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F Tomei

Publications and source records attributed to F Tomei.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Surface remodeling associated with vasopressin-induced membrane traffic in L6 myogenic cells.

The plasma membrane is dynamically remodeled as a function of the cell cycle, motility and membrane traffic. We have previously shown that arg8-vasopressin (AVP) stimulation of L6 myoblasts induces the activation of phosholipase D during the first minutes of stimulation, and the differentiation of 1,6 myoblasts as a long term effect. We now report that AVP also induces two types of morphological responses in L6 cells within a few minutes of stimulation: exocytosis, apparent as uncoated pits, and the generation of membrane projections and reffles. Thus, such an experimental model is suitable for the study of hormone-induced morphological surface modifications and their regulatory mechanisms. In L6 cells, AVP-induced projection generation depends on the integrity of microfilaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules. Moreover, projection generation and exocytosis appear to be independently regulated phenomena: in fact, inhibition of the de novo synthesis of phosphatidylcholine inhibits membrane traffic but fails to block projection appearance. Conversely, the latter phenomenon, unlike exocytosis, is mediated by PI3-kinase signaling. Thus, AVP induces two early, independently regulated morphological modifications in L6 cells: exocytosis, involved in plasma membrane phospholipid turnover, and membrane projections, likely involved in cell migration.

Acridine Orange↗
PubMed2000

An age, period and cohort analysis of pleural cancer mortality in Europe.

Death certification data from pleural cancer in eight European countries providing data to the World Health Organization database over the period 1970-1994 were analysed using a log-linear Poisson model to disentangle the effects of age, birth cohort and period of death. The age effect reached values between 10 and 15/100,000 males at age 80-84 in most countries, except Hungary (6.7), Switzerland (18.0), France (20.6) and the Netherlands (36.5). Cohort effects were steadily and appreciably upwards in all countries up to the generations born in 1940 or 1945, and levelled off for the 1950 cohort, except in Hungary, where persistent rises were observed. Thus, most rises in pleural cancer mortality in Europe were on a cohort of birth basis. Since most pleural cases were asbestos-related mesotheliomas, and since asbestos has an early-stage effect on subsequent mesothelioma risk, exposure early in life is important for determining the subsequent mesothelioma risk of each generation. Consequently, the data indicate that the peak mortality from pleural cancer in most western European countries will be reached in the first decades of the 21st century, i.e. around 2010-2020, when the generations born between 1940 and 1950 will reach the peak age for mesothelioma incidence and mortality. This contrasts with US data, where the peak of pleural cancer incidence has been reached at the end of the 20th century, and reflects a delay in adopting adequate prevention measures since the 1940-1945 generations entered the workforce in the 1960s, when cancer risk from asbestos exposure was already recognized.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Latex allergy. History, diagnosis and prevention.

During the past 10 years the incidence of natural rubber latex (NRL) allergy has dramatically increased. It occurs predominantly in certain high risk group: health care workers, latex industry workers, immune compromised individuals (such as children with spina bifida) and persons with positive risk factors (such as multiple surgeries). The epidemiology, history, mechanism, clinical symptoms and signs, and diagnosis of latex allergy are presented briefly. The subject of this review is to understand the importance in reducing the prevalence of latex allergy: reducing exposure, using appropriate work practices, training and educating workers, monitoring symptoms and substituting non latex products when appropriate.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Liver damage among shoe repairers.

BACKGROUND: The risk of hepatotoxicity in the shoe industry has already been suggested, however, there has been no investigation among the craftsmen who repair shoes. METHODS: A group of 33 shoe repairers who work in supermarkets, and who use the same glues which contain mixtures of potentially hepatotoxic solvents were identified. A control group of 61 workers not exposed to hepatotoxic substances was also examined. All participants completed a questionnaire designed to identify potential risk factors and the main non-occupational confounding factors for hepatotoxicity. Laboratory tests, commonly used in clinical practice, were done to check whether they were useful markers of hepatotoxicity due to exposure to solvent mixtures, and to investigate which tests should be used in the screening campaigns. RESULTS: The exposed workers had a higher prevalence of elevated mean alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), conjugated bilirubin (P=0.0001), and alkaline phosphatase (AP) (P=0.004) than controls did. The number of workers who had values outside the upper limit of normal for our laboratory was significantly higher (ALT P=0.034, AST P=0. 037, conjugated bilirubin P=0.014). Exposed workers all had a ratio of ALT to AST greater than 1, with a mean of 1.5; it was > 1.6 in more than half the exposed workers. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that there is the possibility of liver involvement among even asymptomatic shoe repairers, and that periodic liver screening may be useful; furthermore, use of these tests (especially the ratio of ALT to AST) for craftsmen who repair shoes, and are exposed to solvent mixtures, is advisable even when environmental monitoring indicates levels below the threshold limit values (TLVs).

Acetates↗
PubMed1999

Chronic venous disorders and occupation.

BACKGROUND: Chronic venous disorders in the general population are a significant socio-medical pathology. The importance and role of venous pathologies in the occupational field are underestimated and the data in the literature are incomplete and contradictory. METHODS: A study was made of 336 male workers: 112 industry workers, 120 stoneworkers, and 104 office workers. A targeted questionnaire was administered to all workers regarding occupational and extraoccupational risk factors for venous pathologies. The same workers were clinically examined, and a venous check-up and specific tests were done in clinostatic and orthostatic postures. RESULTS: The prevalence of chronic venous disorders, including major and minor pathology, was significantly higher among industrial workers (39.28%) than among stoneworkers (24.16%, P=.019) and office workers (22.11%, P=.010). Only for major pathology was the mean age higher in phlebopathic workers than in non-phlebopathic; furthermore, the proportion of workers standing for >/=50% of the work shift was higher in phlebopathic than in non-phlebopathic. These differences were significant in all working groups. The results showed a positive relationship between the prevalence of phlebopathy and increased age and number of hours spent standing. Considering workers of the same age classes, a higher prevalence of phlebopathy was found between those who stood for >/=50% of their shift and those who stood for <50% of the time. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that professions involving standing, particularly for those standing for >/=50% of the shift, can influence the development of chronic venous disorders and a diagnostic clinical protocol to be used by occupational physicians in screening working populations for the prevention of venous disease is suggested.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Allergy and other selected diseases and risk of colorectal cancer.

It has been reported that allergy and other diseases may be related to colorectal cancer risk. The aim of this study was to perform a systematic analysis using information about medical histories specifically to see if there was any relation between allergies or other medical conditions and colorectal cancer risk. A multicentric case-control study was conducted in six Italian areas between 1992 and 1996 on 1225 incident cases of colon cancer, 728 cases of rectal cancer and 4154 controls comparable with cases according to sex and age group, admitted for acute conditions to the same network of hospitals where cases had been identified. Unconditional logistic regression models including terms for sex, age, study centre, years of education, body mass index, physical activity, smoking, history of colorectal cancer in first-degree relatives and energy intake were used to estimate the odds ratios (OR) of colon and rectal cancer according to history of allergy and other selected diseases. The OR for history of allergy was 0.88 (95% confidence interval, CI, 0.67-1.14) for colon and 0.64 (95% CI, 0.44-0.92) for rectal cancer, and the inverse association was stronger when allergy was diagnosed at age 35 years or more, or less than 10 years before the cancer diagnosis. No clear pattern emerged in strata of age and sex. History of other selected diseases, including hypertension and cholelithiasis, was not related to colon or rectal cancer risk, though there was a moderate increase in the risk of colon cancer (OR = 1.18, 95% CI, 0.66-2.14) in patients with a history of intestinal polyps. This study lends support to the hypothesis that allergic individuals may be at a lower risk of developing colorectal cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Treatment of substance loss of the bones of the leg in traumatology by transfer of the free vascularized iliac crest. Apropos of 13 cases].

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: Free iliac crest transfer as described by Taylor is an option for tibial bone reconstruction in traumatology. Our purpose was to evaluate results, bone reconstruction quality and delay for bone healing using microsurgical technique. MATERIAL: 13 men were operated on between December 1986 and January 1994, mean aged 31 years (extreme 18-58) Bone lesion was localized at the middle third in 5 cases and at the lower third in 8 cases. The bone defect was directly related to traumatism in 2 cases, and secondary to resection of infected or necrotic bone in 11 cases. Limb neurologic and vascular problems have always been evaluated before reconstruction and amputation always been discussed. Preoperative limb arteriography showed only one major vessel of the limb in 6 cases. Delay between injury and bone reconstruction averaged 11 months. METHODS: Bone debridement and bone stabilization by external fixator was performed on a first step. Resection of the fibula was performed to allow secondary compression at the reconstruction site. All necrotic and infected bone was "en bloc" resected using an oscillating saw. Bone reconstruction was performed in a second step when the wound was clean. Surgical team included a plastic surgeon for the micro surgical procedure and an orthopedic surgeon for bone fixation. Osteo-musculo-cutaneous flap and osteo-muscular flap were used according to the size of the skin defect. Bone osteosynthesis was achieved by direct fitting after distraction applied by the external fixator. Vessel anastomosis was performed under microscope. RESULTS: One patient had to be amputated due to a lesion of a single vessel by an llizarov wire. In the remaining 12 cases, bone healing has been achieved after 10 months on average. Bone reconstruction averaged 8 centimeters. A secondary procedure has had to be performed in 9 cases. Two stress fractures have been observed. DISCUSSION: "Carcinologic" resection of infected bone is one of the key of this procedure, as described by Weiland. Many techniques had been described to treat traumatic bone defects. Papineau's technique is a long procedure and leads to instable scars on the leg. Use of cancellous bone covered with a free or a pedicled muscular flap gives good results, but it may appear logical to treat a composite defect with a composite graft. Progressive bone lengthening using Ilizarov technique is not an easy procedure among adults. Use of vascularized bone graft is known to be a good procedure for treatment of osteomyelitis, but this type of technique is technically demanding. Fibula transfers are useful especially when defect are more than 10 cm. long, but this bone is fragile and stress fractures are frequent. Iliac crest is closer to the tibia and appears to be a good donor site when bone defect is 5 to 10 cm. long. CONCLUSION: Free iliac crest transfer appears to be a reliable procedure for traumatic tibial loss ranging from 5 to 10 cm long although amputation must always be discussed in such difficult traumatic cases, especially if there is a posterior tibial nerve lesion.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Vascular effects of occupational exposure to low-dose ionizing radiation.

Damage to the microcirculation caused by high-dose ionizing radiation is well known but data concerning low-dose exposure are scant and contrasting. We employed capillary microscopy to study dermal microcirculation damage resulting from occupational exposure to ionizing radiation doses lower than 5 rem/year (maximum permissible dose in Italy). We studied 145 physicians (60.7% radiologists, 33.8% orthopedic specialists, 5.5% cardiologists) occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation and a control group of 106 subjects in comparable but different occupations not exposed to ionizing radiation or to other skin hazards. All subjects were administered a clinical protocol and underwent capillary microscopy of the fingernail-fold. Capillary microscopy alterations were classified as absent, mild, moderate, marked and severe. Our data confirm that occupational exposure to low-dose ionizing radiation can lead to morphological and functional alterations of the dermal microcirculation, which can be identified early by capillary microscopy.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Hepatotoxic occupational risk factors].

In this review the authors present a synthetic and critical analysis of the most recent epidemiological, clinical and experimental studies on the main risk factors thought to cause occupational liver diseases. The aim was to list the main occupational hepatotoxic substances in order to enable the earliest identification of possible occupational liver pathologies and the application of suitable means of prevention in the workplace. The following data emerge from a critical analysis of the studies reported. The list of potentially hepatotoxic substances is certainly very long and reliable evidence of specific toxicity only exists for some; many of these substances are used not only in the professional world, but often outside the workplace. The main route through which lesions occur is by inhalation and, in the case of many substances, also through the skin. In clinical terms, occupational liver pathologies may take an acute, subacute or chronic form, often with comparable symptoms to those found following non-occupational exposure. No particular histological features can be seen, nor are there specific diagnostic means to evaluate individual chemical substances. With regard to the data reported, the authors reach a few conclusions: when formulating an etiological diagnosis of occupational toxic hepatopathy, it is important to bear several aspects in mind such as the characteristics of the workplace (type of activity performed, products handled, working conditions, etc.), lifestyle (hobbies, use of drugs, etc.), varying individual susceptibility; each of these factors contributes to the onset of morbid conditions whose target is the liver.

Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury↗
PubMed1994

Noise and gastric secretion.

In view of the increasing incidence of diseases such as gastritis and ulcers in workers exposed to noise, we assessed whether noise does in fact affect gastric secretion. Then, considering the conflicting findings published on the effects of noise on gastric secretion, we also investigated whether the response was related to differences in baseline secretion, and whether it was further modified by a hydroalcoholic meal. We studied 50 dyspeptic subjects engaged in various types of work but not occupationally exposed to noise. They were exposed to a "pink noise" stimulus of 95 dB administered through earphones, lasting 15 minutes. Gastric secretion sometimes remained unchanged, sometimes increased, or sometimes even decreased in relation to the baseline hydrochloric acid secretion. The hydroalcoholic meal did not generally modify the effects of noise. These findings might help explain the differences in previous reports on this question.

Dyspepsia↗
PubMed1992

Vascular effects of noise.

The possible vascular effects of noise were studied. A study of the carotid vessels was made with Doppler ultrasonography in two groups of subjects exposed to various intensity of noise. The following data were studied: age, blood pressure, serum cholesterol, blood glucose, smoking habits, excess weight, electrocardiographic anomalies, family history of vascular disease, connection with duration of exposure and the type of noise and with audiometric deficits, and cerebrovascular modifications after postural changes and after a stress test. The control group comprised subjects not exposed to noise. The findings confirm that noise does play a role in causing vascular modifications that can be detected early by use of Doppler ultrasonography. This technique is predictive and could be useful in screening campaigns, following the method suggested here.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Study of some cardiovascular parameters after chronic exposure to noise.

Research has focussed lately on noise as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Recent findings, which have not been well confirmed, indicate that it does appear to affect heart rate, blood pressure and the electrocardiogram. This study involved two groups of subjects (with 75 and 225 in each, respectively) classified on the basis of different intensity of exposure to noise. Non-occupational risk factors studied (cholesterol, blood glucose, smoking, body mass index, family history of cardiovascular problems) revealed no significant differences between the two groups. Audiometric deficits and time exposure to noise were also studied. Blood pressure was measured at rest, an electrocardiogram was taken, and a cycloergometric stress test was made. The prevalence of hypertension and electrocardiographic modifications in basal conditions and under the stress test differed to a significant extent in relation to the different exposures to noise.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Effects of digitalis intoxication on the phosphoglucomutase and creatine phosphokinase of guinea pig livers.

A study was made of the behavior of the phosphoglucomutase (PGluM) and creatine phosphokinase (CPK) in the liver tissue of guinea pigs after chronic digitalis intoxication. It was found that the latter causes a statistically significant decrease of both enzymatic activities. The results obtained by the authors with this investigation, together with those of previous researchers, show that the toxic effect of digitalis on the enzymatic activities is not limited to the reported effect on the ATPase but also involves, at least at the doses and under the conditions used, other enzymatic activities.

Animals↗