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Biomedical subjects

C Belli

Publications and source records attributed to C Belli.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Scaling-up in industrial winemaking using low electric current as an alternative to sulfur dioxide addition.

AIMS: To better understand the outcome of employing low electric current (LEC) technology as a new preservation and alternative in wine technology, and to contribute to its development. It is used in industrial-scale winemaking with commercial yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) during the grape must fermentation. METHODS AND RESULTS: LEC (200 mA, time 16 days) was applied to fresh grape must as an alternative method to the usual sulfur dioxide addition used in the industrial process; two tanks, each 30,000 l, were employed for parallel fermentations. The results show that LEC decreased the survival time and increased the death rate of apiculate yeasts, whereas it did not affect the growth and survival of S. cerevisiae. A comparison was made of the main chemical and sensory parameters of the wines obtained. CONCLUSIONS: The results have demonstrated that the low-voltage treatment had a positive effect on the grape juice fermentation (yeast microflora) during the early stages of winemaking. SIGINIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: These results could be of significant importance in developing, for 'biological wine', new winemaking technologies for an innovative control process of yeast fermentation.

Acetic Acid↗
PubMed2005

Biotechnology applied to cultural heritage: biorestoration of frescoes using viable bacterial cells and enzymes.

AIMS: To set up and employ, for the biorestoration of cultural heritage (altered frescoes), an advanced and innovative biotechnology method based on the sequential use of whole viable bacterial cells and specific enzymes. METHODS AND RESULTS: The bioremediation intervention consisted of the direct application onto an artwork surface of whole bacterial cells of the Pseudomonas stutzeri A29 strain (bioaugmentation), followed by, in a final step, a purified Protease enzyme. The bioremediation was performed on a Spinello Aretino fresco that had become altered by the animal glue residues of past restoration. For the reader's interest the fresco is the 14th century Conversione di S. Efisio e battaglia (Conversion of S. Efisio and battle), size 3.5 x 7.8 m at the Pisa Camposanto Monumentale, Italy. An assessment was made of the final costs of the biological tests (whole bacterial cells, enzymes) so as to compare them with other intervention techniques. CONCLUSIONS: A successful innovative biological approach to recover valuable frescoes was set up, and the best conditions for treatment efficiency were identified. Furthermore the cost of the biological cleaning using viable bacterial cells and enzymes (P. stutzeri, Protease, Collagenase, 1 : 3 : 10, ratio respectively) was much lower than that of other conventional methods, making this biotechnology not only very interesting but also very competitive. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: New biotechnologies with an innovative, soft approach to the 'biocleaning' and 'biorestoration' of cultural heritage are in constant demand, and our results are clear evidence that such an approach has been achieved; the technique could be of significant importance towards developing other goals.

Adhesives↗
PubMed2003

Controlling grape must fermentation in early winemaking phases: the role of electrochemical treatment.

AIMS: To contribute to an understanding of the phenomena related to the effect of low electric current (LEC) in grape must fermentation during laboratory and pilot plant scale winemaking, with selected co-culture yeasts (Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain 404 and Hanseniaspora guilliermodii strain 465). METHODS AND RESULTS: LEC (10, 30, 50 and 100 mA) was applied to fresh grape must as an alternative method to the usual addition of SO2. Parameters such as polarity, treatment duration (24-96 h) and type of inoculum yeast were varied one at a time. LEC decreased the survival time and increased the death rate of H. guilliermondii strain 465 in co-cultures, whereas it did not affect the growth and survival of S. cerevisiae strain 40. A final comparison was made of the main physico-chemical parameters on wine obtained after the different tests. CONCLUSIONS: The results have demonstrated that the low voltage treatment using a pair of graphite electrodes had a positive effect on grape juice fermentation (yeast microflora) during the early stages of winemaking, even with the potential of being an alternative method to the usual addition of SO2. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: These results could be of significant importance in developing new winemaking technologies for an innovative yeast fermentation control process for 'biological wine'.

Coculture Techniques↗
PubMed2003

A new animal model for human undifferentiated thyroid carcinoma.

An animal model of undifferentiated thyroid carcinoma (UTC), which may be useful for studying tumorigenesis and response to new therapies, is described. The UTC human cell line ARO was implanted into the back of the nude mice. The histology, induction of metastasis, and biokinetics of in vivo and in vitro growth, as well as cytogenetic and molecular aspects were studied. The tumor showed extensive viability with high mitotic activity. At 117 days, the tumors reached a size of 1,700 mm(3) and showed a central necrotic portion with a thin layer of viable cells. When the number of passages in the mouse increased the growth rate decreased. The cytogenetic and molecular studies did not show differences between the original line and the sublines that could explain this phenotypic change. Moreover, the original ARO cell line and its sublines showed a complex clonal karyotype including structural alterations with deletions and translocations involving chromosomes 5, 7, 8, 9p, 11p, 17q 19p, and 20q that were consistent with earlier reported data in UTC. This work provides an animal model of UTC pheno- and genotypically similar to the original human tumor, which may be useful for exploring new therapeutic modalities.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Persistent activation of coagulation mechanism in unstable angina and myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: The blood coagulation system is activated in the acute phase of unstable angina and acute myocardial infarction. However, it remains unclear whether augmented function of the hemostatic mechanism serves only as a marker of the acute thrombotic episode or whether a hypercoagulable state persists for a prolonged period after clinical stabilization. METHODS AND RESULTS: We prospectively measured the plasma concentrations of prothrombin fragment 1 + 2 (F1 + 2) and fibrinopeptide A (FPA) in consecutive patients presenting with unstable angina (n = 81) or acute myocardial infarction (n = 32), respectively. At 6 months, plasma determinations were repeated in patients experiencing an uneventful clinical course (unstable angina, n = 57; myocardial infarction, n = 23). We quantitated the plasma levels of F1 + 2 and FPA in control patients with stable angina (n = 37) or healthy individuals (n = 32) who were matched for age and sex. The median plasma concentrations of F1 + 2 and FPA are significantly higher in patients presenting with unstable angina (F1 + 2, 1.08 nmol/L; FPA, 2.4 nmol/L) or acute myocardial infarction (F1 + 2, 1.27 nmol/L; FPA, 3.55 nmol/L) compared with patients with stable angina (F1 + 2, 0.74 nmol/L; FPA, 1.3 nmol/L; P < .0001) or healthy individuals (F1 + 2, 0.71 nmol/L; FPA, 0.80 nmol/L; P < .0001). At 6 months, the median plasma levels of F1 + 2 in patients exhibiting an uneventful clinical course did not differ from values obtained at admission (unstable angina, 1.26 versus 1.07 nmol/L, P = NS; myocardial infarction, 1.22 versus 1.29 nmol/L, P = NS), whereas the median plasma levels of FPA in the same two subpopulations were significantly reduced (unstable angina, 1.1 versus 2.9 nmol/L, P = .0003; myocardial infarction, 1.1 versus 3.0 nmol/L; P = .0028). CONCLUSIONS: During the acute phase of unstable angina and myocardial infarction, patients exhibit increased coagulation system activity. Over the next 6 months, patients with unstable angina or myocardial infarction experiencing an uneventful clinical course manifest a persistent hypercoagulable state with minimal generation of fibrin.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Activation of the hemostatic system during thrombolytic therapy.

Activation of the hemostatic mechanism has been described during thrombolytic therapy. This phenomenon has been detected by new methods of assessing hemostatic system function, based on immunoenzymatic or radioimmunoassays. However, these methods are extremely sensitive and, unless they are performed in expert laboratories, carefully following the recommended procedures, they generate in vitro artifacts. A description of these methods is provided, as well as a critical review of the available studies. The correct use of these methods will provide us with an understanding of the complex response of the hemostatic system to pharmacologic thrombolysis.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Effects of long-term treatment with prazosin on left ventricular diastolic function in mild to moderate hypertension.

It is not well established if blood pressure control is associated with an improvement in diastolic function, whose impairment represents an early marker of cardiac involvement in systemic hypertension. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether a prolonged treatment with an alpha 1-blocking agent can lead to a reversal of the abnormalities of left ventricular filling. Eleven never-treated patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension were examined before and after at least six months of treatment with prazosin. Cardiac function and left ventricular mass were measured by means of radionuclide ventriculography and echocardiography. Average blood pressure values significantly decreased during the treatment period: from 163.54 +/- 17.80 mm Hg to 146.81 +/- 13.14 mm Hg for systolic blood pressure and from 106.09 +/- 6.96 mm Hg to 92.90 +/- 8.93 mm Hg for diastolic blood pressure. All the indices of left ventricular mass showed a trend toward reduction, but the differences with respect to the baseline values did not reach statistical significance. Average value of ejection fraction was normal before treatment and did not change significantly after treatment. All indices of diastolic function were significantly lower than normal controls' values at the beginning of the study and tended to worsen at the end of the study. Our findings suggest that diastolic function is not consistently affected by the therapy with alpha 1-adrenoreceptor antagonists despite good blood pressure control.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Early predictors of smoking cessation after myocardial infarction.

The determinants of long-term smoking cessation were evaluated in 80 patients who smoked cigarettes and survived a myocardial infarction. All patients underwent a program of rehabilitation and secondary prevention including in-hospital counseling and physician-guided reinforcing sessions at 1, 3, and 6 months after discharge. At 18 months of follow-up, 53 patients (66.3%) had quit smoking. Variables associated with smoking cessation were duration of hospital stay greater than or equal to 19 days (79 vs. 48%; p less than 0.005) and peak creatine phosphokinase (CPK) elevation greater than or equal to 500 U/l (76 vs. 54%; p less than 0.05). Males tended to quit in higher proportion than females (68 vs. 44%). Age, prior myocardial infarction, other cardiovascular risk factors, infarction location, Killip class at entry, and duration of stay in coronary care unit did not significantly affect the quitting rates. Logistic regression analysis singled out the duration of hospital stay as a significant predictor of smoking cessation (p less than 0.005). Early and intensive secondary prevention during the hospital stay is crucial in promoting sustained smoking cessation after myocardial infarction.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1991

Effect of therapy with streptokinase, diltiazem, and heparin on ventricular arrhythmias in unstable angina.

We evaluated the effect of three different anti-ischemic therapeutic regimens on ventricular arrhythmias in 25 patients hospitalized for unstable angina. All patients were randomized to receive (in addition to infusion of heparin, diltiazem, and nitrates), either placebo, or streptokinase (SK) 1,500,000 U in 1 h, or SK 250,000 U in 30 min followed by 100,000 U/h for 48 h. Patients underwent ECG monitoring during the first 72 h after admission and for 24 h after 15 days of oral therapy with diltiazem, aspirin, and transdermal nitrates. Premature ventricular complexes (PVC) and ventricular tachycardia episodes (VT) were significantly reduced during the early phase of hospitalization and after 15 days, in patients treated with prolonged SK infusion. Ventricular arrhythmias are a frequent finding in unstable angina; they are correlated neither to the severity of coronary disease nor to ventricular function; prolonged infusion of SK added to heparin, diltiazem, and nitrates seems to reduce the number and severity of ventricular arrhythmias.

Angina, Unstable↗
PubMed1990

[Effects of acute intravenous administration of propafenone on left ventricular function in patients with acute myocardial infarction].

UNLABELLED: In order to evaluate the effects of propafenone (an antiarrhythmic class 1 c agent) acutely administered intravenously on left ventricular function, 10 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), affected by arrhythmias (greater than or equal to Lown class III), belonging to Killip class I and II, and with normal serum electrolyte levels, were studied 2-4 days after an acute episode. No patients had previously been treated with antiarrhythmic drugs, or, if treated, the agent was withdrawn since at least 4 half-lives. In no case were inotropic substances or other pharmacological treatments, capable affecting L.V. function administered. Intravenous nitroderivative (Venitrin) infusion was continued when indicated. Each patient was administered a propafenone bolus (1 mg pro Kg in 4 minutes). Two dimensional and Doppler echocardiography were performed under basal conditions i.e. before propafenone infusion, during the infusion and after 1, 2, 3 and 4 hours, deriving following parameters: L.V. end diastolic and end systolic dimensions and volumes, ejection fraction (area-length method), II motion abnormalities, and transmitral flow velocity profile (E/A ratio). Statistical data were obtained using two way analysis of variance. RESULTS: In no case was the treatment interrupted, on the basis of our protocol criteria (reactions of hypersensitivity, proarrhythmic effects, acute hemodynamic deterioration that requires immediate positive inotropic and chronotropic agents administration, worsening of previous arrhythmic class). Heart rate and systemic arterial blood pressure did not change significatively during or after infusion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗
PubMed1990

In vivo stimulation of lung collagen synthesis by collagen derived peptides.

In the present work we examined the "in vivo" effects of collagen breakdown products derived from elastase digestion on lung collagen synthesis in rabbits. It was found that i.v. injection of collagen peptides greatly enhances the collagen synthesis rate while does not affect the synthesis of non collagenous proteins. The increase of incorporation of 3H-proline in lung collagen parallels that of prolyl hydroxylase activity. The collagen synthesis, expressed as fractional rate (% day), amounted to 15% day in treated animals, resulting in a significant increase with respect to controls (11.7% day). The observations reported provide evidence that collagen breakdown products stimulate lung collagen synthesis and may play a role in collagen homeostasis.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Traumatic rupture of the thoracoabdominal aorta.

We report a case of traumatic rupture of the thoracoabdominal aorta that was successfully repaired 3 days following the accident. Associated lesions included rupture of the left renal and celiac arteries. This rare lesion should be suspected in the victims of violent hyperextension of the body with or without a fracture of the dorsolumbar spine. Aortography is diagnostic. Whenever possible preoperative angiographic visualisation of the spinal cord arterial supply should be performed.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

[Left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertension: functional aspects].

The purpose of this study was to detect the anatomical and functional response of the left ventricle in essential, uncomplicated hypertension. Fifty outpatients, whose hypertension (DBP greater than 95 mmHg on three separate visits) had been documented from few weeks to a maximum of 5 years, showing neither electrocardiographic abnormalities nor other signs referable to target organ damage, underwent an M-mode, computerised echocardiographic study. Twenty-seven patients has never been treated, and 23 patients were withdrawn from previous treatments for at least one month. Echocardiographic data of the left ventricle were compared with those of 38 normals, matched by sex, age and body surface area. Hypertensives showed a significant increase in both LV mass index (p less than 0.001) and relative wall thickness (p less than 0.001), a pattern of concentric hypertrophy, which prevented an inappropriate rise in wall tension. Twenty-four patients, whose LV mass was above the mean normal value plus two standard deviations, were considered to have left ventricular hypertrophy. The remaining 26 patients were classified as non hypertrophic, for their mass resulted lower than the mean value of controls plus 2 SD: left ventricular mass was 152 +/- 32 g/m2 and 97 +/- 19 g/m2, respectively (p less than 0.001). Systolic performance was enhanced in both subgroups of hypertensives, since their values of fractional shortening and those of mean-Vcf were both above the line which represents the normal relationship with end-systolic stress. Diastolic relaxation, evaluated by means of time to peak filling rate, was impaired only in the hypertensive subjects with increased LV mass (p less than 0.001 vs. normotensive), being retained in the non-hypertrophic patients. In the whole hypertensive group, LV mass index poorly correlated with casual systolic blood pressure (r = 0.31; p less than 0.05), while time to peak filling rate showed a good correlation with LV mass index (r = 0.76; p less than 0.001). We conclude that: 1) in essential hypertension without electrocardiographic abnormalities or target organ damage, echocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy is a rather frequent finding; 2) the pattern of concentric hypertrophy, by reducing the increase in wall tension due to pressure load, contributes to the retained, or enhanced, systolic performance seen in our series; 3) on the other hand, left ventricular filling seems to be impaired in relation to the degree of myocardial hypertrophy.

Adult↗