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Biomedical subjects

P Poggi

Publications and source records attributed to P Poggi.

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

Selenium and experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. The effects of different levels of dietary selenium on clinico-pathological findings.

There are reports in which multiple sclerosis (MS) seems to be associated with abnormalities in selenium (Se) metabolism and erythrocyte glutathione-peroxidase (GSH-px) activity. Ordinary experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), which reflects some features of human MS, was induced in guinea pigs maintained with high, low and normal levels of Se in the diet. Evidence was obtained to indicate the following results: (i) a direct correlation between dietary Se levels and whole blood Se levels. (ii) Erythrocyte GSH-px activity was not found to be correlated with the blood Se content. (iii) The animals fed with low or normal levels of Se showed the same survival rates and developed EAE in a similar way and percentage. (iv) The animals fed with high non-toxic levels of Se showed a high incidence of death and some developed EAE with a subacute course, when compared with the other experimental groups. The results are discussed on the basis of findings in the literature.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

FK778 does not impair intestinal allograft absorption in a preclinical model of total small bowel transplantation.

Malononitrilamide 715 (FK778), a new low-molecular weight immunosuppressant, inhibits both T-cell and B-cell function by acting on the pathway for de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis. Pyrimidines are important for intestinal trophism; their inhibition may predispose to metabolic and functional impairments, such as diarrhea and malabsorption. In this study we assessed the absorptive capacity of intestinal allografts in a large-animal model of small bowel transplantation (SBTx) in pigs chronically treated with FK778. Ten outbred pigs underwent total orthotopic SBTx. Immunosuppression consisted of oral tacrolimus (trough levels 5-15 ng/mL) and oral FK778 (4 mg/kg per day) administered for 60 days. The D-xylose absorption test was performed at day 60 to evaluate carbohydrate absorption. Results were compared to normal controls. Eight of the 10 animals were alive and in good condition at day 60. All of their allografts were free of rejection. The animals had a mean maximal weight loss of 6.4% during the study period; the final weight was comparable to the initial weight (P > .05). Diarrhea was present in all animals (mean 16% of postoperative days). The D-xylose curves showed that absorption in the transplanted animals at day 60 was similar to that in the untreated controls (P > .05). The absence of differences was confirmed by the statistical analysis. In conclusion, our preclinical study in pigs showed that chronic treatment with FK778 in combination with tacrolimus did not impair carbohydrate absorption by the allograft after SBTx.

Alkynes↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Bacillus of Calmette and Guérin and 7, 12-dimethylbenz(a)-anthracene carcinogenesis in mice.

The effects of single or repeated Bacillus of Calmette and Guérin (BCG) treatment on the onset of tumors induced by the carcinogen 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) injected at birth into Swiss mice were studied. Multiple doses of BCG, given at regular intervals significantly lowered the incidence of carcinogen-induced tumors. The DMBA-induced lung adenomas did not differ morphologically from the ones that appeared in mice simultaneously treated with both DMBA and BCG.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Choroidal angiography with indocyanine green dye: absorption and fluorescence techniques.

The results of choroidal indocyanine green (I.C.G.) angiography by the absorption and fluorescence techniques are compared. Both techniques were done using the same apparatus, a modified fundus camera, an image intensifier coupled to a solid-state video camera and a U Matic video recorder. Both were performed with the same dye dilution in the same patients, at a 24-hour interval. The light source was the unmodified 50 Watt halogen light bulb of the fundus camera. The angiograms obtained by the absorption and the fluorescence techniques refer to the same chorioretinal area and the same angiographic phase. Comparison of all the angiograms shows that I.C.G. fluorescence angiography provides a better resolution of choroidal vascular details than the absorption technique.

Choroid↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Tobacco smoke in the development and therapy of periodontal disease: progress and questions.

In recent years, epidemiological studies have pointed to a significant correlation between cigarette smoke and poor periodontal status. Cigarette smoking is a significant risk factor for the onset and development of periodontal disease, and an association between reduced healing response subsequent to periodontal therapies and cigarette smoking has been found. The epidemiological studies reported here are also supported by the results of an in vitro study on the cytotoxicity of two of the volatile components of cigarette smoke that we ourselves conducted, in which the investigated compounds were found to damage human gingival fibroblasts. We concluded that this damage would be reflected in periodontal health and could slow down wound healing. Patients should thus be alerted by clinicians to the risks smoking poses to oral and dental health.

Acetaldehyde↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Trifluoperazine does not affect doxorubicin cardiotoxicity in the rat.

Sprague Dawley rats received doxorubicin (DXR) at a dose of 3 mg/kg i.v. every third day for a total of three administrations, according to an acute and delayed cardiotoxicity experimental model previously described. DXR was found to induce significant ECG alterations (Qat and Sat prolongation) and typical morphologic lesions in the left ventricle. Trifluoperazine (TFP), administered at the doses of 0.2 of 2 mg/kg i.p., 5 days a week for 4 weeks, starting 1 day before DXR, was ineffective in preventing the electrocardiographic and morphologic alterations induced by DXR.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Stress myocardial scintigraphy in the pre- and postoperative diagnosis of ischemic cardiopathy. The correlations between the clinical aspects and the coronary angiographic picture].

With radioisotopes it is possible to study the heart obtaining complementary or substitutive informations to those provided by the most common noninvasive methods of myocardial assessment and by coronarography. This paper aim is to report experience with thallium 201 and 99mTc isonitrile in the diagnosis and followup of ischemic heart disease, in particular correlating clinical, coronarographic and scintigraphic findings. MATERIAL AND METHODS. During the biennium 1989-91 we have used the myocardial perfusion imaging with thallium 201 in 29 patients (20 male age ranging from 40 to 60 years) injecting 2 mCi at exercise peak with immediate planar mapping, followed by a second registration at rest 4 hours later (thallium 201). Imaging with 99mTc SESTAMIBI has been carried out in 6 patients (two of whom previously studied with thallium 201) injecting 20-22 mCi both at stress peak and at rest, with SPECT mapping 60'-90' later. All these patients presented specific problems for the diagnosis of myocardial ischemia. The exercise testing has been performed by a bicycle ergometer and with a standardized procedure increasing every two minutes the workload to the maximum tolerated according to the clinical conditions and to the response. All antianginal treatments were discontinued for at least 48 hours before testing and the patients were fasted for 6 hours. The images were obtained using a small field scintillation camera with a low-energy general purpose collimator. We divided the patients in 4 groups: Group A. Six patients who had an open heart operation: in 5 coronary revascularization was carried out (plus left ventricular aneurysmectomy in one and plus aortic valve replacement in another); in 1 patient an aortic valve replacement was performed on. Group B. Six patients have been evaluated after coronary angiography. Group C. Seventeen patients with doubtful diagnosis of myocardial ischemia on the base of the symptoms and/or non invasive testing as rest or stress electrocardiogram (ECG). Group D. In 6 more patients (2 of those previously studied with thallium 201) the myocardium has been assessed with SESTAMIBI. RESULTS. In one patient of the group A the thallium 201 images detected silent ischemia; in 5 removed the diagnostic doubts of the ECG findings owing to left ventricular overload or to old infarctions in 2 patients and to electrolytes disturbances or pharmacological effects in 3 patients. In group B patients the thallium 201 further on could assess the extent of ischemic and necrotic areas suggesting the final indications to angioplasty in 3 patients, medical treatment in 2 and surgery in 1. We could not find correlations between the extent of the disease predicted by the coronarography and the findings of the thallium 201 images. In the diagnosis of myocardial ischemia, group C, the Thallium 201 has been very useful and specific excluding an ischemic origin in 4 patients with arrhythmias, in 2 patients without symptoms of angina but with doubts at rest and exercise ECG findings and in 4 with atypical thoracoalgia and doubtful ECG. On the contrary, this test could give the final diagnosis of ischemia in 6 patients displaying its sensitivity in detecting coronary artery disease. Among the patients assessed with SESTAMIBI, in 2 this test has been essential in evaluating the myocardial contractility and the segmental wall motion. DISCUSSION. The usefulness of Thallium 201 imaging, as a very sensitive mean in detecting coronary artery disease and in the assessment of myocardial viability, is well known. Although the most common indications of this technique are well standardized, in the clinical practice there are many situations in which the thallium 201 can contribute to the diagnosis and to the management. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of preoperative training on latissimus dorsi muscle for cardiomyoplasty. A morphometric study.

Dynamic cardiomyoplasty is based upon the use of electrostimulated Latissimus Dorsi muscle (LDM) to reinforce the ventricular wall of heart in patients with end-stage heart failure. In the present study we induced a preoperative reinforcement of LDM in 3 male patients selected for cardiomyoplasty, by means of a physiokinesiologic training. The application of morphometric techniques was useful to analyze the modifications in fibre type diameter and composition, in number and distribution of mitochondria and in number of capillaries in LDM needle biopsies performed before and after training. The preoperative muscle training induces trophic modifications in muscle fibres with increase in fibre diameter, in capillarity and in number and size of mitochondria. These parameters indicate that a preoperative training of LDM before cardiomyoplasty may be useful for muscle reinforcement and for preparation to the electrostimulation program in the postoperative cardiac assistance.

Adult↗