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Biomedical subjects

R Coppola

Publications and source records attributed to R Coppola.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

[Combined heart and kidney transplantation in terminal myocardial and renal insufficiency].

In a 38-year-old man combined heart and kidney transplantation was performed successfully in one operation. Both organs have functioned well postoperatively: the patient was discharged from hospital on the 19th postoperative day and has remained in functional class I (New York Heart Association) eight months later. Only two episodes of cardiac rejection have been observed during this period, responding to treatment, and there was no evidence of rejection of the kidney. Such combined heart-kidney transplantation from one donor seems to be a promising form of treatment for patients in end-stage myocardial and renal failure. The frequency of cardiac rejections my be lower after combined heart-kidney transplantation than after cardiac transplantation alone.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Topographic maps of brain electrical activity--pitfalls and precautions.

Topographic mapping of brain electrical activity is a popular, powerful, and potentially misleading technique. The map lies at the end of a long chain of physiological, technical, electronic, and mathematical processes and is vulnerable to artifact, error, and distortion at many points. Close attention must be paid to data collection parameters, subject cooperation, minimization of artifact, limitations of resolutions, selection, and transformation of parameters for display, and map generation strategy to yield an accurate, physiologically interpretable map. Review of the data at each step of analysis, from the paper electroencephalogram (EEG) to sets of maps on video display, may be necessary for optimum understanding. Development of more sophisticated qualitative and quantitative concepts of "normal" physiology is needed. These improvements in electrophysiological data analysis demand, rather than obviate, sophistication on the part of the user.

Arousal↗
PubMed1988

Computerized EEG in schizophrenia.

Despite advances in the processing and display of electroencephalographic (EEG) data, the utility of this inexpensive and noninvasive technique in the investigation of schizophrenia has not been well established. We studied the resting EEG in 19 medication-free patients with chronic schizophrenia and 21 normal controls. Patients with schizophrenia had increased delta activity which was not specific to the frontal regions. Schizophrenic patients also had increased fast activity, and this increase was left sided for the fast beta frequency. Alpha frequency was reduced (less than 10.2 Hz) in 7 of 16 schizophrenic patients. Moreover, those patients with an alpha frequency reduction had a significantly larger mean cerebral ventricular size. These results indicate that the EEG does detect neurophysiological changes in schizophrenia. Our understanding of these changes may be enhanced by other neuroimaging techniques such as computed tomography.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Alpha frequency in schizophrenia: an association with enlarged cerebral ventricles.

Low alpha frequency (less than 10.2 Hz) occurred more frequently in medication-free schizophrenic patients than in normal control subjects, as determined by quantitative EEG analysis. Furthermore, those patients with low alpha frequency had significantly larger lateral ventricles, as measured by CT scan, than did other schizophrenic patients (mean +/- SD ventricle-brain ratios = 9.8 +/- 1.9 versus 5.0 +/- 2.4; p less than 0.01). This finding suggests the existence of a relationship between cerebral structural pathology and the alpha rhythm that may be based on involvement of alpha-generating structures which border the cerebral ventricles. Future EEG studies of schizophrenia may resolve these questions in the context of other brain findings.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Brain imaging in alcoholic patients.

Imaging in vivo aspects of brain structure and function hold great promise for the study of alcoholism. Computerized axial tomography and magnetic resonance imaging have been used successfully to demonstrate structural abnormalities in alcoholic patients. Positron emission tomography and topographic images of electrical and magnetic activity are useful measures of brain function that could be applied more rigorously to the study of alcoholism. Interrelating various types of imaging data is an important area that is still in the developmental stage.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1987

Computed electroencephalographic activity mapping in schizophrenia. The resting state reconsidered.

Several topographic mapping studies of electroencephalographic (EEG) power spectra have reported increased slow (delta) activity in the frontal regions of schizophrenic patients. Using supraorbital and lateral canthus electrodes to detect eye movement, we deleted EEG epochs during eye movement in 15 medication-free patients with schizophrenia and in 13 normal control subjects. Power spectral analysis of the 28-channel EEG demonstrated a diffuse mild increase in delta activity in schizophrenic patients compared with normal control subjects but no tendency for frontal localization of this slow activity. There were no differences between schizophrenic patients and normal control subjects in other frequency bands. These results, which replicate earlier findings of increased delta activity in schizophrenia, emphasize the importance of excluding the slow activity due to eye movement in the comparisons of summed EEG spectra. This emphasis can best be ensured by equating the summed spectra from extraocular movement channels of experimental and control groups.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Intravenous procaine as a probe of limbic system activity in psychiatric patients and normal controls.

Evidence from animal and human studies suggests that procaine hydrochloride may selectively activate limbic system structures and suppress neocortical structures. We administered a series of intravenous bolus doses of procaine hydrochloride to 31 subjects (7 with affective disorders, 17 with borderline personality disorder, and 7 healthy normal volunteers). Dose-related cognitive and sensory distortions and illusions were observed; affective experiences ranged widely from euphoric to dysphoric. Topographic electroencephalogram (EEG) analysis indicated selective increases in fast activity (26-45 Hz) over the temporal lobes; the degree of increase in this activity correlated with degree of dysphoria experienced. Procaine was associated with increases in secretion of cortisol, adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), and prolactin, but not with growth hormone. These preliminary data are consistent with the possibility that procaine might serve as a clinically useful probe of psychosensory, affective, electrophysiological, and endocrine effects referable to the limbic system.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1987

Multi-channel amplifier system for computerized topographic EEG analysis.

Topographic analysis of EEG and evoked potentials requires the computer processing of data from multi-lead recording. The use of 20 or more channels is now quite common, straining the resources of the usual EEG machine. We present a design for a high gain, low noise, 32-channel amplifier matched to computer data acquisition requirements. Low cost and small size are additional benefits to the design.

Brain Mapping↗
PubMed1987

Effects of gamma-hydroxybutyrate on the performance of monkeys in a Go/No-go visual discrimination task.

It has been suggested that monkeys, administered gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), manifest a state resembling petit mal status. This implies that an animal would produce erroneous responses immediately prior to, and discontinue behaviors requiring any cognitive effort concurrently with, an episode of GHB-induced generalized 3 cps wave-spike bursts in the EEG. This prediction was not confirmed in the present study. Rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) were trained to perform in a visual discrimination Go/No-go test. Thereafter bipolar transcortical electrodes were implanted in the hemisphere contralateral to the preferred hand. All monkeys discontinued to lever-press for water reward when administered GHB (125 or 250 mg/kg, esophageal intubation) and exhibited signs of reduced postural control and somnolence punctuated by episodes of hypermotility about 40-50 min after GHB. However, the monkey's difficulties in completing the program were not associated with the development of generalized hypersynchronous EEG activity. While occasional wave-spike bursts did occur, they were poorly regulated, often 'focal' (i.e. developed only in isolated areas), and had a frequency of 1.5-2 cps. In this state, animals could be easily roused by sensory stimuli. All of them reacted with a characteristic aversive-aggressive display when confronted by a direct gaze. These effects are interpreted to be more consistent with characterization of GHB activity as that of a potent hypnotic rather than a convulsant agent.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Neuroendocrine effects of limbic activation by electrical, spontaneous, and pharmacological modes: relevance to the pathophysiology of affective dysregulation in psychiatric disorders.

1. Literature is reviewed that implicates various limbic structures (particularly amygdala and hippocampus) in the modulation of stress-associated neuroendocrine systems. 2. Procaine and related local anesthetics may show a selective proclivity for activating limbic structures. 3. Procaine stimulates ACTH-cortisol and prolactin, but not growth hormone secretion. This pattern is most comparable to that elicited by stimuli which act bilaterally on temporal lobe and limbic areas. 4. Procaine may be a useful agent for helping to elucidate the anatomic and physiologic basis for mood, endocrine, and cognitive dysregulation associated with stress and affective disorders. 5. The endocrine concomitants of limbic activation may have relevance to the course and symptom complex of affective disorders and related psychiatric conditions.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1987

Psychotropic drug profiles: comparisons by topographic maps of absolute power.

In a double-blind fourfold crossover design, 11 subjects were randomly assigned to placebo, 10 mg diazepam, 75 mg amitriptyline, and 75 mg chlorpromazine. During a simple vigilance task, 12 midline and left hemisphere leads were recorded before and 3 h after drug administration. The EEG was quantified by spectrum analysis, the topographic structure displayed by brain mapping techniques, and the results compared with earlier studies which used the same design and drugs. Diazepam showed the expected increase in beta; however, fast beta was increased as much as slow beta. Amitriptyline showed an increase of slow wave power and a reduction of alpha. In contrast to earlier studies, a decrease of fast beta was found. In addition, the spatial pattern of alpha changed from an occipital to a parietal maximum. Chlorpromazine showed an increase in the theta band. In occipital regions, there was a small decrease of fast beta; however, centrally there was an increase of both slow and fast beta. These results were confirmed by a multivariate analysis of variance.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Juxtapapillary choledochoduodenal fistula. Diagnosis and treatment in 19 cases.

Nineteen patients with distal juxtapapillary choledochoduodenal fistula diagnosed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography are reported. Eighty-four percent of the patients had undergone previous operations on the biliary tract. Fistula appears to be mostly secondary to common bile duct exploration with rigid probes or to a technical mistake in performing sphincteroplasty. Spontaneous fistula secondary to the passage of a stone into the duodenal lumen may also occur. Common duct stones were responsible for the symptoms in most cases (70%). Endoscopic sphincterotomy showed good results in cholecystectomized patients with stones. Surgery directed to the fistula or biliary by-pass are not recommended. Uncomplicated fistula probably does not require treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Management of immediate graft failure after cardiac transplantation using cardiopulmonary bypass and intraaortic balloon-pumping followed by cardiac retransplantation.

A 37-year-old man underwent cardiac transplantation for diffuse coronary artery disease and malignant arrhythmias. During the harvesting of the donor heart slight distention of the left ventricle was present due to insufficiency of the aortic valve. After explantation of the graft, fusion of 2 cusps was found and a commissurotomy of the aortic valve was performed and the graft transplanted. Despite maximum inotropic support immediate graft failure and aortic insufficiency was present and discontinuation of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was impossible. After replacement of the aortic valve using a bioprosthesis and implantation of an intraaortic balloon-pump, low cardiac output persisted and CPB had to be continued. After 11 hours of normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass and intraaortic balloon-pumping a second graft became available and was retransplanted successfully. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient remains well 3 months after the operation.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Quantitative evaluation of anti-HBs in sera.

The Authors carried out a methodological study about the way of expressing in mIU/ml the antibody to HBV surface antigen (anti-HBs) titer. The results showed that Hollinger's formula seems to provide a good accuracy when enzyme immunoassay is employed (AUSAB EIA, Abbott). Moreover, moderate variations in the commercial anti-HBs kits studied (AUSAB, AUSAB EIA, Abbott) have been verified. Considering that and the progress of the calibration curve of the WHO Reference International Standard, it is also advised to include always in the test a calibration curve of the standard serum when a higher precision is required.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1984

Studies on hemophilia A in Sardinia bearing on the problems of multiple allelism, carrier detection, and differential mutation rate in the two sexes.

A large survey of hemophilia A carried out with almost complete ascertainment on the island of Sardinia suggests that the variation of plasma levels of Factor VIII coagulant activity in normal individuals is largely controlled by a series of normal isoalleles or by closely linked modifiers. This variation is expected to affect the laboratory detection of the hemophilia A (HA) heterozygotes in addition to the X-inactivation-dependent mosaicism and the type of deficient mutant present in a given pedigree. The Sardinian pedigrees yielded 13 new cases of nonrecombinants between the loci for HA and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), as well as four nonrecombinants between HA and Deutan color blindness. These findings bring to a total of 58 the number of scorable sibs and nonrecombinants thus far known for the linkage HA-G6PD. From such a figure it has been possible to infer that the 90% upper limit of meiotic recombination between the two loci is below 4%, thus justifying the application of the "linkage diagnostic test" for the detection of HA heterozygotes and the prenatal diagnosis of the hemophilic fetuses in families that segregate at both loci. In three out of the five HA pedigrees of our series that segregate also for G6PD or Deutan color blindness, the observed segregation of the combined phenotypes can be best explained by assuming the occurrence of a fresh mutation in the maternal grandfathers. Such a finding points out the opportunity to reevaluate Haldane's hypothesis of a possible higher incidence of X-linked mutations in the human male. It is anticipated that each of the issues addressed by the present study will be amenable to experimental verification as soon as suitable molecular probes become available to screen for common multiallelic DNA polymorphisms in the subtelomeric region of the X-chromosome long arm.

Alleles↗
PubMed1984

Quantitative evaluation of anti-HBs in sera--II.

We have investigated about the most correct way to express the anti-HBs titration in serum. The following linear regression has been elaborated on the basis of the results (converted into logarithms) obtained by 33 titrations of the International Reference Standard (the dilutions prepared were the following: 150, 100, 75, 37.5, 18.75, 9.375 mUI/ml) by as many kit lots AUSAB EIA (Abbott): y = 0.8590732x - 1.6936435. The correlation between the couples: optical density log. mUI/ml has been highly significative (r = 0.991091; P less than 0.01). In order to limit the variability effects in the same laboratory, the use of the correction factor "F" is suggested. The variation of the optical density corrected by the "F" variation is illustrated. A linear regression on the Author's data has been elaborated by the inverse application of the Hollinger formula. The adaptability of this linear regression has been tested on 196 dilutions out of the 33 standard tests studied. The average values obtained, the 95% confidence limits and the mean values +/- 2s limits are compared with the same values obtained by applying the Hollinger original formula.

Hepatitis B Antibodies↗