Biomedical subjects

R Fraioli

Publications and source records attributed to R Fraioli.

21 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Factors associated with climacteric symptoms in women around menopause attending menopause clinics in Italy.

OBJECTIVE: To obtain data on correlates of climacteric symptoms in women around menopause attending menopause clinics in Italy. METHODS: Since 1997 a large cross sectional study has been conducted on the characteristics of women around menopause attending a network of first level menopause outpatient's clinics in Italy. A total of 66,501 (mean age 54.4 years) women are considered in the present paper. RESULTS: The odds ratios of moderate and severe hot flashes/night sweats were lower in more educated women and (for severe symptoms only) in women reporting regular physical activity. Depression, difficulty to sleep, forgetfulness and irritability tended to be less frequent in more educated women and (depression only) in women reporting regular physical activity. Parous women reported more frequently these symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: This large study confirms in Southern European population that low education, body mass index and low physical activity are associated with climacteric symptoms. Parous women are at greater risk of psychological symptoms.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Saporin 6 conjugated to monoclonal antibody selectively kills human melanoma cells.

A novel human melanoma specific immunotoxin is described, which has been produced utilizing the murine monoclonal antibody (mAb) Ep2, IgG2a isotype, recognizing an epitope of the glycoprotein/proteoglycan high molecular weight-melanoma associated antigen. mAb Ep2 has been chemically conjugated by a disulphide bond, using the bifunctional reagent SPDP, to the plant toxin Saporin 6 (SAP) extracted from seeds of Saponaria officinalis. Cytotoxicity studies performed in vitro on melanoma cells have shown that Ep2/SAP immunotoxin efficiently kills antigen expressing cells and that its IC50 is approximately 1 x 10(-10) M, while not affecting the viability of antigen-negative melanoma cells at doses as high as 1 x 10(-7) M, therefore indicating a therapeutic index of Ep2/SAP immunotoxin higher than 1000. Kinetic studies have demonstrated that protein synthesis inhibition by Ep2/SAP is rapidly achieved, since a 90% reduction is observed within 3.1 h, and that this inhibitory activity is apparently first order with time. Furthermore, the cytotoxic activity of the immunoconjugate is not dependent, and is not influenced by, the presence in the culture medium of the lysosomotropic agent chloroquine.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Recombinant immune interferon down-regulates Ha-ras-1 proto-oncogene products in a human melanoma cell line.

The antiproliferative and antineoplastic effects of the interferons may result, at least in part, from changes in the expression and quantity of specific oncogene products. To explore this hypothesis we have determined the effect of interferons, including recombinant leukocyte (IFN-alpha), fibroblast (IFN-beta) and immune (IFN-gamma), on expression of the Ha-ras proto-oncogene in the human melanoma cell line Colo 38. While concentrations of up to 1000 U/ml of either IFN-alpha or IFN-beta did not affect the total amounts of Ha-ras products, IFN-gamma at concentrations ranging from 20 to 200 U/ml caused a dose- and time-dependent (48-96 hr) reduction (approximately 40%) in the accumulation of Ha-ras-1 mRNA and in the synthesis of the specific protein products. Downregulation of this proto-oncogene occurs prior to the antiproliferative effects of IFN-gamma and parallels similar IFN-gamma mediated changes in the expression of certain melanoma associated antigens. The present findings indicate that this experimental model may prove valuable in determining whether a direct relationship exists between the antiproliferative activity of specific interferons and the downregulation of oncogene expression.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗