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Biomedical subjects

A Licata

Publications and source records attributed to A Licata.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Localization of calbindin D28K-like immunoreactivity in fish gill: a light microscopic and immunoelectron histochemical study.

The presence of calbindin D28K in fish (Heteropneustes fossilis) gill was studied by use of specific antibodies raised against chick duodenal 28 kDa calbindin in immunoperoxidase and electron-microscopic labelling experiments. Immunoreactivity for calbindin D28K, which has been observed in the intestine of a number of avian and mammalian species, is reported for the first time in the gill. It was primarily located in neuroendocrine (NE) cells. Some immunoreactivity was also located in the glycocalyx of the non-endocrine cells, i.e., the pavement cells, which have ultrastructural characteristics quite different from those of endocrine cells. The calbindin-immunopositive NE cells were ascertained in both gill filamental and lamellar epithelium. All the NE cells contained secretory granules as the most distinctive feature of these cells. Ultrastructurally, two types of NE cells were distinguished according to the morphology of their secretory granules. The calbindin immunoreactivity in the NE cells was stimulated when the calcium concentration of the ambient water was reduced. The present findings suggest that NE cells exert some as yet unidentified function related to calcium-mediated processes involving the expression of calbindin.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[Splenic abscess].

Splenic abscess is rare and may be present either as a localized area in the spleen or as part of a generalized sepsis. A 35 year old man presented with a two month history of anorexia, weight loss, fever, abdominal pain and arthralgia. Multiple abscesses localized in the spleen were diagnosed by CT and splenectomy was performed.

Abscess↗
PubMed1990

Metastatic carcinoma of the prostate with hypercalcemia.

A patient presented with advanced cancer of the prostate and underwent bilateral orchiectomy. After 2 years, hypercalcemia developed and was managed successfully with saline diuresis, furosemide, and oral glucocorticoid therapy. It is believed that the patient's hypercalcemia was caused by a metabolic complication of progressive, advanced disease.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1989

Relationship of parathyroid adenoma volume and biochemical function.

We retrospectively studied data of 24 patients with surgically proven hyperparathyroidism to determine whether biochemical function correlated with the calculated volume of parathyroid adenoma. Carboxyl-terminal parathyroid hormone (C-PTH), amino-terminal parathyroid hormone (N-PTH), nephrogenous cyclic AMP (N-CAMP), and other markers of calcium metabolism were measured with standard techniques. Tumors were divided into small (less than 1.0 cm3) or large (greater than or equal to 1.0 cm3) sizes. N-PTH and C-PTH measurements were increased in 10% and 30% of patients with small tumors and in 71 and 78% of patients with large tumors. Serum calcium, N-CAMP, C-PTH and N-PTH tended to be greater with large tumors, but only C-PTH was significant. We concluded that the size of parathyroid adenoma influenced biochemical measurements of its activity and that the measurements of PTH in patients with small tumors are not as sensitive as those in patients with large tumors.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1989

[Carcinoma of the male breast].

The Authors, after a brief review of the most important epidemiologic, etiologic, diagnostic and therapeutic problems related to male breast cancer, report their personal experience. They point out the importance of an early diagnosis in order to obtain satisfactory results, comparable to those achieved in female breast cancer treatment.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Cholecystectomy and colorectal cancer: an improbable correlation.

Several scientists have mentioned the cause and effect relationship between cholecystectomy and onset of large bowel cancer but have reached no real conclusions since the valid theoretical premises have often been denied by clinical series. In this report also, no statistically significant correlations between cholecystectomy and colorectal cancer have been found. It is suggested that this operation is only an epiphenomenon of a different etiologic phase, for instance, type of diet.

Cholecystectomy↗
PubMed1988

Monitoring calcium intake in osteoporosis by assay of nephrogenous cyclic AMP.

We studied the relationship between urinary and nephrogenous cyclic adenosine monophosphate (CAMP) and intake of calcium in patients with clinical osteoporosis. Serum and urinary Ca, alkaline phosphatase, and CAMP were measured by standard techniques. Lumbar mineral density was assessed by dual photon absorptiometry. Mean (+/- SD) urinary and nephrogenous CAMP was 4.6 +/- 1.4 mumol/g creatinine (0.52 +/- 0.16 mumol/mmol creatinine) and 15 +/- 8.0 nmol/L GF in patients using an extra gram of Ca carbonate daily and 6.5 +/- 2.6 mumol/g creatinine and 32 +/- 18 nmol/L GF in patients consuming dietary Ca (p less than 0.05). Serum Ca was increased (p less than 0.05) in the supplemented group (9.8 +/- 0.4 vs 9.3 +/- 0.6 mg/dL [2.4 +/- 0.099 vs 2.32 +/- 0.14 mmol/L]) but urinary Ca and serum alkaline phosphatase were similar. Bone mineral density was the same in both (0.88 +/- 0.19 vs 0.87 +/- 0.08 g/cm2). We concluded that CAMP is greater in patients with no supplemental Ca in the diet. This test may be useful to assess patient compliance and biological availability of dietary or supplemental Ca.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Treatment of bacterial peritonitis.

Cefotetan is a semi-synthetic cephamycin antibiotic. It has combined activity against aerobes and anaerobes which makes it of particular use in the treatment and prevention of intra-abdominal infections in the surgical patient. In the course of 3 years we have evaluated the therapeutic use of cefotetan in 107 patients. Early in the evaluation of this antibiotic we used cefotetan in combination with aminoglycosides in 35 severely ill patients with intra-abdominal infections. These patients were generally in poor condition. Good results were obtained in this high risk group. A further 72 patients received cefotetan monotherapy, usually at a dose of 2 g twice daily. The majority of these patients presented with intra-abdominal infections. Overall a successful clinical response of 94% was obtained with antibiotic therapy. In conclusion the results obtained support the therapeutic use of cefotetan in the treatment of moderate to severe intra-abdominal infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Lectin-binding pattern on the surface epidermis of Ambystoma tigrinum larvae. A light- and electron-microscopic study.

The surface epidermis of Ambystoma tigrinum larvae was examined at the light- and electron-microscope levels using five different lectin conjugates as probes for the detection of sugar residues on the cell membranes. Concanavalin A (Con-A), wheat-germ agglutinin (WGA), Ricinus communis agglutinin I (RCA-I), Dolichos biflorus agglutinin and soybean agglutinin (SBA) conjugates clearly labelled the surface cells, especially their apical surfaces. At electron microscopy, the labelling on plasma membranes was found to exhibit regional differences. Among the lectins tested WGA displayed a particularly characteristic binding pattern. WGA also bound to basolateral cell surfaces, including the tight-junction zone which was also stained by the RCA-I conjugate. The different labelling intensity and staining patterns obtained with the conjugates indicated the polarity of the cell surfaces. It is also assumed that the WGA staining of the basolateral membranes and intercellular spaces reflected transcellular transport, which is facilitated by acidic glycoconjugates. Other functional aspects of the polarized distribution of the lectin conjugates were also correlated with the receptor sites of certain sugar residues.

Ambystoma↗
PubMed1987

Occurrence of gastrin-releasing peptide-like and bombesin-like immunoreactivities in the epidermal sacciform gland cells of the clingfish Lepadogaster candollei.

Gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP)-like and bombesin (BOM)-like immunoreactivities were localized in the exocrine sacciform gland cells and in the surface epidermis of the clingfish Lepadogaster candollei with the use of previously characterized antibodies. The GRP-like and BOM-like peptides show resemblance to those immunohistochemically found in the dermal secretory products of the amphibian skin. The immunoreactive peptides tested in this study are unusual bioactive components of secretory sources of exocrine glands since these peptides were first demonstrated in cells of the neuroendocrine system. The results suggest that such bioactive compounds may exert regulatory activity in the absorptive processes of the skin epithelium and in influencing secretion release from exocrine complexes.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Enzyme cytochemical and immunocytochemical studies of flask cells in the amphibian epidermis.

The localization of oxidoreductases and transport enzymes in flask cells of the amphibian epidermis was studied at the light-microscopic level. In these cells, the deposition of cytochemical reaction products was very similar to that found in fish epidermal ionocytes, thus demonstrating histochemical similarities between these two types of cells. The present histochemical results revealed high levels of activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALPase), potassium-dependent nitrophenylphosphatase (K+-p-NPPase) and carbonic-anhydrase isozymes (CA-I and CA-II) in the apical region of the flask cells, indicating that enzyme zonation may be the main site of the ion pumping.

4-Nitrophenylphosphatase↗
PubMed1985

Patterns of enzyme activities in the gills of the catfish Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch) exposed to the anionactive detergent Na-alkyl-benzenesulphonate (LAS).

The effect of sodium-alkyl-benzenesulphonate (LAS) on the activity of the respiratory enzymes of the gills of Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch) was investigated. After 48 h exposure, the main injury to gills was the progressive separation of the lamellae from their vascular components. The enzymes of the aerobic part of the metabolism showed a decrease in activity, whereas the activity of lactate dehydrogenase was strongly increased, thus indicating that LAS has a high potential to interfere with aerobic mechanisms; however, the mode of action of it has yet to be clearly defined.

Alkanesulfonates↗
PubMed1985

The effect of an anionic detergent on complex carbohydrates and enzyme activities in the epidermis of the catfish Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch).

The histochemistry of various oxidative enzymes and complex carbohydrates in the epidermis of the catfish Heteropneustes fossils was investigated after exposure to sublethal concentrations of the detergent sodium alkylbenzenesulphonate. It was found that the detergent treatment was accompanied by a marked increase in the number of mucous cells which produce histochemically detectable amounts of acidic glycoproteins with a shift towards the production of O-acetylated sialic acids. The activities of mitochondrial enzymes were lost in the superficial cell layers. In contrast the activities of glucose-6-phosphate and lactate dehydrogenase increased considerably. The rise in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was correlated with the metabolic requirements for the enhanced production of mucus under stress. The changes in both enzyme activities and in the chemical composition of mucus may provide a suitable experimental model for histochemical investigations of the effects of stress induced by pollutants on aquatic organisms.

Alkanesulfonates↗
PubMed1985

Binding of concanavalin A to secretory epidermis in the fish Blennius sanguinolentus pallas: light microscopic and ultrastructural studies.

Concanavalin A (Con A) lectin from jack bean Canavalia ensiformis DC binds to alpha-D-glucopyranosyl and alpha-D-mannopyranosyl residues of the cuticular secretions (glycocalyx) attached to apical plasma membrane in the skin surface cells of Blennius sanguinolentus. The presence of Con A positive carbohydrate components is also observed in some secretory vesicles close under the apical cell membrane and in the goblet cell secretion spread over the surface of the skin. Other lectin labeling methods might offer a new tool for the cytochemical demonstration of glycoconjugates containing sugar residues on plasmic membranes of the epithelial cells. This can provide an insight into the functional significance of the carbohydrate moieties, attributable to the specialization of the cell membranes.

Animals↗