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Biomedical subjects

A Basso

Publications and source records attributed to A Basso.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Acquisition of output irregular orthographic representations in normal adults: an experimental study.

Twenty normal controls without previous knowledge of French were asked to learn 12 French words that could not be written by Italian correspondence rules. After acquisition of the phonological representations, participants were presented the pictures and asked to write the corresponding words (baseline). They were then presented 3 times with the pictures and the corresponding written words. After a filled delay of 10 min, they were re-presented the pictures and asked to write the corresponding words (testing). A week later, participants were again requested to write the words (follow-up). Number of words correctly written at testing and at follow-up significantly differs from baseline, as well as number of words correctly written at testing and at follow-up. These results are discussed and it is suggested that acquisition of irregular output orthographic representations can be supported by knowledge of orthographic representations for reading and that rehabilitation of patients with damage to output orthographic representations can utilize input orthographic representations.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Alpha subunit of glycoprotein hormones in the sera of acromegalic patients and its mRNA in the tumors.

Within a population of 16 pituitary adenomas we found high levels of glycoprotein alpha subunits in the sera of patients with somatotrophic tumors. This finding was correlated with the presence of mRNA alpha subunit in these tumors indicating the adenomas themselves as the origin of the circulating alpha-subunit. Synthesis of these two hormones, which are chemically very different, by the same tumor cells indicates a high degree of differentiation of these cells. We are unable at this time to conclusively correlate differentiation of these tumors aggressively.

Acromegaly↗
PubMed1999

Surgical treatment of cervical spine fibrous dysplasia: technical case report and review

OBJECTIVES AND IMPORTANCE: Cervical spine compromise by fibrous dysplasia is rare; only 20 cases have been reported. Treatment was surgical in six cases, but the management differed among the other cases. In this retrospective case report, we analyze and discuss the surgical treatment of this condition in the context of previous reports. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 35 year-old woman presented 1 week after the onset of spontaneous neck and left arm pain, which increased 48 hours later. A physical examination revealed only slight neck stiffness. Her previous history was unremarkable. Plain radiographic, radioisotope bone scanning, and computed tomographic studies were performed. The body of the fifth cervical vertebra was collapsed. INTERVENTION: A C5 corpectomy was performed, and the spine was reconstructed with a block of biocompatible osteoconductive polymer and a plate with four bicortical screws. Pathologic examination revealed fibrous dysplasia. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the pain disappeared. Radiographs obtained postoperatively demonstrated good spinal alignment. The patient was discharged after 7 days. Three years later, she continued to have no pain, and spine stability was preserved. CONCLUSION: Good results can be achieved in the surgical treatment of dysplastic tissue with the use of instruments for spine reconstruction and synthetic grafting to prevent invasion.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1998

Phonetically cued word-fluency, gender differences and aging: a reappraisal.

Five-hundred and three normal subjects were given a phonetically cued word-fluency task in order to investigate the controversial issue of the influence of gender and aging on this task. Subjects were requested to say in one minute all the words that occurred to them, beginning with a given letter (F, P and L). Besides the expected significance of education, we observed a female advantage, but not a significant decline in the performance with aging. However, the slope of the line expressing word fluency as a function of age was different between females and males, indicating a greater sensitivity to aging for males. We provide inner and outer tolerance limits for this test in the normal population and give a formula useful for adjusting the raw scores on the basis of gender and education. The results are discussed with reference to previous findings and some hypotheses about the origins of the female advantage in PWF.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Current surgical treatment for sphenoorbital meningiomas.

BACKGROUND: Originally, the authors used a combined transcranial-transmalar approach for removal of sphenoorbital tumors. METHODS: More recently, when computed tomography (CT) scanning became available, surgical management of sphenoorbital meningiomas included resection of the hyperostosis in the pterional region, orbital roof and lateral wall, and middle fossa floor. Thereafter, intradural and intraorbital components are removed, as well as infiltrated dura mater. Finally, a periosteal flap is placed over the dural defect and bone reconstructed with methylmethacrylate. RESULTS: Of 25 patients, there was only one death and all but one showed very good to moderate response to treatment. Four recurrences were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical management cannot be uniform in all cases, but must be adapted to each form of presentation. On the basis of the satisfactory results achieved, we feel justified in advising the technique described above with its current modifications.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Reading of lexically stressed words by Italian aphasic patients: a retrospective study.

This retrospective study investigated whether there is evidence of a 3rd reading mechanism in a transparent orthography such as Italian, where (nearly) all words can be read through the sublexical route but stress cannot always be assigned by orthography-to-phonology rules. The presence and frequency of stress errors in lexically stressed words in 16 aphasic patients with impaired reading comprehension of those same words was checked. Nine patients were reexamined months later. Notwithstanding impaired reading comprehension, none of the patients made stress errors at first examination. At follow-up, all patients showed improvement of reading comprehension and only 2 patients still had better preserved oral reading. The authors concluded that even in transparent orthographies such as Italian, the noninteractive dual-route model is inadequate for explaining all patterns of reading performances. In nonprogressive aphasias, reading comprehension can recover in a larger number of patients, reducing the amplitude of the dissociation between reading aloud and reading comprehension and reducing the number of patients showing this dissociation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Expression of c-myc and c-fos and binding sites for estradiol and progesterone in human pituitary tumors.

We studied the concentration of mRNA from the oncogenes c-myc and c-fos in human pituitary adenomas by Northern blot hybridization (35 somatotrophinomas, 9 prolactinomas, 21 nonsecreting and 3 adrenocorticotrophinomas). The concentration of estrogens and progesterone receptors was also investigated. The levels of c-myc and c-fos mRNA was higher in nonsecreting tumors which were generally the largest and had a higher percentage of recurrence after surgery than the other groups. High concentration of estrogen receptors was observed in tumors derived from cells which are normally the target of this hormone, mainly prolactinomas. They were also present in somatotrophic and nonsecreting adenomas, related to the presence of prolactin or gonadotrophin cells in these tumors. The presence of estrogen receptors indicates that the tumor cells maintain their differentiation and a good prognosis as is the case for prolactinomas. We did not find any relationship between estrogen receptors and the concentration of c-myc and c-fos oncogenes. Larger adenomas (mainly nonsecreting) had higher levels of c-myc and c-fos mRNA than the other tumors and they had an important percentage of recurrence after surgery. It is clear that tumor size is related to the outcome after surgery and that nonsecreting adenomas are usually large because of the late diagnosis. However two large somatotrophinomas with extrasellar expansion also had overexpression of both oncogenes and both relapsed after surgery.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1998

Reduced DNA synthesis in primary cultures of hepatocytes from old mice is restored by thymus grafts.

We previously observed in vivo that a neonatal thymus grafted into old mice can correct age-related changes such as occurrence of hepatocyte tetraploid nuclei and impaired isoproterenol-induced DNA synthesis in submandibular glands. The aim of the present paper was to study the influence of age and thymus on basal and beta-adrenergic-stimulated DNA synthesis using primary cultures of mouse hepatocytes. In the absence of any adrenergic agents, cells from young mice show peak DNA synthesis between 36 and 48 h; old mice show a similar time course, but the peak is significantly reduced statistically. The main result is represented by the behavior of hepatocytes from old thymus-grafted mice, which recover the levels of [3H]-thymidine incorporation toward young-like values. Grafted animals also show a correction of total DNA content that is increased in old mice. The addition of isoproterenol does not modify the DNA synthetic pattern, whereas the antagonist propranolol causes a slight but statistically significant decrease.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗
PubMed1998

Treatment of a vertebral dissecting aneurysm with stents and coils: technical case report.

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: A clinical case of a dissecting aneurysm of the intracranial vertebral artery successfully treated with a combination of stents and coils is presented. The importance of long-term follow-up and the development of suitable materials and devices are emphasized. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: This 48-year-old man with a history of progressive bilateral loss of vision caused by glaucoma developed sudden headache, nausea, and vomiting. At admission, he presented with psychomotor agitation and neck pain. A neurological examination showed bilateral IInd and VIth cranial nerve palsy and neck stiffness. Computed tomography demonstrated a diffuse subarachnoid hemorrhage. Digital subtraction angiography showed a fusiform dilation of Segment IV of the left vertebral artery, with a double lumen sign. TECHNIQUE: A bifemoral intra-arterial approach was used. A FasTracker 18 (Target Therapeutics, Fremont, CA) microcatheter was advanced through the true arterial lumen and was then replaced by a self-expandable metallic wall stent. Because of reduced radiopacity, a balloon-expandable metallic stent was then placed as well. Next, with a FasTracker 10 advanced through the stent mesh, the aneurysm was embolized using Guglielmi detachable coils. CONCLUSION: We applied a new technique to treat a dissecting aneurysm of the intracranial portion of the vertebral artery with a combination of stents and coils. Further work is required on the tracking, flexibility, and thrombogenic properties of diverse materials and devices. This evolving technology may play a role in the near future as the alternative of choice in some cases of aneurysm treatment via the endovascular route.

Aortic Dissection↗
PubMed1998

Elevated proenkephalin-derived peptide levels in ACTH-producing adenomas: nucleus and cytoplasm localization.

The biosynthesis of met-enkephalin in human pituitary and human pituitary adenomas is still not well known. In this work, we studied the processing of proenkephalin-derived peptides in postmortem human pituitary (PMHP), ACTH-producing adenomas (ACTH-PA), nonfunctioning adenomas (NFA), and GH-producing adenomas (GH-PA). ACTH-PA contained at least 10 times more proenkephalin-derived peptides than PMHP, NFA,and GH-PA. Proenkephalin processing was different in the four tested tissues. In ACTH-PA, proenkephalin was processed to high-, intermediate-, and low-mol-wt products. The highest met-enkephalin-containing peptides levels corresponded to intermediate and low-mol-wt materials, although met-enkephalinArg-Phe and synenkephalin immunoreactivity appeared only in high-mol-wt peptides. In PMHP and NFA, met-enkephalin-Arg-Phe immunoreactivity was detected in intermediate- and low-mol-wt materials, and it was absent in GH-PA. Immunoblotting of ACTH-PA showed that met-enkephalin-Arg-Phe immunoreactivity corresponded to peptides of 44, 32-30, 27, and 17 kDa. The 32-30 and 17-kDa molecules were localized in the nuclear fraction where they were extracted after enzymatic digestion with DNase I. Plasmatic met-enkephalin levels did not increase in patients with Cushing's disease, suggesting that the pentapeptide stored in ACTH-PA was not released to the general circulation. In conclusion, we demonstrated that only ACTH-PA contained high levels of proenkephalin peptides, which were stored in cytoplasm organelles and in the nucleus, probably bound to chromatin. These results suggest an adenoma-specific physiological role of proenkephalin products.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1998

Regulation of corticosteroid receptors in patients with anorexia nervosa and Cushing's syndrome.

We have studied 16 patients with anorexia nervosa (11 with a stabilised weight loss and 5 in the weight-losing phase), 11 healthy controls, and 10 patients with Cushing's syndrome, by measuring plasma cortisol (by enzyme-immunoassay), ACTH (by RIA), corticosteroid (Type I-mineralocorticoid and Type II-glucocorticoid) receptors in mononuclear leukocytes (by radio-receptor assay), and lymphocyte subpopulations (by cytofluorimetry). In anorexic patients with a stabilised weight loss and in Cushing's syndrome the mean value of both Type I and Type II corticosteroid receptors in mononuclear leukocytes was significantly lower than in controls. The correlation between Type II receptors and plasma cortisol was inverse in stabilised anorexia nervosa and in Cushing's syndrome, and direct in healthy controls. Anorexic patients in the weight-losing phase showed a significant increase in plasma cortisol levels and a normal number of Type II receptors. From these results we hypothesise that in anorexia nervosa there is a progression from an increase in plasma cortisol in the weight-losing phase, to a concomitant decrease in Type II receptors when the disease is stabilised.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Pituitary tumors in adolescent patients.

We report on a series of 48 patients, ages 14 to 20 year, with hypophyseal adenomas. Of these, 46 (96%) had secreting tumors, 3 had Cushing's disease, 9 had somatotrophinomas, and 34 (29 females and 5 males) had prolactinomas. Thirty cases were diagnosed as intrasellar adenomas (62%) while the remaining eighteen (38%) presented extrasellar expansion. Of 9 acromegalic patients, 7 had typical clinical and biochemical features 2 were exclusively prognatic with normal basal GH levels, but abnormal dynamic tests. Prolactinomas were noninvasive in women and faster growing and more extensive in men. Forty seven patients underwent surgery. Five of these required craniotomy and the rest approached through the sphenoidal bone (TSE). Remission was achieved in Cushing's disease, acromegaly, and female intrasellar prolactinomas. Larger tumors such as nonsecreting adenomas and male prolactinomas showed poor results after undergoing subtotal resections, with persistence of endocrinological disturbances. From our findings it appears that these tumors are aggressive in youth than in adults. Because there was a close relationship between tumor size, invasiveness, and the patients' final outcome, we conclude that early diagnosis and treatment is essential. Frequent complaints in adolescents such as irregular menses, retarded puberty, and growth disorders should be thoroughly investigated and not merely considered as transient or 'functional'.

Acromegaly↗
PubMed1998

[The heterogeneity of myocardial sympathetic innervation in normal subjects: an assessment by iodine-123 metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy].

123I-radiolabeled metaiodobenzylguanidine (123I-MIBG) cardiac imaging has been used to evaluate the distribution of sympathetic nervous system (SNS) in the heart. Different heart diseases have shown impaired cardiac SNS distribution as reflected by MIBG activity. The aim of this study was to assess the cardiac distribution of SNS in normal subjects, using MIBG imaging. Ten normal subjects (1 male and 9 females, mean age 46 +/- 9 years) with no cardiac abnormalities underwent myocardial 123I-MIBG scintigraphy, Tc-99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) cardiac perfusion imaging and equilibrium radionuclide angiography (RNA). Regional myocardial MIBG and MIBI activities were quantitatively evaluated using a region of interest analysis. For this purpose, the left ventricle was divided into 6 myocardial regions as anterior, apical, inferior, septum, lateral and posterolateral. In particular, myocardial MIBG and MIBI activities were measured as myocardium to mediastinum ratio. Regional left ventricular function was assessed by RNA. Myocardial MIBG uptake was homogeneous in anterior (2.2 +/- 0.5), inferior (2.5 +/- 0.7), septal (2.4 +/- 0.4), lateral (2.3 +/- 0.4), and posterolateral (2.3 +/- 0.4) regions. Conversely, MIBG uptake was significantly lower in the apical region (1.9 +/- 0.3) compared to all other left ventricular segments (p < 0.05). Regional myocardial perfusion, as measured by MIBI uptake, was homogeneous in all regions. No regional left ventricular wall motion abnormalities were observed by RNA. In conclusion, our data suggest that a decreased MIBG uptake may be observed in the left ventricular apical region of normal subjects reflecting reduced sympathetic innervation of the apex. This finding is not related to myocardial perfusion or wall motion abnormalities. The knowledge of cardiac sympathetic innervation in normal subjects may be helpful to assess SNS abnormalities in heart disease.

3-Iodobenzylguanidine↗
PubMed1997

Semantic amnesia without dementia: documentation of a case.

We described the case of a patient affected by a progressive semantic memory disorder associated with prevalent temporal lobe atrophy. This deficit seems to be "pure" in the sense that it has not been found to overlap with other cognitive deficits (intellectual, linguistic, perceptual, visuo-spatial etc.) for a long time. Furthermore, despite his impaired semantic knowledge, the autobiographical memory of the patient was largely intact. This case therefore represents a form of "semantic amnesia" without dementia, and supports the hypothesis that there is a partial distinction between "semantic" and "episodic" memory.

Amnesia↗
PubMed1997

Hyperosmolar nonketotic coma at the onset of type I diabetes in a child.

A 12 yr-old child without any past medical history of diseases was admitted to hospital for sopor and polyuria. At admission he was markedly dehydrated. Blood glucose was 72 mmol/l, sodium 154 mmol/l, osmolarity 381 mOsm/Kg, urinary ketons were negative. He was rehydrated with hypotonic saline and treated with insulin. The osmolality and sodium initially increased to 176 mmol/l and 408 mOsm/Kg respectively and progressively decreased to normal levels. Serum transaminases increased to GOT 336 and GPT 209 U/l in the first days of treatment and normalized after 15 days. The anti-islet antibodies were positive. The non ketotic hyperosmolar coma and Type I diabetes is rare in children but this possibility must be kept in mind especially when some familial or psychological problems are present as in our case.

Child↗
PubMed1997

Memory and aphasia.

Sixty-one acute and 17 chronic vascular left-hemisphere damaged patients were tested with five memory tasks that investigated verbal short-term (digit span) and long-term (paired-associate and story learning) memory, and spatial short- and long-term memory (Corsi's span and learning). Both brain-damaged groups were significantly impaired in all memory tasks (except for chronic patients in the story learning task) compared to normal controls. The presence of aphasia and locus of lesion (anterior, posterior and deep) had no effect on the memory impairment, with only one exception of paired-associate learning that was better performed by non-aphasic than aphasic patients. Eleven subjects were better at paired-associate learning than story recall, the reverse dissociation was never found. Finally, chronic patients performed significantly better than acute patients only in the Corsi's learning task.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1997

Thyroid-thymus interaction on beta-adrenoceptor regulation during development and ageing.

Up-regulation of brain cortex beta-adrenoceptors (beta ARs) can be induced by very acute stimulation with a single injection of T4 or T3 in young Balb/c-nu mice. We have also shown that this very rapid receptor increase can also be demonstrated in ageing animals when stimulated with T3 but not T4 injection. The aim of the present paper was to verify the capability of the thymus to reverse these impairments which we often observed in other experiments on old mice and young athymic nudes. The up-regulation induced by T4 and T3 was studied in normal and athymic nude young, normal old, and normal old and athymic nude young mice grafted with neonatal thymus 1 month earlier. In addition, since brain cortex bears both beta AR subpopulations, the eventual differential behavior of beta 1AR and beta 2AR subtypes was also investigated. Animals were injected intraperitoneally with saline, or saline containing 0.5 microgram T3 or 6.4 micrograms T4 per g body weight and killed 15 or 60 min after injection. Results show that thymus can recover the modifications of basal levels as well as T3-induced up-regulation of beta ARs in nude and old mice. On the contrary, impaired response to T4 stimulation is corrected in nude but not in old mice. The peripheral conversion of T4 into T3 can explain their differential influence since a correct conversion only occurs in presence of an efficient beta-adrenergic function. Thus, a vicious circle may occur with a decreasing number of beta-adrenoceptors causing in old age altered T4 to T3 conversion, in turn responsible for altered beta-adrenergic responsiveness to T4.

Aging↗