Polymorphonuclear leukocyte membrane fluidity and cytosolic Ca2+ concentration in diabetes mellitus.

We evaluated polymorphonuclear membrane (PMN) fluidity in 32 subjects with type 1 diabetes mellitus, 38 subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 38 normal control subjects, by marking intact and unstimulated PMN cells with the fluorescent probe 1-[4-(trimethylamino)phenyl]-6-phenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (TMA-DPH). We also evaluated PMN cytosolic Ca2+ content by marking intact and unstimulated PMN cells with the fluorescent probe Fura 2-AM. PMN membrane fluidity differentiated normal subjects from type 1 and 2 diabetic subjects.

Gastric involvement in AIDS associated cryptosporidiosis.

Background: Cryptosporidiosis has been shown to be a common cause of diarrhoea in both immunocompetent and immunosuppressed individuals. There are very few data on the distribution of Cryptosporidium parvum along the gastrointestinal tract.

Aims: To evaluate the location of Cryptosporidium parasites in the digestive tract of patients with AIDS.

Determination of blood flow in the finger using near-infrared spectroscopy.

Wavelengths in the near-infrared range have much better penetrance in organic substances than visible light. We used near-infrared spectroscopy to determine non-invasively blood flow in the fingertip. We used laser Doppler technology to measure skin blood flow as a comparison procedure.

Peptide modulation of inflammatory processes within the brain.

It is clear that inflammatory processes contribute to neurodegenerative disease, stroke, closed head injury, encephalitis, and other CNS disorders. These inflammatory processes are marked by local increases in cytokines, in particular tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). It is important to control such CNS inflammation in order to preserve neural function.

Melanocortin peptides inhibit production of proinflammatory cytokines in blood of HIV-infected patients.

Melanocortins are proopiomelanocortin-derived peptides that include adrenocorticotropic hormone [ACTH (1-39)], alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone [alpha-MSH (1-13)], and related amino acid sequences. Melanocortin peptides have potent antiinflammatory/anticytokine activity. Because cytokines such as interleukin 1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) can be detrimental in HIV-infected patients, we investigated the effects of melanocortins on production of IL-1 and TNF alpha in the blood of HIV patients.

The neuropeptide alpha-MSH in HIV infection and other disorders in humans.

We measured plasma concentration of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), a proopiomelanocortin derivative that modulates pyrogenic and proinflammatory effects of cytokines, in infectious and inflammatory disorders in humans to learn if changes in this peptide take place in naturally occurring disease. alpha-MSH was elevated in HIV-infected patients of the CDC groups III and IV. Although the peptide increased in the circulation of normal subjects injected with endotoxin, it was reduced in patients with septic syndrome.

Mechanisms of antiinflammatory action of the neuroimmunomodulatory peptide alpha-MSH.

The antiinflammatory effects of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) molecules, specifically alpha-MSH(1-13) and its COOH-terminal tripeptide alpha-MSH(11-13), are well established. The peptides have been effective in tests of all major models of inflammation, and more recent tests have been extended to include experimental inflammatory bowel disease, CNS ischemia/reperfusion injury, and bacterial endotoxin-induced inflammation within the brain. The broad effectiveness of alpha-MSH molecules in all major types of inflammation indicates that the peptides exert actions that are very basic to the inflammatory process.

Melanocortin peptides inhibit production of proinflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide by activated microglia.

Inflammatory processes contribute to neurodegenerative disease, stroke, encephalitis, and other central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Activated microglia are a source of cytokines and other inflammatory agents within the CNS and it is therefore important to control glial function in order to preserve neural cells. Melanocortin peptides are pro-opiomelanocortin-derived amino acid sequences that include alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH).

Within-patient variability of hormone and cytokine concentrations in heart failure.

Several studies on disease and treatment effects on neurohormones have been conducted with small numbers of patients, using one blood sample as representative of their states. The aim of this study was to assess the within-patient variability of plasma concentrations of several hormones and cytokines of recent interest, in patients with moderate heart failure and controlled stable background therapy over 3 weeks. Blood for neurohormone and cytokine assays was sampled in duplicate from 18 patients with moderate heart failure.

Type II diabetics with macrovascular complications: polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) filtration, PMN membrane fluidity and cytosolic Ca2+ content after activation.

We evaluated polymorphonuclear (PMN) filtration parameters, membrane fluidity and cytosolic Ca2+ content in 21 normal subjects and in 18 type II diabetics with macrovascular complications (MVC). Evaluations were carried out at baseline and after in vitro activation prolonged for 5 and 15 min. PMA (4-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate) and fMLP (N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine) were used as stimulating agents.

Behavior of the polymorphonuclear leukocyte membrane fluidity and cystolic Ca2+ content in vascular atherosclerotic disease with and without non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

In 71 subjects with vascular atherosclerotic disease (VAD), in 32 VAD subjects with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and in 31 normal controls, we evaluated polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) membrane fluidity and PMN cytosolic Ca2+ content. The PMN membrane fluidity was obtained by marking intact and unstimulated PMN cells with fluorescent probe 1-[4-(trimethylamino)phenyl]-6-phenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (TMA-DPH) and the PMN cytosolic Ca2+ content was obtained by marking intact and unstimulated PMN cells with the fluorescent probe Fura 2-AM. From the obtained results, it is evident that PMN membrane fluidity does not differentiate normals from VAD subjects and VAD subjects with NIDDM, and normals from subjects with monovascular disease (MVAD) and polyvascular disease (PVAD) with and without NIDDM.

[Surgery of differentiated cancer of the thyroid].

A retrospective study on patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma operated on at the 3rd Department of General Surgery of the University "La Sapienza" of Rome from 1970 to 1996 was performed. In 709 patients total thyroidectomy was performed as the minimal procedure acceptable, while 19 patients had subtotal thyroidectomy out of necessity. A functional ipsilateral or bilateral lymphnectomy of the neck was performed in 256 cases.

[Parathyroidectomy: our school experience].

The Authors evaluated the results obtained in 145 patients operated on for hyperparathyroidism: 109 patients had primary hyperparathyroidism and 36 patients had secondary hyperparathyroidism. Preoperative localization by ultrasonography was assured in all cases, while only few patients were preoperatively evaluated by arteriography and selected venous sampling of the parathyroid hormone concentration. After surgical resection for primary hyperparathyroidism, transient postoperative hypoparathyroidism occurred in 30 patients (27.

Pigeons' preference for free choice: number of keys versus key area.

In concurrent-chains schedules, pigeons prefer terminal links that provide two keys correlated with reinforcers (free choice) over those that provide only one key (forced choice), terminal-link reinforcement rates being equal. With same-size keys, free choice provides a larger area available for pecking. Preferences were examined using terminal links that differed in key number only (one or two) or key size only (small and medium or medium and large), or that equated the area of the two free-choice keys with that of the forced-choice key.

Vascular anastomoses among abdominal organs in laboratory animals.

Vascular anastomoses among abdominal organs were studied in 289 laboratory mammals. Arterial anastomoses joining the wall or the parenchyma of the abdominal organs were studied in 108 animals and were found among the stomach, the spleen and the pancreas. In the cat, such anastomoses occur in 86.

Relevance of clinical and laboratory findings in the diagnosis of cytomegalovirus encephalitis in patients with AIDS.

A retrospective evaluation was conducted in patients with AIDS and an autopsy diagnosis of cytomegalovirus (CMV) encephalitis to determine the relevance of clinical and laboratory findings in establishing a diagnosis. On autopsy of 100 patients, CMV encephalitis was diagnosed in 13 patients; eight had periventricular CMV encephalitis, four micronodular CMV encephalitis, and one both conditions. Seven patients had had a CMV infection previously (6 cases of retinitis, 1 case of colitis), and at the onset of encephalitis all of them were receiving a maintenance dose of ganciclovir.

Conservative surgical treatment for a giant thoracoabdominal benign teratoma.

The authors describe an adult patient with a giant, cystic teratoma (33 x 22 x 18 cm) involving the posterior mediastinum and retroperitoneum. A conservative surgical approach consisting of a partial endocystectomy plus injections of tetracycline into the residual cavity, was performed. Two months after surgery, a CT scan showed a 6 x 5 x 3 cm residual cyst.

Polymorphonuclear leukocyte membrane fluidity and cytosolic Ca2+ content in different clinical conditions.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) membrane fluidity and PMN cytosolic Ca2+ content in several clinical conditions: diabetes mellitus, vascular atherosclerotic disease (VAD), chronic renal failure (CRF), essential hypertension (EH). In 13 subjects with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), in 24 subjects with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), in 42 VAD subjects, in 23 VAD subjects with NIDDM, in 15 subjects with CRF and in 12 subjects with EH, we determined the PMN membrane fluidity, obtained marking unstimulated PMN cells with fluorescent probe 1-[4-(trimethylamino)phenyl]-6-phenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (TMA-DPH), and considering the fluorescence polarization degree, and the PMN cytosolic Ca2+ content, obtained marking unstimulated PMN cells with the fluorescent probe Fura2-AM and considering the ratio between the Fura2-Ca2+ complex and the unchelated Fura 2 fluorescence intensity. From the obtained data it is evident that PMN membrane fluidity does not distinguish normals from IDDM subjects, NIDDM subjects, VAD subjects with and without NIDDM, CRF subjects and hypertensives.

Post-exercise cutaneous hyperaemia resulting from local exercise of an extremity.

Large changes in skin blood flow occur after exercise. Most studies have concentrated on the systemic effects of vigorous exercise on skin blood flow. We were interested in the post-exercise response in the neighbourhood of focal exercise.

alpha-MSH modulates local and circulating tumor necrosis factor-alpha in experimental brain inflammation.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) underlies pathological processes and functional disturbances in acute and chronic neurological disease and injury. The neuroimmunomodulatory peptide alpha-MSH modulates actions and production of proinflammatory cytokines including TNF-alpha, but there is no prior evidence that it alters TNF-alpha induced within the brain. To test for this potential influence of the peptide, TNF-alpha was induced centrally by local injection of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Anti-inflammatory actions of the neuroimmunomodulator alpha-MSH.

alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) is an endogenous neuroimmunomodulatory peptide that inhibits fever and all major forms of experimental inflammation. In humans, concentrations of alpha-MSH are increased at sites of inflammation, and in plasma in inflammatory disorders and after infection of endotoxin. The effects of this 'anti-cytokine' peptide are mediated through alpha-MSH receptors and regulatory circuits in macrophages and neutrophils, and through descending neural anti-inflammatory pathways that originate from alpha-MSH receptors on neurons within the brain.

Cytokine antagonists in aged subjects and their relation with cellular immunity.

Host responses to infectious and inflammatory stimuli are altered with aging. Because cytokines and their antagonists are significant factors in these host responses, the present research on aged subjects was designed to investigate plasma concentrations of the cytokines interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) and those of their antagonists IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) and soluble TNF receptor (sTNFr). For this research, 122 apparently healthy aged subjects (79.

Leukocyte flow properties, polymorphonuclear membrane fluidity and cytosolic Ca2+ content in subjects with vascular atherosclerotic disease.

In a group of subjects with monovascular atherosclerotic disease (MVAD) and in a group of subjects with polyvascular atherosclerotic disease (PVAD) we evaluated white blood cell (WBC) filtration (unfractionated, mononuclear -MN-, polymorphonuclear -PMN- cells), using the St. George Filtrometer and considering respectively the initial relative flow rate (IRFR) and the clogging rate (CR), the polymorphonuclear leukocyte membrane fluidity, employing the fluorescent probe 1.4-(trimethylamino)-phenyl-4-phenylhexatriene (TMA-DPH) and calculating the fluorescence polarization degree, and the polymorphonuclear leukocyte cytosolic Ca2+ content, adopting the fluorescent probe Fura 2-AM.