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Biomedical subjects

A Di Carlo

Publications and source records attributed to A Di Carlo.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

The cardiovascular outcome of patients with motor impairment and extensive leukoaraiosis.

BACKGROUND AND METHODS: The long-term outcome of patients with motor impairment and extensive leukoaraiosis on computed tomographic scan is unknown. We studied the incidence of stroke, myocardial infarction, and death in 31 such patients (cases) and in 68 neurologic patients without leukoaraiosis (controls). The patients in both groups had a routine neurologic and cardiovascular assessment and were followed up for 51.9 +/- 20.1 (mean +/- SD) months (cases) and 49.5 +/- 18.6 months (controls). RESULTS: The 6-year risk of cumulative stroke, as determined by life table analysis, was 49% among cases and 16% among controls (hazard ratio, 3.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.2 to 7.5). The risk of stroke or myocardial infarction was 69% vs 36% (hazard ratio, 2.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.4 to 6.2). The stroke risk remained significantly increased among cases after adjustment for age, sex, and any conventional vascular risk factor, while it was reduced (hazard ratio, 2.5; 95% confidence interval, 0.8 to 7.4) after adjustment for history of lacunar stroke was corrected for and was almost halved (hazard ratio, 1.6; 95% confidence interval, 0.5 to 4.6) after adjustment for the presence of lacunar infarction images on computed tomographic scan. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with motor impairment and extensive leukoaraiosis have a very poor cardiovascular outcome. Lacunar infarction might be the major determinant of the outcome in these patients.

Brain Diseases↗
PubMed1995

bFGF release is dependent on flow conditions in experimental vein grafts.

OBJECTIVES: Basic Fibroblastic Growth Factor (bFGF) is a powerful mitogen for smooth muscle cells and has been implicated in the genesis of Myointimal hyperplasia. The aim of this study was to determine the release of bFGF by veins in different haemodynamic conditions. DESIGN AND SETTING: Laboratory animal study. MATERIALS: In 39 Lewis rats, a 1 cm long segment of inferior vena cava was inserted at the level of the abdominal aorta. The segments of inferior vena cava were obtained from syngenic Lewis rats. Arterial Vein Grafts (AVG) were harvested after 4 weeks (AVG 4) and 12 weeks (AVG 12). In 16 animals the arterial vein grafts were explanted 4 weeks after the initial operation and reimplanted (Reimplanted Vein Grafts: RVG) in syngenic Lewis rats as venous-venous bypass grafts at the level of the left iliac vein and harvested after 2 weeks (RVG 2) and 8 weeks (AVG 8). OUTCOME MEASURES: The tissue was studied in organ culture in a serum-free system for (1) release of bFGF (immunoassay) and (2) mitogenic activity of the conditioned media. Scanning electron and light microscopy studies were also performed. RESULTS: bFGF release by veins increased significantly (p < 0.01) when veins were inserted in the arterial circulation, and decreased significantly (p < 0.01) when grafts were reimplanted in the venous system. bFGF release (ng/cm2): [Formula: see text] CONCLUSION: Vein inserted in the arterial circulation release a higher quantity of bFGF. This could explain in part, the formation of myointimal hyperplasia in arterial vein graft.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Complement component C3b and immunoglobulin Fc receptors on neutrophils from calves with leukocyte adhesion deficiency.

Receptors for opsonins, such as complement component C3b (CR1) and immunoglobulins, Fc receptors, interact with adhesion glycoproteins in mediating immune functions. Defects in expression of the adhesion glycoproteins CD11/CD18 results in severely hampered in vitro and in vivo adherence-related functions of leukocytes. Little is known regarding the effect of leukocyte adhesion deficiency (LAD) on ligand binding and receptor expression. We investigated the binding and expression of CR1 and Fc receptors by bovine neutrophils isolated from dairy calves suffering from LAD, compared with clinically normal (hereafter referred to as normal) age-matched calves. Neutrophils were also assayed for endogenously bound IgG and IgM and for exogenous binding of C3b, IgG1, IgG2, IgM, and aggregated IgG (aIgG), using flow cytometry. Luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence (CL) production in response to IgG2 opsonized zymosan was studied, and specific inhibition of CL was used to determine the specificity of IgG2 binding. Activation of protein kinase C with phorbol myristate acetate was used to determine the effect of cellular activation on expression of CR1. A greater percentage of neutrophils from normal calves bound C3b than did neutrophils from LAD-affected calves. Receptor expression was similar. Activation with phorbol myristate acetate resulted in increased expression of CR1 on neutrophils from normal and LAD-affected calves, but expression was almost twofold greater on neutrophils from normal calves. There was no difference between LAD-affected and normal calves in percentage of neutrophils that bound endogenous IgG and IgM. A greater percentage of neutrophils from normal calves bound exogenous IgM than did neutrophils from LAD-affected calves.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1994

Endemic goiter in Calabria: etiopathogenesis and thyroid function.

An endemic goiter study was carried out in a vast territory of the Calabria region, including the provinces of Catanzaro and Cosenza. About 50% of 7231 school-children, aged between 6 and 12 years, examined in 34 villages, presented a thyroid enlargement. The high prevalence of goiter seems to be related to a moderate iodine deficiency intake indicated by a mild urinary iodine excretion (lower than 100 micrograms/g creatinine). In a few villages, in which a two year voluntary iodine prophylaxis was carried out, an increase in the urinary iodine excretion with a decreased goiter prevalence was observed. A slight increase in TT3, FT3 and TSH in one endemic area studied, compared to the control area, was also observed. These data suggest that an effective program of iodoprophylaxis is fundamental in this region as well.

Child↗
PubMed1994

Antioxidant status in the blood of patients with active vitiligo.

We have previously reported that patients with active vitiligo (AVP) have elevated urinary levels of catecholamine metabolites, such as homovanillic and vanilmandelic acids, irrespective of the form of the disease (acrofacial, segmental, generalized). We have suggested that abnormal release of catecholamines from autonomic nerve endings might play an etiological role in the onset and development of vitiligo through an overproduction of toxic (oxy)radicals in the microenvironment of melanocytes in the affected areas. In the present study we have investigated whether this suggested increase in radicals might be associated with an oxidative stress in the blood of AVP. We have analyzed by gas-chromatography mass-spectrometry, by high pressure liquid chromatography, by spectrophotometry plasma levels of vitamin E (Vit E), lipoperoxides (LIP), and polyunsaturated fatty acids of phospholipids (PL-FA), erythrocyte reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in 62 patients affected with different forms of active vitiligo (acrofacial, segmental, generalized) and in 60 age-matched controls. Our results show that blood levels of Vit E, SOD, GSH, GSH-Px activity, LIP and PL-FA in AVP were not significantly different from those of healthy age matched controls, indicating that melanocyte damage in vitiligo is not linked with a generalized oxidative stress.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Epidermal growth factor receptor and lipid membrane components in human lung cancers.

The binding of 125I-epidermal growth factor (EGF) to the plasma membranes of 54 samples of human lung tumors was determined. These included 34 squamous cell carcinomas and 20 adenocarcinomas. Twenty samples of histologically normal lung excised surgically along with the tumors were used as controls. Most of the plasma membranes showed an EGF receptor level higher than that of normal tissue. A moderate increase in the amount of 125I-EGF bound (2-5 fold) was observed in the majority of the tumors. Only a few cases (5-10% of the total) showed a large increase (> than 10 fold). The binding of 125I-EGF was compared with clinical stages and grades of differentiation. No correlation between the stage of the tumor and 125I-EGF binding was observed. However, the highest levels of EGF receptor (EGF-R) were found in poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinomas. The total amount and the distribution pattern of gangliosides and phospholipids were analyzed in individual tumors. A decrease in GD1b, GD1a and sphingomyelin and an increase in GM1 and GM3 was observed. No correlation was detected when tumors with the highest or lowest levels of gangliosides or phospholipids were compared with tumors exhibiting the highest binding of 125I-EGF.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1992

Epidermal growth factor receptor in human brain tumors.

The expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) was examined in 27 primary human brain tumors (7 glioblastomas, 10 astrocytomas, 5 oligodendrogliomas, 1 schwannoma, 1 ganglioneuroma, 1 medulloblastoma, 1 ependymoma, 1 histiocytic lymphoma), in 6 brain metastases from lung carcinomas and in 20 meningiomas. Peritumoral tissues histologically normal excised surgically along with a large tumor were used as control. All plasma membranes from brain tissues tested showed specific EGF binding. The EGF receptor is expressed at low levels in the control human brain and at very high levels in 60% of the total intracranial tumors studied. When the various histological types of tumors were analyzed, the higher percentage of positive tumors was found with the meningiomas (85%) and the glioblastomas (71%), while the lower percentage of positivity was found with the oligodendrogliomas (40%) and the astrocytomas (30%). A good correlation between binding and total amount of EGF-R protein detected by Western Blot was also observed.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Constitutive expression of transforming growth factor alpha does not transform rat thyroid epithelial cells.

To evaluate the role of transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha) in transformed rat thyroid epithelial cells, expression and production of TGF alpha were measured in a normal rat thyroid epithelial cell line, FRTL-5, and in the same cells transformed by the Ki-ras oncogene. FRTL-5 cells transformed with Ki-ras exhibit a 5- to 7-fold increase in the levels of TGF alpha-specific mRNA and a 3- to 4-fold enhancement of the amounts of TGF alpha protein in the conditioned medium, as compared with the normal thyroid cells. Although conditioned medium from the Ki-ras transformed FRTL-5 cells or authentic epidermal growth factor or TGF alpha are able to stimulate the anchorage-dependent growth of nontransformed FRTL-5 cells, neither conditioned medium nor the growth factors are able to induce the anchorage-independent growth of these cells in soft agar. FRTL-5 cells were then transfected with an expression vector plasmid containing the human TGF alpha cDNA to directly ascertain if over-expression of this growth factor is able to induce transformation in these cells. The TGF alpha-transfected FRTL-5 clones constitutively produced high amounts of TGF alpha at a level equivalent to or greater than the level found in the conditioned medium from the Ki-ras transformed FRTL-5 clones. Moreover, in contrast to the Ki-ras transformed cells, the TGF alpha transfectants were unable to grow in soft agar, did not form tumors in nude mice, and showed no reduction in the secretion of thyroglobulin. These data demonstrate that unlike Ki-ras, the constitutive expression of biologically active TGF alpha is not entirely sufficient to elicit a transformed phenotype in these cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Epidermal growth factor receptor and thyrotropin response in human thyroid tissues.

The content of epidermal-growth-factor receptor (EGFr) and its relation to TSH-response were examined in 27 malignant thyroid tumors (5 follicular, 6 papillary, 5 medullary, 11 anaplastic carcinomas) and in 30 tumor-like lesions (21 hyperplastic goiters and 9 toxic adenomatous goiters). Normal 12 thyroid tissues adjacent to benign tumors with no evidence of macroscopic or microscopic abnormalities were used as control. All thyroid plasma membranes tested showed specific EGF binding. In membranes from toxic adenomas (2.18 +/- 0.73 fmoles/mg protein) and papillary carcinomas (2.80 +/- 0.80) the EGF binding was similar to that of normal thyroid membranes (2.32 +/- 0.73). Hyperplastic goiters showed an EGF binding (4.4 +/- 0.82) slightly higher than normal tissue. The highest and the lowest EGF binding values were found in anaplastic (11.8 +/- 2.78) and medullary (0.50 +/- 0.39) carcinomas, respectively. An inverse correlation between EGFr content and TSH-response was found when anaplastic thyroid tumors were compared to tumor-like lesions. However no correlation was observed in medullary carcinomas which also failed to respond to TSH and in papillary carcinomas which partially respond to thyrotropin.

Cell Membrane↗
PubMed1990

Gangliosides and phospholipids in human thyroids responsive and unresponsive to thyrotropin.

The patterns of gangliosides and phospholipids and their relation to TSH response were examined in twenty-six malignant thyroid tumors (4 follicular, 6 papillary, 5 medullary, 11 anaplastic carcinomas) and thirty-six hyperplastic goiters. Thirteen thyroid tissues adjacent to benign tumors with no evidence of macroscopic or microscopic abnormalities were used as normal tissue. In normal thyroids the major ganglioside was GD3 (44%) and GM3 was the second ganglioside (20%). In minor amounts GD1a (8.6%), GD1b (6.2%), GT1b (5.7%) and GM1 (5.6%) were present. In hyperplastic goiters and in follicular carcinomas the patterns of gangliosides were similar to that of normal tissue except for GM3 which, in the last tissue, was higher (34%). In papillary carcinomas low levels of GM3 (11%) and GT1b (0.8%) with a high level of GD1b (12.6%) were found. In anaplastic carcinomas GM3 was very high (47%) whereas GD3 was low (18%). In these tumors also a high percentage (14.0%) of GD1a was found. In medullary carcinomas the lowest levels of GM3 (4%) with the highest level of GD3 (64%) were found. Although large differences of the gangliosides distribution were clearly encountered in the various pathological human thyroid, no correlation between lack of TSH response and some individual ganglioside could be made. No differences in the individual phospholipid in the various tissues studied were found.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1990

The tissue-specific pathways regulating cell proliferation are inherited independently in somatic hybrid between thyroid and liver cells.

Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and insulin-like growth factors type 1 (IGF-I) regulate the proliferation and differentiation of cultured thyroid cells but not of cultured liver cells. We have examined the influence of TSH and IGF-I on the metabolic functions and proliferation of somatic hybrids obtained by fusing rat thyroid cells (FRTL5) with rat liver cells (BRL). While IGF-I is able to stimulate the proliferation of the hybrid cells (TxL) TSH fails to induce their growth. However, the hybrid TxL cells have surface TSH receptors with normal ligand characteristics. The addition of TSH to TxL cells led to typical enhancement of cAMP production and depolymerization of actin filaments. Yet, TSH failed to stimulate iodine uptake in the hybrid cells. Interestingly, iodine inhibited TxL proliferation induced by IGF-I but not by serum. It is concluded that the hybrid TxL cells inherited from the parental thyroid cells several important differentiated traits including mitogenic pathways induced and used by IGF-I, functional TSH receptors, and sensitivity to the inhibitory action of iodine.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Diurnal pattern of plasma metformin concentrations and its relation to metabolic effects in type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic patients.

The authors describe the diurnal profile of plasma metformin concentrations in a group of 6 Type 2 (noninsulin-dependent) diabetic patients studied at two different daily metformin doses (500 mg and 850 mg b.d.) and report data on the relationships between plasma metformin and metabolic effects over a 14 h period. In addition, the effect of circulating metformin on insulin binding to isolated monocytes has been evaluated. At the two different daily doses fasting plasma metformin concentrations were similar (3.23 +/- 0.35 mumol/l and 3.86 +/- 0.72 mumol/l, mean values +/- SEM, at low and high dose respectively). Drug peak values and averaged concentrations (4.66 +/- 0.39 mumol/l vs 6.35 +/- 0.69 mumol/l) were significantly higher when more drug was administered. Mean plasma glucose was lower when 1,700 mg/day instead of 1,000 mg/day of metformin was given (7.3 +/- 0.4 mmol/l vs 9.1 +/- 0.9 mmol/l, p less than 0.05). After dosing, at higher plasma metformin concentrations corresponded lower plasma glucose values. The averaged blood lactate levels resulted 1.46 +/- 0.4 mmol/l (p less than 0.05 vs matched diet treated diabetic patients) at the higher drug dose. A significant positive correlation emerged between mean plasma metformin concentrations and mean blood lactate levels (r: 0.76, p less than 0.02). Alanine, glycerol and B-OH-butyrate levels were similar at the two metformin daily doses, and were not correlated to plasma metformin. The binding of insulin to isolated human monocytes was similar in metformin-treated diabetic patients (4.48 +/- 0.45) as in healthy volunteers (4.62 +/- 0.34); insulin binding was correlated (p less than 0.05) with plasma metformin levels.

Alanine↗
PubMed1989

Dual effect of transforming growth factor beta on rat thyroid cells: inhibition of thyrotropin-induced proliferation and reduction of thyroid-specific differentiation markers.

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta) is now known to have a number of effects other than inducing phenotypic transformation of fibroblastic cells: TGF beta controls proliferation, differentiation, and other functions in many cell types. In this paper we have analyzed the action of TGF beta 1 on a system of differentiated epithelial rat thyroid cells in culture (FRTL5), which depend on the addition of thyrotropin for their growth. TGF beta 1 is able to inhibit the growth of thyroid cells by reducing cell response to thyrotropin. Moreover, in analogy to the effect produced upon other differentiated cells in culture, such as myoblasts and adipocytes, TGF beta 1 modulates the expression of FRTL5-specific thyroid markers, reducing thyroglobulin biosynthesis and the ability to concentrate the iodide.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Do multiple oestrogen receptor assays give significant additional information for the management of breast cancer?

In 101 breast cancer patients, measurement of oestrogen receptor status in multiple biopsies across a tumour reveals a highly significant difference in the proportion of patients remaining either disease-free (P less than 0.04) or alive (P less than 0.005), when those with uniformly receptor positive (++) primary tumours are matched with clinically comparable patients whose tumours were homogeneously receptor negative (--). Mean follow-up time was 85 months. The prognostic value of this discriminant is particularly striking in the 53 patients with involved nodes at presentation. Of these, 13 were (++) and seven remain alive of whom six are disease-free, whereas 24 of the 29 (--) patients are dead. These results further suggest that receptor assay on a single homogenate gives less clinical information than do assays on multiple biopsies across the tumour. For patients with involved nodes, clinical management may best be decided after determination of 'macroheterogeneity'.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1989

[Seborrhea-like dermatitis in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Clinical, histological, and microbiological aspects and biochemical findings].

Seventy-six patients diagnosed as having seborrheic dermatitis (SD) were divided into two groups: group A (n = 22) otherwise healthy subjects (HIV negative) and group B (n = 54) HIV positive (ARC and AIDS cases). Thirty normal healthy subjects without SD were considered as control (group C). The three groups were subjected to the following analyses: A) skin surface lipids (SSL) and fatty acid pattern of cholesterol esters, wax esters, triglycerides and free fatty acids fractions in the affected areas; B) plasma levels of Vitamin E and fatty acids of phospholipids; C) erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (3 cases for each group); D) frequency of Pityrosporum species in the affected areas; E) skin biopsy in the affected areas (2 cases for each group). Histological findings paralleled those reported in the Literature. SSL composition, fatty acid pattern and frequency of Pityrosporum species did not show significant variation among the 3 groups. On the contrary the blood levels of Vitamin E, polyunsaturated fatty acids of phospholipids and glutathione peroxidase were found significantly lower in A and B groups than in the controls.

AIDS-Related Complex↗
PubMed1989

Cyclosporin A and psoriasis: a thermographic study.

The thermographic method permits the making of a rigorous evaluation of the cutaneous blood flow by means of thermal recovery times after thermostimulation at 5 degrees C for 20 sec. The aim of the present study was to examine the blood flow of the psoriatic skin of 7 patients before and after a course of cyclosporin therapy, by means of this method. The results show a constant, initial hyperthermia with precocious thermal recovery times, in comparison with the healthy perilesional skin. Following therapy, a prolongation of the thermal recovery time was observed in all of the patients, together with a significant improvement of the dermatosis.

Cyclosporins↗
PubMed1988

Phase III randomized study of fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide v fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide in advanced breast cancer: an Italian multicentre trial.

From February 1983 to January 1985, 497 patients with advanced breast cancer were randomly allocated to receive either epirubicin or doxorubicin in the following combination chemotherapy regimen: fluorouracil (5-FU) 500 mg/m2 intravenous (IV) on days 1 and 8; epirubicin or doxorubicin 50 mg/m2 IV on day 1; cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m2 IV on day 1 (FEC or FAC). Cycles were repeated every 21 days until progression or to cumulative doses of 700 mg/m2 for epirubicin and 550 mg/m2 for doxorubicin. Dose reductions were applied according to the standard criteria. Activity was evaluated in 443 patients (222 in the FEC arm and 221 in the FAC arm). The two experimental groups were comparable in age, performance status, menopausal status, histology, previous treatments, and site of the disease. The overall response rate (complete response and partial response [CR + PR]) was not significantly different: 53.6% for FEC and 56.5% for FAC. The median time to progression was 273 days for FEC and 314 days for FAC; the median survival time was 591 and 613 days, respectively. Leukopenia, anemia, nausea, and vomiting were significantly lower in patients treated with FEC. As for cardiotoxicity, four cases of congestive heart failure (CHF) were recorded among patients treated with FAC while only one was observed in the FEC group. These results indicate that epirubicin in a combination chemotherapy regimen is as active as doxorubicin and is significantly less toxic.

Adult↗