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Biomedical subjects

S D Ferrara

Publications and source records attributed to S D Ferrara.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Diagnosis of HIV infection from bloodstains by PCR. A further marker for identification.

The forensic usefulness of the detection of HIV infection in bloodstains is linked to the increasing spread of HIV infection and the consequent rise in the number of forensic cases involving HIV-positive subjects. This study was designed to detect HIV infection in bloodstains of various ages obtained from HIV-positive patients treated with zidovudine (3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine, AZT) using PCR methods. Of the 3 kinds of extraction and amplification methods checked, only a nested PCR method for the amplification of a sequence located in the HIV Reverse Transcriptase (RT) region was successful. This method, involving 2 amplification steps (1: fragment of 768 bp; 2: codons 41-67-70-215-219), encompasses the mutations commonly observed during AZT therapy and overcomes the limitations inherent in serological testing. The discriminatory power of the method can detect specific mutation patterns in the RT gene linked to drug resistance and compares the specific pattern of the blood-stain with fresh blood or other specimens from the subject in question.

Antiviral Agents↗
PubMed1995

PCR analysis of the short tandem repeat (STR) system HUMVWA31. Allele and genotype frequencies in an Italian population sample.

A population study in a sample of 211 unrelated individuals from 2 cities in North and Central Italy was carried out to investigate the short tandem repeat (STR) system HUMVWA31. Separation of PCR- amplified DNA fragments was performed by high-resolution horizontal denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) followed by silver staining. The 7 common alleles were found, together with a new smaller allele. Distribution of the observed genotypes did not deviate from Hardy-Weinberg (H-W) equilibrium. The power of discrimination for this locus was 0.93 and the chance of exclusion was 0.61. Good agreement was found between the allele frequencies in 2 Italian population samples and previous studies on Caucasians. The results of this study suggest that this STR system may be a useful tool in forensic investigations.

Alleles↗
PubMed1995

Fatality due to gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) and heroin intoxication.

The first case of fatal intoxication due to ingestion of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) and intravenous use of heroin is reported. A 42-year-old man, known to have been a heroin addict and to have taken other psychoactive substances, who had been in treatment with GHB for several months, was found dead. Anatomohistopathologic examination showed generalized visceral congestion, edema and pulmonary anthracosis, chronic bronchitis and chronic active hepatitis. Toxicological findings included fluid and tissue distributions of GHB, morphine and 6-monoacetylmorphine. GHB and morphine concentrations were respectively 11.5 and 0.77 micrograms/mL (blood), 84.3 and 0.3 micrograms/mL (vitreous humor), 258.3 and 1.35 micrograms/mL (urine), 57.0 and 14.3 micrograms/mL (bile), 40.0 and 0.43 micrograms/g (brain), 43.0 and 0.60 micrograms/g (liver), 47.0 and 0.68 micrograms/g (kidney). Blood and urine levels of 6-monoacetylmorphine were 28.5 and 12.1 ng/mL respectively. The presumed mechanism of action and pharmacokinetics of GHB are briefly reviewed, with reference to its therapeutic use and to reports of non-fatal GHB intoxication.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Morphology of sweat glands in determining time of death.

This study demonstrates post-mortem autolytic alterations in the skin at cellular and subcellular levels and identifies parameters which may assist in determining the time of death in the first few hours post-mortem. Serial skin samples from the ventral surface of the arm were taken at intervals of 3, 6, 9 and 12 h after death in 29 subjects of various ages, with no signs of skin disease; causes of death were various. Three types of tests were performed: cytochemical (hematoxylin-eosin and alcian-PAS), immunohistochemical (S-100, CEA, Cytokeratin, ASM) and ultrastructural (electron microscopy). Electron microscopy proved useful for identifying transformations which were found to be specific for each chronological step considered: reduction of intracellular glycogen in clear cells and reduction of secretory granules in dark cells are typical signs of the first stage (3 h) after death; mitochondrial dilatation and rarefaction of cristae in clear and dark cells are typical of the second stage (6 h); rarefaction of microvilli in dark and clear cells is a sign of the last stage (12 h). Cytochemistry and immunohistochemistry supply useful information--not for all the chronological stage considered here, but for individual phases (3 h for hematoxylin-eosin and 6 h for alcian-PAS). However, it is particularly important to use the results from all such techniques simultaneously, so that the question of the exact time of death within the first 12 h post-mortem may be more accurately answered.

Actins↗
PubMed1994

Low blood alcohol concentrations and driving impairment. A review of experimental studies and international legislation.

While noting that there is no international scientific or legislative uniformity in blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels admissible for driving motor vehicles, the authors analyse problems concerning the effects of low levels of ethyl alcohol on driving ability. A summary of the international literature on this subject reveals: the existence of contrasting assumptions, with scientific evidence clearly demonstrating altered psychomotor functions; the need to adopt sufficiently complex psychometric tests to reveal the effects of low BACs; the need to improve standardization of experimental studies on man-machine interaction; the need to investigate the following areas: tolerance to alcohol; low BACs with inexperienced, infrequent drinkers and chronic, heavy drinkers; hangover effects; alcohol-gender-age interactions, and specific effects on young drivers; alcohol-drug combinations. The analysis of legislation and enforcement policies also reveals the need for: re-evaluation of the international legal BAC threshold and standardization of procedures for ascertaining the degree of driving disability; further scientific research to compare and evaluate selected legislative initiatives currently in place in most states; to identify the best strategies and procedures to detect and arrest impaired drivers; to determine the optimum random testing rate to maximize deterrent effects in the workplace at minimal cost; to design innovative and comprehensive approaches to rehabilitation programs needed for subgroups of offenders and of workers; to study the effectiveness of new legislations and policies.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1994

PCR typing of the locus D17S30 (YNZ22 VNTR) in an Italian population sample.

A sample of 202 subjects living in 2 Italian provinces (Ancona and Parma) was tested for YNZ22 polymorphism by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). After amplification, the phenotypes were separated by agarose gel electrophoresis, stained with ethidium bromide and identified by comparison with a molecular weight marker. No heterogeneity was found between the 2 populations. Alleles, pooled in 4 groups to calculate the Hardy-Weinberg (H-W) equilibrium, showed good accordance between observed and expected values. The power of discrimination (PD) was 0.95 and the chance of exclusion was 0.69. The allele comparison with previous studies on Caucasians showed no significant difference.

Alleles↗
PubMed1994

Clinical efficacy of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid in treatment of opiate withdrawal.

This paper describes the role of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) in the treatment of opiate withdrawal syndrome. In the two patients described, after having abruptly withdrawn from long-term methadone treatment, GHB was orally administered (each dose given every 4-6 h) for 8-9 days. The GHB showed both a high efficacy (some mild and transient symptoms attributable to opiate withdrawal were observed, but only in the first days of therapy) and a good tolerability (no clinical phenomena interpreted as GHB side effects were found). These results could be of interest in improving the pharmacological treatment of drug addiction.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Drugs-of-abuse testing in urine: statistical approach and experimental comparison of immunochemical and chromatographic techniques.

This study deals with the experimental and statistical comparison of six immunochemical techniques, including noninstrumental on-site and instrumental formats (EIA-EMIT and EZ-SCREEN; FPIA-ADx; RIA-Coat-A-Count; LI-Abuscreen ONTRAK; CBI-Triage), and three chromatographic techniques (TLC-Toxi-Lab; HPLC; HPLC-REMEDi drug profiling system), using GC-MS as a reference technique for analyzing amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cannabinoids, cocaine, methadone, and opiates in the urine of various kinds of drug users. The study reports (a) the values of sensitivity, specificity, false-positive rates, and false-negative rates of each technique; (b) the results of bayesian statistical analysis, which are based on prevalence values of the samples examined and expressed as positive and negative predictive values and cumulative predictive values for each single technique and for combinations of paired immunochemical and chromatographic techniques; and (c) the results of a rough classification of the various degrees of predictability of these techniques. Lastly, this study proposes a decision-making process for establishing the best combination of analytical techniques for the goals in question, according to the characteristics and facilities of each laboratory.

Chromatography↗
PubMed1993

Simultaneous identification of amphetamine and its derivatives in urine using HPLC-UV.

An HPLC-UV method for the simultaneous identification of amphetamine, methamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in urine is described. It includes a rapid extraction procedure of the 4 analogs from urine using Extrelut 3 columns, derivatization with sodium 1,2-naphthoquinone-4-sulphonate (NQS) to obtain highly chromophoric UV-VIS derivatives, and a final HPLC analysis using an ion-pair reversed-phase technique with eluent monitoring at 480 nm. Structural characterization of the derivatives obtained by mass spectrometry is reported. Recoveries of the amphetamines were in the range 80-85% at concentrations of 300 ng/ml. Practical detection limits were 40-60 ng/ml (S/N ratio = 10) for all derivatives. The chromatographic peaks of the NQS derivatized amphetamines are fairly narrow and well resolved. The method is simple, rapid, quite sensitive, and specific for convenient confirmation of preliminary positive results obtained with immunoassays.

3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine↗
PubMed1992

Frequency of HLA DQA1 alleles in an Italian population.

A sample of 103 Italians was tested for HLA-DQA1 polymorphism using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and dot blot hybridization. Results were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The power of discrimination was 0.91 and the rate of exclusion 56.7. The frequencies of the DQA1*0201 and DQA1*0301 alleles were found to be significantly different from other Caucasian populations.

Discriminant Analysis↗
PubMed1992

Pharmacokinetics of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid in alcohol dependent patients after single and repeated oral doses.

1. The pharmacokinetics of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) were studied in 10 alcohol dependent subjects after single and repeated therapeutic oral doses (25 mg kg-1 every 12 h for 7 days). 2. GHB was readily absorbed and rapidly eliminated (tmax = 20-45 min; mean t1/2z 27 +/- 5 s.d. min). Urinary recovery of unchanged GHB was negligible (less than 1% of the dose). gamma-butyrolactone was not detected in either plasma or urine, indicating that lactonization of GHB does not occur in vivo. 3. The multiple-dose regimen resulted neither in accumulation of GHB nor in time-dependent modification of its pharmacokinetics. 4. In five subjects, the data were consistent with nonlinear elimination kinetics of GHB. Administration of a 50 mg kg-1 dose to these subjects resulted in significant increases in dose-normalized AUC, t1/2z and mean residence time. 5. Doubling of the dose also resulted in a significant increase in tmax with little change in Cmax. 6. At the administered doses, GHB did not accumulate in the plasma and caused no serious side effects.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1992

gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid in the treatment of alcohol dependence: a double-blind study.

The effect of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid on alcohol consumption and alcohol craving in alcoholics was investigated in a randomized double-blind study versus placebo. Patients were treated as outpatients during a three month period either with gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (50 mg/kg/day, divided into three daily doses) or with placebo. Of the 82 alcoholics that entered the study, 71 completed it, 36 in the gamma-hydroxybutyric acid and 35 in the placebo group. Alcohol consumption was assessed by the subject's self report. At the 3rd month of treatment, 11 patients in the gamma-hydroxybutyric acid group referred to be abstinent and 15 referred controlled drinking; while in the placebo group only two and six patients referred abstinence and controlled drinking, respectively. Serum-gammaglutamyl-transferase activity correlated with the admitted alcohol consumption. Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid treatment decreased alcohol craving during the 3 months of treatment. Transient side effects were noted by six patients on gamma-hydroxybutyric acid and two on placebo. The results suggest that gamma-hydroxybutyric acid may be useful in the treatment of alcohol dependence.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Suitability of PCR methods for forensic investigation. Analysis of the 3'apoB VNTR system in an Italian population sample.

The PCR method has been applied to amplify a Variable Number Tandem Repeat (VNTR) sequence located at the 3' end of the apolipoprotein B (ApoB) gene. The study was conducted on an Italian population sample and in a 3-generation family of 13 members, whose relationships were previously established using conventional blood systems. The allele frequencies found were compared with those reported in the literature. The results also confirmed the Mendelian inheritance of the alleles and the suitability of the PCR method for forensic purposes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

[Use of DNA amplification by PCR in the study of the hypervariable region (VNTR) in a forensic medicine setting. Experience with 2 systems: Apo B and YNZ 22].

The PCR method has been applied to amplify two Variable-number-Tandem-Repeat (VNTR) sequences. The high polymorphism of these VNTR systems can be usefully applied in medical legal fields such as paternity testing and individual identification. The VNTR systems utilized were: ApoB and YNZ 22. The study was conducted on a three-generation family of thirteen members, whose relationship was previously established using conventional blood systems. The results confirm the Mendelian inheritance of the alleles found and the suitability of the PCR method for forensic purposes.

Alleles↗