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Biomedical subjects

F Mattioli

Publications and source records attributed to F Mattioli.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

HTLV-1 sequences in lymphocytes of a patient with non-tropical spastic tetraparesis and her asymptomatic husband.

We describe a 65-year-old woman born and living in Northern Italy affected by non tropical spastic tetraparesis and her asymptomatic husband presenting HTLV-1 sequences in their lymphocytes detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We discuss the significance of the case and the mechanism involved in HTLV-1 infection and the relationship with neurological disorders, stressing that this case is the first reported in Italy.

Blotting, Southern↗
PubMed1992

Total lymphoid irradiation in chronic progressive multiple sclerosis.

6 patients with severe chronic progressive multiple sclerosis were subjected to total lymphoid irradiation (TLI) to assess clinical efficacy and side effects. During a 4 year follow-up the disability progression was continuous. Side effects during TLI were well tolerated; side effects after TLI brought about a worsening of the quality of life. One patient died of pneumonia. In this preliminary study TLI did not reduce the worsening of disability in MS patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Splanchnic haemodynamic effects of ketanserin in anaesthetized cirrhotic rats.

The effects of ketanserin, atenolol and their association on portal vein pressure (PVP), portal and caval bile acid concentrations (PBA and CBA), and extraction ratio of bile acids (ER) after oral loading with chenodeoxycholic acid were investigated in anaesthetized cirrhotic rats. PVP was significantly reduced by ketanserin and by the association ketanserin plus atenolol; PBA was significantly decreased in all the treated groups, whereas the reduction of CBA was significant only in the rats treated with ketanserin and atenolol alone. ER was increased by atenolol and ketanserin, but it was not modified by their association. Moreover, a significant correlation was observed between PBA and CBA and between PVP and ER. These results suggest that, in anaesthetized cirrhotic rats, ketanserin reduces PVP probably through more complex mechanisms than the simple indirect reduction of portal flow, and that the association of ketanserin plus atenolol has no additive effect in reducing PVP.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

1-Phenyl-1H-indazole derivatives with analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities.

The synthesis of 4-hydroxy-1-phenyl-1H-indazole-5-acetic acid 5 4-methoxy-1-phenyl-1H-indazole-5-yl-acetic acid 7 and 5-benzyl-1-phenyl-1H-indazol-4-ol 8, starting from 1,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1-phenyl-4H-indazol-4-one, is described. These compounds showed in mice an analgesic activity superior to that of acetylsalicylic acid and comparable to that of dipyrone; moreover, compound 5 exhibited an appreciable anti-inflammatory activity in rats. Grossbehavioral effects and acute toxicity in mice are also reported.

Analgesics↗
PubMed1991

Neuropsychological assessment in multiple sclerosis: a follow-up study with magnetic resonance imaging.

Nineteen moderately impaired patients with clinically definite multiple sclerosis and an initially relapsing-remitting course were included in a neuropsychological and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) follow-up study. The average test/re-test interval was about 2 years. The neuropsychological findings were indicative of a very mild overall impairment; the patients, as a group, showed no evidence of cognitive deterioration in the follow-up period. A numerical estimation of the severity of cerebral demyelination shown by MRI did not indicate a significant change. No correlation between cognitive performance variations and MRI changes was found.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Genotoxicity testing of chloramphenicol in rodent and human cells.

The results of this work, carried out to extend the limited information at present available on the genotoxic potential of chloramphenicol (CAP), indicate that in millimolar concentrations this antibacterial agent produced a minimal amount of DNA fragmentation in both V79 cells and metabolically competent rat hepatocytes. Moreover, a level of DNA-repair synthesis indicative of a weak but positive response was detected in primary cultures of liver cells obtained from 2 of 3 human donors, and a borderline degree of repair was present in those prepared from rats. The promutagenic character of CAP-induced DNA lesions was confirmed by a low but significant increase in the frequency of 6-thioguanine-resistant clones of V79 cells, which, however, was absent when the exposure was done in the presence of co-cultured rat hepatocytes. Finally, oral administration to rats of 1/2 LD50 CAP did not increase the incidence of either micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes or micronucleated hepatocytes. Taken as a whole these findings suggest that CAP should be considered a compound intrinsically capable of producing a very weak genotoxic effect, but only at concentrations about 25 times higher than those occurring in patients treated with maximal therapeutic dosages.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

DNA fragmentation by 2-nitropropane in rat tissues, and effects of the modulation of biotransformation processes.

The occurrence and persistence of DNA fragmentation, as detected by the alkaline elution technique, have been studied in rats treated with single oral doses of the hepatocarcinogen 2-nitropropane (2-NP). A progressive increase of liver DNA fragmentation was observed at doses ranging from 0.5 to 8 mmol/kg; single strand breaks reached the maximum frequency 6 h after administration, and were partially reduced after 36 h. In contrast, DNA fragmentation was absent in lung, kidney, bone marrow and brain of rats given 8 mmol/kg. The role of cytochrome P-450 in the activation of 2-NP is indicated by the increase of liver DNA damage in rats pretreated with phenobarbital or beta-naphtoflavone, and by its reduction produced by methoxsalen. Both administration of GSH and GSH depletion did not result in clearcut modifications of the genotoxic effect of 2-NP for the liver.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

[Progressive multiple sclerosis. Evaluation of the effectiveness of total lymph node irradiation].

A long-lasting immunological suppression action seems to be produced by total lymphoid irradiation; some authors emphasize the favorable effect of this treatment on chronic progressive multiple sclerosis. In order to evaluate the actual role of TLI, 6 patients affected with chronic progressive multiple sclerosis were submitted to TLI with shaped and personalized fields at the Instituto del Radio, University of Brescia, Italy. The total dose delivered was 19.8 Gy in 4 weeks, 1.8 Gy/day, 5d/w; a week elapsed between the first and the second irradiation course. Disability according to Kurtzke scale was evaluated, together with blood lymphocyte count and irradiation side-effects, over a mean follow-up period of 20.8 months (range: 13-24). Our findings indicate that: a) disease progression was not markedly reduced by TLI; b) steroid hormones responsivity was restored after irradiation, and c) side-effects were mild and tolerable.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Comparison of the sensitivity of human and rat hepatocytes to the genotoxic effects of metronidazole.

Metronidazole (MNZ), an antiprotozoan and antibacterial agent, has been shown to yield DNA-damaging reactive species after nitroreductive biotransformation. The genotoxic effect of MNZ was studied in primary cultures of both rat and human hepatocytes. In millimolar concentrations MNZ produced DNA fragmentation, as measured by the alkaline elution technique, and unscheduled DNA synthesis, as evaluated by quantitative autoradiography, in rat hepatocytes. The amount of DNA damage was directly related to the dose and the length of exposure, was increased by hypoxia and GSH depletion, and was markedly reduced by inhibition of cytochrome P-450 activity. In the same experimental conditions human hepatocytes resulted constantly more resistant than rat hepatocytes to the genotoxic activity of MNZ. These findings suggest that the rat hepatocyte model might be an inappropriate predictor of nitroimidazoles genotoxicity.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Absence of a correlation between T lymphocyte subsets and clinical activity in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

Cytofluorographic analysis of CD3+, Tac+, HLA-DR+ peripheral blood lymphocytes and CD4/CD8 ratio was performed monthly, over a 10-month period, in a group of 16 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). No correlation was found between clinical relapses and fluctuations in the lymphocyte subsets, although patients who were in remission throughout the study showed a number of CD3+ cells and a CD4/CD8 ratio significantly lower than those in normal controls. We concluded that changes in peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets are not related to the disease process and their measurement is not helpful in monitoring the illness.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Lesion detection in MS patients with and without clinical brainstem disorders: magnetic resonance imaging and brainstem auditory evoked potentials compared.

The findings of the present study can be summed up in the following points: (1) brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP), as compared with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), has a greater capacity and a lower cost in disclosing brainstem plaques both in MS patients with symptoms or signs of actual brainstem involvement and in clinically silent ones. This makes BAEP a useful technique for the neurologist, who can confirm the clinical suspicion of a brainstem lesion and follow the evolution of the disease in the patient. (2) The sensitivity of BAEP is lower than that of MRI as far as the anterior lesions of the brainstem are concerned. (3) MRI is more specific than BAEP, inasmuch as several types of injuries can alter the BAEP, while the demyelinating plaque has a specific image and can only be confused with little lacunar infarcts. (4) Plaques that produced symptoms or signs in the past can eventually disappear and be no longer detected by a subsequent MRI.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Relevance of aggregation properties of tropoelastin to the assembly and structure of elastic fibers.

Solutions of tropoelastin incubated under different experimental conditions were examined by electron microscopy after negative staining and after fixation and embedding. Below 37 degrees C only polymorphous structureless elements of variable size could be found. In samples kept for a few minutes at 40 degrees C, flexible, isolated filaments of 5 nm diameter and variable length, together with a few small aggregates of filaments, were seen. No single filaments, but only bundles of filaments were detectable after incubation at 40 degrees C for longer than 5-10 min. Tropoelastin kept at 40 degrees C for longer than 10 hr formed a white precipitate, which, when fixed and embedded as in conventional electron microscopy, consisted of 0.5-2 microns thick, amorphous and branching fibers, identical to those seen in identically processed normal tissues. From these observations a model for the assembly and structure of elastic fibers is proposed.

Animals↗