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Biomedical subjects

R Ferrara

Publications and source records attributed to R Ferrara.

66 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1976

Effect of streptomycin on the structure and function of the photoreceptor apparatus of Euglena gracilis.

The progressive modification of the photoreceptor apparatus, induced by addition of streptomycin (SM) to cultures of dark-bleached Euglena, is correlated with the change of the photomotor response. One of the effects of drug-treatment is the reduction of carotenoid synthesis; the total carotenoid content decreases from 0.20 to 0.01 pg/cell after seven weeks of treatment. The parallel progressive reduction of the stigma vesicles and their carotenoid content is observed by electron microscopy. Micrographs and microscopic fluorescence observations do not indicate alterations of the paraflagellar body (PFB). During the SM-treatment the initial positive phototactic response decreases until it disappears after five weeks. The loss of the absorbing properties of the stigma prevents the cell from orienting itself towards the light. The probability that the cell orients seems to depend on the light modulation amplitude and the light/dark ratio on the PFB due to the shading device. After seven weeks of SM-treatment we observe a cell movement away from the illuminated zone. The mechanism of this escape is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Preliminary studies of nonvirion antigens associated with herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 (HSV1 - HSV2).

Biochemical and radioimmunological studies have indicated the presence of a nonvirion antigen associated with herpes virus. Guinea pig kidney cells were grown in culture and infected (I-cells) for 3h with herpes virus. Uninfected cells (N-cells) served as control. The cells were collected and sonicated to obtain, after centrifugation, "soluble extract" (SI, SN). The pellets were extracted with KCl (ISP, NSP). SN, SI were submitted to gel-filtration on Sephadex G-200. Extracts from I and N cells gave similar patterns. After labelling with 125I, greater resolution was obtained in a second gel-filtration with a much smaller load. ISP contained protein species not present in NSP. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of peaks from SN and SI showed that SI contained some radioactive bands not found in SN. Labelled materials from SI and SN were incubated with sera from cancer patients and normal subjects. No differences in binding were seen with SN, but SI showed 14-30% more 125I binding with sera of cancer patients than with sera from normal subjects. No such difference was seen between ISP and NSP.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Common bile duct caliber following cholecystectomy: a two-year sonographic survey.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the size of the common bile duct (CBD) in patients with gallstones, before and after cholecystectomy. Ten female patients (22-61 years) were examined in whom gallstones were shown by ultrasound. The caliber of CBD was measured before cholecystectomy and then 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after cholecystectomy. No significant change of CBD caliber in each interval prior to or following cholecystectomy was observed.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Sonographic study of postprandial gallbladder emptying and common bile duct changes in patients with diabetes or cholelithiasis.

The aim of our study was to evaluate postprandial emptying of the gallbladder and common bile duct (CBD) in 20 patients with gallstones and in 20 diabetic patients with or without autonomic neuropathy. Gallbladder fasting volume was significantly increased in patients with multiple stones. Diabetics with autonomic neuropathy showed a decreased gallbladder emptying rate. CBD size did not show any significant change in all groups examined.

Autonomic Nervous System Diseases↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison between gastric emptying of digestible and indigestible solids in diabetic patients.

We measured simultaneously gastric emptying of digestible and indigestible solids in 10 normal subjects and in 14 insulin-requiring diabetic patients. Our results demonstrate that in both diabetics and in controls the gastric emptying of digestible and indigestible solids occurs during the same phase of gastric motor activity, i.e. during the post-prandial period. However, gastric emptying of both digestible and indigestible solids is delayed in diabetic patients compared to controls.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Gastric neoplasia in pregnancy: report of a case].

CASE REPORT: Gastric cancer in a 29 years old pregnant woman. A total of 109 cases were collected in the whole from 1916 to 1988; to these, we add one new case of a 29 years old pregnant woman observed in 1993 in Verona University Surgical Sciences Department. DISCUSSION: Cancer of the digestive tract during pregnancy is really rare and has poor prognosis. The diagnosis during pregnancy is difficult because the symptoms are frequently masked by factors related to the normal first trimester in pregnancy. X-ray are often restricted. Gastroendoscopy is applied to pregnant women only when evident symptoms are present such as: severe anemia, jaundice and weight loss. The incidence of inoperable cases is elevated such as the mortality in the operated cases. The whole survival rate after three years is 21%. CONCLUSION: Gastric cancer in pregnancy has a poor prognosis. The possible reasons are: delayed detection, low differentiation degree, restricted therapeutic approach because of pregnancy, personal factors as the patients' desire for a child, religious, ethical considerations.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Rare colonic occlusions: volvulus of the splenic flexure].

Authors report a case of perforated splenic flexure volvulus, treated with resection, end colostomy and closure of the distal stump. From the revision of literature it comes out the case reported is the 30th recorded till now, the 6th with ischemic complications, and the only one with perforation. Actual pathogenetic trends and various therapeutic options are reported.

Colonic Diseases↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Cervical-mediastinal emphysema of abdominal origin].

Cervical mediastinic emphysema usually does not demand emergency procedures: nevertheless its ethiology must be promptly assessed though his achievement may prove less than easy owing the vague clinical presentation and to the limits imposed by regional topography. Among the possible etiologic factors one should take into account the rare abdominal source too. Indeed the cervical region is connected to the retroperitoneal space through a virtual "visceral space" via the thoracic cavity and some diaphragmatic break-throughs variable in size. The communication allows, in some pathologic conditions, the unopposed circulation of air and fluids. Our interest in the topic is due to the occurrence of a cervical mediastinic emphysema in a patient suffering from a colonic perforation.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Statistical considerations concerning clinical studies designed to assess DC-ARTs.

The aim of this paper is to contribute to the current ongoing debate regarding how to optimise clinical research on rheumatoid arthritis. Bearing in mind the main difficulties represented by the particular characteristics of the disease and its treatment, as well as the limitations of some of the trials that have been carried out over the last thirty years, we discuss how some of the general statistical considerations regarding all clinical trials should be applied to those specifically designed to assess disease-controlling antirheumatic therapies.

Antirheumatic Agents↗