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Biomedical subjects

C Cottone

Publications and source records attributed to C Cottone.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

Simultaneous identification of antibodies to Brucella abortus and Staphylococcus aureus in milk samples by flow cytometry.

Two flow cytometric assays are described herein. The single cytometric test (SCT) detects antibodies to either Brucella abortus or Staphylococcus aureus in the serum or milk of a cow or water buffalo. The double cytometric test (DCT) detects both anti-B. abortus and anti-S. aureus antibodies concurrently. In the SCT, the sample to be tested is incubated in succession with the antigen (either B. abortus or S. aureus) and the proper secondary antiserum (fluorescein isothiocyanate-labelled rabbit anti-cow immunoglobulin antiserum or rabbit anti-water buffalo immunoglobulin antiserum). In the DCT, the sample to be tested is incubated first with B. abortus and S. aureus antigens and then with the secondary antiserum. The B. abortus antigen used in the DCT is covalently bound to 3-microm-diameter latex particles. The difference in size between B. abortus and S. aureus permits the establishment of whether the antibodies are directed against one, the other, or both antigens. When compared to the complement fixation test, the SCT and DCT each show a specificity and a sensitivity of 100%. The SCT has been used previously to detect anti-S. aureus antibodies. Here its use is extended to the detection of anti-B. abortus antibodies. The DCT is described here for the first time. The DCT appears to be useful for large-scale brucellosis eradication programs. It offers the possibility of using one test to identify animals that are serologically positive for both B. abortus and S. aureus.

Animals↗

Effect of subcutaneous sumatriptan on head temperature in migraines.

Sumatriptan, a selective 5-hydroxy-triptamine (5-HT1) receptor agonist, has been used recently in the treatment of acute migraine. Some in vitro experiments suggested that sumatriptan has vasoactive properties in vascular beds distinct from cerebral circulation. In view of this we investigated the vascular effects of the standard 6 mg subcutaneous (s.c.) dose of sumatriptan, on the surface areas of the head using thermography, a simple and reliable method for detecting temperature changes. The head temperature of 127 patients (double-blind), 102 migraines (52 during headache attack and 50 headache-free) and 25 healthy control subjects were evaluated using thermography in basal condition and 30, 60, 90, and 120 min after s.c. sumatriptan injection of placebo. During the entire observation period systemic blood pressure (SBP), heart rate (HR) and continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) were detected automatically. A significant head temperature decrease was observed after s.c. sumatriptan administration, in both healthy controls and migraine subjects; placebo administration did not show any change of temperature. In migraine patients during headache attack, head temperature reduction corresponded to the relief of headache symptoms. This vasoconstrictor effect detected with thermography is not isolated to cranial circulation but it is also systemic. In fact, we observed a significant increase (p < 0.05) in both systolic and diastolic systemic blood pressure. No significant changes in heart rate and ECG abnormalities were otherwise detected. These findings suggest that sumatriptan is effective in the treatment of migraine attack, but it must be used with caution in migraines with concomitant hypertension.

Adult↗

DNA content differences in laboratory mouse strains determined by flow cytometry.

The nuclear DNA content of seven mouse laboratory strains has been measured by flow cytometry. The differences observed between strains as well as those between sexes within the strain were all statistically significant. The highest DNA content (approximately 6.4 pg/female nucleus) was found in the Balb/c strain; the lowest (approximately 5.7 pg/male nucleus) in the C3H/he strain. The difference between sexes varied from 1.6% (in CD-1 mice) to 6.3% (in nude mice). The interest of these results is twofold. First, the mouse can now be used to study the adaptive significance of genome size variation, so far studied only in plants. Second, DNA content analysis can become a quick method for mouse strain identification.

Animals↗

Simultaneous detection of cucumber mosaic virus, tomato mosaic virus and potato virus Y by flow cytometry.

The simultaneous detection is described of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), potato virus Y (PVY) and tomato mosaic virus (ToMV) by flow cytometry. Extracts from leaves of healthy and CMV or PVY infected plants were incubated with latex particles, each with a diameter of 3 microm. Extracts from ToMV infected or uninfected plants, however, were incubated with particles, each with a diameter of 6 microm. Beads were washed and incubated in succession with primary and secondary antibodies, the latter labeled with phycoerythrin (PE) or fluorescein (FITC). CMV and PVY were distinguished on the basis of the fluorescence emitted by FITC and PE; ToMV was distinguished from CMV and PVY on the basis of the different diameter (6 microm) of the particles on which it was adsorbed. The three viruses were detected also by another approach. Latex particles with a diameter of 3, 6 and 10 microm were separately sensitized with antibodies specific for CMV, PVY and ToMV. An equal number of sensitized particles was mixed and incubated with the plant extracts containing the three viruses and then with anti-CMV, anti-PVY and anti-ToMV antibodies labeled with FITC. The study describes also a virus purification method based on the use of antibody coated latex particles. The method is simple technically and applicable to the purification of large as well as minute amounts of different viruses (CMV, PVY and ToMV).

Antibodies, Viral↗

[Raynaud's phenomenon: effects of terazosin].

After considering the clinical and physiopathological aspects of Raynaud's phenomenon, the authors have evaluated the medium effects of therazosine in 2 groups of patients, respectively with idiopathic and secondary Raynaud's phenomenon. The results show that the therazosin determines a decrease of number, intensity and duration of vasospastic attacks to the hands as well as an improvement of telethermographic and ultrasonographic findings.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

Effects of cilazapril on renal haemodynamics and function in hypertensive patients: a randomised controlled study versus hydrochlorothiazide.

In this study the efficacy and safety of short-term cilazapril administration on renal haemodynamics were evaluated in mild to moderate hypertensive subjects. Our final goal was to evaluate whether the reduction in blood pressure achieved by treatment was associated with maintained renal function. After a run-in period with placebo, 40 hypertensive subjects without renal or cardiac diseases were randomly allocated to a double-blind 4 week controlled trial with cilazapril 5 mg once a day (20 patients) or hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg once a day (20 patients). Renal haemodynamics measurements included effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) by radionuclide study using 131I-hippuran and 99mTc, according to the methods described by Schlegel and Gates, respectively. Effective renal blood flow [ERBF = ERPF/(1-Ht)], filtration fraction (FF = GFR/ERPF) and renal vascular resistance (RVR = MBP x 80/ERBF) were calculated. At the end of cilazapril and hydrochlorothiazide administration significant decreases (p < 0.001) in SBP, DBP and MBP vs baseline values were observed. In the cilazapril group a significant decrease (p < 0.001) in RVR and FF and a significant increase (p < 0.001) in ERPF and ERBF were also found. In the hydrochlorothiazide group a significant decrease (p < 0.001) in RVR was found. No important side effects were observed with either treatment. In conclusion our data indicate that both cilazapril and hydrochlorothiazide reduced blood pressure equally well but only cilazapril improved renal blood flow and reduced filtration fraction.

Adult↗

Use of BICAP in a case of colon angiodysplasia.

This paper reports on a case of colonic bleeding from an angiodysplastic lesion of the ascending colon in a 71-year-old diabetic woman, resulting in severe anemia in the patient, who was treated using the BICAP electrocoagulation system. The present report includes a description of this technique, which involves the use of a 7-F hemostatic probe connected to a 25-W BICAP source.

Aged↗

[Effect of clebopride on gastric emptying studied using a physiologic meal marked with Tc 99m colloid in subjects with non-ulcer dyspepsia].

The authors studied the action of clebopride on gastric emptying in subjects with non-ulcer dyspepsia by using radioactive isotopes. Eighteen subjects complaining of dyspeptic symptoms were studied in whom the tests undertaken had not shown organic lesions of the digestive tract. Tests with radioactive isotopes were performed before and after administration of clebopride (0.5 mg, three times daily for 15 days). In all patients gastric emptying time was normalized and gastric peristalsis became regular. In addition, in 85% of the patients, symptoms disappeared or were markedly reduced. Side effects requiring withdrawal of the drug were not observed. The above study, therefore, showed clebopride to be a useful drug for the treatment of non-ulcer dyspepsia, thus confirming data found in the literature.

Adult↗

[Effect of sumatriptan on facial temperature variations, blood pressure and electrocardiogram in healthy subjects and patients with migraine without aura].

40 patients were evaluated for skin temperature changes from baseline measurements and after 6 mg subcutaneous sumatriptan administration. During examination, skin temperature were recorded on a color picture at 10', 20', 30', 60', 90' and 120 minutes after sumatriptan administration. At the some time, heart rate (HR), systolic (SBP), diastolic (BDP) blood pressure and ECG-monitoring were automatically recorded. The patients were subgrouped as follow: 20 non migrainous control subjects (6 males and 14 females) aged 19 to 55 years (mean age 39.5 +/- 15.4); 20 headache free migrainous patients (6 males and 14 females) aged 25 to 46 years (mean age 37.8 +/- 8.4). Our data demonstrate a significant reduction in skin temperature (face) in all patients studied. 10 minutes after sumatriptan administration a significant increase (p > 0.001) both in SBP and BDP was observed. This findings suggest that sumatriptan show a vasoconstrictor effect as demonstrate by reduction in face temperature both in nonmigrainous and in migrainous patients. The unchange in HR and ECG and the transient increase in blood pressure, not associated with clinical symptoms, suggest that this drug may be used in migrainous patients.

Adult↗