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R Conti

Publications and source records attributed to R Conti.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1964

[Rib neoplasms].

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Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Inhibition of L-carnitine uptake into primary rat cortical cell cultures by GABA and GABA uptake blockers.

L-carnitine plays a central role in mitochondrial function and is found to be differentially distributed in the brain. We have shown before that the uptake of L-carnitine into cultured rat cortical neurones was temperature-dependent, as well as potently inhibited by factors affecting the sodium gradient as well as by molecules resembling its structure, e.g. D-carnitine, acetyl-L-carnitine and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABA was the most potent inhibitor of L-carnitine uptake. In the present study we have found that specific GABA uptake blockers, nipecotic acid, cis-4-hydroxynipecotic (HNA), guvacine, 2,4-diaminobutyric acid (DABA) and NO 711 inhibit L-carnitine uptake even more potently than GABA. However, apart from NO 711, they caused about the same maximal inhibition, 67.4% at 50 microM for guvacine, compared to 60.5% by GABA. NO 711 was extremely potent and blocked 80.5% of the L-carnitine uptake. In contrast, the GABAA receptor agonists, isonipecotic acid and isoguvacine, or the antagonist bicuculline, at similar concentrations (50 microM), did not significantly inhibit the uptake of the L-carnitine. However, bicuculline at relatively high concentration (500 microM) was inhibitory (38%). The GABAB receptor agonist, baclofen, or antagonist, phaclofen, were ineffective, although 5-aminovaleric acid did significantly inhibit uptake at both 50 and 500 microM, causing 22 and 48% inhibition respectively. Like bicuculline, it was not as effective as GABA or the specific GABA uptake blockers. The results indicate that the uptake of L-carnitine by rat cortical neurones occurs in part by a process that can be potently inhibited by GABA and GABA uptake blockers.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cerebellar liponeurocytoma: immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study of a case.

The clinical, histopathological, and ultrastructural features of a cerebellar liponeurocytoma are reported. The tumor, a 3-cm mass localized in the right cerebellar hemisphere, was resected from a 61-year-old man clinically presenting with symptoms of intracranial hypertension. The lesion was composed of small, in some areas closely packed, medulloblastoma-like cells with prominent areas of lipidization phenomena. Moreover, mitoses, cellular atypia, and numerous vascular structures were focally observed. Glial and neuronal differentiation was immunohistochemically noted (glial fibrillary acidic protein, synaptophysin, neurofilaments, and neuron-specific enolase positivity). The p53 oncoprotein was detected in the majority of neoplastic cells and a moderate proliferation activity, evaluated by Mib-1 antibody, was focally appreciated. Ultrastructural study did not show evident neuritic processes, synapses, or dense core neuroendocrine granules. This cerebellar tumor previously called lipidized medulloblastoma and recently renamed cerebellar liponeurocytoma is considered an adult neoplasm with excellent prognosis histologically presenting prominent lipidized areas and, at the immunohistochemical and ultrastructural level, both glial and neuronal differentiation. The present study provides the first description of a less differentiated and histologically more aggressive form of this unusual tumor.

Antigens, Nuclear↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Rifampin therapy for brucellosis, flavobacterium meningitis, and cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Rifampin has a broad antibacterial spectrum. At high concentrations it also is active in vitro against protozoa, i.e., different species of Leishmania. Rifampin has been used against bacterial and occasionally protozoal infections. Addition of rifampin to a tetracycline regimen was found to reduce the number of relapses in patients with acute and chronic brucellosis. In a few cases of meningitis due to Flavobacterium meningosepticum, which failed to respond to other drugs, patients were treated successfully with rifampin administered either orally or intravenously. Rifampin at doses of greater than or equal to 600 mg daily has been administered to patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis. Healing of skin lesions was observed in the majority of treated patients. Controlled studies are needed to assess the usefulness of rifampin in this disease.

Brucellosis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Electrophysiological study on jaw-opening reflex recorded from digastric muscle in Parkinson's disease and primary cranial dystonias.

We investigated digastric reflex excitability in normals and in patients with extrapyramidal disorders such as primary cranial dystonias and Parkinson's disease. Relationships between exteroceptive suppression of masseter muscle and digastric reflex were also investigated in some cases. Digastric reflex hyperexcitability was observed in dystonic patients when compared to normals and parkinsonian patients. Furthermore, some patients with cranial dystonia presented absence of exteroceptive suppression reflex in masseter muscle with enlarged digastric response. These results indicate hyperexcitability of the digastric reflex and abnormal agonist-antagonist muscle co-contraction in chewing reflexes of patients with cranial dystonias. This shows that digastric reflex is an important electrophysiological investigation to explore the physiopathological mechanisms of primary cranial dystonias.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Monoclonal antibodies recognizing a recombinant portion of human alpha-fetoprotein with antigenic selectivity versus albumin.

Determination of serum alpha-fetoprotein is useful in the clinical management of liver cancer, but it has not been particularly helpful in the early diagnosis of this disease, since also non-neoplastic liver diseases may result in small increases of its serum concentration. To improve the clinical performance of this assay, we have previously developed an in vitro culture system, in which the expression of alpha-fetoprotein and albumin could be coordinately modulated by thyroid hormone. This system allowed large scale production and purification of native alpha-fetoprotein to be used as reference material. In addition, we synthesized and cloned in a bacterial expression vector a DNA sequence coding of human alpha-fetoprotein amino acid sequence 38-119. This alpha-fetoprotein sequence was chosen since it is the least homologous to albumin, being the amino acid sequence of the two proteins extremely similar with an overall identity of about 38%. Now we have obtained three hybridomas recognizing with high affinity and specificity both the recombinant fragment and native alpha-fetoprotein. These antibodies, which therefore recognize the native protein in the amino acid sequence 38-119, should allow the development of an immunoassay for alpha-fetoprotein with absolute selectivity versus albumin. This might result in more sensitive clinical determinations, avoiding the possibility of cross-reactions.

Albumins↗
PubMedDate not supplied

For an elective surgical management in lumbar intervertebral disc herniation. Experience of 25 years of surgery.

On the base of a wide clinical experiences, the Authors report some consideration about relationship between clinical findings and neuroradiological pictures (plain film, myelography, CT and NMR) of the lumbar vertebral and disc diseases. It's pointed out the useful aspect of each imaging technique that contribute to obtain the more complete informations about anatomy of the lesion; such considerations allows the surgeon to plain the more adequate surgical technique. The Authors think myelography, still today, is the investigation of choice in this kind of pathology.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Surgical treatment of vertebro-epidural neoplasms of the cervical tract via the anterior approach.

Fifteen cases of vertebral-epidural neoplasms of the cervical tract, treated surgically by the technique of longitudinal median somatotomy with inlay arthrodesis via the anterior approach are presented. Compression of the spinal anterior artery is eliminated by the wide anterior longitudinal exposition, which also creates a support for a possible second operation, either laminectomy or foraminotomy.

Adolescent↗