Biomedical subjects
R Bassani
Publications and source records attributed to R Bassani.
Human neuronal cells in culture: from concepts to basic methodology.
The paper reviews some conceptual and methodological aspects of the tissue culture models which, during the past three decades, demonstrated a remarkable mimicry of many important structures and functions of the mammalian Central Nervous System (CNS) and related peripheral sensory and motor elements. Emphasis is placed on an original human neuronal tissue culture model obtained from selective CNS areas. The different cell types were identified and the neurotrophic interactions preliminary characterized. Neuropathological findings suggest hypothesis that can be fully tested using in vitro human models of affected cerebral specific areas.
ALS cerebrospinal fluid enhances human foetal astroglial cell proliferation in vitro.
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Amtolmetin guacyl versus piroxicam in patients with osteoarthritis.
The efficacy and tolerability of amtolmetin guacyl (AMG), a new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, were compared with piroxicam, in patients with osteoarthritis. In a randomized double-blind study patients with arthritis (n = 99) received either 600 mg AMG on an empty stomach or 20 mg of piroxicam on a full stomach, once daily for 30 days. All clinical parameters improved significantly with both drugs; there were no significant differences between the two treatments. Tolerability, assessed by the patients, was significantly better in the AMG group. In the piroxicam group nine of 50 patients withdrew because of side-effects (gastrointestinal) compared with two of 49 (nausea and headache) in the AMG group. There were three cases of perforation, ulcer and bleeding in the piroxicam group but no serious side-effects with AMG. Total numbers of side-effects were similar in the two groups, but epigastric and abdominal pain were more frequent and more intense with piroxicam. AMG was as effective as piroxicam in controlling the symptoms of osteoarthritis, but showed better gastrointestinal tolerability.
Maintained cellular function of adrenal medullary cells in parkinsonian dysautonomia.
Adrenal gland involvement in Parkinson's disease was reported by different authors. Further studies became relevant after adrenal was proposed as dopaminergic donor for neurotransplantation. Chromaffin cells were grown in culture and the effects of nerve growth factor (NGF) tested: no differences were observed between parkinsonian and control cells. The expression of the beta-NGF mRNA in the parkinsonian adrenal was analyzed: a specific cDNA was synthesized and a 168 bp portion amplified using PCR. The products were identified and the identity of the fragment was confirmed by sequencing. Quantitative PCR demonstrated a beta-NGF mRNA concentration exceeding 5 fg/micrograms of total adrenal RNA. These findings demonstrate the retained functional capacity of the parkinsonian adrenal to respond to NGF and express the beta-NGF mRNA.