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Biomedical subjects

A Menna

Publications and source records attributed to A Menna.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

Characteristics of Type 2 diabetic patients cared for by general practitioners either with medical nutrition therapy alone or with hypoglycaemic drugs.

The essential role of medical nutrition therapy (MNT) for people with diabetes is widely recognised, and its exclusive use is recommended in mild diabetes according to a stepwise therapeutic approach. We describe the characteristics of MNT-treated Type 2 diabetic patients (vs drugs) cared for by general practitioners (GPs) in order to check that appropriate differences did exist between the two groups, by auditing the data from our local shared-care program for diabetes. We had 16,000 diabetic patients (out of 630,000 inhabitants); 6,800 of them (42.5%) cared for by GPs. Thirty-one percent (2,079 out of 6,800 patients cared for by GPs) were treated with MNT and 69% with drugs. The MNT-treated patients (vs drugs) were younger (66.1 +/- 10.7 vs 67.7 +/- 11.0 yr, p<0.01), had shorter disease duration (8.2 +/- 6.6 vs 11.2 +/- 7.6 yr, p<0.01), lower HbA1c (7.0 +/- 1.1 vs 7.8 +/- 1.6%, p<0.01) and body mass index (BMI) (28.6 +/- 4.6 vs 29.0 +/- 4.9 kg/m2, p<0.01). They had less prevalence of high blood triglycerides (25.4% vs 29.0%, p<0.01). MNT-treated patients had less micro-albuminuria (5.3% vs 8.8%, p<0.01); less retinopathy both non-proliferant (6.5% vs 11.1%, p<0.01), and pre-proliferant (6.8% vs 12.7%, p<0.01), and proliferant (7.0% vs 12.9%, p<0.01); less peripheral neuropathy (3.9% vs 8.3%, p<0.01); and diabetic foot (1.0% vs 2.0%, p<0.01). They had less chronic heart failure (2.7% vs 4.6%, p<0.01), and claudicatio intermittens (3.3% vs 5.3%, p<0.01). In conclusion, the Type 2 diabetic patients cared for by GPs using MNT appropriately had a less severe form of diabetes.

Age Factors↗

GPs' satisfaction with the doctor-patient encounter: findings from a community-based survey.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the characteristics of the doctor-patient relationship from the GP's point of view. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional 1-day study in family practice. Thirty-three GPs volunteered to fill in a questionnaire at the end of each of 20 consecutive consultations on an index day. Six hundred and sixty-one patients (out of 665) participated in the study. Descriptive frequencies of GPs' judgements about personal experiences during the consultations, and predictors of GP's global satisfaction score on patient encounters were analysed. RESULTS: The mean age of the 33 GPs was 44.7 +/- 3.6 years. Professional skills (62% of the GPs had no doubts on diagnosis, therapy or prognosis) and the quality of the human/interpersonal interaction were major determinants of GPs' satisfaction in the patient-doctor relationship. Doctors felt professionally esteemed by 90% of their patients, and the median value of their global satisfaction score (matching the expectations from an 'ideal patient' to that experienced when meeting the real one) was very high (median 8, range 1-10). Nevertheless, GPs did not know if they were satisfied with the actual encounter with the patient in about one-third of the consultations. CONCLUSIONS: Professional skills and quality of the human/interpersonal interactions are major determinants of GPs' satisfaction in their professional activities.

Adult↗

[Analytical evaluation of significant chemical and physico-chemical parameters in water for human consumption].

A quality control of drinking water has been performed in hospitals and schools located in the Vomero-Area of Naples. Some chemical pollutants (iron, manganese, ammonia nitrogen, nitrite, nitrate, fluoride) as well as chemical and physical parameters (hardness, pH, electric conductivity, chloride, cations) have been periodically analyzed from Autumn 1991 to Summer 1992.

Anions↗

Symmetrical arrangement of the heterologous regions of rabbit poxvirus and vaccinia virus DNA.

Cleavage sites for the restriction endonucleases EcoRI, KpnI and XhoI were mapped on rabbit poxvirus and vaccinia virus DNA. These physical maps were used to analyse the structural variations between the two DNAs. Two specific heterologous regions, symmetrically arranged at each end of the genomes, have been identified. Region 1, representing the exterior part of the terminal repetition, appears to contain unrelated sequences in each DNA and accounts for the difference in length of the two genomes. Region 2, separated from region 1 by a conserved part of the terminal repetition, is located at the transition from repeated to unique DNA sequences. Its overall length of about 4 megadaltons is well conserved and it contains individual DNA-specific as well as conserved restriction sites. The major central part of the genomes (over 100 megadaltons) contains very few, widely dispersed restriction site variations.

Base Sequence↗

Physical characterization of a stomatitis papulosa virus genome: a cleavage map for the restriction endonucleases HindIII and EcoRI.

The genome of stomatitis papulosa virus (a parapoxvirus) was cleaved with the restriction endonucleases HindIII and EcoRI, each giving rise to 6 fragments respectively. Double digestion with both enzymes resulted in 8 bands, two of which contained DNA fragments in double molar concentrations as revealed by reciprocal digests of isolated DNA fragments. The genome size, estimated by summation of the molecular weights of the fragments, is approximately 86 X 10(6) daltons, some 30 X 10(6) daltons smaller than vaccinia virus (an orthopoxvirus) DNA. The cleavage sites of HindIII and EcoRI endonucleases were mapped on the genome by analysis of reciprocal digests of isolated DNA fragments and by cross-hybridization experiments. This yielded two mapped segments which were then oriented relative to one another by cleavage of isolated partial digestion products. The terminal restriction fragments show rapid renaturation after alkali denaturation and subsequent neutralization, indicating that stomatitis papulosa virus DNA contains terminal cross-links analogous to those found in vaccinia virus DNA.

Animals↗

Inverted terminal repeats in rabbit poxvirus and vaccinia virus DNA.

In both rabbit poxvirus and vaccinia virus DNA have demonstrated an identical distribution of eight HinfI. The length of the terminal repeats was found to be 3.4 to 3.6 megadaltons (Mdaltons) for rabbit poxvirus DNA and 7.4 to 8.0 Mdaltons for vaccinia virus DNA. Maps of the HinfI restriction sites within isolated EcoRI end fragments of rabbit poxvirus and vaccinia virus DNA PHAVE DEMONSTRATED AN IDENTICAL DISTRIBUTION OF EIGHT HinfI sites in an internal part (approximately 2 Mdaltons) of the EcoRI end fragments of the two genomes.

Animals↗

The effect of cordycepin on the multiplication of Semliki Forest virus and on polyadenylation of viral RNA.

Cordycepin (3'-deoxyadenosine), at a concentration of 20 microgram/ml, has a marked effect on Semliki Forest virus multiplication. The appearance of plaque forming units is delayed by about 2 hours and the yield greatly reduced. The incorporation of [3H] uridine into intracellular viral RNAs reaches less than 50 per cent of controls. However, no specific effect on poly (A) synthesis could be detected. The binding efficiency of viral RNAs on nitrocellulose membranes and poly (U) sepharose is not affected by cordycepin. The average poly (A) length of total intracellular viral RNA was calculated on the basis of the ratio of the radioactivity of adenosine-monophosphate: adenosine and found to be about 35 nucleotides in treated and untreated cells.

Animals↗

HindIII and Sst I restriction sites mapped on rabbit poxvirus and vaccinia virus DNA.

The DNAs of two closely related orthopoxviruses, rabbit poxvirus (RPV) and vaccinia virus (VV), were mapped by overlapping-fragment analysis using restriction endonucleases HindIII and Sst I. The exact arrangement of these fragments was accomplished by total digestion of isolated partial restriction products and by end-fragment determination. RPV and VV DNAs showed identical restriction patterns in an internal region comprising approximately 60% of the genome. The size, by electrophoretical analysis of the RPV DNA, was 118 X 10(6) daltons, some 6 X 10(6) daltons less than VV DNA. The two opposite terminal restriction fragments of RPV DNA cross-hybridized to each other.

Base Sequence↗

Alteration of serum tryptophan metabolism in patients suffering from senile cataract.

In vitro experimental evidence suggests tryptophan (TRP) is involved in protein modifications which could cause cataract formation in vivo. Previous studies of tryptophan plasma and serum metabolism are conflicting. In this study free and bound TRP plasma levels were measured in patients with senile cataract and in controls after an oral load of L-TRP (20 mg/kg b.w.). Free TRP levels were higher in patients than in controls one hour after L-TRP administration.

Administration, Oral↗