several biological actions both on bronchial and vascular smooth muscle cells. It has been shown to increase in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from asthmatic patients; but changes in other chronic respiratory disease have not been well studied. We measured by a radioimmunoassay (RIA) ET-immunoreactive (IR) levels on BALF (BALF-ETIR, pg/ml) from 5 normal subjects (NS), 5 patients with chronic extrapulmonary disease (ED) without signs of lung involvement, 5 patients with allergic bronchial asthma (BA), 10 patients with idiopathic lung fibrosis (ILF) and 9 patients with miscellaneous interstitial lung disease (MILD). In 5/5 NS and 4/5 ED BALF-ETIR was lower than sensibility of RIA test used (0.8 pg/ml). BALF-ETIR was dosable in all patients with bronchopulmonary disease; means were 2.45 pg/ml in BA, 12.37 pg/ml in ILF, 2.90 pg/ml in MILD--Wilcoxon's rank test (two tailed) versus NS, p < 0.05. There was an inverse correlation between BALF-ETIR values and the degree of ventilatory impairment (forced vital capacity % of predicted value, r = -0.61 p < 0.01; forced expiratory volume in 1 s % of predicted value, r = -0.71 p < 0.01) and the level of arterial pressure of O2 (PaO2; r = -0.75 p < 0.01); a positive correlation was found with number of neutrophils/ml of BALF (r = 0.52 p < 0.01)--Spearman's rank correlation. Though rarely detected on BALF from normal lungs, ET increases on BALF in patients with bronchopulmonary disease, raising the question of its involvement in pathogenic mechanisms or evolution of bronchial asthma and interstitial lung disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis with salmon calcitonin nasal spray: evaluation by bone mineral content and biochemical patterns.

We studied 21 women with postmenopausal osteoporosis, treated with salmon calcitonin nasal spray (100 IU/daily) and calcium (1 g/daily) for six months. Bone mineral content (BMC), measured before and at the end of therapy with lumbar dual photon absorptiometry, showed a significant increase (p < 0.01). At the end of the study, there was also a clear improvement of osteoporotic pain. Among biochemical markers of bone turnover, there was a significant (p < 0.01) reduction of urinary excretion of hydroxyproline. No side effect was registered and all patients had a good compliance to therapy.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed1992

Nested polymerase chain reaction for detection of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 DNA in clinical specimens.

A highly sensitive two-step polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was evaluated for detection of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) DNA in clinical specimens. The product resulting from the first amplification reaction is used as the template for the second PCR with an internal (nested) primer pair. Even when starting from a single copy of HIV-1 DNA, the double PCR product was readily detected by direct visualization in ethidium bromide-stained agarose gels. Amplification of minute amounts of HIV-1 DNA was successful in a considerable excess of HIV-1 negative DNA than reported previously. All of 85 HIV-1-infected individuals were PCR-positive with at least two of the three sets of primers used, 252 of 255 amplifications allowing unambiguous visualization of a unique DNA fragment of the expected size. The two-step amplification protocol is simple and rapid and fulfills the requirements of sensitivity and specificity for use in a clinical laboratory.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Characterization of a family with moderate hypercholesterolemia and binding defective low density lipoprotein.

Familial defective apolipoprotein B-100 (FDB) is a genetic disorder presenting with hypercholesterolemia and abnormal low density lipoprotein (LDL) that binds poorly to LDL receptors. This disease appears to be caused by a mutation in the apo B gene. In the present study thirteen members of a family with moderate hypercholesterolemia (250-350 mg/dl) were investigated. Biochemical studies on cultured skin fibroblasts ruled out classical familial hypercholesterolemia (receptor deficiency). LDL from nine affected members displayed, in an "in vitro" cell binding assay, a reduced affinity (2.5 fold) for the receptor, and had normal electrophoretic mobility, size and chemical composition. Lp(a) levels in family members were comparable to those present in normolipidemics and lower than those observed in primary hypercholesterolemia. The disorder is transmitted over three generations as an autosomal codominant trait and all the affected members are heterozygotes and hypercholesterolemic.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Ability of the LDL receptor from several animal species to recognize the human apo B binding domain: studies with LDL from familial defective apo B-100.

To verify whether the LDL receptors from different animal species recognize the binding domain of human apo B-100 we studied the interaction of LDL from control and familial binding defective apo B-100 (FDB) with cultured cells. Human, monkey, bovine, guinea pig and rabbit LDL receptors distinguish between normal and binding defective LDL with a displacement ratio (defective/normal) of 3.3, 2.6, 3.4, 3.1 and 2.0, respectively. Guinea pig and rabbit receptors, however, showed affinities 2-3-fold lower than the human receptor. Hamster, rat and mouse cells failed to differentiate between normal and FDB LDL with a ratio of 1.2, 0.8, and 1.4; the apparent affinities were 4-8 times lower than that of the human receptor. The data from the latter species suggest that the LDL receptor recognizes an area of human apo B different from the human receptor binding domain. The ability of antibody Mb47 to inhibit the binding of human LDL to human, rabbit and guinea pig but not to mouse cells further stresses this concept. Moreover, in 17 alpha-ethinyl estradiol-treated rats the rate of disappearance from plasma of FDB and control 125I-labelled LDL was identical, thus confirming the in vitro observations. These data suggest that the binding domain of the LDL receptor is functionally conserved in man, monkey, cow, rabbit and guinea pig, but is quite distinct in rat, mouse and hamster.

Animals↗