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Biomedical subjects

G Fanizza

Publications and source records attributed to G Fanizza.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

QTL analysis for fruit yield components in table grapes (Vitis vinifera).

A segregation population of 184 genotypes derived from a pseudo-testcross of table grapes (Vitis vinifera), together with 203 AFLP and 110 SSR markers was used to detect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for fruit yield components. Diffferent QTLs, a low percentage of phenotypic variance explained by the QTLs detected and QTL instability over years were detected for each fruit yield component. These results confirm the complex genetic architecture of the yield components in grapevine due to the perennial nature of this species, which has to adapt to yearly variations in climate. Phenotypic correlation analyses between fruit yield components were also performed. The negative correlation between berry weight and the number of berries per cluster seems to have an indirect negative effect on cluster weight, as revealed by the path coefficient analysis; however, this negative correlation was not supported at the molecular level because no coincident QTLs were observed between these traits. Nonetheless, the possibility to select seedless genotypes with large berries without affecting cluster weight needs to be substantiated in future experiments because factors such as sample size and heritability might influence QTL identification in table grapes.

Breeding↗
PubMed2003

AFLP analysis of genetic relationships among aromatic grapevines (Vitis vinifera).

Genotypic diversity has been detected among aromatic grapevines (Vitis vinifera) by molecular markers (AFLPs). The 22 primer-pairs generated a total of 1,331 bands of which 564 (40%) were polymorphic over all the genotypes. The bootstrap analysis pointed out that a large number of polymorphic bands (200-400) has to be used for a better estimation of the genetic distances among genotypes; 383 polymorphic AFLP bands were used for the cluster and the principal coordinate analyses because they did not present missing data across all the genotypes. The cluster analysis (UPGMA), based on polymorphic AFLP markers, revealed no relationship between the Moscato and Malvasia grapevines. The Malvasias, unlike the Moscatos distinguished by their distinct muscat aroma, have to be considered a more complex group because it includes muscat and non-muscat grapevines. The principal coordinate analysis (PCO) confirmed the pattern of the cluster analysis only for those varieties which presented a low coefficient of dissimilarity, while for the other varieties there was no correspondence between the two analyses. The pattern of aggregation among aromatic grapevines in the cluster and principal coordinate analyses does not support any classification that might include an aromatic grapevine group in V. vinifera. Even though some synonyms and homonyms are present among aromatic grapevines (V. vinifera), genetic diversity exists among genotypes in AFLP markers.

Cluster Analysis↗
PubMed2003

Ovarian fibroma: our experience of 34 cases.

Thirty-four cases of ovarian fibroma are reported. The early symptoms were pelvic pain and abnormal uterine bleeding. All patients were in advanced menopause, mean age 63, except for one that was normally menstruatuating and was 23 years old. In all cases an ultrasound scan TV/TA and CA 125 tests were performed, and afterwards all patients were treated with either conservative or radical surgery. In addition to the above examinations, color Doppler tests on pelvic vessels were performed in 18 cases.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Paclitaxel, cisplatin and lonidamine in advanced ovarian cancer. A phase II study.

A potential way to improve the results obtained with the standard carboplatin/cisplatin (CDDP)-paclitaxel treatment regimen in advanced ovarian cancer is to incorporate a modulating agent such as lonidamine (LND). In fact, LND has been shown to revert the resistance to cisplatin and to potentiate cisplatin activity experimental models and in clinical studies. 35 consecutive patients with advanced ovarian cancer, not previously treated with chemotherapy were treated with paclitaxel at a dose of 135 mg/m(2) intravenously (i.v.) on day 1 (in a 3 h infusion) and cisplatin at a dose of 75 mg/m(2) iv on day 2 plus LND orally (p.o.) at a dose of 450 mg/die for 6 consecutive days starting two days before chemotherapy, every 3 weeks for six cycles. Complete plus partial responses were observed in 8 (80%) out of the 10 women with measurable disease. In the 25 patients with evaluable disease, only four clinical progressions were observed (16%). Median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 28.5 (95% confidence interval (CI) 22.2-34.8) and 46.5 (95% CI 32.4-60.00) months respectively. Grade 3-4 neutropenia was observed in 9 (26%) patients. Alopecia, nausea and vomiting (Grade 3) were observed in 33 (94%) and 5 (14%) patients, respectively. In conclusion, the combination of CDDP/paclitaxel plus LND is active and tolerable in the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

The utility of a growth factor: r-HuEPO as a treatment for preoperative autologous blood donation in gynecological tumor surgery.

The use of r-HuEPO and sodium ferrous gluconate has been shown to be a safe and effective treatment which can be used by transfusional centers and surgeons to avoid allogeneic blood transfusions and to schedule short-term selective surgery. In this study the authors submitted 20 patients scheduled to undergo surgery for gynecological tumors to a program of pre-operative autologous blood donation. All the patients received both r-HuEPO and sodium ferrous gluconate in the pre- and post-donation period. r-HuEPO was administered subcutaneously in a dose of 200 IU/kg thrice weekly during the week before and after autologous blood donation (400 ml). Sodium ferrous gluconate was administered intravenously shortly before the first and fourth administration of 125 mg of r-HuEPO. Surgery was scheduled to be performed 10-15 days after the last r-HuEPo administration, i.e. within 15-20 days from blood donation. All the patients were tested for the following blood chemistry parameters: hematocrit, hemoglobin, sideremia and ferritin at treatment start, prior to donation, at treatment end, prior to autologous blood infusion and on the third and seventh day after surgery. No patient receiving r-HuEPO required allogeneic blood transfusion as both the hematocrit and hemoglobin values remained normal. r-HuEPO was observed to be a safe and effective treatment to be used in autologous blood donation programs in all patients scheduled to undergo surgery. It limits the decrease of hematocrit values following autologous blood donation thus enabling all the patients who for a variety of reasons to refuse allogeneic blood infusion to predeposit autologus blood shortly before the date scheduled for surgery.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Climacteric symptoms and control of the cycle in women aged 35 years or older taking an oral contraceptive with 0.150 mg desogestrel and 0.020 mg ethinylestradiol.

In a multicenter prospective trial, 58 healthy women aged between 35 and 49 years were studied for one year (639 cycles) while taking an oral contraceptive (OC) containing desogestrel 0.150 mg and ethinylestradiol (EE) 0.020 mg. Efficacy, control of the cycle, side effects, complaints, and climacteric symptoms were monitored after 3, 6, 9 and 12 cycles. No pregnancies occurred during the study period. Spotting gradually decreased from 29.3% in cycle 1 to 4.2% in cycle 12, while breakthrough bleeding (BTB) disappeared after cycle 7. One case of superficial thrombophlebitis and 3 cases of minor side effects were registered. With regard to the complaints, breast tenderness, headache, and depression gradually decreased during the study (basal vs. 12-month data: 50.9% vs. 31.2%, 48.3% vs. 18.7%, 39.6% vs. 20.8%, respectively), while nausea disappeared after three months. A significant treatment-dependent reduction of climacteric symptoms was obtained after cycle 3 and this tendency was maintained up to cycle 12. No changes were registered in body mass index (BMI) or blood pressure.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Analytic study of the reliability of an integrated mineralometric and biochemical system in the dynamic evaluation of the bone mineral content after menopause].

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to determine the accuracy of Osteometer diagnostic test to estimate the rate of postmenopausal bone loss (% per year) by means of combined evaluation of mineralometric and biochemical data of bone turnover. STUDY DESIGN: This was a one-year analytic study of 58 post-menopausal, apparently health, women whose last spontaneous menstrual period was at least 12 months before study entry. Bone mineral content in the forearm and biochemical indicators of calcium metabolism in urine and serum were periodically assessed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Bone Mineral Content (BMC), plasmatic estradiol, FSH, LH, Fasting Urine Hydroxyproline/Creatinine (FU Hpr/Cr), Fasting Urine Calcium/Creatinine (FU Ca/Cr), serum bone Gla protein (sBGP), serum Alkaline Phosphatase (sAP) were measured in all subjects. RESULTS: One year after the first evaluation (BMC measurement and biochemical markers of bone turnover evaluation), percent changes of bone mineral content was compared to estimation of annual bone loss by Osteometer diagnostic test. The data show that at first evaluation it was predicted an annual bone loss of 1.2 +/- 0.3%. Periodically monitored after 1 year the same patients reported a mean decrease of 0.8 +/- 0.1% of bone mineral content. If so, no statistically differences were found between data predicted and data evaluated at control one year after. DISCUSSION: The use of Osteometer Diagnostic test, using BMC measurements of forearm and biochemical parameters, represents a safe and simply method to detect post-menopausal women and its permits to identify fast bone mass looser among post-menopausal women.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed1993

Effects of an oral contraceptive combination containing 0.150 mg desogestrel plus 0.020 mg ethinyl estradiol on healthy premenopausal women.

Twenty-six healthy premenopausal outpatients from the Menopause Clinic of the University of Bologna were treated with a combination pill containing 0.020 mg of ethinyl estradiol and 0.150 mg of desogestrel for one year. Throughout the treatment period, clinical and laboratory monitoring was periodically performed, and women were asked about the occurrence of climacteric symptoms. This formulation relieved climacteric symptoms, and did not adversely affect lipids and clotting factors, except for a slight increase in serum triglycerides. Laboratory data also suggest a beneficial effect on bone metabolism.

Blood Coagulation Tests↗
PubMed1993

[Estradiol benzoate test in the study of pituitary block induced by triptorelin].

The suppression of the positive oestradiol (E2) feed-back mechanism was studied in 21 patients during treatment with long acting GnRHa-triptorelin 3.75 mg (Ipsen-Biotech). A basal sample for FSH, LH and E2 evaluation was taken before a single administration of 2.5 mg of oestradiol benzoate (EB) i.m. at 24 and 48 hours later. The test was performed 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 weeks after i.m. injection of GnRHa. The E2 concentration 24 hours after EB injection was > 400 pg/ml, able to induce, in physiological conditions, a positive feedback. In the other hand no FSH an LH rise was observed in all test after 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 weeks from GnRHa administration. Our results show the absolute suppression of the positive feed-back mechanism during the treatment with a single dose of long acting tryptorelin 3.75 mg i.m., the same results were obtained until the 7th week after GnRHa administration.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Ceruloplasmin serum level in post-menopausal women treated with oral estrogens administered at different times.

The liver is an estrogen-responsive organ and the administration of estrogens in humans increases the hepatic synthesis of many proteins. The existence of a circadian rhythm of estrogen receptors in the liver has been proved by different authors. We studied the presence of a different responsiveness of the human liver to the estrogens in two groups of post-menopausal women by evaluating the changes in ceruloplasmin serum level. Conjugated equine estrogens were administered at different times (A: 8 a.m. and B: 8 p.m.). The replacement therapy increased ceruloplasmin serum levels both in group A and B, but the increase was higher in group B than in group A. These data reflect indirectly the presence of a circadian rhythm of hepatic responsiveness to the estrogens.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Valuation of some markers in the malignant neoplastic pathology of the female genital tract.

The Authors studied the presence of some markers in different gynaecological tumours, by radioimmunoassay. Beta-HCG, 1-alfa-FP, CA 125, GICA and TPA were assayed in 76 patients. Eight of the patients were affected by CIN III, 38 presented a cervical carcinoma (10 at stage I, 14 at stage II, 10 at stage III, 4 at stage IV); 14 patients had an endometrial adenocarcinoma (3 at stage I, 7 at stage II, 2 at stage III and II at stage IV); 12 cases consisted of an ovarian carcinoma with 2 patients at stage I, 5 at stage II and 5 at stage III; 2 patients had a peritoneal diffusion, whereas two women presented a vulvar carcinoma; the control group was formed by 10 patients with no malignant or benign pathology. The results show that tumoral markers, studied in the blood of patients affected by malignant gynaecological tumours, represent a great advantage in the evaluation of both the response to the therapy and of an eventual remission or tumoral recurrence.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMed1987

Nuclear and cytosolic estrogen receptors in human colon carcinoma and in surrounding noncancerous colonic tissue.

The measurement of estrogen as well as progesterone receptors has been applied clinically to predict the effectiveness of endocrine therapy in patients with breast or endometrial carcinoma. The presence of cytosolic estrogen receptors in human colorectal carcinomas has been reported by several different groups during the past 10 yr. The aim of our current study was to evaluate the estrogen binding activity in the nuclear and cytosolic fractions of these carcinomas, as well as in surrounding noncancerous colonic tissue. Twenty-six patients, operated on for colorectal carcinoma, were studied: 16 were men and 10 were postmenopausal women, mean age 61 yr (range 43-78 yr). In neoplastic tissue, cytosolic estradiol receptors were detected in 42.3% of the patients (women 40%, men 43.7%). The values for cytosolic estrogen receptor ranged from 118 to 1214 fmol/g wet colon. Nuclear estrogen receptors were detectable in 46.1% of the patients (women 40%, men 50%) and their values displayed a range from 3.4 to 2554 fmol/g wet colon. In 30.7% of the patients, both nuclear and cytosolic receptors were demonstrated. In 38.4% of the patients, receptors were found in neither cytosol nor nuclei. Receptor positivity in men was most frequently associated with tumors removed from the rectum, and those with Dukes' classification of C1. In the surrounding noncancerous tissue cytosolic estrogen receptors were also detected (range 133-1105 fmol/g wet colon) and were present in 34.6% of the patients (women 30%, men 37.5%). Nuclear estrogen receptors (range 225-1105 fmol/g wet colon) were detected in 57.6% of the patients (women 40%, men 68.7%). In 23% of the patients, both nuclear and cytosolic receptors were demonstrated. In 30.7% of the patients, no receptors were found in either cytosol or nucleus. Therefore, the presence of cytosolic or nuclear estrogen receptors, or both, in 61.6% of human colorectal cancer specimens emphasizes the need to evaluate both forms of these receptors for studies of potential hormone dependence in these tumors.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1987

Effect of spironolactone and potassium canrenoate on cytosolic and nuclear androgen and estrogen receptors of rat liver.

Spironolactone and potassium canrenoate are diuretics that are used widely for management of cirrhotic ascites. The administration of spironolactone frequently leads to feminization, which has been noted less frequently with the use of potassium canrenoate, a salt of the active metabolite of spironolactone. The use of these two drugs has been associated with decreases in serum testosterone levels and spironolactone with a reduction in androgen receptor (AR) activity. This decrease in AR has been cited as the cause of the antiandrogen effect of these drugs. We therefore assessed the effect of both drugs on levels of androgen and estrogen receptors (ER) in the liver, a tissue that is responsive to sex steroids. Three groups of male rats (n = 12 rats each) were studied. Group 1 (control) received vehicle only; group 2 received spironolactone (5 mg/day); group 3 received potassium canrenoate (5 mg/day). After 21 days of treatment, the animals of all groups were killed and liver tissue was assayed for nuclear and cytosolic AR and ER, and for male specific estrogen binder (MEB), an androgen-responsive protein. Both drugs drastically decreased the nuclear AR content, as compared with the control group, but only spironolactone decreased cytosolic AR. When the total hepatic content of AR is considered, a highly significant decrease is observed only in rats treated with spironolactone. This reduction in hepatic AR content suggested loss of androgen responsiveness of liver. We confirmed this by assessing levels of MEB, and found that livers from group 2 animals had no detectable MEB activity, whereas livers from both group 1 and 3 had normal MEB activity. No changes were observed in nuclear ER and cytosolic ER of group 3 as compared with group 1. Nuclear estrogen receptor decreased and cytosolic ER increased in group 2, but with no change in total ER content. These results indicate that (a) only spironolactone appears to act as an antiandrogen in liver, resulting in a decrease in both AR and male specific estrogen binder content, and (b) neither drug results in elevated hepatic ER content, although spironolactone-treated animals show an altered subcellular localization.

Animals↗