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Biomedical subjects

L Pellegrino

Publications and source records attributed to L Pellegrino.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Laparoscopic management of giant hiatal hernia: factors influencing long-term outcome.

BACKGROUND: The laparoscopic management of large hiatal hernias still is controversial. Recent studies have presented a high recurrence rate. METHODS: In this study, 65 patients underwent elective laparoscopic repair of large hiatal hernia. A short esophagus was diagnosed in 13 cases. A primary closure of the hiatal defect was performed in 14 cases. "Tension-free" repair using a mesh was performed in 37 cases, and 14 patients underwent a Collis-Nissen gastroplasty. For the last 38 patients in the series, an intraoperative endoscopy was performed to identify the esophagogastric junction. RESULTS: There was no mortality, no conversions to open surgery, and no intraoperative complications. A recurrent hernia was present in 23 of the 77 patients (30%). The recurrence rate was 77% when a direct suture was used and 35% when a mesh was used (p < 0.05). No recurrences were observed in the patients treated with the Collis-Nissen technique, but in one case, perforation of the distal esophagus developed 3 weeks after surgery. The multivariate analysis showed that recurrences are statistically correlated with the type of hiatal hernia and surgical technique. CONCLUSIONS: To reduce recurrences after laparoscopic management of large hiatal hernias, it is essential to identify all cases of short esophagus using intraoperative endoscopy and to perform a Collis-Nissen procedure in such cases.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Randomized clinical trial of robot-assisted versus laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have shown the safety and feasibility of robot-assisted antireflux surgery but comparative data are lacking. METHODS: Fifty consecutive patients scheduled for laparoscopic antireflux surgery were randomized into two groups. Twenty-five patients underwent robot-assisted surgery and 25 standard laparoscopic fundoplication. All robot-assisted procedures were performed with the da Vinci Surgical System. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age, sex, body mass or preoperative reflux pattern between the groups. Operating times were significantly longer for robot-assisted than standard laparoscopic operations (mean total operating time 131.3 versus 91.1 min, P < 0.001; skin-to-skin time 78.0 versus 63.5 min, P = 0.001). There was no conversion to open surgery. Conversion to standard laparoscopy was necessary in one of 25 robot-assisted procedures. The length of hospital stay was similar in both groups. Robot-assisted surgery was associated with significantly higher mean total costs (euro 3157 versus euro 1527; P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in clinical, endoscopic and functional outcomes between groups. There was no procedure-related mortality. CONCLUSION: Robot-assisted laparoscopic fundoplication is comparable to the standard laparoscopic procedure in terms of feasibility and outcome, but costs are higher owing to longer operating times and the use of more expensive instruments.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

[Mid and long term results in the laparoscopic surgical treatment of gastroesophageal reflux].

AIM: The advent of laparoscopic surgery produced a new interest in the surgical treatment of many benign and functional gastrointestinal diseases; one of the most commonly treated is the gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In this paper the Authors report their 15 years experience in the laparoscopic surgical management of GERD. METHODS: From October 1991 to June 2005, 581 patients with GERD were treated by a laparoscopic fundoplication with a 360 degrees wrap (524 cases) or with a 270 degrees wrap (29 cases) or with a Collis gastroplasty (28 cases). RESULTS: The absence of intraoperative mortality, a low conversion to open surgery (0.7%) and a low postoperative morbidity (2.4%) with good clinical and instrumental long term results let the Authors to think that GERD represent an ideal indication for laparoscopic surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Good results are possible in the laparoscopic management of GERD with a precise selection of patients and with a good open and laparoscopic surgical experience in the management of functional esophageal diseases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

A 2D Echo color-Doppler study of the extracranial carotid arteries in borderline arterial isolated systolic hypertension.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of atherosclerotic carotid lesions in isolated systolic borderline arterial hypertension by 2D echo color-Doppler and effect of night-time pressure fall by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. METHODS: Outpatients from January 1992 to December 1998 were examined. One hundred and twenty normotensive control subjects and 99 isolated systolic borderline untreated hypertensives were studied, based on blood pressure fall were divided into dippers, with nocturnal systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure fall of >10%, and non dippers. Subjects with ischemic heart disease, valvulopathies, heart failure, renal insufficiency, cerebrovasculopathies, hypercholesterolemia (total cholesterol >200 mg/dl) and diabetes. Normotensives and hypertensives were homogenous for cardiovascular risk factors. A thickness of =/> 0.95 mm, calculated as a mean of 5 measurements of the common carotid artery, 2-3 cm from the carotid bifurcation, was considered a sign of myointimal thickening, and the plaque as a focal thickening of =/> 2 mm, based on echogenic characteristics and site. RESULTS: Compared to normotensives, isolated systolic borderline hypertensives, showed carotid arteries with an intima-media thickening (p=0.002) with one or more plaques (p=0.0001) much more frequently, while normal carotid arteries (p=0.0001) were less frequent. In normotensives, like in hypertensives, the prevalence of vasal lesions was not significantly different in dippers compared with non dippers. Plaques were most often localized at level of the common carotid and lesions were hard. CONCLUSIONS: The conclusions is drawn that isolated systolic hypertension is the sign of major vascular atherosclerotic lesions. The night-time pressure fall does not affect the importance of the lesions.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

[Bilateral and monolateral dolichoarteriopathies (Kinking, Coiling, Tortuosity) of the carotid arteries and atherosclerotic disease. An ultrasonographic study].

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study, performed in outpatients, is to evaluate, using echo color Doppler examination, atherosclerotic lesions of extracranial carotid arteries in subjects with bilateral, and monolateral dolichoarteriopathies. METHODS: A total of 316 subjects, 77 with bilateral and 239 with monolateral dolichoarteriopathies, were studied. Patients were divided into: 79 subjects without cardiovascular risk factors and 237 subjects with cardiovascular risk factors (98 with arterial hypertension alone, 85 with arterial hypertension associated with other cardiovascular risk factors, 54 with hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, cigarette smoking, alone or associated). Myointimal thickness, as a mean of 5 measurements at common carotid level, 2-3 cm from flow-divider and plaques as a focal thickness =/> 2 mm, were evaluated. RESULTS: In 77 patients with bilateral dolichoarteriopathies, compared to 239 patients with monolateral dolichoarteriopathies, there were no differences in myointimal thickening, and in the prevalence of carotid plaques; no difference was observed between sexes. Both in subjects with and without cardiovascular risk factors myointimal thickness and carotid plaques didn't show any significant differences in bilateral compared with monolateral dolichoarteriopathies. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, bilateral, compared with monolateral, dolichoarteriopathies of the carotids, do not seem to be a consequence of atherosclerotic lesions.

Carotid Arteries↗
PubMed2001

Occurrence of galactosyl isomaltol and galactosyl beta-pyranone in commercial drinking milk.

Occurrence of galactosyl isomaltol (GAI) and galactosyl beta-pyranone (GAP), two advanced glycosylation end products arising from the Maillard reaction of lactose via 1-deoxyosone pathway, was studied in commercial drinking milk. Galactosyl isomaltol was extracted from milk spiked with this isomaltol glycoside avoiding usage of any deproteinizing agent and was determined by a sensitive and interference-free HPLC method. No quantifiable amount of GAI proved to be present in any type of drinking milk, suggesting that some data reported in literature arise from uncontrolled conversion of GAP into GAI. The standard molecule of GAP was produced by heating a model system containing lysine and [U-14C]lactose, purified by solid phase extraction (SPE) on a C18 cartridge eluting with water, separated by the inverse distance function (IDF) standard HPLC method specified for lactulose determination, and characterized by both spectroscopic data and tandem mass spectrometry. The behaviour of formation of GAP and GAI in model systems containing lysine and lactose, heated under conditions of in bottle sterilization of milk, was studied in a wide range of values of the molar ratio lysine to lactose. While GAP easily forms as soon as lysine is present in the system, GAI does not form below a value of 0.1 of this molar ratio, so explaining why this compound is not present in commercial drinking milk. Amounts of GAP varying from 0.04 to 43.1 mumol/l were found in the different types of drinking milk ranging from high temperature pasteurized to in bottle sterilized, proving that this compound is a stable and sensible marker for evaluating the extent of the advanced Maillard reaction, hence the heating severity of commercial drinking milk. Moreover, GAP can be determined after conversion into GAI under acid warm conditions with a yield of 0.5 mol GAI from 1 mol GAP. Values of GAP obtained on commercial milk samples either by the direct HPLC method or after conversion into GAI were rather comparable, but the latter method needs further study in view of routine application.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Topiramate in refractory partial-onset seizures in children, adolescents and young adults: a multicentric open trial.

PURPOSE: This study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of topiramate (TPM) in refractory partial epilepsy in children, adolescents and young adults. METHODS: We performed a prospective open label add-on study in 55 patients (age 2-30 years, mean 15 years) with refractory partial seizures. Topiramate was added to one or two other baseline drugs and the efficacy was rated according to seizure type and frequency. RESULTS: TPM was initiated at a daily dose of 0.5-1 mg/kg, followed by a 2-week titration at increments of 1-3 mg/kg/24h, up to a maximum daily dose of 12 mg/kg. After 9 months of treatment, 11 patients (20%) had 100% fewer seizures and 25 patients (45%) had a more than 50% seizure reduction. TPM appeared to be effective both in cryptogenic (76.2%) and symptomatic (58.8%) partial epilepsies. Mild to moderate adverse events were present in 25 patients (45.4%), mostly represented by drowsiness, nervousness and hyporexia with or without weight loss. CONCLUSION: TPM was an overall effective and safe add-on drug both in cryptogenic and symptomatic childhood refractory partial seizures, the adverse reactions being generally mild or moderate.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Formation of protein bound lysine-derived galactosyl and glucosyl pyrroles in heated model systems.

Residues of lysine-substituted AGEs (advanced glycosylation end-products) arising from the Maillard reaction and containing the carbon backbone of lactose or maltose, thus deriving from 1-desoxy-ketose degradation, were produced when casein was heated in the presence of the corresponding U14C labelled disaccharides. The enzymatic hydrolysates of the washed casein were purified by SPE and submitted to HPLC on a C18 column flushed with diluted acetic acid. A specific chromatographic peak (lambda max, 288.1 nm; MW, 416.2 Da) with a different retention time was obtained for each disaccharide reacted. On the basis of the value of the specific radioactivity, the two compounds appeared to contain the whole carbon backbone of the parent sugar. Analyses by MS/MS and NMR performed on the same two compounds extracted at preparative scale from lysine-lactose and lysine-maltose model systems allowed the structure assignment of 6-[2-acetyl-3-(beta-D-galactopyranosyloxy)-1-pyrrolyl] 2-amino hexanoic acid and 6-[2-acetyl-3-(alpha-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-1-pyrrolyl] 2-amino hexanoic acid, respectively. Both compounds submitted to enzymatic deglycosylation by specific alpha- or beta-glucosidases produced the lysine-derived acetyl pyrrole 6-(2-acetyl-3-hydroxy-1-pyrrolyl) 2-amino hexanoic acid (lambda max, 288.1 nm; MW, 254.1 Da). Galactosyl- and glucosyl-isomaltoles, extracted from the lysine-containing systems, identified with the reference molecules and heated in the presence of lysine under slightly alkaline conditions, gave the expected lysine-derived glycosyl pyrroles as identified above. The HPLC conditions were optimized by adjusting the composition of the eluting solvent and temperature of the column to achieve the best separation and identification of the AGEs in mixtures such as foods with possible interfering molecules like Trp and lysyl pyrrole aldehyde. Because of the reported presence of the two precursors isomaltol glycosydes in some foods, the corresponding lysine-derived glycosyl pyrroles can occur as both protein bound and in free form.

Caseins↗
PubMed1998

[Dolicho-arteriopathies (kinking, coiling, tortuoosity) of the carotid arteries: study by color Doppler ultrasonography].

BACKGROUND: This work aimed to study extracranial carotid dolichoarterial disease in outpatients using color Doppler ultrasonography. METHODS: A total of 1220 outpatients, 620 males and 600 females, aged between 25 and 89 years old, were enrolled in the study. Subjects were divided into three groups according to age: under 60, between 60 and 70, over 70. Color Doppler ultrasonography was performed on the extracranial carotid using Acuson 128 XP/5 ultrasonograph and linear 7 MHz probe. Reference was made to Weibel and Field's classification for kinking, coiling and tortuosity for the classification of dolichoarterial disease. RESULTS: Of the 1220 subjects examined, 316 (25.9%) presented dolichoarterial disease, 126 males (39.9%) and 190 females (60.1%) with a male/female ratio of 1:1.5. Of the 316 cases of dolichoarterial disease, 171 (54.1%; 14% of the patients examined) showed kinking, 36 (11.4%; 2.9% of the patients examined) showed coiling, 109 (34.5%; 8.9% of the patients examined) showed tortuosity. Females were predominantly affected by kinking (male/female ratio: 1:1.8) and coiling (male/female ratio: 1:1.8), whereas the two sexes were equally affected by tortuosity (male/female ratio: 1:1). 76 out of 387 subjects (19.6%) presented dolichoarterial disease in the under-60 group, 128 out of 441 subjects (29.3%) in the 60-70-year-old group, and 112 out of 392 subjects (28.6%) in the over-70 group. The prevalence of dolichoarterial disease remained stationary after the age of 70, as the result of different findings in the two sexes, but continued to increase in males, while it diminished in females. This trend was clearly evident for kinking and coiling, whereas the prevalence of the two sexes was comparable with regard to tortuosity, slightly higher in females under the age of 70 and slightly higher in males after the age of 70. Of the 316 cases of dolichoarterial disease diagnosed, 297 (94%) were localised at the level of the internal carotid artery, with a predominance for the left (47.8%) artery compared to the right (22.1%), 14 (4.4%) at the level of the external carotid artery and 5 (1.6%) affecting the common carotid. Dolichoarterial disease was monolateral in 239 subjects (75.6%) and bilateral in 77 (24.4%). Of the bilateral cases, only one affected the common carotid, 76 the internal carotid with much higher presence of kinking and coiling compared to tortuosity. As far as concerns the site of dolichoarterial disease, no difference was observed between the sexes. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, non-invasive color Doppler ultrasonography, which is easily repeatable, can provide useful data for the morphological evaluation of dolichoarterial disease. Further studies in large populations which will enable the anatomofunctional aspects obtained using color Doppler ultrasonography to be correlated with clinical symptoms and possible effects on the central nervous system are now required for an improved clinical and prognostic assessment of dolichoarterial disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[White-coat arterial hypertension and stable borderline essential arterial hypertension. An ultrasonic study of the carotid arteries].

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to explore atherosclerotic lesions of the extracranial carotid arteries in patients with white-coat hypertension. METHODS: Using high resolution B-mode echography of the extracranial carotid arteries we examined 45 patients with white-coat hypertension compared with 60 normotensive subjects and 95 patients with essential arterial stable borderline hypertension. We considered abnormally high any intimal-medial thickness of > or = 0.95 mm, calculated as the mean of 5 measurements from the common carotid artery at 2-3 cm from the flow divider; and we called plaque any focal thickening of > or = 2 mm classified echographically as hard, fibrous, mixed, soft, or haemorrhagic, or in terms of lesion sites, e.g., common carotid, carotid bifurcation, or internal and external carotid. RESULTS: In patients with white-coat hypertension, compared to normotensive controls, we found the same prevalence of normal carotid vessels with intimal-medial thickening and one or more plaques; whereas compared to patients with essential arterial stable borderline hypertension we found a significantly lower prevalence of carotid vessels with intimal-medial thickening (p = 0.005) and one or more plaques (p = 0.02), plus a significantly higher prevalence of normal carotids (p = 0.001). The most frequent site of plaque formation was the common carotid and bifurcation; less so the internal and external carotid arteries. The most common type was the hard plaque; less common were fibrous, mixed and soft plaques. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, unlike stable hypertension, white-coat hypertension in patients with clinical stable borderline hypertension is apparently associated with low risk of vascular lesions, practically to the same level as normotensive subjects.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

[Dolichoarteriopathies (kinking, coiling, tortuosity) of carotid arteries and atherosclerotic disease: an ultrasonographic study].

The clinical significance of the dolichoarteriopathies (kinking, coiling and tortuosity) of the extracranial carotid arteries, their prognosis and etiopathogenesis have not yet been clearly defined. The aim of this study was to evaluate, by echo-color-Doppler, atherosclerotic lesions of carotids in subjects with, compared to those without dolichoarteriopathies. A total of 1220 subjects (aged 25-89 years), 316 with and 904 without dolichoarteriopathies, were studied. Patients were divided into 325 subjects without cardiovascular risk factors and 895 subjects with cardiovascular risk factors (352 with arterial hypertension alone, 298 with arterial hypertension associated with other cardiovascular risk factors, 245 with hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, cigarette smoking, alone or associated). Moreover, the study was performed specifically in a subgroup of 352 subjects with arterial hypertension without other cardiovascular risk factors. Myointimal thickness, as a mean of 5 measurements at the level of the common carotid, 2-3 cm from the flow-divider and plaques as a focal thickness > or = 2 mm, classified on the basis of echogenic characteristics (hard, fibrous, mixed, soft, hemorrhagic) and seat (bifurcation, common, internal and external carotid) were evaluated. In 316 patients with dolichoarteriopathies, compared to 904 patients without dolichoarteriopathies there were no differences in myointimal thickening (NS), the prevalence of carotid plaques was lower (p = 0.004) and there was no difference (NS) regarding ultrasonic characteristics (more frequently hard and less frequently fibrous, mixed and soft) and localization of plaques (more frequently at the level of the common and bifurcation and less frequently at the level of the internal and external carotid). In subjects without cardiovascular risk factors, myointimal thickness and carotid plaques did not show any significant differences (NS) in the group with compared to the without dolichoarteriopathies. On the contrary, either in subjects with cardiovascular risk factors, or in the subgroup with hypertension alone, myointimal thickening was equally represented (NS), while carotids with plaques were significantly less frequent (p = 0.002; p = 0.01) in the group with, compared to that without dolichoarteriopathies. In conclusion, dolichoarteriopathies of the carotids do not seem to be a consequence of atherosclerotic lesions but in the presence of cardiovascular risk factors or hypertension alone they may even prevent plaque formation.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Phosphopeptides from Grana Padano cheese: nature, origin and changes during ripening.

Casein phosphopeptides (CPP) which develop in Grana Padano cheese at different ages were isolated by precipitation with Ba2+ and analysed by HPLC. Profiles were complex throughout the period between 4 and 38 months. CPP in a cheese sample 14 months old were identified by a combination of fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry and Edman degradation. They were found to consist of a mixture of components derived from three parent peptides, beta-CNf(7-28)4P, alpha s1-CNf(61-79)4P and alpha s2-CNf(7-21)4P. In total, 45 phosphopeptides were identified: 24 from beta-CN, 16 from alpha s1-CN and 5 from alpha s2-CN. The presence of aminopeptidase activity during cheese ripening was deduced from the presence of a number of CPP of different lengths with the loss of one or more residues from the N-terminus. The longest had C-terminal lysine and seemed to be progressively hydrolysed by carboxypeptidases A and B to shorter peptides. CPP in cheese appeared to be shortened plasmin-mediated products. Moreover, those most resistant to further hydrolysis contained at least three closely located phosphoserine residues. The anticariogenic activity of CPP is also discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

[White coat arterial hypertension and isolated systolic arterial hypertension: ultrasonography of the carotid arteries].

BACKGROUND: The prognosis of white coat hypertension is uncertain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of atherosclerotic carotid lesions in subjects with white coat hypertension and clinical isolated systolic hypertension using 2D echo-color-doppler procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients were initially selected through the sphygmomanometric measurement of blood pressure and subsequently through 24-hour blood pressure monitoring. Fifty-four subjects with white coat hypertension were studied in comparison with either 60 normotensive subjects or 116 sustained isolated systolic arterial hypertensives. All patients underwent high-resolution B-mode echotomography of both carotid arteries, which made it possible to assess myointimal thickening and plaques. A thickness of > or = 0.95 mm, calculated as the mean of 5 measurements of the common carotid artery, 2.3 cm from the flow divider, was considered a sign of myointimal thickening, while plaques were represented by a focal thickening of > or = 2 mm, based on echogenic characteristics (hard, fibrous, mixed, soft and hemorrhagic) and site (common carotid, bifurcation, internal and external carotid). RESULTS: Normal carotid arteries, carotid arteries with myointimal thickening, or carotid arteries with at least one plaque, were similar in subjects with white coat hypertension and in normotensives. Instead, as compared with subjects with white coat hypertension, sustained hypertensives showed a pattern of intimal-medial thickening (p = 0.04) with-one or more plaques (p = 0.005) on a much more frequent basis, while normal carotid arteries were less frequent (p = 0.0001). Plaques were most often localized at the common carotid artery and bifurcation and, less frequently, at the internal and external carotid arteries. Most often, the lesions were hard, less fibrous, mixed and soft. CONCLUSIONS: White coat hypertensives with clinical isolated systolic hypertension may represent a low-risk group. Long-term prospective studies are required in order to obtain a definitive prognosis of white coat hypertension.

Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory↗
PubMed1996

Developmental profile in a patient with monosomy 10q and dup(17p) associated with a peripheral neuropathy.

We report on a patient with dup(17p) and monosomy (10q) resulting from a familial translocation. Manifestations typical of both syndromes were present. The overall development of this patient was better by comparison with similar reported cases of either anomaly. Our evaluation detected severe gross motor delay and signs of a demyelinating peripheral neuropathy. This patient is trisomic for the region of 17p which includes the peripheral myelin protein-22 (PMP-22) gene, known to be duplicated in Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy type 1A (CMT1A). Our analysis in this patient suggests that trisomy for the PMP-22 gene led to the demyelinating neuropathy and contributed to his severe motor developmental delay.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1996

Evaluation of the stable reaction products of histidine with formaldehyde or with other carbonyl compounds in dairy products.

Combined formaldehyde (FA) can be evaluated in cheese and other dairy products by determining spinacine (6-carboxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroimidazopyridine), an imino acid arising from the reaction of FA with the alpha-amino group of histidine. Other carbonyl compounds usually produced by fermentations can react themselves with histidine, forming molecules which interfere with the determination of spinacine. A sensitive (minimum detectable amount, 5 fmol spinacine) and interference-free HPLC method, with precolumn derivatization with o-phtalaldehyde (OPA) and 9-fluorenylmethylchloroformate (FMOC), to evaluate these histidine reaction-compounds in dairy products is described. The clean-up of the FMOC-derivatized sample has been performed for the first time with solid-phase extraction (SPE) on an amino cartridge. The method was applied to samples of casein and differently ripened cheese, the origins of which were either known or commercial, in order to quantify the natural level of spinacine (0.7-2.7 ppm) probably deriving from biogenic FA, and to detect whether FA was used in processing.

Aldehydes↗
PubMed1996

[White coat arterial hypertension: ultrasonographic study of the carotid arteries].

The prognosis of white coat hypertension is uncertain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of atherosclerotic carotid lesions in subjects with white coat hypertension. Compared to both 75 normotensives, and 150 sustained essential arterial hypertensives, 65 subjects with white coat hypertension were studied. Normotensives and hypertensives were divided into dippers, with nocturnal systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure fall of > 10%, and non-dippers. A thickness of > or = 0.95 mm, measured at the level of the common carotid artery, 2-3 cm from flow divider, was considered a sign of myontimal thickening. Plaque was considered as a focal thickening of > or = 2 mm, based on echogenic characteristics and site. Normal carotid arteries, or with myointimal thickening, or with one or more plaques, were similar in subjects with white coat hypertension and normotensives. Compared to subjects with white coat hypertension, sustained hypertensives much more frequently showed a pattern of intima-media thickening (p = 0.04) with one or more plaques (p = 0.01), while normal carotid arteries were less frequent (p = 0.0001). Among white coat hypertensives, dippers showed the same prevalence of normal carotid arteries and carotid lesions as normotensives. In non-dippers sustained hypertensives, compared to dippers, carotid with one or more plaques (p = 0.001) were significantly more frequent, while normal carotid arteries (p = 0.005) were less frequent. Plaques were more often localized at the level of the common carotid artery and bifurcation, and less frequently at the level of the internal and external carotid arteries; more often the lesions were hard, less fibrous, mixed and soft. In conclusion, white coat hypertensives may represent a low risk group. Long-term prospective studies are required to define the prognosis of white coat hypertension.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting for the detection of casein proteolysis in cheese.

The whole N fraction of six samples of hard and semi-hard pressed cheeses was analysed using PAGE, polyacrylamide gel isoelectric focusing and immunoblotting with polyclonal antibodies against beta- and alpha s1-casein. The origin of some electrophoretic bands corresponding to peptides produced from the enzymic degradation of the casein fractions was established. A number of these peptides were also present in the in vitro hydrolysates of casein with plasmin and chymosin. Thus, it was also possible to determine which casein was the source of each peptide and which enzymes were active in cheese. Compared with the traditional Coomassie staining procedures, immunoblotting is more sensitive and specific, making the interpretation of each electrophoretic profile easy. Thus, it was also possible to obtain a clear picture of the state of each casein fraction in a cheese variety. Two main peptides were isolated from the pH 4.6-insoluble N fraction of Parmigiano-Reggiano using DEAE-cellulose chromatography and identified, from the amino acid sequence of the N- and C-terminal ends, as gamma 3-casein (beta-casein(f108-209)) and alpha s1-PL1 (alpha s1-casein(f80-199). In both cases, a Lys-X bond was hydrolysed, indicating the action of a trypsin-like enzyme in beta- and alpha s1-casein hydrolysis during the ripening of this variety of hard pressed cheese.

Amino Acid Sequence↗