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Biomedical subjects

M Meloni

Publications and source records attributed to M Meloni.

35 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

[Normal values of methemoglobinemia in a sample of Sardinian workers].

The susceptibility of hemoglobinic iron to oxidation in the ferric form by action of numerous industrial substances, suggested the use of metHbemia dosage in biological monitoring of professional exposure to such substances. In order to have useful reference values, the metHbemia of 975 male workers, from various parts of Sardinia, was measured at least 12 hours after last work shift. 95% of the examined population had metHbemia values lower than 0,86% of total Hb; such result has been compared with other normal values, found in literature and likely causes of the differences between such values have been discussed. On the basis of our results and on the examination of literature an intervention prospectus is suggested for biological monitoring of exposure to methemoglobinising substances.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

[Clinico-functional data concerning chronic asthmatic bronchitis patients treated wih guacetisal].

Guacetisal was administered to a group of patients suffering from chronic asthmatic bronchitis. The drug in question was shown to possess a good fluidifying, expectorant and indirect anti-cough action, by means of an initial increase of the bronchial secretions and a subsequent progressive decrease of secretions towards the end of the treatment. The analysis of the respiratory parameters examined showed no modifications of statistical significance.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Regulation of ornithine decarboxylase activity by amino acids, cyclic AMP and luteinizing hormone in cultured mammalian cells.

Any one of five amino acis (alanine, asparagine, glutamine, glycine, and serine) is an essential requirement for the induction of ornithine decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.17) in cultured chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells maintained with a salts/glucose, medium. Each of these amino acids induced a striking activation of ornithine decarboxylase in the presence of dibutyryl cyclic AMP and luteinizing hormone. The effect of the other amino acids was considerably less or negligible. The active amino acids at optimal concentrations (10 mM) induced only a 10-20 fold enhancement of enzyme activity alone, while in the presence of dibutyryl cyclic AMP, ornithine decarboxylase activity was increased 40-50 fold within 7-8 h. Of the hormones and drugs tested, luteinizing hormone resulted in the highest (300-500 fold) induction of ornithine decarboxylase with optimal concentrations of dibutyryl cyclic AMP and asparagnine. Omission of dibutyryl cyclic AMP reduced this maximal activation to one half while optimal levels of luteinizing hormone alone caused no enhancement of ornithine decarboxylase activity. The induction of ornithine decarboxylase elicited by dibutyryl cyclic AMP, amino acid and luteinizing hormone was diminished about 50% with inhibitors of RNA and protein synthesis. The specific amino acid requirements for ornithine decarboxylase induction in chinese hamster ovary cells was similar to the requirements for induction in two other transformed cell lines. Understanding the mechanism of enzyme induction requires an identification of the essential components of the regulatory system. The essential requirement for enzyme induction is one of five amino acids. The induction of ornithine decarboxylase by dibutyryl cyclic AMP and luteinizing hormone was additive in the presence of an active amino acid.

Amino Acids↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Shift-work and cardiovascular diseases among chemical industry workers].

In order to assess the prevalence of cardiovascular abnormalities among shift workers, who were free from such abnormalities at the time of hiring, compared to day workers and ex-shift workers, we studied the QTc interval and several cardiovascular risk factors in 61 chemical workers, including 40 shift workers, 11 day workers, and 10 ex-shift workers. We found a high prevalence rate of ischemic heart disease and conduction abnormalities among ex-shift workers (5/10, 50%). We did not observe variations in the QTc interval among the three groups. The occurrence of cardiovascular disease is a reason for moving workers to day work. Therefore, the shift workers group in our study might have been selected among subjects with a healthier lifestyle preventing side effects on their cardiovascular system.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Polychlorobiphenyl content in adipose tissue of subjects not exposed professionally].

Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) levels were determined in 52 samples of adipose tissue removed during surgery from patients residing in a central region of Sardinia who had no previous occupational exposure. The average PCB value of the whole group was 0.72 microgram/g (range 0.11-2.81 micrograms/g); in males the average value (means = 0.97 microgram/g) was significantly higher than in females (means = 0.60 microgram/g). A positive correlation was observed between age and PCB levels in adipose tissue. This analysis could be usefully performed in occupationally exposed subjects so as to better assess the exposure level.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Preventive role of pirenzepine in gastric damage during cytostatic therapy. A controlled randomized double-blind study with placebo].

Steroids and cytostatic drugs have an undoubtedly damaging action on the gastroduodenal mucosa. The action of pirenzepine was compared with that of the placebo in preventing the gastroduodenal lesions brought on by antiblastic therapy. Sixty patients were separated into two random group under double blind conditions and received 100 mg/die/os of pirenzepine or equivalent placebo for a continuous period of 12 weeks. Antiblastic drugs were administered at the same time. Final endoscopic control and symptomatological findings showed a statistically significant different in favour of the pirenzepine-treated group as early as the 6th week of treatment. No side-effects attributable to pirenzepine were reported.

Adult↗