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Biomedical subjects

A Borroni

Publications and source records attributed to A Borroni.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

Combined slurry and solid-phase bioremediation of diesel contaminated soils.

This work investigates, at a laboratory and pilot-scale, the influence of various operating parameters on the combined slurry and solid-phase bioremediation technique for a diesel contaminated soil. For slurry-phase bioreactors (SPB), it has been found that, as far as famine conditions are attained at the end of the react cycle, a low hydraulic retention time and a low slurry recycle ratio allows for a better utilization of the reactor volume. A 7-day slurry-phase bioreactor treatment has been shown to provide enough contaminant removal allowing the soil drawn from the slurry-phase bioreactors to be fed effectively to the solid-phase bioreactors (SoPB) for completing the soil cleanup. However, an important improvement of the solid-phase bioreactor performance has been found using soil additives, namely sand and surfactants. While the first soil additive improves pile porosity and consequently oxygen diffusion, the latter increases contaminant bioavailability.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor immunoreactivity in the limbic system of rats after acute seizures and during spontaneous convulsions: temporal evolution of changes as compared to neuropeptide Y.

Seizures increase the synthesis of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in forebrain areas, suggesting this neurotrophin has biological actions in epileptic tissue. The understanding of these actions requires information on the sites and extent of brain-derived neurotrophic factor production in areas involved in seizures onset and their spread. In this study, we investigated by immunocytochemistry the changes in brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the hippocampus, entorhinal and perirhinal cortices of rats at increasing times after acute seizures eventually leading to spontaneous convulsions. We also tested the hypothesis that seizure-induced changes in brain-derived neurotrophic factor induce later modifications in neuropeptide Y expression by comparing, in each instance, their immunoreactive patterns. As early as 100 min after seizure induction, brain-derived neurotrophic factor immunoreactivity increased in CA1 pyramidal and granule neurons and in cells of layers II-III of the entorhinal cortex. At later times, immunoreactivity progressively decreased in somata while increasing in fibres in the hippocampus, the subicular complex and in specific layers of the entorhinal and perirhinal cortices. Changes in neuropeptide Y immunoreactivity were superimposed upon and closely followed those of brain-derived neurotrophic factor. One week after seizure induction, brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neuropeptide Y immunoreactivities were similar to controls in 50% of rats. In rats experiencing spontaneous convulsions, brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neuropeptide Y immunoreactivity was strongly enhanced in fibres in the hippocampus/parahippocampal gyrus and in the temporal cortex. In the dentate gyrus, changes in immunoreactivity depended on sprouting of mossy fibres as assessed by growth-associated protein-43-immunoreactivity. These modifications were inhibited by repeated anticonvulsant treatment with phenobarbital. The dynamic and temporally-linked alterations in brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neuropeptide Y in brain regions critically involved in epileptogenesis suggest a functional link between these two substances in the regulation of network excitability.

Acute Disease↗

An integrated multielectrode electrophysiology system.

An integrated system for recording and analyzing electrophysiological data from multiple channels is described. The system uses an MS-DOS microcomputer, a 16-channel amplifier, and multiple-tipped electrode arrays designed for use in intact and slice preparations. The system is designed for applications where the collection and analysis of multiple-channel electrophysiological data is desirable, including the construction of current source density (CSD) profiles from field potential data. The software incorporates on-line averaging, CSD and freeze-frame capabilities to guide the experiment in progress. Additional off-line analyses include multiple unit activity, power spectra, and automatic scans of data files for peak amplitude, area, latency, and slope within user-defined latency windows. All data and analyses can be exported to commercial statistical/graphical programs for the creation of publication-ready figures.

Amplifiers, Electronic↗

[Isoenzymes of creatine kinase and prostate-specific antigen in the monitoring of prostatic carcinoma].

We have valued serum levels of the prostatic specific antigen and of the creatine-kinase isoenzymes (MM-BB) in 30 patients with prostatic carcinoma at C and D stage. Our results demonstrate that these markers are useful for monitoring and for checking of metastasis. But the isoenzymes seem to us predictive in the monitoring of metastasis. The isoenzymes' determination was executed by electrophoretic method (Helena) which is sensitive, specific and swift.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

[Isoenzymes of lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, creatine kinase. Possible use as tumor markers].

The electrophoresis of serum isoenzymes in cancer pathology at different stages has enabled us to recognise for LDH4 and LDH5, characteristics of sensitivity in all stages, with positivity greater than 60% in the advanced and multiply metastasized stages or with interference from other pathologies; to reveal portions pathologically heavy like FAST (46%); to reveal atypical bands (BB and MIT), as well as the values for normal or really low enzymatic activity. Through the elevated sensitivity and the high percentage of positivity, the isoenzymes LDH4 and LDH5 can be considered tumour markers and superior in validity to the conventional markers.

Adult↗

Effects of camera cuts and music on selective attention and verbal and motor imitation by mentally retarded adults.

Effects of experimentally manipulating camera cuts (high vs. low frequency) and music (present vs. absent) on total and selective visual attention to and imitation of prosocial TV programs were examined. Subjects were 96 adults (mean IQ = 46). Within programs, selective viewing of content features (dialogue, distress, helping, and reinforcement) and media features (music, cuts, zooms, and scene changes) were examined. Subjects selectively attended to cuts and zooms and all four content features. High-cuts frequencies in a program reduced selective attention and subsequent verbal imitation. There were no significant effects for music.

Adult↗