PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Monaco

Publications and source records attributed to M Monaco.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Heteroduplex mobility assay and phylogenetic analysis of V3 region sequences of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 isolates from Gulu, northern Uganda. The Italian-Ugandan Cooperation AIDS Program.

We analyzed peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 19 asymptomatic seropositive pregnant women from the district of Gulu in northern Uganda. A 700-bp fragment of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) env gene, including the V3-V5 region, was successfully amplified by PCR from 10 samples (52.6%) and was subsequently subjected to both a heteroduplex mobility assay for genetic screening and subtyping and DNA sequence analysis (approximately 300 bp) for nucleotide comparison and phylogenetic studies. The results show the presence of HIV-1 A and D subtypes (or clades) in this rural area, with the prevalence of the A subtype (8 of 10) being greater than that of the D (2 of 10) subtype, which is unlike what was previously reported for Uganda. By pairwise comparison analysis, the percentage of sequence divergence among samples within each subtype is low (the average intrasubtype divergence is 15.8%), but it is significantly higher between the two subtypes (the average intersubtype divergence is 23%). At the amino acid level, the two HIV-1 subtypes show distinct tetramers at the apex of the V3 loop and, in particular, GPGQ in clade A and GPGR in clade D. In addition, 10 of the 19 viral samples (52.6%) have been isolated in vitro. Nine of the samples have been classified as rapid/high, which reflects a high in vitro replication capacity for the HIV-1 field isolates from this country, even for those obtained from seropositive asymptomatic individuals. These observations, despite being made on the basis of a limited sample size, show a modest degree of genetic divergence among samples isolated in the last 4 years in this country by comparison with those based on the 1990 data on HIV-1 isolates from Kampala. The results reported here are, therefore, extremely relevant for Uganda, which is one of the selected World Health Organization field sites for future HIV-1 vaccine evaluation programs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

[Video-laparoscopic cholecystectomy with suprapubic approach. Technical note].

The authors describe a personal variant of the videolaparoscopic technique of cholecystectomy. This is characterised by the use of an open access to the abdominal cavity following the execution of pneumoperitoneum through an incision in a non-umbilical but suprapubic site, and the use of only three incisions and therefore only three operating trocars. Twenty-nine cholecystectomies have been performed using this personal technique of which only 2 had to be converted to open surgery. The reasons were not attributable to the technique and no complications were observed. The authors also performed a total of 99 laparoscopic cholecystectomies between February 1993 and September 1994 with a total of 4 reconversions and 1 complication (choleperitoneum). Concomitant lithiasis of the choledochus was present in 4 cases and treated with operative ERCP prior to laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Throughout this period only 4 cholecystectomies were performed using a laparotomic access roule owing to concomitant choledochal lithiasis and non-cannulatable papilla during ERCP. The reasons that led the authors to prefer the suprapubic access route were both aesthetic and technical owing to the reduced interference of the videocamera with other instruments, whereas the use of only 3 trocars was also based on the need to economise as well as on aesthetic grounds.

Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde↗
PubMed1995

[Esophago-jejunal anastomosis after total gastrectomy with circular suturing: using a personal method].

The authors describe a personal technique of oesophagus-jejunum anastomosis post total gastrectomy for gastric cancer, inspired by the Oesophagel transection technique. This consists of introducing into the oesophagus the detachable head of the circular stapler by gastrotomy before sectioning the oesophagus and removing the stomach and subsequently carrying out anastomosis as usual. The principal advantage of this technique is in respect to the oesophageal margins to be anastomosed which remain immune to ischemic lesions, lacerations and retractions of the mucosa, with a minor incidence of anastomotic leakage.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗
PubMed1994

5-Fluorouracil-interferon-alpha 2b adjuvant treatment of Dukes C colorectal cancer.

PURPOSE: To determine whether interferon: alpha 2b can improve results of 5-fluorouracil adjuvant treatment of Dukes C colorectal cancer patients, we compared the outcome of patients receiving a fluorouracil-interferon combination to that of historic controls treated with fluorouracil alone. METHODS: Fifty-seven Dukes C colorectal cancer patients were given 5-fluorouracil-interferon-alpha 2b adjuvant treatment from October 1986 to September 1990. The results were compared with those obtained in 51 consecutive patients treated at the same institutions with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) alone (used at the same doses and schedule) between 1983 and 1986. The main prognostic variables were similar in the two groups. RESULTS: No life-threatening toxicity occurred in either group. The addition of interferon (IFN) slightly impaired tolerance to the treatment; however, the dose of IFN had to be reduced only in five patients and discontinued in one patient. Grade 3 and 4 myelotoxicity was rare and not substantially different in the two groups. Interferon-related side effects (fever, flu-like syndrome, malaise, etc.) were frequent, but, in general, mild or moderate. At the time of this analysis (July 1992), median follow-up was 49 (range, 20-70) months in the group of patients treated with 5-FU+IFN, and 86 (range, 68-103) months in the group receiving 5-FU alone. There were 17 recurrences and 15 cancer-related deaths among patients receiving combined treatment, and 27 deaths in the group treated with 5-FU alone. Both five-year relapse-free survival (65 percent vs. 47 percent; P = 0.043) and cause-specific survival (64 percent vs. 46 percent; P = 0.038) were significantly better in the patients receiving combined treatment. After correction for the influence of prognostic pretreatment variables, 5-FU+IFN again afforded a significant advantage in terms of both relapse-free (P < 0.01) and overall survival (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: 5-FU-IFN-alpha 2b treatment seems to improve the prognosis in Dukes C colorectal cancer patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Mutagenicity of methyl methanesulfonate and cyclophosphamide in resting and growing Saccharomyces cerevisiae D7 cells.

In order to evaluate the optimal experimental conditions and to identify the best growth phase for yeast genotoxicity studies, comparative experiments were performed with stationary and growing cells. Methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) and cyclophosphamide (CP) were used as chemical mutagens and strain D7 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae as detector of induced mitotic gene conversion (trp+ convertants) and point reverse mutation (ilv+ revertants) in log or stationary phase cells after either 4 or 16 h of treatment. The highest MMS-induced toxicity and genotoxicity were observed after 16 h of exposure in a suspension test with log phase cells, which is consistent with the greater permeability and sensitivity of growing yeast cells. The maximal induction of genetic effects and toxicity by CP was conversely obtained after 16 h of treatment in stationary phase cells. This may be ascribed to the greater ability of detoxication of growing cells as compared to resting cells. Our results suggest that in evaluating the mutagenicity of chemicals in yeast systems it is important to consider factors such as growth phase and exposure time.

Cyclophosphamide↗
PubMed1992

[Ganglioneuroma of the adrenal gland associated with a contralateral renal carcinoma].

A case of ganglioneuroma of the adrenal gland associated with contralateral renal cell carcinoma is presented. Both the lesions underwent surgical therapy: of left adrenalectomy and right nephrectomy. The benign nature of the ganglioneuroma and the low staging (T2) of the renal neoplasm explain the positive exitus of the treatment: the patient is alive and free from disease after five years from the operation.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1990

Effects of vasopressin on insulin secretion and inositol phosphate production in a hamster beta cell line (HIT).

The recent isolation of vasopressin (VP) from the rat and human pancreas led us to investigate the effects of VP on insulin secretion. In the SV 40-transformed hamster beta cell line (HIT), 0.1-1.0 nM VP caused rapid stimulation of insulin secretion. Slight but significant inhibition of insulin secretion was observed in the presence of 10 pM VP. These effects of VP on insulin secretion were paralleled by dose-dependent changes in inositol phosphate (IP) production, indicating mediation by V1-type VP receptors. VP stimulated IP3 production at 30 sec and production of IP1 by 60 sec. VP (0.1 nM to 1 microM) failed to stimulate the release or cellular content of cAMP, whereas forskolin was an effective stimulus. Forskolin and VP together caused at least additive stimulation of insulin secretion. Taken together, these observations indicate that VP is not acting via V2-mediated pathways. However, VP-induced stimulation of insulin and IP production were only slightly inhibited by a V1a pressor antagonist in 100- or 1,000-fold excess, indicating that VP effects are not mediated by V1a receptors. The V1 receptor involved may represent a V1b or a novel type of VP receptor. These observations suggest a potential physiological role of VP in regulating insulin secretion.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Oocyte fertilization in vitro is associated with high follicular immunoreactive beta-endorphin levels.

Follicular fluid (FF) levels of immuno reactive beta-Endorphin (i.r. beta-EP), i.r. gamma-Endorphin (i.r. gamma-EP), i.r. alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (i.r. alpha-MSH), androgens and estrogens were measured in 76 preovulatory follicles obtained, after gonadotropin stimulation from 19 women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). The aim of the study was to investigate the relationships existing between peptide contents of FF and both oocyte-cumulus-corona-complex (OCCC) maturity and the success of IVF. Peptides and steroids were measured by RIA after FF extraction with liquid chromatography and ethyl-ether, respectively. Out of the total of 76 oocytes, 52 were fertilized in vitro and 35 of them underwent normal cleavage and were transferred. Among the three peptides, only i.r. beta-EP levels were higher in FF from follicles which contained oocytes that were subsequently fertilized (127.6 +/- 16.2 pmol/L mean +/- SE) than in FF from follicles which contained oocytes that did not subsequently fertilized (62.9 +/- 8.4, p less than 0.04). Independent of subsequent fertilization, i.r. alpha-MSH values in FF were 5 times higher than those of i.r. beta-EP and i.r. gamma-EP. In the presence of a morphologically mature oocyte, FF i.r. gamma-EP levels (165.2 +/- 45.3 pmol/L) were higher than in FF from follicles yielding immature (63.6 +/- 13.5, p less than 0.01) or luteinized (32.7 +/- 9.2, p less than 0.01) oocytes. Steroid levels in FF did not change in relation to oocyte maturity or subsequent oocyte fertilization.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMed1989

Effect of oral contraceptives or dexamethasone on plasma beta-endorphin during the menstrual cycle.

Several studies have showed a significant increase of plasma beta-endorphin levels during the periovulatory days of the menstrual cycle. The aim of the present study was to investigate the origin of the periovulatory changes of plasma beta-endorphin, trying to discriminate between a possible ovarian and/or pituitary origin. Daily plasma beta-endorphin, luteinizing hormone (LH), and cortisol levels were measured from the 8th to the 20th day of the menstrual cycle in healthy normal-cycling women (10 cases) before and during dexamethasone (DEX; 6 cases) or estroprogestinic treatment with monophasic (5 cases) or triphasic (5 cases) pill. In the control menstrual cycle, during the preovulatory days, a significant increase of plasma beta-endorphin was found. While oral contraceptives abolished the midcycle increase of plasma beta-endorphin, the periovulatory plasma beta-endorphin peak was present during DEX treatment. Plasma cortisol levels did not show any significant change throughout the control menstrual cycle, while they were significantly lowered by the DEX administration and significantly increased during estroprogestinic treatment. These results suggest that the increase of plasma beta-endorphin during the periovulatory days is related to the ovulatory function, and suggest a possible ovarian origin.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Plasma beta-endorphin in response to oral glucose tolerance test in obese patients.

In order to clarify the possible interaction between endogenous opioids and glucose homeostasis in obesity we studied Beta-Endorphin (B-Ep), ACTH, cortisol and insulin plasma levels in response to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in 8 females suffering from uncomplicated obesity and in 6 healthy volunteers of normal weight. Results were evaluated in terms of secretion areas subtracted from basal value. Basal glucose, insulin and B-Ep levels were significantly higher in the obese patients compared to controls, cortisol levels and ACTH were not statistically different between obese and normal subjects. During OGTT total areas of insulin secretion were significantly higher in the obese patients; cortisol, ACTH, B-Ep plasma levels did not change in controls, whereas obese patients showed a response to B-Ep which reached a peak at 60 minutes. The area of B-Ep response to OGTT in obese patients was significantly higher than in controls. On the basis of these results we may suggest that the opioid system belongs to the chain of neuroendocrine and metabolic events responsible for the origin and the growth of overweight. But the possibility exists that obesity itself can enhance the B-Ep secretion above all through overeating. In this regard it is to stress that glucose ingestion induces in obese patients, differently from normal subjects, insulin hypersecretion and the B-Ep secretion, possibly from gastro-enteric tract and/or pancreatic isles.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1985

Stabilization of glucose-6-phosphatase activity by a 21 000-dalton hepatic microsomal protein.

Hepatic microsomal glucose-6-phosphatase activity was rendered extremely unstable by a variety of techniques: (a) incubation at pH 5.0; (b) extraction of the microsomal fraction in the presence of 1% Lubrol; (c) various purification procedures. These techniques all result in the removal of a 21 kDa polypeptide from the fraction containing glucose-6-phosphatase activity. The 21 kDa protein was purified to apparent homogeneity by solubilization in the detergent Lubrol 12A-9 and chromatography on Fractogel TSK DEAE-650(S) and centrifugation at 105 000 g. The 21 kDa protein stabilizes glucose-6-phosphatase activity, whereas other purified hepatic microsomal proteins do not. The 21 kDa protein appears to be a potential regulator of glucose-6-phosphatase activity.

Animals↗