Lp(a) lipoprotein in cerebrovascular disease and dementia

Lp(a) lipoprotein has been considered an independent risk factor in the development of coronary heart disease (CHD). We examined the role of Lp(a) in patients with cerebrovascular disease (CVD) and those with dementia. The Lp(a) concentration in patients with CHD, those with cerebral infarction due to a large artery occlusion and those with vascular dementia (VD) was significantly higher than that of age-matched control subjects. However, the Lp(a) concentration was not high in cerebral infarction due to a small artery occlusion, intracerebral hemorrhage and dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT). The present results suggest that Lp(a) should cause VD as well as CVD, and that Lp(a) should be one of the indicators that distinguish VD from DAT.     

Study of CYP2D6 gene in children with autoimmune hepatitis and P450 IID6 autoantibodies.

Cytochrome P450 IID6 is an autoantigen recognized by the sera of children affected with a subtype of autoimmune hepatitis. It was hypothesized that a mutation in the CYP2D6 gene could explain the autoimmune response in these patients. To examine this question, genomic DNA from peripheral lymphocytes (n = 9) and liver (n = 1) of 10 patients with anti-LKM-1 antibody was analysed by Southern blot for genetic association studies between a particular CYP2D6 haplotype and autoimmune hepatitis. In addition, a region of CYP2D6, from the same genomic DNA, was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and digested by BstNI, in a search for the most prevalent 29B mutation, described in subjects who do not express the P450 IID6. Total RNA and proteins, prepared from the liver of an anti-LKM-1+ patient, were analysed by Northern and Western (immunoblot) blots respectively. Our results do not reveal any major structural change in the DNA of this patient at the CYP2D6 locus that could explain their autoimmune response. Corroborating this observation, no changes were noted either in P450 IID6 mRNA size or in the corresponding protein. However, these data do not exclude the possibility of subtle changes in the protein due to point mutations in critical regions that might trigger an autoimmune response.     

Acquired factor XII deficiency in a woman with recurrent pregnancy loss: working on a differential diagnosis in a single case

Background  

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) has been often associated to RPL since 1980 and some reports in the Literature rarely described antibodies to factor XII in patients with APS.     

Hepatitis C viremia in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients: lower levels in presence of chronic hepatitis B

Complex reciprocal interactions between hepatitis C (HCV) and hepatitis B (HBV) viruses (HBV) have been reported. We examined the influence of HBV on HCV RNA titers in 376 HCV/HIV-coinfected patients (30 were also HBsAg positive). Regression analyses identified negative HBsAg and male sex as factors associated with HCV RNA values >500,000 IU/mL.     

Immunocytochemistry of paraneurons in the female urethra of the horse,cattle, sheep,and pig

The aim of this study is to describe the presence of neuroendocrine (NE) cells (paraneurons), producing biogenic amines and/or peptidergic hormones, in the female urethra of cattle, sheep, pigs, and horses, by means of histochemical and double labeling immunofluorescent techniques. 5-Hydroxytryptamine-, chromogranin A-, cholecystokinin- and somatostatin-containing NE cells are present in the urethral epithelium of all the species studied, with the unique exception of the lack of somatostatin cells in the horse. Paraneurons containing 5-hydroxytryptamine colocalized with chromogranin A or cholecytokinin were also found in all subjects. Such active substances are hypothesized to play a role in the contraction of the urethral musculature, emission of urogenital fluids, and inhibition of endocrine and exocrine secretions. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Assay of urinary iodides by specific electrodes: its value in dysthyroidism

A simple and reliable electrochemical urinary iodides determination method, using a crystalline membrane specific electrode is proposed. Normal adult values are determined. Determinations performed on 74 patients with an excess iodine induced hyperthyroidism show that urinary iodides determination is a good clinical evolution marker.     

Target controlled infusion (TCI): applications of the "TCI visual" program in anesthesia and sedation with propofol

BACKGROUND: Systems for Target Controlled Infusion accepting not only patient' data, like Diprifusor, but also a pharmacokinetic model have not been available in Italy in the last years. Therefore a program which controls a Pilot Anesthesia Vial pump and accepts any pharmacokinetic model was developed and applied to propofol infusion for anaesthesia and sedation. METHODS: Two versions of the Visual TCI program have been developed. The first, at intervals, supplies the anaesthetist with the values for the pump; the second directly interacts with the pump. The program also supplies the anaesthetist with the current amount of drug in each compartment and with the estimated awakening time. DESIGN: preliminary prospective study. SETTING: operatory theatre and Intensive Care Unit in a University Hospital. Patients: 6 patients undergoing total intravenous anaesthesia with propofol and fentanyl for abdominal surgery; 6 patients undergoing sedation with propofol in an Intensive Care Unit (the first 4-hour period was taken into account). Interventions: propofol infusion was regulated by the Visual TCI program. The first version was employed in three patients of each group and the second one in the others. Hypo- and hypertensive episodes (systolic pressure less than 80 mmHg or higher than basal value plus 25%) were recorded during anaesthesia and sedation. Propofol concentration was measured in plasma three times at defined intervals and per cent differences between measured and computer-calculated values (Predictive error, PE) were calculated. RESULTS: No hypo- or hypertensive episodes were recorded. PE was 27.4 +/- 17.9%. CONCLUSIONS: The program was easily employed, caused no inconvenience, and its use was associated with a remarkable cardiovascular stability. PE distribution was acceptable on the ground of the criteria reported in the literature. The program can be applied to drugs other than propofol, with both two and three compartment pharmacokinetic models and the anaesthetist can choose the most suitable model for the patient.     

Development and characterization of naproxen-chitosan solid systems with improved drug dissolution properties.

The solubilizing and amorphizing properties toward naproxen (a poorly water-soluble antiinflammatory drug) of chitosan, an emerging pharmaceutical biopolymer, have been investigated. Solid binary systems at different drug/polymer ratios have been prepared according to different techniques (mixing, cogrinding, kneading, coevaporation) using chitosan at low (CS-L(w)) and medium (CS-M(w)) molecular weight, and tested for dissolution properties. Drug-carrier interactions were investigated in both the liquid and solid state, by phase solubility analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray powder diffractometry, FT-IR spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Drug dissolution parameters improved with increasing the polymer amount in the mixture, reaching the highest values at the 1:9 (w/w) drug/polymer ratio, and CS-L(w) was more efficacious than CS-M(w). Cogrinding was the most effective technique, showing the strongest amorphizing effect toward the drug and enabling an increase of more than ten times its relative dissolution rate. Coground mixtures at 3:7 (w/w) drug/polymer ratio were able to give directly compressed tablets which maintained unchanged the improved drug dissolution properties. Enhancer dissolution properties combined with its direct compression feasibility and antiulcerogenic action make CS-L(w) an optimal carrier for developing fast-release oral solid dosage forms of naproxen.     

The expression of the calcium binding protein calretinin in the rat striatum: effects of dopamine depletion and L-DOPA treatment

The activity of the striatum is regulated by glutamate and dopamine neurotransmission. Consequent to striatal dopamine depletion the corticostriatal excitatory input is increased, which in turn can raise intracellular calcium levels. We investigated changes in the neuronal expression of the calcium binding protein calretinin related to dopamine depletion and l-DOPA administration. Immunohistochemical methods were used to assess calretinin in the striatum of rats with unilateral lesions of the nigrostriatal system. In these animals we observed a loss of the patchy distribution of calretinin fibers. Moreover, after dopaminergic depletion we detected two new, not previously described, calretinin cell types, the presence of which could be related to morphological changes induced by loss of a dopaminergic input. We also found an increase in the number of calretinin-labeled cells in the striatum ipsilateral to the lesion compared to the contralateral striatum or to the striatum of normal rats. This increase was mostly evident at 3 weeks postlesion and tended to decrease toward normal levels at 6, 10, and 18 weeks postlesion. In unlesioned animals, l-DOPA administration did not induce changes in the expression of calretinin. In unilaterally lesioned animals, l-DOPA reversed the increase in the number of calretinin-positive cells induced by the lesion. However, chronic l-DOPA administration was less effective than acute l-DOPA in reversing the effect of the lesion. The present data suggests that striatal calretinin neurons are sensitive to dopamine depletion. Increased expression of calretinin in striatal cells may be consequent to enhanced striatal excitatory input.