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Biomedical subjects

M Marinelli

Publications and source records attributed to M Marinelli.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Increased levels of clusterin mRNA in the ventral prostate of the aging rat are associated to increases in cuboidal (atrophic) cell population and not to changes in apoptotic activity.

In the ventral prostate of the intact rat, clusterin mRNA is expressed in a small population of cuboidal epithelial cells undergoing apoptosis, but not in the columnar cells comprising the vast majority of the glandular epithelium. Upon castration, clusterin mRNA expression and apoptotic activity are turned off in the cuboidal cells and turned on in the columnar ones. We show here that the progressive enhancements in the abundance of clusterin mRNA, occurring in the rat ventral prostate upon aging, are based on increases of the cuboidal cells at the expense of the columnar ones. DNA fragmentation, a typical sign of apoptosis, assayed both by agarose gel electrophoresis and in situ staining, was undetectable in 3-month-old rats but was evident among the cuboidal cells of 24-month-old animals and columnar cells of 1-day castrates. The DNA content of the ventral prostate did not change significatively between young and old rats, indicating that no increase in the rate of cell death occurs within the age interval examined. It is concluded that the enhancement in cuboidal cell population, the consequent augmented accumulation of clusterin mRNA, and the increased frequency of DNA fragmentation that we have detected in the aging rat ventral prostate are not directly related to the rate of apoptosis.

Aging↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Tumor markers and lung cancer: guidelines in a cost-limited medical organization.

The aim of our study was to evaluate the cost of the tumor marker assays most widely used in pneumological practice and the effectiveness of the percentage of DRG-based reimbursements absorbed by these assays. For this purpose we assessed the cost of lung tumor marker assays in Emilia Romagna compared to the DRG-based reimbursement of inpatients affected by lung diseases in whom the use of tumor markers is indicated. As an example, we evaluated the cost/effectiveness of the CEA assay in the differential diagnosis of 68 pleural effusions from 46 patients (20 benign diseases, 26 malignant). Because the CEA assay was not a substitute for cytology when this was not diagnostic, 41.3% of the resources were not efficiently spent. If the marker assay had been performed only in cases with negative cytology, we could have spared 14 of 46 tests. Moreover, since the expense lies predominantly in the cost of reagents (81.23%), we suggest as a routine procedure to collect and store samples for tumor marker assay in all cases; the test should be performed in a selected population of patients with negative cytology and "suspect" clinical outcome.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Psychosocial therapy of bipolar disorder].

Pharmacotherapy is the treatment of choice for Bipolar Disorder without any doubt. However, an integration of psychotherapeutic techniques with pharmacotherapy has been recommended by the American Psychiatric Association. Among the different psychosocial approaches we shall quote the most used ones. Specially psychoeducation, which is considered one of the most useful ways. We shall report our experience working with the psychoeducational method in the treatment of the Bipolar Disorder during last years.

Bipolar Disorder↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Renal effects of the acute inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme. I. 1) Studies during normal sodium and potassium balance].

We have investigated the effective role of angiotensin II on the renal function and urinary excretion of some prostanoids in healthy women submitted to different conditions of potassium balance. To this aim we have evaluated the effects of an acute inhibition of angiotensin converting enzyme by enalapril (E). The renal function was explored by clearance (cl.) method during induced hypotonic polyuria (oral water load followed by 5% dextrose solution infusion). During 60 min cl. period the urinary PGE2, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and TxB2 were determined by RIA method. Each subject received paired studies, in absence and presence of E (10 mg administered per os 1 hour before the water load). Basal values of plasma renin activity (PRA) and urinary aldosterone (excreted during the 24 hours before the water load) were also determined by RIA method. This study protocol was applied in normal potassium balance (n = 6) and induced moderate potassium depletion (n = 6). This paper concerns the group in normal potassium balance in both absence (N3) and presence of E (N3.E). All subjects were submitted to normal dietary intake of sodium (150 mmol/d) and potassium (50 mmol/d). The basal values of PRA, urinary aldosterone and plasma electrolytes were in the normal range. The only significant effect produced by E was a reduction in mean arterial pressure, without significant changes in creatinine cl., urinary hydro-electrolyte excretions as well as urinary excretions of prostanoids.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aldosterone↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Renal effects of the acute inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme. I. 2) Studies during moderate potassium depletion].

We have investigated the relative roles of angiotensin II on the renal function and urinary excretion of some prostanoids in healthy women submitted to different conditions of potassium balance. To this aim we have evaluated the effects of an acute inhibition of angiotensin converting enzyme by enalapril (E). The renal function was explored by clearance (cl.) method during induced hypotonic polyuria (oral water load followed by 5% dextrose solution infusion). During 60 min cl. period the urinary PGE2, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and TxB2 were determined by RIA method. Each subject received paired studies, in absence and presence of E (10 mg administered per os 1 hour before the water load). Basal values of plasma renin activity (PRA) and urinary aldosterone (excreted during the 24 hours before the water load) were also determined by RIA method. This study protocol was applied in normal potassium balance (n = 6) and induced moderate potassium depletion (n = 6). This paper concerns the group in potassium depletion in both absence (D4) and presence of E (D4.E). Potassium depletion was induced by adaptation to a normal sodium (150 mmol/d) and low potassium (< or = 10 mmol/d) dietary intake combined to natriuretic treatment. The water and NaCl net losses were restored by 0.9% NaCl solution infusion. The cumulative potassium deficit achieved at the end of the depletive treatment was 214 +/- 54 mmol. This treatment induced significant decrease in basal plasma potassium concentration and increase in PRA without affecting urinary aldosterone and plasma sodium concentration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aldosterone↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Renal effects of the acute inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme. I. 3) Relative roles of angiotensin II and prostanoids in early hypokalemic dysfunction].

We have investigated the relative roles of some renal prostanoids and angiotensin II in the hypokalemic renal dysfunction. To this aim we have evaluated the renal function in healthy women in induced potassium depletion of moderate degree before and after acute inhibition of cyclooxygenase (indomethacin, I) or angiotensin converting enzyme (enalapril, E). The renal function was explored by clearance (cl.) method during hypotonic polyuria induced by oral water load followed by 5% dextrose solution infusion; the urinary PGE2, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and TxB2 were determined by RIA method. Potassium depletion was induced in 12 subjects by adaptation to low potassium (< or = 10 mmol/d) and normal sodium (150 mmol/d) dietary intake combined to natriuretic treatment. The water and NaCl net losses were restored by 0.9% NaCl solution infusion. In 6 subjects paired functional studies were performed in absence (D3) and presence of I (D3.I), 100 mg administered i.m. immediately before the water load. In other 6 subjects, paired studies were performed in absence (D4) and presence of E (D4.E), 10 mg administered per os 1 hour before the water load. No significant difference between D3 and D4 was observed as regards the potassium cumulative deficit as well as the basal values of plasma potassium concentration and plasma renin activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Angiotensin II↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Trends in the mortality from stomach tumors in Italy from 1951 to 1981].

In Italy the mortality rate for gastric cancer is still very high compared to that of other European countries, with marched differences between the regions (age-adjusted rates were much higher in the North than in the South). On the basis of official certifications, gastric cancer ranks as the second cause of death from cancer in both sexes, only surpassed by tumors of respiratory tract in men and breast cancer in women. This note examines the data relative to the official death certifications for stomach cancer in Italy, between 1950-1982, to value quantitatively the trend of the mortality in the last years as regards sex, age and birth year. The absolute values relative to death certifications for gastric cancer between 1950 and 1982 were obtained from the Istituto Centrale di Statistica which gathers all the death certifications issued throughout the whole of Italy. The 1951-1961-1971-1981 census data were used to calculate the rates for 100,000 inhabitants. For the thirty years considered, the following rates were calculated separately for each sex: a)--the age-specific mortality rates for five-year age groups in the three years around the census; b)--the age-adjusted mortality rates (direct methods, using the Italian population of the October 1981 census as standard population) for the total population and for those aged between 35 and 74; c)--the age-specific mortality rates in five-year age group, by cohorts of birth from 1883-85 to 1933-35; d)--the male/female ratio for gastric cancer mortality. Age-standardized death certification rates for the population of all ages decreased from 51.7 to 32.9/100,000 males and from 40.3 to 21.5/100,000 females. Age-standardized death truncated 35-74 years mortality rates showed a more marked declining trend in both sexes: from 92.5 to 50.1/100,000 males and from 57.3 to 23.3/100,000 females. If differences among the age-specific mortality rates between 1951 and 1981 is examined, it can be seen that there is a constant more or less marked decline for all the age groups up to 74, whereas in the higher age groups the rates tend to increase. The analysis of the cohorts of birth reveals that the decline in mortality rates for stomach cancer was already evident in females born at 1894 and in males born at 1904 and this continued regularly in the following decades. Finally, the trend male/female ratio for gastric cancer mortality increased over time from 1.28 in 1951 to 1.53 in 1981.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adult↗