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Biomedical subjects

F Battaglia

Publications and source records attributed to F Battaglia.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

S-100 protein in the testis. An immunochemical and immunohistochemical study.

S-100, a protein originally believed to be unique to the nervous system, has recently been found in extraneural presence of S-100 in the testis, namely in Leydig cells and in lymphatic endothelial cells, using immunohistochemical and immunochemical methods. We show that the protein in the testis is immunologically identical to brain S-100. The S-100-labelled cells in the testis exhibit morphological similarities with other cell types in different tissues known to contain S-100.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

A case of mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the ovary associated with virilization: pre and post-operative steroid plasma levels.

A premenopausal woman with a mucinous carcinoma of one ovary, and a mucinous adenoma of the other, together with secondary virilization, is reported. Preoperative levels of androstenedione, testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate were high, suggesting the presence of a virilizing tumor. Preoperative plasma estrone (E1), but not estradiol (E2), was elevated along with inversion of the E2/E1 ratio, suggesting a peripheral origin of the estrogens. FSH and LH plasma concentrations were low. After bilateral ovariectomy, levels of all steroids measured significantly decreased and gonadotropins rose to the postmenopausal range.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1984

Androstenedione, 17 beta-estradiol and progesterone plasma levels in gonadotropins induction of ovulation.

A comparison of peripheral patterns of androstenedione (A), 17 beta-estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) is reported in ten infertile women during HMG-HCG induction of ovulation, in order to assess the site of ovarian secretion of plasma A and the possible influence on conception. Evidence for both the follicular and luteal secretion of plasma A is suggested, in addition to the stromal and adrenal contributions, since a highly significant (p less than 0.001) correlation between A and E2 plasma levels was shown during the treatment. In three cycles of conception, plasma A showed a periovulatory peak and drop, followed by a luteal increase, all of which are characteristic of E2.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Plasma androstenedione and oestrone levels in the climacteric syndrome.

Plasma androstenedione (A) and oestrone (E1) levels were measured by radioimmunoassay in a group of 78 healthy women who had undergone a natural menopause. Of this total, 23 were symptomless (Group 1), 39 presented with a moderate climacteric syndrome (Group 2) and 16 had a severe climacteric syndrome (Group 3). The average body weight was found to be significantly higher in Groups 2 (P less than 0.01) and 3 (P less than 0.05), than in Group 1, but the age distribution and number of years since the menopause were similar in all three groups. Nevertheless, significantly lower levels of A (0.75 +/- 0.06 ng/ml, P less than 0.01, in Group 2; 0.24 +/- 0.05 ng/ml, P less than 0.001, in Group 3) and E1 (20.80 +/- 2.18 pg/ml, P less than 0.05, in Group 2; 12.22 +/- 1.65 pg/ml, P less than 0.001, in Group 3) were observed in the women with climacteric symptoms than in those with no symptoms (A = 1.08 +/- 0.08 ng/ml, E1 = 27.73 +/- 2.22 pg/ml in Group 1). Since, after the menopause, the concentrations of A and E1 in the plasma represent the most important source of oestrogens, these results suggest that climacteric symptoms are related to oestrogen deficiency which is secondary to low A production.

Aged↗
PubMed1983

Synthesis and antifertility activity of 13-aza 14-oxo-prostaglandins.

Some 13-aza-14-oxo prostaglandin analogues of PGF2 alpha, PGE2 and PGA2 have been synthetized in optically active form, starting from Corey's intermediate and evaluated for antifertility activity in the hamster. The C-15 absolute configuration was established and found critical for the biological activity, but unexpectedly the highest potency was always associated with the 15 epi derivatives. Among the PGF2 alpha analogues the 15 epi derivative was about one tenth as potent as PGF2 alpha. The preparation of a few 16-phenoxy 17,18,19,20 tetranor-derivatives led to more potent compounds with the p-fluorophenoxy analogue having the same potency as PGF2 alpha.

Abortifacient Agents↗
PubMed1983

Localization of S-100 protein in Müller cells of the retina--2. Electron microscopical immunocytochemistry.

The cellular and subcellular distribution of S-100 protein was investigated at the ultrastructural level in the rat retina by the immunocytochemical PAP method. S-100 appeared to be localized in the cytoplasm and nucleus of Müller cells, offering conclusive evidence that in the mammalian retina, the protein is confined to glial cells. S-100, as a marker for Müller cells, may be a useful tool in order to study the cytoarchitecture of the retina in normal as well as in pathologic conditions. In addition, the retina may represent a suitable model for further investigation on the biologic role of S-100.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Plasma androstenedione and oestrone levels before and after the menopause. I. Glandular hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma of the endometrium.

Plasma androstenedione (A) levels and plasma oestrone (E1) levels were measured by radioimmunoassay in a total of 135 healthy women (the control group), around the menopause. Both A and E1 plasma levels were found to drop significantly in the post-menopausal women (P less than 0.001). The mean plasma levels of A and E1 found in these healthy women were compared with the same plasma levels found in a total of 96 hospitalized women who were found to have various gynaecological disorders. Out of the total 96 patients, 29 were post-menopausal and had adenocarcinoma of the endometrium. The mean plasma levels of A and E1 were not significantly different in comparison with the norm. The mean body weight of the tumour patients was slightly higher than the mean body weight of the healthy women. There were 25 other patients, around the menopause, who had glandular hyperplasia of the endometrium. The mean plasma levels of androstenedione found in these women were significantly higher than the mean levels found in the healthy group of women; both groups were similar in body weight. The oestrone levels found in these patients were within the normal range. The remaining 42 patients, around the menopause, were affected with dysfunctional uterine bleeding, without endometrial hyperplasia. The plasma androstenedione levels were within the normal range. Oestrone plasma levels were not measured in this group of women. This study investigates the possible differences found in the endocrine plasma levels of women with glandular hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma of the endometrium.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1982

Plasma androstenedione and oestrone levels before and after the menopause. II. Non-endocrine ovarian tumours and cysts.

Plasma androstenedione (A) and oestrone (E1) levels were measured by radioimmunoassay in 45 hospitalized patients who had non-endocrine benign or malignant ovarian tumours or cysts. The findings of these measurements were compared with the findings of the mean steroid levels which we determined previously (see previous article) in 135 healthy women, around the menopause, of similar weight. Of the total number of patients, 26 had non-endocrine benign ovarian tumours and cysts and were in the reproductive and pre-menopausal ages. The mean plasma A level was found to be significantly higher than the normal value (P less than 0.001). However, the plasma E1 level was not different from the norm. The remaining 19 patients, all around the menopause, had non-endocrine malignant epithelial ovarian tumours. The mean plasma levels of both A and E1 were found to be significantly higher (P less than 0.001) than the normal values. Since increased plasma A levels are associated with non-endocrine ovarian tumours and cysts, it seems likely that the measurement of plasma A may be used as an endocrine detector of non-endocrine ovarian tumours.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1980

The clinical significance of testosterone in the female patient.

A thorough knowledge of the biochemistry and metabolism of androgens in the female patient is extremely important for the understanding of the pathophysiology and treatment of hyperandrogenic states. It is now possible to not only measure 17-ks and total plasma testosterone levels, but also to have an index of the biologically active fraction of plasma testosterone. Treatment of excess androgen disorders can be achieved by combination estrogen-progestin steroid suppression or by ovulation induction.

17-Ketosteroids↗
PubMed1977

Existence and implications of a tilted binocular disparity space.

The existence of a tilted binocular disparity space was experimentally established. The results of the experiment showed that a texture surface which under binocular viewing appears to be oriented vertically and perpendicular to the line of sight in fact is tilted such that the portions of the texture surface above and below fixation incline toward and away from the observer, respectively. Under monocular viewing such a discrepancy between apparent and objective vertical tilt is not observed. This suggests that under binocular viewing the cortical representations of the upper and lower visual hemifields are biased toward uncrossed and crossed disparities, respectively. The tilted binocular disparity space is explained in terms of an experientially induced disparity gradient effected during development of the binocular system.

Cues↗
PubMed1976

U-shaped backward contour masking during stroboscopic motion.

Two stationary and spatially separated visual stimuli, presented briefly and successively in time, are known to produce stroboscopic motion whose vividness is a U-shaped function of the stimulus onset asynchrony. Contour masking is also known to occur under such stimulus conditions. The findings show that the contour masking is confined to only the first stimulus and that it, like metacontrast, is a backward U-shaped function of the stimulus onset asynchrony. A simple model, based on known psychophysical and neurophysiological properties, is proposed to explain these results.

Female↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Microchimerism and tolerance following intrauterine transplantation and transfusion for alpha-thalassemia-1.

A fetus homozygous for alpha-thalassemia-1 was given haploidentical paternal CD34 cells at 13, 19 and 24 weeks' gestation and supported through pregnancy by blood transfusion. The fetal hematocrit ranged between 27 and 47% and between one half and three quarters of this hemoglobin was of recipient (Bart's) type. Intrauterine growth proceeded normally and no significant fetal hydrops was detected. Tests for donor HLA antigens, and alpha-globin DNA, were negative on fetal blood samples drawn before birth. A positive signal for alpha-globin DNA was obtained from cord blood and from marrow obtained at 3 months of age, suggesting that some donor stem cells had persisted in the recipient. The infant's blood mononuclear cells showed little proliferative and no cytotoxic response to the donor while responses to a third party were present. Additional paternal CD34 cells given at 3 months age did not reduce transfusion dependency in the subsequent 6 months. Our results show that repeated transfusions can support an alpha-thalassemia-1 fetus through pregnancy, in this instance without significant birth defects or apparent hypoxic tissue injury. The donor stem cells did not have a survival advantage compared with endogenous stem cells, but appeared to survive in the recipient as judged by the persistence of an alpha-globin DNA signal. In vitro studies of alloreactivity suggest tolerization of the host to the donor's MHC disparity. Future efforts will focus on exploiting this tolerance to improve the level of donor chimerism.

Antigens, CD34↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Preliminary evaluation of HER-2/neu oncogene and epidermal growth factor receptor expression in normal and neoplastic human ovaries.

The HER-2/neu oncogene (a member of the Erb-like oncogene family) is distinct from but closely related to the c-erb B gene which encodes the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr). HER-2/neu gene amplification was found in a large number of mammary carcinomas and there was a strong correlation between this phenomenon and poor prognosis. In our study HER-2/neu oncogene expression was determined in 16 malignant ovarian tumors, 2 ovarian lymphomas and 5 normal ovaries. The HER-2/neu gene was found both in normal ovaries and malignant tumors, without any apparent difference among the various histological types. In all the specimens examined, HER-2/neu expression did not seem to be related to EGF binding capacity.

ErbB Receptors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Preliminary evaluation of HER-2/neu oncogene and epidermal growth factor receptor expression in normal and neoplastic human ovaries.

The HER-2/neu oncogene (a member of the Erb-like oncogene family) is distinct from but closely related to the c-erb B gene which encodes the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr). HER-2/neu gene amplification was found in a large number of mammary carcinomas and there was a strong correlation between this phenomenon and poor prognosis. In our study HER-2/neu oncogene expression was determined in 16 malignant ovarian tumors, 2 ovarian lymphomas and 5 normal ovaries. The HER-2/neu gene was found both in normal ovaries and malignant tumors, without any apparent difference among the various histological types. In all the specimens examined, HER-2/neu expression did not seem to be related to EGF binding capacity.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Rationale for very high-dose chemotherapy with peripheral blood stem cell support in advanced ovarian cancer.

Although significant progress has been made in the management of advanced ovarian cancer, the majority of patients continue to die of this disease. Most advanced ovarian cancer patients present sub-optimal residual tumour after primary surgery and their prognosis is very poor since residual disease has been confirmed as the major factor predicting response to chemotherapy and survival. Therefore, it seems worth developing treatment modalities that can produce a longer remission period. In this short review, the authors summarize the clinical and experimental evidence supporting the usefulness of high-dose chemotherapy with autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation in advanced ovarian cancer.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗