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Biomedical subjects

F Ferrari

Publications and source records attributed to F Ferrari.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Visual orientation to the human face in the premature and fullterm newborn.

Visual orientation to the human face was studied by the method of Brazelton in 15 fullterm newborns on the 4th-5th day of life and in 21 premature newborns (gestational age 27-37 weeks) tested weekly up to 40 weeks conceptional age. No evidence of visual orientation was found before 33 weeks. Performances on a par with those of fullterm newborns were not attained until 37-38 weeks on average, though in a few cases this was achieved at 35 weeks. The quality of orientation improved gradually from 32-33 weeks to 38 weeks, but with wide inter- and intra-individual variations. Noteworthy were the discontinuity and transient worsening of visual orientation of the extremely premature subjects (gestational age less than or equal to 31 weeks) in the weeks following birth. Neurological status at the time of the test, rather than pre-and perinatal risk factors, correlated positively with the quality of the visual responses. No statistically significant differences in orientation were found between premature newborns at term age and fullterm newborns.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1986

Antagonism of imidazole-induced shaking in the rat: a behavioural tool predictive of antidyskinetic activity?

In rats the intraperitoneal injection of imidazole (IMID) induced shaking behaviour, the effect appearing to be age- and sex-linked; younger animals responded less vigorously than older animals, while females always exhibited a significantly weaker response than males of the same age. After ovariectomy, however, the number of shakes of the two sexes was very similar. A number of drugs were examined for their antagonism of this highly reproducible syndrome. IMID-shakes were antagonized by reserpine, clonidine, high doses of B-HT 920, propranolol, haloperidol, morphine and diazepam, were not affected by apomorphine, (+)3-PPP, physostigmine, naloxone or methysergide, and were potentiated by sulpiride and scopolamine. The results are considered in the light of the possible neurochemical mechanisms underlying the IMID-syndrome; the suggested usefulness of this test for the study of human dyskinetic movements is disputed.

Aging↗
PubMed1985

The dopamine autoreceptor agonist B-HT 920 markedly stimulates sexual behavior in male rats.

B-HT 920, a selective agonist at dopamine (DA) autoreceptors, strongly increased the incidence of penile erections (PE) in male rats, an effect which was dose-related and antagonized by haloperidol. B-HT 920 at 100 and 200 micrograms/kg i.p. significantly altered the copulatory pattern of sexually active male rats, reducing the number of mounts and intromissions as well as the latency to the first ejaculation, a stimulant effect which was confirmed in sluggish males at a dose of 100 micrograms/kg.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Influence of cimetidine, ranitidine and imidazole on the behavioral effects of (+/-) N-n-propylnorapomorphine in male rats.

Cimetidine injected IP 15 min before (+/-) N-n-propylnorapomorphine (NPA) antagonized in dose-dependent fashion the penile erections (PE) and stretching and yawning (SY) induced by this typical dopaminergic agonist in male rats. Ranitidine, which acts on H2 histamine receptors in much the same way as cimetidine despite its lack of an imidazole ring, failed to produce the same effect. On the other hand, imidazole itself was similar to cimetidine in antagonizing PE and SY induced by (+/-) NPA, whether injected IP or ICV. Neither imidazole nor cimetidine antagonized the stereotyped behaviour (SB) induced by (+/-) NPA. Indeed, imidazole reduced the latency of this response. A mechanism which may underly these effects is discussed, as well as the possible preclinical use of this test in animals.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Sexual excitement and stretching and yawning induced by B-HT 920.

The azepine derivative B-HT 920, a putative agonist at dopamine (DA) autoreceptors, injected IP in adult male rats, induced numerous penile erections (PE) and stretching and yawning (SY), considered typical signs of central DA receptor stimulation, without eliciting stereotyped behaviour (SB). Both signs induced by B-HT 920 were dose related and significantly enhanced with respect to controls from 10 to 1,000/micrograms/kg. Pretreatment with the neuroleptics haloperidol (0.025, 0.5 and 1 mg/Kg IP), sulpiride (20 and 40 mg/Kg) and alpha 2-antagonist yohimbine (1 and 3 mg/Kg IP) antagonized the behavioural effect of B-HT 920 whereas the alpha 1-antagonist prazosin (1 mg/Kg IP) had no effect on the response. The impressive activity of B-HT 920 in producing SY and PE, along with its inability to evoke SB, supports the role of DA autoreceptors in the regulation of SY and sexual behaviour.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗
PubMed1985

The thyroid gland with low uptake lesions: evaluation by ultrasound.

An ultrasound examination was performed in 401 patients who had isotopically cold, solitary lesions of the thyroid gland. Of the parameters studied, the level of echoes was the most useful in making the sonographic diagnosis: the rate of malignancy was extremely low both in hyperechoic and echo-free lesions. The presence of a peripheral, complete "halo" appeared to be helpful in differentiating benign lesions from malignant lesions. Approximately 20-25% of the lesions thought to be solitary on the radionuclide study were found to be multinodular on US. When fine-needle aspiration biopsy was used with US the need for surgical exploration of the thyroid gland was obviated in selected cases.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1985

Effects of severe caloric restriction on the degree of sialylation of apoprotein C-III in obese women.

Alterations in the relative proportions of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) apoprotein C-III (apoC-III) isoforms have been previously observed under various dietary and metabolic states. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of a very high caloric restriction on plasma triglycerides and on the relative proportions of VLDL apoprotein C-II (apoC-II) and apoC-III isoforms in obese subjects. VLDL were isolated by preparative ultra-centrifugation from 12 obese women. ApoC-II and apoC-III subspecies were separated by analytical ultrathin-layer isoelectrofocusing. The mean body weight decreased significantly from 96.2 +/- 8.7 to 90.6 +/- 7.6 kg (p less than 0.01). Mean total and VLDL triglycerides did not vary significantly. Apoprotein C-III2 (apoC-III2) as percentage of total apoprotein C increased (p less than 0.01) and apoprotein CIII0 (apoC-III0) decreased (p less than 0.01). Apoprotein C-III1 (apoC-III1) did not vary significantly. An inverse correlation was found between the percentage variation of apoC-III2 and that of apoC-III1 (r = -0.94; p less than 0.01). The variations of apoC-III2 correlated positively (r = 0.83; p less than 0.01), while those of apoC-III1 correlated inversely (r = -0.65, p less than 0.025) with the changes of VLDL triglycerides. The apoC-III1 to apoC-III2 ratio as well as the apoC-III0 to apoC-III2 and apo C-III1 ratios decreased after diet (p from less than 0.01 to less than 0.001). Total apoC-III as well as apoC-III2 and apoC-III1 to apoC-II ratios did not vary.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1985

High density lipoprotein subfractions during semistarvation in obese women.

The influence of a very low caloric diet (VLCD) on high density lipoproteins (HDL) is controversial. This study was designed to evaluate the influence of a VLCD on lipids and lipoproteins, especially on HDL subfractions (HDL2, HDL3) in obese women. After a 4-day period of isocaloric standard diet, 30 women at least 50% above ideal body weight were switched for 15 days on a protein-sparing modified diet providing 1.57 MJ per day. Mean body weight reduction was 5.6 +/- 0.7 kg. After the VLCD, total, very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), low density lipoproteins (LDL) and HDL cholesterol significantly decreased in all the subjects (p less than 0.01). Both HDL subfractions were depressed after the VLCD (p less than 0.01) but the reduction occurred predominantly in the HDL2 subfraction, thus inducing a decrease in the HDL2 to HDL3 cholesterol ratio (p less than 0.01). The VLCD was associated with a slight but not significant increase in the LDL to HDL cholesterol ratio. This increase was due mostly to the rise in the LDL to HDL2 cholesterol ratio (p less than 0.01). Further studies are needed to evaluate the long-term changes of HDL subfractions during weight-reducing regimens.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Behavioural pharmacology of imidazole, a potential antidepressant agent.

Imidazole (IMID) inhibited (+/-) N-n-propylnorapomorphine (NPA) and BHT-920 induced penile erections (PE) and stretching and yawning (SY) in rats as well as apomorphine (APO) induced hypothermia in mice, enhanced shock-elicited aggressiveness in rats and antagonized sleep induced by clonidine in chicks. IMID moreover displayed activity in behavioural tests used in specific screening for antidepressants, potentiating yohimbine toxicity in mice and antagonizing immobility time in the despair test, with a potency in some cases equal to imipramine. IMID per se, depressed motor activity in both mice and rats. The possible mechanism of action and receptors involved are briefly discussed as well as IMID's profile as an antidepressant drug.

Aggression↗
PubMed1985

Cytogenetics in ophthalmology.

The development of human clinical cytogenetics has been comparatively recent. The authors made an analytical study of chromosomes in patients presenting ocular coloboma with mental deficiency, strabismus with malformation, and other disorders in order to define the genetic aspect of these diseases. They obtained in these patients chromosomal alterations, including translocation, aneuploidies, suggesting the importance of cytogenetic analysis in eye affections even if these are considered of monogenic character.

Chromosome Aberrations↗
PubMed1984

Effects of guar gum on plasma lipoproteins and apolipoproteins C-II and C-III in patients affected by familial combined hyperlipoproteinemia.

In recent years, guar gum has been shown to be a potent hypocholesterolemic agent. The effects of this fiber on triglycerides are less clear. In order to evaluate the influence of guar supplementation on plasma lipoproteins and apolipoprotein C-II (apoC-II) and apolipoprotein C-III (apoC-III) isoforms (apoC-III2, apoC-III1, apoC-III0), 16 g/day of guar gum were administered to 12 outpatients affected by familial combined hyperlipoproteinemia for a period of 60 days. Mean total cholesterol and triglyceride levels significantly decreased after 15 days of treatment and persisted reduced at the 30th and 60th day of guar supplementation. While low-density lipoprotein cholesterol paralleled the reduction of total plasma cholesterol, we did not observe any change in the cholesterol content of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) subfractions (HDL2 and HDL3) during the study. A redistribution of the relative content of very low-density lipoprotein apoC-III isoforms with a significant increase of apoC-III1 and a decrease of apoC-III0 was observed after 15, 30, and 60 days of guar gum administration. The results show that guar gum reduces not only cholesterol but also triglyceride levels in patients affected by familial combined hyperlipoproteinemia. Further studies are needed to confirm the suggestion that the different distribution of very low-density lipoprotein apoC-III isoforms induced by guar supplementation may influence the behavior of plasma triglycerides.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Adipose tissue lipoprotein-lipase activity in obesity.

The activity of lipoprotein-lipase in heparin-eluates of adipose tissue (AT-LPLA) of three body regions was measured in 22 obese and 18 nonobese females under basal conditions. AT-LPLA in the obese women both before and after 10 d of caloric restriction was also measured. Basal LPLA correlated well with plasma insulin values and reduced significantly after caloric restriction. Relative body weight, body fat, fasting and glucose-stimulated insulin levels, triglycerides, total cholesterol, but not high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, significantly decreased after caloric restriction. Variation of insulin levels after caloric restriction was the best explanatory variable correlating with AT-LPLA variations. These results are consistent with a primary role of insulin in regulating AT-LPLA.

Adipose Tissue↗