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Biomedical subjects

F Fusco

Publications and source records attributed to F Fusco.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Molecular anatomy of the human glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase core promoter.

The gene encoding glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), which plays a pivotal role in cell defense against oxidative stress, is ubiquitously expressed at widely different levels in various tissues; moreover, G6PD expression is regulated by a number of stimuli. In this study we have analyzed the molecular anatomy of the G6PD core promoter. Our results indicate that the G6PD promoter is more complex than previously assumed; G6PD expression is under the control of several elements that are all required for correct promoter functioning and, furthermore, a still unidentified mammalian specific factor is needed.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Quality-of-life evaluation: when do terminal cancer patients and health-care providers agree?

A multicenter study involving six palliative care units in Italy was carried out on 159 terminal cancer patients seen at home or in hospital. The physician or the nurse completed independently from the patient the Therapy Impact Questionnaire (TIQ), a questionnaire devised for quality-of-life evaluation in terminal cancer patients. The patient's assessment was used as the valid reference measurement to compare with the health-care workers' evaluation to assess the validity of the latter. The results showed that percentages of agreement were higher for physical than for psychological and cognitive symptoms, and that there was a greater agreement on the absence rather than on the presence of a problem. None of the characteristics of the patient nor of the proxy showed any statistically significant relationship with the two disagreement indexes. The results suggest that caution is needed in the use of health-care workers as alternative sources of information regarding patients' quality of life.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗
PubMed1993

NADPH diaphorase activity is inhibited by EDTA in neurons but not in choroid plexus epithelium.

NADPH diaphorase histochemical staining was investigated in rat brain and choroid plexuses. All epithelial cells of the latter as well as some sparse neurons in striatum and cerebral cortex showed strong NADPH reaction product. While staining was homogeneous in neuronal cytoplasm, it was particulate in epithelial cells. Preincubation with EDTA (0.1 mM, 2h) prevented appearance of NADPH diaphorase reaction in neurons but not in choroid plexuses. These data show that in rat brain two forms of NADPH diaphorase are present; they are specifically localized in neurons and choroidal cells, respectively.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Sequential monitoring of leprosy patients with serum antibody levels to phenolic glycolipid-I, a synthetic analog of phenolic glycolipid-I, and mycobacterial lipoarabinomannan.

Sequential serum samples from leprosy patients at various stages of antibacterial treatment were tested by an ELISA for antibodies to phenolic glycolipid I (PGL-I), a synthetic PGL-I analog (ND-BSA), and lipoarabinomannan (LAM) from Mycobacterium tuberculosis to determine if these antibodies could be useful in monitoring response to therapy. Among patients with positive initial anti-PGL-I IgM, a significant decrease in this antibody was seen over time (p less than 0.01), whether assayed by PGL-I or ND-BSA. The two antigens showed good agreement in the detection of decrease in anti-PGL-I IgM. The greatest decrease was seen in patients with a high initial anti-PGL-I IgM and a high bacterial index (BI). Patients with a declining BI were seen to have generally declining antibody levels to PGL-I and to LAM; in those patients with a fluctuating BI, antibody levels were less predictable. We conclude that antibodies to PGL-I and LAM can be useful in following response to therapy in leprosy patients and that either the native PGL-I or ND-BSA can serve as antigen for the ELISA.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1986

Congenital mesoblastic nephroma with hypercalcemia. Pathogenetic role of prostaglandins.

A case of mesoblastic nephroma, hypercalcemia, and raised levels of prostaglandins in a 2-month-old female infant is reported. Plasma parathyroid hormone (PTH) was normal and urinary prostaglandins were raised. During surgery a prostaglandin arteriovenous gradient was demonstrated. A large quantity of PGE was extracted from the tumor by radioimmunoassay after incubation. Both blood calcium and urinary prostaglandins returned to normal after nephrectomy. These results show that this tumor produced prostaglandins, the mediators of hypercalcemia in this patient.

Calcium↗
PubMed1984

Acute aperistaltic megaesophagus as a complication of Nissen fundoplication: a case report.

A case of acute aperistaltic megaesophagus which arose after Nissen fundoplication for sliding hiatal hernia, is reported. The resolution of the clinical and instrumental picture with cholinergic drugs leads to the conclusion that the phenomenon observed is of vagal origin. This may be an extreme picture of the mild esophageal dilatation and transitory dysphagia that sometimes occur after Nissen fundoplication.

Esophageal Achalasia↗
PubMed1981

[Surgical treatment of biliary lithiasis associated with acquired valvulopathy].

Personal experience in the treatment of acquired valvulopathies and biliary calculosis in one operating stage is reported. After examination the risk factors determining onset of bile calculosis in valvulopathic patients, the surgical techniques adopted and the special advantages obtained by associating the two operations at the same session are illustrated.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

[Annual variations in plasma testosterone levels in prepuberal subjects].

40 prepubertal boys, aged 6 to 10 years, were studied from 1977 to 1979 in order to evidence any circannual rhythm in the testosterone plasmatic levels. The patients observed in the following life schedule: nocturnal rest from 2200 to 0600 circa, meals at 0800, 1300, 1900. Plasma samples were taken at 0800 and testosterone was assayed by RIA. Testosterone data were fitted a cosine function, by least square method in order to describe any rhythm and to estimate its parameters:mesor, amplitude, acrophase. A significative circannual rhythm in the testosterone levels is present (P= 0.008) with Acrophase in July (-198.38 degrees +/- 18.26 ES). Our study suggests that a significative testosterone rhythm, with circannual periodicity, is present also in prepubertal age.

Child↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A standardized procedure for using human corpus cavernosum strips to evaluate drug activity.

The main problem of using human corpus cavernosum (HCC) tissue to perform bioassay is linked to its limited availability further complicated by the heterogeneous source of the tissues used. Here, we show that gender reassignment is a reliable source of human tissue without major ethical problems. Indeed, the entire corpus cavernosum is obtained from the surgery procedure, which allows creating a standardized procedure to prepare HCC strip. In addition, human tissue, if kept in the fridge in the condition described, does not loose its ability to contract to phenylephrine (PE; alpha agonist), angiotensin II (AG II) and KCl up to 4 days. Furthermore, once contracted with PE, HCC relaxes to acetylcholine (endothelium-dependent mechanism); sodium nitroprusside (endothelium-independent mechanism); cromakalim (CRK), a K(ATP) channel opener; or alprostadil, a synthetic PGE2 (ALPR). In conclusion, we have standardized a procedure that allows the use of HCC strips to evaluate drug activity and/or to study pathophysiological mechanisms with an intact functional human tissue up to 4 days from the surgery procedure.

Acetylcholine↗