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Biomedical subjects

C Sacchi

Publications and source records attributed to C Sacchi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Classical swine fever in wild boar in the Lombardy region of Italy from 1997 to 2002.

In 1997, outbreaks of classical swine fever occurred in wild boar and domestic pigs in the Italian province of Varese (Lombardy region). Statutory animal health measures were imposed, and a control plan aimed at preventing the virus from spreading outside the infected hunting zone of 108 km2 was implemented. However, in 1998, virologically positive wild boar were found outside this zone, including within Swiss territory. The infected zone was then enlarged to include the three other hunting areas of the northern province of Varese and the neighbouring Swiss territory. Italian and Swiss veterinary services initiated a joint policy to control the disease by hunting young wild boar and conserving older, immune animals. The percentage of virologically positive animals gradually decreased, the last being found in July 2000. The seroprevalence initially increased, but in 2000 and 2001 it decreased from 42.2 per cent to 8.8 per cent, indicating that the wild boar population had had no further contact with the virus.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Effect of inapplicable items in the factor structure of the Spanish version of the Ways of Coping Questionnaire.

The aim of this work was to examine how the presence of inapplicable items might change the factor structure of the 1984 Ways of Coping Questionnaire by Lazarus and Folkman. The Spanish version of the Ways of Coping Questionnaire was administered to 156 subjects with university degrees. The 95 women and 61 men whose ages were from 18 and 45 years (M = 27.8, SD = 12.1) were of middle socioeconomic status. All were residents of Buenos Aires. To study whether relevant items modify the factor structure of the Ways of Coping Questionnaire, two factor analyses were carried out, one with items rated as not relevant (Item Mean) and the other with the same items rated as not chosen. In both factor analyses, principal axes method and oblimin rotation were performed, and five factors were considered. Congruence indexes were performed. Analysis showed that not choosing an item because it does not coincide with one's behavior or ideas is not the same as not selecting that item because it does not apply to the current threatening situation. Lack of discrimination between situations when analyzing data leads to a distorted interpretation of the way in which the subject actually behaves or copes with the situation.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1999

[Hormone evaluation in brain death].

BACKGROUND: In this study, the level and the variation of a number of hormone and metabolic parameters during brain death treatment in potential organ donors have been monitored. METHODS: Thirty-nine consecutive brain-dead patients were enrolled in 3 Intensive Care Units of Regional Hospitals of the North of Italy. All patients were potential organ donors and free from diseases before the accident leading to death. The levels of ADH, ACTH, TSH, prolactin, cortisol, aldosterone, FT3, FT4, renin, serum lactate and plasma osmolality were measured immediately after the diagnosis of brain death (T0), certified following the Italian law of December 29, 1993, n. 578, and after 6 hours (T6). RESULTS: Hormone levels were normal in the majority of subjects, and there was no significant variation during the 6 hours of the observation period. No correlation was found between the hormone levels considered and the metabolic parameters; ADH levels were not correlated with plasma osmolality. FT3 levels were below the normal range in the majority of subjects, but were not associated with a higher lactate level, which is used as a marker of a shift toward tissue anaerobic metabolism. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, triiodothyronine administration to improve metabolic order and thus the function of organs for transplantation is not justified in brain-dead patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Inhibition of cell proliferation by the interferon-inducible 204 gene, a member of the Ifi 200 cluster.

The role of the IFN-inducible p204 as growth regulator was investigated by transfecting an expression vector constitutively expressing p204 into several cell lines. Like pRB and p107, p204 is a potent growth inhibitor in sensitive cells, as demonstrated by the cell focus assay. Since stable transfectants of sensitive lines constitutively overexpressing p204 could not be established in vitro, we inserted the 204 cDNA into a vector bearing an heavy-metal-inducible promoter. Here we show that proliferation of B6MEF fibroblasts lacking endogenous p204 is strongly inhibited by transient p204 expression in the nucleus. p204 delays G1 progression into the S-phase and cells accumulate with a DNA content equivalent to cells arrested in late G1. Moreover, the role of p204 in the control of cell growth in vivo was investigated by generating transgenic mice in which the Ifi 204 gene was constitutively expressed in all tissues. To this end, expression vectors bearing the 204 cDNA under the control of the SV40 viral promoter were constructed. The overexpression of the p204 transgene achieved by injecting fertilized mouse eggs with these vectors was compatible with embryo development up to the four-cell stage in an in vitro follow-up of 4.5 days. However, no viable animals with an intact copy of the transgene were obtained, suggesting that high and constitutive levels of p204 expression can impair normal embryo development. These findings indicate that p204 plays a negative role in growth regulation and provide new information about the molecular mechanisms exploited by IFNs to inhibit cell proliferation.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

[HCV and extrahepatic diseases].

Besides being a hepatotropic virus and a common cause of chronic hepatitis, hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been linked to a variety of extrahepatic immunological manifestations. The high prevalence of HCV infections in some of these conditions suggests an important pathogenetic role of the virus. The recent observation that HCV infects peripheral blood mononuclear cells, such as CD8+ T lymphocytes, CD19+ B lymphocytes and monocytes/microphages, has given an insight into the possible mechanisms of HCV associated autoimmunity. In the clinical practice it is recommended not only to search for symptoms and signs of autoimmune disorders in patients with chronic hepatitis C, but also to test for hepatitis C virus infection patients with extrahepatic conditions known to be related to HCV. Even if the occurrence of autoimmune disorders or the exacerbations of autoimmune diseases has been reported during interferon therapy, antiviral therapy is effective in treating some of the extrahepatic disorders associated with HCV, namely mixed cryoglobulinemia and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. The extrahepatic manifestations associated with hepatitis C virus infection are reviewed according to the available data and the option of interferon therapy is discussed.

English Abstract↗
PubMed1997

Suppression of high mobility group protein T160 expression impairs mouse cytomegalovirus replication.

The high mobility group (HMG-1) box proteins bind both non-B-DNA conformations and specific nucleotide sequences. They have been implicated in a wide variety of cellular functions involving DNA, such as transcription, replication and recombination. To determine whether HMG-1 box protein T160 plays a role in virus replication, we employed an antisense strategy to inhibit its expression in NIH 3T3 cells. The two T160 clones that expressed levels of T160 50% lower than those expressed by clones transfected with the empty vector (Neo+ clones) were investigated with respect to their permissiveness to the growth of viruses representing three families: Rhabdoviridae, vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV); Picornaviridae, encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV), and Alpha- and Betaherpesviridae, herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and mouse cytomegalovirus (MCMV), respectively. They displayed a high degree of resistance to MCMV replication, but were fully permissive to the other viruses. Competitive PCR and probing IE-1 products by Western blot analysis showed that this resistance was not due to depressed levels of virus adsorption during the early phases of infection. We therefore conclude that T160 is involved in replication of the betaherpesvirus MCMV.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1995

From low hematocrit physiology to isovolemic hemodilution.

The aim of this study, starting from some concepts of physiology, was to deal with the ever growing question of intentional anemia. Physiology suitably expresses the linear relationship between hematocrit and blood fluidity, and at the same time explains how viscosity and aggregability are important co-factors in the circulation, in disease and in thromboembolic complications. The need to understand how a low hematocrit level, compared to the volemia, is a fundamental requirement in surgery, and even more so in surgery with a high risk of embolism, like orthopedic traumatology surgery. Normovolemic hemodilution was analyzed both for the risks it involves and for how much it sticks to the changes induced by a similar situation on the various organs and apparatus. The authors, based on their experience in the field of anesthesiology, propose an operating schedule to safely perform intentional normovolemic hemodilution, describing the preoperative, intraoperative and finally the postoperative period. In conclusion, the authors advocate a wider use of this technique, confirming its safety in relation to volemia.

Blood Flow Velocity↗
PubMed1993

The role of apoptosis in growing and stationary rat ascites hepatoma, Yoshida AH-130.

The occurrence of apoptosis and its contribution to growth-phase transitions in the rat ascites hepatoma Yoshida AH-130 have been evaluated. Apoptosis was observed by light microscopy in both exponentially-growing and stationary tumours as characteristic chromatin condensation and compacting of the cytoplasm, but the frequency of apoptotic bodies (apoptotic index) was four-fold higher in stationary than in logarithmic-growing tumours. Apoptosing cells exhibited strong immunocytochemical reactivity for 'tissue' transglutaminase, and transglutaminase activity was higher in stationary tumour cells. A ladder pattern of DNA fragmentation was revealed by agarose gel electrophoresis which was more pronounced in stationary tumours. The apoptotic bodies were either free or contained in vacuoles within otherwise normal tumour cells, suggesting active engulfment of dead cells by viable homologous cells. Such 'homophagic' disposal of the apoptotic bodies probably accounted for a component of the enhanced cell protein degradation previously observed in stationary AH-130 tumours (Tessitore L, Bonelli G, Cecchini G, Amenta JS, Baccino FM, Arch Biochem Biophys 1987; 255: 372-384). The data indicate that, in concurrence with changes in the cell proliferation rate, modulations of apoptosis play a substantial role in determining the net growth rate of such an anaplastic tumour as the Yoshida AH-130 hepatoma.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Cell death induced in L-cells by treatment with thymidine: staging of the process and relationship to apoptosis.

The purpose of this study was to characterize the stages in the development of thymidine-induced cell death. L-cells were characterized by both morphologic and quantitative techniques and evaluated at 24, 48, and 72 h of treatment. Cells first enlarged (stage I); about 50% of these enlarged cells then decreased in size with blebbing and compacting (stage II). This residual cell body transformed into a smooth eosinophilic hyaline body (stage III) by 72 h, many of which could be identified within the vacuolar system of viable cells. These changes were reflected in morphologic counts and Coulter sizing. Cell death (loss of labeled DNA) began in stage II and was most prominent in stage III. No cleavage of DNA into oligonucleosomal fragments was detected by agarose gel electrophoresis at any stage. The similarity of these changes to the complete spectrum of apoptosis in vivo is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[Tracheal intubation: increase of arterial pressure and cerebral blood flow velocity. Effect of thiopentone and propofol].

Induction of anaesthesia in intracranial surgery, especially for vascular diseases, must minimize haemodynamic changes: blood pressure and cerebral blood flow must not be increased to a high degree. Our work compares increases in blood pressure and in the speed of cerebral blood flow during endotracheal intubation in two groups of patients, who received propofol or thiopentone for the induction of anaesthesia. We studied 30 patients, without intracranial diseases, who underwent lumbar slipped disk surgery. Half of the patients received thiopentone and curare before intubation and the other half propofol and curare. Increase in blood pressure after intubation was lower with propofol than with thiopentone in a statistically significant way. Also the increase in the speed of cerebral blood flow, measured with doppler technique, was lower when induction with propofol was used, though not statistically relevant.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

The problem of blood in surgical treatment of spinal deformity.

In order to minimize the risks of homologous blood transfusion during surgery for spinal deformity, we perform a blood-saving procedure consisting of both intraoperative methods and auto-transfusion techniques. In this paper we compare our experience in the year 1989 with that of the past decade. When auto-transfusion was used, there was a decrease in intraoperative blood loss and only 4% of the patients required homologous transfusions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Activity of topical flunoxaprofen in nonspecific vaginitis. Comparison with meclocycline sulfosalicylate].

A trial was performed in 30 patients affected by non-specific vaginitis. The results show that the topical application (by vaginal washings) of flunoxaprofen produces a high therapeutic activity like that of meclocycline. Contrary to meclocycline, flunoxaprofen does not possess bactericidal and bacteriostatic properties. Therefore, the normalization of vaginal flora, with a remarkable increase of Döderlein bacillus, is exclusively due to local antiphlogistic activity of flunoxaprofen. Contrary to meclocycline, flunoxaprofen induces a precocious increase of Döderlein bacillus, necessary for a definitive normalization and to limit the possibility of relapses.

Administration, Intravaginal↗
PubMed1988

Stereochemical pharmacokinetics of the 2-arylpropionic acid non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug flunoxaprofen in rats and in man.

Stereospecific serum assays of the non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug flunoxaprofen (S(+)-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-a-methyl-5-benzoxazoleacetic acid, Priaxim) were performed in rats after the oral administration of 10 mg/kg b.w. of the different enantiomeric forms of the drug or of the racemate in order to establish the occurrence and the rate of biotransformation of R(-)-flunoxaprofen to the S(+)-enantiomer, which is the pharmacologically active form. Preliminary observations of the enantiomeric blood levels were also made in man after a single oral dose (100 mg) of R(-)-flunoxaprofen or of the racemate. Blood was withdrawn at different time intervals up to 120 h in rats and up to 48 h in man and serum levels of flunoxaprofen enantiomers were determined by a HPLC method. The results obtained in the rat show that S(+)-flunoxaprofen serum levels following the administration of a single oral dose of flunoxaprofen reach about the same values (between 24 and 30 micrograms/ml at 18 h) whichever form was dosed (i.e. 10 mg/kg b.w. of S(+)- or R(+)-, or 5 mg/kg b.w. of S(+)- as the racemate). On the contrary, R(-)-flunoxaprofen serum concentrations fall to values lower than 5 micrograms/ml either after the administration of 10 mg/kg R(-)- or of 5 mg/kg R(-)- as the racemate; these serum R(-)-flunoxaprofen values are close to those observed after the administration of S(+)-flunoxaprofen which contains 5% R(-)- as an impurity (i.e. 0.5 mg/kg b.w.).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1987

Peripheral neuropathy associated with experimental plasma cell neoplasm in the mouse.

In order to investigate the role of paraproteins in the production of neuropathy we experimentally induced monoclonal immunoglobulin-producing tumours into 32 BALB/c mice by injecting mineral oil or pristane intraperitoneally. In 11 mice morphologic and histometric studies of the sciatic nerve revealed the presence of neuropathy. Immunohistochemical studies did not demonstrate a significant amount of immunoglobulins and light chains in the endoneurium. The advantages and limits of this experimental model are discussed.

Animals↗