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Biomedical subjects

P Bettini

Publications and source records attributed to P Bettini.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

The resistance to contraceptive use in young Italian women.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the personal relationship and social factors that influence young women not to use contraceptives. METHODS: A total of 104 young women aged 14-23 years were studied using a 26-item questionnaire which was to be filled out individually. The questionnaire addressed use of contraceptives at the first intercourse and current use, together with various items related to age, educational level, self-image, fantasy about parenthood, and characteristics of the relationships with the partner and the family. A descriptive analysis and a multivariate logistic regression model investigated the relationship between contraceptive non-use and selected variables. RESULTS: Twenty-four percent of the girls did not use any effective contraceptive method at the first sexual intercourse and 21% were current non-users. The study of characteristics associated with inconsistent contraceptive use shows a complex picture where young age, poor knowledge of the partner, an older partner and living in a incomplete family nucleus or outside the family represent significant risk factors. Considering our results as a whole, contraceptive non-use is not only a marker of risk-taking behavior, but sometimes expresses irrational feelings which emerge when facing new sexual experience.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Pleiotropic effect of the insertion of the Agrobacterium rhizogenes rolD gene in tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.).

The Agrobacterium rhizogenes rolD gene, coding for an ornithine cyclodeaminase involved in the biosynthesis of proline from ornithine, has been inserted in Lycopersicon esculentum cv Tondino with the aim of studying its effects on plant morphological characters including pathogen defense response. The analysis of plants transgenic for rolD did not show major morphological modifications. First generation transgenic plants however were found to flower earlier, and showed an increased number of inflorescences and higher fruit yield. Transformed plants were also analysed for parameters linked to pathogen defense response, i.e. ion leakage in the presence of the toxin produced by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, and expression of the pathogenesis-related PR-1 gene. All the plants harbouring the rolD gene were shown to be more tolerant to the toxin in ion leakage experiments, with respect to the untransformed regenerated controls and the cv Tondino. PR-1 gene expression was quantitated by means of real-time PCR both at the basal level and after treatment with salicylic acid, an inducer of Systemic Acquired Resistance. In both cases the amount of PR-1 mRNA was higher in the transgenic plants. It seems therefore that the transformation of tomato plants with rolD could lead to an increased competence for defense response, as shown by toxin tolerance and increased expression of the Systemic Acquired Resistance marker gene PR-1. The results are finally discussed in view of their possible economic relevance.

DNA, Bacterial↗
PubMed2001

Prevalence and pattern of cognitive impairment in systemic lupus erythematosus patients with and without overt neuropsychiatric manifestations.

The prevalence and pattern of cognitive impairment in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with (NPSLE) and without (nSLE) overt neuropsychiatric manifestations were investigated. Fifty-two nSLE patients, 23 NPSLE patients and 27 healthy controls were evaluated with a battery of standardized neuropsychological and psychological tests. Disease duration, disease activity index, and current corticosteroid therapy were collected. Cognitive impairment was identified in 14 (26.9%) and in 12 (52.2%) of subjects with nSLE and NPSLE, respectively. Both SLE groups showed a significant impairment compared with controls on tasks assessing verbal and non-verbal long-term memory, and visuoconstructional abilities. In addition, NPSLE patients reported worse performances than both nSLE patients and controls on task evaluating short-term visuospatial memory. NPSLE subjects were significantly more anxious and depressed compared to both nSLE subjects and controls. By multivariate analysis, only depression levels, among clinical variables, significantly predicted cognitive performance. This study shows that cognitive impairment occurs frequently in both nSLE and NPSLE subjects. The higher frequency in NPSLE may be related to coexisting depressive disturbances.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1996

Single-step PCR in molecular diagnosis of hepatitis C virus infection.

The diagnostic utility of two PCR systems and three PCR detection methods for hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA was evaluated in serum samples. A nested PCR was considered the reference assay and was compared with two single-step PCR methods: the first is based on the detection of PCR products by liquid hybridization with a 32P-end-labeled probe, and the second is the Roche Amplicor colorimetric assay using microwell plate hybridization with a specific nucleic acid probe. Using the Pelicheck HCV RNA Eurohep genotype 1 proficiency panel, our laboratory achieved medium-high levels of performance with all three methods. The highest sensitivity was, however, observed with the isotopic single-step PCR (ss-PCR) method. The analytical sensitivity of ss-PCR with isotopic detection and ss-PCR with colorimetric detection was identical to that of nested PCR, with a 100% result concordance. Comparison of ss-PCR with enzyme-linked immunosorbent and RIBA assays in the analysis of clinical samples showed a high concordance. ss-PCR methods appear more suitable for diagnostic application. Nevertheless, HCV RNA PCR cannot be considered a screening assay; it should be requested in the presence of reactive serology or specific clinical symptomatology with altered liver parameters, and it is a potential tool for the follow-up of patients with HCV infection.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Asthma caused by live fish bait.

BACKGROUND: Larvae of insects and worms are commonly used as live fish bait (LFB) by anglers. Asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, and urticaria related to various kinds of LFB have been reported. METHODS: We studied 14 subjects with respiratory symptoms associated with exposure to LFB. Skin prick tests and RASTs with Lucilia caesar, Galleria mellonella, and Tenebrio molitor extracts were carried out in all subjects. Monitoring of peak expiratory flow rate and evaluation of bronchial responsiveness to methacholine before and after exposure to LFB were performed in seven subjects. RESULTS: Thirteen subjects had asthma, all 14 had rhinoconjunctivitis, and three had contact urticaria. Eleven subjects had respiratory symptoms after fishing with LFB, and the other three subjects had symptoms during their work in a commercial fish bait farm. Positive skin prick test results or significant RAST binding to L. caesar extract were observed in 13 subjects, to G. mellonella extract in four subjects, and to T. molitor extract in three subjects. After exposure to LFB, two subjects had an early asthmatic response, three had a late asthmatic response, and two had no asthmatic response. Late asthmatic response was associated with a long-lasting increase in bronchial responsiveness. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that emanations from LFB are sensitizers, which have the potential to elicit IgE-mediated asthma. Exposure to LFB is common and LFB should be considered as a possible sensitizing agent for asthma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

A rapid method to test for chloroplast DNA involvement in atrazine resistance.

A point mutation in the chloroplast psbA gene at codon 264 resulting in an animo acid substitution (ser-gly) manifests itself as atrazine resistance in all recognized weed species studied to date. The single base substitution overlaps a highly conserved Mae1 restriction site which is present in susceptible but not in resistant plants. This restriction enzyme, recently commercialized, has been used to show that it is now possible to discriminate rapidly between the two biotypes without the need for DNA sequencing.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1987

Atrazine Resistance in Chenopodium album: Low and High Levels of Resistance to the Herbicide Are Related to the Same Chloroplast PSBA Gene Mutation.

In Chenopodium album two different levels of atrazine resistance have been found according to following criteria: lethal dose and leaf fluorescence curve. The intermediate (I) phenotype is represented by a low level of resistance and a typical I fluorescence curve. It arose at high frequency, within one generation, after self-pollination of particular plants displaying a susceptible (S) phenotype. The resistance phenotype (Ri) has a high level of resistance and presents a typical resistant fluorescence curve. It appeared after self-pollination of chemically treated I plants. The I, Ri, and also R (resistant plants found in atrazine treated fields) phenotypes contain a serine to glycine mutation at amino acid position 264 in the chloroplast psbA gene product. The steady state level of the psbA gene transcript is not modified between S, I, Ri, and R phenotypes.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1978

[Parasite contamination from feces of dogs and cats in soil and sand-boxes in public parks and schools in Bologna].

In Bologna (Italy), about 1/10 (public parks) and 1/5 (schools of soil samples from sand-boxes and 1/5 (public parks) and 1/10 (schools) op soil samples from the surroundings were found positive for dog and/or cat parasites. The finding of Toxocara sp. eggs in about 1/20 of soil samples from public parks and schools is especially important due to the possibility of human infection. Conspicuous was also the parasitic contamination of the faeces collected from green arcas: 48% of the samples resulted positive.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Sensitization to cockroach in Italy: a multicentric study.

The prevalence of sensitization to cockroach (CR) was evaluated by skin prick test (SPT) in 1299 patients consecutively referred for rhinitis and asthma to five allergy centers in northern, central, and southern Italy. In patients with positive SPT to CR, an SPT with D. pteronyssinus extract was made. RAST inhibition was performed with pooled sera of subjects with positive SPT and RAST of at least Class 3 for CR and D. Pteronyssinus, to assess the cross-reactivity between these two allergenic sources. The protein content of allergen extracts was assayed by isoelectric focusing (IEF). A total of 170 patients (13%) had a positive SPT with CR extract, and 133 of them (78.2%) were also positive for D. pteronyssinus. RAST inhibition showed a cross-reactivity between CR and D. pteronyssinus, and IEF detected in the extracts employed a series of bands focusing at the same pI of CR and D. pteronyssinus relevant allergens. Therefore, the prevalence of sensitization to CR in the population studied, corresponding to 13%, suggests that CR extract might be added to standard SPT panels for respiratory allergy. However, the cross-reactivity with D. pteronyssinus calls for careful evaluation of the clinical importance of this sensitization.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Anorectal manometry in hemorrhoidal disease].

Manometry is an important approach to anorectal function. In the haemorrhoids the evaluation of the anal resting tone, of the squeeze and of the sphincterial length is very useful to realize the best surgical treatment. Anorectal manometry is neither invasive nor expensive; it can be ready repeated and the results are reproducible. This examination must be considerated as essential part of the diagnostic routine of the anorectal diseases.

Anal Canal↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Submucosal reconstructive hemorrhoidectomy (A.G. Parks operation)].

Indications and procedure of submucosal reconstructive hemorrhoidectomy (A.G. Parks hemorrhoidectomy) are described and discussed. This procedure is more difficult and time consuming than other techniques, but results are better in high degree hemorrhoids. Authors consider complications and sequelae on 278 patients operated in their Department.

Hemorrhoids↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[When to combine internal sphincterotomy with hemorrhoidectomy].

396 patients, treated with hemorrhoidectomy (278 Parks, 118 Milligan-Morgan) were submitted to preoperative manometry, which, in 158 patients (39.9%), revealed high anal resting pressure (TBS), with or without an associated anal fissure; this group was submitted to a regulated lateral sphincterotomy (SILR) in association with the haemorroidectomy. The manometric follow-up, two mounts after the operations showed similar TBS values in both groups of patients. The authors conclude that normal values of TBS after Hemorroidectomy can be reached only by associating sphincterotomy in manometrically selected cases.

Anal Canal↗