PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

G Conti

Publications and source records attributed to G Conti.

At least 325 records · Page 18Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Inhibition of late influenza virus genome expression by diamidinophenylindole.

The growth cycle of influenza virus strain FPV, Ulster 73, was altered by treatment of LLC-MK2 cells with diamidinophenylindole. Viral protein synthesis was restricted to the early pattern of virus multiplication, and post-treatment experiments showed the ability of the drug to block virus replication until the 4th hour p.i. Drug addition (followed by removal) revealed the inhibition of synthesis of late viral products, and especially of membrane protein. Kinetic studies on the production of viral RNA indicated a decrease in the synthesis of late virus-induced RNA species, suggesting that the target of DAPI is probably the late transcription of the virus genome. The nonpermissive condition mediated by the drug could represent a suitable model to study cellular intervention during viral growth.

Capsid↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Continuous monitoring by biplane transesophageal echocardiography of pulmonary and paradoxical embolism.

Paradoxical embolism is considered a relatively uncommon disease. Continuous biplane transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was performed in a 64-year-old woman who had an acute pulmonary embolism. TEE showed an elongated formation highly mobile within both atria. It was trapped in the interatrial septum, passing through a patent foramen ovale. Systemic embolism of the right arm was noted. The patient died 5 hours after admission, and postmortem examination confirmed the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. This case demonstrates the potential utility of TEE in the study of patients with suspected paradoxical embolism.

Echocardiography, Transesophageal↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Role of acylation of viral haemagglutinin during the influenza virus infectious cycle.

We investigated fatty acid residues bound to the haemagglutinin (HA) of type A influenza viruses by growing the viruses in permissive chick embryo fibroblasts (CEF) and in non-permissive HeLa-229 cells using a maintenance medium containing 3H-palmitic acid. Our results suggest that fatty acid acylation of the major viral glycoprotein may be an important prerequisite for the production of mature viral particles. Indeed, palmitoylation is found in infected CEF, but is completely lacking in non-permissive HeLa-229 cells infected by the same virus strains. We conclude that this type of post-translational modification of virus HA glycoprotein could be a general phenomenon regulating the maturation and budding of influenza virus.

Acylation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Atrophia maculosa varioliformis cutis: a pediatric case.

Atrophia maculosa varioliformis cutis was described in 1918 by Heidingsfeld as a type of idiopathic noninflammatory macular atrophy typically occurring in young individuals. Only 13 cases have been reported since the first description. Considering that atrophia maculosa varioliformis cutis can be mistaken for a scarring and artifact dermatitis, it is important for physicians to distinguish this condition. We report a new case in a 5-year-old boy.

Atrophy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Language delay in infants associated with middle ear disease and mild, fluctuating hearing impairment.

We report on a study of the relationship between early persistent middle ear disease and early language learning for 35 infants. Three independent measurements were used to evaluate hearing sensitivity and the status of the middle ear. Language development was assessed using two standardized measurements for both comprehension and expression. The otitis-prone group had a 71.5% incidence of language delay with 42.9% delayed greater than 6 months. For the normal group 21.4% had language delay, with one child having delay greater than 6 months. The feasibility of including language screening for at-risk infants is discussed.

Acoustic Impedance Tests↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Mechanism of action of progestins in the treatment of hormone-dependent breast cancer (author's transl)].

The in vitro interference of some gestagens with the binding of 3H-17-beta-oestradiol to cytosol specific receptors was investigated with a view to elucidating the mechanism of action of progestins in the treatment of human hormone-dependent breast cancer. A decrease (up to 85%) of oestradiol binding capacity was observed with high concentrations of progesterone, clogestone and medrogestone. These findings are in good agreement with those previously obtained by the same progestins in our laboratory on rat uterine estrogen receptors in vitro or in vivo. These results provide the support for the hypothesis that the mode of action of progestins in the therapy of mammary and perhaps uterine carcinomas is to some extent related to the inhibition of oestradiol binding to cytosol specific receptors.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Correlation between pS2 protein positivity, steroid receptor status and other prognostic factors in breast cancer.

The cytosolic levels of pS2, an estrogen-regulated protein, were measured in 100 cases of primary breast cancer and related to several conventional histological and biochemical prognostic factors. The data were statistically analyzed on the basis of two different cutoff point for pS2: 4 and 11 ng/mg of cytosolic proteins. pS2 positivity (cutoff 11 ng/mg) was shown to be associated with small tumor size (p = 0.05), a higher differentiation grade (p = 0.007) and a smaller number of mitoses (p = 0.004), but not with menopausal status, lymph node involvement, cathepsin D levels, or proliferative activity determined by the monoclonal antibody Ki67. With the cutoff of 4 ng/mg, the statistical significance was confirmed only for the number of mitoses (p = 0.03), which was also the most closely related covariate in multivariate analysis (p = 0.008). As regards steroid receptor status, a significant difference was observed between pS2+ and pS2- cases (Chi-square = 8.9; p = 0.04, cutoff 4 ng/mg). in conclusion, pS2 positivity, being preferentially expressed in hormone-dependent cells and related to other well-known positive markers, may either indicate a good prognosis or predict responsiveness to endocrine treatment.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Peculiar ultrastructural features in the cytoplasm of cells from human effusions associated with malignant disease.

A peculiar structure revealed by the electron microscope in a few cells from two human pleural fluids, showing the morphologic features of metastasizing cancer cells in effusions, is described. It has the appearance of a rod-shaped pentalaminary structure approximately 25-35 nm thick formed by an outer double membrane, surrounding a central, more dense axis showing transverse striations at about 10-nm intervals. The double membrane often exhibits a terminal expansion connected with the endoplasmic reticulum and it is sometimes associated with microfilaments. These structures could be a variant of or represent a step in the formation of confronting cisternae, but the periodic striations they show in the more dense lamella give them some resemblance to a Langerhan's cell granule. To date, such striations have not been seen in confronting cisternae.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Influence of bicalutamide with or without tamoxifen or anastrozole on insulin-like growth factor 1 and binding proteins in prostate cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: There is growing evidence that IGF-1 and binding proteins may be involved in prostate cancer promotion and progression. PATIENTS AND METHODS: IGF-1 and binding proteins (IGFBP-1 and 3) serum levels were measured at baseline and after 3 and 6 months of treatment in a selected group of patients with prostate cancer who were randomly assigned to treatment with bicalutamide, bicalutamide plus anastrozole or bicalutamide plus tamoxifen in a comparative study investigating the role of pharmacological medication in the development of bicalutamide-induced gynecomastia. RESULTS: Bicalutamide monotherapy does not appear to alter the IGF-1/IGFBP system. In fact, the increase in IGF-1 levels induced by this treatment was paralleled by comparable increases in binding protein (IGFBP-3). No major changes from baseline up to month 6 either in IGF-1 or in IGFBP-1 and 3 were observed in the bicalutamide plus anastrozole arm. The addition of tamoxifen to bicalutamide produced a sharp decrease in IGF-1 levels (p<0.001) coupled with an increase in both IGFBP-1 (p=0.001) and, to a lesser extent, IGFBP-3 (p=0.5). CONCLUSIONS: The concurrent administration of tamoxifen and bicalutamide reduces the synthesis and bioavailability of IGF-1. Moreover, increased binding protein levels might exert antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects on prostate cancer cells, independently of the IGF-1/IGF receptor-mediated survival system. Both effects might have a synergistic inhibitory influence on prostate cancer growth.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase and beta2-microglobulin: prognostic markers in idiopathic nephrotic syndrome.

Increased urinary excretion of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and beta2-microglobulin (beta2M) is considered a marker of tubulo-interstitial disease. This study assessed urinary excretion of NAG and beta2M in children with nephrotic syndrome (NS), 14 with cortico-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (CSNS), five with cortico-resistant NS (CRNS) and 30 healthy controls matched for sex and age. At onset urinary excretion of NAG was significantly higher in children with CSNS than controls (p=0.0001) but during remission values were superimposable. Conversely in CRNS at onset urinary excretion of NAG and beta2M was significantly higher than CSNS and remained unchanged at the end of steroid treatment (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01). Urinary NAG values in CSNS were correlated with proteinuria (r = 0.63), serum total proteins (r = -0.54), serum albumin (r = -0.55) and serum cholesterol (r = 0.67). These data suggest that urinary excretion of NAG and beta2M may be useful as a marker of tubular dysfunction in nephrotic syndromes which often characterises cortico-resistant patients.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Non invasive ventilation in the treatment of FUdr-induced lesional pulmonary oedema.

2-deoxy-5-fluorouridine, also known as floxuridine (FUdr) is a fluoropyridine antimetabolite, used in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma. We report the first case of lesional pulmonary oedema developed after receiving Fudr, recently treated in our unit. The patient refused endotracheal intubation, and was successfully treated associating noninvasive ventilation (NIV) with full-face mask to steroid treatment. The authors conclude that mechanical ventilation via face-mask can be an effective, comfortable, dignified method of support for patients with end-stage disease and acute respiratory failure.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Efficacy of insulin Lispro in the control of late postprandial hypoglycemia: comparison with regular human insulin].

BACKGROUND: Lispro insulin a recently developed analogue of human insulin, is more rapidly adsorbed and has a lower duration of activity as compared with regular insulin. This implies a glycemic profile closer to the physiologic one with a reduction of early post-prandial hyperglycemic peak and of drop in late postprandial glycemia. This results in a reduction of mild or severe hypoglycemia occurring during treatment with regular human insulin. METHODS: This was designed to evaluate the efficacy of Lispro insulin in the metabolic control in subjects treated with regular insulin who were prone to late hypoglycemia. Fifteen subjects, 6 males and 9 females, range of age 18-54 years with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) have been studied. These subjects were treated with regular insulin at meals plus intermediate in the evening. Regular insulin was substituted with Lispro insulin. The glycemic profile and HbA1c have been evaluated at determined intervals. Also body mass index and the number of hypoglycemic events during treatment were recorded. Significance of differences was assessed by paired Student's "t"-test. RESULTS: Lispro insulin reduced the peaks of early postprandial hyperglycemic peak and, in particular, the late glycemic drop, Lispro insulin reduced also HbA1c levels thus suggesting a better metabolic control. Moreover the number of hypoglycemic events was significantly reduced. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, Lispro insulin is safe and more efficient than regular human insulin.

Adolescent↗