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Biomedical subjects

A Giuffrida

Publications and source records attributed to A Giuffrida.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Prevalence of Mytilicola intestinalis (Copepoda: Mytilicolidae) and Urastoma cyprinae (Turbellaria: Hypotrichinidae) in marketable mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis in Italy.

Marketable mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis traded with commercial certification from production sites in Italy and abroad (France, Spain) were examined for the presence of Mytilicola intestinalis (Copepoda: Mytilicolidae) and Urastoma cyprinae (Turbellaria: Hypotrichinidae) from October 1994 to February 1996. The prevalence of M. intestinalis was 4.1% and 4.7% respectively in mussels from Lerici (La Spezia) and S. Pietro in Volta (Venice), whereas it rose to 57.9% in the samples from Spain. M. intestinalis was absent in mussels from Chioggia (Venice), Ganzirri (Messina), Taranto, Trieste and France. The prevalence of U. cyprinae varied considerably, ranging from 0.3% in mussels from Trani (Bari) to 33.2% and 86.3% respectively in those from Chioggia and Trieste. It was 85.7% in samples from France and 63.7% in those from Spain.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Isotope dilution GC/MS determination of anandamide and other fatty acylethanolamides in rat blood plasma.

Anandamide and allied fatty acylethanolamides (AEs) may act as signalling molecules in brain and peripheral tissues. In the present study, we describe an electron-impact gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method based on isotope dilution, which may be used for the identification and quantification of anandamide and other AEs in biological matrices. The calibration curves for standard AEs were linear over the range 0-1000 pmol (r2 = 0.99) with a coefficient of variation of 4% at 2.5 pmol. Detection and quantification limits were in the high fmol to low pmol range for all AEs. Using this method we measured nanomolar concentrations of three endogenous AEs in deproteinated rat blood plasma (anandamide: 5.2 pmol/ml; palmitylethanolamide: 16.7 pmol/ml; oleylethanolamide: 8.1 pmol/ml). These results are consistent with a regulatory role of anandamide and other AEs in peripheral tissues.

Amides↗
PubMed1998

Paying patients to comply: an economic analysis.

A significant proportion of patients do not complete prescribed treatment or do not follow medical advice. There is evidence that financial incentives can increase compliance. We present a model of patient compliance and use it to examine the circumstances in which patients should be paid to comply with treatment and discuss the factors determining the optimal level of payment to patients.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗
PubMed1998

Specific localization in the equatorial region of gp20, a 20 kDa sialylglycoprotein of the capacitated human spermatozoon acquired during epididymal transit which is necessary to penetrate zona-free hamster eggs.

In this study we set out to characterize gp20, a 20 kDa glycoprotein of the human sperm surface, first identified by us by radiolabelling the sialic acid residues of the sperm surface [R. Focarelli et al. (1995), Mol. Hum. Reprod., 2, 2755-2759]. The protein was partially purified from pooled sperm samples of several healthy donors and used to raise a specific antiserum to study its localization in the reproductive system. When tested with freshly ejaculated spermatozoa, the anti-gp20 antibody intensely stained the head and midpiece. However, on capacitated spermatozoa the antigen was restricted to a sharp zone in the equatorial region. The antibody did not bind to differentiating germ cells but the antigen was present in epididymal epithelial cells and also in seminal plasma. Anti-gp20 exerted a blocking effect in a test for sperm penetration of zona-free hamster eggs, thus suggesting that gp20 is involved in the early stages of fertilization.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Human malignant mesothelioma of the pleura: new perspectives for diagnosis and therapy.

The ability to immortalize human mesothelioma cells in vitro with simian virus (SV) 40 and the fact that SV40 induces mesotheliomas in hamsters prompted us to look for SV40 deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequences in human mesotheliomas. In a previous study, we found that over half (29/48) of human malignant pleural mesotheliomas contained SV40-like sequences whereas only a few (3/47) control samples contained the same detectable sequences. The SV40 genome encodes the 90 KD nuclear large T-antigen (Tag) and the 17 KD small-t antigen (tag), responsible for SV40's transforming and oncogenic properties. These antigens block tumour suppressor gene products, such as p53. We considered the possibility of reverting this effect by adding exogenous wild-type p53 and thus restoring normal cell functions. For this purpose, we developed a recombinant adenovirus carrying complementary DNA (cDNA) for wild type p53 (AdCMV.p53) and infected mesothelioma cell lines with this virus. Inhibition of proliferation, halting of the cell cycle and massive apoptosis was observed in all mesothelioma cell lines tested. In addition, proliferation of human mesothelioma tumours into nude mice was inhibited by in vivo adenovirus-mediated p53 transgene expression. We also report preliminary evidence of expression, by immunoreactivity, of the extracellular matrix protein tenascin in human malignant pleural mesotheliomas. It was interesting to find predominant tenascin positivity at the tumour's invasive edge and in areas of tumour vascularization. This preliminary report suggests that adenovirus-mediated p53 hyperexpression counteracts transforming properties of the large T-antigen and suggests that gene therapy may be useful in treating human malignant mesothelioma.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Should we pay the patient? Review of financial incentives to enhance patient compliance.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether financial incentives increase patients' compliance with healthcare treatments. DATA SOURCES: Systematic literature review of computer databases--Medline, Embase, PsychLit, EconLit, and the Cochrane Database of Clinical Trials. In addition, the reference list of each retrieved article was reviewed and relevant citations retrieved. STUDY SELECTION: Only randomised trials with quantitative data concerning the effect, of financial incentives (cash, vouchers, lottery tickets, or gifts) on compliance with medication, medical advice, or medical appointments were included in the review. Eleven papers were identified as meeting the selection criteria. DATA EXTRACTION: Data on study populations, interventions, and outcomes were extracted and analysed using odds ratios and the number of patients needed to be treated to improve compliance by one patient. RESULTS: 10 of the 11 studies showed improvements in patient compliance with the use of financial incentives. CONCLUSIONS: Financial incentives can improve patient compliance.

Economics↗
PubMed1997

Extracellular matrix remodelling in a murine mammary adenocarcinoma transfected with the interferon-alpha 1 gene.

The rejection of interferon alpha 1 gene-transfected mammary adenocarcinoma cells (TSA-IFN alpha) injected into syngeneic BALB/c mice was accompanied by an unusual stromal reaction and marked CD8-positive T-lymphocyte involvement. To investigate the biological background of this reaction, the possibility was evaluated that an interaction between TSA-IFN alpha and stromal cells might remodel the extracellular matrix (EM). When fibroblasts were co-cultured with TSA-IFN alpha or treated with exogenous IFN alpha, there was no change in their replication rate or collagen synthesis. By contrast, their fibronectin (FN) production and release were increased, resulting in enhanced fibroblast chemotaxis. These findings were mirrored by increased FN staining in the peritumoural and tumoural areas in vivo. IFN alpha thus determines increased FN production and hence massive local recruitment and activation of fibroblasts, with a modification of the EM. The several activities of IFN alpha should thus be considered prior to its employment in clinical trials.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1997

Painful ophthalmoplegia syndrome (spheno-cavernous syndrome) caused by a ruptured posterior communicating artery aneurysm. A brief report.

A case is reported of ruptured posterior communicating artery aneurysm presenting as a painful ophthalmoplegia syndrome (spheno-cavernous syndrome). This case suggests that there is need to carried out immediately neuroradiological studies when a painful ophthalmoplegia appears because of possible underlying intracranial aneurysm. This decisional algorithm should decrease the probability of aneurysmal rebleeding and increase the chance of oculomotor nerve function recovery.

Aneurysm, Ruptured↗
PubMed1996

Transforming growth factor beta regulates differentiation and proliferation of human neuroblastoma.

The effects of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGFbeta) on two human neuroblastoma cell lines, LAN-5 and SK-N-AS, and one human glioblastoma cell line, GL15, were evaluated. Of the three cultures, only two, SK-N-AS and GL15, had a complete response to TGFbeta, with induction of the following effects: (i) inhibition of cell proliferation; (ii) up-regulation of the extracellular matrix glycoprotein fibronectin, together with down-regulation of the VLA5 integrin receptor; (iii) up-regulation of histotype-specific cytoskeletal intermediate filaments (neurofilaments for neuroblastoma and GFAP for glioblastoma); and (iv) increase in the glycoprotein CD44, only in SK-N-AS. In the third cell line, neuroblastoma LAN-5, the effects exerted by TGFbeta consisted only of (i) neurofilament increase and (ii) morphological differentiation. The TGFbeta receptor pattern was different in each culture: SK-N-AS expressed low rates of type I and type II receptors and high rates of type III receptor; LAN-5 expressed high rates of type I, low rates of type II, and no type III; GL15 expressed high rates of all three receptors. These data suggest that TGFbeta can induce a histotype-specific cell maturation and that the neuroblastoma expressing low type II and at the same time lacking type III receptor responds only partially to TGFbeta, with induction of neural differentiation but without inhibition of cell growth.

Cell Differentiation↗
PubMed1996

[Psychopathological study of schizophrenia according to the pyramidal model].

In this work we aimed to verify the main hypotheses of the pyramidical model where the presence in schizophrenia of four distinct but no coexclusive syndromes (positive, negative, depressive, excited) is described. The test was done by applying the PANSS (the Positive and Negative Syndrome scale) on 30 patients with a schizophrenia diagnosis according to the DSMIIIR. The PANSS was administered to 12 women and 18 men aged between 20 and 42 years old. The statistical analysis of data was done using Kendall's test and Sperman's test. The first test we checked if the four syndromes were statically independent and mutually exclusive, or if there was probability of association between them. The result proves that the four syndromes are statistically independent but not coexclusive though. Though Sperman's test we wanted to find out if there was a complete independence between positive and negative syndromes and between the latter and the depressive syndrome or if there was a probability of association between them. The results point out that the positive syndrome is independent of the negative syndrome and the latter is independent of the depressive syndrome. However, there is a significant level of association between the depressive syndrome and the negative syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Changes in the sialylglycoconjugate distribution on the human sperm surface during in-vitro capacitation: partial purification of a 20 kDa sialylglycoprotein of capacitated spermatozoa.

Changes in the distribution of sialylglycoconjugates on the surface of uncapacitated and in-vitro capacitated human spermatozoa were studied by means of two sialic acid specific lectins (Maackia amurensis agglutinin and Sambucus nigra agglutinin). On the uncapacitated sperm surface, sialylglycoconjugates were found to be localized from the post-acrosomal region of the sperm head to the tail middle piece, whereas after in-vitro capacitation these molecules were only found in a small area of the post-acrosomal region. The surface of capacitated human spermatozoa was also investigated by specifically radiolabelling its terminal sialic acid residues. A 20 kDa glycoprotein, which was partially purified by anion-exchange chromatography, was the main component of the sialylglycoconjugate pattern after in-vitro capacitation.

Cell Membrane↗
PubMed1990

Augmentation of mouse natural killer (NK) activity by GM-1/P, a processed form of monosialoganglioside GM-1.

We describe the immunomodulatory activity of GM-1/P a processed form of GM-1 (monosialoganglioside) extracted from ox brain, purified and physically modified. We examined the effect of in vivo and in vitro treatment of GM-1/P on natural (NK) activity and its ability to induce the production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) in the mouse. In vivo treatment with GM-1/P (1 mg/Kg, i.v., day-1) resulted in a marked increase and in a change of distribution of NK activity, which was associated with lower density Percoll fractions. Marked increase was already observed at 18 hrs and then declined by day 4. In vitro treatment with GM-1/P (2 micrograms/ml) enhanced NK activity of B6 spleen cells, already after 6 hours of incubation, remaining at plateau levels within 18 hours. A role of IL-2 in this enhancement was suggested by the ability of an anti-IL-2 rabbit antiserum to abolish in vitro increased cytotoxicity. The presence of IL-2 in the supernatants of splenocytes from GM-1/P (1mg/Kg, i.v., ,day-1) treated mice stimulated with Con A or Con A plus TPA for 48 hrs was evaluated by proliferation of an IL-2 dependent CTLL cell line. GM-1/P by itself was unable to stimulate IL-2 production; however it markedly increased IL-2 production induced by Con A or Con A plus TPA.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1990

Enhancement of lymphocyte proliferation and IL-2 receptor expression by a processed form (GM-1/P) of monosialoganglioside GM-1.

In this study we investigated the ability of GM-1/P, a calcium mediated processed form of monosialoganglioside GM-1, of in vivo augmenting mouse T and B-lymphocyte blastogenesis induced by mitogens. We have also determined its effect on IL-2 responsiveness by analyzing the induction of the expression of IL-2 receptor (IL-2r) on mouse spleen cells. Lymphocyte blastogenesis was evaluated by 3H-TdR incorporation of spleen cells from untreated or GM-1/P (1mg/Kg, i.v., day-1) treated mice cultured in the presence of T (PHA, ConA) B (LPS) cell specific mitogens. The stimulatory effects appeared to be due to a direct action on T and B lymphocytes, since proliferative response was not abolished by removal of macrophages. Splenocytes from GM-1/P treated mice showed increased proliferation in response to various concentrations of HrIL-2; moreover under these conditions an increased generation of LAK activity was found. A direct evidence for enhanced expression of IL-2r was obtained by immunofluorescence and FACS analysis using a monoclonal antibody (PC.61) directed against the p55 subunit of murine IL-2r. 29% PC.61+ cells were found in IL-2 cultures from treated spleen cells.

Animals↗