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Biomedical subjects

G Greco

Publications and source records attributed to G Greco.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

The influence of posterior capsule opacification on scanning laser polarimetry.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the influence of posterior capsule opacification (PCO) on GDx parameters in a population of pseudophakic, non-glaucomatous patients who underwent Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy (YLC). METHODS: The posterior capsules were photographed with a Topcon digital camera and each image was then entered into the EPCO 2000 software and evaluated independently by three examiners. The EPCO 2000 software was used to calculate the fibrosis index (FI) and the pearl index (PI) for the central 1.5, 2.5, and 3.5 mm of the posterior capsule. Scanning laser polarimetry was performed with GDx before and after YLC. We compared the GDx readings obtained before and after the YLC using paired Student's t-test. The parameters that varied significantly after YLC were subsequently used for regression analysis. Stepwise multiple linear regression was used to analyse the impact of the change in the amount of FI and PI on change in GDx parameters after YLC. RESULTS: In total, 158 patients were enrolled (74 men, 84 women). The mean age was 69.46+/-8.83 years (range 46-83 years). The interobserver agreement among the three experts was found to be good (repeatability coefficient R=1.51, 1.49, 1.49 for observer A vs B, A vs C, and B vs C respectively). One-sample Student's t-test show no difference between all GDx parameters before and after YLC except for Symmetry, Superior/Nasal ratio, Inferior Ratio, and Temporal-Superior-Nasal-Inferior-Temporal (TSNIT). Stepwise multiple regression showed that the two variables of greatest significance for changes in Symmetry were the FI in the central 1.5 and the PI in the central 3.5 mm (P=0.02). Superior/nasal ratio was shown to be most strongly correlated to the FI in the central 1.5 mm and PI in the central 3.5 mm (P<0.001), whereas the variable of greatest significance to Inferior Ratio was PI in the central 3.5 mm (P=0.03). Finally, TSNIT was most strongly correlated to FI in the central 1.5 mm and FI in the central 2.5 mm (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Presence of capsular fibrosis seems to be more clinically relevant in the central zone, whereas pearls tend to be clinically significant in the central 3.5 mm area. Hence, it might be worthwhile assessing the amount of PCO in pseudophakic patients when performing scanning laser polarimetry. Investigators should ensure that the type of PCO and the size of the area analysed are documented in the notes in order to interpret GDx findings appropriately.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

L-carnitine and isovaleryl L-carnitine fumarate positively affect human osteoblast proliferation and differentiation in vitro.

Age-related bone loss is characterized by decreased osteoblast activity, possibly related to the reduction of energy production. Carnitine promotes energy availability and its concentration declines with age; Therefore, two Carnitine derivatives, L-carnitine fumarate (LC) and isovaleryl L-carnitine fumarate (Iso-V-LC), have been tested on several parameters of human osteoblasts in vitro. Both compounds significantly increased osteoblast activity, but the new compound Iso-V-LC was more efficient than LC at lower concentrations. They both significantly enhanced cell proliferation, [3H]-proline incorporation and the expression of collagen type I (COLLI), and the bone sialoproteins (BSPs) and osteopontin (OPN). The percentage of alkaline phosphatase (ALP)-positive cells and the secretion of osteocalcin were not modified by LC and Iso-V-LC. Both molecules increased the formation of mineralized nodules, but Iso-V-LC reached the maximum effect at a concentration 10-fold lower than that of LC. Furthermore, we showed that insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and IGF-II mRNA levels were not modified by the treatment. However, the two compounds induced an increase of insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)-3 and a decrease of IGFBP-5 in both osteoblast lysates and the extracellular matrix (ECM). In conclusion these data suggest that carnitine and, in particular, its new derivative, Iso-V-LC supplementation in the elderly may stimulate osteoblast activity and decrease age-related bone loss.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed2005

Detection of Chlamydophila abortus in sheep and goat flocks in southern Italy by PCR using four different primer sets.

An epidemiological survey was performed to detect the presence of Chlamydophila (C.) abortus and other members of the order Chlamydiales in ovine and caprine flocks with a history of abortion in southern Italy. Four pairs of primers were compared to evaluate their ability to detect Chlamydiales using purified DNA preparations and tissue samples from aborted foetuses with suspected chlamydial infections. As expected, amplification of DNA of the reference strain C. abortus using primer pairs U23F/23Sigr, 16SF2/23R, CTU/CTL and CpsiA/CpsiB produced fragments of about 600 bp, 585 bp, 1000 bp and 300 bp, respectively. The detection limits of the four PCR tests performed on serial DNA dilutions of the C. abortus reference strain were of 10 pg, 0.1 pg, 0.1 pg and 1 fg of DNA, respectively. The most sensitive amplification of DNA extracted from the organ tissues was obtained with primer pairs CpsiA/CpsiB, which detected Chlamydophila spp. DNA in all infected tissue samples. Only C. abortus was identified during the survey. The presence of this agent was confirmed in 3 out of 27 ovine and caprine flocks included in the survey suggesting that abortion due to C. abortus is uncommon in southern Italy.

Abortion, Veterinary↗
PubMed2005

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of heteroaryl diketohexenoic and diketobutanoic acids as HIV-1 integrase inhibitors endowed with antiretroviral activity.

Highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) using reverse transcriptase (RT) and protease (PR) inhibitors and, more recently, inhibitors of the fusion is currently the best clinical approach in combating acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), caused by infection from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). However, this therapy does not completely eradicate the virus, so that resistant strains easily emerge. The above problem calls urgently for research on inhibitors of further viral targets such as integrase (IN), the third enzyme produced by HIV. Recently, our research group was engaged in studies on conformationally restrained cinnamoyl compounds related to curcumin as anti-IN agents. Compounds containing both a 3,4,5-trihydroxyphenyl group and a carboxylic acid function were potent IN inhibitors active against viral replication. More recently, a promising new class of inhibitors synthesized by Merck Company has emerged, which contain aryldiketoacid (ADK) functionality. The ADKs selectively inhibited the stand transfer (ST) step of integration and were proven to be effective IN inhibitors in vivo. Our interest in the field of IN inhibitors led us to design pyrrole and indole derivatives containing both a cinnamoyl moiety and a diketoacid group. A number of the cited derivatives were proven potent IN inhibitors, which selectively inhibited the ST step at submicromolar concentrations and were effective against virus replication in HIV-1 infected cells.

Anti-Retroviral Agents↗
PubMed2005

Differentiation of normal and cancer cells induced by sulfhydryl reduction: biochemical and molecular mechanisms.

We examined the morphological, biochemical and molecular outcome of a nonspecific sulfhydryl reduction in cells, obtained by supplementation of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) in a 0.1-10 mM concentration range. In human normal primary keratinocytes and in colon and ovary carcinoma cells we obtained evidences for: (i) a dose-dependent inhibition of proliferation without toxicity or apoptosis; (ii) a transition from a proliferative mesenchymal morphology to cell-specific differentiated structures; (iii) a noticeable increase in cell-cell and cell-substratum junctions; (iv) a relocation of the oncogenic beta-catenin at the cell-cell junctions; (v) inhibition of microtubules aggregation; (vi) upregulation of differentiation-related genes including p53, heat shock protein 27 gene, N-myc downstream-regulated gene 1, E-cadherin, and downregulation of cyclooxygenase-2; (vii) inhibition of c-Src tyrosine kinase. In conclusion, a thiol reduction devoid of toxicity as that operated by NAC apparently leads to terminal differentiation of normal and cancer cells through a pleiade of converging mechanisms, many of which are targets of the recently developed differentiation therapy.

Acetylcysteine↗
PubMed2004

Experimental infection of goats at different stages of pregnancy with caprine herpesvirus 1.

Three goats from a group of five caprine herpesvirus 1 (CpHV.1) seronegative pregnant goats were inoculated intranasally with a virulent BA.1 strain of CpHV.1. Goat n.1 was infected on day 45 of pregnancy, goat n.2 on day 92 and goat n.3 on day 127. Each of the three goats produced a single foetus 10-60 days after infection. Foetus n.1 was never found and so it could not be examined for virological findings. Goat n.2 delivered at term of gestation and CpHV.1 was detected by PCR and isolated from most of the foetal organs. Foetus n.3 was partially autolysed and the virus was only detected by PCR but not isolated from foetal organs. The results confirm the damaging effect of CpHV.1 infection on pregnancy, the difficulty in diagnosing the CpHV.1 induced abortion, and the importance developing appropriate prophylactic programmes.

Abortion, Veterinary↗
PubMed2004

Concentration measurements of 7Be at ground level air at Palermo, Italy-comparison with solar activity over a period of 21 years.

Air activity concentrations of (7)Be in Palermo determined for the period January 1995-December 2002 by gamma-ray spectrometric analysis of particulate samples collected on paper filter by a high-volume sampler (approximately 900 m(3) h(-1)) are reported. The temporal behaviour of (7)Be concentration presents the same characteristics already observed in the measurements carried out over the previous 13-year (1982-1994) investigated period. The mean value of 5.06 mBq m(-3) obtained from the analysis of the 4636 particulate samples collected from 1982 to 2002 can be considered a representative value of (7)Be air concentration at ground level in our geographical zone. The comparison of long-term variation in the (7)Be concentrations with the cyclic solar activity-extended to the whole period of 21 years-confirms the inverse correlation between the two quantities.

Beryllium↗
PubMed2004

Good and poor CD34+ cells mobilization in acute leukemia: analysis of factors affecting the yield of progenitor cells.

SUMMARY: The factors possibly affecting the collection of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) were evaluated in 104 de novo acute leukemia patients (66 myeloid and 38 lymphoblastic leukemias) in first cytological complete remission (CR); all patients achieved CR after first-line induction chemotherapy. The acute myeloid leukemia patients (AML) were given consolidation-mobilization chemotherapy with cytarabine, and daunoblastin or mitoxantrone or idarubicin; the acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients (ALL) were given consolidation-mobilization chemotherapy with cytarabine and etoposide. In all patients, the collection of PBSC was performed during recovery after giving consolidation chemotherapy and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). Two main groups were considered according to the CD34+ cells x 10(6)/kg b.w. collected, that is, poor mobilizers (PM), with a collection of <2 x 10(6)/kg and good mobilizers, with a collection of >2 x 10(6)/kg. Of 104 patients, 27 (25.9%) were PM; 20/27 had AML and 7/27 had ALL. At multivariate analysis, a lower CD34+ cells count premobilization chemotherapy (CD34 steady state), the presence of FUO (fever of unknown origin) or infection, and a lower number of CD34+ cells on the first day of collection correlated with poor mobilization. These results may enable early recognition of patients who may have poor mobilization, and aid selection of patients for different mobilization regimens.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2004

Isolation of Salmonella strains from reptile faeces and comparison of different culture media.

AIMS: To provide information on epidemiology and isolation of Salmonella strains from reptiles. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ninety-one samples collected from reptiles of the zoo of Rome or belonging to private owners were analysed using a standard protocol for isolation of Salmonella from food. Salmonella strains were tested for susceptibility to 15 antimicrobics by a disc-agar diffusion method. Forty-six samples (50.5%) were positive for Salmonella. Of the 22 strains serotyped, 17 belonged to Salmonella enterica subsp. I, four to the subsp. IIIa and one strain resulted untypeable. Rappaport-Vassiliadis broth (RVB) allowed to recover more Salmonella strains when bacterial growth in buffered peptone water (BPW) was scarce, while selenite cystine broth (SCB) was more efficient, whereas growth in BPW was abundant. The maximum isolation score was obtained by plating onto xylose lysine desoxycholate agar (XLD). The strains exhibited resistance at high percentages to colistin sulphate (58.7%), sulphamethoxazole (55.5%), streptomycin (32.6%), tetracycline (19.6%), ampicillin (17.4%) and nalidixic acid (13.1%). CONCLUSIONS: A high prevalence of Salmonella in reptiles was observed. For isolation, the choice of the enrichment broth depending on the degree of growth in BPW followed by plating onto XLD may be suggested. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This paper provides epidemiological data on the prevalence of Salmonella and laboratory protocols useful for isolation of Salmonella from faeces of reptiles.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Development of a western blotting assay to discriminate Brucella spp. and Yersinia enterocolitica O:9 infections in sheep.

Outer membrane proteins (OMPs) of Rev-1 strain of Brucella melitensis were used in a Western blotting assay for the serological diagnosis of brucellosis in ovine sera. Fifty-four sheep sera were tested and divided into the following groups: Group A) n. 9 samples from one sheep that had been experimentally infected with Y. enterocolitica O:9; Group B) n. 10 samples collected from sheep infected with Brucella melitensis and 1 sample from a sheep vaccinated with the Rev 1 strain; Group C) n. 10 samples collected in "officially brucellosis-free" herds; Group D) n. 12 samples classified as "suspicious"; Group E) n. 12 samples classified as "positive". Antibodies were detected by routine tests performed for the diagnosis of brucellosis in serum samples of the sheep infected with Y. enterocolitica O:9 after the 2nd week post infection. In the WB assay, sera of group B recognised a 17 kDa protein, whereas sera of groups A, and D and 9 out of 12 of group E exhibited no reactivity to this protein. The results obtained encourage the use of the WB assay as a confirmatory test for the diagnosis of brucellosis.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Canine distemper and related diseases: report of a severe outbreak in a kennel.

An outbreak of canine distemper in a kennel of German shepherds in the province of Bari is reported. Six 42-day-old pups developed typical signs of canine distemper (fever, conjunctivitis, respiratory distress and enteritis) and died within 7-10 days. Neurological symptoms were observed only in one pup. Four additional pups, which had shown no sign of illness, were separated and vaccinated, but two of these developed a severe, fatal nervous form 15 days later. Post-mortem examination, carried out on two pups which died without neurological signs, showed pneumonia and enteritis, more severe in one of the two examined pups. Smears from the brain and the conjunctiva of both dogs tested positive for canine distemper virus (CDV) by an immunofluorescent assay, confirmed by the identification of viral RNA using RT-PCR. Bordetella bronchiseptica and a canine adenovirus strain, characterized as canine adenovirus type 2 by a differential PCR assay, were isolated from the lungs of the pup showing the most pronounced lesions. Furthermore, canine coronavirus was detected by PCR in the intestinal content of this pup, suggesting a multifactorial aetiology of the outbreak.

Adenoviridae Infections↗
PubMed2003

Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid versus naltrexone in maintaining alcohol abstinence: an open randomized comparative study.

Maintaining abstinence from alcohol is the main goal in the treatment of alcohol dependence. Naltrexone (NTX) and gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) have proved able to maintain alcohol abstinence in alcoholic subjects. The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of GHB compared with NTX in maintaining abstinence from alcohol after 3 months of treatment. A total of 35 alcohol-dependent outpatients were randomly enrolled in two groups: the GHB group consisted of 18 patients treated with oral doses of GHB (50 mg/kg of body weight t.i.d) for 3 months; the NTX group consisted of 17 patients treated with oral doses of NTX (50 mg/day) for 3 months. At the end of the study, a statistically significant difference (P=0.02) was found in the number of abstinent patients between the GHB and the NTX groups. In patients who failed to be abstinent, no relapses in heavy drinking were observed in the NTX group, while in the GHB group all patients relapsed. The results of the present study show that GHB is more effective than NTX in maintaining abstinence from alcohol in a short-term treatment period; on the other hand, NTX confirmed its ability to reduce alcohol relapses.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed2003

FLAG-IDA in the treatment of refractory/relapsed acute myeloid leukemia: single-center experience.

We evaluated the efficacy and toxicity profiles of the combination of fludarabine, high-dose cytosine arabinoside (AraC), idarubicin, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in refractory/relapsed acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) patients. Between October 1998 and February 2002, 46 AML patients were treated with FLAG-IDA (fludarabine 30 mg/m(2), AraC 2 g/m(2) for 5 days, idarubicin 10 mg/m(2) for 3 days, and G-CSF 5 micro g/kg from day +6 until neutrophil recovery). Thirty patients were in relapse after conventional chemotherapy including cytarabine, etoposide, and daunorubicin or mitoxantrone according to the GIMEMA protocols. Four were in relapse after autologous peripheral stem cell transplantation and two after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Ten patients had refractory disease (after 10 days of standard doses of cytarabine, 3 days of mitoxantrone or daunorubicin, and 5 days of etoposide). Recovery of neutrophils and platelets required a median of 19 and 22 days from the start of therapy. Complete remission (CR) was obtained in 24 of 46 patients (52.1%) and 3 of 46 (6.6%) died during reinduction therapy: 2 due to cerebral hemorrhage and 1 due to fungemia ( Candida tropicalis). Fever >38.5 degrees C was observed in 40 of 46 patients (86.9%), 27 had fever of unknown origin (FUO) and 13 documented infections; 31 of 46 (67.3%) developed mucositis and 14 of 46 (30.4%) had grade 2 WHO transient liver toxicity. After achieving CR, 11 patients received allogeneic stem cell transplantation, 4 patients received autologous stem cell transplantation, 4 were judged unable to receive any further therapy, and 5 refused other therapy. Ten patients are at present in continuous CR after a median follow-up of 13 months (range: 4-24). In our experience, FLAG-IDA is a well-tolerated and effective regimen in relapsed/refractory AML. The toxicity is acceptable, enabling most patients to receive further treatment, including transplantation procedures.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Bacterial colonization of the respiratory tract following tracheal intubation-effect of gravity: an experimental study.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of the horizontal orientation of endotracheal tube and neck on bacterial colonization of the respiratory tract in anesthetized sheep on mechanical ventilation, without use of antibiotics. DESIGN: Prospective animal study. SETTING: National Institutes of Health research laboratory. SUBJECTS: Anesthetized, paralyzed, and ventilated sheep. INTERVENTIONS: Sheep were randomized into five groups and managed as follows: Group IS contained sheep that were not intubated and were immediately killed. Group HU4 contained six sheep that were mechanically ventilated for 4 hrs, with head and endotracheal tube elevated 30 degrees from horizontal. Group HU72 contained seven sheep that were prone, mechanically ventilated for 72 hrs, and managed the same as group HU4. Groups G and Gf each contained seven sheep that were prone on a lateral body rotation device, mechanically ventilated for 72 hrs, with neck and endotracheal tube horizontal. Group Gf received nasogastric enteral feeding. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: At the end of the study, sheep were examined postmortem, and a total of 11 tissue samples were taken from the trachea, the five lobar bronchi, and the five lobar parenchyma, for qualitative and quantitative culture. Group HU72 had significant decrease in Pao2/Fio2 and heavy bacterial colonization in all sheep. Groups G and Gf retained excellent lung function; lung bacterial colonization was no different from the IS group. CONCLUSIONS: The horizontal orientation of the endotracheal tube and neck, through lateral body rotation, showed no altered airway colonization and maintained excellent gas exchange and lung function in our animal model.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Molecular analysis of the VP7, VP4, VP6, NSP4, and NSP5/6 genes of a buffalo rotavirus strain: identification of the rare P[3] rhesus rotavirus-like VP4 gene allele.

We report the detection and molecular characterization of a rotavirus strain, 10733, isolated from the feces of a buffalo calf affected with diarrhea in Italy. Strain 10733 was classified as a P[3] rotavirus, as the VP8* trypsin cleavage product of the VP4 protein revealed a high amino acid identity (96.2%) with that of rhesus rotavirus strain RRV (P5B[3]), used as the recipient virus in the human-simian reassortant vaccine. Analysis of the VP7 gene product revealed that strain 10733 possessed G6 serotype specificity, a type common in ruminants, with an amino acid identity to G6 rotavirus strains ranging from 88 to 98%, to Venezuelan bovine strain BRV033, and Hungarian human strain Hun4. Phylogenetic analysis based on the VP7 gene of G6 rotaviruses identified at least four lineages and an apparent linkage between each lineage and the VP4 specificity, suggesting the occurrence of repeated interspecies transmissions and genetic reassortment events between ruminant and human rotaviruses. Moreover, strain 10733 displayed a bovine-like NSP4 and NSP5/6 and a subgroup I VP6 specificity, as well as a long electropherotype pattern. The detection of the rare P[3] genotype in ruminants provides additional evidence for the wide genetic and antigenic diversity of group A rotaviruses.

Alleles↗
PubMed2003

Methicillin resistance in staphylococci isolated from subclinical mastitis in sheep.

One hundred ovine milk samples were subjected to bacteriological analysis to detect staphylococci. Twenty-four staphylococcal strains isolated were characterised for methicillin resistance with disk diffusion test (DDT) after incubation at 24 and 48 h, oxacillin agar screen test, Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), nitrocefin test for beta-lactamase production and PCR for the mecA gene. Nine staphylococcal strains resulted resistant in DDT; some differences in the halo diameter at double incubation period were noted; eight of these strains were resistant in MIC test; just one strain was positive to oxacillin agar screen test. All strains were mecA negative by PCR and positive by nitrocefin test. On the basis of these results methicillin-resistant strains can be classified as beta-lactamase hyperproducers.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

New approaches for the prevention of airway infection in ventilated patients. Lessons learned from laboratory animal studies at the National Institutes of Health.

Despite early diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic therapy, ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) remains the leading cause of death from hospital-acquired infection in ventilator-dependent patients. Strategies to prevent bacterial colonization of the trachea and lungs are the key to decrease mortality, hospital length of stay, and cost. It is well established that the VAP can result from entry of infected oropharyngeal/gastric secretions into the lower airways. Aspiration may occur during 1) intubation, 2) mechanical ventilation through leakage around the tracheal tube cuff, 3) suctioning of the tracheal tube when bacteria can detach from the biofilm within the tube, or 4) areosolization of bacterial biofilm during mechanical ventilation through the tracheal tube or the ventilator circuit biofilm. From experimental studies in sheep, we drew 3 relevant conclusions: 1) The tracheal tube and neck should be oriented horizontal/below horizontal to prevent aspiration of colonized secretions and subsequent bacterial colonization of the lower respiratory tract. 2) Continuous aspiration of subglottic secretions (CASS) can lower bacterial colonization of the respiratory tract, but at the price of severe tracheal mucosal damage at the level of the suction port. 3) Coating the interior of the tracheal tube with bactericidal agents can prevent bacterial colonization of the tube surface and of the entire respiratory circuit, during 24 hours of mechanical ventilation.

Biofilms↗