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F Olivieri

Publications and source records attributed to F Olivieri.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Evaluation of immunotoxins containing single-chain ribosome-inactivating proteins and an anti-CD22 monoclonal antibody (OM124): in vitro and in vivo studies.

Immunotoxins were prepared with three ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIP), momordin, pokeweed antiviral protein from seeds (PAP-S) and saporin-S6, linked to the anti-CD22 monoclonal antibody OM124. These immunotoxins inhibited protein synthesis by CD22-expressing cell lines Daudi, EHM, BJAB, Raji and BM21 with IC50 (concentration causing 50% inhibition) ranging from < 5 x 10(-15) to 7.6 x 10(-11) M as RIP, and IC90 (concentration causing 90% inhibition) ranging from 5 x 10(-14) to 5 x 10(-8)M, with no effect on a CD22-negative HL60 cell line at the highest concentration tested (5 x 10[-8] M). Apoptosis was induced in sensitive cells. The formation of bone marrow colonies was inhibited by no more than 40% by the immunotoxins at concentrations up to 10(-9) M. Treatment with the immunotoxins, alone or in combination, significantly extended the survival time of mice bearing transplanted Daudi cells. A treatment with cyclophosphamide and OM124/saporin immunotoxin was particularly effective in SCID mice transplanted with a low number of cells (3 x 10[-6]), when 60% of the animals remained tumour-free.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Different sensitivity of CD30+ cell lines to Ber-H2/saporin-S6 immunotoxin.

The in vitro sensitivity of cells to a Ber-H2(anti-CD30)/saporin-S6 immunotoxin has been investigated. The CD30+ cell lines, K562, L428 and L540, were used to study cell binding, uptake and degradation of the immunotoxin. K562 cells were less sensitive than L428 and L540 cells to the immunotoxin by approximately one order of magnitude. The difference in cytotoxicity correlated with the intracellular accumulation and with the ratio of degraded over total internalized Ber-H2/saporin-S6, regardless of the immunotoxin binding to the cells. After 6 h incubation, the less sensitive K562 cells (i) accumulated only one third and one tenth of the immunotoxin accumulated by the more sensitive L428 and L540 cells, respectively, and (ii) degraded two thirds of the internalized protein versus one third degraded by either L428 or L540 cells. Ammonium chloride and chloroquine reduced the cytotoxicity of the immunotoxin towards K562 but not to L540 cells. This effect correlated with the increment of immunotoxin catabolism by K562 cells in the presence of chloroquine. In conclusion, uptake alone of an immunotoxin by target cells is not sufficient to assure its efficacy which might also depend on intracellular routing. Only a cytotoxicity test may be really predictive.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1997

New ribosome-inactivating proteins with polynucleotide:adenosine glycosidase and antiviral activities from Basella rubra L. and bougainvillea spectabilis Willd.

New single-chain (type 1) ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) were isolated from the seeds of Basella rubra L. (two proteins) and from the leaves of Bougainvillea spectabilis Willd. (one protein). These RIPs inhibit protein synthesis both in a cell-free system, with an IC50 (concentration causing 50% inhibition) in the 10(-10) M range, and by various cell lines, with IC50S in the 10(-8)-10(-6) M range. All three RIPs released adenine not only from rat liver ribosomes but also from Escherichia coli rRNA, polyadenylic acid, herring sperm DNA, and artichoke mottled crinkle virus (AMCV) genomic RNA, thus being polynucleotide:adenosine glycosidases. The proteins from Basella rubra had toxicity to mice similar to that of most type 1 RIPs (Barbieri et al., 1993, Biochim Biophys Acta 1154: 237-282) with an LD50 (concentration that is 50% lethal) < or = 8 mg.kg-1 body weight, whilst the RIP from Bougainvillea spectabilis had an LD50 > 32 mg.kg-1. The N-terminal sequence of the two RIPs from Basella rubra had 80-93% identity, whereas it differed from the sequence of the RIP from Bougainvillea spectabilis. When tested with antibodies against various RIPs, the RIPs from Basella gave some cross-reactivity with sera against dianthin 32, and weak cross-reactivity with momordin I and momorcochin-S, whilst the RIP from Bougainvillea did not cross-react with any antiserum tested. An RIP from Basella rubra and one from Bougainvillea spectabilis were tested for antiviral activity, and both inhibited infection of Nicotiana benthamiana by AMCV.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1997

Extended lymph node dissection for gastric cancer: results of a prospective, multi-centre analysis of morbidity and mortality in 118 consecutive cases.

This study reports interim data on post-operative morbidity, hospital mortality and duration of hospital stay of Italian patients undergoing extended lymph-node dissection combined with a pancreas-preserving technique for gastric cancer. Of the 218 patients admitted to one of eight general and/or university hospitals in North Italy, 118 were enrolled in the trial. Eligible patients presented with proven primary adenocarcinoma of the stomach without clinical evidence of distant, peritoneal and/or liver metastasis, or metastasis in para-aortic and retropancreatic nodes at intraoperative biopsy. Patients underwent the extended procedure as described by the Japanese Research Society for the Study of Gastric Cancer, following the Maruyama pancreas-preserving technique. A strict quality control system was used to ensure the performance of a standard surgical treatment. A surgeon of the reference centre (M.D.), who stayed at the National Cancer Center Hospital in Tokyo to learn the D2 technique from a specialist Japanese surgeon, became the trial supervisor and assisted each surgeon in all the Italian participating centres. The patients were staged according both to the TNM system and to the General Rules for the Gastric Cancer Study in Surgery and Pathology. Post-operative surgical complications developed in 21 patients (17.8%). The non-surgical complication rate was 2.5%. Reoperation was necessary in six patients (5%), all of whom survived. The 30-day mortality rate for the eligible group was 2.5%. The overall hospital mortality was the same. Total gastrectomy was associated with a slightly higher operative mortality (4.5% vs 1.3%). Only one patient died from an anastomotic leak. The rate of leakages was higher after total than after distal gastrectomy (15.9 vs 5.4%); the association of splenectomy and pancreatectomy worsened the morbidity rate. D2 lymphadenectomy with pancreas-preserving technique, when performed at experienced centres, seems a feasible and safe technique for the radical treatment of gastric cancer in selected Western patients.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1996

Induction of apoptosis by ribosome-inactivating proteins and related immunotoxins.

Immunotoxins have been prepared with 3 ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs), namely, momordin, pokeweed anti-viral protein from seeds (PAP-S) and saporin, linked to the Ber-H2 monoclonal antibody directed against the CD30 antigen of human lymphocytes. Either the RIPs or the immunotoxins induced apoptosis in the CD30+ L540 cell line, as shown by the morphological aspects of the cells, by the DNA fragmentation visible at the electrophoresis, and by the formation of DNA breaks evidenced by 2 cytofluorometric techniques (propidium-iodide staining and fluoresceine-isothiocyanate conjugate dUTP incorporation). The AC50 (concentration causing apoptosis in 50% of the cells) is in the range 10(-8) to 10(-7) M in the case of RIPs, and 10(-11) to 10(-10) M in the case of the immunotoxins.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1996

A systemic antiviral resistance-inducing protein isolated from Clerodendrum inerme Gaertn. is a polynucleotide:adenosine glycosidase (ribosome-inactivating protein).

Two systemic antiviral resistance-inducing proteins, CIP-29 and CIP-34, isolated from Clerodendrum inerme Gaertn. leaves, were tested for ribosome-inactivating properties. It was found that CIP-29 has the characteristics of a polynucleotide:adenosine glycosidase (ribosome-inactivating protein), in that it inhibits protein synthesis both in cell-free systems and, at higher concentrations, in cells, and releases adenine from ribosomes, RNA, poly(A) and DNA. As compared with other known RIPs, CIP-29 deadenylates DNA at a high rate, and induces systemic antiviral resistance in susceptible plants.

Adenine↗
PubMed1996

Pediatric AIDS and advanced directives: a three-year prospective study in New York State.

Most HIV-infected families currently receive their care in an ambulatory setting. Ambulatory care provides greater means of medical care, and planning for the infected family members. Advanced Directives (AD) and Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) for adults are now discussed in an ambulatory setting rather than under the duress of a hospital admission. We felt it is important to examine the practice of discussing AD/DNR with the families of pediatric AIDS patients in an out patient setting. Twenty-one and 26 AIDS-designated centers in New York State and five major hospitals in New York City were contacted through a telephone survey in 1991 and 1994, respectively. Questions were designed to obtain demographics of the hospital, pediatric AIDS population, and their DNR/AD policies. In 1991 and 1994, the survey was conducted with the pediatric unit of hospitals with pediatric AIDS. In 1991, only 12 (75%) hospitals had an existing policy on pediatric DNR. No hospital had admitted a patient with AD/DNR obtained as an outpatient, nor were there guidelines at any hospital to approach the issue in an outpatient setting. In 1994, 20 (95%) hospitals had a DNR policy for pediatric patients. We found that even though six patients were admitted with AD obtained as outpatients, no outpatient guidelines existed for AD/DNR for pediatrics. The number of cases of pediatric AIDS in New York State increased by 29.7% for the 1991-1994 period. While pediatric DNR existed in 1991/1994, we found there were presently no guidelines for obtaining AD/DNR for pediatric AIDS patients in an ambulatory setting. Families infected with HIV should have a caring atmosphere to help them address pediatric AD/DNR with their primary care providers. However, we believe that guidelines should be developed to address this issue.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1995

Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RNA N-glycosidases) from the seeds of Saponaria ocymoides and Vaccaria pyramidata.

From the seeds of the Caryophyllaceae Saponaria ocymoides and Vaccaria pyramidata two proteins were purified which have the properties of the type-1 (single-chain) ribosome-inactivating proteins [reviewed by Barbieri, L., Battelli, M. G. & Stirpe, F. (1993) Ribosome-inactivating proteins from plants, Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1154, 237-282]. The proteins have molecular masses of 30.2 kDa (S. ocymoides) and 28.0 kDa (V. pyramidata) and pI greater than 9.5, their N-terminal amino acid sequences are similar to those of saporin-S6 and dianthin 30, ribosome-inactivating proteins from other Caryophyllaceae, and they partially cross-react with sera against these proteins. Both proteins inhibit protein synthesis by a rabbit-reticulocyte lysate with IC50 (concentrations giving 50% inhibition) below 10(-10) M, have a smaller effect on poly(U)-directed phenylalanine polymerisation by rat liver ribosomes (nanomolar IC50, approximately) and on protein synthesis by various cell lines (IC50 ranging from 4 nM to > 3000 nM) and possess rRNA N-glycosidase activity, releasing 1 mol adenine/ribosome.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Anti-CD30 immunotoxins with native and recombinant dianthin 30.

Immunotoxins were prepared with a Ber-H2 (anti-CD30) monoclonal antibody and native or recombinant dianthin 30, a ribosome-inactivating protein from Dianthus caryophyllus (carnation). Both immunotoxins selectively inhibited protein synthesis by CD30+ cell lines D430B (lymphoblastoid, infected with Epstein-Barr virus), L428 and L540 (both from Hodgkin's lymphoma). IC50 values (concentrations, as dianthin, causing 50% inhibition) ranged from 324 pM to 479 pM (immunotoxin with native dianthin 30) or from 45 pM to 182 pM (immunotoxin with recombinant dianthin 30). The effect of either immunotoxin on protein synthesis by the CD30+ cell line K562 (from a chronic myeloid leukaemia) was not different from that of free dianthin (IC50 higher than nM).

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1995

Reduced serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate in adrenal incidentalomas: a marker of adrenocortical tumour.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Reduced serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) have been shown in patients with Cushing's syndrome resulting from adrenocortical adenoma, in contrast with normal DHEAS levels in patients with Cushing's disease. The aim of this study was to verify whether patients with incidentally discovered adrenocortical adenomas also have reduced levels of DHEAS. DESIGN: Evaluation of serum DHEAS, serum and urinary cortisol, plasma ACTH and low dose dexamethasone suppression test in patients with adrenal incidentaloma and Cushing's syndrome. PATIENTS: Thirty-two patients with adrenal incidentaloma and, as controls, 17 patients with overt Cushing's syndrome, were studied. RESULTS: Serum DHEAS levels lower than normal were found in 21/24 (87.5%) patients with adrenocortical incidentaloma, but in only 1/8 patients with a mass of non-adrenocortical origin. This patient had massive bilateral metastatic infiltration of both adrenal glands and primary adrenal failure. The prevalence of low DHEAS levels in the two groups was significantly different (P = 0.0001). In patients with adrenocortical incidentaloma, the prevalence of low DHEAS levels was significantly higher (P = 0.0001) than that found for some hormonal alterations indicating pre-clinical hypercortisolism (high urinary cortisol, unsuppressed serum cortisol after low dose dexamethasone administration and low plasma ACTH). Low DHEAS levels were found in all patients with Cushing's syndrome due to adrenocortical adenoma but in none of those with Cushing's disease. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the finding of low DHEAS levels can be considered a marker of the adrenocortical origin of an adrenal incidentaloma, provided adrenal failure has been excluded.

17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone↗
PubMed1994

Staple-line Disruptions in Vertical Banded Gastroplasty Related to Different Stapling Techniques.

We performed one or more upper G.I. barium single-contrast studies on 125 out of 166 Mason vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) operated patients (total: 226 X-ray examinations during a 3 month-10 year postoperative period). Forty four patients had a staple-line performed by double application of a 2-row stapler with manual reinforcement (group 1); 12 had a single application of a 4-row stapler with reinforcement (group 2); the last 69 patients had a partition with a 4-row stapler without reinforcement (group 3). A staple-line disruption was observed in 34 cases (27.2%); 17/44 (38.6%) cases belong to group 1, 6/12 cases (50%) to group 2 and 11/69 cases (15.9%) to group 3. The range of breakdowns diameter was 2-30 mm (nine cases double, one case quadruple). In 16 out of 34 cases we observed a preferential contrast pathway through the perforations. In 23 cases we noted a weight regain and in one case an initial failure on weight loss; in 12 cases the excess weight loss (EWL) was less than 30%. In group 3, we found two tiny perforations at the top of the partition, but another nine along with the staple-lines. In our experience, staple line disruptions are only reduced using the 4-row stapler without reinforcement; even with this stapling technique late breakdowns along the staple-line, not only at the apex of the partition, can occur.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1993

Spinal deformities in deferoxamine-treated homozygous beta-thalassemia major patients.

A new constellation of spinal changes are observed in homozygous beta-thalassemia major (HBT) patients receiving deferoxamine (DF), an iron-chelating drug used in combination with transfusion therapy in certain anemic syndromes. In a retrospective study of 22 HBT patients who were receiving DF therapy, morphological deformities (decreased spinal height, increased thoracic kyphosis, vertebral flattening and elongation anteriorly, and disk calcification) were found in 16 of 22 patients. These changes are believed to be caused by interference with spinal growth-plate development. Investigation of DF-dose correlation supports the conclusion that the spinal changes were DF-induced. Spinal changes observed in DF-treated patients differ both morphologically and pathogenetically from earlier reports of vertebral deformities occurring as a sequel to compensatory marrow hyperplasia in poorly transfused patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Age dependent impact of LMP polymorphisms on TNFalpha-induced apoptosis in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

As a consequence of inflammatory stimuli (such as TNFalpha and IFNgamma), some constitutive subunits of the proteasome, the principal mediator of nonlysosomal protein degradation, are replaced with other subunits, the large multifunctional proteases LMP2 and LMP7, thus originating the immunoproteasome. An age-related alteration of proteasome activity and susceptibility to TNFalpha-induced apoptosis, in which LMP2 and the nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB activation play an important role has been recently reported. In this paper, we investigated the possible influence of two LMP2 and LMP7 polymorphisms on susceptibility to TNFalpha-induced apoptosis. Our data show that an increase in susceptibility to TNFalpha-induced apoptosis is evident in long-lived people (aged >88 years) in comparison to young individuals. Moreover, the modulation of LMP2 codon 60 polymorphism on TNFalpha-induced apoptosis is evident in long-lived subjects. Genotyping of 311 young people and 157 nonagenarians and centenarians revealed no changes in LMP2 codon 60 genotype frequency distribution. No correlation with TNFalpha-induced apoptosis and no difference in frequency between young people and nonagenarians/centenarians was observed when the LMP7 nucleotide 145 polymorphism was studied.

Adult↗