PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

L Gatto

Publications and source records attributed to L Gatto.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Characterisation of submarine groundwater discharge offshore south-eastern Sicily.

A complex approach in characterisation of submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) off south-eastern Sicily comprising applications of radioactive and non-radioactive tracers, direct seepage measurements, geophysical surveys and a numerical modelling is presented. SGD fluxes in the Donnalucata boat basin were estimated by direct seepage measurements to be from 4 to 12Ls(-1), which are comparable with the total SGD flux in the basin of 17Ls(-1) obtained from radon measurements. The integrated SGD flux over the Donnalucata coast estimated on the basis of Ra isotopes was around 60m(3)s(-1) per km of the coast. Spatial variations of SGD were observed in the Donnalucata boat basin, the average (222)Rn activity concentration in seawater varied from approximately 0.1kBqm(-3) to 3.7kBqm(-3) showing an inverse relationship with salinity. The continuous monitoring carried out at the site closest to the coast has revealed an inverse relationship of (222)Rn activity concentration on the tide. The (222)Rn concentrations in seawater varied from 2.3kBqm(-3) during high tides to 4.8kBqm(-3) during low tides, thus confirming an influence of the tide on submarine groundwater discharge. Stable isotopes (delta(2)H and delta(18)O) showed that SGD samples consist up to 50% of groundwater. Geo-electrical measurements showed a spatial variability of the salt/fresh water interface and its complex transformation in the coastal zone. The presented results imply that in the studied Donnalucata site there are at least two different sources of SGD, one superficial, represented by mixed fresh water and seawater, and the second one which originates in a deeper limestone aquifer.

Sicily↗
PubMed2006

Multiple microswitches for persons with multiple disabilities: a basic procedure to examine the persons' choice behavior.

This study examined a basic choice-analysis procedure to clarify choice between two responses and related stimuli by five persons with multiple disabilities ages 17.1 to 50.2 yr. The procedure was based on reversing the links between responses and stimuli to assess whether the stimuli accounted for differences in response levels. When this was not the case, the procedure added extra stimuli for the less preferred response to judge whether such an increase would compensate for the apparent disadvantage of that response, e.g., its higher physical cost. Analysis showed that the choice of three of the five participants seemed motivated by the stimuli following the responses. The choice of the other two persons seemed related to a preference for one of the responses which was partially or largely modified when extra stimuli were added.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Effect of body morphology on standing balance in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of body somatotype on standing balance in girls with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) who are under observation but not wearing a body brace. DESIGN: In all, 74 girls participated in this study to form the able-bodied (n = 36) and the AIS (n = 38) groups, having an average age of 13 yrs. Quiet standing balance was tested using a force platform. Afterward, subjects in each group were divided according to their dominant body somatotype, namely endomorphs (fatness), mesomorphs (muscular), or endomorphic ectomorphs (lean). RESULTS: The center of pressure measured in the anteroposterior position was closer to the heels for the AIS ectomorphic group by approximately 14 mm (P = 0.00497). Only the AIS mesomorphic group displayed a statistically significant 12-mm shift to the right in their center of pressure (P = 0.01211) compared with the able-bodied girls of the same morphotype. In the endomorphic group, the sway area was statistically higher for the scoliotic subjects (P = 0.00839). The distances traveled by the AIS subjects were all statistically longer for all three body morphologic somatotypes. CONCLUSION: Different postural responses seem to be dependent on body somatotypes. The endomorphic AIS girls had a larger sway area than their able-bodied counterparts while maintaining a similar center of pressure position. The AIS ectomorphic girls had a tendency to lean further back than a comparable able-bodied group. This could be emphasizing a hypokyphotic trunk attitude and increasing the risk of spinal deformity progression. The AIS mesomorphic subjects characterized by a large muscular and bony structure had a tendency to position their center of mass more to their right, indicating less postural adaptability and a stiffer trunk.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Rapid hepatic metabolism of 7-ketocholesterol in vivo: implications for dietary oxysterols.

7-Ketocholesterol is a major dietary oxysterol and the predominant non-enzymically formed oxysterol in human atherosclerotic plaque. We tested the hypothesis that 7-ketocholesterol is preferentially retained by tissues relative to cholesterol in vivo. To ensure rapid tissue uptake, acetylated low density lipoprotein, labeled with esters of [(14)C]-7-ketocholesterol and [(3)H]cholesterol, was injected into rats via a jugular catheter. At timed intervals (2 min to 24 h) rats (n = 48 total) were exsanguinated and tissues were dissected and assayed for radioactivity. In two experiments the majority of both radiolabels appeared in the liver after 2 min. In all tissues, (14)C appeared transiently and did not accumulate. Rather, it was metabolized in the liver and excreted into the intestine mainly as aqueous-soluble metabolites (presumably bile acids). By 9 h, (14)C in the liver had decreased to 10% of the injected dose while 36% was present in the intestine. In contrast, at 9 h 38% of (3)H was evident in the liver while only 5% was found in the intestine. Unlike [(3)H]cholesterol, little (14)C was found to re-enter the circulation, indicating that enterohepatic recycling of 7-ketocholesterol was negligible. This is the first report of the distribution of an oxysterol relative to cholesterol, administered simultaneously, in a whole animal model. The finding that [(14)C]-7-ketocholesterol is rapidly metabolized and excreted by the liver suggests that diet may not be a major source of oxysterols in atherosclerotic plaque, and that perhaps dietary oxysterols make little or no contribution to atherogenesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Laparoscopic diagnosis of tubaric pregnancy in evolution and reconstructive surgical treatment.

The authors report the results obtained on 22 selected cases of tubaric pregnancy in evolution and treated by reconstructive plastic surgery. They point out the necessity of a very precocious laparoscopic diagnosis in order to obtain a better functional recovery of the fallopian tube. On the basis of the results, the authors suggest a more frequent reconstructive treatment of the tubaric pregnancy.

Adolescent↗