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Biomedical subjects

S Carta

Publications and source records attributed to S Carta.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Three years of experience of the congenital hypothyroidism National Register.

Mental retardation caused by congenital deficiency of thyroid hormones can be prevented by early diagnosis and therapy which are assured by neonatal thyroid screening. Congenital hypothyroidism screening is performed in Italy by regional centres which in 1989 have screened more than 82% of neonatal population. Since 1987 a National Register of children affected by CH has been instituted. The results of the analysis of data collected in the first three years are reported.

Congenital Hypothyroidism↗

Influence of environmental iodine deficiency on neonatal thyroid screening results.

During a multicentric pilot screening program for congenital hypothyroidism a comparison between the results obtained from Urbino, an area characterized by low iodine supply and endemic goiter, and Rome, a non-endemic area, has been made. The evaluation of neonatal urinary iodine excretion in the two areas showed significantly lower iodine urinary excretion levels in Urbino than in Rome. A shift of TSH at screening toward higher values as well as a higher percentage of recall in Urbino area than in Rome was observed. This finding, which well correlates with a low environmental iodine supply, emphasizes the importance of screening for congenital hypothyroidism as a suitable index of the presence and action of goitrogenic factors in the environment.

Child, Preschool↗

Relationship between maternal parity, basal prolactin levels and neonatal breast milk intake.

Basal serum levels of prolactin (PRL) in 21 nursing mothers were measured by radioimmunoassay on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th days of the puerperium. The quantity of breast milk suckled during the 4th day of life was also evaluated by calculating the difference in the baby's weight before and after each feeding. During the first postpartum days, mean basal levels of PRL did not change. However these levels were noted to be significantly lower in the multiparas (p less than 0.05) than in the primiparas. In addition, the milk intake in neonates of multiparous mothers was significantly greater (p less than 0.05) than that in neonates of primiparous mothers. The author's hypothesis, based on the results of animal experimentation described in the literature, is that initiation of breast-feeding is facilitated in multiparas by the increased number of occupied PRL receptors in the mammary glands reflected by the lowered serum levels of the hormone.

Female↗

Nonrandom distribution of coated pits and vesicles in the connective tissue cells of the trabecular meshwork of rabbit.

Coated pits (CPs) and coated vesicles (CVs) are distributed nonrandomly along the surface of the connective tissue cells of the rabbit trabecular meshwork. Morphometric and statistical analyses of the distances between consecutive structures reveal a tendency to cluster, which is apparently higher among CVs than among CPs. The spatial relationship between CVs and CPs is also demonstrated by the analysis of their association (presence/absence) in each cell. The data suggest the hypothesis that each cluster is formed by structures in the same stage of maturation. In addition to the recent demonstration of the clustering of CPs in transformed cells in vitro (Pfeiffer et al. 1980), our findings indicate that: (a) clustering is characteristic of both CVs and CPs; (b) it also occurs in normal tissue cells; (c) it represents a further peculiarity, which confirms the specific nature of receptor-mediated endocytosis; (d) it reflects, at a higher level, the clustering of the receptor molecules, which are responsible for the high selectivity of the endocytic process.

Animals↗

Lattice dystrophy of the cornea. A clinical and histopathologic study.

Four members of a family were affected with lattice dystrophy of the cornea. One of them showed recurrence of the disease in the corneal graft in one eye 9 years after a keratoplasty, and a very advanced stage of the disease in the fellow eye. Therefore a keratoplasty was done in this eye. The corneal button was thoroughly investigated by means of histochemistry, electron microscopy and X-ray electron microanalysis. Two young members of the family showing early signs of the disease were followed up for 2 years. It has been possible to observe the evolution of their lesions. Histopathological examinations revealed the presence of two different types of abnormal deposits under the epithelium and in the stroma. X-ray electron microanalysis of the stromal deposits revealed a substantial increase in sulphur content.

Adolescent↗

Longitudinal assessment of children with congenital hypothyroidism detected by neonatal screening.

Clinical and laboratory data from 42 children (31 females and 11 males) with primary congenital hypothyroidism (CH) diagnosed by neonatal screening over a six-year period are reported. The mean age at onset of thyroid hormone therapy was 33 days. The adequacy of replacement therapy was assessed by repeated TT4, FT4, T3 and TSH serum determinations. The high serum TT4 concentrations frequently observed were not accompanied by clinical evidence of hyperthyroidism. rT3 levels determined in 28 CH children with TT4 greater than 15 micrograms/dl were clearly higher than in the controls. The mean weight, length and head circumference remained always between the 50th and 75th centile. The radiological assessment of the knee, mainly the distal femoral surface, has been considered as an important clinical value in the initial diagnosis and in the evaluation of both severity and duration of disease. The psychomotor development was assessed using Brunet-Lezine's test until age 36 months, Stanford-Binet at 4 and 5 and WISC at 6 years of age. The mean global developmental quotients (GDQ) were always between 85 and 97 at 6 to 72 months of age, only eight children were below 85. A significant correlation was found between GDQ at 6 months and the bone age. The neurological examination showed an impairment of posture, coordination and subtle deficits in motor and perceptual abilities in a small percentage of children.

Age Determination by Skeleton↗

Lack of corneal chrysiasis in rheumatoid arthritis patients undergoing oral gold therapy.

Corneal chrysiasis is a common consequence of parenteral chrysotherapy in patients affected by rheumatoid arthritis. Concerning the factors and conditions that could be determinant for the gold accumulation in the cornea, there are contradictory opinions. Total or weekly gold dose and its accumulation quota, and the frequency of drug administration, seemed to be parameters to which corneal chrysiasis could be related. Since all these parameters are completely different during oral gold therapy, previous investigations on corneal chrysiasis are inapplicable to patients undergoing oral treatment. This study, performed on rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with auranofin, orally administered for 8-34 months, did not reveal any appreciable corneal deposits of gold.

Administration, Oral↗

Coated pits and coated vesicles in the endothelial cells of trabecular meshwork.

Coated pits (CPs) and coated vesicles (CVs) were investigated in the trabecular meshwork of man and rabbit. In both man and rabbit CPs and CVs appear to be randomly distributed throughout the trabecular tissue. CVs are located in the peripheral cytoplasm of the trabecular endothelial cells and show an average diameter of 0 . 16 micron. The ratio between the number of CPs and CVs ranges from 0 . 53 (rabbit) to 0 . 6 (man). The number of CPs and CVs is higher in rabbit than in man. Consequently, the overall CPs surface and CVs volume density estimates are higher in rabbits, where CPs represent about 1% of the cell surface and CVs account for about 0 . 4% of the cell cytoplasm. In man these percentages are 0 . 46 and 0 . 17%, respectively. No significant changes of CPs and CVs were found in rabbits with corticosteroid-induced ocular hypertension. However, changes in length of boundary membrane of CPs, though not statistically significant, were accompanied by proportional changes in CVs diameter.

Animals↗

Quantitative ultrastructural study of the anterior chamber angle of the rabbit with corticosteroid-induced ocular hypertension. Stereology of the rabbit angle.

The ultrastructure of the trabecular meshwork of the anterior chamber angle after corticosteroid-induced hypertension was studied with TEM. A morphometric analysis by means of stereological techniques did not reveal changes in the trabecular meshwork of the treated eyes. A preliminary stereological investigation of the inner wall of the aqueous plexus was carried out with a computer-assisted device.

Animals↗

Identification and distribution of coated vesicles in the retinal pigment epithelium of man and rabbit.

Coated pits (CPs) and coated vesicles (CVs) were investigated in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) of man and rabbit. In both species CPs and CVs show the typical coat of bristles radiating from their convex surface. CPs originate only from invaginations of the basal and apical cell membrane. The bipolar distribution of CPs is reflected in the distribution of CVs, which are most concentrated near the basal and apical cell boundaries. Neither fusion of CVs with the cytoplasmic organelles nor the presence of receptosomes could be demonstrated. The distribution patterns of CPs, CVs, Golgi apparatus, and mitochondria are very similar in RPE of man and rabbit. Moreover, as compared with other ocular tissues. CVs found in RPE differ both in size and distribution from those found in the pigment epithelium of the pars plana ciliaris and in trabecular endothelial cells. This peculiarity might indicate that receptor-mediated endocytosis via CVs plays a role in the transport across RPE of substances that are specific to this epithelium. Some analogies between the specificity of size and distribution of CVs in RPE and the process of internalization and transport of retinal are suggested.

Animals↗

Serial blood T4 and TSH determinations in low birth weight infants. Influence of gestational age, birth weight and neonatal pathology on thyroid function.

Serial blood T4 and TSH determinations were performed on a total number of 352 low birth weight (LBW) infants: 210 healthy newborns and 142 infants affected by respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), sepsis, hyperbilirubinaemia, hypocalcemia, or hypoglycemia. The healthy infants have been divided into three groups in relation to gestational age (less than or equal to 33 wk, 34-36 wk, greater than or equal to 37 wk). Statistical evaluation among groups shows that reduced T4 concentration in LBW infants is strictly related to gestational age, while TSH failed to demonstrate any significant correlation. No significant influence of birth weight on T4 and TSH has been observed. The preterm newborns affected by RDS or sepsis showed a significant reduction of mean T4 concentrations up to 20th day of life when compared with healthy controls similar for gestational age and birth weight. TSH levels are not significantly different. No significant modifications of T4 and TSH have been found related to the other pathological conditions. The significant reduction of T4 and the high incidence of subjects with low T4 values observed in healthy and sick preterm population lend further support to the use of TSH determination for optimum screening of congenital hypothyroidism.

Birth Weight↗

Immunochemical properties of trypsin fragments of human thyroglobulin.

Purified human thyroglobulin (Tg) was enzymatically digested with trypsin. After completion of digestion, the tryptic digest was fractionated by gel filtration on a Biogel A 1.5 m column. Further separation and isolation of the major peak C was carried out on a Sephadex G-75 column. Nine fractions were separated and antigenic properties evaluated by a specific and sensitive radioimmunoassay using a rabbit antiserum to 19S Tg and three different antisera from patients with autoimmune thyroid diseases. The Tg fragments react with both hetero- and auto-antisera. The highest antigenic activity was found on larger fragments, but a fairly good activity was also observed on fragments (C6, C7) with lower molecular weight. Antigenic determinants of Tg differ in individual sera suggesting that different sets of determinants elicit the autoimmune process.

Autoimmune Diseases↗