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Biomedical subjects

S Baroni

Publications and source records attributed to S Baroni.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Effects of gemfibrozil on the oxygen transport properties of erythrocytes.

1. In the present study we have investigated the effects of the relatively low plasma concentrations of gemfibrozil (GFZ) found in clinical practice on the oxygen dissociation curve (ODC) of erythrocytes. 2. ODCs were measured at 30 degrees C and 37 degrees C and at pH 7.4: a) both on HbA solution and erythrocytes incubated in vitro with gemfibrozil and clofibric acid; b) on erythrocytes from healthy volunteers treated with a single oral dose of gemfibrozil. 3. These experiments showed a significant drug-induced shift of the ODC towards lower O2 affinity values without any significant modification of metabolic parameters of erythrocytes such as intracellular pH and intraerythrocytic levels of ATP and DPG. 4. In our experimental conditions gemfibrozil appears to lower both in vitro and in vivo, the partial pressure of oxygen required to give 50% of the haemes saturated with oxygen (P50) of erythrocytes from the control value of 24 +/- 0.5 mm Hg to 29 +/- 0.5 mm Hg (mean +/- s.d.; P < 0.02 by ANOVA). 5. These data clearly indicate that therapeutic doses of gemfibrozil may influence the oxygen transport properties of red cells. This effect could have relevant pharmacological and toxicological implications.

2,3-Diphosphoglycerate↗

Choice of time for urine collection for detecting early kidney abnormalities in hypertensives.

The aim of this study was to determine the most appropriate urine collection for detecting differences in the excretion rates of albumin, gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAGA) between normotensive subjects and hypertensive patients on treatment. Twenty treated hypertensive patients, mean (SEM, standard error of mean) age; 52.2 (6.2) years and 20 normotensive subjects, mean age 49.2 (4.2) years, were studied in a consecutive sampling design. Urinary excretion rates of albumin, GGT and NAGA were determined in consecutive timed urine samples collected overnight and during 3-5 h the next morning. Mean (SEM) overnight excretion rates for albumin, GGT and NAGA for normotensive subjects were 11.05 (1.18) micrograms/min, 17.00 (2.20) mU/min and 6.55 (0.39) mU/min, respectively, which were significantly lower than those of hypertensive subjects which were 20.77 (2.14) micrograms/min, 21.84 (1.65) mU/min and 10.92 (0.87) mU/min, respectively (P < 0.05). The mean (SEM) percentage increases in urinary albumin, GGT and NAGA in morning urine collections of normotensive subjects of 15.22 (3.88)%, 34.04 (6.45)% and 11.54 (3.63)%, respectively were significantly lower than 107.03 (15.04)%, 121.96 (16.71)% and 72.75 (7.50)% found in hypertensive patients (P < 0.05). These data suggest that were urinary albumin and tubular enzyme excretion to be used as correlates of hypertensive renal damage, ambulatory urine collections may be more sensitive than overnight collections.

Adult↗

Synergistic modulation by chloride and organic phosphates of hemoglobin from bear (Ursus arctos).

The oxygen binding properties of hemoglobin (Hb) from brown bear (Ursus arctos) have been studied focussing on the effect of heterotropic ligands, and the behaviour has been compared with that of human HbA, taken as a prototype of mammalian Hbs. It has been observed that in bear Hb chloride ions and 2,3-diphosphoglyceric acid (Gri(2,3)P2) can modulate the oxygen affinity in a synergistic way such that their individual effect is enhanced whenever they are both present in saturating amounts. The thermodynamic analysis of such a feature indicates that in bear Hb there are two classes of chloride binding sites, one acting synergistically with Gri(2,3)P2 and another one, which likely overlaps with the organic phosphate interaction cleft, and is therefore fully operative only in the absence of Gri(2,3)P2. The behaviour of the last site is similar to that observed in human HbA, where the effect of Cl- and Gri(2,3)P2 is mutually exclusive. The interaction energy between chloride and Gri(2,3)P2 synergistic binding sites appears to be O2-linked so that the interplay may have a relevant physiological role in modulating the oxygen transport in brown bear. This behaviour is associated with a marked pH-dependence of the oxygenation enthalpy in bear Hb, such that under acidotic and hypercloruremic conditions, oxygen supply to peripheral tissues could be maintained essentially unaltered even under low temperature conditions.

Animals↗

Lipids and lipoproteins in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).

Current studies suggest a derangement of the cholesterol homeostasis in certain types of leukaemia. The low serum cholesterol levels observed in patients with AML have been related to the tumoral mass and to the disease activity. Only a few studies have taken into consideration a possible change of the serum lipids in ALL. The aim of this study was to evaluate a possible prognostic significance of serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides, HDL-C, LDL-C, VLDL-C, apolipoproteins A1 and B and lipoprotein (a), investigated in 10 newly diagnosed ALL patients before and after induction treatment. At diagnosis all these parameters were not significantly different in our patients vs control group except cholesterol and HDL-C levels, which were significantly lower. After the induction treatment, we found a significant increase of HDL-C and Apo A1 values only in those patients that achieved a complete remission. These results support the idea that some serum lipids, such as HDL-C and Apo A1, may have a role as early and reliable markers of the effectiveness of chemotherapy.

Adult↗