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Biomedical subjects

M Altomonte

Publications and source records attributed to M Altomonte.

47 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Reversibility of acute cyclosporin nephrotoxicity by dopamine. Micropuncture study in the rat.

The ability of dopamine to neutralise the effects acutely induced by cyclosporin (CsA) on glomerular dynamics was evaluated in four groups of female Munich-Wistar rats, prepared for micropuncture: group I (n = 9), normal rats receiving saline as placebo; group II (n = 10), rats treated with CsA (20 mg/kg b.w. in 1 h); group III (n = 8) rats treated with CsA, as in group II, and then with vasodilating doses of dopamine (1.2-2.0 micrograms/100 g b.w./min in continuous intravenous infusion); group IV (n = 7), rats administered Cremophore EL, the vehicle of CsA, in corresponding doses. Single nephron GFR (SNGFR), glomerular plasma flow (GPF), afferent and efferent arteriole resistances (Ra and Re, respectively), SN filtration fraction (SNFF), ultrafiltration coefficient (Kf) were measured. Body weight, blood pressure and haematocrit were similar in the four groups. GFR was significantly reduced in group II (0.83 +/- 0.08 ml/min vs 1.29 +/- 0.01 in group I, 1.46 +/- 0.25 in group III, and 1.40 +/- 0.09 in group IV, P less than 0.05 vs all the groups), while no statistical difference was detected in urinary volume. SNGFR was significantly reduced in group II vs group I (18.7 +/- 1.8 nl/min vs 30.6 +/- 1.3, P less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Glomerular dynamics and salt balance in pregnant rats with renal hypertension.

These studies were aimed at investigating whether chronic hypertension in pregnancy causes changes both in salt excretion (NaE) and in glomerular hemodynamics. Metabolic and renal micropuncture studies were performed in pregnant (P) and Virgin (V) Munich-Wistar rats with normal blood pressure (N) and two-kidney Goldblatt hypertension (H). Mean NaE was higher in PN than VN (2.7 vs. 1.7 meq/day, P less than 0.01). Hypertension raised NaE both in P and V rats: in P and V rats with "benign" hypertension (blood pressure less than 180 mmHg) NaE averaged 3.2 and 2.6 meq/day, respectively (P less than 0.05); mean NaE was 5.9 and 3.8 meq/day, respectively (P less than 0.01), in P and V rats with "malignant" hypertension (blood pressure greater than or equal to 180 mmHg). Afferent arteriole resistance (Ra) averaged 1.73 and 3.50 10 dyn.s-1.cm5 in PN and VN, respectively (P less than 0.01). Hypertension raised Ra in V, but not in P rats (4.47 vs. 2.14 10 dyn.s-1.cm5, P less than 0.01). Thus glomerular plasma flow, glomerular capillary hydrostatic pressure, and single-nephron glomerular filtration rate were markedly higher in PH than VH rats: in PH rats single-nephron filtration fraction was significantly lower than in VH. These results show that in PH rats a marked rise in NaE is associated with glomerular vasodilation.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Acute traumatic vertex epidural haematomas surgically treated.

Eleven consecutive cases of acute traumatic vertex epidural haematomas (VEDHs) among 416 epidural haematomas (EDHs) operated on during the same period in the Neurosurgical Clinic of the University of Genoa, are reported. Clinical features, neuroradiological aspects (X-ray, angiography and CT scan) and results are discussed, in order to point out the problems encountered in the diagnosis, expecially due to the mystifying clinical picture and the unsuitability of the axial CT scan in the detection of these lesions. In this series mortality rate was 18%, against 50% reported in the literature.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Interhemispheric subdural hematoma. Case report.

A case of interhemispheric subdural hematoma following head injury is presented and discussed, and the literature reviewed. Clinical and neuroradiological features are described together with the surgical treatment and results.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

Bilateral brain abscesses. Report of 2 cases.

This is a report about two cases with bilateral brain abscesses, who will be extirpated with success. The preoperative treatment with antibiotics was without success. CT-control demonstrated the complete removal of both abscesses. The surgical treatment may be indicated in patients affected by supratentorial bilateral cerebral abscesses.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Renal function in pregnant rats with two-kidney goldblatt hypertension.

This study was carried out in female Wistar-Münich rats with two-kidney, one-clip hypertension, using clipped normotensive rats as controls. Metabolic studies were performed in the first two weeks of pregnancy, consisting of daily measurement of systolic blood pressure (BP) (tail-cuff), body weight (BW), and salt and water balance. At the end of metabolic studies, glomerular dynamics were studied in the unclipped kidney by micropuncture. During pregnancy, urinary output of Na+ and water was greater in hypertensive than normotensive rats. The greater natriuresis accounted for a reduced Na+ retention and a lower increase in maternal BW. Micropuncture studies showed an impaired renal auto-regulation. These results show that hypertension in pregnancy causes a salt-losing tendency, that may be secondary to incomplete renal autoregulation.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

In vitro analysis of the melanoma/endothelium interaction increasing the release of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 by endothelial cells.

Melanoma cells constitutively release intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) as soluble ICAM-1 (sICAM-1), and its levels are elevated in melanoma patients and correlate with disease progression. However, this correlation is not absolute, suggesting that specific characteristics of neoplastic cells and/or ICAM-1-positive non-neoplastic cells may influence the amounts of circulating sICAM-1. In this study, we found a weak correlation (r = 0.55; r2 = 0.3) between sICAM-1 release by 40 metastatic melanomas (36 primary cultures and 4 cell lines), and ICAM-1 expression on neoplastic cells. In addition, melanoma-secreted interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha) (1/40) but not vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) (29/40), significantly (P < 0.05) up-regulated the shedding of sICAM-1 by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). This was completely abolished by IL-1alpha/beta neutralizing antibodies both at the protein and mRNA level. Altogether, our results suggest that (i) the extent of sICAM-1 release is distinctive for individual melanomas and can be independent of ICAM-1 expression; (ii) tumor endothelia may sustain levels of sICAM-1 in selected melanomas; (iii) melanoma-released VEGF does not affect ICAM-1 expression and sICAM-1 release by HUVEC. Melanoma-derived sICAM-1 inhibits cell-mediated cytotoxicity of melanoma cells; therefore, constitutive levels of sICAM-1 release and IL-1alpha secretion by individual melanomas can differentially influence tumor progression and the clinical effectiveness of cytotoxic-cell-based vaccines.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Emerging role of protectin (CD59) in humoral immunotherapy of solid malignancies.

Over the past two decades, complement (C)-activating monoclonal antibodies (mAb), directed to specific tumor-associated antigens (TAA), have been extensively utilized for passive immunotherapy of solid tumors of different histology. However, the clinical outcome of this therapeutic approach has been substantially disappointing; antigenic heterogeneity of neoplastic cells and their limited accessibility by therapeutic mAb, have been provided as substantial explanations for the poor clinical results obtained. Nevertheless, in light of the recent advances in the knowledge of the mechanisms regulating C-activity, it begins to be evident that membrane and soluble C-inhibitory proteins play a key role in the protection of neoplastic cells from C-attack, providing additional insights on biological features of transformed cells that may hamper the clinical efficacy of humoral immunotherapy. Among C-regulatory proteins investigated, this review will focus on protectin (CD59) that represents the main restriction factor of C-susceptibility of neoplastic cells from solid malignancies. In view of the functional role of CD59, we will describe its tissue distribution and biological features in malignant neoplasms; major emphasis will be given to cutaneous melanoma, in which the C-regulatory role of CD59 has been extensively investigated, and clinical approaches of humoral immunotherapy have been implemented. According to the available data, the foreseeable strategies to improve the therapeutic efficacy of humoral immunotherapy of solid malignancies will be discussed.

CD59 Antigens↗