Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R Marra

Publications and source records attributed to R Marra.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Delta opioid receptors mediate seizures produced by intrahippocampal injection of ala-deltorphin in rats.

The effects of the selective delta opioid receptor agonist, ala-deltorphin, microinfused into the dorsal hippocampus or into the locus coeruleus, on the electrocorticographic (ECoG) activity continuously quantified in its spectrum were studied in rats. The microinjection into the dorsal hippocampus of ala-deltorphin (0.03, 0.3 and 1.0 nmol) produced dose-dependent motor and ECoG epileptogenic disorders. The microinfusion of similar doses of ala-deltorphin into the locus coeruleus did not evoke motor and ECoG changes. Intrahippocampal injection of naltrindole (10 and 20 pmol) antagonized the epileptogenic effects induced by ala-deltorphin; also naloxone (20 and 50 pmol) was able to prevent the effects induced by ala-deltorphin, although with a minor potency. In conclusion, the present experiments show that ala-deltorphin is a useful tool to characterize central opioid effects mediated by delta receptors in the brain and suggest that the stimulation of this subtype of receptors in the hippocampus is responsible for epileptogenic effects of opiates.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Oral idarubicin plus cytosine arabinoside in the treatment of acute non lymphoblastic leukemia in elderly patients.

Eighteen acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia patients greater than 60 yr., 12 at diagnosis and 6 in first relapse, were treated with the association of oral Idarubicin and subcutaneous Aracytin. One patient was not evaluable. Eight out of 17 patients achieved complete remission (47%), 4 patients died in induction and 5 proved resistant to treatments. Mucocutaneous and gastrointestinal toxicity was mild. The most frequent extra-hematological complications were infections. We observed an important hepatic toxicity in 1 case.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Choice of restorative materials in posterior Class V cavities].

Microleakage of class V restorations in posterior teeth was studied, using different types of materials and cavity varnish. Significantly less microleakage was recorded by applying some layers of cavity varnish and using spherical alloy.

Bicuspid↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Idarubicin combined with intermediate-dose cytosine arabinoside in the treatment of refractory acute leukemia.

From December, 1985 to October, 1987, 16 patients aged from 14 to 62 (median 34) with acute leukemia in relapse (10 affected by ANLL and 6 by ALL) were treated with the following regimen: Idarubicin 12 mg/m2/day on days 1-2-3, Ara-C 600 mg/m2 twice a day from day 1 to 6. Twelve patients (75%) achieved complete remission (C.R.). Two (12%) died during the induction phase from alveolar pneumonitis. One patient was resistant. The median duration of C.R. and survival was respectively 12 (range 6 to 100 +) and 23 weeks (4 to 108 +). The median duration of granulocytopenia was 16 days (range 10 to 24 days). The most frequent non-hematological complications consisted of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and mucositis. Four patients had hepatic and splenic microabscesses of suspected mycotic etiology, and one showed a transient cardiac arrhythmia. The C.R. rate obtained in this series may be considered satisfaying since all but 3 patients were on treatment at the time of relapse. Yet the short duration of C.R. suggests the opportunity of performing consolidation cycles or suprelethal therapy followed by bone marrow transplantation.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

An evaluation of some inflammatory, coagulative and immune factors in progressive systemic sclerosis.

Thirty-five patients affected by Progressive System Sclerosis (PSS) (20 acrosclerosis and 15 diffuse sclerosis) were subjected to the following laboratory tests: Beta 2 microglobulin (B2m), Fibronectin, C3c, C4, Fibrinogen, Factor VIII Coagulant (F. VIII:C), Factor VIII related Antigen (F. VIII:Ag), IgG, ESR, Antithrombin III (AT III), alpha 1 Antitrypsin (alpha 1AT) and alpha 2 Macroglobulin (alpha 2M). The results showed that no difference was observed between the normal group and the groups of PSS patients with respect to alpha 1AT, alpha 2M, and AT III. In contrast the B2m, ESR, IgG, F. VIII:Ag results were significantly higher in the PSS patients, while Fibrinogen and C3c results were slightly higher, but no high enough to be of statistical significance. The two PSS patient subgroups did not produce significant results, only the C4 values were lower in the Diffuse Sclerosis subgroup. From these results it seem that the tests used are not very useful indifferentiating the two subgroups of the PSS patients.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Factor VIII complex in progressive systemic sclerosis.

Factor VIII complex and its related activities (Coagulant, Antigen and Ristocetin Cofactor) have been investigated in 23 patients with Progressive Systemic Sclerosis (PSS) divided into two groups: acrosclerosis and diffuse sclerosis. All Factor VIII-related activities were higher in PSS patients than in normal subjects. No difference in F. VIII-related Antigen (F. VIIIR:Ag), F. VIII-related Ristocetin Cofactor (F. VIIIR:Co) and F. VIII Coagulant activity (F. VIII:C) was found comparing the patient groups. F. VIII:C was increased significantly less than F. VIIIR:Ag and F. VIIIR:Co in both patient groups. Some hypotheses about the pathogenesis of this increase are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Combination of 6-mercaptopurine, vincristine, methotrexate, and prednisone in resistant or relapsed acute nonlymphoid leukemia.

Twenty-six adults with acute nonlymphoid leukemia (ANLL) relapsed or resistant after first-choice chemotherapy including cytarabine and/or anthracyclines were treated with a modified POMP (6-mercaptopurine, vincristine, methotrexate, and prednisone) combination. Complete remission (CR) was achieved in five of eight resistant patients (62%) and in nine of 18 relapsed patients (50%). Intermittent cycles of chemotherapy including daunorubicin, cytarabine, 6-thioguanine, and etoposide were then administered. In the resistant group CR lasted from 11 to 126 weeks (median, 86), with two patients remaining in CR 126 and 108 weeks after remission induction; in relapsed patients, CR lasted from 9 to 50 weeks (median, 31).

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Electrocortical desynchronization after microinfusion of kainic acid into the locus coeruleus in rats.

Receptors for the endogenous excitatory amino acid, 1-glutamate, occur in the rat locus coeruleus (LC), an area of the brain involved in the control of sleep/arousal mechanisms and other behavioral functions. However, the functional role of this neurotransmitter system in the LC has yet to be clarified. Therefore, to address this question we have studied the gross behavioral changes and the effects on the electrocortical (ECoG) spectrum power in rats receiving focal injections into the LC of kainic acid, an agonist at the non-N-methyl-D-aspartate (non-NMDA) glutamate receptor subtype. Unilateral injection of kainic acid (25, 50, 100 and 200 pmol) into the rat LC produced contralateral turning, circling and stereotypes; these effects were accompanied by dose-dependent ECoG desynchronization and by a significant decrease in total voltage power and in 6-9, 9-12 and 12-16 Hz bands of the ECoG spectrum. A pretreatment (15 min before) with 6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX) (50 and 100 pmol), a competitive non-NMDA receptor antagonist, or with dizocilpine meleate (MK-801) (1 pmol) and 3-(2-carboxy-piperazine-4-yl)-1-propenyl-1-phosphonic acid) (CP-Pene) (10 pmol), two selective NMDA receptor antagonists, injected directly into the LC, abolished the behavioral and ECoG spectrum power effects typically elicited by kainic acid (50 pmol). Similar results were observed in rats pretreated with diazepam (0.5 mg/kg given i.p. 15 min before kainic acid).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Salvage chemotherapy with pentostatin in prolymphocytic leukemia.

We report 4 cases of prolymphocytic leukemia (PLL) resistant to conventional chemotherapy that were treated with pentostatin. We obtained 1 complete remission (CR) and 2 partial remissions (PR). Our data confirm the effectiveness of this drug in the treatment of prolymphocytic leukemia.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Epidemiology, pathophysiology and natural history of venous thromboembolism.

Venous thromboembolism is a relevant social and health care problem for its high incidence, pulmonary embolism-related mortality, and long-term sequels which may be disabling. In the United States, there are at least 100,000 deaths per year from pulmonary embolism, found in over 10% non selected autopsy findings. The use of noninvasive diagnostic procedures has improved our knowledge on venous thromboembolism, with reference to surgery in particular. Deep vein thrombosis represents one of most common postoperative complications. Fatal pulmonary embolism is observed at least in one over thousand operated patients. From data of literature and in the authors' experience, the incidence of pulmonary embolism is decreasing in last years. Deep vein thrombosis is caused by several factors associated with Virchow's triad. Its evolution is site-related. While deep vein thrombosis of the calf can be considered a "benign" pathological condition for the incidence and severity of the embolic complication, as well as for the long-term outcomes, when the proximal venous trunks are involved, it is related to a high incidence of severe pulmonary embolism and relevant postphlebitic sequels. Pulmonary embolism is often the first manifestation of thromboembolism. Mobilization of thrombi is easier in the first phases, when they do not adhere as yet to the venous wall. Of 52 consecutive cases of pulmonary embolism, 21% occurred in the absence of signs or symptoms of deep vein thrombosis. In rare cases, thrombosis may be massive with total block of venous return flow and onset of ischemia. These forms have a severe prognosis apart from the embolic complication.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Treatment of deep vein thrombosis.

At present, most common initial treatment of deep vein thrombosis is anticoagulant therapy with i.v. heparin. Recently, some reports in literature suggest the efficacy of low molecular weight heparin fractions administered also to outpatients. Thrombolytic therapy as compared to heparin seems to be favorable as for the valvular integrity and function with minor postphlebitic sequels. It is however burdened with a higher incidence of hemorrhagic complications. Probably, it should be reserved for those patients with massive phlebothrombosis or phlebothrombosis associated with relevant clinical signs. At present, it has not definitely been proved that one of the commonly used drugs, streptokinase, urokinase and r-TPA affords substantial advantages in terms of efficacy and safety. Locoregional administration by a catheter inserted into the thrombus with the protection of a caval filter enhances the efficacy of thrombolytic agents, even if data on long-term results of this method are still lacking. Discordant opinions exist on the validity of thrombectomy. As a prophylaxis of pulmonary embolism, thrombus removal has been replaced by caval filters. At present it is commonly indicated for phlegmasia coerulea dolens. In the other forms, even if the vascular patency is restored in a good percentage of cases, it is not similarly effective in preventing the postphlebitic syndrome. For these reasons it should be applied in selected cases.

Anticoagulants↗