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N Cappello

Publications and source records attributed to N Cappello.

46 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Possible role of aldehydic lipid peroxidation products as chemoattractants.

Previous studies showed that the lipid peroxidation product 4-hydroxy-trans-2-nonenal (HNE) stimulates the rat neutrophil oriented migration in vitro within a micromolar range. Its effect is weak with respect to other known chemoattractants, but highly significant on the basis of a two-way analysis of variance. Other hydroxyalkenals were found to be chemotactic within a pico-micromolar range, and their chemotactic power was not correlated to their lipophilicity. The structural requirements for the chemotactic activity of the hydroxyalkenals were studied by testing the influence of alkanals and 2-alkenals on oriented migration. Alkanals are lacking both the trans double-bond and the hydroxy group, while 2-alkenals are lacking only the hydroxy group. The 2-alkenals (2-octenal, 2-nonenal) were found to be chemotactic, whereas alkanals (hexanal, octanal, nonanal) were ineffective. Therefore the chemotactic activity of the aliphatic aldehydes is dependent on the -C = C-CHO part of their molecule. The possibility that unsaturated aliphatic aldehydes are present in an inflammatory site at a concentration at which they are chemotactic in vitro was also investigated. Carbonyls in pleural exudates were analysed at different times after a pleurisy induction and HNE was detected both in the cells and in the cell-free supernant of the exudate at increasing concentrations during the 4 hours of the experiment. The exact source of HNE is unknown, but since HNE has been identified among the degradation products of peroxidized lipids it is likely that this aldehyde is formed consequent on lipid peroxidation reactions which occur at the phlogistic site. The possibility that HNE is involved, at least in part, in the recruitment of neutrophils in the inflammatory area is suggested.

Aldehydes↗
PubMed1986

The HLA system in Italy.

4,902 Italians were typed for HLA-A antigens, 4,721 for HLA-B and 1,503 for HLA-C. The samples, which were composed of unrelated, healthy individuals born in Italy, were used for estimating HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-C gene frequencies with the maximum-likelihood method. Different Italian regions showed significant differences in the HLA alleles, providing further evidence for the genetic heterogeneity of the Italian population. HLA gene frequencies place continental Italy and Sicily in a position which is similar to that of other Mediterranean populations, whereas the genetic isolation of Sardinia is quite evident. The most significant linkage disequilibrium values found in the Italian population (except for Sardinia) were in agreement with those observed in other Caucasian populations. The difference between Northern and Southern Italy and between continental Italy and Sardinia was emphasized by the linkage disequilibrium values and by the principal-component analysis as well.

Gene Frequency↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Spontaneous release of interferon as a predictor of clinical evolution in HIV-positive subjects.

In order to establish a correlation with disease progression we prospectively evaluated ten clinical and immunologic parameters in 102 consecutive HIV-positive subjects. The eight immunologic variables were: in vitro spontaneous interferon release by peripheral blood monocytic cells, alpha- and gamma-interferon production induced by Newcastle Disease Virus and PHA, Multitest Mérieux score, PHA- and CON-A-induced lymphocyte transformation, absolute number of CD4+ cells and CD4/CD8 ratio, respectively. The two baseline clinical variables were risk factor and disease presentation. Generalized Wilcoxon analysis indicated a significant correlation of one clinical (disease presentation at entry) and three immunologic variables (spontaneous interferon release, CD4+ cell number, Multitest Mérieux) with disease progression. Baseline spontaneous release of alpha, acid-labile interferon showed the best correlation with disease progression, and appeared to be significantly associated with CD4+ cell loss. Spontaneous release of acid-labile alpha interferon by mononuclear cells in vitro could be highly predictive of disease evolution in HIV-Ab positive, AIDS-free subjects.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Population history of Corsica: a linguistic and genetic analysis.

Genetic and linguistic differentiations within Corsica were analysed and compared; the genetic relationships of Corsica to other Mediterranean populations were also studied. Lexical distances between 49 Corsican localities were computed from a standard word list; trees built from these distances were compared with average linkage and neighbour-joining trees of genetic distances. Our lexical distance results confirmed the north/south dialectal subdivision of Corsican speeches described by linguists. No clear results were achieved with genetic distances because of the low number of loci for which data were available. Nevertheless, a tight northern cluster clearly emerged. When compared to other Mediterranean populations, Corsica showed a certain degree of differentiation, although not so marked as that of Sardinia. Corsica presented genetic affinities with Campania, Sicily, Liguria, Provence and Latium, while distances with Tuscany and Sardinia were larger. These results can be interpreted as a reflection of the prehistoric isolation of Corsica and the relative contribution to the island gene pool of prehistoric and historic invaders and immigrants from several populations.

Blood Group Antigens↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Carrier detection for prenatal diagnosis of hemophilia A in Italian families.

BACKGROUND: The results obtained from a comparative analysis between phenotypic bioassays as the ratio of factor VIII: C clotting activity to factor VIII: C-related antigen, and DNA haplotypes from RFLP's TaqI/St14 and BclI/F8A in 12 hemophilia A (HeA) families are described. METHODS: DNA from HeA patients and related at-risk women has been analyzed by Southern blotting with two probes: the intragenic F8A and the extragenic St14. Factor VIII: C coagulant activity was measured by a one-stage method, and the Factor VIII-related antigen (FVIII: RAg) was assayed with bidimensional electrophoresis. Linkage analysis was performed with the LINKAGE computer programs; in particular, the risks of carrying HeA were calculated using the MLINK program. RESULTS: The observed heterozygosity for the flanking marker DXS 52 (TaqI/St14 RFLP) in combination with intragenic BclI/F8A polymorphism was 0.94. A statistically significant difference in frequency was detected at the DXS 52 locus (allele 4) in comparison with other Caucasian populations. Linkage analysis made it possible to combine the plasma bioassay values with the DNA marker haplotypes to determine the probability of carriership; 22 females at risk were investigated: 4 of them were identified as carriers and 18 were excluded. The risk of carrying hemophilia A for some women at risk in six families is reported. CONCLUSIONS: This study compares a classic method and DNA analysis in genetic counselling for hemophilia A. In some cases the two methods may give different results when identifying carriers in at-risk families. From these data it is possible to conclude that DNA analysis combined with the phenotypic bioassays for carrier detection gives more information that the two analyses taken separately.

Alleles↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The reduction of the maternal and neonatal risk based on a new outlook for care effected with the active involvement of the nuclear family in the pregnancy and labor].

A socio-analytic investigation, showing mental images of health personnel and their influence on the course of pregnancy, child birth and child nursing has been performed at the Obstetrics and Neonatology Departments of Maria Vittoria Hospital, Torino, Italy. Through a statistical analysis on the mothers population during one year (1986 Nov-1987 Nov) a significant reduction of maternal delivery stress and neonatal risk has been found in relation to the "participation to the psycho-prophylactic courses" and to the "presence of fathers during delivery". Answers of mothers to a questionnaire are reported. This work points out the importance of a child birth's humanization.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Prognostic value of nuclear morphology in colorectal neoplasms].

Cytomorphometry measures the main geometric parameters of the cell nucleus (area, min. and max. diameter, circunference) on ordinary histological preparations. It has been employed to asses the prognosis of breast and ovary tumours. The possibility that cytomorphometry, when allied with other parameters, such as age, sex, Duke's stage, bleeding etc., can be used in the prognosis of tumours of the large intestine is examined through a study of intraoperative biopsies from 44 patients followed after surgery. Univariate analysis showed that the Duke's stage and tumour site were significantly related to prognosis. The standard deviation of the maximum diameter and circunference were also related to survival with a negative correlation. Multivariate analysis confirmed the significance of the maximum diameter and the Duke's stage. These parameters were then used to calculate the relative risk. If due account is taken of the reservation expressed in the literature concerning the reproducibility of the data offered by cytomorphometry and its heavy dependence on the skill of the operator, it can be used to advantage in the prognosis of the colorectal tumours.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Prognostic value of nuclear morphometry in follicular carcinoma of the thyroid gland].

Histological material from 60 cases of follicular carcinoma of the thyroid operated between 1962 and 1987 was examined morphometrically to see whether this would produce data that could be correlated with survival. Nuclear parameters (area, perimeter, minimum and maximum diameter and their ratio, form factor) and the mitotic index were investigated. At the same time, account was taken of certain clinical parameters (sex, age, degree of differentiation, size of the primary lesion, extension of the tumour) potentially correlated with prognosis. Survival in relation to all these variables was examined by means of an actuarial method and subjected to both uni- and multivariate analysis. The results, although suggesting the existence of a relationship between nuclear size and the aggressiveness of this type of tumour, failed to demonstrate a significant correlation between these morphometric parameters and survival after treatment. By contrast, survival was significantly influenced by some of the clinical variables, particularly loco-regional extension of the disease and the patient's age. The prognostic significance of nuclear size was recently demonstrated in breast cancer and in a series of thyroid carcinomas including tumours with different morphologies and progression patterns. In follicular thyroid carcinoma the degree of cellular pleomorphism is usually low. So, morphometry does not seem able to provide information regarding prognosis more valuable than those obtained by the clinical data.

Adenocarcinoma, Follicular↗