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Biomedical subjects

A Brini

Publications and source records attributed to A Brini.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Italian urological manpower: employment prospects and future scenarios. A panorama of employment opportunities for young urologists.

INTRODUCTION: Italy delayed limiting access to the Faculty of Medicine and the reform of schools of specialization was not accompanied by programming the number of scholarships, so employment expectations are often disappointing. The aim of this study is to analyze the employment prospects of specialists in urology through the development of possible scenarios for the 5-year period 2000-2004. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We recorded data received from Italian Schools of Specialization in Urology on specialists in the 5-year period 1994-1998. We also tried to obtain a picture of the national distribution of urologists and urological units. Statistical processing was done with SPSS for Windows 5.0. RESULTS: In the last 5 years, 501 urologists were licensed at an average age of 37 years; 535 urological units exist; 2,332 doctors practice urology (2,235 males and 97 females) for a ratio of 1 urologist to 24,500 inhabitants. By comparing the 'entrance' forecast with the potential 'exit', we can hypothesize an annual excess of 80 units. There is no significant correlation between the number of urologists in each structure and the number of inhabitants for each urologist. CONCLUSIONS: The present government programme does not take into account continual changes in employment and many other variables when defining the actual need for specialists. For valid predictions, the data we obtain must be updated for at least 5 years.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Capelli's theory, Koszul maps, and superalgebras.

The straightening laws for the enveloping algebra Ukappa(pl(L)) of the general linear Lie superalgebra of a finite dimensional Z2-graded vector space are investigated. An isomorphism Psi from the supersymmetric algebra Super[L L] of pl(L) to Ukappa(pl(L)) is introduced; the isomorphism Psi maps each bitableau of Super[L L] to the Young-Capelli bitableau of Ukappa(pl(L)) parametrized by the same pair of Young diagrams, both in the permanental case and in the determinantal case. The map Psi is shown to be the inverse of the isomorphism introduced by Koszul [Koszul, J. P. (1981) C.R. Acad. Sci. Paris 292, 139-141]. The set of all costandard determinantal Young-Capelli bitableaux is a basis of Ukappa(pl(L)); this basis acts in a triangular way on the basis of Super[L L]given by the set of all standard permanental bitableaux.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1992

[Prognostic factors of choroidal melanoma: an anatomo-clinical retrospective and statistical study of 76 enucleated cases].

The authors report the results of a retrospective study of 76 patients enucleated for a choroidal melanoma, in whom prognostic factors of survival were studied. The presence of metastasis at the time of diagnosis, the size of the tumor and the epithelioid cellular type are the most pejorative factors (though statistically not significant). A peak mortality can be observed between the second and the fourth year after enucleation. A predominance of the liver metastases is clearly established (75% of the metastases observed in our sample). We observed a majority of small tumors (40%) of spindle cell type (50%).

Adult↗
PubMed1991

The high-affinity receptor for immunoglobulin E: a target for therapy of allergic diseases.

The high-affinity receptor for IgE (Fc epsilon RI) on mast cells and basophils is a tetrameric complex, alpha beta gamma 2. Here we summarize the latest developments on the structure and function of this receptor. By genetic transfer, we have engineered a cell line secreting substantial amounts of a peptide containing exclusively the extracellular domain of the alpha-subunit. This domain by itself is sufficient to mediate high-affinity binding of IgE. Glycosylation and the presence of the other subunits are not necessary for the binding function. The gamma-subunit of Fc epsilon RI is part of other receptors such as Fc gamma RIII and the T cell receptor, and therefore is likely to play an important although still undefined functional role. A detailed knowledge of how the receptor interacts with IgE and induces cellular degranulation may lead to the design of new therapeutic approaches to allergic diseases. The potential strategies are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Capelli bitableaux and Z-forms of general linear Lie superalgebras.

The combinatorics of the enveloping algebra UQ(pl(L)) of the general linear Lie superalgebra of a finite dimensional Z2-graded Q-vector space is studied. Three non-equivalent Z-forms of UQ(pl(L)) are introduced: one of these Z-forms is a version of the Kostant Z-form and the others are Lie algebra analogs of Rota and Stein's straightening formulae for the supersymmetric algebra Super[L P] and for its dual Super[L* P*]. The method is based on an extension of Capelli's technique of variabili ausiliarie to algebras containing positively and negatively signed elements.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1989

Young-Capelli symmetrizers in superalgebras.

Let Super(n)[U [unk] V] be the nth homogeneous subspace of the supersymmetric algebra of U [unk] V, where U and V are Z(2)-graded vector spaces over a field K of characteristic zero. The actions of the general linear Lie superalgebras pl(U) and pl(V) span two finite-dimensional K-subalgebras B and [unk] of End(K)(Super(n)[U [unk] V]) that are the centralizers of each other. Young-Capelli symmetrizers and Young-Capelli *-symmetrizers give rise to K-linear bases of B and [unk] containing orthogonal systems of idempotents; thus they yield complete decompositions of B and [unk] into minimal left and right ideals, respectively.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1988

Gordan-Capelli series in superalgebras.

We derive two Gordan-Capelli series for the supersymmetric algebra of the tensor product of two [unk](2)-graded [unk]-vector spaces U and V, being [unk] a field of characteristic zero. These expansions yield complete decompositions of the supersymmetric algebra regarded as a pl(U)- and a pl(V)- module, where pl(U) and pl(V) are the general linear Lie superalgebras of U and V, respectively.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1988

Effect of chronic morphine on plasma and brain beta endorphin and methionine enkephalin in pregnant rats and in their fetuses or newborn.

Normal or pregnant rats were treated orally for 21 days or throughout pregnancy with water or increasing doses of morphine and killed on days 7, 14, and 21 of pregnancy and 1 day post partum. At these time intervals, plasma, pituitary, and hypothalamic concentrations of beta-endorphin and methionine enkephalin were measured in normal and pregnant rats. Moreover, pituitary and hypothalamic concentrations of the two peptides were also measured in fetuses and newborn. Plasma beta-endorphin and methionine enkephalin increased significantly during pregnancy without any specific effect of morphine. Pituitary concentrations of beta-endorphin were not modified either by pregnancy or morphine treatment, while methionine enkephalin concentrations increased on days 7 and 11 of pregnancy, in both water- and morphine-treated rats. The pattern of the two peptides in the hypothalamus is completely superimposable to the one present in the pituitary with the exception of an increase of beta-endorphin on day 21 of pregnancy, which is more evident in control animals. Consistently with our observations in human newborn and the neurological dysfunctions we observed in them, the concentrations of both the peptides are significantly increased in the hypothalamus of fetuses and newborn of morphine-treated mothers, while in the pituitary only beta-endorphin concentrations are increased.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Brain and spinal cord neuropeptides in adjuvant induced arthritis in rats.

The concentrations of brain and spinal cord beta-endorphin, met-enkephalin, dynorphin and substance P were measured in rats bearing the Freund adjuvant induced arthritis. Beta-endorphin brain concentrations decreased gradually in time with a nadir on day twenty-one, when arthritis was at its maximum, and were back to normal by day thirty-five, when arthritis was no more evident. Met-enkephalin concentrations increased in brain areas and in the lumbar spinal cord and returned to normal with the same time pattern, while dynorphin and substance P concentrations did not change. These data indicate that peripheral lesions can induce important changes in brain concentrations of some opioid peptides involved in the modulation of pain.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Analgesic effect of morphine: a role for beta-endorphin.

Capsaicin, a neurotoxic agent that induces a decrease in hypothalamic beta-endorphin, a specific antiserum and human beta-endorphin fragment 6 31, a peptidergic beta-endorphin antagonist have been used in the attempt of selectively affecting the function of beta-endorphinergic system and of evaluating the possible role of this peptide in the analgesic effect of morphine. All 3 experimental approaches resulted in a decrease of the analgesia induced by morphine, thus suggesting that beta-endorphin is involved in the effect of morphine.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Autotomy and central nervous system neuropeptides after section of the sciatic nerve in rats of different strains.

Autotomy and the concentrations of beta-endorphin and Met-enkephalin in brain areas and the spinal cord were measured in Sprague Dawley, Wistar and Wistar Lewis rats thirty-five days after the section of one sciatic nerve. As expected, autotomy developed in Sprague Dawley and Wistar, but not in Wistar Lewis rats. In the Wistar Lewis, brain and spinal cord concentrations of Met-enkephalin increased, beta-endorphin concentrations were unchanged. In Wistar and Sprague Dawley rats the increase of Met-enkephalin was accompanied by a decrease of beta-endorphin. Administration of chlomipramine, a drug usually employed in the treatment of deafferentiation pain, normalized the concentrations of beta-endorphin in the Sprague Dawley and Wistar rats, and avoided the development of autotomy, while Met-enkephalin concentrations did never change. The data presented suggest a possible correlation between beta-endorphin and autotomy.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

A role for serotonin and beta-endorphin in the analgesia induced by some tricyclic antidepressant drugs.

The analgesic effect of acute or chronic nortriptyline, amitriptyline and their effects on morphine induced analgesia were evaluated in the rat. Clomipramine and amitriptyline, but not Nortriptyline, induce analgesia, while all potentiate the effect of morphine when administered acutely. The analgesic effect of clomipramine is blunted by both the serotonin antagonist metergoline and the opiate receptor blocker naloxone, thus indicating an involvement of both the serotoninergic and endogenous opioid system. The involvement of the serotoninergic system is confirmed by the similar results obtained with the serotonin precursor 5-hydroxytryptophan administered alone or together with morphine. A relation between the serotoninergic and the endogenous opioid systems is also shown by the increase in hypothalamic beta-endorphin concentrations elicited by all the drugs used after acute or chronic treatment, with the only exception of nortriptyline, that has been shown to exert its effects mainly through the noradrenergic system. In conclusion, the analgesic effect of clomipramine and amitriptyline and their potentiation of morphine induced analgesia seems to be related to an activation of the endogenous opioid system mediated by serotonin.

5-Hydroxytryptophan↗
PubMed1987

[Slowly reversible central scotoma: iatrogenic effect of hyperbaric oxygenation in the treatment of multiple sclerosis].

Considerable enthusiasm has been raised in the past about the use of Hyperbaric Oxygen (HBO) in various diseases, usually otherwise untreatable. Recently, special attention has been drawn on its hypothetical beneficial effects on multiple sclerosis (MS). We have witnessed a rare, though known, side-effect of HBO on a patient suffering from MS. She developed an acute, bilateral, centro-caecal scotoma, from which she slowly recovered several days after. The forementioned case led us to a review of the literature concerning: Various attempts to employ HBO in ophthalmology Side-effects of oxygen on eye and vision Possible mechanisms of ocular toxicity of oxygen. It appears from this review that we should be extremely cautious about using HBO on MS patients, particularly able to develop such side-effects.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

[Corneoscleral involvement in Crohn's disease. Discussion of a case].

The authors are reporting an unusual case of scleral involvement in a case of Crohn's disease. A distinctive subepithelial keratopathy developed which though uncommon, should be regarded as a distinct clinical sign of Crohn's disease. The exact situation of ocular lesions among extra-intestinal complications of Crohn's disease, their incidence and aspects are discussed. The possible immunological basis of these manifestations, still unconvincing, is exposed and related to local deposition of antigen-antibody complexes.

Child↗