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Biomedical subjects

F Vannini

Publications and source records attributed to F Vannini.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

The detached osteochondral fragment as a source of cells for autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) in the ankle joint.

OBJECTIVE: Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) has been successfully used for the treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talus. One of the main problems of this surgical strategy is related to the harvesting of the cartilage slice from a healthy knee. The aim of this study was to examine the capacity of chondrocytes harvested from a detached osteochondral fragment to proliferate and to serve as a source of viable cells for ACI in the repair of ankle cartilage defects. METHODS: Detached osteochondral fragments harvested from the ankle joint of 20 patients with osteochondral lesions of the talus served as the source of human articular cartilage specimens. All of the osteochondral lesions were chronic and of traumatic origin. In all cases, the fragments were utilized to evaluate the viability and proliferation of the cells, the histological appearance of the cartilage tissue and the expression of specific cartilage markers by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In the 16 patients scheduled for ACI, the expanded chondrocytes were used for chondrocyte implantation. In the other 4 patients, with lesion size <1.5cm(2), microfractures were created during the initial arthroscopic step. As a control group, 7 patients with comparable osteochondral lesions underwent the same surgery, but received chondrocytes harvested from the ipsilateral knee. RESULTS: According to the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Scoring (AOFAS) system, patients in the experimental group had a preoperative score of 54.2+/-16 points and a postoperative one of 89+/-9.6 points after a minimum follow-up time of 12 months (P<0.0005). The control group of patients had a preoperative score of 54.6+/-11.7 points and a postoperative one of 90.2+/-9.7 points at a minimum follow-up time of 12 months (P<0.0005). The clinical results of the two groups did not differ significantly from each other. Chondrocytes isolated from the detached fragments were highly viable, phenotypically stable, proliferated in culture and redifferentiated when grown within the three-dimensional scaffold used for ACI. The morphological and molecular characteristics of the cartilage samples obtained from the detached osteochondral fragments were similar to those of healthy hyaline articular cartilage. CONCLUSIONS: The good results achieved with this strategy indicate that cells derived from the lesioned area may be useful in the treatment of osteochondral defects of the talus.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Cast vs external fixation: a comparative study in elderly osteoporotic distal radial fracture patients.

AIM: This study compared fracture treatment with plaster cast vs external fixation. METHODS: Forty elderly female osteoporotic wrist fracture patients were randomized to be treated with either plaster cast (Group A) or external fixation (Group B). Bone mineral density less than -2.5 T-score was among the inclusion criteria. RESULTS: In Group A, four redisplacements occurred, whereas in Group B there were none (p = 0.005). Horesh score was higher in Group B (p < 0.006) than in Group A. Volar angle deformity (p < 0.0005) and radial angle deformity (p = 0.008) were lower in Group B. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that external fixation improves stability in elderly osteoporotic wrist fracture patients.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Autologous chondrocyte transplantation in osteochondral lesions of the ankle joint.

The aim of this study was to assess the repair of osteochondral defects of the ankle joint with hyaline cartilage. For this purpose we have been using a technique of autologous chondrocyte transplantation for osteochondral defects of the talus for the last two years. Until the method described in the paper, treatment methods proposed for the repair of cartilaginous defects have not been histologically effective in restoring the hyaline cartilage sheath, and in all cases the neoformation of cartilage was of a fibrocartilaginous nature with varying cellular characteristics. Clinical and histological results obtained using this surgical technique have confirmed its validity. Furthermore, neither subjective nor objective complications have been reported. Less pain and better articular function have also been observed. According to the AOFAS score, an improvement from an average score of 32/100 points pre-op. to 91/100 points at 24 months of follow up was obtained. Laboratory data have confirmed the presence of reconstructed cartilage with chondrocytes and expression of collagen II, characteristic of hyaline cartilage.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Haemorheological changes in mixed cryoglobulinaemia during apheresis treatment.

Thirty-four patients affected by mixed cryoglobulinaemia have been submitted to treatment by apheresis (plasma exchange or double cascade filtration). The authors have monitored clinical, laboratory and, above all, haemorheological changes following therapy. The final results have shown mainly a reduction of plasma viscosity and consequently an improvement of the haemorheology of the affected organs. In conclusion, apheresis may be considered a successful therapy in patients with severe renal or neurological diseases due to mixed cryoglobulinaemia.

Blood Viscosity↗
PubMed1994

Involvement of protein kinase C and arachidonate signaling pathways in the alteration of proliferative response of senescent IMR-90 human fibroblasts.

The proliferative response of IMR-90 fibroblasts at low and high population doubling level (PDL) to protein kinase C activation has been investigated to clarify whether the reduced mitogenic responsiveness of senescent cells can be ascribed to an alteration in protein kinase C signal transduction pathway. The results show that the signaling pathway leading to DNA synthesis through protein kinase C activation, appears to be modified in senescent IMR-90 human fibroblasts. High PDL fibroblasts exhibit a different sensitivity to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and dioctanoylglycerol (diC8); high glucose reduced responsiveness to PMA only in these cells. In addition, high PDL fibroblasts are characterized by an increase in diacylglycerol (DAG) cellular mass that could contribute to the different regulatory properties of the signaling pathway. On the other hand, the ability of the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin to strikingly improve the proliferative response of high PDL cells to PMA indicates that an altered overall metabolism of arachidonate may represent a crucial step in the reduced mitogenic response involving protein kinase C activation.

Arachidonic Acid↗
PubMed1994

Bradykinin stimulates fructose 2,6-bisphosphate metabolism in human fibroblasts.

Bradykinin (BK), a peptide released during inflammatory response, has been investigated for its ability to regulate glucose metabolism in human fibroblasts. The peptide is able to significantly increase glycolytic flux in these cells. The strict relationship between the glycolytic rate and the levels of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate (Fru-2,6-P2) strongly suggests that the metabolite plays a key role in the regulation of glucose metabolism by bradykinin. The mechanism by which bradykinin increases Fru-2,6-P2 content involves the activation of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase (PFK-2), the enzyme responsible for the synthesis of the metabolite. The study of the multiple signalling systems triggered by bradykinin demonstrates the involvement of the rise in intracellular Ca2+ concentration and of protein kinase C mediated pathway in the mechanism by which bradykinin increases Fru-2,6-P2 content and PFK-2 activity.

Bradykinin↗
PubMed1993

Effect of aging on insulin regulation of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate metabolism in human fibroblasts.

Fructose 2,6-bisphosphate (Fru-2,6-P2) content in human fibroblasts is under hormonal control and is strictly related to glycolytic flux. In the present study it has been examined whether aging process is accompanied with an impairment in the control exerted by insulin on the metabolite content. Upon insulin stimulation old fibroblasts show a reduced increase in Fru-2,6-P2 content and glycolytic flux. Similarly, 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase (PFK-2) activity in old fibroblasts is increased at a lesser extent by insulin treatment, suggesting that an impairment at post-receptor level in the signalling pathway of insulin might occur with aging. In addition in unstimulated senescent fibroblasts PFK-2 displays higher activity and reduced Km for substrate, suggesting either that during senescence PFK-2 undergoes a post-translational modification or that a different PFK-2 isoenzyme is expressed.

Cell Line↗
PubMed1992

Role of the glycosylphosphatidylinositol/inositol phosphoglycan system in human fibroblast proliferation.

The involvement of the glycosylphosphatidylinositol/inositol phosphoglycan (gly-PtdIns/IPG) system in the stimulation of macromolecular syntheses in human fibroblasts has been investigated. The study demonstrates that an insulin sensitive gly-PtdIns/IPG system is present in human fibroblasts, that IPG can significantly stimulate DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis, and that the action of insulin on DNA synthesis as well as that of IPG can be significantly reduced by a specific anti-IPG antibody. These results strongly support the hypothesis that the gly-PtdIns/IPG system is involved in the signal transduction pathway leading to the stimulation of cell proliferation.

Cell Division↗
PubMed1989

Fructose 2,6-bisphosphate and insulin stimulation of glycolysis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

1. Insulin is able to stimulate lactate production and to enhance fructose 2,6-bisphosphate (Fru-2,6-P2) content in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. 2. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate is more efficacious than insulin in rising Fru-2,6-P2 content and less effective in the stimulation of glycolysis. 3. 3T3-L1 adipocyte 6-phosphofructo-l-kinase appears to be very sensitive to exogenous Fru-2,6-P2. 4. Insulin treatment does not affect the maximum activity of 6-phosphofructo-1-kinase whereas it markedly increases the affinity of pyruvate kinase for phosphoenolpyruvate. 5. The role of Fru-2,6-P2 in the insulin induced enhancement of glycolytic flux is discussed.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1987

RFLP analysis in families with sporadic hemophilia A. Estimate of the mutation ratio in male and female gametes.

To investigate the sporadic occurrence of hemophilia A and to estimate the sex ratio of mutation rates directly, 17 families with isolated cases of the disorder were studied by RFLP analysis and by clotting assays. Three RFLPs, one intragenic and two with close linkage to hemophilia A, were used. In eight families the RFLP study excluded the carrier status of the maternal grandmothers. Since hemostatic studies showed that the eight mothers of these propositi were hemophilia carriers, the origin of the newly mutated genes was inferred from the RFLP patterns: six hemophilic genes derived from the normal maternal grandfathers and two, from maternal grandmothers. The data indicate a higher mutation rate in males than in females, as previously suggested by segregation analysis and coagulation studies. However the sex ratio indicated by the RFLP analysis is lower than previously reported and could explain previous conflicting estimates.

Female↗
PubMed1987

Factor XII gene alteration in Hageman trait detected by TaqI restriction enzyme.

A cDNA for coagulation factor XII has been used to investigate the presence of gene lesions and restriction fragment length polymorphisms in two brothers with Hageman trait and their family. A TaqI polymorphic fragment has been found in the two propositi and in 11 members of the paternal lineage. This polymorphism, absent in the normal population, is correlated with the reduction of factor XII activity and enables the identification of heterozygous factor XII deficiency. Factor XII gene deletion as the cause of Hageman trait in this family has been excluded. A restriction map has been constructed, and the TaqI polymorphic site has been localized within the 5' portion of the gene. The mutation in the polymorphic site is probably the cause of the factor XII deficiency. Data suggest the presence of one factor XII gene per haploid genome.

Collodion↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Adolescence and family life cycle. Role of the pediatrician].

Adolescence observed as one of the step of the life cycle from the point of view of changes in the family. The role of paediatricians in the conversation with the adolescent and his parents is to pay attention to the influence that the whole family system could have on producing symptoms.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[They way adolescents live at home].

The kids, observing the relationship of their parents, are learning from them. Today the home is less home for everyone. At home you are eating, you are learning, especially you are watching a lot of TV. Often there is non a lot of trust between each other. Because of this the conversation is necessary and not the control of the adolescent secretly.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Advanced adolescence].

The advanced adolescence is the one after the eighteenth birthday. The adolescent tries to accomplish 3 engagements: 1. social and economic stability, 2. the research of a system of values, 3. record of concepts.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Eating disorders in adolescence: anorexia in children].

When doctor visits adolescents have to pay attention to the massage of body like a mirror of difficulty about growth. Adolescents change their eating habits because they need to distinguish to the family. The doctor have to see first signals of more serious behaviour join to eating: anorexia nervosa.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Statistical cephalometric study of the anterior cranial base].

The Authors have carried out a cephalometric and statistic study, running at right angles, searching for a reference parameter regarding the S.N. length (skulled front base) so that it can be used in the differential diagnosis of the skeleton Classes.

Adolescent↗