PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

F Luca

Publications and source records attributed to F Luca.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Y-chromosomal variation in the Czech Republic.

To analyze the contribution of the Czech population to the Y-chromosome diversity landscape of Europe and to reconstruct past demographic events, we typed 257 males from five locations for 21 UEPs. Moreover, 141 carriers of the three most common haplogroups were typed for 10 microsatellites and coalescent analyses applied. Sixteen Hg's characterized by derived alleles were identified, the most common being R1a-SRY(10831) and P-DYS257*(xR1a). The pool of haplogroups within I-M170 represented the third most common clade. Overall, the degree of population structure was low. The ages for Hg I-M170, P-DYS257*(xR1a), and R1a-SRY(10831) ap peared to be comparable and compatible with their presence during or soon after the LGM. A signal of population growth beginning in the first millennium B.C. was detected. Its similarity among the three most common Hg's indicated that growth was characteristic for a gene pool that already contained all of them. The Czech population appears to be influenced, to a very moderate extent, by genetic inputs from outside Europe in the post-Neolithic and historical times. Population growth postdated the archaeologically documented introduction of Neolithic technology and the estimated central value coincides with a period of repeated changes driven by the development of metal technologies and the associated social and trade organization.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2006

[Is subclinical hypothyroidism a cardiovascular risk factor?].

OBJECTIVES: Subclinical hypothyroidism defined by the presence of elevated TSH levels but normal free T4 level is a common situation. Its consequences on health are yet on debate and the interest of a precocious treatment remains surrounded by controversy. KEY POINTS: The relationship between subclinical hypothyroidism and cardiovascular disease has been evaluated by several cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. Subclinical hypothyroidism has direct but subtle effects on the heart function, on the peripheral vascular resistance, and is associated with a mild elevation of LDL-cholesterol levels; all abnormalities may be partly reversed by a thyroxine supplementation. Data of the literature give insufficient evidence as to whether subclinical hypothyroidism is an independent cardiovascular risk factor. However treatment of subjects with TSH levels up or near to 10 mU/l would probably be beneficial in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. FUTURE PROSPECTS: Based on observational and interventional studies there are some arguments on the benefit of euthyroidism restoration only in patients with TSH levels superior to 10 mU/l.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗
PubMed2006

[Pseudo-Sjogren's syndrome and bulimia].

INTRODUCTION: Bilateral parotid enlargement are presenting features of some metabolic and systemic disease but also of chronic emesis. CASE RECORD: A 24-year old woman consulted during three years many physicians asking for the treatment of a painless parotid swelling confusing with a Sjogren's syndrome. After an initial denial, the weight history, alteration of tooth wear and hypokaliemia conducted to admit a self inducing vomiting with bulimia nervosa. CONCLUSION: Gender, young age, weight history, tooth alteration and electrolytic disorders are the main diagnostic tool of this dissimulated etiology of parotid swelling.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Y chromosomal haplogroup J as a signature of the post-neolithic colonization of Europe.

In order to attain a finer reconstruction of the peopling of southern and central-eastern Europe from the Levant, we determined the frequencies of eight lineages internal to the Y chromosomal haplogroup J, defined by biallelic markers, in 22 population samples obtained with a fine-grained sampling scheme. Our results partially resolve a major multifurcation of lineages within the haplogroup. Analyses of molecular variance show that the area covered by haplogroup J dispersal is characterized by a significant degree of molecular radiation for unique event polymorphisms within the haplogroup, with a higher incidence of the most derived sub-haplogroups on the northern Mediterranean coast, from Turkey westward; here, J diversity is not simply a subset of that present in the area in which this haplogroup first originated. Dating estimates, based on simple tandem repeat loci (STR) diversity within each lineage, confirmed the presence of a major population structuring at the time of spread of haplogroup J in Europe and a punctuation in the peopling of this continent in the post-Neolithic, compatible with the expansion of the Greek world. We also present here, for the first time, a novel method for comparative dating of lineages, free of assumptions of STR mutation rates.

Africa, Northern↗
PubMed2003

Clinal patterns of human Y chromosomal diversity in continental Italy and Greece are dominated by drift and founder effects.

We explored the spatial distribution of human Y chromosomal diversity on a microgeographic scale, by typing 30 population samples from closely spaced locations in Italy and Greece for 9 haplogroups and their internal microsatellite variation. We confirm a significant difference in the composition of the Y chromosomal gene pools of the two countries. However, within each country, heterogeneity is not organized along the lines of clinal variation deduced from studies on larger spatial scales. Microsatellite data indicate that local increases of haplogroup frequencies can be often explained by a limited number of founders. We conclude that local founder or drift effects are the main determinants in shaping the microgeographic Y chromosomal diversity.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2001

Attitudes towards intramural continuing medical education: a european perspective.

Continuing medical education (CME) is now one of the key areas of development in medical education. This paper describes the development of an intramural continuing medical education programme de novo in a newly opened cancer institute in Italy, which provided a unique opportunity to study attitudes towards the concepts and goals of continuing medical education as most of the individuals involved in this programme were exposed to continuing medical education for the first time. The continuing medical education programme was overseen by a CME committee for 1 year. Three 1-hour sessions were delivered each week and one credit point was awarded for each session. The sessions included grand rounds, clinical-based teaching and a 3-weekly rotating schedule of pathology, radiology and research. Participants were all the medical doctors attending the European Institute of Oncology. Attendance at greater than 50% of the total sessions available yearly qualified the individual for certification by the CME committee of the Institute. A questionnaire was circulated to all medical doctors at the Institute at the end of the academic year to assess attitudes to CME in general. Forty-six out of 84 questionnaires were returned. The majority of those involved in this CME intramural programme undertook self-directed CME activities and at least 50% had not previously attended either grand rounds or research seminars. Most felt that CME should not be mandatory but that its activities should be monitored. The greatest difficulty with CME was in its timing.

Attitude↗
PubMed2000

Complications and long-term outcome of 80 oncology patients undergoing needle catheter jejunostomy placement for early postoperative enteral feeding.

Some findings suggest that needle catheter jejunostomy (NCJ) is associated with a significant rate of potentially dangerous complications. The purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate the rate and type of early and late complications associated with NCJ in patients with surgical treatment of upper gastrointestinal malignancy. Eighty patients underwent NCJ implant at the end of their scheduled surgical procedure. Enteral nutrition programme was started on postoperative day 1 in the surgical ICU. NCJ was always removed in the outpatient clinic after hospital discharge. One case of tube blockage has been observed as single short-term complication in this series. No long-term complications have been detected after a mean follow-up of 12 months. Routine use of NCJ in malnourished patients undergoing major surgical procedures on upper gastrointestinal tract is safe and effective.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Pretargeting strategies for radio-immunoguided tumour localisation and therapy.

The selective recognition of tumour cells by monoclonal antibodies, labelled with radioactive isotopes, for use in diagnosis and treatment, forms the basis of immunoscintigraphy, radio-immunoguided surgery and radio-immunotherapy. Research into the application of these systems has encountered multiple difficulties, most notably a low tumour to non-tumour ratio of radioactivity. The development of pretargeting systems, separating the individual steps of tumour cell targeting and the introduction of the radioactive label, have led to significant increments in tumour to non-tumour ratios and an improvement in diagnostic accuracy. Before pretargeting strategies are applied clinically, a thorough understanding of these systems is required and forms the backbone of this report. Clinical examples of early trials have already confirmed many of the theoretical advantages of pretargeting systems and new protocols are already being investigated.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1996

[Prognostic significance of postoperative septic complications in surgery of rectal carcinoma].

AIM: To assess whether there is a correlation between the onset of postoperative sepsis and the 5-years survival rate in patients undergoing surgery for rectal cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: A retrospective study of all patients, undergoing rectal cancer surgery during the period January 1981-December 1987. PLACE: General Surgery Unit, Hospital Arnau de Vilanova. PATIENTS: All patients operated with Duke's stage B and C colorectal neoplasms, excluding cases with postoperative complications not directly correlated to surgery: pneumonia, thromboblebitis, urinary infection or fever of unknown origin. FINDINGS: Postsurgical complications distinguished as minor (wall abscess) or major (anastomotic dehiscence, peritoneal abscess). 5-year survival rate. RESULTS: The actuarial 5-year survival rate of patients with major septic complications was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than that in noncomplicated cases. No difference was observed in the survival of patients with and without minor septic complications. CONCLUSION: Major septic complications secondary to colorectal surgery are still a threat in spite of improved techniques and antibiotic prophylaxis, and negatively influence the long-term survival rate.

Actuarial Analysis↗
PubMed1989

Cdc2 protein kinase is complexed with both cyclin A and B: evidence for proteolytic inactivation of MPF.

In the clam, Spisula, two previously described proteins known as cyclin A and B display the unusual property of selective proteolytic degradation at the end of each mitosis. We show here that clam oocytes and embryos contain a cdc2 protein kinase. This protein kinase is a component of the M phase promoting factor (MPF) in frog eggs and the M phase-specific histone H1 kinase in starfish. Clam cdc2 is found in association with both cyclin A and B, probably not as a trimolecular association, but as separate cdc2/cyclin A and cdc2/cyclin B complexes. Clam cdc2 and the associated cyclins bind to p13suc1-Sepharose. The p13-bound complex, and also anti-cyclin A or B immunoprecipitates, each display cell cycle-dependent histone H1 kinase activity. We suggest that in addition to the cdc2 protein kinase, the cyclins are further components of the M phase promoting factor and that cyclin proteolysis provides the mechanism of MPF inactivation and thus exit from mitosis.

Animals↗