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Biomedical subjects

A Cavallini

Publications and source records attributed to A Cavallini.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Variation of repetitive DNA sequences in progenies of regenerated plants of Pisum sativum.

The frequency variation of highly repeated (HR) DNA sequences was studied in plants regenerated through in vitro culture of macerated vegetative apices of Pisum sativum and their progenies. Feulgen cytophotometry showed that regenerated plants (R1) have 6-7% more DNA per nucleus than control plants; this difference is maintained in the subsequent generation (R2). Slot-blot analyses using isolated highly repeated sequences as probe indicated that an increased frequency of these sequences occurs in regenerated plants and their progenies. These results were confirmed by a series of experiments: (a) metaphase chromosomes were longer in R2 than in control plants; (b) cytophotometric analyses of chromatin structure after Feulgen-staining showed that condensed chromatin is more represented in R2 than in control plants; and (c) thermal denaturation of isolated HR sequences indicated that a new HR family appears in R1 and is maintained in R2 plants. These results suggest that, in this species, the DNA extrasynthesized during in vitro culture is, at least in part, integrated in the chromosomes and transmitted to the progeny.

Chromatin↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Enhanced 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A reductase activity in human colorectal cancer not expressing low density lipoprotein receptor.

BACKGROUND: We have previously shown that 63.3% of colorectal cancer neoplastic specimens did not express the Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor (LDLR) protein and that the absence of LDLR predicted shorter survival. We now report the findings of a preliminary study on HMG-CoA reductase (HMG-CoAR) activity in neoplastic tissue specimens of human colorectal cancers (CRC) expressing or not expressing LDLR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The tissue specimens were obtained from 16 patients (10 males and 6 females) undergoing surgical resection for CRC, and previously characterized for LDLR (7 not expressing LDLR and 9 expressing LDLR). HMG-CoAR activity was measured by radiochemical assay using 14C-HMG-CoA as substrate. RESULTS: HMG-CoAR activity was significantly higher in specimens not expressing LDLR than in those expressing LDLR [8.3 pmol/min/mg prot (2.4-16) vs 3.9 pmol/min/mg prot (1.2-7.8), data expressed as median value and the range, p = 0.02, Wilcoxon Rank sum test)]. CONCLUSIONS: The cholesterol requirement in CRC not expressing LDLR may be met by increasing endogenous synthesis. For this reason, the use of HMG-CoA R inhibitors for the treatment of CRC expressing high HMG-CoAR activity-dependence for growth may be clinically important.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Low density lipoprotein receptor and mRNA expression in human colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: We have previously show that, 63.3% of colorectal cancers did not express the Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor (LDLR). We now report the findings of a study on the expression of LDLR and its mRNA in neoplastic tissue specimens of human colorectal cancer (CRC), carried out to verify whether the absence of the LDLR in these tumours is reflected by the absence of its transcript. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 32 patients (10 females and 22 males) operated for CRC were included in the study. The LDLR levels were evaluated by immunoenzymatic assay. The LDLR-mRNA, reverse-transcribed and then amplified by polymerase chain reaction, was detected by chromatography. RESULTS: The LDLR protein was present in 12 out of the 32 patients. LDLR-mRNA expression was detected in 17 out of the 32 patients. The absence of the LDLR protein was reflected by the absence of its transcript in 13 out of the 20 tumours; The LDLR mRNA levels were significantly higher in the tumours that did not expres LDLR. CONCLUSION: The variable expression of the LDLR protein and LDLR mRNA in CRC detected in this study suggests the possibility that different therapeutic strategies may be indicated for these tumours.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Immunohistochemical determination of antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) in transitional carcinoma of the bladder].

Carbohydrate Antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) histological expression in transitional cell bladder carcinoma (TCBC) was studied by means of immunohistochemistry and its findings compared with those of Tissue Polypeptidic Antigen (TPA) and Carcino Embryonic Antigen (CEA). Twenty-one TCBC of various grade and stage were analyzed by using Avidin-Biotin complex method for CA 19-9 and TPA Peroxidase-Antiperoxidase method for CEA. Grade 3 and pT1, pT2/pT3 carcinomas showed a constant staining for CA 19-9 antigen, grade 2 showed a 50% positive immunoreaction while all grade 1 cases were negative. TPA showed an inverse correlation with well differentiated carcinomas which were better and more extensively stained than anaplastic ones. CEA expression was not correlated either with grade or stage. CA 19-9 could be considered as a dedifferentiation marker in TCBC.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The Sarig test. A simple method to evaluate the inhibitory effect on urinary crystallization of calcium oxalate].

In this study, the Authors evaluate a simple test proposed by Sarig for the discrimination of kidney stone-formers, based on the overall urine inhibitory effect. A solution of the tested urine is added with sodium-oxalate and the kinetics of calcium-oxalate precipitation is indirectly followed with ionometric selective measurement of the progressive reduction of free calcium ions. A Discriminating Index may be therefore calculated; higher values are obtained in lithiasic patients in comparison with normal controls.

Calcium Oxalate↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Blood and urine determinations of tissue polypeptide antigen in patients with bladder carcinoma].

The Tissue Polypeptide Antigen (TPA) is an oncofetal antigen widely used in the diagnosis and follow-up of several urothelial cancers. Its urinary and serum detection is performed by means of RIA technique. We determined urinary and serum TPA in 30 patients with bladder cancer who underwent a transurethral resection. Ten out of 30 patients were correctly diagnosed by serum TPA, 22 by urinary TPA. The ANOVA test showed a statistically significant correlation between grade and urinary TPA between stage and serum TPA. Urinary TPA showed a good sensibility in low grade and moreover in Ta stage carcinoma. Serum TPA increased its performance with higher grade carcinoma and in presence of a muscle infiltration, but it never reached a sufficient sensibility to be considered a bladder cancer marker. In conclusion the simultaneous determination of urinary and serum TPA does not give more information than the urinary determination alone.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Comparison of fluoroquinolones (norfloxacin, enoxacin, ofloxacin) in the therapy of lower urinary tract infections].

The present study was carried out to assess comparatively the effectiveness and tolerance of norfloxacin, enoxacin and ofloxacin in the treatment and prophylaxis of infections of the low urinary tract in non-hospitalised patients. Thirty patients presenting positive uroculture on clinical evidence of ongoing infection were treated. Doses were 400 mg b.i.d. for norfloxacin, and 300 mg b.i.d. for ofloxacin and enoxacin; duration of treatment was 7 days in treatment. The pathogen was eradicated in 94% of cases at the control carried out after 5 days from the end of treatment; in the follow-up at 20 days, recurrences or reinfections were observed in 30% of the cases, almost all of them consisting of complicated infections. Slight side-effects were observed in 8 patients. No significant differences in effectiveness or tolerance were reported between the 3 quinolones under study which are therefore considered reliable overall for urological treatment. The absence of greater side-effects is related to the restriction of indications and the brevity of the therapeutic cycles.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Vegetative imbalance in migraine. A dynamic TV pupillometric evaluation.

In this study we investigated the variations of pupillary diameter obtained in different experimental conditions (dark/light adaptation, light reflex, sural nerve stimulation) in a group of migraine patients with unilateral location of pain in almost all the attacks and in healthy controls by means of a TV pupillometric device. The data obtained seems to document the existence in migraine of unbalanced vegetative function ascribable either to a strong sympathetic activity or to a parasympathetic deficiency. Moreover, an involvement of central integrative pathways regulating pupil functioning cannot be excluded.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Disordered sympathetic reactivity in menstrual migraine. A cardiopressor and biochemical evaluation.

Sympathetic reactivity in patients suffering from menstrual migraine has been evaluated by means of blood pressure, heart rate and catecholamine monitoring during the tilt-table test performed either in the follicular or in the luteal phase of menstrual cycle. A sympathoadrenal activation mainly described by increased plasma epinephrine levels, has been documented in menstrual migraine not only during the luteal period but also in the early phases of migraine attacks. On the other hand, the interval phases seem to be characterized by a sympathetic chronic hypofunction. Variations in catecholaminergic reactivity are discussed as factors conditioning headache pathophysiology and attack epiphenomena.

Adult↗