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L Sabatini

Publications and source records attributed to L Sabatini.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

The detection of anti-beta2-glycoprotein I antibodies is associated with increased risk of pregnancy loss in women with threatened abortion in the first trimester.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to evaluate whether the detection of serum antiphospholipid autoantibodies may be useful in predicting pregnancy outcome in women with threatened abortion in the first trimester. STUDY DESIGN: A group of 77 pregnant women of between 8 and 12 weeks' gestation with vaginal bleeding was tested for serum antiphospholipid, lupus anticoagulants, anticardiolipin, antinuclear antibodies, and anti-beta2-glycoprotein I antibodies, and was followed up until the spontaneous end of pregnancy. A control group composed of 15 healthy women with uncomplicated gestation was tested contemporarily for the same antibody panel. RESULTS: Of the 77 patients with threatened abortion, 32 (41.5%) progressed to deliver at term and 45 (58.5%) experienced early pregnancy loss. Among the antibodies evaluated, only anti-beta2-glycoprotein I was significantly more frequent in those women whose pregnancy resulted in spontaneous abortion (22/45, 49%) than in those who progressed to term (6/32, 19%) or in the control group (2/15, 13%; p=0.004). This difference was specific to the IgM isotype (p=0.001). After adjustment by multivariate analysis, the odds ratio for pregnancy loss associated with a positive beta2-glycoprotein I antibody test was 5.18 (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: The detection of anti-beta2-glycoprotein I antibodies is associated with an increased risk of pregnancy loss in women with threatened abortion in the first trimester.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed2005

Different glycoforms of the human GPI-anchored antigen CD52 associate differently with lipid microdomains in leukocytes and sperm membranes.

CD52 is a human GPI-anchored antigen, expressed exclusively in the immune system and part of the reproductive system (epididymal cells). Sperm cells acquire the antigen from the epididymal secretions when transiting in the epididymal corpus and cauda. The peptide backbone of CD52, consisting of only 12 aminoacids, is generally considered no more than a scaffold for post-translational modifications, such as GPI-anchor and especially N-glycosylation which occur at the third asparagine. The latter modification is highly heterogeneous, especially in the reproductive system, giving rise to many different glycoforms, some of which are tissue specific. A peculiar O-glycan-containing glycoform is also found in reproductive and immune systems. We determined to locate CD52 in microdomains of leukocytes and sperm membranes using two antibodies: (1) CAMPATH-1G, the epitope of which includes the last three aminoacids and part of the GPI-anchor of glycoforms present in leukocytes and sperm cells; (2) anti-gp20, the epitope of which belongs to the unique O-glycan-bearing glycoform also present in both cell types. Using a Brij 98 solubilization protocol and sucrose gradient partition we demonstrated that the CD52 glycoforms recognized by both antibodies are markers of typical raft microdomains in leukocytes, whereas in capacitated sperm the O-glycoform is included in GM3-rich microdomains different from the cholesterol and GM1-rich lipid rafts with which CAMPATH antigen is stably associated. The importance of the association between GM3 and O-glycans for formation of specialized microdomains was confirmed by heterologous CD52 insertion experiments. When prostasomes from human seminal fluid were incubated with rat sperm from different epididymal regions, the CD52 glycoform recognized by anti-gp20 decorated rat epididymal corpus and cauda sperm, associated with the same low-cholesterol GM3-rich sperm membrane fractions as in human sperm. The glycoforms recognized by CAMPATH-1G were not found in rat sperm. The relationship between this differential insertion and differences in glycosylation of rat and human CD52 is discussed.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed2004

Faecal contamination indicators, Salmonella, Vibrio and Aeromonas in water used for the irrigation of agricultural products.

The faecal contamination indicators (total coliforms, faecal coliforms, Escherichia coli, enterococci) and the genera Salmonella, Vibrio, Aeromonas were investigated in water samples used for irrigation. During 4 months, 52 samples were taken. The methods used were: multiple tube fermentation method for faecal contamination indicators and membrane filtration techniques for salmonella, aeromonas and vibrio. Two samples were positive for Salmonella spp., fourteen for Aeromonas spp. and no samples for Vibrio spp. No correlation was found between aeromonas and the indicators of faecal contamination. Regarding Aeromonas spp., 21.6% of the strains were adhesive and 12.6% cytotoxic: this confirms the possible role of aeromonas in human pathologies. These results are important to determine the quality of irrigation water in relation to human health. In fact, the spray or sprinkler irrigation produces bioaerosol, which can contaminate the crops that are likely to be eaten uncooked. In addition, the flood or furrow irrigation represents a risk to field workers.

Aeromonas↗
PubMed2004

Microbial characteristics of marine sediments in bathing area along Pesaro-Gabicce coast (Italy): a preliminary study.

AIMS: This paper evaluates the presence of human pathogen micro-organisms in marine sediments in a coastal area suitable for bathing. In addition, the grain size analysis was performed in order to correlate the characteristics of the sediments and the microbial content. METHODS AND RESULTS: The samples were collected in two small bays along the central Adriatic coast, where breakwaters had been built for the purpose of halting marine erosion. Faecal contamination indicators, Salmonella and Vibrio species, enteric viruses were investigated using standard techniques for isolation and identification. The grain size was determined using calibrated sieves and 'Sedigraph' device. In some samples, the faecal contamination indices overstepped legislative limits. Salmonella was never found. Vibrio and enteric viruses were isolated: the micro-organisms were preferentially abundant in fine sediments. CONCLUSIONS: Marine sediments can represent an important reservoir of allochthonous and marine micro-organisms and the microbial charge correlates with the characteristics of the sediments. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study indicates that it is important to analyse marine sediments before defining the quality of coastal areas.

Bathing Beaches↗
PubMed2002

Bioavailability of a new ketoprofen formulation for once-daily oral administration.

A new sustained-release formulation (sustained release Ibifen) that gradually releases ketoprofen within 24 h and ensures therapeutic plasma concentration for the entire period has been developed. It consists of tableted pH-dependent barrier film-coated ketoprofen granules and was administered at a single dose of 200 mg to 12 volunteers. Ketoprofen plasma profiles were compared with: (1) administration of Orudis retard 200 capsule (200 mg); (2) two 12-h doses of prompt release Ibifen capsules (100 mg). In vitro dissolution kinetics and ketoprofen plasma levels were measured by HPLC. Sustained release Ibifen dissolution rate was constant for 10 h, whereas Orudis retard 200 dissolution profile presented one higher slope (0-6 h) and a lower one (6-12 h). Both formulations showed a delayed kinetics with respect to prompt release Ibifen. After sustained release Ibifen administration, ketoprofen plasma peak, reached within 2 h, remained practically constant for at least 12 h (average 4 microg/ml), which is higher than therapeutic levels. Differently, Orudis retard 200 produced a delayed, higher C(max) (5.91+/-0.66 vs. 4.51+/-0.65 microg/ml; P<0.01) and disappeared more quickly. In conclusion, sustained release Ibifen can ensure therapeutic ketoprofen plasma levels for the entire 24 h period, avoiding plasma concentration spikes, with bioavailability similar to other ketoprofen preparations.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Pinopode expression during human implantation.

Implantation failure is considered the major impediment to successful in vitro fertilization pregnancy rate. Despite recent advances in reproductive medicine, the role played by uterine receptivity in contributing to human infertility remains unclear. Several clinical studies suggest the importance of blastocyst implantation in a narrow window of uterine receptivity, between 6 and 8 days after ovulation. This brief and precise period, called "implantation or nidation window", lasts less than 48 h and coincides with the formation of large and smooth projections, called "pinopodes", on the apical membranes of the endometrial epithelial cells. Pinopode expression appears to advance or retard depending on the hormonal treatments and an individual's particular response. This displacement can be followed through endometrial biopsy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Therefore, pinopode expression could be considered a useful biological marker to assess endometrial receptivity and to locate the implantation window.

Embryo Implantation↗
PubMed2002

Pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of four modified-release ursodeoxycholic acid preparations for once-a-day administration.

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is currently used for the treatment of cholestatic liver disease and for cholesterol gallstone dissolution. Various formulations have been designed to enhance its intestinal absorption or to improve patient compliance through once-a-day administration. The pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of four commercially available modified-release UDCA formulations (450 mg) were studied in 12 healthy subjects randomly receiving the four drugs under study. Serum samples were collected hourly for a 12-h period after administration and UDCA concentrations were measured using a specific enzyme immunoassay. For each formulation, Cmax, tmax, and the area under the curve (AUC) were determined and compared. Although all formulations were designed to provide sustained release, we observed different pharmacokinetics among the studied formulations. One of the formulations (sustained-release ursodeoxycholic acid Ratiopharm 450 mg tablets) showed high bioavailability, but failed to produce sustained release. In contrast, two other formulations (modified-release ursodeoxycholic acid Dorom 450 mg capsules and controlled-release Ursobil HT 450 mg capsules) provided sustained release, but did not offer efficient bioavailability. A fourth formulation (Ursilon retard 450 mg) exhibited gradual UDCA release lasting over 10 h, with efficient bioavailability, similar to that of conventional prompt-release formulations administered at the same dose. These data highlight the variability of commercially available sustained-release formulations. Manufacturers should be encouraged to provide drug kinetics and bioavailability data to further support the claimed pharmacokinetics.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Lack of prognostic significance of p53 and K-ras mutations in primary resected non-small-cell lung cancer on E4592: a Laboratory Ancillary Study on an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Prospective Randomized Trial of Postoperative Adjuvant Therapy.

PURPOSE: To determine the prognostic and predictive significance of p53 and K-ras mutations in patients with completely resected non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were randomized preoperatively to receive adjuvant postoperative radiotherapy (Arm A) or radiotherapy plus concurrent chemotherapy (Arm B). p53 protein expression was studied by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and p53 mutations in exons 5 to 8 were evaluated by single-strand conformational analysis. K-ras mutations in codons 12, 13, and 61 were determined using engineered restriction fragment length polymorphisms. RESULTS: Four hundred eighty-eight patients were entered onto E3590; 197 tumors were assessable for analysis. Neither presence nor absence of p53 mutations, p53 protein expression, or K-ras mutations correlated with survival or progression-free survival. There was a trend toward improved survival for patients with wildtype K-ras (median, 42 months) compared with survival of patients with mutant K-ras who were randomized to chemotherapy plus radiotherapy (median, 25 months; P = .09). Multivariate analysis revealed only age and tumor stage to be significant prognostic factors, although there was a trend bordering on statistical significance for K-ras (P = .066). Analysis of survival difference by p53 by single-stranded conformational polymorphism and IHC, interaction of p53 and K-ras, interaction of p53 and treatment arm, nodal station, extent of surgery, weight loss, and histology did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION: p53 mutations and protein overexpression are not significant prognostic or predictive factors in resected stage II or IIIA NSCLC. K-ras mutations may be a weak prognostic marker. p53 or K-ras should not be routinely used in the clinical management of these patients.

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung↗
PubMed2001

Surface of human sperm bears three differently charged CD52 forms, two of which remain stably bound to sperm after capacitation.

gp20 is a sialoglycoprotein of the human sperm surface with a core peptide homologous to the leukocyte antigen CD52, a GPI-anchored glycosylated protein which is described by the monoclonal antibody CAMPATH-1. Comparative analyses, by means of CAMPATH and anti-gp20, indicated that they describe it in morphologically and functionally different ways, suggesting that the respective epitopes are different but also casting doubt on the immunological identity of the antigen. In the present study, we used immunodepletion to demonstrate that CAMPATH and anti-gp20 interact with the same antigen, but that anti-gp20 has a much higher avidity for the antigen than CAMPATH. Anion exchange fractionation analysis of the antigen revealed three differently charged gp20-CD52 forms, the least charged of which, was largely without a GPI-anchor. All three forms were associated with freshly ejaculated sperm, whereas capacitated sperm only contained the two GPI-anchored, more charged forms, which were also the ones found in the prostasome fraction of seminal plasma and in leukocytes. The two charged, GPI-anchored forms were described as homogeneous by anti-gp20, since they ran as a singlet; the third form ran as a doublet. When tested for insertion into Jurkat T cells, the medium charged form inserted the most readily and the less charged one could not be inserted at all.

Antibody Specificity↗
PubMed2000

Correlation between left atrial size, prothrombotic state and markers of endothelial dysfunction in patients with lone chronic nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation is associated with a prothrombotic state and endothelial dysfunction. To understand whether the prothrombotic state was correlated with endothelial dysfunction and whether the latter was related to atrial dimension (endocardial damage), we studied systemic hemocoagulative activity and markers of endothelial dysfunction in 45 patients with chronic nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation and in 35 controls. We assessed fibrinogen, antithrombin III, protein C, markers of platelet activation (platelet factor 4 and beta-thromboglobulin) as markers of fibrinolysis, and D-dimer, tissue plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor, von Willebrand's factor and soluble thrombomodulin as endothelial dysfunction. Plasma fibrinogen (P<0. 005), platelet factor 4 (P<0.001), thromboglobulin (P<0.001), D-dimer (P<0.03), tissue plasminogen activator (P<0.006), plasminogen activator inhibitor (P<0.04) and both von Willebrand's factor (P<0.0001) and soluble thrombomodulin (P<0.03) were significantly higher in the patients than in the controls. Positive significant linear correlations were found between fibrinogen and markers of endothelial dysfunction and left atrial volume and fibrinogen or markers of endothelial dysfunction. These findings confirm that chronic nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation is associated with a prothrombotic state but also suggest that there is a correlation between endothelial dysfunction, coagulation factors and left atrial dimension.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Does pretreatment with progestogen or oral contraceptive pills in low responders followed by the GnRHa flare protocol improve the outcome of IVF-ET?

PURPOSE: Women undergoing in vitro fertilization with low ovarian reserve and poor response to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) present a management dilemma. In a retrospective observational study, we compared the pretreatment use of the gestogen medroxyprogesterone acetate (10 mg twice daily from day 15 of the cycle for a minimum of 2 weeks) with an oral contraceptive pill (one tablet daily from day 4 of the cycle for a minimum of 3 weeks). METHODS: The criteria for inclusion in the study included one or more of the following: abandoned cycles due to poor response, fewer than four oocytes retrieved following a standard COH protocol, age > 39 years, and elevated basal serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Thirty-eight women received pretreatment with gestogen, and a similar number of women received pretreatment with the pill. The flare protocol was used in all treatment cycles combined with an individualized dose of human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) (4-8 ampoules/day of 75 units FSH/ampoule) depending on previous response, age, and early follicular serum FSH level. Both groups were similar in mean age, duration of infertility, early follicular FSH levels, and the distribution of various aetiologies. RESULTS: Twenty-nine cycles were abandoned before oocyte retrieval, 15 (39.5%) in the pill group and 14 (36.8%) in the gestogen group, because of an inadequate ovarian response. The mean (+/- SD) number of ampoules (75 IU FSH/ampoule) of hMG used per cycle was similar in the pill and gestogen groups (59.7 +/- 19.3 vs. 70.2 +/- 29.4, respectively). There also was no difference seen in the numbers of oocytes retrieved (4.4 +/- 2.3 vs. 4.2 +/- 2.5), total number of embryos (2.5 +/- 2.4 vs. 2.2 +/- 1.1), or the number of embryos transferred (1.8 +/- 1.2 vs. 2.1 +/- 1.0) in the pill and gestogen groups, respectively. One pregnancy in each group resulted following embryo transfer in 22 women in the pill group and in 24 women in the gestogen group. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that pre-IVF treatment with oral contraceptive pill or gestogen combined with the flare protocol in women at high risk of or with a history of poor ovarian response, as defined in this study, did not appear to result in an improvement in outcome of IVF-embryo transfer.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Biochemical and MALDI analysis of the human sperm antigen gp20, homologue of leukocyte CD52.

In previous work we demonstrated that gp20, a sialoglycoprotein of human sperm is homologous to the leukocyte antigen CD52 and that anti-gp20 recognizes an antigen of the same molecular weight as that recognized by CAMPATH-1 (anti CD52) in leukocytes and sperm, but with some differences. In this study we used anti-gp20 to perform immunoblot analysis of many different sperm, seminal plasma and leukocyte samples. The sperm and seminal plasma antigens were similar and appeared to consist of two components, whereas the leukocyte antigen is unique. Evidence of the presence of two components of the sperm antigen, running respectively at about 19 and 21 kDa, was obtained by analyzing the purified antigen stained with Coomassie brilliant blue and by immunoblot analysis of the antigen after two-dimensional electrophoresis. Both components had an isoelectric point (pI) between 3 and 6. MALDI analysis of the purified antigen confirmed the presence of two components and indicated masses (Mr) of 8243 and 10908. The possible relationship between these findings and the presence of two forms of the CD52 gene differing at two aminoacids C-terminal to the GPI-anchor site has been discussed.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed1999

Superoxide dismutase activity in human follicular fluid after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in women undergoing in vitro fertilization.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the total protein concentration in human preovulatory ovarian follicular fluid (FF) in relation to corresponding serum levels and the fertilization capacity of oocytes. DESIGN: Prospective, observational study. SETTING: Academic-based center for reproductive medicine. PATIENT(S): Twenty-eight female partners of infertile couples, 13 of whom were smokers, undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for IVF. INTERVENTION(S): Blood and follicular fluid samples were collected 34-36 hours after hCG administration. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Levels of SOD activity and total protein concentrations. RESULT(S): Superoxide dismutase activity was present in all the FF studied and mean levels were statistically significantly higher than in serum. Total protein concentrations in serum were statistically significantly correlated with corresponding concentrations in FF. There was no difference in SOD activity between smokers and nonsmokers. Total protein concentrations in FF were marginally and statistically significantly lower in nonsmokers. Follicular fluid from patients whose oocytes did not become fertilized had a statistically significantly higher level of SOD activity than that from patients whose oocytes did become fertilized. CONCLUSION(S): Superoxide dismutase activity is present in FF and is higher than in serum. The degree of SOD activity is variable and seems to be inversely related to the fertilization of oocytes.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Effect of smoking on ovarian reserve and ovarian stimulation in in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer.

The effect of cigarette smoking on ovarian reserve as measured by basal serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) concentrations, and by the response to a standard ovarian stimulation protocol, was examined retrospectively in 173 consecutive women (108 non-smokers and 65 smokers) undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer treatment. Women who smoked had a higher mean basal serum FSH concentration (P < or = 0.0001), in particular younger (<36 years) women, and required a statistically significantly higher mean dosage of gonadotrophins for ovarian stimulation than the non-smokers (48.1 +/- 15.6 versus 38.9 +/- 13.6 ampoules, 75 IU/ampoule; P < 0.0001). A lower mean number of oocytes was obtained in smokers than non-smokers (6.2 +/- 3.4 versus 11.1 +/- 6.3, oocytes P < or = 0.0001) and the rate of abandoned cycles (18.5 versus 8.5%) and total fertilization failure (18.5 versus 8.5%) was higher. The clinical pregnancy rate per cycle in smokers was 16.9% versus 21.3% in non-smokers but this was not statistically significant. In conclusion, cigarette smoking in women appears to significantly reduce their ovarian reserve and lead to poor response to ovarian stimulation at an earlier age.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Superimposed Image Analysis System (SIAS) software: a new approach to sperm motility assessment.

OBJECTIVE: To apply Superimposed Image Analysis System (SIAS) software (Delta Sistemi, Rome, Italy) to the objective analysis of sperm motility. DESIGN: To test a new procedure for sperm motility assessment based on image superimposition. RESULTS: The system can superimpose six sequential frames onto a monitor producing a final image with a motion effect similar to the multiple exposure photography method, but bypassing the film processing stage. Viewing the final image of a complete series of six superimposed frames allows the evaluation of the percentage of motile spermatozoa and their kinetic characteristics. Compared with multiple exposure photography, SIAS has the following main advantages: [1] the procedure is quick; [2] projecting the first frame alone allows the easy evaluation of sperm concentration; and [3] the system allows quick and easy analysis and measurement of each sperm trajectory frame by frame, thus avoiding misleading interpretations because of crossing sperm trajectories, collisions, and overlapping of motile spermatoza with round cells or immotile spermatozoa. CONCLUSIONS: Superimposed image analysis is a new approach to sperm motility assessment. It seems to be useful particularly in selected situations, such as oligozoospermia or in cases of increased round cell concentration. In these situations, SIAS can even serve as a support or an alternative to the computer-aided sperm analysis system widely used for objective sperm analysis.

Humans↗