Nicotine is the major compound responsible for smoking addiction and its withdrawal is related to... more Nicotine is the major compound responsible for smoking addiction and its withdrawal is related to increase in body weight and changes in nutrition in humans. Most of studies have shown that these changes are occurring in the short-term period after smoking cessation. With the aim to investigate whether effects on food intake and body weight gain are present also long time after nicotine withdrawal, we evaluated them, together with diencephalic nitrate/nitrite ratio in female mice previously subjected to nicotine dependence, 120 days after nicotine withdrawal. Four months later, at the end of the observation period, the same parameters have been studied after 24 h food deprivation. To induce nicotine dependence, mice received, through subcutaneous way, nicotine (2 mg/kg; NM) or saline (M) four injections daily for 14 days. After this period nicotine was discontinued and dependence was assessed by an abstinence scale (1). Mean of daily food intake was not different in NM (6.6 ± 0.5 g/...
ABSTRACTWe have produced monoclonal antibodies againstPlasmodium yoeliimerozoite surface protein ... more ABSTRACTWe have produced monoclonal antibodies againstPlasmodium yoeliimerozoite surface protein 1 (MSP-1) and have assessed their ability to suppress blood stage parasitemia by passive immunization. Six immunoglobulin G antibodies were characterized in detail: three (B6, D3, and F5) were effective in suppressing a lethal blood stage challenge infection, two (B10 and G3) were partially effective, and one (B4) was ineffective. MSP-1 is the precursor to a complex of polypeptides on the merozoite surface; all of the antibodies bound to this precursor and to an ∼42-kDa fragment (MSP-142) that is derived from the C terminus of MSP-1. MSP-142is further cleaved to an N-terminal ∼33-kDa polypeptide (MSP-133) and a C-terminal ∼19-kDa polypeptide (MSP-119) comprised of two epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like modules. D3 reacted with MSP-142but not with either of the constituents MSP-133and MSP-119, B4 recognized an epitope within the N terminus of MSP-133, and B6, B10, F5, and G3 bound to MSP-...
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2018
Objective. The aim of this review is to analyze preclinical and clinical studies investigating th... more Objective. The aim of this review is to analyze preclinical and clinical studies investigating the anxiety effects ofCitrus aurantiumorCitrus sinensisessential oils (EOs).Design. The bibliographic research was made on the major scientific databases. Analysis included only articles written in English and published on peer-reviewed scientific journals describing preclinical experiments and clinical trials carried out to investigate the antianxiety effects ofCitrus aurantium or Citrus sinensisEOs on anxiety disorders. Clinical studies reporting the antianxiety effects of products containingCitrus aurantiumorCitrus sinensisEOs in combination with other active substances, including medicinal plants, were excluded. Nine clinical studies fulfilled the criteria adopted for analysis.Results. Data show thatCitrus aurantiumorCitrus sinensisEOs produce anxiolytic effects both in preclinical experiments and in different clinical conditions.Citrus aurantiumEO aromatherapy reduced anxiety level in...
e83 was impaired (Fig. 1E) and this was related with reduction on functional endothelium cell (Fi... more e83 was impaired (Fig. 1E) and this was related with reduction on functional endothelium cell (Fig. 1A) also the contraction curves to Phe (did not to AngII) it was lower in rats of 6mo old (Fig. 1F-G). The reduction of relaxation with LNAME in abdominal rings of 3mo old was to similar that rings of 6mo old without LNAME (Fig. 2B). The endothelial influence on Phe induced contractions in young rats were completely blocked by LNAME in the aorta with any differences between groups. Conclusion:
One of the most used cephalosporin in clinical practice is ceftriaxone. Anaphylaxis due to the ad... more One of the most used cephalosporin in clinical practice is ceftriaxone. Anaphylaxis due to the administration of ceftriaxone is considered a rare event. Here, we report a case of fatal anaphylactic shock after the administration of ceftriaxone in a child who had tolerated the drug in past exposures. The allergic pathogenesis is sustained by the clinical data (short time between the inoculation of the drug and the onset of the symptoms; past exposure to the same molecule and probable sensitization) and the postmortem examination findings (polivisceral congestion and intense eosinophilia found in the histological examination).
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2002
Cerebral vasospasm and ischemic damage are important causes of mortality and morbidity in patient... more Cerebral vasospasm and ischemic damage are important causes of mortality and morbidity in patients affected by aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Recently, i.p. administration of recombinant human erythropoietin (r-Hu-EPO) has been shown to exert a neuroprotective effect during experimental SAH. The present study was conducted to evaluate further the effect of r-Hu-EPO administration after SAH in rabbits on neurological outcome, degree of basilar artery spasm, and magnitude of neuronal ischemic damage. Experimental animals were divided into six groups: group 1 ( n = 8), control; group 2 ( n = 8), control plus placebo; group 3 ( n = 8), control plus r-Hu-EPO; group 4 ( n = 8), SAH; group 5 ( n = 8), SAH plus placebo; group 6 ( n = 8), SAH plus r-Hu-EPO. r-Hu-EPO, at a dose of 1,000 units/kg, and placebo were injected i.p. starting 5 min after inducing SAH and followed by clinical and pathological assessment 72 h later. Systemic administration of r-Hu-EPO produced significant i...
The new free radical scavenger IRFI-016 [2(2,3-dihydro-5-acetoxy 4,6,7-trimethyl-benzofuranyl) ac... more The new free radical scavenger IRFI-016 [2(2,3-dihydro-5-acetoxy 4,6,7-trimethyl-benzofuranyl) acetic acid] was assessed in a rat model of myocardial injury induced by 1 h of left coronary artery occlusion followed by 30 min of reperfusion. Myocardial ischaemia plus reperfusion (MI/R) produced severe cardiac necrosis, neutrophil infiltration in the jeopardized tissue, increased serum creatine kinase (CK) and ST segment of the electrocardiogram (ECG), lowered the pressure rate index (PRI), increased serum levels of tumour necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) and caused a decrease in the survival rate. Administration of IRFI-016 (100 and 200 mg/kg i.p.) 30 min before occlusion resulted in a significant protective effect in post-ischaemic reperfusion. Compared with untreated rats, IRFI-016, in particular the dose of 200 mg/kg, caused a reduction of the necrotic zone whether the necrotic area was expressed as a percentage of the area at risk (55 +/- 4% in the MI/R vehicle group and 24 +/- 2.5% in the MI/R treated group; p < 0.001) or as a percentage of the total left ventricle (23 +/- 3.4% in the MI/R vehicle group and 8 +/- 2.1% in the MI/R treated group; p < 0.005), reduced the myeloperoxidase activity, an index of neutrophil infiltration in the necrotic area (from 4.8 +/- 0.8 to 1.6 +/- 0.4 U/g tissue; p < 0.005), reduced the serum levels of TNF-alpha (from 216 +/- 13 to 45 +/- 7 U/ml; p < 0.001), blunted the rise of the ST segment of the ECG (from 0.47 +/- 0.13 mV in the vehicle group to 0.3 +/- 0.18 mV in the treated group; p < 0.001), reduced the loss of CK (from 220 +/- 15 to 88 +/- 13 IU/ml of blood; p < 0.001) and improved the depressed PRI (from 56 +/- 4% to 78 +/- 3% mm Hg/beats/min; p < 0.005). Finally, IRFI-016 significantly enhanced the survival rate evaluated at the end of the experiment. The results strongly indicate that IRFI-016 is a promising drug for cardiac ischaemia and reperfusion.
Anaesthetized rats, subjected to total occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery and the celiac... more Anaesthetized rats, subjected to total occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery and the celiac trunk for 45 min, developed a severe shock state (splanchnic artery occlusion shock) resulting in a fatal outcome within 75-90 min after release of the occlusion. Shocked rats, treated with an intravenous bolus of L-659,989, a specific platelet activating factor (PAF) receptor antagonist (12.5, 25 or 50 nmol/kg, 4 min after reperfusion followed, 8 min thereafter, by a continuous infusion of 125, 250 or 500 nmol/kg for 30 min), maintained post-release mean arterial blood pressure at significantly higher values than did rats receiving the vehicle. Treatment with L-659,989 significantly increased survival rate, blunted the rise in plasma myocardial depressant factor activity and lowered serum and macrophage levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNFe). In addition, the drug completely restored macrophage phagocytosis, improved macrophage killing and significantly inhibited leukopenia. To investigate the interaction between PAF, TNF-(r and myocardial depressant factor, the blood levels of these three mediators were evaluated: shocked rats exhibited increased PAF levels with a peak at 30 min. The plasma levels of PAF peaked earlier than did either serum TNF-(r or plasma myocardial depressant factor. Both peaks occurred 75 min after the release of occlusion. The results of this study therefore suggest that PAF is a key mediator of splanchnic artery occlusion shock and plays a permissive role in inducing the release of other factors (i.e. TNF-(Y and myocardial depressant factor) that are relevant to shock.
The behavioral and convulsant effects of pefloxacin (PEFLO), a quinolone derivative, were studied... more The behavioral and convulsant effects of pefloxacin (PEFLO), a quinolone derivative, were studied after intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration to Dilute Brown Agouti DBA/2J (DBA/2) mice, a strain genetically susceptible to sound-induced seizures. The anticonvulsant effects of some excitatory amino acid (EAA) antagonists acting at N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) or ␣-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) and kainate (KA) receptors and of some compounds enhancing ␥-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic transmission against seizures induced by PEFLO were also evaluated. The present study demonstrated that both groups of compounds administered i.p. or intracerebroventricularly were able to protect against seizures induced by PEFLO. However, ifenprodil and (؎)-␣-(chlorophenyl)-4-[(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]-1-piperidineethanol (SL 82.0715), two compounds acting on the polyamine site of the NMDA receptor complex, were unable to provide any protection. The relationship between the different sites of action and the anticonvulsant activities of these derivatives were discussed. Although the main mechanism of PEFLO-induced seizures cannot be easily determined, potential interactions with the receptors of EAA exist. In fact, antagonists of EAA, and in particular, those acting at NMDA receptors, were able to increase the threshold for the seizures or to prevent the seizures induced by PEFLO, while compounds acting at the polyamine site did not provide any protection. The AMPA-KA receptor antagonists were also able to exert anticonvulsant activity, but with minor potency in comparison to those of NMDA antagonists. In addition, the fact that compounds enhancing GABA-ergic neurotransmission were also able to protect the mice against seizures induced by PEFLO suggests an involvement of GABA system.
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013
Botanical products sold in the health area are generally intended as drugs, medicinal products, f... more Botanical products sold in the health area are generally intended as drugs, medicinal products, food supplements or substances for therapeutic use. Use of botanicals for improving or to care human health has evolved independently in different countries worldwide. Regulatory issues regarding botanical products designed for the food supplements or medicinal market and their influence on research and development are discussed. European Union (EU) and United States (US) policies regulating these products are focused with comments on the legislations delivered during the last ten years and differences existing in rules between these countries are emphasized. Research and development on botanical products nowdays strongly influenced by the product destination in the market. Addressed and differentiated research for either food supplements or medicinal markets is necessary to purchase data really useful for assessment of safe and effective use for both the categories. The main objective is...
The effect of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of synthetic rat atrial natriuretic poly... more The effect of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of synthetic rat atrial natriuretic polypeptide (a-rANP) on drinking behavior was studied in nor motensive rats, a-rANP (0.2, 0.4 or 0.8 /cg in 5 ,ccl) caused a dose-dependent dipsogenic effect which was abated by i.c.v. pretreatment with saralasine (9 /cg in 5 ucl). These results suggest that a-rANP possesses dipsogenic effects in water repleted rats and that brain angiotensin is involved. In addition, our data indicate that, at least as far as the effect of cerebral AN P is concerned, there are some differ ences between a-rANP and human atrial natriuretic polypeptide.
The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine, 2020
Aim: Coffee intake is common during pregnancy. However, the influence of coffee and caffeine on p... more Aim: Coffee intake is common during pregnancy. However, the influence of coffee and caffeine on pregnancy has not yet been fully determined. Some studies show that high coffee intake could cause miscarriage, preterm birth or reduction of fetal growth, but other studies do not support these findings. The aim of the present study was to analyze data collected from a database focusing on coffee intake during pregnancy, which was specifically created for multicenter studies carried out in the maternity units of Italian general hospitals. Principal outcomes of pregnancy during pregnancy were considered. Methods: Data of 5405 pregnancies were collected by a direct questionnaire supplemented with data from patients'clinical records during the survey named PHYTO.VIG.GEST. Results: We observed that 42.3% of the total sample had consumed at least one coffee a day during pregnancy. Analysis of a dose-response relationship showed that, in pregnant women starting from the consumption of three coffees a day (6% of pregnant women consuming coffee), there is a statistically significant association between number of coffees and reduction of babies birth weight (< 2500 g). Coclusion: Even though high coffee intake is known to influence negatively birth weight, our results indicate that a significant percentage of pregnant women maintain this habit.
Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) interleukin-10 (25, 50, and 100 ng/rat) effects on water intake,... more Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) interleukin-10 (25, 50, and 100 ng/rat) effects on water intake, exploratory behaviour, and rectal temperature were evaluated in rats treated intraperitoneally (i.p.) with lipopolysaccharide (0.32, 0.64, and 0.96 mg/kg). Endotoxin administration induced fever and inhibition of thirst in water-deprived rats, and a decrease in lococomotory activity in normohydrated and water-deprived animals. Our data show that interleukin-10 during lipopolysaccharide administration controlled fever, increases exploratory behaviour, but did not reverse lipopolysaccharide inhibition of thirst. These effects suggest that fever, depression in locomotory activity but not inhibition of thirst, induced by endotoxin are influenced by interleukin-10 levels.
Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) interleukin-10 (25, 50, and 100ng/rat) effects on water intake, ... more Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) interleukin-10 (25, 50, and 100ng/rat) effects on water intake, exploratory behaviour, and rectal temperature were evaluated in rats treated intraperitoneally (i.p.) with lipopolysaccharide (0.32, 0.64, and 0.96 mg/kg). Endotoxin administration induced fever and inhibition of thirst in water-deprived rats, and a decrease in lococomotory activity in normohydrated and water-deprived animals. Our data show that interleukin-10 during lipopolysaccharide administration controlled fever, increases exploratory behaviour, but did not reverse lipopolysaccharide inhibition of thirst. These effects suggest that fever, depression in locomotory activity but not inhibition of thirst, induced by endotoxin are influenced by interleukin-10 levels.
International journal of immunopathology and pharmacology
Nickel ingested with food can elicit either systemic cutaneous or gastrointestinal symptoms causi... more Nickel ingested with food can elicit either systemic cutaneous or gastrointestinal symptoms causing a systemic nickel allergy syndrome (SNAS) that can be treated with tolerance by oral ingestion of the metal. It has been suggested that interleukins 2 (IL-2) and 10 (IL-10) are involved in the mechanisms underlying oral tolerance. We evaluated the clinical efficacy of oral desensitization therapy in SNAS consisting in the administration of nickel sulphate. Because nickel allergy prevalently affects women, only female subjects (N = 22) were recruited. Oral nickel desensitizing therapy was associated with low-nickel diet for three months. Before and after therapy, clinical conditions were evaluated, and circulating cytokines IL-2 and IL-10 were measured. After the two-year treatment, visual analogue scale (VAS) scores for symptoms were significantly reduced (P less than 0.001). Patients were released by either cutaneous or gastrointestinal symptoms and by tolerating nickel-containing fo...
Nicotine is the major compound responsible for smoking addiction and its withdrawal is related to... more Nicotine is the major compound responsible for smoking addiction and its withdrawal is related to increase in body weight and changes in nutrition in humans. Most of studies have shown that these changes are occurring in the short-term period after smoking cessation. With the aim to investigate whether effects on food intake and body weight gain are present also long time after nicotine withdrawal, we evaluated them, together with diencephalic nitrate/nitrite ratio in female mice previously subjected to nicotine dependence, 120 days after nicotine withdrawal. Four months later, at the end of the observation period, the same parameters have been studied after 24 h food deprivation. To induce nicotine dependence, mice received, through subcutaneous way, nicotine (2 mg/kg; NM) or saline (M) four injections daily for 14 days. After this period nicotine was discontinued and dependence was assessed by an abstinence scale (1). Mean of daily food intake was not different in NM (6.6 ± 0.5 g/...
ABSTRACTWe have produced monoclonal antibodies againstPlasmodium yoeliimerozoite surface protein ... more ABSTRACTWe have produced monoclonal antibodies againstPlasmodium yoeliimerozoite surface protein 1 (MSP-1) and have assessed their ability to suppress blood stage parasitemia by passive immunization. Six immunoglobulin G antibodies were characterized in detail: three (B6, D3, and F5) were effective in suppressing a lethal blood stage challenge infection, two (B10 and G3) were partially effective, and one (B4) was ineffective. MSP-1 is the precursor to a complex of polypeptides on the merozoite surface; all of the antibodies bound to this precursor and to an ∼42-kDa fragment (MSP-142) that is derived from the C terminus of MSP-1. MSP-142is further cleaved to an N-terminal ∼33-kDa polypeptide (MSP-133) and a C-terminal ∼19-kDa polypeptide (MSP-119) comprised of two epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like modules. D3 reacted with MSP-142but not with either of the constituents MSP-133and MSP-119, B4 recognized an epitope within the N terminus of MSP-133, and B6, B10, F5, and G3 bound to MSP-...
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2018
Objective. The aim of this review is to analyze preclinical and clinical studies investigating th... more Objective. The aim of this review is to analyze preclinical and clinical studies investigating the anxiety effects ofCitrus aurantiumorCitrus sinensisessential oils (EOs).Design. The bibliographic research was made on the major scientific databases. Analysis included only articles written in English and published on peer-reviewed scientific journals describing preclinical experiments and clinical trials carried out to investigate the antianxiety effects ofCitrus aurantium or Citrus sinensisEOs on anxiety disorders. Clinical studies reporting the antianxiety effects of products containingCitrus aurantiumorCitrus sinensisEOs in combination with other active substances, including medicinal plants, were excluded. Nine clinical studies fulfilled the criteria adopted for analysis.Results. Data show thatCitrus aurantiumorCitrus sinensisEOs produce anxiolytic effects both in preclinical experiments and in different clinical conditions.Citrus aurantiumEO aromatherapy reduced anxiety level in...
e83 was impaired (Fig. 1E) and this was related with reduction on functional endothelium cell (Fi... more e83 was impaired (Fig. 1E) and this was related with reduction on functional endothelium cell (Fig. 1A) also the contraction curves to Phe (did not to AngII) it was lower in rats of 6mo old (Fig. 1F-G). The reduction of relaxation with LNAME in abdominal rings of 3mo old was to similar that rings of 6mo old without LNAME (Fig. 2B). The endothelial influence on Phe induced contractions in young rats were completely blocked by LNAME in the aorta with any differences between groups. Conclusion:
One of the most used cephalosporin in clinical practice is ceftriaxone. Anaphylaxis due to the ad... more One of the most used cephalosporin in clinical practice is ceftriaxone. Anaphylaxis due to the administration of ceftriaxone is considered a rare event. Here, we report a case of fatal anaphylactic shock after the administration of ceftriaxone in a child who had tolerated the drug in past exposures. The allergic pathogenesis is sustained by the clinical data (short time between the inoculation of the drug and the onset of the symptoms; past exposure to the same molecule and probable sensitization) and the postmortem examination findings (polivisceral congestion and intense eosinophilia found in the histological examination).
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2002
Cerebral vasospasm and ischemic damage are important causes of mortality and morbidity in patient... more Cerebral vasospasm and ischemic damage are important causes of mortality and morbidity in patients affected by aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Recently, i.p. administration of recombinant human erythropoietin (r-Hu-EPO) has been shown to exert a neuroprotective effect during experimental SAH. The present study was conducted to evaluate further the effect of r-Hu-EPO administration after SAH in rabbits on neurological outcome, degree of basilar artery spasm, and magnitude of neuronal ischemic damage. Experimental animals were divided into six groups: group 1 ( n = 8), control; group 2 ( n = 8), control plus placebo; group 3 ( n = 8), control plus r-Hu-EPO; group 4 ( n = 8), SAH; group 5 ( n = 8), SAH plus placebo; group 6 ( n = 8), SAH plus r-Hu-EPO. r-Hu-EPO, at a dose of 1,000 units/kg, and placebo were injected i.p. starting 5 min after inducing SAH and followed by clinical and pathological assessment 72 h later. Systemic administration of r-Hu-EPO produced significant i...
The new free radical scavenger IRFI-016 [2(2,3-dihydro-5-acetoxy 4,6,7-trimethyl-benzofuranyl) ac... more The new free radical scavenger IRFI-016 [2(2,3-dihydro-5-acetoxy 4,6,7-trimethyl-benzofuranyl) acetic acid] was assessed in a rat model of myocardial injury induced by 1 h of left coronary artery occlusion followed by 30 min of reperfusion. Myocardial ischaemia plus reperfusion (MI/R) produced severe cardiac necrosis, neutrophil infiltration in the jeopardized tissue, increased serum creatine kinase (CK) and ST segment of the electrocardiogram (ECG), lowered the pressure rate index (PRI), increased serum levels of tumour necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) and caused a decrease in the survival rate. Administration of IRFI-016 (100 and 200 mg/kg i.p.) 30 min before occlusion resulted in a significant protective effect in post-ischaemic reperfusion. Compared with untreated rats, IRFI-016, in particular the dose of 200 mg/kg, caused a reduction of the necrotic zone whether the necrotic area was expressed as a percentage of the area at risk (55 +/- 4% in the MI/R vehicle group and 24 +/- 2.5% in the MI/R treated group; p &lt; 0.001) or as a percentage of the total left ventricle (23 +/- 3.4% in the MI/R vehicle group and 8 +/- 2.1% in the MI/R treated group; p &lt; 0.005), reduced the myeloperoxidase activity, an index of neutrophil infiltration in the necrotic area (from 4.8 +/- 0.8 to 1.6 +/- 0.4 U/g tissue; p &lt; 0.005), reduced the serum levels of TNF-alpha (from 216 +/- 13 to 45 +/- 7 U/ml; p &lt; 0.001), blunted the rise of the ST segment of the ECG (from 0.47 +/- 0.13 mV in the vehicle group to 0.3 +/- 0.18 mV in the treated group; p &lt; 0.001), reduced the loss of CK (from 220 +/- 15 to 88 +/- 13 IU/ml of blood; p &lt; 0.001) and improved the depressed PRI (from 56 +/- 4% to 78 +/- 3% mm Hg/beats/min; p &lt; 0.005). Finally, IRFI-016 significantly enhanced the survival rate evaluated at the end of the experiment. The results strongly indicate that IRFI-016 is a promising drug for cardiac ischaemia and reperfusion.
Anaesthetized rats, subjected to total occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery and the celiac... more Anaesthetized rats, subjected to total occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery and the celiac trunk for 45 min, developed a severe shock state (splanchnic artery occlusion shock) resulting in a fatal outcome within 75-90 min after release of the occlusion. Shocked rats, treated with an intravenous bolus of L-659,989, a specific platelet activating factor (PAF) receptor antagonist (12.5, 25 or 50 nmol/kg, 4 min after reperfusion followed, 8 min thereafter, by a continuous infusion of 125, 250 or 500 nmol/kg for 30 min), maintained post-release mean arterial blood pressure at significantly higher values than did rats receiving the vehicle. Treatment with L-659,989 significantly increased survival rate, blunted the rise in plasma myocardial depressant factor activity and lowered serum and macrophage levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNFe). In addition, the drug completely restored macrophage phagocytosis, improved macrophage killing and significantly inhibited leukopenia. To investigate the interaction between PAF, TNF-(r and myocardial depressant factor, the blood levels of these three mediators were evaluated: shocked rats exhibited increased PAF levels with a peak at 30 min. The plasma levels of PAF peaked earlier than did either serum TNF-(r or plasma myocardial depressant factor. Both peaks occurred 75 min after the release of occlusion. The results of this study therefore suggest that PAF is a key mediator of splanchnic artery occlusion shock and plays a permissive role in inducing the release of other factors (i.e. TNF-(Y and myocardial depressant factor) that are relevant to shock.
The behavioral and convulsant effects of pefloxacin (PEFLO), a quinolone derivative, were studied... more The behavioral and convulsant effects of pefloxacin (PEFLO), a quinolone derivative, were studied after intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration to Dilute Brown Agouti DBA/2J (DBA/2) mice, a strain genetically susceptible to sound-induced seizures. The anticonvulsant effects of some excitatory amino acid (EAA) antagonists acting at N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) or ␣-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) and kainate (KA) receptors and of some compounds enhancing ␥-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic transmission against seizures induced by PEFLO were also evaluated. The present study demonstrated that both groups of compounds administered i.p. or intracerebroventricularly were able to protect against seizures induced by PEFLO. However, ifenprodil and (؎)-␣-(chlorophenyl)-4-[(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]-1-piperidineethanol (SL 82.0715), two compounds acting on the polyamine site of the NMDA receptor complex, were unable to provide any protection. The relationship between the different sites of action and the anticonvulsant activities of these derivatives were discussed. Although the main mechanism of PEFLO-induced seizures cannot be easily determined, potential interactions with the receptors of EAA exist. In fact, antagonists of EAA, and in particular, those acting at NMDA receptors, were able to increase the threshold for the seizures or to prevent the seizures induced by PEFLO, while compounds acting at the polyamine site did not provide any protection. The AMPA-KA receptor antagonists were also able to exert anticonvulsant activity, but with minor potency in comparison to those of NMDA antagonists. In addition, the fact that compounds enhancing GABA-ergic neurotransmission were also able to protect the mice against seizures induced by PEFLO suggests an involvement of GABA system.
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013
Botanical products sold in the health area are generally intended as drugs, medicinal products, f... more Botanical products sold in the health area are generally intended as drugs, medicinal products, food supplements or substances for therapeutic use. Use of botanicals for improving or to care human health has evolved independently in different countries worldwide. Regulatory issues regarding botanical products designed for the food supplements or medicinal market and their influence on research and development are discussed. European Union (EU) and United States (US) policies regulating these products are focused with comments on the legislations delivered during the last ten years and differences existing in rules between these countries are emphasized. Research and development on botanical products nowdays strongly influenced by the product destination in the market. Addressed and differentiated research for either food supplements or medicinal markets is necessary to purchase data really useful for assessment of safe and effective use for both the categories. The main objective is...
The effect of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of synthetic rat atrial natriuretic poly... more The effect of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of synthetic rat atrial natriuretic polypeptide (a-rANP) on drinking behavior was studied in nor motensive rats, a-rANP (0.2, 0.4 or 0.8 /cg in 5 ,ccl) caused a dose-dependent dipsogenic effect which was abated by i.c.v. pretreatment with saralasine (9 /cg in 5 ucl). These results suggest that a-rANP possesses dipsogenic effects in water repleted rats and that brain angiotensin is involved. In addition, our data indicate that, at least as far as the effect of cerebral AN P is concerned, there are some differ ences between a-rANP and human atrial natriuretic polypeptide.
The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine, 2020
Aim: Coffee intake is common during pregnancy. However, the influence of coffee and caffeine on p... more Aim: Coffee intake is common during pregnancy. However, the influence of coffee and caffeine on pregnancy has not yet been fully determined. Some studies show that high coffee intake could cause miscarriage, preterm birth or reduction of fetal growth, but other studies do not support these findings. The aim of the present study was to analyze data collected from a database focusing on coffee intake during pregnancy, which was specifically created for multicenter studies carried out in the maternity units of Italian general hospitals. Principal outcomes of pregnancy during pregnancy were considered. Methods: Data of 5405 pregnancies were collected by a direct questionnaire supplemented with data from patients'clinical records during the survey named PHYTO.VIG.GEST. Results: We observed that 42.3% of the total sample had consumed at least one coffee a day during pregnancy. Analysis of a dose-response relationship showed that, in pregnant women starting from the consumption of three coffees a day (6% of pregnant women consuming coffee), there is a statistically significant association between number of coffees and reduction of babies birth weight (< 2500 g). Coclusion: Even though high coffee intake is known to influence negatively birth weight, our results indicate that a significant percentage of pregnant women maintain this habit.
Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) interleukin-10 (25, 50, and 100 ng/rat) effects on water intake,... more Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) interleukin-10 (25, 50, and 100 ng/rat) effects on water intake, exploratory behaviour, and rectal temperature were evaluated in rats treated intraperitoneally (i.p.) with lipopolysaccharide (0.32, 0.64, and 0.96 mg/kg). Endotoxin administration induced fever and inhibition of thirst in water-deprived rats, and a decrease in lococomotory activity in normohydrated and water-deprived animals. Our data show that interleukin-10 during lipopolysaccharide administration controlled fever, increases exploratory behaviour, but did not reverse lipopolysaccharide inhibition of thirst. These effects suggest that fever, depression in locomotory activity but not inhibition of thirst, induced by endotoxin are influenced by interleukin-10 levels.
Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) interleukin-10 (25, 50, and 100ng/rat) effects on water intake, ... more Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) interleukin-10 (25, 50, and 100ng/rat) effects on water intake, exploratory behaviour, and rectal temperature were evaluated in rats treated intraperitoneally (i.p.) with lipopolysaccharide (0.32, 0.64, and 0.96 mg/kg). Endotoxin administration induced fever and inhibition of thirst in water-deprived rats, and a decrease in lococomotory activity in normohydrated and water-deprived animals. Our data show that interleukin-10 during lipopolysaccharide administration controlled fever, increases exploratory behaviour, but did not reverse lipopolysaccharide inhibition of thirst. These effects suggest that fever, depression in locomotory activity but not inhibition of thirst, induced by endotoxin are influenced by interleukin-10 levels.
International journal of immunopathology and pharmacology
Nickel ingested with food can elicit either systemic cutaneous or gastrointestinal symptoms causi... more Nickel ingested with food can elicit either systemic cutaneous or gastrointestinal symptoms causing a systemic nickel allergy syndrome (SNAS) that can be treated with tolerance by oral ingestion of the metal. It has been suggested that interleukins 2 (IL-2) and 10 (IL-10) are involved in the mechanisms underlying oral tolerance. We evaluated the clinical efficacy of oral desensitization therapy in SNAS consisting in the administration of nickel sulphate. Because nickel allergy prevalently affects women, only female subjects (N = 22) were recruited. Oral nickel desensitizing therapy was associated with low-nickel diet for three months. Before and after therapy, clinical conditions were evaluated, and circulating cytokines IL-2 and IL-10 were measured. After the two-year treatment, visual analogue scale (VAS) scores for symptoms were significantly reduced (P less than 0.001). Patients were released by either cutaneous or gastrointestinal symptoms and by tolerating nickel-containing fo...
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