Biomedical subjects

C Bisogni

Publications and source records attributed to C Bisogni.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2002

Bone as an ion exchange system: evidence for a link between mechanotransduction and metabolic needs.

To detect whether the mutual interaction occurring between the osteocytes-bone lining cells system (OBLCS) and the bone extracellular fluid (BECF) is affected by load through a modification of the BECF-extracellular fluid (ECF; systemic extracellular fluid) gradient, mice metatarsal bones immersed in ECF were subjected ex vivo to a 2-min cyclic axial load of different amplitudes and frequencies. The electric (ionic) currents at the bone surface were measured by a vibrating probe after having exposed BECF to ECF through a transcortical hole. The application of different loads and different frequencies increased the ionic current in a dose-dependent manner. The postload current density subsequently decayed following an exponential pattern. Postload increment's amplitude and decay were dependent on bone viability. Dummy and static loads did not induce current density modifications. Because BECF is perturbed by loading, it is conceivable that OBLCS tends to restore BECF preload conditions by controlling ion fluxes at the bone-plasma interface to fulfill metabolic needs. Because the electric current reflects the integrated activity of OBLCS, its evaluation in transgenic mice engineered to possess genetic lesions in channels or matrix constituents could be helpful in the characterization of the mechanical and metabolic functions of bone.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Detection of accessory renal arteries with virtual vascular endoscopy of the aorta.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of virtual vascular endoscopy (VVE) in the detection of accessory renal arteries. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the CT angiography data sets of 67 patients (29 male and 38 female; age range 17-72 years, mean age 53 years) imaged for the study of the renal arteries, and affected by renovascular hypertension. All patients also had intraarterial digital subtraction angiography (DSA). CT angiography data sets were processed to obtain maximum intensity projection (MIP) and surface-rendered VVE of the aorta. Axial images, MIP, and VVE were evaluated separately and in combination in the detection of accessory renal arteries. Their results in terms of sensitivity and specificity were then compared with DSA. RESULTS: Axial images had a sensitivity of 88% and specificity of 94% for accessory renal artery detection, MIP had a sensitivity of 88% and specificity of 98%, and VVE had a sensitivity of 63% and a specificity of 88% (p < 0.05 vs DSA), but these increased to 88% and 98% respectively if endoscopic views were integrated with the other display techniques. CONCLUSION: VVE based on surface rendering does not add substantial benefits to CTY angiography; by contrast MIP is the most accurate display technique for the detection of accessory renal arteries.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

A conceptual model of the food and nutrition system.

The food system is a widely used concept, but few systematic frameworks model the full scope and structure of the food and nutrition system. Bibliographic searches, a modified Delphi technique, focus groups and interviews with experts on the topic were conducted to identify existing models of agriculture, food, nutrition, health and environmental systems. These models were examined, classified and synthesized into an integrated conceptual model of the food and nutrition system. Few existing models broadly described the system and most focused on one disciplinary perspective or one segment of the system. Four major types of models were identified: food chains, food cycles, food webs and food contexts. The integrated model developed here included three subsystems (producer, consumer, nutrition) and nine stages (production, processing, distribution, acquisition, preparation, consumption, digestion, transport, metabolism). The integrated model considers the processes and transformations that occur within the system and relationships between the system and other systems in the biophysical and social environments. The integrated conceptual model of the food and nutrition system presents food and nutrition activities as part of a larger context and identifies linkages among the many disciplines that deal with the food and nutrition system.

Agriculture↗

PubMed1998

Alcohol portrayal on prime-time television: manifest and latent messages.

OBJECTIVE: The research in this article is designed to improve our understanding of alcohol messages embedded in prime-time television, especially when adolescent characters are shown portraying or consuming alcohol. METHOD: Manifest and latent content analyses are used to assess the frequency of alcohol portrayal in prime-time television and the personality traits (powerful, admirable, smart) of characters shown consuming or portraying alcohol on prime-time television. The sample includes 224 hours of programming across 276 programs on four major networks. RESULTS: Alcoholic beverages were the most frequently portrayed food or drink. The prominence of alcohol in prime-time television applies to all characters, including adolescents. The proportion of all food and drink incidents accounted for by alcohol equaled .14 for male and .20 for female adolescent television characters. Moreover, when adolescent characters are involved with alcohol incidents, they are more likely to be shown consuming this alcohol than are adults. A significant finding was that adolescents portraying alcohol in programming were shown to have significantly more negative personality characteristics than did characters in older age groups. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with other studies, this study finds higher rates of alcohol portrayal by adolescents on prime-time television. The negative character portrayal of adolescents involved with alcohol is encouraging. However, adult and high-income characters involved with alcohol, who might serve as role models for younger adults are, on average, shown with positive personality characteristics.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1979

Bone-marrow T-lymphoid cells: a simple method for enriched specimen.

A simple method for immunological characterization of lymphoblasts from hypoplastic or fibrotic bone marrow aspirates is described. The method is quite suitable for immunological diagnostic purposes in classifying acute lymphoblastic leukemias (ALL) at onset of the disease. In fact, T-, common and classified ALL appear to have a different prognosis with consequent different patient management.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Neuroblastoma at the Giannina Gaslini Institute. Analysis of 94 cases diagnosed 1972-1981].

The authors have analysed 94 consecutive previously untreated children affected by NB diagnosed at the Giannina Gaslini Children's Hospital in the period January 1972 - December 1981. Age at diagnosis ranged between 1 month - 16 years (median 2 years). Diagnosis was made on histological grounds in 82 cases, on clinical, instrumental and laboratory data in the remaining 12 cases. Evans' staging system was adopted for classifying the disease extent. Patient recruitment was 9.4 cases for year. Female sex slightly prevailed in our series. 17 patients had localized disease (stage I and II), all surviving since 27 - 90 months. 28 children had regional disease (stage III) half of whom are presently alive. Five of the 47 cases with disseminated disease are alive at the time of this study; only one of these 5 can be considered cured, having been followed since more than 4 years. One of the two IV-s stage children survives disease-free at 89 months. 49% of patients were 2-year old or less at diagnosis while only 2 patients were older than 10. Survival was best in children diagnosed under one year of age, lowest in the 2 - 6 year age group. 74% of patients had their primary located in the abdomen (36 in the adrenal, 16 in sympathetic ganglia, 18 in un unidentifable site). Prognosis was worse in these patients compared with those with primary in the thorax, neck and pelvis. The clinical presentation of the disease has been extremely various: most patients had a diagnosis different from the definitive one, and were accordingly treated usually for several weeks or even months. Among laboratory data, urinary catecholamine metabolites, serum LDH and serum ferritin represented the most suitable indices of disease activity. Among immunological studies, none has shown a good correlation with the extent of the disease, nor with the clinical course. Stage I children had only surgery as treatment, while in stage II surgical ablation was followed by short-lasting chemotherapy and radiotherapy in few cases. In stage III and IV more complex multidisciplinary approach was utilized in the attempt to achieve a complete tumor regression. While about a half stage III cases appears curable by these treatment modalities, little impact has been demonstrated by this therapy in widespread disease, although the use of well-designed protocols seems have improved the complete remission rate and the median length of survival.

Adolescent↗