Biomedical subjects
S Ferrara
Publications and source records attributed to S Ferrara.
Antibacterial and allelopathic activity of extract from Castanea sativa leaves.
Following the extraction of Castanea sativa with an aqueous solution of sulfuric acid (pH 3.0), the ethyl acetate soluble fraction was tested for its antibacterial and allelopathic activity. The extract was shown to have pronounced antibacterial effects against seven of the eight strains of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria used (MIC in the range of 64-256 microg/ml and MBC in the range of 256-512 microg/ml). The active fraction was analyzed by TLC and HPLC showing the presence of rutin, hesperidin, quercetin, apigenin, morin, naringin, galangin and kaempferol. Standards of the identified flavonoids were tested against the same bacterial strains. The highest activity was shown by quercetin, rutin and apigenin. The allelopathic effect was tested against Raphanus sativus seed germination. The extract, quercetin, rutin and apigenin caused a decrease in the percentage of seed germination and root and epicotyl growth.
L-carnitine reduces plasma lipoprotein(a) levels in patients with hyper Lp(a).
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Elevated Lp(a) levels are a significant cardiovascular risk factor, particularly for young individuals and for subjects with concomitant high LDL cholesterol. Increased Lp(a) is believed to be linked to an enhanced production of the lipoprotein, controlled by genetic factors; it can be reduced by agents such as nicotinic acid, lowering free fatty acid inflow to the liver. METHODS AND RESULTS: L-carnitine, a natural compound stimulating fatty acid oxidation at the mitochondrial level, was tested in a double blind study in 36 subjects with Lp(a) levels ranging between 40-80 mg/dL, in most with concomitant LDL cholesterol and triglyceride elevations. L-carnitine (2 g/day) significantly reduced Lp(a) levels (-7.7% vs baseline and -11.7% vs placebo treatment), the reduction being more dramatic in the subjects with the more marked elevations. In particular, in the L-carnitine group, 14 out of 18 subjects (77.8%) had a significant reduction of Lp(a) vs only 7 out of 18 (38.9%) in the placebo group (chi 2 = 4.11, p = 0.0452). In a significant number of subjects the reduction of Lp(a) resulted in a return of this major cardiovascular risk parameter to the normal range. CONCLUSIONS: L-carnitine offers a potentially useful therapeutic agent for atherogenic conditions characterized by high Lp(a) levels, also in view of the excellent tolerability and essential lack of major side effects.
Differences between binge eating disorder and nonpurging bulimia nervosa.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the pathway to binge eating and clinical characteristics of binge eating disorder patients (BED) and nonpurging bulimics. METHODS: The subjects were 45 nonpurging bulimics and 45 BED patients who consecutively sought treatment in an outpatient eating disorders unit. The subjects underwent a clinical interview and replied to the Eating Disorders Inventory and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist. RESULTS: In most of the nonpurging bulimics (89%), binge eating is preceded by dieting and weight loss, whereas among BED patients the pathway to binge eating is more variable. Previous episodes of anorexia nervosa are significantly more frequent among nonpurging bulimics than among BED patients. The two groups did not differ in other clinical and psychological characteristics, such as psychiatric symptoms, frequency of binging, and impulsivity traits. However, on many of the variables, the BED group shows a significantly greater variance. DISCUSSION: Unlike nonpurging bulimics, BED patients appear to form a more heterogeneous group.
A preventive intervention program in adolescent schoolgirls: a longitudinal study.
BACKGROUND: To explore the impact of a prevention program on the eating and body attitudes of a sample of adolescent schoolgirls. METHODS: The program involved lessons and group discussions of general adolescent problems and eating disorders. A total of 254 16-year-old schoolgirls were evaluated, of whom 154 participated in the program and a further 154 subjects formed the control group. Variations in weight, Eating Attitudes Test and Eating Disorders Inventory at a 1-year follow-up were compared for the two groups. RESULTS: Among high-risk subjects, no significant differences were found between the prevention and the control group. The preventive program appeared to reduce significantly body dissatisfaction and to decrease the risk of bulimic attitudes in low-risk subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Providing schoolgirls with the correct information about eating disorders did not encourage unhealthy attitudes to eating and weight regulation practices. However, for high-risk subjects more intensive and specific intervention may be required, for which further research is needed.
[Tension-free hernioplasty in the treatment of inguinal hernia in the adult: our experience with local anesthesia and a review of the literature].
BACKGROUND: In the last years the real innovation in the treatment of groin hernia is represented by tension-free hernioplasty under local anaesthesia, based on the techniques of Lichtenstein and Trabucco, which use synthetic prosthesis (polypropylene) to restore the floor of inguinal tract and enable an early deambulation and return to work. METHODS: In 21 months the authors have treated, only under local anaesthesia, 100 patients, 95 men and 5 women; the age ranged from 18 to 82 years; some of them suffer from systemic pathology (7 patients with cardiovascular diseases, 1 with epilepsy, 3 with pulmonary diseases, 1 with liver cirrhosis). All patients underwent short-term antibiotic prophylaxis. No mortality was recorded. The mean follow-up was 12.5 months with only one little and low recurrence detected. RESULTS: Good results were obtained also in terms of intraoperative complication (nausea, vomiting, bradycardia, pain) and post-operative complications, (ecchymosis of scrotum and penis, edema of the scrotum, swelling of the skin suture, subcutaneous hematoma, inguinal pain, fever), not life-threatening, well tolerated and resolved spontaneously. CONCLUSIONS: The authors stress the advantages of local anaesthesia, the economic spare due, to one day hospital stay, the safety of the technique also in patients with severe general diseases (0.9-1% in USA). The authors survey the international literature confirming the great effectiveness of tension-free inguinal hernioplasty, in particular in terms of recurrences (Trabucco 0-0.025%, Amid 0.1%).
[MRI in progressive sensorineural hearing loss].
Magnetic resonance contrast imaging using gadolinium-DTPA and performing new high resolution sequences (Fast Spin-Echo, Spoiled Gradient-Echo) or angiographic sequences (Magnetic Resonance Angiography) allows an excellent visualization of the inner ear and the cerebellopontine angle to be obtained. Furthermore, using sequences obtained with the "steady-state" technique (Gradient Recalled At Steady-State-GRASS, Constructive Interference at Steady-State-CISS), a good analysis of the structures of the membranous labyrinth can be achieved. Based on these diagnostic techniques, we have studied the morphological features of the membranous labyrinth in patients with progressive sensorineural hearing loss due to inner ear malformations, labyrinthitis, neuritis of VII and VIII cranial nerves, degenerative entities such as otosclerosis and Ménière's disease, neoplasms of the cerebellopontine angle, of the inner ear and of the middle ear (glomus tumours, acoustic neuromas, meningiomas, epidermoid tumours, arachnoid cysts and malignant neoplasms).
Supersymmetry and attractors.
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Universality of supersymmetric attractors.
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Sexual transmission of hepatitis C virus infection.
The role of sexual transmission in the diffusion of HCV infection, was studied through the seroprevalence of anti-HCV antibodies in the heterosexual habitual partners of 83 anti-HCV positive subjects. The index cases were represented by 10 dialysed subjects, 31 patients with chronic liver disease and 42 healthy carriers. Seroprevalence of anti-HCV positivity reported in partners was 8.43%, with a higher rate in cohabitants of patients with chronic liver disease (16.12% vs 4.76% of carriers); no case was found among partners of dialysed subjects Laboratory and ultrasonograph signs of chronic hepatitis were reported in 3 cases (3.61%). Control on 70% of the cohabitants' relatives, was negative for HCV infections. These data suggest a possible sexual transmission of HCV infection, even if its prevalence resulted modest, undoubtedly lower than in other disease sexually transmitted.
MRI of the inner ear: use of modified GRASS and fast spin-echo sequences. A preliminary study.
We report our experience with MRI of the normal and pathological inner ear with fast spin-echo and modified gradient recalled at steady state sequences. Although earlier studies on temporal bone MRI were discouraging, improvements in MR technology combined with the use of paramagnetic contrast media can make MRI a useful diagnostic tool for the assessment of inner ear pathology. Conventional spin-echo imaging seems not to be the modality of choice because of the relatively thick slices and the long acquisition times.
Binding of the radioligand [3H]-SCH 58261, a new non-xanthine A2A adenosine receptor antagonist, to rat striatal membranes.
1. The present study describes the binding to rat striatal A2A adenosine receptors of the new potent and selective antagonist radioligand, [3H]-5-amino-7-(2-phenylethyl)-2-(2-furyl)-pyrazolo[4,3-e]-1,2,4-triazol o [1,5-c] pyrimidine, [3H]-SCH 58261. 2. [3H]-SCH 58261 specific binding to rat striatal membranes ( > 90%) was saturable, reversible and dependent upon protein concentration. Saturation experiments revealed that [3H]-SCH 58261 labelled a single class of recognition sites with high affinity (Kd = 0.70 nM) and limited capacity (apparent Bmax = 971 fmol mg-1 of protein). The presence of 100 microM GTP in the incubation mixture did not modify [3H]-SCH 58261 binding parameters. 3. Competition experiments showed that [3H]-SCH 58261 binding is consistent with the labelling of A2A striatal receptors. Adenosine receptor agonists competed with the binding of 0.2 nM [3H]-SCH 58261 with the following order of potency: 2-hexynyl-5'-N-ethyl carboxamidoadenosine (2HE-NECA) > 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA) > 2-[4-(2-carboxyethyl)-phenethylamino]-5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosi ne (CGS 21680) > 2-phenylaminoadenosine (CV 1808) > R-N6-phenylisopropyladenosine (R-PIA) > N6-cyclohexyladenosine (CHA) = 2-chloro-N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CCPA) > S-N6-phenylisopropyladenosine (S-PIA). 4. Adenosine antagonists inhibited [3H]-SCH 58261 binding with the following order: 5-amino-9-chloro-2-(2-furyl)-[1,2,4]-triazolo[1,5-c] quinazoline (CGS 15943) > 5-amino-8-(4-fluorobenzyl)-2-(2-furyl)-pyrazolo [4,3-e]-1,2,4-triazolo [1,5-c] pyrimidine (8FB-PTP) = SCH 58261 > xanthine amine congener (XAC) = (E,18%-Z,82%)7-methyl-8-(3,4-dimethoxystyryl)-1,3-dipropylxanthine (KF 17837S) > 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX) > or = 8-phenyltheophylline (8-PT). 5. The Ki values for adenosine antagonists were similar to those labelled with the A2A agonist [3H]-CGS 21680. Affinities of agonists were generally lower. The A1-selective agonist, R-PIA, was found to be about 9 fold more potent than its stereoisomer, S-PIA, thus showing the stereoselectivity of [3H]-SCH 58261 binding. Except for 8-PT, the adenosine agonists and antagonists examined inhibited [3H]-SCH 58261 binding with Hill coefficients not significantly different from unity. 6. The present results indicate that [3H]-SCH 58261 is the first non-xanthine adenosine antagonist radioligand which directly labels A2A striatal receptors. High receptor affinity, good selectivity and very low non-specific binding make [3H]-SCH 58261 an excellent probe for studying the A2A adenosine receptor subtype in mammalian brain.
1,2,3-Triazolo[5,4-e]1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidine derivatives: a new class of A2A adenosine receptor antagonists.
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Labeling of A2A adenosine receptors in human platelets by use of the new nonxanthine antagonist radioligand [3H]SCH 58261.
The present study describes the binding to human platelet A2A adenosine receptors of the new potent and selective antagonist radioligand [3H]5-amino-7-(2-phenylethyl)-2-(2-furyl)-pyrazolo[4,3-e]-1,2,4-triazolo [1,5-c] pyrimidine ([3H]SCH 58261). Saturation experiments revealed that [3H]SCH 58261 labels a single class of recognition sites with high affinity (Kd = 0.85 nM), limited capacity (apparent Bmax = 85 fmol/mg of protein) and good specific binding (about 60%). [3H]SCH 58261 binding was not modulated by either the divalent cation Mg(+2) or guanine nucleotides. In competition experiments, a series of both adenosine agonists and antagonists inhibited [3H]SCH 58261 binding to A2A platelet receptors with rank order of potency and affinity similar to those observed in rat striatal membranes with the same radioligand. This confirms that the platelet A2A receptor is similar to that labeled in the brain striatum. Binding data were also found to be in good agreement with the results from functional studies such as A2A agonist-induced stimulation of adenylate cyclase or platelet aggregation inhibition. The present findings indicate that [3H]SCH 58261 is the first radioligand available for the characterization of the A2A receptor subtype in platelets.
N=2 extremal black holes.
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Treatment with ribavirin+alpha interferon in HCV chronic active hepatitis non-responders to interferon alone: preliminary results.
Alpha interferon (IFN-alpha) represents the best therapy for HCV active chronic hepatitis, but only 25% of treated patients achieve a complete recovery. Several attempts have been made to increase this percentage. The objective of our study is to verify whether the combination ribavirin (R)+ IFN-alpha can lead to positive results in non-responders to treatment with IFN-alpha alone. The preliminary results for 5 subjects, all non-responders to IFN, treated with R+ IFN for 60 days and then IFN alone for 4 months more show that during the R+IFN treatment, 2 subjects presented a reduction in transaminase; a month after the suspension of R, ALT returned to pre-treatment values. The results are preliminary but we can say that this combination in the proposed doses and times in these subjects, cannot be considered adequate to modify the natural course of this disease.
Bell's palsy and visualization of the facial nerve by MRI.
A group of patients complaining of facial nerve palsy (Bell's palsy) were evaluated with MRI using a 0.5 unit and high resolution T1-weighted images, in order to evaluate the efficacy of Gd-DTPA enhancement in depicting the degree of nerve damage: MRI examination was performed within 24 hours to two weeks after the onset of palsy. The authors describe the results obtained from the analysis of 11 cases of Bell's palsy, discussing the prognostic and clinical significance.
B cell dysfunction after bone marrow transplantation is associated with decreased Ca2+ flux upon membrane Ig crosslinking.
Patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation have a long-lasting defect of B cell-mediated immunity. Both quantitative (decreased blood B cell counts) and qualitative (decreased Ig production) abnormalities of B cells have been described. To better understand the mechanism of the qualitative defect and its potential relation to B cell immaturity, we studied the in vitro responsiveness of B cells to polyclonal stimuli in patients at 2-12 months post-transplant and in normal neonates. Several key steps of the B cell program were deficient in the patients while they were relatively normal in the neonates. These included (i) early activation as assessed by Ca2+ flux; (ii) late activation as assessed by the increase in cell size and upregulation of the activation antigens CD25 and CD71; and (iii) proliferation as assessed by the number of cycling cells after stimulation. We conclude that the functional B cell defect during the early (< 1 year) post-transplant period extends back to the level of early activation and cannot be simply attributed to the relative immaturity of post-transplant B cells.