Auditory brainstem responses in thyroid diseases before and after therapy.

The aim of this study was to evaluate through the auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) the electrical events generated along the auditory pathway in 56 adult patients affected with hyper- and hypothyroidism. Twenty-four normal-hearing hyperthyroid patients affected with Graves' disease and 32 normal-hearing hypothyroid patients (9 with subclinical and 23 with overt hypothyroidism) were subjected to standard (clicks at 21 pps) and sensitized ABR with masking wide-band (masking noise). In addition, thyroid scintiscan and ultrasonography, free T3 and T4, total T3 and T4, TSH, antimicrosomal and antithyroglobulin antibodies, audiogram and impedance tests were performed in all the patients.

Differential expression of surface membrane growth hormone receptor on human peripheral blood lymphocytes detected by dual fluorochrome flow cytometry.

Although several reports indicate proliferative and functional effects of human GH (hGH) on peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), no information is available about hGH receptor (GHR) expression in PBL subsets. Here, the surface membrane GHR levels were investigated in different human PBL subpopulations using a fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated monoclonal antibody specific for the GHR (mAb263) in dual fluorochrome flow cytometric assays. Strong GHR expression was found in B-cells (CD20+), whereas CD2+ lymphocytes, including T-cells as well as natural killer cells, exhibited considerably lower levels of receptor expression.

Myocardial damage during ischaemia and reperfusion.

Large quantities of oxygen free radicals can be generated on reperfusion of the ischemic myocardium. This phenomenon is probably responsible for a specific component of cell damage separate from ischemic injury and may blunt the beneficial effects of thrombolysis. Anti-free radical interventions may reduce the severity of this "reperfusion injury".

Modulation of platelet function by reactive oxygen metabolites.

Reactive oxygen metabolites have been reported to affect platelet aggregation. However, this phenomenon is still poorly understood. In the present study we investigated the effects of superoxide radical and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on platelet function in vitro and correlated those effects to possible changes of platelet concentrations of cyclic nucleotides and thromboxane, since these systems play a key role in the response of platelets to activating stimuli.

Oxygen radicals inhibit human plasma acetylhydrolase, the enzyme that catabolizes platelet-activating factor.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) can exert profound inflammatory effects at very low concentrations. In plasma, PAF is hydrolyzed to lyso-PAF by acetylhydrolase, an enzyme that circulates bound to LDL. Previous studies suggest that oxygen radicals may act synergistically with PAF to potentiate tissue injury.

A critical appraisal of pathogenesis and morbidity of surgical treatment of chronic anal fissure.

Preoperative and postoperative manometric findings and the results of lateral internal sphincterotomy were analyzed in 44 consecutive patients affected with chronic anal fissure. Preoperatively, resting anal pressure was increased in 32 patients. At one month postoperatively, 23 patients showed normal pressures, whereas 14 were still hypertonic and seven, hypotonic.

Nimesulide, a sulfonanilide nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, inhibits mediator release from human basophils and mast cells.

Nimesulide (NIM) is a sulfonanilide nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used in the treatment of various inflammatory diseases and chemically unrelated to other acidic NSAIDs, such as acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and indomethacin (INDO). We investigated the effects of NIM and of its in vivo metabolite, 4-hydroxy-NIM (OH-NIM), on the release of performed (histamine) and de novo synthesized mediators (sulfidopeptide leukotriene C4 [LTC4] and prostaglandin D2 [PGD2]) from human basophils and mast cells isolated from lung parenchyma (HLMC) and skin (HSMC). Histamine release from basophils challenged with rabbit anti-human IgE antibody (anti-IgE) was enhanced by preincubation with ASA or INDO (92.

Heterogeneity of human Fc epsilon RI-bearing cells.

Basophils and mast cells (Fc epsilon RI-bearing cells) play important but clearly distinct roles in human inflammatory and allergic reactions. While many similarities have been described, it is increasingly evident that many more differences exist between these two cell types. These include maturational and ultrastructural as well as functional differences.