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Biomedical subjects

R Pacifici

Publications and source records attributed to R Pacifici.

159 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Mixed-sclerosing-bone-dystrophy: 42-year follow-up of a case reported as osteopetrosis.

We present a detailed metabolic investigation and 42-year radiological follow-up of a 52-year-old man with mixed-sclerosing-bone-dystrophy, the rare occurrence of two or more distinct patterns of sclerosing-bone-dysplasia (e.g., osteopathia striata, osteopoikilosis, melorheostosis) in a single subject. Review of radiographs from 1942, when he was reported to have osteopetrosis, demonstrated diffuse osteosclerosis, osteopathia striata, osteopoikilosis, and focal cortical hyperostosis. Forty-two years later, there had been significant progression and evolution of his skeletal disease with the appearance of new areas of osteopathia striata and osteopoikilosis and a generalized increase in skeletal mass as assessed radiographically. Presence of subperiosteal bone apposition on biopsy of the iliac crest together with chronic mild hypocalcemia, secondary hyperparathyroidism, and hypophosphatemia suggested that enhanced bone formation, perhaps with defective skeletal resorption, is a fundamental abnormality which accounts for the increased bone mass of this patient.

Diagnostic Errors↗
PubMed1985

Intestinal lactase activity and calcium absorption in the aging female with osteoporosis.

In 11 postmenopausal women with histologically proven osteoporosis and normal lactose tolerance, a direct correlation between calcium absorption and intestinal lactase activity was observed. The results suggest that varying degrees of relative deficiencies in intestinal lactase might contribute to the graded decrease in calcium absorption which characterizes the aging female population.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Classification of idiopathic hypercalciuric patients by isotopic calcium absorption: a comparison with oral calcium tolerance test.

To test the accuracy of calcium tolerance test in estimating calcium absorption, we have measured the radioactive calcium absorption (expressed as Fx) in 27 patients with IH and renal calcium stones. The results of this test were compared with those of a standard oral calcium tolerance test. Although only seven of nine AH patients displayed normal fasting calcium excretion, they all displayed Fx values above normal and a normal parathyroid activity. Conversely, only 5 of our 18 RH patients demonstrated a hyperabsorption of radioactive calcium and an elevation in iPTH and cAMP above normal limits, yet all of them showed an increased calciuric response to an oral calcium challenge. Calcium absorption was inversely related to iPTH (r = -082; P less than 0.001) and cAMP (r = -064 P less than 0.05) in AH, but directly proportional to these parameters (r = 0.62 P less than 0.001 and r = 0.46 P less than 0.05, respectively) in RH patients. In view of these results, two ratios, iPTH/Fx and cAMP/Fx were used to discriminate between the two groups of patients. Both ratios were over normal limits in all RH patients and within normal range in all but one AH patient. Furthermore, no overlap was found between the two groups. Conversely, we were unable to completely separate AH from RH subjects on the basis of the oral calcium tolerance test, since in both groups the fasting and the absolute (or percentage) changes in urinary calcium, cAMP and blood iPTH levels following oral calcium loading, overlapped in each instance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Absorption↗
PubMed1985

Morphine and methadone impact on human phagocytic physiology.

Human subjects submitted to treatment with morphine show a severe depression of phagocytosis, killing properties and superoxide production both of their polymorphonuclear leukocytes and monocytes. Polymorphonuclear leukocyte adherence, chemotaxis, random migration, myeloperoxidase content, lysozyme content and lymphocyte Rosette E formation were poorly influenced. Methadone-treated subjects show a similar effect at phagocytic level but far less evident. These results confirm those previously found in animals and reinforce the evidence of a depressive role of morphine on phagocytic physiology.

Cytotoxicity, Immunologic↗
PubMed1983

Suppressive effect of long term sulfonylurea treatment on A, B, and D cells of normal rat pancreas.

The effect of chronic administration of tolbutamide (150 mg/kg X day, orally, over 60 days) and glibenclamide (1 mg/kg X day, orally, over 60 days) on pancreatic A, B, and D cell function was investigated in male nondiabetic rats. In a first set of experiments pancreatic hormonal response to metabolic stimuli was evaluated during glucose (11.1 mM) or arginine (10 and 20 mM) infusion in the isolated perfused rat pancreas. The basal levels of insulin (IRI) and glucagon (IRG) were similar in control and in sulfonylurea-treated rats. Tolbutamide treatment markedly depressed the IRI response to glucose (P less than 0.005) or arginine (P less than 0.0005) infusion and the IRG response to arginine (P less than 0.01). After glibenclamide treatment, IRI decreased significantly (P less than 0.0005 and P less than 0.005, respectively) only in response to arginine infusion. This effect was still evident 10 days after the end of treatment. Furthermore, long term glibenclamide administration suppressed somatostatin (SRIF) response to glucose (P less than 0.0005) or arginine (P less than 0.0005). In a different group of rats treated with glibenclamide (1 mg/kg X day, orally, over 60 days) IRI, IRG, and SRIF plasma concentration and blood glucose levels were examined at the end of treatment. The results did not differ significantly from those of a control group. In the same animals, pancreatic IRI, IRG, and SRIF content, measured on acid-ethanol extracts, was reduced (P less than 0.1 vs. controls). These data clearly indicate that long term treatment with sulfonylurea drugs has a suppressive effect on pancreatic endocrine function in rats. The concomitant involvement of A, B, and D cell suggests that this effect is not specific.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Characterization of adrenergic control of glucagon secretion from isolated perfused rat pancreas.

In order to characterize the adrenergic control of the pancreatic A cell the effect on glucagon secretion of three sympathomimetic substances - epinephrine, isoproterenol and phenylephrine - and two adrenergic blocking agents - propranolol and phentolamine - were tested separately in the basal state and during glucagon hypersecretion induced by arginine infusion or glucopenia, using the isolated perfused rat pancreas. Epinephrine and isoproterenol infusion caused a prompt and sustained glucagon release in the basal state and potentiated glucagon response to metabolic stimuli. Insulin secretion was suppressed by epinephrine and slightly stimulated by isoproterenol. The stimulatory effect on glucagon secretion observed during phenylephrine infusion was abolished by concomitant propranolol infusion and potentiated by phentolamine. Insulin secretion was markedly depressed by phenylephrine: this effect was reserved by concomitant phentolamine infusion, while no effect was observed by concomitant propranolol infusion. Propranolol caused a suppression of both glucagon and insulin secretion, while phentolamine slightly enhanced glucagon and insulin production. In conclusion, beta-adrenergic receptor stimulation markedly increased pancreatic glucagon secretion and slightly enhanced pancreatic beta-cell activity; conversely, alpha-adrenergic agents markedly depressed insulin secretion while scarcely influencing glucagon production.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The role of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in the determination of heroin and related opioids in biological fluids.

The opioid most commonly sold in the illicit market is heroin. This substance, classified as an analgesic narcotic drug, has an extremely short half-life, and it is rapidly metabolized to 6-monoacetyl-morphine and further to morphine. Morphine is principally metabolized by conjugation to morphine-3 and morphine-6 glucuronides. Morphine itself is a potent analgesic that is frequently used in the pharmacological intervention of cancer pain. The toxicological and clinical evaluation of heroin and morphine have stimulated pharmacokinetic studies in human and animal models. Although a number of methods exist to determine opiates and their metabolites, liquid chromatography (LC) appears to be the technique that can separate without any pretreatment the lipophilic and the hydrophilic analytes of the complete metabolic profile of heroin and/or morphine. Moreover, mass spectrometry (MS) used as a detector for liquid chromatography is unique, because it offers universality and selectivity. Furthermore, efforts have been made to develop LC/MS interfaces that could overcome the previous problem of poor sensitivity. For this reason, in recent years LC combined with MS has been applied to the analysis of opiates--parent drugs and metabolites--in biological fluids. This article reviews the existing literature on the determination, using liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, of opiate metabolites found in different biological matrices after the administration of the parent compounds.

Body Fluids↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Questionnaire data as predictors of urinary cotinine levels among nonsmoking adolescents.

The strength of association between urinary cotinine and questionnaire data on passive smoking among 542 adolescents was evaluated. There were 103 individuals with urinary cotinine higher than 30 ng/ml; they were compared with all other subjects. The single variable that best predicted the urinary cotinine level was maternal smoking. A strong effect was made by house size and, consequently, house crowding. Maternal smoking and house crowding had a synergic effect. The subject's perception of passive smoking at home also was an independent indication of a high cotinine level. The final model had a fairly good sensitivity, whereas the specificity was somewhat lower. The results suggest that maternal smoking, house crowding, and subject's perception of a smoky environment could be surrogate indices of high passive smoking exposure in this age group and could be useful for epidemiologic studies.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Simultaneous determination of heroin 6-monoacetylmorphine, morphine, and its glucuronides by liquid chromatography--atmospheric pressure ionspray-mass spectrometry.

A new analytical technique has been developed for the simultaneous determination of heroin, 6-monoacetylmorphine, morphine, morphine-6- and 3-glucuronides, and codeine in serum using liquid chromatography coupled with ionspray mass spectrometry. The analytes and the internal standard, nalorphine, were subjected to solid-phase extraction (SPE) using ethyl SPE columns before chromatography. The chromatographic separation of the analytes was achieved using a normal phase column and a water-methanol-acetonitrile-formic acid mobile phase at a flow rate of 230 microL/min. The mass spectrometer was operated in selected-ion monitoring mode. Under these conditions, the limit of quantitation was 0.5 ng/ml for heroin, 4 ng/ml for 6-monoacetylmorphine, 4 ng/ml for morphine, 1 ng/ml for morphine-3-glucuronide, 4 ng/ml for morphine-6-glucuronide, and 4 ng/mL for codeine. Serum levels of heroin metabolites were determined in C57BL/6 inbred mice after a dose of 20 mg/kg heroin administered subcutaneously. 6-monoacetylmorphine showed a peak concentration of 0.93 micrograms/mL serum at 3 min, whereas morphine and morphine-3-glucuronide achieved their peak concentrations of 9.6 and 2.9 micrograms/mL serum at 10 and 20 min, respectively. Finally, the absence of morphine-6-glucuronide and codeine excluded the possibility of their formation from morphine in this animal model.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Glycerylphosphorylcholine in selected forms of male infertility.

GPC was studied in the seminal plasma of 35 normozoospermic men, 34 cases of azoospermia due to bilateral deferent obstruction, 34 cases of azoospermia due to bilateral ejaculatory duct obstruction, 10 vasectomized patients, 6 vasectomized patients after vasovasostomy and 118 cases of spermatogenetic arrest without obstruction of the seminal ducts. Values of GPC in azoospermia due to deferent or ejaculatory ducts obstruction and to vasectomy are significantly lower than in normozoospermic subjects (p less than 0.001). Levels of GPC increased (p less than 0.05) following vasovasostomy. Although GPC values in secretory azoospermia were higher than those in cases of duct obstruction, they were still lower than in normozoospermic (p less than 0.001). The most likely source of GPC is the epididymis. These results support the assumption that GPC originates mainly in the epididymis. The absence of germinal cells in the epididymis could explain the decreased levels of GPC in azoospermia due to arrest of spermatogenesis.

Citrates↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Immunologic aspects of carbamazepine treatment in epileptic patients.

Immune abnormalities have been found in epileptic patients receiving antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Phenytoin (PHT) produces a decrease in serum IgA and IgM levels and a decrease in blastic transformation of circulating lymphocytes stimulated with phytohemoagglutinin (PHA). The effects of carbamazepine (CBZ) on the immune response are still conflicting. To elucidate the effects of CBZ on some immunologic parameters, serum concentrations of IgA, IgG, IgM, the phagocytosis and killing properties of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs), the cytotoxic activity of natural killer cells and the response of lymphocytes to mitogenic agents were studied. Forty healthy individuals and 39 epileptic patients treated with carbamazepine (CBZ) monotherapy (age range 18-40 years) entered the study. Student's t test was used to evaluate the data. CBZ had no effect on the serum immunoglobulin concentrations or on lymphocytic reactivity to phytohemoagglutinin (PHA) mitogen. CBZ produced a significant enhancement of phagocytosis and killing properties of PMNs and an increase in natural killer (NK) cell activity. Therefore, a negative effect of CBZ therapy on the immune system was not observed in this study.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A survey on policies of smoking control in Italian hospitals.

BACKGROUND: In Italy National regulations forbidding smoking inside hospitals have existed since 1975. Current International medical standards for staff include refraining from smoking as an intervention of health education aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles as well as reinforcing smoking cessation advice, which staff should give patients. According to a National survey 33.3% of staff are active smokers and up to 80% of them admit to smoking in the workplace. This study was aimed at asking the hospital administrative authorities about the current situation of smoking control, according to their experience and about activities and policies they think could be effective in implementing smoking control. METHODS: As a part of a European survey, financed by the EC, 217 questionnaires were sent by mail to the General Managers of various hospitals in Italy, selected at random. The letter introducing the questionnaire was also signed by the unit of smoking control of the National Institute of Health (Rome). RESULTS: Out of the 217 questionnaires sent (56.8% in Northern Italy, 19.8% in Central Italy, 23.4% in Southern Italy), 85 (39.2%) were returned, 56.5% from Northern Italy, 22.3% from Central Italy, 21.2% from Southern Italy. Even if a smoking control policy is reported by the 82% of our sample, only 37.3% reported a complete ban of smoking. In 72% of hospitals there are no areas designated for smokers; only 51.3% provide help for smoking cessation and 83.2% report that no financial support is given to this policy. When asked about a point for smoking control the majority (72.9%) think of education of staff and half of the sample of reinforcing controls and repression as well as free smoking cessation treatments. Finally, when evaluation of compliance to existing rules is asked an insufficient or absent compliance is reported in 25.4% and the majority (50.7%) reported no smoking cessation clinic or service inside. Due to the low redemption rate, our sample cannot be considered as representative of the national hospital network. However, considering that only managers referring a good or sufficient smoking control have probably answered our questionnaire, we can conclude that the situation enlightened by our sample could be worse but not better in reality. CONCLUSIONS: In Italy the control of smoking in hospitals is far from reached. An implementation of smoking control needs support for cultural changes as well as a comprehensive policy towards smoking staff.

Female↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Variations of tetrahydrocannabinol content in cannabis plants to distinguish the fibre-type from drug-type plants.

There are many different species of cannabis plants, but their psychoactive properties mainly depend on the concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which may vary according to genetic factors and environmental influences. On the basis of the THC content all cannabis plants are divided into fibre-type and drug-type plants. The fibre-type plant does not exceed 0.4 per cent of THC while the drug-type plant usually contains up to 5 per cent of THC, though higher percentages (up to 10 per cent) have been reported. A study of the characteristics of cannabis seeds and the influence of environmental conditions on the content of THC in cannabis plants grown in northern, southern and insular Italy has shown that the fibre-type plants contain mean values of THC in a range from 0.058 to 0.299 per cent. The content of THC in the drug-type plants grown in Sicily and Tuscany ranged from 0.82 to 1.31 per cent +/- 0.49 per cent. In 1984, the Commission of the European Communities prepared a regulation to prevent diffusion of the drug-type cannabis, providing that raw material could not be imported if its THC content exceeded 0.5 per cent from 1984 to 1987 and after that period the maximum limit would be set up to 0.3 per cent.

Cannabis↗