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Biomedical subjects

F Fassio

Publications and source records attributed to F Fassio.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Evaluation of 10 aliphatic halogenated hydrocarbons in the mouse bone marrow micronucleus test.

Ten halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons (carbon tetrachloride, 1-chlorohexane, 2,3-dichlorobutane, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,2-dichloroethylene, 1,3-dichloropropane, hexachloroethane, 1,1,2-trichloroethane, 1,2,3-trichloropropane and 1,1,3-trichloropropene), previously assayed in genetic assays in fungi, were evaluated in the mouse bone marrow micronucleus test in order to assess their genotoxicity in vivo. All chemicals were administered once i.p. at 40 and 70-80% of their respective LD50 to male and female CD-1 mice, 24 and 48 h before killing. All treatments produced evident clinical symptoms, but no marked depression of bone marrow proliferation. No statistically significant increases in the incidence of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes over the control values were observed at any sampling time with any of the 10 halogenated hydrocarbons assayed. The comparison of the results obtained in this study with the findings provided by in vitro micronucleus assays on the same chemicals, reported by other authors, indicate that mouse bone marrow is weakly sensitive to the genotoxic effects induced by halogenated hydrocarbons in other test systems. This suggests that the role of such an assay in carcinogen screening may be questionable for this chemical class. An examination of mouse bone marrow micronucleus test results with the halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons classified as carcinogens by IARC supports this conclusion.

Animals↗

[Mutagenicity study of gadobenate dimeglumine formulation (E7155) (3)--Micronucleus test in rat bone marrow cells].

The mutagenic potential of gadobenate dimeglumine formulation (E7155) was studied by the micronucleus test in rats. Single intraperitoneal injection of E7155 to Sprague Dawley rats at the dose of 5295.2 mg/kg (5 mmol/kg) did not induce any statistically significant increase in the frequency of micronucleate cells in the bone marrow sampled after 18, 42 and 66 hr from time of administration.

Animals↗

[Mutagenicity study of gadobenate dimeglumine formulation (E7155) (1)--Reverse mutation assays in S. typhimurium and E. coli tester strains].

The ability of gadobenate dimeglumine formulation (E7155) to cause gene mutations was assessed in five strains of Salmonella typhimurium (TA100, TA1535, TA98, TA1538, and TA1537) and a strain of Escherichia coli (CM891; WP2, uvrA-, pKM101) using the Ames test (agar plate assay). The results suggest that E7155 is non-mutagenic towards these bacterial tester strains.

Contrast Media↗

[Increase in the prevalence of obesity among children aged 4-5 years in a French district between 1988 and 1993].

Two cross-sectional studies were performed on probabilistic samples in the Hérault "département"--respectively in 1987-1988 on children born in 1983 and in 1992-1993 on children born in 1988--to measure the evolution of the prevalence of obesity. A greater proportion of high weight for height (Z score of 1.0 and more, international reference population) has been observed in comparison with the first year. A major increase in the prevalence of obesity (setting a Z score of 2 as limit) has been recorded between the two periods (odds ratio = 2.51 (1.57 to 4.02)). It cannot be explained by structural changes of the population as regards factors known to be associated with obesity (urbanization, mother's occupation, family composition, social status, unemployment, distribution according to the country of origin). The possible influence of changes in the way of life is discussed in relation with the literature. This first representative sample study confirms--at least for the district studied--the findings in various populations, suggesting that the prevalence of obesity is increasing in France. The causes of this phenomenon remain to be defined.

Child, Preschool↗

Chemical reagents as potential impurities of pharmaceutical products: investigations on their genotoxic activity.

The genotoxic activity of chemical reagents and intermediates as potential impurities of final pharmaceutical products have been investigated by the AFI Mutagenesis Study Group. A number of compounds employed in the synthesis of beta-lactam (12), quinolone (6), antiviral (3), and other drugs (11) were analyzed. The information reported in this article was mainly obtained experimentally in our laboratories. In addition, attempts were made to obtain reference data; however, these were available for only a few compounds. The genetic end-point taken into account was principally gene mutation in bacteria. All chemical reagents used in the synthesis of quinolones and antivirals were negative in the Ames test. As far as reagents employed in beta-lactam synthesis were concerned, genotoxic activity was shown by the alkylating agents bromomethanol acetate and chloromethanol acetate, by carbon disulfide, and by the different dimethylanilines. The other chemicals generically considered as involved in "other syntheses" did not induce gene mutation, except for 2,5-dibromopentyl acetate, which was positive in the Ames test. For this compound, as for the halogenated methanol acetates, genotoxic activity was expected in view of its alerting chemical structure.

Animals↗

[Epidemiological surveillance of nursery school children in the Hérault for the evaluation of maternal and infant health and welfare services].

A random sample of 4-5 years old children born in the same year was taken from the infant schools of the Herault (France) and examined by pediatricians during a systematic check carried out by the Mother and Child Protection Department of the Health Service. This gave and estimation of the prevalence of the most widespread health problems: language, motricity, eyesight, hearing, obesity and asthma. Differences according to social and familial factors were found for language and motricity problems, as well as for access to preventive care.

Child Welfare↗

HIV-related malignant lymphoma: a report of 46 cases observed in Italy.

We report 36 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) and 10 patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD), predominantly intravenous drug abusers (IVDA; 35 patients), diagnosed in 16 different Italian centers. The group of NHL has a median age of 26 years (range 16-64): 26 were IVDA, 3 polytransfused, 3 IVDA and homosexual men, 2 homosexual men and 2 without apparent risk for AIDS but carrying HIV antibodies. 81% of the evaluable patients had high-grade NHL (32% Burkitt's type) according to the Working Formulation, 15% intermediate and 4% low-grade. Out of 23 patients with stage reported, 16 (70%) were stage IV, 2 (9%) stage III, 1 (4%) stage II and 4 (17%) stage I (CNS involvement). The group with HD has a median age of 25 years (range 20-40), 9 were IVDA and 1 IVDA and homosexual. Of the 7 patients with subtype reported, 4 patients had nodular sclerosis and 3 mixed cellularity subtype. Stage III and IV were reported in 66% of the patients. The median survival is 4 months for NHL and 10 months for HD. The most common cause of death is opportunistic infection in 86% of the evaluable cases.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Malignant lymphomas in patients with or at risk for AIDS: a report of 50 cases observed in Italy.

For the first time the presence of a consistent number of malignant lymphomas among persons at high risk for AIDS has been documented in Italy. The majority of our cases started to occur in 1983, in line with the trend for a 2-year delay in the spread of the epidemic of AIDS in Europe. The patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas had an increased incidence of high grade subtypes, particularly of the Burkitt type, and were in an advanced stage with frequent extranodal involvement. Patients with Hodgkin's disease had a lower incidence of extranodal localization in comparison with the North American series. American patients with malignant lymphomas were reported to be predominantly homosexual; in contrast, the Italian cases were mostly drug addicts. The occurrence of malignant lymphomas was also correlated in Italian patients as well as in American patients with a shorter survival time, when compared with malignant lymphomas occurring in the same age group of the general population.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

The quantification of myotonia. A problem in the evaluation of new antimyotonic drugs.

The evaluation of an antimyotonic drug is often difficult since the severity of myotonia is itself hard to assess. The rise in arterial potassium level produced by the infusion of increasing concentrations of potassium chloride brought about reproducible changes in the excitability level of myotonic muscles proportional to the plasma potassium concentration. The excitability changes were assessed by three methods commonly used for evaluating antimyotonic drugs. The duration of the electromyographic relaxation time after maximal voluntary effort proved to be the only test which reliably assessed the variations of muscular excitability proportional to the increased plasma potassium. By contrast, the duration of percussion- or electrically-induced myotonic after-discharges was extremely variable and independent of plasma potassium.

Electric Stimulation↗

The treatment of myotonia: evaluation of chronic oral taurine therapy.

A double-blind, single crossover study of chronic oral taurine administration versus placebo was conducted on nine patients with dystrophia myotonica. The severity of myotonia was assessed by clinical and electromyographic criteria and by testing the sensitivity of myotonic muscles to the intra-arterial infusion of potassium chloride. Confirming the antimyotonic effect of acute parenteral taurine, chronic treatment induced significant improvement of myotonia and a decreased sensitivity to the arterial potassium load as well as an enhancement of electrolyte movements across the membrane of the studied muscles. No significant side effects were noted.

Administration, Oral↗

Taurine and hyperexcitable human muscle: effects of taurine on potassium-induced hyperexcitability of dystrophic myotonic and normal muscles.

Progressively increasing concentrations of potassium chloride in Evans blue saline were administered to patients affected with myotonic dystrophy and to healthy volunteers before and after parenteral treatment with taurine. Excitability changes of thenar eminence muscles were related to the venous potassium and chloride concentrations. The actual electrolyte concentrations were compared to those to be expected if no infused electrolytes had been transported into cells. The expected concentrations were calculated by means of Evans blue dilution. This method permitted quantification of changes of muscle-excitability in terms of the potassium chloride concentration capable of disturbing the electrical activity of the studied muscles. The method also provided an indirect evaluation of electrolyte movements across muscle membrane in vivo in humans. Dystrophic myotonic muscles appeared highly sensitive to extracellular potassium and, unlike normal muscles, were unable to accumulate potassium-induced muscle hyperexcitability and favored electrolyte accumulation in dystrophic myotonic muscles. The stabilizing effect of taurine is discussed in relation to its ability to increase intracellular potassium concentration, membrane conductance, or both.

Adolescent↗

The effects of the increase of arterial potassium upon the excitability of normal and dystrophic myotonic muscles in man.

Progressively increasing concentrations of potassium chloride were administered intra-arterially to patients affected with dystrophia myotonica (Steinert's disease) and to healthy volunteers before and after parenteral taurine treatment. Changes in the excitability of thenar eminence muscles were related to plasma potassium concentrations. A rise in the plasma potassium brought about a parallel increase of muscular excitability in normal individuals whilst in dystrophic myotonic patients it was associated with a two-phase phenomenon: the severity of myotonia first decreased and then, at higher plasma potassium levels, greatly worsened with the occurrence of spontaneous myotonic discharges. The administration of taurine, a membrane-stabilizing drug, considerably lowered the excitability of both normal and dystrophic myotonic muscles. The effects of potassium and taurine on muscular membrane conductance may explain the observed changes in muscular excitability.

Cell Membrane Permeability↗

Epileptic laughter: electroclinical and cinefilm report of a case.

A woman, aged 30, experienced attacks of pathological laughter which began during the first months of life; they meet the qualifying criteria of epileptic laughter. Several attacks were recorded by polygraphy and cinefilm. The attack begins with a feeling of unreality associated with a forced, involuntary smile progressing to full laughter. The patient tried to mask the laughter which was not accompanied by euphoria but was followed by loss of consciousness and automatisms. Only during the latter phase of the previously normal EEG did an ictal discharge appear over the right hemisphere. On the basis of the electroclinical pattern and of a review of the literature, the seizure is tentatively explained in terms of a progressive ictal involvement of temporodiencephalic structures.

Adult↗

[Neuropsychiatric findings in a case of paramyoclonus multiplex].

In a subject affected with multiple paramyoclonus, showing asyncronous, bilateral, intermittent, spontaneous myoclonic jerks, a neuro-psychiatric investigation was performed. Several day-time poligraphic recordings were normal, while the night-time ones showed the lack of myoclonic jerks throughout the sleep. Metrazol activation pointed out a probable hyperexcitability of brain stem reticular formation. The psychiatric investigation, performed with a psychodynamic approach let realize the existence of a distortion of neuro-psychological functions due to an impaired elaboration of emotional information and psycho-structuring engrams. The Authors conclude for a posible convergence of biological and psychological factors causing the clinical symptoms.

Adult↗