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Biomedical subjects

M Filippello

Publications and source records attributed to M Filippello.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Impression cytology in Down's syndrome.

AIM: To evaluate both the number and the average distribution of goblet cells, which are responsible for the production of the mucin layer of the tear film, in the bulbar conjunctiva of patients with Down's syndrome. Previous research had used the ferning test to indicate an alteration in Down's syndrome, but had not determined which film layer was involved. METHODS: The presence of goblet cells in the bulbar conjunctiva of 30 subjects (15 with Down's syndrome, and 15 normal control subjects) was evaluated using impression cytology. RESULTS: A marked reduction of goblet cells was found in the Down's syndrome group (81.4 per mm2) when compared with the control group, where (209.8 per mm2) was found. CONCLUSION: The deficit observed appears to be the cause of the tear film alterations observed in Down's syndrome. In turn, this may often lead to the formation of dry spots, and to consequent frequent infections of the anterior segment of the eye. While it is further hypothesised that the alteration of the conjunctival epithelium in Down's syndrome may be due to an altered metabolism of some element or elements, such as vitamin A, further research will be necessary to corroborate this.

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMed1994

B-scan echographic measurement of endobulbar foreign bodies.

Echography plays an important role in symptomatology investigations of ocular traumatology. Trauma causes the opacification of eye fluids, and so echography is particularly suitable for studying the endobulbar situation. We wished to enrich ocular investigations with another methodology: ultrasonic evaluation of the dimensions of intraocular foreign bodies, and report here the results obtained with experimental studies introducing foreign bodies into enucleated bovine eyes.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Penetration of 14C-methisoprinol into rabbit eyes with experimentally induced herpetic keratitis.

The authors studied the penetration of 14C-labelled methisoprinol into ocular tissues (cornea, aqueous humour and iris) in rabbits, in which herpetic keratitis had been experimentally induced. It has been demonstrated that the methisoprinol crosses the corneal barrier. The maximum concentration of the drug in the tissues examined was measured 30 min after the instillation of the drug into the conjunctival sac, and persisted for 60 min, although at a slightly lower level.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Leukocyanidines and collagenases: in vitro enzyme inhibition activity].

OBJECTIVE: The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a key role in the extracellular matrix turnover. This protein family has been involved in some ocular pathologies such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, vitreous degeneration and corneal stroma ulceration cleaving all the matrix components. In the present study we evaluated the action of leucocyanidin from Vitis vinifera seeds as non toxic inhibitor of these proteinases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To this purpose we used a fluorimetric method to evaluate the effect of this substance on the collagenase activity. We evaluated "in vitro" the inhibitory potency of the tested drug on type III collagenase activity, and the recover of the metalloprotease activity upon removal by dialysis of the inhibitor. RESULTS: The leucocyanidines extract (minimum procyanidines value of 95.0) resulted to be a good collagenase activity inhibitor showing an inhibition constant value, Ki, of 82 microM, evident index of affinity between the extract and the enzyme. Furthermore, the dialysis experiments demonstrated that the inhibitory effect persisted 24 h later, probably because the extract forms a stable complex with the enzyme. CONCLUSIONS: These results should be related to the pharmacokinetic profile of leucoanthocyanins, a family of natural polyphenols belonging to the class of bioflavonoids of grape seds extract (Vitis vinifera L.).

Collagenases↗