Biomedical subjects

B Marinelli

Publications and source records attributed to B Marinelli.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

[Cervical cancer prevention: an update].

It has been seen an increase of the cervical cancer and of intraepithelial cancer in the last years. The most important risk factors for cervical cancer are sexual conduct, early of sexual relationships, number of partners, cigarettes, oral anticonceptive, pregnancy, immunosuppression, sexually transmitted illness. And an important role of the Human Papilloma Virus. The HPV has been classified in 3 groups; low risk, the most frequents are 11 and 6, middle risk, tipe 31, 33 and 35, and high risk, 16 and 18, that have frequent association with cervical cancer and with high grade intraepithelial lesions. The cervicovaginal citology is still the most accurate diagnosis method to detect SIL or CIN and invasive cancer in early stages, it is discussed the periodicity and group of women to whom the method must point. There are different options depending if it is a SIL of low or high grade or and cancer. With the possibility of doing follow up or treatment, such as. LLETZ, Laser, Criotraphy, cone and interferon for the preneoplastic lesions. The achievement of a vaccine for HPV could have a significant impact on these pathology.

Female↗

PubMed2004

XPD gene polymorphism and host characteristics in the association with cutaneous malignant melanoma risk.

We recently reported an association between low DNA repair capacity, measured through the host-cell reactivation assay, and melanoma risk in subjects with dysplastic naevi or low tanning ability. We investigated the genetic basis for these findings by analysing the Asp312Asn and Lys751Gln polymorphisms of the XPD (ERCC2) DNA repair gene in the same subjects. Similar to our previous report, no significant association between XPD polymorphisms and melanoma risk was found in 176 melanoma cases and 177 controls (odds ratio (OR)=1.5, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.9-2.5 for 312Asn; OR=1.3, 95% CI=0.8-2.1 for 751Gln, adjusted for age, gender, dysplastic naevi and pigmentation characteristics). However, XPD variants were associated with increased risk in older (>50 years) subjects (OR=3.4, 95% CI=1.6-7.3 for 312Asn; OR=2.3, 95% CI=1.1-4.9 for 751Gln). The 751Gln allele was associated with elevated melanoma risk among subjects without dysplastic naevi (OR=2.6, 95% CI=1.1-6.4). Subjects with low tanning ability and XPD variants exhibited a nonsignificant increase of melanoma risk (OR=2.3, 95% CI=0.7-7.0 for 312Asn; OR=3.0, 95% CI=1.0-8.8 for 751Gln). DNA repair capacity was slightly decreased in subjects carrying 751Gln alleles. XPD variants may modify melanoma risk in subjects with specific host characteristics, such as older age, lack of dysplastic naevi or low tanning ability.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

A pleiotropic Arabidopsis thaliana mutant with inverted root chirality.

Circumnutation is an oscillating movement of a growing plant organ that is believed to result from an endogenous rhythmic process intrinsic to growth. Circumnutating organs, as they extend, describe a helical trace. In Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. circumnutation is particularly evident in primary roots and occurs, as in most plants, in a right-handed direction when viewed from above in the direction of the growing tips. We have discovered a pleiotropic mutant of Arabidopsis with left-handed root circumnutation. Major abnormalities of the mutant are: (i) a reduced size of all organs, mainly due to a defect in cell elongation or expansion; (ii) a zigzagging pattern of stem pith cells, reminiscent of the "erectoides" phenotype of the lk mutant of Pisum; (iii) roots of the mutant are gravitropic but as they grow, they form tight, left-handed coils. Genetically, the mutant depends on the presence of two independent monogenic recessive factors acting additively. The mutant alleles of both factors alter the growth of the aerial organs in a similar manner but differ at the root level: one mainly produces non-circumnutating roots, the other changes the direction of circumnutation from right to left hand.

Arabidopsis↗

PubMed1982

Modulation of response to environmental stimulation in autistic children.

Autistic children's blood pressure, heart rate, peripheral blood flow (PBF), and peripheral vascular resistance (PVR) were measured during three types of tasks (reaction time, social interaction, at rest). The most highly functioning autistic children who learned the reaction time task to a criterion level had PBF measurements consistent with sensory intake during task performance and social interaction. The lower functioning children who failed to learn the task, even after 25 training sessions, showed PBF patterns consistent with rejection of external sensory information. When transferred from school to laboratory, the more impaired children showed greater response disruption and an increased heart rate, consistent with their behavioral need to preserve sameness. Autistic children appear to be more sensitive to the environment and may use behavioral strategies, such as avoiding environmental change and social interaction, as methods of reducing further disorganizing experiences. Disturbances in filtering environmental stimulation and modulating response to novelty may be part of the basic pathology of autism apparent during the 1st year of life.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1981

Sensory receptor sensitivity in autistic children: response times to proximal and distal stimulation.

On the basis of behavioral observation, it has been postulated that autistic children prefer proximal (touch, taste) to distal (sight, hearing) sensory modalities. To assess this systematically, autistic children's simple response times were measured with auditory, visual, and tactile stimulation. Children were studied for up to 25 sessions of 40 trials with each modality. Response times were significantly related to mental age. Autistic children's responses were significantly slower than normal children's. However, autistic children and normal children had the same pattern, fastest responding to auditory stimuli and slowest responding to tactile stimulation. Autistic children's preference for proximal stimuli probably reflects a continuation of immature behavior rather than a basic disturbance in sensory receptor sensitivity.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[DNA methylation analysis in environmental and occupational cancer research].

The present paper reviews recent laboratory methods and experimental evidence concerning epigenetic biomarkers involved in carcinogenesis mechanisms. We introduce DNA methylation and its role in gene expression control. DNA methylation analysis may allow to identify early changes leading to cancer and other chronic diseases. We describe here strategies for laboratory analyses and their possible applications. We examine results from recent experimental studies suggesting that the effects of certain occupational agents are mediated by alterations in DNA methylation. Planning and conducting investigations on exposed human subjects will allow to verify whether DNA methylation changes identified in animal and in-vitro studies may be used as early-effect and susceptibility biomarkers. DNA methylation analysis has the potential for future applications in risk assessment and prevention programs conducted on subjects exposed to human carcinogens.

Animals↗