PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

G Pastorelli

Publications and source records attributed to G Pastorelli.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

[Antipneumococcal vaccine: up date and prospective].

The authors, after a brief survey of the historical evolution of the antipneumococcal vaccines, concentrate on the most recent acquisitions concerning epidemiologic infections of pneumococcus in Italy and abroad. What emerged is the importance of prevention through an efficacious vaccination of the invasive forms particularly frequent in infants. Among there, and above all, meningitis; when not fatal, is very often the cause of serious illness. For this motive with the availability today of efficacious conjugated vaccine in infancy, a period with more frequent and invasive forms, it was first proposed to offer an antipneumococcal vaccination to children under 5 years of age that present particular clinical pathological conditions and later reconsidered the opportunity to extend the vaccination. Discussed and underlined are the differences between antipneumococcal vaccines available today, the importance of vaccinal coverage with conjugated vaccine from the first months of birth, and the fact that on extended vaccination campaign with such a vaccine can reduce the state of nasopharyngeal carriage of serotypes contained in the vaccine ever though penicillin resistant with an increase, however, of the state of carriage for serotypes not contained in the vaccine giving place to a phenomenon some call ''replacement'' of pathogens with non-pathogen germs. An ulterior benefit over the pneumococcal pathology is represented by the significative effect of ''herd immunity'' on subjects not vaccinated, factor that underscores the opportunity to extend the vaccination as much as possible. The importance of a precocious and rapid diagnosis with the tests available today and the necessity to vaccinate ever subjects that have overcome a serious pneumococcal infection in order to protect the subject from other types of pneumococcal particularly aggressive. Even though the vaccines actually available do not represent a final solution in the prevention of pneumococcus disease and the struggle against such pathology is destined to continue, the success obtained merits a certain satisfaction.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2003

Effect of conjugated linoleic acid on meat quality, lipid metabolism, and sensory characteristics of dry-cured hams from heavy pigs.

We investigated conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) supplementation administered to heavy pigs, assessing carcass characteristics, meat quality, and sensory characteristics of dry-cured (Parma) ham. Thirty-six pigs, averaging 97 kg BW, were assigned randomly to three feeding groups in which diets were supplemented with either 0, 0.25, or 0.5% (as-fed basis) of a CLA preparation containing 65% CLA isomers. All pigs were slaughtered at 172 kg BW. No (P > 0.05) differences were observed in dressing percentage, loin and ham weight, or pH and color of longissimus and semimembranosus muscle. Tenth-rib backfat thickness tended to be lower (P < 0.10) in carcasses from CLA-fed pigs. The oxidative stability of longissimus muscle was greater (P < 0.05) in pigs fed CLA than control, but only at the longer (300 min) oxidation time. Acetyl-CoA carboxylase activity in adipose tissue of CLA-fed pigs was less (P < 0.05) than that of pigs fed diets devoid of supplemental CLA. Composition of ham fat was markedly affected (P < 0.01) by dietary CLA, with higher saturated fatty acids, lower monounsaturated fatty acids, and higher CLA in the fat of CLA-fed pigs regardless of supplementation level. Although melting quality was improved (P < 0.05), most sensory characteristics and the chemical composition of dry-cured hams were not (P > 0.05) affected by incorporation of CLA. Results indicated that dietary CLA alters lipid metabolism, producing lower concentrations of monounsaturated fatty acids and increased concentrations of CLA isomers in the fat of heavy pigs. Moreover, supplementing diets with CLA produced only minimal improvements in Parma ham sensory traits and had no appreciable effects on fresh pork quality.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2002

Influence of dietary conjugated linoleic acid on growth, meat quality, lipogenesis, plasma leptin and physiological variables of lipid metabolism in rabbits.

We investigated the effects of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) supplementation on growth, feed efficiency, carcass characteristics, meat quality, lipogenesis, and lipid metabolism in rabbits. One hundred forty-four New Zealand White rabbits, half males, half females, age 55 d, mean 1.8 kg BW, were randomly assigned to three weight- and sex-balanced feeding groups in which conventional pelleted diets were supplemented with 0, 0.25, or 0.5% of a CLA preparation. The CLA preparation contained 65% CLA isomers. Twelve rabbits (six males and six females from each group) were slaughtered at each of three slaughtering trials (2.5, 2.8, and 3.1 kg BW, or 76, 90, and 104 d of age). Conjugated linoleic acid supplementation did not influence growth performance (P > or = 0.05) or carcass characteristics but reduced perirenal fat at heavier slaughtering weights (P = 0.09 at 2.8 kg BW; P < 0.01 at 3.1 kg BW). Conjugated linoleic acid reduced acetyl-CoA-carboxylase (CBX) activity in liver (P < 0.05) and adipose tissues (P < 0.01) but did not influence malic enzyme (ME) or glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity. Significant differences were found between sex in interscapular fat (P < 0.05) for CBX, in perirenal (P < 0.01) and interscapular (P < 0.05) fat for ME, and a tendency (P = 0.070) in liver for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. The oxidative stability of longissimus lumborum muscle was increased at the higher level of supplementation (P < 0.05). Conjugated linoleic acid reduced (P < 0.05) triglycerides and total cholesterol in plasma with a trend to increased serum leptin (P = 0.06). Plasma triglycerides were higher in males than females (P < 0.01) and plasma leptin tended to be higher in females (2.57 vs. 2.13 ng/ml, P = 0.06). It is concluded that dietary CLA reduced carcass fat in rabbits slaughtered at 2.8 kg or above and altered lipid metabolism to produce lower concentrations of serum triglycerides and total cholesterol and higher concentrations of leptin.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2001

Minimal invasive laparoscopic hysterectomy with ultrasonic scalpel.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study was to assess whether total laparoscopic hysterectomy with the ultrasonic scalpel offers advantages in term of intraoperative and postoperative outcomes over the conventional abdominal hysterectomy. METHODS: A case-control study to compare patients undergoing total laparoscopic hysterectomy and women undergoing abdominal hysterectomy for benign conditions was designed. Matching criteria were the menopausal status, the need of adnexectomy, and the uterus weight. The laparoscopic procedure was carried out using an ultrasonically activated scalpel and the amputated uterus was removed transvaginally. Every part of the operation was carried out via laparoscopy, from the adnexal phase to the colpotomy. Abdominal hysterectomy was performed using a conventional laparotomic technique. Intraoperative and postoperative characteristics were analyzed. RESULTS: One hundred forty-four patients were enrolled, of whom 48 underwent total laparoscopic hysterectomy and 98 abdominal hysterectomy. No difference was found between groups in terms of operating time or intraoperative and postoperative infectious and noninfectious complications. The median (range) total consumption of morphine (0 mg [0 to 16] versus 15 mg [0 to 100], P <0.01) during the first 3 postoperative days was significantly lower in the laparoscopic group than in the laparotomic group. The median (range) time to regular diet (1[0 to 4] versus 2 [0 to 5], P <0.05) and the time to passage of stool (1[1 to 2] versus 2 [1 to 5], P <0.05) was shorter in the laparoscopic than in the laparotomic group. CONCLUSIONS: Total laparoscopic hysterectomy with the ultrasonic scalpel is feasible and safe, and offers not only cosmetic benefits but also reduces the need of analgesia and the time to return to a normal gastrointestinal function in comparison with the conventional abdominal hysterectomy.

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMed2001

Oxidative status of plasma and muscle in rabbits supplemented with dietary vitamin E.

Thirty New Zealand white rabbits, mean weight 2 kg, were divided into three equal groups balanced for body weight and randomly assigned to a diet containing 60 (C), 150 (T1) or 375 (T2) mg/kg of all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate. After 29 days, the animals were slaughtered. alpha-Tocopherol was assayed in muscle (longissimus dorsi) and plasma; triglycerides and cholesterol (total, high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein) were analysed in plasma; reactive oxygen metabolites (ROMs) were analysed in serum; and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) were analysed in muscle. There were no body weight and food intake differences between the groups. The plasma vitamin E and vitamin E:lipid ratio were significantly higher in groups T1 and T2 than in C, but increases were not linearly related to dietary levels. Muscle alpha-tocopherol concentrations in the treated groups were significantly higher than in C, and linearly related (R =.67) to the vitamin E:lipid ratio. ROM and vitamin E levels in blood were inversely related (R =.74), with ROMs significantly lower in the treated groups than in C. The 60-mg/kg dose of C recommended by the National Research Council was unable to control ROM production. Lipid oxidation in muscle was significantly lower in T2 than in the other groups, and TBARS correlated significantly with muscle vitamin E (R =.61) and serum ROM (R =.73). These data suggest that vitamin E supplemented at 375 mg/kg diet can effectively control ROM production and improve muscle lipostability. ROM assay provides a useful indirect estimate of the oxidative status of muscle in vivo.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Simplified and Monod kinetics in one-dimensional biofilm reactor modelling: a comparison.

A theoretical study supported by some experimental tests has been carried out with the aim of comparing one-dimensional (1-D) biofilm reactor models that use simplified (zero- and first-order) and Monod kinetics. Two different situations have been compared: one rate-limiting substrate with or without liquid film diffusion. The results obtained show that the use of a simplified kinetic approach compared to the Monod kinetic approach determines (1) an unjustified overestimate of the removal rate, especially for thin biofilms, and (2) an excessive overestimate of the liquid film layer thickness necessary to justify high kinetic orders. Even if recent research projects show that biofilm structure is more complicated than the one assumed in the modelling approach used in this study, nevertheless 1-D models still now continue to be the only ones that can reasonably support process engineers in biofilm reactor design, due to their intrinsic simplicity and the need for small sets of input data and parameters that can be obtained theoretically or often empirically.

Biofilms↗
PubMed2000

Immunization of pups with maternally derived antibodies to canine parvovirus (CPV) using a modified-live variant (CPV-2b).

The results of vaccination trials carried out on pups with maternally derived antibodies (MDA) to canine parvovirus (CPV), using a modified-live CPV-2b variant vaccine (29-97/40 strain), are reported. The vaccine was able to overcome the obstacle of MDA, and to elicit protective immunity in 100% of the pups whose antibody titres were 1:10-1:40, 83% of the pups with titres of 1:80, 57% of the pups with titres of 1:160, and even in 60% of the pups with antibody titres of 1:320.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Prognostic value of 24-hour blood pressure in pregnancy.

CONTEXT: Elevated blood pressure (BP) measured at the physician's office may reflect true hypertension or white coat hypertension (WCH). The prognostic value of WCH among pregnant women is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To assess the prognostic value of WCH in pregnancy. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study conducted between September 1994 and October 1997. SETTING: Community hospital. PATIENTS: Women without preexisting hypertension and not treated with antihypertensive drugs aid with high (n = 148) or normal (n = 106) office BP (high office BP was defined as > or =140 mm Hg systolic and/or > or =90 mm Hg diastolic) matched for gestational age during their third trimester of pregnancy. All women underwent 24-hour noninvasive BP monitoring, and women without hypertension on 24-hour monitoring (125/74 mm Hg or less for average 24-hour BP) with office hypertension were classified as having WCH. Women were followed up through the end of pregnancy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Duration of pregnancy, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia or eclampsia, cesarean delivery, placental and neonatal weight, and length of maternal and neonatal hospital stays for those with and without elevated office BP. RESULTS: After application of exclusion criteria, data for 7 women were removed from the analysis. For the remaining subjects, in the group with elevated BP, prevalence of WCH was 29.2% (42/144). Duration of pregnancy was similar in the normotensive and WCH groups (39.6 vs 39.8 weeks; P = .50), but shorter (38.3 weeks; P<.001) in the true hypertension group. Incidence of preeclampsia was similar in the normotensive and WCH groups (5.8% vs 7.1 %; P = .86) but higher in the true hypertension group (61.7%; P<.001). Frequency of cesarean delivery was lower in the normotensive (12.4%) than in the WCH (45.2%; P = .008) and true hypertension (41.1 %; P = .009) groups. Neonatal weight was lower (P<.001) in the true hypertension (mean, 2911 g) than in the normotensive (3336 g) and WCH groups (3435 g), which did not differ (P = .68). The duration of neonatal hospital stay did not differ between the normotensive and the WCH group (5.3 vs 6.9 days; P = .13) but was longer in the true hypertension group (12.3 days; P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: In women with elevated BP during their third trimester of pregnancy, 24-hour BP was superior to office BP (distinguishing true hypertension from WCH) for prediction of the outcome of pregnancy. Outcomes in the normotensive and WCH group were comparable, but the increased incidence of cesarean delivery in the WCH group may reflect decision-making processes influenced by office BP.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Influence of dietary vitamin E supplementation on "heavy" pig carcass characteristics, meat quality, and vitamin E status.

Crossbred "heavy" pigs (average weight 120 kg, slaughter weight above 160 kg) were supplemented with all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate during the last 60 d of late finishing at doses of 25 (control), 50, 100, 200, or 300 mg/kg of diet. At the end of this period, the pigs were slaughtered. Carcass characteristics and the meat quality of pork chops from longissimus muscle (LM) at the last lumbar vertebra were evaluated on eight barrows from each dosage group. Alpha-tocopherol levels were determined in plasma during supplementation and in LM muscle after slaughter. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and drip loss were also evaluated in meat. Plasma alpha-tocopherol levels increased (P < .005) during supplementation in treated animals compared to controls, with a peak at 40 d. Alpha-tocopherol levels were higher (P < .05) in LM from pigs treated with 300 mg/kg than in controls (8.4 vs 5.6 microg/g). Dressing percentages correlated (P < .05) with the ratio of plasma alpha-tocopherol levels to the sum of cholesterol and triglycerides. Inhibition of TBARS during storage was related (P < .005) to vitamin E supplementation level, but drip losses in chops were not related to supplementation levels. We concluded that dietary vitamin E supplementation to heavy pigs during the last 60 d of finishing improves dressing percentage, reduces lipid oxidation, and increases the alpha-tocopherol concentration of tissues.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1997

[Cervical pregnancy. A gynecologic-obstetric emergency situation].

The cervical pregnancy is defined as the implantation of the blastocyst into the cervical canal. The characteristic clinical sign is a severe asymptomatic uterine bleeding in early pregnancy or during curettage. Prior to 1978, correct preoperative diagnosis was rare and in almost all cases a hysterectomy was performed. Today, transvaginal sonography allows early diagnosis, and conservative treatment (two-time treatment: first treatment with systemic or intraamniotic methotrexate, secondly with curettage or ligature of the uterine arteries) improves the prospects of fertility.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMed1995

Twenty four-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in women with pre-eclampsia.

The aim of our study was to evaluate by means of ambulatory 24 h monitoring the diurnal systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure profiles in a group (n = 18) of gravid patients with pre-eclampsia compared with a group (n = 17) of healthy control subjects matched for age and week of gestation to assess whether: (i) ambulatory BP is also raised in pre-eclampsia; (ii) the increase of BP, if present, occurs to the same extent during both daytime and night; and (iii) a blunted BP pattern is consistently present in pre-eclampsia. BP was recorded at intervals of 15 min for 25 h using a TM2420 non-invasive pressurometer. The presence of a circadian rhythm of BP was assessed by cosinor analysis. SBP was higher in women with pre-eclampsia (24 h average 115 +/- 11 vs. 136 +/- 12, P = 6 x 10(-6); daytime 117 +/- 12 vs. 139 +/- 13, P = 6 x 10(-6); night 110 +/- 11 vs. 129 +/- 14, P = 5 x 10(-5) as well as DBP (24 h average 67 +/- 5 vs. 86 +/- 6, P = 8 x 10(-12); daytime 69 +/- 6 vs. 89 +/- 5, P = 2 x 10(-11); night 62 +/- 4 vs. 80 +/- 8, P = 5 x 10(-10).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Isolated adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiency associated with common variable immunodeficiency.

A 14-year-old girl has been suffering from an isolated adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) deficiency with secondary glucocorticoid deficiency and common variable immunodeficiency since the age of 6.6 years. Human corticotropin releasing hormone administration did not increase ACTH and cortisol levels, strongly suggesting a pituitary deficiency. Despite the profound humoral defect, severe infections have never developed and the antibody response to herpes viruses was intact. We speculate that the association between two rare disorders, simultaneously diagnosed 2 months after measles, is not coincidental but caused by close interactions between neuro-endocrine and immune systems.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Cord blood B cells are mature in their capacity to switch to IgE-producing cells in response to interleukin-4 in vitro.

Neonatal B cells have been considered immature because of their impaired capacity to produce immunoglobulins in response to polyclonal activators in vitro. Here we demonstrate that cord blood mononuclear cells (MNC) produce normal levels of IgE in vitro when cultured in the presence of interleukin-4 (IL-4), indicating that the B cells are mature in their capacity to switch to IgE-producing cells. However, in contrast to adult peripheral blood T cells, cord blood T cells failed to produce detectable levels of IL-4 upon activation by phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) concanavalin A (Con A) or combinations of PHA and the phorbol ester TPA. Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production by cord blood T cells following activation by Con A or PHA was also strongly reduced. However, high levels of IFN-gamma, significantly higher than those produced by adult T cells, were synthesized in response to combinations of PHA and TPA, indicating that IFN-gamma production by cord blood T cells is not intrinsically defective. In contrast, cord blood T cells produced levels of IL-2 that were significantly higher than those obtained by adult T cells tested in parallel. Collectively, our data indicate that the minimal levels of IgE production measured in cord blood (less than 1 U/ml) are not due to immaturity of the cord blood B cells, but may be associated with the failure of cord blood T cells to produce detectable levels of IL-4, which has been shown to be responsible for induction of IgE synthesis both in vitro and in vivo.

Aging↗
PubMed1990

The capacity of interleukin-4 to induce in vitro IgE synthesis by B cells of patients with common variable immunodeficiency.

Interleukin-4 (IL-4) has been shown to induce IgE synthesis by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of normal donors in vitro. However, induction of PBMC of patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVI) with IL-4 resulted in IgE production in only two out of eight cases tested. PBMC of the first patient that produced IgE in response to IL-4 also secreted normal levels of IL-4 upon activation. PBMC of the second patient secreted very low levels of IL-4 in vitro which may account for the very low serum IgE levels in this patient. Of the other six patients who had very low serum IgE levels and whose PBMC failed to produce IgE in response to IL-4 in vitro, five did not secrete IL-4 upon in vitro activation. The capacity of the T cells to produce IL-4 was intact in the sixth patient. Collectively our data indicate that PBMC of the majority of patients with CVI are defective since they failed to respond appropriately to IL-4 and they failed to produce IL-4, contributing to the view that CVI is a heterogeneous disorder in which a variety of T and B cell defects occur.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[The congenital cervical dermal sinus. A clinical case report and review of the literature].

Congenital dermal sinus represents a dysraphic state of the central nervous system. It can show up throughout a defect of the midline, of both the skull and the spine. Usually, the malformation presents a fistulous tract, connecting the skin with the underlying tissues (hypoderm, paraspinal muscles, vertebrae and, in some cases, also the dura mater and spinal cord). The incidence of the malformation is quite low, 1:2,500 births; the cervical and dorsal locations represent the less common region. The malformation can remain undetected at the clinical examination because of the scarce cutaneous stigmata. Usually, it is revealed by repeated episodes of meningeal infection, due to the free communication between the inner dural space and the nervous structure and the external space, allowed by the open cutaneous tract. The case of a cervical dermal sinus tract, observed and successfully treated in a 10-months-old female child prompted us to this study and to review of the cases reported in the literature.

Female↗
PubMed1989

Peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVI) produce reduced levels of interleukin-4, interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma, but proliferate normally upon activation by mitogens.

Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of 11 patients with CVI produced reduced levels of interleukin-4 (IL-4) upon activation by mitogens as compared with those secreted by PBL of healthy donors. The interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production by PBL of a series of 15 patients with CVI was also reduced. Decreased levels of IL-4 or IL-2 and IFN-gamma production were not only observed after activation by phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) at concentrations of 10 and 1 micrograms/ml, but also after activation by concanavalin A (Con A, 10 micrograms/ml). Longitudinal studies indicated that this defective lymphokine production was consistent upon testing periods up to 5 months. No correlation between reduced IL-4, IL-2 or IFN-gamma production was observed. PBL of patients that produced reduced levels of one lymphokine generally secreted normal levels of the other two lymphokines. Despite the reduced synthesis of the T cell growth factors IL-2 and IL-4, the proliferative responses of the PBL of the patients were in the normal range, which is compatible with the finding that IL-2 and IL-4 have synergistic effects on lymphocyte proliferation, particularly when one of these lymphokines is present at suboptimal concentrations. Since IL-2, IL-4 and IFN-gamma can act as B cell growth and differentiation factors, our data suggest that the reduced synthesis of these lymphokines may contribute to the deficient immunoglobulin production in patients with CVI.

Adolescent↗