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Biomedical subjects

S Giannini

Publications and source records attributed to S Giannini.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Exogenous calcitonin protects against renal bone disease in rats with early renal failure.

Chronic renal failure was induced in four groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats by unilateral nephrectomy followed by removal of the outer poles and cautery of the remnant kidney. The four groups of animals received isocaloric diets with normal (groups 1 and 4) or low (groups 2 and 3) phosphate contents and variable amounts of calcium. In addition, rats in group 4 were given salmon calcitonin. After 90-160 days the 4 groups of rats had developed comparable levels of chronic renal failure. The serum phosphate values were significantly lower in rats on low phosphate intake than in those on normal phosphate diet. Bone histology was evaluated on tibiae, lumbar vertebrae and ribs. The rats kept on low phosphate diet (groups 2 and 3) had significantly lower frequency of osteomalacia and bone resorption than those fed a normal phosphate diet. Rats treated with calcitonin (group 4) had the lowest frequency of osteomalacia and virtually no association with bone resorption, despite normal phosphate intake. The serum levels of parathyroid hormone were not significantly different in rats in groups 1 and 4 as compared to controls. Serum 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol levels were significantly lower in group 1 than in controls and were significantly higher in group 4 than in group 1. These data show that calcitonin effectively prevents bone lesions in rats with early chronic renal failure.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Captopril in the treatment of hypertension in type I and type II diabetic patients.

This investigation was performed in two groups of adult patients, 10 with type I and 10 with type II diabetes mellitus, all with arterial hypertension (160 to 200 mm Hg systolic and 95 to 120 mm Hg diastolic). Captopril, 50 mg twice a day, was administered for 12 weeks and was effective as monotherapy in 16 patients. Mean arterial pressure (+/- s.d.) in type I patients changed from 121.4 +/- 9.6 to 100.2 +/- 10.1 after 4 weeks and to 102.0 +/- 3.8 mm Hg after 12 weeks; in type II patients it changed from 132.8 +/- 5.7 to 123.9 +/- 13.5 after 4 weeks and to 109.1 +/- 11.1 mm Hg after 12 weeks. The differences were statistically significant. In only 4 patients was it necessary to add a thiazide after the first month of therapy. No significant change was induced by captopril in urine output, osmolar clearance, free water clearance inulin, and PAH clearances. No significant change was observed in serum and urine Na+, Cl-, Ca++ and Mg++, whereas a statistically significant reduction was found in the renal clearances of K+ and PO4-. No important change in serum aldosterone was found, while plasma renin activity was increased, as expected. No alterations in urine protein, glucosaminoglycans, gamma GT, and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase were observed during follow-up. All patients maintained good metabolic control of their disease. No neutropenia and orthostatic hypotension were seen. Captopril appears to be an effective and safe drug for lowering blood pressure in diabetic patients, without affecting renal function, electrolyte balance and the metabolic control of diabetes.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Modified Jones operation in the treatment of pes cavovarus.

The authors describe their technique and results in the treatment of pes cavovarus by transposition of extensor hallucis brevis to the first metatarsal (Jones operation) in association with arthrodesis of the interphalangeal joint of the hallux. In cases of structural deformity it is also combined with osteotomy of the base of the first metatarsal.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

The surgical treatment of infantile flat foot. A new expanding endo-orthotic implant.

In the correction of flat foot in children, the fundamental requirement is to restore the normal relationship between the talus and calcaneus. To achieve this, the authors have devised an expanding orthotic implant which is inserted into the sinus tarsi. They discuss the indications and describe the surgical technique and the special instruments devised for fitting the device. The case material and first results after not less than 18 months follow-up are reported.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

The treatment of supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children by closed reduction and fixation with percutaneous Kirschner wires.

The results are reported of 50 consecutive cases of supracondylar fracture of the humerus in children treated by closed reduction and fixation by two parallel percutaneous Kirschner wires. A classification based on clinical and radiological findings is proposed. This is orientated both to treatment and prognosis. The technique of fixation is described and the results of four years experience of this method are reported. The long term results confirm the validity of the method, which has undoubted advantages over traditional methods. Early treatment is essential in cases with neurological or vascular complications.

Bone Nails↗
PubMed1975

[Transport of patients by airlines].

The problems of transporting patients on normal flights are examined. The first section describes the conditions of the plan's microclimate which might affect the health of passengers conditions which are obsolute contraindications for flying are also listed. More detailed analysis is applied to problems regarding the air transport of pregnant women, immature children and heart cases. The effect of hyperventilation and the anxiety state on flight passengers is then studied. To conclude, statistics on patients transported on airline flights and on the influence of flying on the course of diseases are reported.

Aerospace Medicine↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Vasopressin receptors in human seminal vesicles: identification, pharmacologic characterization, and comparison with the vasopressin receptors present in the human kidney.

Because of the presence of a high density of vasopressin receptors in the epithelial cells of porcine seminal vesicles similar to the V2 vasopressin receptors of renal tubules, human seminal vesicles and kidney were investigated using quantitative binding and adenylate cyclase studies. Tissues were obtained at surgery from 17 patients with urologic diseases. A homogeneous class of vasopressin binding sites have been found in both seminal vesicles and renal medulla. However, the vasopressin receptors present in these tissues are different in terms of ligand specificity and adenylate cyclase activation. In seminal vesicles, the V1 vasopressin antagonist d(CH2)5 TyrMeAVP is 36-fold, more potent than the V2 agonist dVDAVP in displacing [3H]AVP binding, while in the medullopapillary portion of kidney dVDAVP is 24-fold, more selective than d(CH2)5 TyrMeAVP for the arginine vasopressin binding site. Furthermore, arginine vasopressin induces a dose-dependent increase in adenylate cyclase activity in renal membranes, while it was ineffective in seminal vesicle membranes. These results indicate that a very high affinity (0.2 nM), low capacity (14 fmoles/mg protein) class of vasopressin receptors is present in human seminal vesicles, having pharmacologic characteristics similar to the V1 subtype of vasopressin receptors. The presence of a high affinity (1.6 nM), high capacity (350 fmoles/mg protein) V2 subtype of vasopressin receptors in human renal membranes is also confirmed. The density of the vasopressin receptors present in human seminal vesicles is inversely correlated with patient age, consistent with a physiologic role for vasopressin in the regulation of accessory sex gland activity.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of one-year cyclical treatment with clodronate on postmenopausal bone loss.

We studied 60 women with postmenopausal bone loss randomly allocated to the following treatments: Group 1 (20 patients), no treatment; Group 2 (20 patients), clodronate 400 mg daily by mouth for 30 consecutive days, followed by 60 days of no treatment; Group 3 (20 patients) oral calcitriol 2 mcg by mouth for 5 days and oral clodronate 400 mg daily for additional 25 days, followed by 60 days of no treatment. The therapeutic cycles were repeated four times in the 12-month study period. In the 36 treated patients of Groups 2 and 3 who completed the study period we observed a progressive and significant increase in lumbar bone density both at 6 and 12 months of therapy, without significant differences between the two treatment protocols (+3.88 +/- 0.65%, P < 0.001 and +3.21 +/- 0.89%, P < 0.005 in Groups 2 and 3, respectively, at the end of the study). In contrast, there was a progressive and significant decline of bone mineral density in untreated patients (-2.34 +/- 0.49%, P < 0.001). After 12 months serum calcium values in treated subjects were higher than in untreated patients (P < 0.05). Serum phosphate was raised only in Group 2, mean values being higher after 12 months than before treatment (P < 0.05); parathyroid hormone (PTH) declined in all treated patients, the fall being significant in Group 2 (P < 0.02). No important side effects were observed with treatment and no patient withdrew because of these. We conclude that cyclical low dose clodronate therapy induced a gain in lumbar spine bone mass in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Serum histamine-releasing activity in a patient with idiopathic pulmonary haemosiderosis.

BACKGROUND: idiopathic pulmonary haemosiderosis (IPH) is a rare disorder characterized by intermittent, diffuse alveolar bleeding. The pathogenesis of the diseases is unclear, although an association with milk or gluten hypersensitivity has been described, and an immune-mediated damage of alveolar capillaries has been suggested. A previous report showed the release of histamine after cow's milk intake in a newborn with cow's milk intolerance and IPH. METHODS AND RESULTS: here, we report the detection of serum histamine-releasing activity (HRA) in a 30-year-old woman with IPH. The serum taken during an active phase of the disease induced histamine release from basophils of two normal donors; conversely, when the patient was receiving prednisone and azathioprine, and the disease was in remission, the serum HRA was reduced. Serum fractions with a MW lower than 100 kDa displayed an enhanced HRA; in contrast, serum fractions with MW above 100 kDa were not able to induce histamine release, suggesting that the activity was due to a cytokine and not to an immunoglobulin. CONCLUSIONS: the detection of serum HRA provides further evidence that the immune system is activated in the course of IPH and supports an immunologic basis for the alveolar capillary damage, which is responsible for alveolar bleeding.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Combined effects of tamoxifen and a chimeric humanized single chain antibody against the type I IGF receptor on breast tumor growth in vivo.

Proliferative and anti-apoptotic actions of IGFs are mediated by the IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR), to which both IGF-I and -II bind with high affinity. We previously reported that alphaIGF-IR scFv-Fc (scFv-Fc) consisting of the alphaIGF-IR scFv and human IgG (1) Fc domain retained general characteristics of the parental 1H7 monoclonal antibody, and significantly suppressed MCF-7 tumor growth. We proposed IGF-IR down-regulation as a possible mechanism for inhibition of MCF-7 tumor growth. To further determine the therapeutic potentials of this approach, in vivo effects of this antibody on breast tumor growth were evaluated in the absence or presence of tamoxifen (Tam) using a T61 human breast tumor model. T61 xenograft growth in athymic mice was compared under five conditions, PBS, scFv-Fc, Tam, scFv-Fc+Tam, and control antibody. While treatment with PBS and control antibody did not affect T61 tumor growth, scFv-Fc, Tam, and scFv-Fc+Tam treatments significantly suppressed the tumor growth during the first two weeks of treatment. Although the growth inhibitory effect of scFv-Fc during the first two weeks was significant, the tumor grew as rapidly as PBS-treated tumors thereafter. This rapid tumor growth was suppressed when scFv-Fc was combined with Tam. Throughout four weeks, the combined Tam+scFv-Fc treatment was more effective in inhibiting the T61 tumor growth than scFv-Fc or Tam treatment alone. scFv-Fc treatment down-regulated IGF-IR which appears to contribute to tumor growth inhibition. This study provides evidence that simultaneous targeting of IGF-IR and the estrogen receptor may enhance the therapeutic effect.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The effect of surface material and roughness on bone screw stability.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of osteointegration ability and surface texture on bone screw interface stability in three different groups of titanium screws. DESIGN: Sixty titanium tapered screws were used: twenty screws were polished, uncoated (Group A); twenty screws were rough, coated with titanium (Group B); and twenty screws were rough, coated with fluor-hydroxyapatite (Group C). Thirty screws, ten per group, were implanted in the femurs and tibiae of two sheep, which were euthanized one month after surgery. The remaining thirty screws, ten per group, were implanted in the femurs and tibiae of another two sheep, which were euthanized three months after surgery. RESULTS: At one month, extraction torque of Group C was higher than that of Group A (p = 0.042). At three months, extraction torque of Group C was higher than that of Group A (p < 0.0001) and Group B (p < 0.0001). At three months, extraction torque of Group C was higher compared with the corresponding insertion torque (p < 0.0001) and compared with the corresponding extraction torque at one month (p < 0.0001). At one and three months, a high percentage of bone-screw contact was observed histologically in Groups B and C. A continuous gap with fibrous tissue encapsulation was observed in Group A. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the osteointegration ability provided by the type of coating is a very important parameter for optimizing the bone-screw stability. Surface texture is also important. By using screws with optimal osteointegration ability, very positive clinical consequences can be expected.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Histologic diagnosis of metabolic bone diseases: bone histomorphometry].

Histomorphometry or quantitative histology is the analysis on histologic sections of bone resorption parameters, formation and structure. It is the only technique that allows a dynamic evaluation of the activity of bone modelling after labelling with tetracycline. Moreover, the new measurement procedures through the use of the computer allow an assessment of bone microarchitecture too. Histomorphometric bone biopsy is a reliable and well-tolerated procedure. Complications are reported only in 1% of the subjects (hematoma, pain, transient neuralgia). Histomorphometry is used to exclude or confirm the diagnosis of osteomalacia. It is employed in the evaluation of bone damage associated with particular treatments (for example, anticonvulsants) or in case of rare bone diseases (osteogenesis imperfecta, systemic mastocytosis). It is also an essential approach when clinical, biochemical and other diagnostic data are not consistent. Finally, it is a useful method to understand the pathophysiologic mechanisms of drugs. The bone sample is taken at the level of iliac crest under local anesthesia. It is then put into methyl-metacrilate resin where the sections are prepared for the microscopic analysis of the various histomorphometric parameters.

Biopsy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Italian consensus on Eular 2003 recommendations for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis].

The recommendations for the management of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee firstly proposed by the EULAR in 2000, have been updated in 2003. One of the most important objectives of the expert charged to provide these recommendations was their dissemination. Thus, the information generated may be used by each individual country to produce their own set of management guidelines and algorithms for treatment in primary care. The Italian Society of Rheumatology (SIR) and the Italian League against Rheumatism (LIMAR) have organised a Consensus on the EULAR recommendations 2003 with the aim to analyse their acceptability and applicability according to our own experience and local situations in the Italy. The results of this Consensus have demonstrated that a large majority of the EULAR recommendations are endorsed by the Italian experts. Furthermore, the final document of the Italian Consensus clearly indicated the need that specialists involved in the management of knee OA strongly encourage the dissemination of the EULAR 2003 recommendations also in Italy.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗