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R Rizzoli

Publications and source records attributed to R Rizzoli.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

Evaluation of bone resorption and renal tubular reabsorption of calcium and phosphate in malignant and nonmalignant hypercalcemia.

Tubular reabsorption of calcium (Ca) is becoming recognized as a determinant of malignant hypercalcemia. However, its importance as compared to increased bone resorption has not yet been widely investigated. We determined Ca fluxes of bone resorption and tubular reabsorption in 141 rehydrated patients with hypercalcemia of malignant or benign origin, before any specific treatment. Bone resorption (BRI) was evaluated by fasting urinary Ca excretion and Ca tubular reabsorption using an index (TRCaI) calculated from a nomogram relating fasting urinary Ca excretion and calcemia. The relationship between alterations in TRCaI and in the tubular capacity to reabsorb inorganic phosphate (Pi), as judged by TmPi/GFR, was also examined for each cause of hypercalcemia. Among 101 cases with malignancy, 67% had overt bone metastases, but all displayed increased BRI. Calcemia was highest in breast cancer and lowest in prostate carcinoma. BRI was markedly increased in breast cancer, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma, whereas it was slightly elevated in lung squamous cell, renal, and liver carcinomas. TRCaI was increased in 49% of malignant hypercalcemia, particularly in epidermoid (above the upper normal limit in 71% of the cases), renal, and liver carcinomas. It was elevated in 54% of breast cancer and normal in multiple myeloma and prostate cancer. In nonmalignant hypercalcemia, BRI was markedly increased in vitamin D intoxication, sarcoidosis, and immobilization. In primary hyperparathyroidism (PHP), BRI was moderately increased. TRCaI was abnormally elevated in PHP, but normal in vitamin D intoxication, sarcoidosis, and immobilization. In malignant hypercalcemia, TmPi/GFR was low in 77% of patients and in all types of tumors, except in prostate carcinoma. The index ratio [TRCaI/(TmPi/GFR)] gave a better discrimination of PHP from other causes of nonmalignant hypercalcemia than the use of either TRCaI or TmPi/GFR taken alone. Thus, in malignant hypercalcemia, increased bone resorption is associated with an elevation in tubular Ca reabsorption in half the patients surveyed, whereas low tubular Pi reabsorption is observed in more than 75%. Increased TRCaI is restricted to some types of tumor, whereas decreased TmPi/GFR is observed in all types except prostate carcinoma. In nonmalignant hypercalcemia, a significant increase in mean TRCaI was only observed in PHP, of which individual cases can be fully discriminated from other conditions by using a new index taking into account alteration in the renal transport capacity of both Ca and Pi.

Absorption↗

Treatment of hypercalcaemia of malignancy with clodronate.

The bisphosphonate clodronate has been widely used in the treatment of hypercalcaemia and osteolytic bone metastases. It can normalize plasma calcium in most hypercalcaemic, rehydrated cancer patients when increased bone resorption is the prevailing disturbance of calcium metabolism. When given intravenously either as a single infusion or as repeated daily administrations, serum calcium levels fall to normal 3-5 days after the onset of therapy. Long-term maintenance treatment must be adjusted individually since relapse appears to depend upon the tumour type, the degree of malignancy and any anticancer therapy. In patients in whom increased tubular calcium reabsorption is the prevailing disturbance of calcium metabolism, the effect of clodronate on plasma calcium is incomplete, despite the normalization of bone resorption. This type of therapeutic response can be reproduced experimentally in bisphosphonate-treated animals receiving a constant infusion of parathyroid hormone-related peptide, a peptide isolated from various tumour types including lung, kidney, breast and neuroendocrine tumour of the pancreas. In patients having a good response to clodronate, the fall in plasma calcium is accompanied by an increase in the calcium-regulating hormones, parathyroid hormone and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. This homeostatic response probably explains why hypocalcaemia occurs rarely in clodronate-treated patients. No serious side-effects of treatment have been reported. Clodronate appears to be a safe and effective treatment for the hypercalcaemia of malignancy, where increased bone resorption is the major mechanism disturbing the homeostasis of extracellular calcium.

Calcium↗

Characterization and cell cycle kinetics of hepatocytes during rat liver regeneration: in vivo BrdUrd incorporation analysed by flow cytometry and electron microscopy.

The incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) into newly synthesized DNA has been analysed during hepatocellular regeneration induced by partial hepatectomy in young rats. The kinetic state of the liver has been studied by flow cytometric analysis of the incorporated BrdUrd, while the fine localization of DNA replication sites through the cell cycle has been investigated at the ultrastructural level by the immunogold technique. Eighteen hours after partial hepatectomy flow cytometry revealed an early S phase distribution which corresponded to a specific staining of the interchromatin domains of the hepatocyte nucleus. Thirty-four hours after hepatectomy, on the other hand, when most cells were in late S, a specific staining of heterochromatin domains was observed. The effect of the BrdUrd technique on nuclear aggregation has also been analysed and discussed. The results demonstrate that specific patterns of DNA replication can be recognized during the cell cycle and that flow cytometry and electron microscopy appear to be complementary in the kinetic study of liver regeneration.

Animals↗

Effects of topical calcipotriol on calcium metabolism in psoriatic patients: comparison with oral calcitriol.

The analogue of calcitriol, calcipotriol (MC 903, Daivonex) has been proven effective in the treatment of psoriasis, when given topically. However, the possible influence of cutaneously absorbed MC 903 on calcium metabolism is still unclear. We evaluated various parameters of calcium metabolism in 17 psoriatic patients treated for 5.4 +/- 2.3 (mean +/- SD) weeks with MC 903, on 16 +/- 6% of the body surface. The dose administered (100 g of Daivonex corresponding to 5 mg of MC 903) decreased the PASI score by 40.9 +/- 20.0% (p less than 0.001). Among these patients, 12 were studied before and after MC 903 therapy. In none could be detected any change in protein-adjusted calcium, ionized Ca, plasma levels of creatinine, alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, intact parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcidiol and calcitriol, or in daily or fasting urinary excretion of Ca or cAMP. After an MC-903-free period, 9 patients received 1.5 micrograms/day of calcitriol orally for 7 days. Whereas this treatment did not control the skin relapse in most of the patients, it induced a significant increase in plasma levels of protein-adjusted Ca and calcitriol, and in 24-hour urinary Ca excretion, as well as a significant fall in PTH as compared with pretreatment values. These results indicate that 150 micrograms/day of MC 903, despite a possible 1% absorption, i.e. a systemic dose of 1.5 micrograms, did not produce any detectable alteration of Ca metabolism, whereas an equivalent dose of oral calcitriol was associated with significant changes. The threshold dose of topical calcipotriol that might induce alterations similar to 1.5 micrograms/day of oral calcitriol remains to be evaluated.

Administration, Oral↗

Critical years and stages of puberty for spinal and femoral bone mass accumulation during adolescence.

Maximizing peak bone mass is advocated as a way to prevent osteoporosis. As a prerequisite to the elaboration of any preventive program aimed at maximizing peak bone mass, it is important to determine how the rate of skeletal growth at clinically relevant sites, such as lumbar spine and femoral neck, proceeds in relation to age and pubertal stages in both sexes. Bone mass was assessed in 207 healthy caucasian boys and girls, aged 9-18 yr. Bone mineral density (BMD; grams per cm2) and content (BMC; grams) were determined in lumbar spine (L2-L4), femoral neck (FN), and midfemoral shaft (FS), using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Bone variables were correlated with both chronological age and pubertal stage, and compared with young adult (20-35 yr) reference values. The main results are: 1) in males, compared to females, there was a marked age-related delay in L2-L4 BMD or BMC increase, but no delay was observed in relation to pubertal stages; 2) at the end of the rapid growth spurt, trends for higher mean values in males were observed for L2-L4 BMC, FN BMD, and particularly FS BMD, but no sex difference was observed for L2-L4 BMD; 3) in females, but not in males, a dramatic reduction in bone mass growth was observed after 15 yr of age, particularly for L2-L4 BMD/BMC and FN BMD. This sharp reduction occurred between the second and fourth years after menarche. In the 14- to 15-yr-old female group, BMD in L2-L4, FN, and FS corresponded to 99.2%, 105.1%, and 94.1%, respectively, and BMC in L2-L4 to 97.6% of the mean values recorded in 20- to 35-yr-old women. In conclusion, this cross-sectional study indicates that during pubertal development, major differences are observed in bone mass growth according to sex and skeletal site. Whereas in males bone mass at different skeletal sites continues to increase substantially between 15-18 yr, skeletal mass growth appears to dramatically slow down at the levels of both lumbar spine and FN at 15-16 yr of age in female adolescents. This suggests that the generally accepted notion that in both males and females bone mass continues to substantially accumulate at all skeletal sites until the fourth decade may not be a constant in human physiology.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Cell kinetics of vocal fold epithelium in rats.

In order to investigate the kinetics of vocal fold epithelium a bromodeoxyuridine-anti bromodeoxyuridine method has been applied in vivo at both light and electron microscopy level. This method is able to define the length of both epithelium turnover and cell-cycle in basal elements, as well as the existence of a higher proliferation rate during night time in comparison with day time. Moreover distinct labeling patterns observed in incorporating cells allow us to define the precise localization in S-phase of cycling elements.

Animals↗

Parathyroid hormone-related protein and hypercalcemia in pancreatic neuro-endocrine tumors.

We investigated the possible involvement of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) in 2 cases of metastatic pancreatic neuro-endocrine tumors associated with severe hypercalcemia. Both patients displayed biochemical alterations in renal tubular reabsorption of calcium and phosphate, as well as in urinary cAMP excretion, similar to those encountered in primary hyperparathyroidism, although plasma levels of parathyroid hormone were within the normal range. Tumor protein extracts stimulated cAMP production, which was inhibited by the PTH-antagonist (8,18 Nle, 34 Tyr)bPTH-(3-34)amide, in the PTH-responsive osteoblastic cell line UMR-106. Northern blot analysis of tumor extracts revealed the presence of PTHrP mRNA transcripts, while PTH mRNA was undetectable. In contrast, neither PTHrP mRNA(s) nor cAMP-stimulating activity was detectable in other neuroendocrine tumors not accompanied by hypercalcemia. These results demonstrate that certain pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors associated with hypercalcemia can synthesize and release PTHrP.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Comparative study of the performances of X-ray and gadolinium 153 bone densitometers at the level of the spine, femoral neck and femoral shaft.

We investigated the precision of gadolinium 153 dual photon absorptiometry (DPA) and quantitative digital radiography (QDR) bone densitometers by determining in vitro and in vivo coefficients of variation (CV) of bone mineral density (BMD). In vitro, the long-term CV of spine phantom BMD measured weekly for 40 weeks was 1.2% and 0.7% for DPA and QDR, respectively. Stimulating soft-tissue thickness with water, the CV of 6 repeat measurements of spine phantom at depths from 0 to 27 cm in 1 cm steps (a total of 168 measurements) increased from 0.1% at 0 cm of water to 2.5% at 27 cm for DPA, and from 0.2% at 0 cm to 1.4% at 27 cm for QDR; mean CV of the 28 series (0-27 cm) was higher for DPA (1.2% +/- 0.8%, mean +/- SD) than for QDR (0.7% +/- 0.6%; P less than 0.001). With the hip phantom, femoral neck BMD was determined, and the CV was also dependent on water thickness; mean CV of the 20 series (0-10 cm) was 2.1% +/- 1.2% for DPA and 1.3% +/- 0.9% for QDR (not significant). In vivo, at the spine level, with DPA, mean CV of BMD measured 6 times after repositioning in 6 healthy volunteers was 3.8% +/- 1.9% and 2.1% +/- 0.7% with 153 Gd activity of 0.46 Ci and 1 Ci, respectively (BMD range: 0.796-1.247 g/cm2, no significant difference between the two groups).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Vertebral bone mineral density measured laterally by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

The bone mineral density (BMD) of lumbar vertebrae in the anteroposterior (AP) view may be overestimated in osteoarthritis or with aortic calcification, which are common in elderly. Furthermore, the risk of spinal crush fracture should be more closely related inversely to the BMD of the vertebral body than to that of the posterior arch. Therefore, we measured BMD of lumbar vertebrae in lateral (LAT) view (L2-L3), using a standard dual-energy X-ray absorptiometer (DEXA), thus eliminating most of the posterior spinal elements. The precision of BMD LAT measurement was determined both in vitro and in healthy volunteers. Then, we compared the capability of BMD LAT and BMD AP scans for monitoring bone loss related to age and for discriminating the BMD of postmenopausal women with nontraumatic vertebral fractures from that of young subjects. In vitro, when a spine phantom was placed in lateral position in the middle of 26 cm of water in order to simulate both soft-tissue thickness and X-ray source remoteness, the coefficient of variation (CV) of six repeated determinations of BMD was 1.0%. In vivo, the CV of paired BMD LAT measurements obtained in 20 healthy volunteers after repositioning was 2.8%. The age-related difference between a peak bone mass group estimated in a group of 27 healthy women aged 20 to 35 years and a group of 50 women aged 60 to 75 years, in whom neither vertebral fracture nor osteoporosis risk factors could be detected, were 21.7% and 37.6% in AP and LAT view, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Clodronate in hypercalcemia of malignancy.

Of the many compounds belonging to the diphosphonate family, clodronate has been widely used in hypercalcemia and osteolysis of malignancy. All published reports indicate that clodronate can normalize plasma calcium in the majority of hypercalcemic, rehydrated cancer patients in whom increased bone resorption is the prevailing disturbed calcium flux. In these patients, clodronate, given intravenously either as a single infusion or as repeated daily administrations, can normalize serum calcium, usually 3-5 days after the onset of therapy. In these good responders, long-term maintenance treatment should be individually adjusted since relapse appears to depend upon the type of tumor, the extent of malignancy and the administration of anticancer therapy. In a subset of well-rehydrated hypercalcemic patients in whom increased tubular calcium reabsorption represents the prevailing disturbed calcium flux, the acute effect of clodronate on plasma calcium is incomplete, despite the normalization of bone resorption. This type of therapeutic response can be experimentally reproduced in diphosphonate-treated animals receiving a constant infusion of parathyroid hormone-related peptide, a peptide isolated from lung, kidney and breast carcinomas. This indicates that, in addition to antiosteolytic drugs, such as clodronate, patients with hypercalcemia of malignancy would benefit from the development of agents that can selectively reduce the renal tubular reabsorption of calcium. In patients displaying a good response to clodronate, the fall in plasma calcium is accompanied by an increase in the calcium-regulating hormones, parathyroid hormone and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. This homeostatic reaction probably explains why hypocalcemia rarely occurs in clodronate-treated patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Inhibition by (D-Trp12,Tyr34)bPTH(7-34)amide of PTH and PTHrP effects on Pi transport in renal cells.

We studied the effect of (D-Trp12,Tyr34)bovine parathyroid hormone-(7-34)amide [(D-Trp12,Tyr34)bPTH(7-34)NH2], a recently described highly potent antagonist of parathyroid hormone (PTH), on the adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) and the sodium-dependent phosphate transport (NaPiT) responses to bPTH-(1-34) or PTH-related protein [PTHrP(1-34)] in renal epithelial cells. In this system, bPTH and PTHrP increased cAMP production and inhibited NaPiT in a similar manner. (D-Trp12,Tyr34)bPTH(7-34)NH2 did not influence either cAMP or NaPiT, but markedly attenuated the responses to PTH or PTHrP. The effect was concentration dependent, and a maximal inhibition of PTH or PTHrP effects was obtained with a 10(3)- to 10(4)-fold greater concentration of the antagonist. In contrast, the same concentration of the unsubstituted counterpart, (Tyr34)bPTH(7-34)NH2, which abolished the PTH- or PTHrP-induced stimulation of cAMP production, did not affect the inhibition of NaPiT caused by either peptide. Thus (D-Trp12,Tyr34)bPTH(7-34)NH2 inhibited the effects of PTH and PTHrP on both cAMP synthesis and Pi transport in renal cells. Because of the effects of this analogue on a transport function affected by these two peptides under physiological and pathophysiological conditions, it appears to be a promising antagonist.

Animals↗

Effect of transforming growth factor-alpha and parathyroid hormone-related protein on phosphate transport in renal cells.

The decrease in plasma Pi concentration and in Pi tubular reabsorption that is often encountered in malignant hypercalcemia may be ascribed to a tumor-produced parathyroid hormone (PTH)-related protein. However, tumors are known to synthesize a variety of substances, among which is transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha). We investigated the effects of TGF-alpha on Na-dependent Pi transport and on the response to PTH-related protein in cultured opossum renal epithelial cells. TGF-alpha caused a concentration- and time-dependent decrease in Na-dependent Pi transport. The inhibition of Na-dependent Pi transport was detectable by 14 h of incubation and maximal by 24 h. At that time, a concentration of 10 ng/ml of TGF-alpha produced a 35 +/- 1% inhibition. This was not associated with any change in prostaglandin production. The adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) response to PTH-related protein, PTH, prostaglandin E2 or forskolin, but not to pertussis toxin, was diminished in cells treated with TGF-alpha for 24 h. Similar effects on Na-dependent Pi transport and cAMP production were observed in cells incubated with epidermal growth factor. The inhibition of Na-dependent Pi transport induced by either PTH-related protein or PTH was reduced after incubation with TGF-alpha. Thus two different tumoral products, TGF-alpha and PTH-related protein, are each capable of inhibiting Na-dependent Pi transport in cultured renal cells. Both peptides may also interact and influence the effects of each other on renal Pi transport.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Evaluation of the ileal absorption capacity for bile acids in the rabbit.

The intestinal absorption of bile acids has so far been studied from the measurement of the biliary secretion after their intestinal infusion. In the present investigation, the ileal absorption capacity for two different bile acids has been evaluated by means of an intestinal perfusion technique and the simultaneous blood drainage from the mesenteric vein corresponding to the isolated loop. Taurocholic acid and unconjugated cholic acid were infused at different concentrations (0.5-10.0 mM), at a flow rate of 4 ml/min/cm intest. Taurocholic acid absorption increased to a maximum with dose, then reaching a plateau, suggesting that a saturable process had taken place. Cholic acid uptake showed a saturable, possibly active, process, together with a nonsaturable one. These results are consistent with the physicochemical properties of the two bile acids. The technique seems so far suitable for the study of the intestinal absorption of substances undergoing the enterohepatic circulation, since it provides a direct measure of the absorbed fraction, without any distortion arising from the hepatic uptake and biliary secretion.

Animals↗

High-resolution detection of newly synthesized DNA by anti-bromodeoxyuridine antibodies identifies specific chromatin domains.

We analyzed the incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) into DNA in exponentially growing murine erythroleukemia cells (FLC-745), using fluorescent anti-BrdUrd antibodies with light microscopy and flow cytometry. The fine localization of the DNA replicating sites was investigated at the ultrastructural level by using a second antibody conjugated with colloidal gold. The latter approach, which does not require acidic denaturation of the DNA, enables preservation of good morphology and obtains a better resolution power than that of electron microscopic autoradiography, the percentage of labeled cells obtained with the two techniques being comparable. After short BrdUrd pulses, characteristic distribution of the labeling can be identified in the heterochromatin, in interchromatin domains, or at the boundary between the dispersed and the condensed chromatin. Similar patterns are also observable in the nuclear structures which condense after acid denaturation, suggesting that DNA replication takes place at fixed sites associated with the nuclear matrix.

Animals↗

Treatment of reflux gastritis: double blind comparison between clebopride and domperidone. A preliminary report.

Altered gastro-duodenal motility seems to be a major factor of alkaline gastritis. Therefore prokinetic drugs have been extensively used for the treatment of this disease. Aim of this study has been to compare the effects of domperidone with those of a more recent drug of the orthopramide class, clebopride. Thirty patients affected by reflux gastritis have been randomly allocated to one of the two treatments. Clinical symptoms, endoscopic and histologic appearance of gastric mucosa, gastric pH and bile acid concentration in gastric juice have been evaluated before and after a four week course of therapy. A statistically significant improvement was observed for the clinical symptoms in the subjects treated with clebopride. Even if no statistical difference has been pointed out for the other parameters between and within the two groups, a slight trend in favour of clebopride was observed. It is concluded that clebopride is at least as effective as domperidone for the treatment of reflux gastritis but that more prolonged studies and different administration schedules are requested for a better evaluation.

Adolescent↗

Action of tumoral PTH-related peptide on phosphate and calcium transport.

The recently identified parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) exerts several actions on the transport of bone mineral elements. In vitro, the effects of the synthetic amino-terminal fragment of the parathyroid hormone-related protein PTHrP (1-34) on renal cyclic AMP production, Na-dependent Pi transport and Na+/H+ exchange appear to be very similar to PTH (1-34). In vivo, in thyroparathyroidectomized rats, PTHrP reduces the tubular Pi reabsorptive capacity (TmPi/GFR) and thereby lowers the level of plasma Pi. PTHrP (1-34) brings about a dose-dependent elevation in the level of plasma Ca. The hypercalcemic effect of PTHrP (1-34) is due to both an increase in bone Ca resorption, as assessed by an increment in fasting urinary Ca, and an elevation in renal Ca reabsorption. Like PTH, the tumoral peptide does not significantly affect the overall tubular reabsorption of Na. The PTHrP-induced increase in bone Ca resorption is completely inhibitable by diphosphonate therapy. Despite this efficacious antiosteolytic response the fall in calcemia is moderate since the marked effect of PTHrP on the renal transport of Ca is maintained under diphosphonate therapy. These experimental findings are similar to clinical observations previously made with several types of solid tumors.

Biological Transport↗