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Biomedical subjects

C Maffei

Publications and source records attributed to C Maffei.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Sleep, psychophysiological functioning and learning processes in schizophrenia.

Sleep research has underlined how sleep is a specific functional moment inserted in the more complex system of circadian psychobiological rhythms. Many experimental data have evidenced that in particular REM sleep is involved in information processing and cognitive processes. The authors examine correlations between daytime cognitive performances and sleep patterns in a group of 11 schizophrenic patients, and in a control group made of 11 non-schizophrenic (borderline, depressed, character disorders) patients. Results show that there exists a relationship between REM sleep and cognitive activities, beyond nosographic partitions. They on the other side suggest caution in using sleep as a means of discrimination between schizophrenic and non-schizophrenic patients.

Adult

[Statistico-mathematical correlation of the B and C isoenzyme ratio of carbonic anhydrase and fetal hemoglobin, and its probable biological significance in the metabolism of zinc].

The AA. performed a study on the Bravais-Galton's correlation coefficient. They applied this coefficient to the HCAB/HCAC ratio and to the fetal haemoglobin often groups of twenty children (one month four years old) values. The result support the assumption that there is a strong biochemical relationship between zinc-carbonic anhydrase and haemoglobin in erithrocytes.

Age Factors

Neurophysiological aspects and learning processes in schizophrenic patients.

Two groups of schizophrenic patients (acute and chronic subjects) were observed in order to study possible differences in neuropsychological performances and their relationship with symptomatology. 16 acute and 16 chronic patients, aged 18 to 35 years were tested with a battery of neuropsychological tests (Word Association Test, Serial Verbal Learning, Weigl's test, Simple Reaction Times, Choice Continuous Reaction Time). Clinical profiles were evaluated by means of MMPI and WAIS (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale). Findings concerning cognitive processes show no significant differences between the two groups. Results suggest a correlation between clinical profiles and performances in acute patients, whereas in chronic subjects this correlation seems markedly reduced. Finally, chronicity (i.e. the length of illness) does not seem so be an important factor in determining consistent defects in neuropsychological performances.

Acute Disease

Failure of pyridoxine to effect neuroleptic-induced hyperprolactinemia in psychotic patients.

The effects of acute and repeated administration of pyridoxine on serum prolactin levels were studied in 18 chronic schizophrenics, 10 women and 8 men, in whom hyperprolactinemia had been induced by long-term treatment with phenothiazines, haloperidol, sulpiride or clopentixol. The patients were divided into 5 groups: group 1 received 300 mg of the vitamin per os in a single dose; group 2 received 300 mg of the vitamin per os for 7 days; group 3 received 300 mg of the vitamin iv as a single bolus; group 4 received 600 mg of the vitamin iv as a single bolus; group 5 received 1200 mg of the vitamin per os in a single dose. Prolactin levels were examined before and 15, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 min after the single administration of pyridoxine, either iv or per os, and on days 3,5, 7 of the chronic administration. There was no decrease in prolactin levels either after oral or iv administration of the drug, given in single or repeated doses. Therefore, this treatment is not useful for the suppression of hyperprolactinemia induced by neuroleptics.

Adult

[Schizophrenia and family-expressed emotions. Study of an Italian population].

Expressed Emotion (EE) is a method of assessing the emotional make-up of a family, widely used in English-speaking countries, with particular reference to schizophrenia. This research programme arose out of a trial application of EE to a group of Italian families. Data are given here relative to a sample of 19 families with a schizophrenic member (according to DSM III criteria). The results confirm the hypothesised correlation between family EE and recidivist symptomatology of schizophrenic subjects: "high family EE" is associated with the most serious and habitual schizophrenic cases. The necessary adaptations which had to be made in order to apply EE assessment methods to Italian families are also discussed.

Adolescent

Effect of denervation on cyclic amp regulating enzymes in the rat gastrocnemius muscle.

The activities of cyclic AMP regulatory enzymes (adenylate cyclase and phosphodiesterase) were studied in rat gastrocnemius muscle after denervation. Basal adenylate cyclase activity in whole homogenate increased progressively from the 3rd day reaching values more than 7-fold those of the controls 30 days after denervation. No significant differences between the contralateral and denervated muscle were detected as regards adenylate cyclase activation by catecholamines or NaF. Carbamylcholine was with effect. Cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity increased significantly at 3 days after denervation as was still significantly elevated at 60 days.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases

alpha-L-Fucosidase activity and isoenzyme characteristics analyzed by chromatofocusing in normal and leukemic lymphocytes.

alpha-L-Fucosidase (EC 3.2.1.51) activity and isoenzyme characteristics were analyzed in normal lymphocyte subpopulations, chronic lymphocytic leukemia subpopulations, and acute lymphoblastic leukemia blasts. Similar pH activity profiles revealed that pH 5.0 was optimal in normal and leukemic cells. Unfractionated CLL lymphocytes had a lower specific activity than normal unfractionated lymphocytes (2.5 +/- 1.0 u/10(6) cells v. 4.0 +/- 1.1). CLL B cells and T-cells had lower specific activity than their respective normal counterparts (1.8 +/- 0.2 v. 5.9 +/- 2.0) (B-cells); (2.2 +/- 0.5 v. 3.7 +/- 1.0) (T-cells) suggesting T and B cells in CLL are abnormal. ALL blasts had a higher specific activity compared to unfractionated normal lymphocytes (9.7 +/- 3.0 v. 4.0 +/- 1.1; p less than 0.001). The isoenzyme pattern of normal, CLL and ALL lymphocytes were obtained by automated chromatofocusing on PBE 94 microcolumns using 0.025 M histidine and polybuffer 74. Two major isoenzyme components (B and A) were isolated. The activity ratio of B/A was different in normal, ALL, and CLL cells.

B-Lymphocytes