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Biomedical subjects

L Capasso

Publications and source records attributed to L Capasso.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Bacteria in two-millennia-old cheese, and related epizoonoses in Roman populations.

A tremendous volcanic eruption destroyed all the life around Mount Vesuvius during the night between 24 and 25 August, 79 AD. Two famous towns, Pompeii and Herculaneum, were completely buried under volcanic products. At Herculaneum, about 25m of volcanic mud killed about 250 people who had fled to the beaches in an attempt to escape (Bisel, S. C.,Rivista di Studi Pompeiani, 1, 123-124, 1987). An anthropological examination of the skeletons of these "fugitives" reveals the bone lesions typical of brucellosis in 17.4% of adults (Capasso, L., International Journal of Osteoarchaelogy, 9, 277-288, 1999). This very high incidence of brucellosis was theoretically linked to the consumption of ovine milk and its derivates, which is also indicated by both literary and figurative sources. A single carbonized cheese was found in Herculaneum; its analysis clearly reveals the excellent state of preservation of the milk curds. For the first time, we demonstrate the presence of a variety of bacteria, possibly Lactobacillus, that also includes cocco-like forms that seem to be morphologically and dimensionally consistent with Brucella. The long interval spent by the organic remains under the volcanic mud and high temperatures they suffered preclude the possibility of identifying the bacteria through molecular methods.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Taphonomy of the fossil hominid bones from the Acheulean site of Castel di Guido near Rome, Italy.

Castel di Guido near Rome is one of the few open air Middle Pleistocene European sites that has yielded hominid skeletal remains associated with fossil fauna and Acheulean implements. The fossil hominid bones include two femoral shafts, respectively designated Castel di Guido-1 (CdG-1) and CdG-2, an occipital fragment (CdG-3), a right maxilla lacking teeth (CdG-4), a portion of right parietal (CdG-5), a right temporal (CdG-6), and a fragment of left parietal vault (CdG-7). CdG-1 through CdG-4 were collected in 1979-1982 on the surface, together with fossil fauna, where ploughing incised fossiliferous tuffaceous sands. Excavations conducted in the same area from 1980 to 1990 led to the discovery of CdG-5, CdG-6 and CdG-7 within the tuffaceous sands, which were shown to overlay a bone-bearing paleosurface, with abundant evidence of hominid activities. The Castel di Guido hominid assemblage poses intriguing taphonomic questions. The analysis of the physical evidence offered by the bone surfaces, reported in the present study, indicates that the hominid skeletal remains were heavily fragmented before fossilization and exposed to carnivores and rodents, as well as to trampling and/or friction in abrasive sediment. Although definitive conclusions cannot be reached on the basis of the available evidence, it is possible that clusters of incisions localized on specific regions of the Castel di Guido fossil hominid bones might reflect deliberate human manipulations.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Antisocial personality, substance abuse, and exposure to parental violence in males referred for domestic violence.

This study investigated whether childhood disruptive behavior (hyperactivity, oppositional-defiance, conduct problems) plus adult psychopathic adjustment are associated with domestic violence. Adult males (n = 66) in diversion programs completed the Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS), MMPI Psychopathic Deviate scale (PD), Conflict Tactics Scales representing themselves and their parents, and substance use measures. Substance use and lifespan antisocial personality (measured by high WURS and PD scores) were robust predictors of verbal and moderate physical domestic abuse. Violence in the family of origin was associated with abuse when tested alone, but failed to exhibit unique association with abuse when other predictors were taken into account. The possibility that antisocial batterers respond to contingencies by moderating physical harm, while persisting at psychological harm, is discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

[Peutz-Jeghers syndrome: case report and update on diagnosis and treatment].

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome is a rare autosomal dominantly inherited condition with an incidence of 1/120.000 liveborns, characterized by the presence of hamartomatous gastrointestinal polyps and mucocutaneous pigmentation. This syndrome predisposes to various clinical problems such as intussusception and cancer development in different loci (gastrointestinal tract, breast and ovary). For this reason, PJS patients should undergo a surveillance protocol of the genital and gastrointestinal apparatus. Therefore, the early diagnosis of PJS in at-risk family members is very important in preventing cancer development. Germline mutations within the LKB1 or Serine Threonine Kinase (STK11) gene, located on chromosome 19p13.3, are responsible for most cases of PJS so far studied. The existence of a second locus is suspected on chromosome 19q13.4 in a minority of families. The LKB1 gene, recently cloned, encodes the Serine Threonine Kinase LKB1 and is ubiquitously expressed. The identification of the disease-causing mutation in each family makes it possible to perform a presymptomatic diagnosis; therefore, only the mutation carriers will undergo the clinical surveillance program. In this paper, the case of a PJS patient who has been surgically treated is presented. The DNA screening of the LKB1 gene in this patient has led to the identification of the causing mutation. A critical review of the literature and is also presented as well as the proposal to establish an Italian Registry of PJS.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Nonnutritive sucking during heelstick procedures decreases behavioral distress in the newborn infant.

We investigated if nonnutritive sucking (NNS) during heelstick procedures alleviates behavioral distress in neonates. In our NICU, 26 neonates without severe complications (mean Minde score 0.8, range 0-3), undergoing heelstick procedures at least twice a day, in the first 2 weeks of life, were enrolled in the trial (mean gestational age 33.9 weeks, range 26-39 weeks, mean birth weight 1, 988.5 g, range 1,200-4,010 g, mean Apgar score at the first minute 6. 7, range 4-10, at the fifth minute 8.5, range 6-10). Two heelpricks were performed in each neonate with NNS randomly assigned. Behavioral states, transcutaneous oxygen tension (TcPO(2)), heart rate, and respiratory rate were monitored before, during and after the heelstick procedures. Heelstick procedures lasted for a mean of 109 s (range 50-230 s) with NNS, and a mean of 128.8 s (range 20-420 s) without NNS. Compared with baseline, heart rate and behavioral distress increased and respiratory rate decreased during heelstick and after heelstick. Oxygen tension did not change. Nonnutritive sucking had no effect on respiratory rate or transcutaneous oxygen tension, but reduced the time of crying and the heart rate increase during the procedure. In conclusion, NNS can be recommended to reduce distress in newborns undergoing invasive routine procedures. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effects of NNS on respiratory rate and blood gas levels.

Blood Specimen Collection↗
PubMed2000

[Paleobiology in the population of Herculaneum (79 A.D].

The anthropologic examination of the human skeletal remains recovered on the ancient beach of Herculaneum provides a unique opportunity for gaining paleobiological data on a Roman population. The eruption caught the people on the ancient beach as they were trying to escape; the volcanic surges and pyroclastic flows had different effects on them depending upon where they were on the beach. Those caught in the open suffered immediate dehydratation, with cranial explosion and complete burning of bones, whereas those trapped in the boat sheds suffered slower dehydration. Histological analysis of the bone remains reveals an exposure to temperatures of 350-400 degrees C; the slower dehydratation of those in the sheds resulted in the preservation of some soft tissues, which are exceptional findings.

History, Ancient↗
PubMed1999

Open trial of fluoxetine in children and adolescents with dysthymic disorder or double depression.

BACKGROUND: Chronic depressions commonly present in youth and cause significant morbidity. No treatment studies in this age group are currently available. METHODS: 19 pediatric subjects with dysthymic disorder or 'double depression' were recruited. After four weeks of psychosocial treatment, subjects failing to improve began open treatment with fluoxetine (20 mg) for eight weeks. Subjects were then reassessed for treatment response. RESULTS: Fifteen subjects entered the medication phase, and eleven (73%) no longer met criteria for dysthymic disorder or Major Depression at final assessment. CONCLUSIONS: Fluoxetine shows promise as a safe and effective treatment for youth with chronic depressions. Controlled trials are indicated. LIMITATIONS: Open label design, no comparison treatment condition. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: As in adults, treatment with antidepressants may prove to be a useful intervention with children and adolescents with chronic forms of depression.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Presence of bilateral limbal dermoids and choroidal osteomas in a family with inherited limbal dermoids.

We report a case of bilateral limbal dermoids and bilateral choroidal osteomas in a 14-year-old girl with no extraocular anomalies. Histopathological examination of a limbal lesion confirmed the clinical diagnosis of dermoid. Computerized tomography and ultrasonography were compatible with a diagnosis of choroidal osteoma. Limbal dermoids were present in the patient's mother, in a brother with Down syndrome, and in an aunt with no choroidal osteoma. The present pedigree is compatible with autosomal dominant inheritance of bilateral limbal dermoids. The same gene may be involved in the pathogenesis of ocular choristomas in same patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Radioimmunoguided surgery in colorectal cancer: a 6-year experience with four different technical solutions.

Intraoperative radioimmunodetection is a new staging technique for epithelial neoplasms. After intravenous injection, a radioimmunoconjugate compound (monoclonal antibody and isotope) attaches itself to the antigens expressed on the surface of neoplastic cells, causing them to emit gamma rays. Radioactivity is detected at the presurgical stage by immunoscintigraphy and intraoperatively with a gamma-detecting probe (GDP). In our experience, intraoperative tumor-to-normal-tissue (T/NT) GDP ratio counts > or =3:1 were considered positive radioimmunoguided surgery (RIGS) findings. We studied 52 colorectal cancer patients, 48 with primary lesions and 7 with relapses. Positive RIGS findings were obtained in 33 patients whose lymph node assessments were characterised by eight false positive identifications. In 10 patients, RIGS data yielded a more accurate staging of the disease. Unreliable RIGS findings were recorded in 15 patients: four injected with monoclonal antibody (MAb) B72.3 labeled with Iodine-125; five with MAb anti-carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) labeled with 99mTechnetium (Tc); two with MAb B72.3 labeled with Indium-111; and three with MAb B72.3 labeled with Iodine-131 plus interferon-beta. In analysis, our experience did not permit definitive evaluation of the method's diagnostic and staging accuracy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

hMLH1 mutations in hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer kindreds. Mutations in brief no. 182. Online.

Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectral cancer (HNPCC), an autosomal dominantly inherited predisposition for early onset colorectal cancer, accounts for at least 6% of all colorectal malignancies. HNPCC results from germ-line mutations in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes (hMSH2, hMLH1, hPMS1 and hPMS2) and is associated with a high rate of replication errors in tumor cells. Using PCR-SSCP, the protein truncation test and DNA sequencing we have analyzed the hMSH2 and hMLH1 genes in 10 Italian families that met the standard diagnostic criteria for HNPCC. We have identified three new mutations in the hMLH1 gene. One mutation consists in a deletion of one base pair at nucleotide 954 (954delC) in exon 11 that creates an early stop at codon 366 and is predicted to abolish normal protein function. The other two are missense mutations. Cys77Arg and Ser193Pro, that cause dramatic amino acid substitutions in two highly conserved MLH domains. The Cys77Arg mutation occurs within a domain (1-114 residues) that is very critical for MMR function. The Ser193Pro mutation occurs in a highly conserved central region of the MLH1 protein. No functional domains have yet been identified in this region. All mutant alleles cosegregate with the cancer phenotype.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗
PubMed1998

Effects of wortmannin on human neutrophil respiratory burst and phagocytosis.

Modulation of neutrophil response to naturally occurring stimuli is important to avoid host tissue injure. Both soluble and particulate stimuli may induce superoxide anion generation in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Recently wortannin has been shown to inhibit the N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) induced activation of respiratory burst via phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. However no data are available about the effect of the inhibitor on the respiratory burst induced by a particulate stimulus. In this paper we studied the effect of wortmannin on E. coli induced respiratory burst and phagocytosis by flow cytometry, which allows the quantitation of both H2O2 production and ingested bacteria in whole blood samples without the need of purification and concomitant manipulation of the cells. The effects of worthmannin on fMLP-induced chemotaxis was also examined by the under agarose method. Neither the E. coli nor the fMLP-induced responses were blocked by wortmannin, suggesting that PI 3-kinase activity is not required to activate these neutrophil functions. Since it is known that the respiratory burst elicited by fMLP is blocked by wortmannin, our results suggest that the generation of oxygen radicals is controlled via different signal transduction pathways, depending on the agonist used.

Androstadienes↗