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Biomedical subjects

M Bortolotti

Publications and source records attributed to M Bortolotti.

85 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

CD38 as a target of IB4 mAb carrying saporin-S6: design of an immunotoxin for ex vivo depletion of hematological CD38+ neoplasia.

An anti-CD38 mAb (IB4) coupled to saporin-S6, a type 1 ribosome-inactivating protein (RIP), was designed for ex vivo or loco-regional therapeutical applications in myeloma and lymphoma. The ability of this immunotoxin to eliminate CD38+ cells was studied in vitro on selected CD38+ human cell lines (Raji, HBL6, L540 and CEM) and on CD38+ neoplastic cells from a Non Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) patient. HBL6, Raji and L540 cells resulted very sensitive to the IB4/saporin-S6 conjugate, concentrations as low as 100 pM of the immunotoxin completely inhibited protein synthesis. CD38+ neoplastic cells from the NHL patient were completely eliminated after treatment with immunotoxin at 10 nM concentration. CFU-c rescue by bone marrow precursors was maintained after exposure to the immunotoxin. These results indicate that IB4/saporin-S6 is endowed with strong and specific cytotoxic effects on selected CD38+ tumor cells lineages. Consequently, it is reasonable to propose a clinical use of the IB4/saporin-S6 for ex vivo purging of unwanted cells (e.g. depletion of contaminating neoplastic cells in aphereses obtained from G-CSF-treated patients) or for loco-regional therapies of CD38+ tumors.

ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Brain stem encephalitis in a patient with gastroduodenal and cardiovascular dysfunction: a case report.

The authors describe a case of a 38-year-old woman suffering from long-standing epigastric pain, abdominal fullness and vomiting due to functional alteration of gastroduodenal motility. Following a surgical procedure, a supraventricular tachyarrhythmia and hemodynamic disturbances suddenly appeared and led to death in a few hours. A histopathological study carried out on the brain stem revealed inflammatory lesions suggestive of a viral infection, whereas the study of the conduction system of the heart did not show any alterations. A clinicopathological correlation is suggested between the clinical picture and anatomical lesions of the tegmental region.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Isosorbide dinitrate or nifedipine: which is preferable in the medical therapy of achalasia?

Oesophageal motor activity was recorded manometrically with a low compliance system in 16 patients with achalasia and a slightly dilated oesophagus. After a basal recording period, nifedipine 20 mg was given sublingually to 9 patients and isosorbide dinitrate 5 mg to another 7 patients. Lower oesophageal sphincter pressure (LESp) and oesophageal body pressure wave amplitude were measured for 60 min after drug administration. Both drugs decreased LESp and pressure wave amplitude, but the effect of isosorbide dinitrate was faster and more intense than that of nifedipine. There was a lower inhibitory effect of nifedipine on the amplitude of pressure waves than on LESp, while isosorbide dinitrate inhibited with a similar intensity both LESp and pressure waves.

Esophageal Achalasia↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Manometric assessment of Heller-Dor operation for esophageal achalasia.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate changes occurring in esophageal motility through a systematic manometric study performed before, during and after Heller-Dor operation (8) and to correlate the possible post-operative symptoms to the manometric and pH-recording patterns detected, in order to provide useful elements that may optimize surgical therapy for esophageal achalasia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1981 and January 1991, 27 patients affected by esophageal achalasia underwent Heller's operation with Dor's anti-reflux procedure. Assessment involved clinical, radiological and manometric investigations. RESULTS: Intra-operative manometry was performed on 11 patients, in whom LES pressure reached values lower than 5 mmHg. Post-operative control, performed 2 years after operation on 25 patients, showed the complete absence of dysphagia in 22 (88%) and occasional dysphagia in 3 (12%). Post-operative manometry in all the patients showed a decreased LES resting pressure (from 32.6 to 7.2 mmHg, p < 0.001), LES residual pressure (from 16.4 to 5.0 mmHg, p < 0.001) and esophageal tone (from 4.8 to -3.5 mmHg, p < 0.001). Patients free of dysphagia presented LES basal and residual pressures lower than the other patients (6.2 and 4.6 vs 15.1 and 7.7 mmHg respectively, p < 0.01 and p < 0.05). 24-hour-esophageal pH-metry showed pathologic reflux in 3 patients with reflux symptoms and in 1 without symptoms. All had LES basal and residual pressures equivalent to non refluxing patients (5.7 and 5.0 vs 7.5 and respectively 4.9 mmHg, p = n.s. and p = n.s.). On the contrary, a difference was found in abdominal LES length between the two groups (0.5 vs 1.6 cm, p < 0.01). Patients with intra-operative manometry presented a lower incidence of residual dysphagia than patients without it (0% vs 21.5%), but a higher incidence of reflux (18.2% vs 7.3%). CONCLUSION: Heller-Dor operation induces a definitive disappearance of dysphagia when it is complete in depth and length. Prevention of gastro-esophageal reflux requires the preservation of a sufficiently long portion of esophagus in the abdomen.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Relationship between acid secretory activity and gastroduodenal migrating motor complex.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: As acid secretory activity fluctuates with the same rhythm as motor activity during the interdigestive period, we investigated the relationship between these two cyclic activities. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a series of 9 normal subjects the interdigestive gastroduodenal motor activity and the intragastric pH were recorded after an overnight fasting by means of a manometric and pH-metric apparatus. Thirty minutes after the second phase III of the Migrating Motor Complex (MMC), omeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor, was administered intravenously at a dose of 20 mg. RESULTS: After omeprazole administration, a typical gastroduodenal phase III similar to the spontaneous one appeared before its expected occurrence. The amplitude and frequency of pressure waves of the period between the end of omeprazole administration and the beginning of phase III were not significantly different from those of the period preceding the spontaneous phase III, but were significantly different from those of a corresponding period starting 30 min after a spontaneous phase III. The intragastric pH showed a significant increase from the basal values before the beginning of gastric phase III and continued to increase up to the end of recording. CONCLUSIONS: The fact that the block of gastric acid secretion is followed by the appearance of a typical gastroduodenal phase III suggests that the acid secretory activity may have some influence on motor activity of the gastroduodenal tract.

Adolescent↗