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Biomedical subjects

M Dottorini

Publications and source records attributed to M Dottorini.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

The effect of ciprofloxacin on oral contraceptive steroid treatments.

The effect of ciprofloxacin, a new broad-spectrum quinolone derivative, on concomitant oral contraceptive steroids has been studied in a double-blind cross-over placebo-controlled randomized trial. Ten healthy women using long-term oral contraceptive steroids received either ciprofloxacin 500 mg BID or placebo during two consecutive cycles. Therapy was continued for seven days from the first day of contraceptive treatment. FSH, LH and oestradiol blood levels were repeatedly determined to monitor contraceptive steroid efficacy. A seven-day treatment with ciprofloxacin did not affect steroid treatment outcome and appears to be safe in women using this contraceptive method.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Fate of human albumin microsphere and spherocyte radioaerosols in the human tracheobronchial tree.

Human albumin microspheres (99mTc-HAM; 7-25 microns) and spherocytes (99mTc-S; 4-4.5 mu) are particles used for lung mucociliary clearance (MCC) measurements. If radiolabelled HAM aerosols are sent through an airway model to a screen, they appear peripherally distributed, whereas S present a more central and homogeneous distribution. The radioscanning evaluation of particle sedimentation in saline-filled tubes shows quite a different behavior pattern for S, HAM, and surfactant-coated HAM (S-C HAM). In these experimental conditions, S-C HAM and HAM floating properties were better than those of S. This could be explained by physical-chemical factors. Looking for the fate of organic particles after inhalation, we performed multiple bronchial biopsies in seven bronchitic patients, 2 h following inhalation of HAM and S. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that most of S was floating on the mucus layer, while HAM appeared deeply imbedded inside the mucus and partially digested. The same study performed on three bronchitic patients after S-C HAM inhalation, shows that S-C HAM float like S. In vitro, the time-course of tryptic digestion is similar for HAM and for S. However, in vivo, the different location of each particle on the bronchial surface might lead to a different digestion by trypsin and by PZ-peptidase, which are dosable in pathologic mucus. In our opinion, if HAM are coated with surfactant, this should improve the mucus-HAM interaction, thus helping to control variability in lung radioaerosol MCC studies.

Aerosols↗
PubMed1990

[Meckel's diverticulum: the usefulness of 99m Tc pertechnetate scintigraphy].

The paper discusses the utility and appropriateness of instrumental tests (in particular scintigraphic detection) which are regularly used for the preoperative diagnosis of Meckel's diverticulum. The case is reported of a 9-month-old infant affected by severe recidivating attacks of melena in whom the diagnosis of Meckel's diverticulum was delayed by the repeated negativity of instrumental tests.

Humans↗
PubMed1989

Viral and Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonias in school-age children: three-year follow-up of respiratory function.

We studied the evolution of respiratory function during and for 3 years after the acute onset of viral and Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonias in 13 school-age children. A mixed type transient ventilatory defect (restrictive and obstructive, but mainly restrictive) with large and small airway involvement was observed during the acute phase of the pneumonias. Residual small airway involvement was found over the next 12 months, but no pulmonary function abnormalities were present after 3 years. At that time, one of the 13 subjects displayed bronchial hyperreactivity to distilled water mist challenge. The authors concluded that viral and Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in previously healthy school-age children does not cause impaired lung function in later childhood.

Adenovirus Infections, Human↗
PubMed1989

Normal reference values for regional pulmonary peripheral airspace epithelial permeability. Influence of pneumonectomy and the smoking habit.

Peripheral airspace epithelial permeability (PAEP) to diethylentriaminopentacetate (DTPA), an index of pulmonary integrity, was measured in 3 groups of subjects for different purposes: (1) to establish vertical regional reference values; (2) to determine the physiological role of acute doubling of total pulmonary blood flow; (3) to quantify the pulmonary epithelial damage in smokers and the possibility of lung protection by an agent stimulating surfactant production. This study broadens previous knowledge of PAEP. First of all, regional reference values are given for young normal nonsmoking subjects and the existence of a vertical gradient of PAEP is confirmed. Furthermore, this study shows that this gradient is independent of the vertical blood flow gradient, since an acute increase of total blood flow in pneumonectomized patients does not modify the regional distribution of PAEP. Finally, it is confirmed that the cigarette smoker's lung is more permeable than the controls and that probably a drug-stimulating surfactant production gives some protection against damage due to chronic smoking.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Ability of retinoic and ascorbic acid to interfere with the binding of benzo(a)pyrene to DNA in explants from donors with bronchial cancer.

The capability of ascorbic acid (AA) and transretinoic acid (RA) to interfere with 3H-benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P] binding to DNA has been evaluated in cultured bronchial mucosa explants from patients with bronchial cancer. The results show that the DNA-bound 3H-B(a)P is smaller in treated cultures than in controls. To explain this finding, it is proposed that AA, acting as antioxidant, inhibits the oxidative degradation of B(a)P, and that RA, a lipophilic compound interacting with the lipid components of mixed function oxidases, could modify the activities of these enzymes. Both vitamins decrease the concentration of ultimate carcinogen metabolites, which can interact with DNA. Furthermore, the treatment with RA does not increase DNA synthesis, while AA inhibits 3H-thymidine incorporation.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed1989

Modulation of anti-Candida activity of human alveolar macrophages by interferon-gamma or interleukin-1-alpha.

The fungicidal and bactericidal activities of human alveolar macrophages (AM) and peripheral blood monocytes (PBM) from 18 healthy volunteers were evaluated. The results showed that AM were able to phagocytize and kill Candida albicans, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. However, killing of the bacteria was already complete in 2 h, whereas killing of Candida required 4 to 6 h despite an early phagocytosis of yeast cells. The fungicidal activity of freshly collected AM and PBM was also tested after effector cell exposure to interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin-1-alpha (IL-1 alpha), endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS), or interleukin 2 (IL-2). It was found that treatment with IFN-gamma, IL-1 alpha, or LPS significantly augmented macrophage and PBM candidacidal activity, whereas the addition of IL-2 was ineffective. We also evaluated killing of C. albicans by AM cultured in vitro for different times. While phagocytosis was apparently unaffected, the candidacidal activity progressively decreased over the in vitro culture period, an effect that was largely reversed by cell exposure to IFN-gamma, IL-1 alpha, or LPS. In an experimental model in which mice infected with an agerminative C. albicans strain (PCA-2) resisted lethal microbial challenge, freshly harvested AM showed increased cytotoxic activity to Aspergillus fumigatus in vitro as well as enhanced IL-1 production. In conclusion, present data confirm the crucial role of AM in the surveillance of bacterial and fungal infections and indicate that treatment of these cells with IFN-gamma or IL-1 alpha is able to enhance their antimicrobial capability.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Sarcoidosis: an alveolar macrophage disease?

The Authors focus on new functions of alveolar macrophages (AM) from patients with active pulmonary sarcoidosis. They show that sarcoid AM present a candidacidal activity higher than normal controls, probably due to an enhanced phagocytic efficiency. Furthermore, after LPS stimulation cultured sarcoid AM secrete larger amount of interleukin 1 (IL-1) and of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) than normal controls. In conclusion, a new key role is emerging for sarcoid AM: not only an antigen-presenting cell, but a cell with a great primitive potential in modulating the inflammatory process.

Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid↗
PubMed1988

Pulmonary epithelial permeability in ARDS and cardiogenic pulmonary oedema.

Clearance of inhaled 99mTechnetium-labelled diethylene triamine pentacetate (99mTc-DTPA) from the lung, an index of pulmonary alveolar epithelial permeability (PAEP), was measured in 13 patients with cardiogenic interstitial pulmonary oedema (CIPO) and in 7 patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Thirty-five normal subjects (22 nonsmokers and 13 smokers) were evaluated as controls. Half-time clearance (t0.5) values in ARDS patients (mean +/- SD: 15 +/- 2 min) were significantly lower than in CIPO patients (62 +/- 9 min). This PAEP increase in ARDS was impressive, even in comparison to heavy smokers. Loss of the PAEP vertical gradient (apical PAEP greater than base PAEP) was observed in both cardiogenic and ARDS lungs and among smokers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Biodegradability of inhaled organic particles in patients with chronic bronchitis.

2 h after the inhalation of monodispersed 99mTc-labeled autologous spherocytes and of commercial human albumin microspheres (HAM), 7 patients with chronic bronchitis underwent bronchofibroscopy. The fate of organic particles along the tracheobronchial tree was verified by scanning electron microscopy and the proteolytic activity (trypsin and PZ peptidase) in mucus samples was assessed. Significant proteolytic activity was detected in bronchial secretions. Thereafter in vitro digestion of labeled spherocytes and HAM was verified after exposure to increasing concentrations of trypsin. While in vitro a similar time-course of tryptic digestion of both particles was observed, in vivo spherocytes seem to be less vulnerable to enzymatic digestion. These findings add another unexpected variable, which may influence the reproducibility of radioaerosol lung mucociliary clearance measurements, and improve its standardization.

Aerosols↗
PubMed1986

Oral beta 2-selective adrenergic bronchodilators.

Oral beta 2-agonists (carbuterol, pirbuterol, procaterol, bitolterol, clenbuterol) are drugs widely used as bronchodilators. The efficacy and selectivity of bronchodilators drugs depend on their intrinsic pharmacological properties and on the route of administration. The characteristics of the oral route are easy usage, precise dosage and assured effects. Consequently, disadvantages (delayed onset of action, more frequent side-effects) and the indications, (patients with severe chronic airways obstruction, nocturnal asthmatic attacks, and children and elderly subjects) are clearly evident. The most recent beta 2-agonists have an efficient and prolonged bronchodilating action with well-known side-effects. In order to control drug efficiency in a large population and identify type and degree of adverse reactions, a post-marketing surveillance study was programmed for clenbuterol. The results available confirms that long-term treatment with oral clenbuterol is an effective and safe therapeutical approach. During long-term treatment, tachyphylaxis (a diminished responsiveness) develops. This complex biological phenomenon can be studied, in several ways i.e. functional response of target-organ, appropriate biochemical-metabolical indices, and functional evaluation of the cellular beta-receptors in vitro. Also in the light of evaluation of serum levels of cyclic nucleotides (cyclic adenosine and guanosine monophosphates) it appears that the clinical importance of tachyphylaxis is mild and that chronic therapy with beta 2-agonists is safe and effective when used in selected patients.

Administration, Oral↗