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Biomedical subjects

P Corti

Publications and source records attributed to P Corti.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Growth and mitogenic effects of arylphorin in vivo and in vitro.

In insects, developmental responses are organ- and tissue-specific. In previous studies of insect midgut cells in primary tissue cultures, growth-promoting and differentiation factors were identified from the growth media, hemolymph, and fat body. Recently, it was determined that the mitogenic effect of a Manduca sexta fat body extract on midgut stem cells of Heliothis virescens was due to the presence of monomeric alpha-arylphorin. Here we report that in primary midgut cell cultures, this same arylphorin stimulates stem cell proliferation in the lepidopterans M. sexta and Spodoptera littoralis, and in the beetle Leptinotarsa decemlineata. Studies using S. littoralis cells confirm that the mitogenic effect is due to free alpha-arylphorin subunits. In addition, feeding artificial diets containing arylphorin increased the growth rates of several insect species. When tested against continuous cell lines, including some with midgut and fat body origins, arylphorin had no effect; however, a cell line derived from Lymantria dispar fat body grew more rapidly in medium containing a chymotryptic digest of arylphorin.

Animals↗

Allogeneic bone marrow stem cell transplantation following CD34+ immunomagnetic enrichment in patients with inherited metabolic storage diseases.

T-cell depletion is an essential step in reducing the risk of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in patients with inherited metabolic storage diseases (IMSD) undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. This goal can be achieved either by selective removal of T cells or by positive selection of CD34+ cells. Large-scale preparations of purified CD34+ cells from bone marrow products have not been extensively described. We report our results with bone marrow CD34+ cell enrichment using the CliniMACS system in eight children with IMSD. The median recovery of positively selected CD34+ cells was 46.2% with a purity of 97.5%, and a residual T cell content of 0.04 x 10(6). A median of 5.5 x 10(6)/kg of CD34+ cells was infused. All patients engrafted at a median time of 12 days and none of the patients developed GVHD. This method is technically feasible and can be successfully used to transplant children with IMSD.

Antigens, CD34↗

Rituximab for immune hemolytic anemia following T- and B-Cell-depleted hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

The treatment of immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IHA) complicating hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is often unsatisfactory. We report a case of IHA which occurred after T- and B-cell depleted unrelated donor HSCT carried out for mucopolysaccharidosis type I-H (Hurler syndrome) which was successfully treated with anti-CD20+ monoclonal antibody

Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune↗

Determination of levamisole in animal tissues using liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection.

An efficient and sensitive liquid chromatographic method is described for the determination of the anthelminthic drug levamisole, in muscle, liver, kidney and fat of sheep, pigs and poultry, using thiabendazole as internal standard. Samples were extracted by homogenizing with chloroform, and were applied to Supelco Si solid-phase extraction columns and eluted with methanol. Chromatographic analysis was performed on a LiChrospher 60 RP-Select B column using methanol/ammonium acetate buffer 0.05 M (55/65, v/v) as mobile phase and reading at 220 nm. The quantification limit for the assay was 4 ng/g. Mean recoveries were about 84% for liver, 85% for kidney, 89% for muscle and 84% for fat. The assay has been used for statutory testing purposes.

Animals↗

Secondary thyroid carcinoma after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation during childhood.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence and risk factors related to secondary thyroid carcinoma (STC) in patients who have undergone allogeneic BMT during childhood. Data related to the primary hematological disorder and BMT procedure were obtained from the records of 113 patients (42 F; 71 M) who underwent BMT before the age of 18 (median 10.0 years; range 1.7-18.0) and survived more than 3 years after transplant with a median follow-up of 10.1 years (range 3.0-19.0). Sixteen received cranial radiation (CRT) during first-line treatment. Pre-transplant conditioning included TBI in 85 patients, TAI in two, while 26 children did not receive irradiation. The standardized incidence ratio of STC after BMT was significantly higher (P < 0.001) than that of the general population. STC was found in eight patients, 3.1 to 15.7 years after transplant. All received TBI and three also CRT. The Cox's regression analysis, although not statistically significant due to the small study population, showed an increased risk in those who had received a cumulative radiation dose higher than 10 Gy and in those who developed chronic GVHD. Careful follow-up of thyroid status including annual ultrasound examination is recommended for early detection of tumor.

Adolescent↗

Evaluation of transcutol as a clonazepam transdermal permeation enhancer from hydrophilic gel formulations.

The influence of diethyleneglycol monoethyl ether (transcutol), alone or in combination with propylene glycol, on clonazepam permeation through an artificial membrane and excised rabbit ear skin from Carbopol hydrogels was investigated. Drug kinetic permeation parameters were determined for both series of experiments and compared. Rheological characteristics, drug solubility and membrane/vehicle partition coefficient for each gel formulation were also determined, and their role in the formulation performance was investigated. Both series of experiments showed an increase of drug permeation as a function of transcutol content in the formulation. The combination of transcutol and propylene glycol resulted in a synergistic enhancement of clonazepam flux. A different trend was found in experiments with gels containing mixtures of the two enhancers, where an increase (in the case of artificial membrane) or a decrease (in the case of rabbit ear skin) of drug permeation was found by increasing the transcutol/propylene glycol ratio in the mixture. Such a result is explained on the basis of the particular mechanism of action demonstrated for transcutol which associates the increase of drug solubility to the potent effect of a depot in the skin.

Administration, Cutaneous↗

High-performance liquid chromatographic assay of erythromycin from biological matrix using electrochemical or ultraviolet detection.

Two chromatographic methods were developed for the determination of erythromycin A (EA) residues in animal tissues (muscle, liver, kidney and fat of cattle, pigs and poultry) and cow's milk. In addition to a more traditional method using electrochemical detection, we developed an original alternative method based on UV detection at 236 nm, by pretreating to create a chromophore in the molecule. An internal standard was used with both methods to check the variability of the analytical system. Analysis times and performance were compared. The recovery of EA from various matrices was greater than 95%. For both methods the quantification limit for EA was 0.25 microgram ml-1 for plasma, 0.025 microgram g-1 for milk and 0.125 microgram g-1 for the other biological matrices. The methods can be used to check for EA residues in these matrices; in fact, the statutory maximum residue limits (MRLs) of EA are 0.4 microgram g-1 in muscle, kidney, liver and fat of beef cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry, and 0.04 microgram g-1 in cow's and sheep's milk.

Adipose Tissue↗

Near infrared transmittance analysis for the assay of solid pharmaceutical dosage forms.

The recent commercial availability of near infrared spectrometric instruments for the transmittance analysis of solids makes it possible to analyse solid drugs in their finished form. Application of the method to the control of the assay of the active ingredient in diphenhydramine tablets gave results comparable to those obtained in reflectance mode with whole and milled tablets.

Diphenhydramine↗

In vitro studies of simulated percutaneous absorption: influence of various enhancers in the release of clonazepam from 2-hydroxyethyl acetate patches.

A diffusion cell with an artificial membrane and the single-pass perfused rabbit ear were used to evaluate the percutaneous absorption of clonazepam from various 2-hydroxyethyl acetate (HEA) patches. The influence on drug permeation of the various type of enhancers (isopropylmyristate, lauryl alcohol, propylene glycol and water) in the patches was tested. A comparison between the two types of systems of percutaneous absorption of clonazepam has been done. The results showed that HEA patches produce controlled uniform drug release, modulated by the addition of enhancers.

Administration, Cutaneous↗

Microspectrophotometric evaluation of digestibility of pollen grains.

Digestibility of pollen grains of poppy (Papaver rhoeas) and hazelnut (Corylus avellana) subjected to a human-like in vitro digestion with pancreatic enzymes was evaluated. Pollens showed different types of walls. Digestibility was determined for total protein and insoluble carbohydrate contents by means of a new application of microspectrophotometry. Results demonstrated that pollen grains of both species were only partly digested; after 24 h treatment, only 26% of carbohydrates and 48% of proteins were digested in poppy and only 3% and 59% in hazelnut. This is probably due to the difficulty of enzymes to penetrate the intine of pollen grains. The degree of digestion of insoluble carbohydrates varied in the studied species according to their chemical nature and their storage sites.

Carbohydrate Metabolism↗

Application of near-infrared reflectance spectrometry in the study of atopy. Part 1. Investigation of skin spectra.

An investigation into the existence of spectral differences and differences in response in terms of water and lipid content between normal and atopic skin is described. Since NIR radiation penetrates complex structured matrices down to a depth of 0.15-0.20 mm, it is evident that the method lends itself to spectral detection of skin components down to the deepest level. First the reproducibility of readings made with the instrument was tested and it was also checked whether the use of the probe caused changes in skin equilibrium due to occlusion. Analysis of the NIR spectra did not enable normal and atopic subjects to be distinguished unequivocally but provided important information on the use of NIR spectrometry in these subjects and insights into the stratum corneum. Although the responses of water and lipid structures could not be read directly from the spectra, it was possible to decompose the global spectral information into components by principal components analysis. It was possible to observe a fraction of variance associated in different ways with water.

Female↗

Near-infrared reflectance spectrometry in the study of atopy. Part 2. Interactions between the skin and polyethylene glycol 400, isopropyl myristate and hydrogel.

An investigation into the existence of spectral differences and differences in response in terms of water and lipid content between normal and atopic skin after interaction with chemical agents is described. Three compounds were taken as models: a prevalently hydrophilic solvent (polyethylene glycol, PEG 400), a prevalently lipophilic solvent (isopropyl myristate) and a hydrophilic pharmaceutical (gel) used to promote contact in electrocardiography. Using principal component analysis it was possible to distinguish atopic and normal subjects by simple contact of the skin with chemical agents.

Female↗

Influence of vehicle composition variations on the in vitro and ex vivo clonazepam diffusion from hydrophilic ointment bases.

A systematic study of formulation factors influencing the release of clonazepam from hydrophilic ointment bases was performed. Diffusion experiments were carried out using both artificial membranes (cellulose nitrate membrane impregnated with lauryl alcohol or isopropylmiristate or vaseline oil) and natural ones (rabbit ear skin). The formulation variables were the percentage of polyethylene glycol 400, polyethylene glycol 6000 and water, and the type of lipophilic component (lauryl alcohol, isopropylmyristate or vaseline oil) added to the vehicle. In vitro and ex vivo results were compared and the best formulation was found, even if it was not possible to establish a precise correlation between the in vitro and ex vivo flux values.

Animals↗

Application of near-infrared reflectance spectrometry to the analytical control of pharmaceuticals: ranitidine hydrochloride tablet production.

The possibility of applying near-infrared reflectance spectrometry to the control of the production cycle of ranitidine hydrochloride tablets was investigated. The results were good for the identification of ranitidine hydrochloride drug substance, mixtures for tablets, cores and coated tablets. The determination of the compound and of its water content also gave satisfactory results.

Ranitidine↗