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Biomedical subjects

R Russo

Publications and source records attributed to R Russo.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Regulation of 11 beta-hydroxylase cytochrome p450 expression by cholesterol in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether hypercholesterolaemia interferes with the expression of the enzymes involved in steroid biosynthesis in the adrenal cortex. METHODS: Twenty-four 5-week-old male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were randomly assigned to a high (1%) cholesterol diet (n = 8) or to a matched cholesterol-free diet (n = 8) for 6 weeks. A third group (n = 8) was studied after 2 weeks of washout from the high-cholesterol intake. A cohort of age- and sex-matched normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats (n = 24) underwent the same treatments and was used as a control. RESULTS: In SHR cholesterol feeding reduced urinary sodium excretion (0.8 +/- 0.1 versus 1.4 +/- 0.1 mmol/24 h in the cholesterol-free group), increased plasma aldosterone levels (299 +/- 60 versus 154 +/- 24) and reduced plasma corticosterone levels (142 +/- 21 versus 278 +/- 35 ng/ml). Those responses were associated with a reduction of 11 beta-hydroxylase cytochrome P450 messenger RNA (mRNA) in the adrenal cortex (-52.3 +/- 3.4%) whereas aldosterone synthase mRNA remained unchanged. That effect and the changes in electrolyte excretion and steroid levels were no longer detectable after withdrawal of the diet. In WKY rats high-cholesterol diet induced no significant changes in urinary electrolyte excretion, steroid levels and expression of 11 beta-hydroxylase cytochrome P450 and aldosterone synthase in the adrenals. CONCLUSIONS: The present results indicate that in SHR hypercholesterolaemia selectively interferes with the adrenal steroid biosynthetic pathway by reducing the expression of 11 beta-hydroxylase, leading to accumulation of mineralocorticoids and sodium retention.

Adrenal Cortex↗
PubMed1995

Influence of O2 deprivation, reduced flow, and temperature on release of ANP from rabbit hearts.

The separate effects of hypoxia and ischemia on atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) release were evaluated in Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts. Heart rate, coronary flow, and atrial and ventricular volumes were kept constant. Hypoxia was induced for 20 min at room temperature in seven hearts and at 37 degrees C in a second group of seven hearts. A third group of eight hearts was subjected to global ischemia for 20 min by reducing coronary flow to 1 ml/min at room temperature. All hearts were reoxygenated/reperfused at 37 degrees C for 30 min. Hypoxia at 37 degrees C induced a significant increase in ANP release. In contrast, both room temperature hypoxia and ischemia were characterized by a significant decrease in ANP release, despite hemodynamic alterations similar to those recorded during hypoxia at 37 degrees C. Both reoxygenation and reperfusion induced a prompt reversal of the changes of ANP release observed during the period of oxygen deprivation. These data demonstrate that decreased oxygen availability and reduced coronary flow are not the primary factors affecting release of ANP during ischemia and that alterations of myocardial temperature may play a major role in this phenomenon.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Regulation of aldosterone biosynthesis by adrenal renin is mediated through AT1 receptors in renin transgenic rats.

The transgenic (TG) rat (mREN2)27 is characterized by overexpression of the additional mouse Ren-2d gene in the adrenal cortex with marked suppression of renal renin. We have previously shown that in salt-depleted TG rats enhanced activation of mineralocorticoid biosynthesis is associated with selective stimulation of adrenal renin. To investigate whether the local renin-angiotensin system regulates aldosterone biosynthesis in the adrenal cortex of TG rats, we studied the effects of the AT1-angiotensin subtype receptor antagonist DuP 753 on aldosterone production in 5-week-old TG rats during salt restriction. All the rats (n = 56) were shifted from regular chow to a diet containing only 0.04% NaCl for 1 week. The AT1-receptor antagonist DuP 753 (10 mg/kg per day in drinking water) was administered to 27 of these rats during low-salt diet. Subgroups of rats were killed at 0,4, and 7 days. Low-salt diet increased both adrenal renin activity (from 31 +/- 3 to 77 +/- 4 and 85 +/- 2 ng angiotensin I.h-1.mg protein-1 at 4 and 7 days, respectively; P < .001) and mRNA (by 68.4 +/- 10% and 80 +/- 17% from baseline, P < .05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adrenal Cortex↗
PubMed1995

In vivo and in vitro effects of human growth hormone on rat intestinal ion transport.

It has been reported that: 1) ovine growth hormone stimulates intestinal water, sodium, and chloride absorption and 2) specific growth hormone receptors are present in the rat intestine. Aims of this work were to investigate the effects of acute administration of hGH on water and ion transport in the rat ileum in vivo and in vitro. In vivo, the absorption rates of water, sodium, chloride, and potassium were determined in the rat perfused ileum, during a basal period and after i.v. administration of 6 micrograms/kg recombinant DNA-derived hGH. In vitro, electrical parameters were measured before and after the hormone addition to the mucosal or the serosal side of rat ileal mucosa mounted in Ussing chambers. In vivo, growth hormone induced a rapid increase in the absorption rates of water, sodium, chloride, and potassium. In vitro, the serosal, but not the mucosal, addition of growth hormone induced a rapid decrease of transepithelial potential difference and of short-circuit current. The effect was time- and dose-dependent, saturable, but not reversible in the short time. The electrical effect was abolished in the absence of chloride, indicating that it was related, at least in part, to inhibition of basal active chloride secretion. Growth hormone also reduced the short-circuit current increase induced by the secretagogues Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin, theophylline, and calcium ionophore A23187. These results indicate that hGH has a rapid absorptive effect that is related, at least in part, to a direct intestinal antisecretory mechanism. It also reduces active intestinal secretion induced by various secretagogues.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

[Cesarean section and spontaneous birth: clinical aspects and maternal psychodynamic impact].

Cesarean delivery was considered a medical saving-operation for a very long time. Few editorials focus on psychological results of cesarean deliver in respect of the mother, the relationship mother-newborn, the Hospital, and family environment. The authors examined psychodynamic effects of cesarean and vaginally deliver puerperas, comparing different experiences of attainment of maternity. An interview was administered to 39 cesarean and 41 vaginally delivered mothers, 4-6 days after birth. All these women were primiparas and similar for social abd educational level, marital status, employment rate, age and gestational age of the birth. Women with malformed babies and obstetric pathologies were excluded. After elaborating these data we can understand that there are many factors interfering with maternal gratification in the era of cesarean delivery. Results underline the main consequences of surgical delivery, focus on the privation of creative onnipotence of vaginally birth. This is reflected on quality of the first contact with the newborn. Therefore, for the medical staff, it is important to reduce the troubles caused by the anaesthesia, the lack of "the first contact" mother-newborn, taking care about puerperas" psychosomatic problems.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[The validity of the certification of natimortality: the experience of a local study].

Although several study confirmed the inaccuracy of information in death certificates, very few investigations were performed to assess the validity of stillbirth certificate reporting. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the extent to which the clinical diagnosis of stillbirth cause reported in certificates can be considered sensitive and specific. Eighty-five consecutive stillbirths were independently classified by two neonatologists with certificate information, using the new Wigglesworth classification, and the reliability of the classification process was evaluated. Afterwards we compared the classes made with certificate causes and the ones made with clinical-autoptic data (the "gold standard") and we estimated sensitivity and specificity of certificate cause of stillbirth. The reliability of the classification process was very high. Values of sensitivity were considered unacceptable, mainly in the field of congenital malformations, intra-partum asphyxia and other specific causes. By contrast, specificity was found to be satisfactory. The accuracy of clinical stillbirth diagnosis is not sufficient and good description needs the contribute of post-mortem necropsy.

Autopsy↗
PubMed1995

[Long-term study of anti-HCV reactivity using 3d generation recombinant immunoblot assay in acute post-transfusion hepatitis].

Twenty-five patients with post-transfusional C hepatitis have been tested retrospectively by IIIrd generation Recombinant Immuno Blot Assay (RIBA) in order to evaluate long-term anti HCV antibodies dynamics. The test was performed 1, 15, 70 and 140 days after the onset of the disease. Fifteen patients recovered and 10 became chronic. In the 15th day anti C33 and anti C22 were found in 76% of subjects, anti NS5 in 68% and anti C100 in 32%. In the 70th day, 96%, of patients had anti C22, 92% had anti C33 and anti NS5 and 52% showed anti C100. In the 140th day, all patients were positive for anti C33, and C22 and anti NS5, while anti C100 was present in 64%. Five-six years after the acute disease, all chronically progressed patients had a complete antibody pattern by RIBA III, while anti C22 was the only positive persisting antibody, among the recovered patients. Anti C22, anti C33 and anti NS5 shorten the serological "window-phase" during acute hepatitis, but no further improvement in diagnostic precocity seems to be guaranteed by third generation RIBA. The precocious appearance of complete RIBA III pattern during acute hepatitis may represent a herald for a chronic evolution of the disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Moderate alcohol consumption and spontaneous abortion.

A prospective study was carried out on 546 women interviewed during pregnancy about their drinking habits, in order to evaluate the association between alcohol consumption during pregnancy and spontaneous abortion. Pregnancy outcome (normal or abortion) was analysed as a dependent variable in a multivariate model where different levels of drinking were taken into consideration as independent-effect variables. A significant increase in the risk of abortion was observed in the 30+ age category and in the higher parity category; no significant trend was evidenced for alcoholic variables, even after controlling for the other potentially confounding variables. The possible underestimation of alcohol consumption, due to reluctance in declaring real consumption by the women interviewed, is discussed. It is concluded that, on the basis of these and other data reported in the literature, a low level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy does not appear to be a significant risk for abortion.

Abortion, Habitual↗
PubMed1995

[Hemobilia secondary to percutaneous hepatic biopsy. Report of a clinical case].

The increasingly frequent use of invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures concerning the hepatobiliary system has led to a rise in the incidence of hemobilia as well as altering its etiological status. The authors report a clinical case of hemobilia secondary to percutaneous hepatic biopsy which was brought to their attention. This is followed by a short discussion of the etiopatogenesis and diagnostic and therapeutic strategies with special reference to the ratio between the advantages/limits of the methods now available.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1995

[Update on mastalgia].

On the basis of recent literature, earlier contributions made by this department and personal experience, the A. report their findings and comments on mastalgia, a frequent symptom in modern female pathologies. They affirm that good results have been achieved through information, health education and treatment with non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs, without resorting to hormone therapy except in carefully selected cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Role of alcoholic beverages in essential hypertensive patients.

To evaluate the importance of alcohol and other environmental factors in essential hypertensives, we conducted a cross-sectional study on 627 patients (322 women, 305 men) subdivided in four subgroups according to sex and presence or absence of drug therapy, to evaluate differences due to drugs and changes in life style. Multiple regression analyses were run where systolic and diastolic blood pressures were considered as separate dependent variables with the following independent variables: age, body mass index, physical activity, alcohol and coffee consumption, smoking, educational level; considered as continuous or categorical variables. eighty-eight per cent of all patients showed a moderate-low alcohol intake (1-50 g/day); wine was the preferred beverage. We found a negative independent relationship between mild/moderate alcohol consumption levels and systolic blood pressure in untreated men and untreated women, and no relationship between alcohol and diastolic blood pressure in all subgroups considered. Body mass index and age were positively associated with both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Our data suggest that mild to moderate alcohol consumption does not affect blood pressure control in either treated or untreated hypertensive patients.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1995

Recurrent thrombosis of Omniscience prostheses in the mitral position: a case report.

We report a patient who experienced thrombotic obstruction of an Omniscience prosthesis three years after mitral valve replacement. At reoperation another Omniscience prosthesis was inserted which became thrombosed after eight months. Recurrent thrombosis of the same prosthesis in the same patient is unusual and raises the problem of which device to use when replacing a thrombosed valve. In our patient another mechanical prosthesis was inserted at second reoperation because of her young age and in the hope of reducing the risk of further thrombosis by using a valve with better flow characteristics such as a bileaflet prosthesis.

Female↗
PubMed1995

A modified Two-BUN method for routine urea modeling: clinical validation in 120 patients on a free diet.

Recently, a modified algorithm of the Two-BUN method (MA2p), avoiding dialyzer clearance measurement, was presented for routine assessment of Kt/V and NPCR. To validate MA2p in patients on a free diet (FDP), we studied 120 stable dialysis FDP by measuring Kt/V and NPCR with both MA2p and a modified version of the standard Three-BUN method (MA3p), for the 3 weekly sessions. The NPCR values (g/kg/day), calculated by MA3p for the 3 interdialyses were: 1.286 +/- 0.274, 1.256 +/- 0.276, and 1.116 +/- 0.230, respectively. The correlation coefficient (r) for averaged Kt/V values obtained by the two methods was 0.999 and the percent error (Error%) for MA2p vs. MA3p results ranged from -1.5 to +0.78%. The respective results for NPCR were: r = 0.967, Error% range from -11.7 to +13.9%. In conclusion, MA2p can be safely used in patients on a free diet. The lowest NPCR values were observed during the long interdialysis.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Anti-HCMV serologic response in patients with acute viral hepatitis.

The authors point out a high serological incidence of HCMV infection in the course of HCV hepatitis compared to a low incidence detected in HBV and HAV hepatitis. Three immunoglobulin classes (IgG, IgM, and IgA) specific to HCMV were investigated. Antibody titers of each immunoglobulin class are reported for all the cases of HCMV infection.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1995

Rilmenidine in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy: beyond the reduction of left ventricular mass.

It is generally accepted that the development of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) represents a multifactorial phenomenon that also involves neurohormonal mechanisms. This finding may account for the ability of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors to induce faster and more complete reversal of LVH than that observed with other antihypertensive treatments. The sympathetic system is also involved in the genesis of hypertension-induced LVH. We assessed the effects of satisfactory long-term treatment with rilmenidine, a new oxazoline with a potent antihypertensive action, on cardiovascular structural abnormalities and cardiac endocrine function in hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy. Eleven patients underwent M-mode and two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography, peripheral pulsed Doppler flowmetry, determination of plasma atrial natriuretic factor [(ANF) pg/ml] and renin activity, and 24-h urine electrolyte excretion under control conditions, after 4 weeks of blood pressure normalization, after 1 year of satisfactory antihypertensive treatment and, finally, 4 weeks after therapy withdrawal. I.VH (g/m2 body surface area) was reversed after 1-year treatment (from 152 +/- 5 to 131 +/- 4, p < 0.05). One-year treatment induced an improvement in brachial artery compliance (cm4/dyne.10(7)) (from 0.92 +/- 0.06 to 1.16 +/- 0.08, p < 0.05) that persisted after withdrawal of treatment (1.17 +/- 0.06, p < 0.05). Plasma renin activity and urinary electrolyte excretion did not change throughout the study, whereas ANF remained unchanged after blood pressure normalization (48.4 +/- 6.2 versus 44.7 +/- 2.9, NS), fell after reversal of LVH (28.6 +/- 3.4, p < 0.05), and remained significantly lower than under control conditions after therapy withdrawal (27.5 +/- 2.9, p < 0.05). These results demonstrate that a satisfactory long-term antihypertensive treatment with rilmenidine is able to reverse cardiovascular structural changes and to restore cardiac endocrine function.

Antihypertensive Agents↗
PubMed1995

[Castleman's disease with abdominal localization. Report of an unusual case].

Castleman's disease is an unusual condition characterized by uncontrolled growth of lymphoid tissue. The first case was recorded by Castleman in 1956. In this paper a case of the above-mentioned disease is reported with regard to its unusual clinica-histologic aspect (localized form of plasmacellular type) and surgical therapeutic strategies.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1994

Blood levels of erythropoietin in congestive heart failure and correlation with clinical, hemodynamic, and hormonal profiles.

Plasma levels of erythropoietin (mU/ml) were measured in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) (n = 108) and in a control group of normal subjects (n = 45). In normal subjects, plasma levels of erythropoietin were 1.9 +/- 0.2. In patients with CHF, plasma levels of erythropoietin increased progressively according to New York Heart Association (NYHA) class (I: 1.4 +/- 0.2, n = 28; II: 5.4 +/- 0.8, n = 27; III: 9.6 +/- 2, n = 32; IV: 34 +/- 8, n = 21; F = 57.7, p < 0.001) and were significantly higher in NYHA classes II, III, and IV than in normal subjects. Plasma erythropoietin significantly decreased (from 43 +/- 14 to 12 +/- 3 mU/ml, p < 0.01) in patients with severe CHF (n = 9) when enalapril (20 mg/day administered orally) was added to long-term treatment for 3 weeks. Finally, in a subgroup of patients with NYHA class IV CHF (n = 9) and high plasma erythropoietin levels (37 +/- 9 mU/ml), packed red blood cell volume, assessed by the iodine-125-albumin dilution method, was higher than that in normal subjects (n = 11) (2,616 +/- 235 vs 2,028 +/- 119 ml, p < 0.05). The present study demonstrates that plasma erythropoietin levels are elevated in a large cohort of patients with CHF of varying etiology, and that this increase is related to the progression of the disease. The increase in circulating erythropoietin is associated with augmented packed red blood cell volume in patients with severe CHF. These results suggest a participation of erythropoietin in the complex neurohormonal response that occurs in CHF.

Adult↗