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M DiPietro

Publications and source records attributed to M DiPietro.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Cladistic analysis of human apolipoprotein a4 polymorphisms in relation to quantitative plasma lipid risk factors of coronary heart disease.

Genetic variation in several genes involved in lipid metabolism is known to affect population variation in quantitative lipid risk factor profiles for coronary heart disease (CHD). The apolipoprotein A-IV gene (APOA4) is one such candidate gene. We genotyped five polymorphisms in the APOA4 gene (codon 127, codon 130, codon347, codon 360 and 3' VNTR) and investigated their impact on plasma lipid trait levels in three populations comprising 604 U.S. non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs), 408 U.S. Hispanics and 708 Nigerian Blacks. Cladistic analysis was carried out to identify 5-site haplotypes that were associated with significant phenotypic differences in each population. The distribution of APOA4 genotypes was significantly different between ethnic groups. The Africans were monomorphic for two of the five sites (codons 130 and 360), but possess a unique 12 bp insertion that was not observed in NHWs and Hispanics. Due to linkage disequilibrium between the sites, only 6 haplotypes were observed in NHWs and Hispanics, and 4 in Africans. Several gender-and ethnic-specific associations between genotypes and plasma lipid traits were observed when single sites were used. Several haplotypes were identified by cladistic analysis that may carry functional mutations that affect plasma lipid trait levels.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus and human papillomavirus in oral mucosa of HIV-infected patients.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been implicated in the genesis of oral hairy leukoplakia (OHL). Initially, OHL was also associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) as evidenced by staining with antiserum to papillomavirus common structural antigens and reports of two HPV-positive OHL as detected by in situ DNA hybridization. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of EBV and HPV DNA in OHL and normal oral mucosa and to explain the basis for the staining of OHL tissues with antibodies to papillomavirus common structural antigens. EBV DNA was detected by in situ hybridization in 47 of 47 cases of OHL from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seropositive individuals and in 1 of 10 biopsies of clinically normal buccal mucosa from the same group of individuals. Twenty-five of 35 OHL specimens stained with antibody to papillomavirus common structural antigens. There was no staining of two EBV-containing lymphoblastoid lines, indicating that the staining with anti-papillomavirus antibody was not due to antigenic cross-reactivity with EBV antigens. HPV DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction amplification in 10 of 18 OHL specimens and in 6 of 10 normal buccal mucosa specimens. Our results indicate that EBV and HPV are present frequently in OHL and that HPV can be found regularly in histologically normal mucosa.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1988

In vitro and in vivo regulation of liver epithelial cells carrying a metallothionein-rasT24 fusion gene.

We inserted a zinc-responsive metallothionein-rasT24 fusion gene in both orientations into a retroviral vector (SVX) and infected Fisher rat liver epithelial cells. Only the construction in which the viral long terminal repeat and the metallothionein promoters were in opposite orientations resulted in cell lines with biologically altered behavior. Two lines (MTR-1 and MTR-6) showed altered morphology in vitro when ZnSO4 was added to the medium. These cell lines grew in soft agarose in a dose-dependent manner. Immunoprecipitation experiments revealed dose-dependent increases in the rate of synthesis of the mutant p21Ha-ras protein in these lines in response to ZnSO4. Both lines produced poorly differentiated metastatic adenocarcinomas when injected subcutaneously in Fisher rats, and tumors derived from MTR-6 cells grew more rapidly in animals on a zinc-supplemented diet than on a zinc-deficient diet. Uninfected liver epithelial cells showed no change in morphology in vitro after ZnSO4 addition and did not grow in soft agarose or after subcutaneous transplantation during the 14-wk experimental period. These results indicate that altered levels of expression of a single gene (rasT24) can have profound effect on the biologic behavior of tumor cells both in vitro and in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Inherent tumorigenic and metastatic properties of rat-1 and rat-2 cells.

Rat-1 and Rat-2 cells have been used in many studies of in vitro transformation and are widely assumed to be nontumorigenic because of their low incidence of focus formation, their poor growth in soft agar, and their reported failure to form tumors in animals. We examined more carefully the relationship between the in vitro and in vivo behavior of these cells and found that in spite of their in vitro characteristics, injection of these cells into Fischer rats invariably produced invasive tumors which frequently metastasized. When cells from primary tumors or metastases were cultured in vitro, the resultant cell lines were usually morphologically indistinguishable from parental cells and neither formed foci nor grew in soft agar. Thus, in vitro growth patterns do not correlate well with in vivo behavior in these cells and their inherent tumorigenicity warrants caution in the interpretation of results of in vitro transformation studies.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Fact finding faith.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Blood Transfusion↗
PubMed1985

Consolidation seeks to retain Catholic, community presence.

Confronted with a dwindling population and cutbacks in federal funds, DuBois Hospital, operated by the Sisters of Mercy, and nonsectarian Maple Avenue Hospital realized consolidation was needed for their mutual survival. Both desired a merger that would accommodate their philosophies and goals. The hospitals formed a consolidation team that consisted of a joint committee and selected consultants. With community interests set as a priority, the team undertook an educational process that established common objectives and a mutual understanding of each hospital's principles. The two hospitals became DuBois Regional Medical Center, with separate Catholic and community arms forming two corporate divisions. The trust terms by which the consolidated corporation was established contained legally enforceable requirements for maintaining Catholic presence in the new institution. A self-perpetuating 23-member board was established, with three members at all times to be Sisters of Mercy or their designees. This model is not a panacea for all similarly imperiled facilities; many will find replacing a purely Catholic hospital with a legally structured presence unacceptable. This structure, however, offers mutual Catholic and community benefits if the corporation adheres to its founding spirit.

Catholicism↗
PubMed1984

Hirschsprung disease: accuracy of the barium enema examination.

To determine the relative accuracy of the various radiologic signs of Hirschsprung disease (HD), we retrospectively reviewed both radiographs obtained after a barium enema and the medical records of 62 children who had surgery to prove or exclude the diagnosis of HD. The visualization of a rectosigmoid transition zone was highly predictive of HD, but nonvisualization did not rule out HD. A false positive transition zone at the splenic flexure was seen in four neonates who had small left colon syndrome rather than HD. Retention of barium seen on radiographs obtained 24 hours after a barium enema was not a specific sign, but it was the only sign of HD in seven neonates, including two who had total colonic aganglionosis. Anal manipulation prior to the barium enema examination did not affect the diagnostic value of that procedure. We conclude that the single most reliable radiographic sign of HD is the presence of a rectosigmoid transition zone. Statistically, the use of three radiographic features combined (rectosigmoid transition zone, retention of barium, and stool mixed with barium) correlated better with the presence or absence of HD than did any of these features alone. A comparison of 24 and 48 hour postevacuation radiographs may help to differentiate HD from meconium plug syndrome.

Barium Sulfate↗
PubMed1983

Sonography of thickened gallbladder wall: causes in children.

A review of 793 consecutive abdominal sonograms in children aged 1 day to 16 years disclosed 453 patients in whom the gallbladder was clearly visible on at least two perpendicular views. Twenty had a gallbladder wall more than 3 mm thick. The following diseases were associated with gallbladder wall thickening; hypoalbuminemia (13 cases), ascites (five, three with concomitant hypoalbuminemia), physiologic thickening because of partial wall contraction (one), and systemic venous hypertension (one). None of 26 patients with gallstones and one of 14 with sludge had a thickened gallbladder. (The latter patient had concomitant hypoalbuminemia). Five patients with surgically proven acute cholecystitis during this same interval of time had sonograms. In four, the gallbladder wall was of normal thickness. In the fifth patient, the gallbladder wall could not be visualized because of densely shadowing stones. In this population, thickening of the gallbladder wall was not associated with acute cholecystitis and thus was not an indication for cholecystectomy.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ultrasound examination of ankle injuries in children.

Fourteen children with ankle injuries, an open tibia and fibula physis, and negative radiographs had ultrasonography of their injured ankles. Five had an anterior talofibular ligament injury and five had an anterior tibiofibular ligament injury. Four had normal ultrasound examinations. Only two had a physeal injury, both of which were associated with a ligament injury. Eleven children had only lateral ankle tenderness. Ultrasound of these 11 revealed ligamentous injuries, normal examinations, and the two physeal injuries. Ligamentous injury was not associated with other tenderness patterns.

Adolescent↗