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Biomedical subjects

G Massazza

Publications and source records attributed to G Massazza.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Effects of the training status on the hormonal response and recovery from high-intensity isokinetic exercise: comparisons between endurance-trained athletes and sedentary subjects.

AIM: Aims of the study were: to determine the differences in the mechanical, hormonal and lactate responses to a high-intensity isokinetic exercise in two groups of endurance-trained athletes (EA, n = 11) and sedentary subjects (SED, n = 11); to evaluate the relationships between the hormonal and lactate responses; to evaluate the effects of the training status on the pituitary responsiveness to the exercise. METHODS: EA and SED completed, for each leg, 4 sets of 20 maximal concentric contractions of the knee extensor muscle groups at 180 degrees s-1 angular velocity. Blood and saliva for hormonal and lactate determinations were sampled before, immediately after the test and during the subsequent recovery of 2 hours. RESULTS: The exercise was completed by all subjects and elicited significant mechanical and biochemical responses both in EA and in SED subjects. No differences were found between the two groups both in the mechanical performances and in the increases of lactate and hormones of the pituitary-adrenal axis or in the comparison of the slopes of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol, and dehydroepiandrosterone recovery after the peak. The correlation analyses showed significant positive relationships between lactate peak values and percentages of change for ACTH (r2 = 0.16, P < 0.05), salivary cortisol (r2 = 0.42, P < 0.01), and serum cortisol (r2 = 0.56, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The adrenocortical activation was found, in this particular setting, at least partly dependent on the muscular lactate production, while no effect of the training status on the pituitary responsiveness to exercise was evident, as it was indirectly confirmed by no abnormalities in the rates of hormonal recovery after the exercise session.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed2005

Arthroscopic treatment of shoulder ochronotic arthropathy: a case report and review of literature.

Alcaptonuria is an inherited hereditary metabolic disorder, which is associated with various systemic abnormalities and related to the accumulation of homogentisic acid and a derived melanine-like pigment in the connective tissues; the latter is termed ochronosis. We present the arthroscopic findings in the shoulder of a 58-year-old female with ochronotic arthropathy and discuss the role of arthroscopy in the diagnosis and management of this rare metabolic disorder.

Alkaptonuria↗
PubMed2005

A Simulator for X-ray images.

A simulator for X-ray images is presented based on a virtual X-ray source and a virtual human body obtained from tomographic slices. In the simulator it is possible to modify the tube potential, the anodic current, the exposure time, the filtration and some geometric parameters such as source-skin distance, orientation and field size. The virtual body consists of a three-dimensional voxel matrix in which CT numbers for each point of the body are stored. The interactions of X rays passing through the body are evaluated using the pencil beam technique. The image is obtained by computing the dose absorbed by the detector and converting it into optical density using a proper response function. The image spatial resolution is limited by the voxel size. The influence of each parameter on the image quality can be observed interactively. The dose absorbed in each point of the body is an important parameter obtained as output of the simulator.

Computer Simulation↗
PubMed2005

Role of exercise stress test in master athletes.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of cardiovascular screening in minimising the risk of athletic field deaths in master athletes is not known. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence and clinical significance of ST segment depression during a stress test in asymptomatic apparently healthy elderly athletes. METHODS: A total of 113 male subjects aged over 60 were studied (79 trained and 34 sedentary); 88 of them (62 trained and 26 sedentary) were followed up for four years (mean 2.16 years for athletes, 1.26 years for sedentary subjects), with a resting 12 lead electrocardiogram (ECG), symptom limited exercise ECG on a cycle ergometer, echocardiography, and 24 hour ECG Holter monitoring. RESULTS: A significant ST segment depression at peak exercise was detected in one athlete at the first evaluation. A further case was seen during the follow up period in a previously "negative" athlete. Both were asymptomatic, and single photon emission tomography and/or stress echocardiography were negative for myocardial ischaemia. The athletes remained symptom-free during the period of the study. One athlete died during the follow up for coronary artery disease: he showed polymorphous ventricular tachycardia during both the exercise test and Holter monitoring, but no significant ST segment depression. CONCLUSIONS: The finding of false positive ST segment depression in elderly athletes, although still not fully understood, may be related to the physiological cardiac remodelling induced by regular training. Thus athletes with exercise induced ST segment depression, with no associated symptoms and/or complex ventricular arrhythmias, and no adverse findings at second level cardiological testing, should be considered free from coronary disease and safe to continue athletic training.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2005

Heterotopic ossification of the ulnar collateral ligament: a description of a case in a top level weightlifting athlete.

The purpose of this paper is to describe a case of heterotopic ossification of the ulnar collateral ligament in a 29-year-old top level weightlifter. Plain radiography of the elbow determined the extent and location of heterotopic ossification. Ultrasound and MR imaging completed the instrumental set-up. This symptomatic case had the resolution of pain after 2 months of a supervised rehabilitation program. At one year follow-up the athlete is asymptomatic referring occasional minor pain only in the periods of vigorous training.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Abnormal RNA expression of 11p15 imprinted genes and kidney developmental genes in Wilms' tumor.

Wilms' tumor (WT) is caused by abnormal development of embryonal kidney cells. WT cells are frequently affected by deletions or functional inactivation of maternal alleles at chromosome 11p15, which indicates that the loss of maternally expressed genes in this region plays an important role in WT pathogenesis. Maternally expressed genes indeed exist within an imprinted region at 11p15.5. Among these, BWR1C is highly expressed in fetal but not in adult kidney, which suggests that it may fulfil an important role in kidney development. Here, we demonstrate that the lack of BWR1C expression is common in WT. Its homology with the proapoptotic gene TDAG51 suggests that the loss of BWR1C expression may be relevant in WT development. In addition, the analysis of the expression of other 11p15 imprinted genes and kidney-developmentally regulated genes indicates that IGF2 overexpression, inappropriate coexpression of RET and GDNF and, in some cases, down-regulation of CDKN1C may also play an important role in the pathogenesis of WT. Our results add new elements to the understanding of the biological basis of WT, which may have implications for WT diagnosis and therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Antitumor activity of taxol (NSC-125973) in human ovarian carcinomas growing in the peritoneal cavity of nude mice.

BACKGROUND: The unique mechanism of action of taxol (NSC-125973) as microtubule stabilizing agent and its potential activity in clinical trials have generated considerable interest in the development of this agent. As taxol was reported to be active on advanced and refractory ovarian carcinomas we focused our studies on the xenograft model of human ovarian carcinoma that develops ascites and tumor dissemination in the peritoneal cavity of nude mice. METHODS: The antitumor activity of taxol was evaluated on two human ovarian carcinoma xenografts (HOC8 and HOC22) transplanted i.p. in nude mice. Drug was given i.v. at doses of 20-34.5 mg/kg every four days three times (Q4 x 3) and the increment of life span (%ILS) was evaluated. Cisplatin at the dosage of 4mg/kg, Q4 x 3 was used as reference drug in each experiment. RESULTS: Taxol given at doses of 20 mg/kg and 34.5 mg/kg to early-stage HOC22 (treatment starting 3 days after tumor transplant) cured all the mice, while the same dose regimens given to advanced HOC22 (treatment starting 14 days after tumor transplant) significantly prolonged the survival time of the mice (ILS = 197% and 300%). Taxol given 3 days after HOC8 transplant significantly prolonged the survival time of tumor-bearing nude mice, inducing complete responses in 50% and 25% of mice receiving, respectively, 34.5 mg/kg/injection and 20 mg/kg/injection. On both ovarian carcinoma xenografts taxol was more active than equitoxic doses of the reference drug cisplatin. CONCLUSIONS: The therapeutic activity against ovarian carcinoma xenografts supports the potential of taxol in the treatment of this neoplasia and forms the basis for future investigations aimed at optimizing the therapeutic activity of taxol given alone or in combination with other drugs.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Intraperitoneal and subcutaneous xenografts of human ovarian carcinoma in nude mice and their potential in experimental therapy.

Human ovarian carcinomas (HOC) were established s.c. and i.p. in nude mice and the biological characteristics were investigated for 4 xenografts. HOC8 and HOC18, derived respectively from a primary tumor of the ovary and a pleural effusion (from 2 different patients) were established s.c. in nude mice. HOC10 and HOC22, derived from the ascites of 2 patients, were directly established as ascites after i.p. injection in nude mice. The s.c. and i.p. growth behavior of the 4 HOC lines was investigated. HOC18, HOC8 and HOC22 cells produced progressively growing tumor after s.c. injection but HOC10 ascites would not grow s.c. The cell suspension derived from HOC18 only produced carcinomatosis upon i.p. injection, while HOC8 cells produced both ascites and carcinomatosis. The 2 ascites HOC10 and HOC22 produced ascites in nude mice, but only HOC22 formed i.p. carcinomatosis. Histopathological characteristics of the patients' primary tumors persisted in nude mice, regardless of the site of tumor implantation. DNA histograms of the xenografts closely matched the patients' tumors and remained stable at different passages. Cisplatin, adriamycin and cyclophosphamide given i.v. were tested against HOC8 and HOC18 growing s.c. and HOC22 and HOC10 growing i.p. HOC8 showed a significant response to DDP and almost no sensitivity to ADR and CTX. HOC18 showed only moderate growth delay with all 3 drugs. Mice bearing HOC10 and HOC22 ascites had a prolonged survival time after DDP and ADR treatment.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Organ-specific growth of a murine lymphoma of spontaneous origin in nude mice.

The MOC-25 tumour arose spontaneously in a female nude mouse and was established as a continuous line intraperitoneally in nude mice, where it reproduces the topological features of its origin, growing preferentially in the uterus, ovaries and liver. Karyotype analysis showed that MOC-25 cells are hyperdiploid. Tumorigenicity and malignant behaviour were studied by transplanting tumour cells into different sites in nude mice. The comparison of tumour take after i.p. and s.c. injections of scaled concentrations of MOC-25 cell suspension showed preferential growth in the peritoneum. Regardless of the route of implantation (s.c., i.v., i.p.), this tumour rapidly and preferentially disseminated to the liver, uterus, ovaries, spleen and bone marrow. No significant differences in tumour growth and metastatic behaviour were observed when MOC-25 was injected in ovariectomized nude mice or in male nude mice. Morphology studies using light and electron microscopy, immunophenotyping and molecular analysis indicated a B-lymphoid origin of the MOC-25 tumour.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Tumour levels of O6-alkylguanine-DNA-alkyltransferase and sensitivity to BCNU of human xenografts.

Tumour levels of O6-alkylguanine-DNA-alkyltransferase (O6 AT) and glutathione content (GSH) were correlated with 1, 3-Bis (2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) sensitivity in two human ovarian cancer xenografts (HOC8 and HOC18) and in two human glioblastoma xenografts (HG12 and HG15). HOC8 and HOC18, which were not responsive to BCNU treatment, showed O6 AT levels 14 and 23-fold higher than HG12 that was moderately sensitive to the same BCNU treatment. HG15, which was more sensitive to BCNU than HG12, showed significantly lower O6 AT levels. GSH levels were similar in all tumor xenografts. These data further stress the importance of O6 AT level as a relevant parameter for nitrosourea response in human tumours.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Stenosis of the nerve root canal caused by disc resorption.

Stenosis of the nerve root canal caused by isolated resorption of a lumbar disc is a frequently observed pathology, but one about which the orthopaedist still knows relatively little. Henry Crock was the first to reveal its principal pathogenetic factor, disc resorption, and to accurately describe the syndrome and its surgical treatment. A total of 22 patients operated according to Henry Crock's indications and followed-up after 2 years were reviewed. In 20 cases decompression alone was performed, while in 2 cases anterior fusion and MOSS instrumentation were associated. Of the 22 patients submitted to decompression 17 revealed complete regression of pain. Three cases failed: 1 patient had previously been treated with chymopapain, while 3 are awaiting anterior fusion to treat persistent lumbar pain. Follow-up is not sufficient for the two patients submitted to anterior fusion.

Humans↗