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Biomedical subjects

A Esposito

Publications and source records attributed to A Esposito.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

The effects of hexavalent and trivalent chromium on fertilization and development in sea urchins.

The action of Cr6+ (as chromate) and Cr3+ (as sulfate and nitrate) on fertilization and development has been investigated in sea urchins. By rearing the embryos in the presence of chromate (5 X 10(-5) to 5 X 10(-4) M), the differentiation of the gut and skeleton was severely affected. The treatment of sperm before fertilization with CrO2- 4 (10 to 30 min, 10(-4) to 10(-2) M) resulted in a number of abnormal larvae, depending on the length of exposure and the CrO2- 4 concentration. Morphological and quantitative changes of mitotic activity during cleavage were observed as a result of CrO2- 4 exposure of zygotes, as well as of sperm and egg pretreatment. The exposure of embryos to Cr3+ after fertilization permitted larval differentiation, but affected the motility and hatchability of the embryos. The pretreatment of gametes with Cr3+ never induced larval malformations. Cr3+ exerted a strong depressive action on fertilization by decreasing the fertilizing capacity of sperm and leaving the fertilizability of the eggs almost unaffected.

Animals↗

Fertilization and larval development in sea urchins following exposure of gametes and embryos to cadmium.

The gametes and embryos of three sea urchin species were exposed to cadmium chloride at concentrations ranging from 10(-8) M to 10(-3) M. When zygotes were reared in the presence of Cd2+, skeletal differentiation displayed some severe abnormalities or was suppressed, as a function of Cd2+ level. The embryotoxic action of Cd2+ was inversely related to salinity and to Ca2+ concentration. Cadmium-exposed larvae displayed similar abnormalities if Cd2+ was present throughout development or only after hatching, while pre-hatching exposure produced no developmental defects. No aberrations in mitotic figures were observed in cleaving eggs following acute exposure to Cd2+. The pretreatment of sperm or eggs did not affect the ensuing development of embryos, both for acutely toxic Cd2+ levels (up to 10(-2) M), and for prolonged exposures in relatively low Cd2+ levels. The fertilization rate was differently affected depending on whether sperm or eggs were pretreated; i.e., the exposure of eggs to Cd2+ promoted fertilization at relatively high Cd2+ levels. If sperm was exposed to Cd2+, a depression of fertilizing capacity was observed at high Cd2+ levels, while lower Cd2+ levels, displayed an opposite action, resulting in an increase in fertilization rate after prolonged sperm exposure.

Animals↗

Abstracts of state legislated hospital cost-containment programs.

This report summarizes State legislated efforts to control rising hospital costs and the status of these efforts in May 1982. The abstract for each of 17 State programs summarizes key legislative features and operating aspects. The States included in this report are: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, The abstracts focus on programs requiring the disclosure, review, or legislation of hospital rates and budgets.

Budgets↗

[The sigma sedimentation rate in rheumatoid arthritis: comparative study of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate].

The authors studied 54 patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis by sigma SR method. The sigma SR, unlike the ESR, often reveals inflammatory activity in patients suffering from possible or probable rheumatoid arthritis and is very useful to diagnose the disease. The sigma SR constantly increases when the disease is in active period, unlike the ESR, in patients affected by classic or definite rheumatoid arthritis. The authors conclude the sigma SR determination is useful in every case of rheumatoid arthritis, especially when the disease is at beginning and is difficult to be diagnosed, i.e. cases of possible and probable rheumatoid arthritis, and when clinical and biohumoral picture disagree.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

Gram-negative bacteremic shock: pathophysiology, clinical features, and treatment.

Life-threatening, gram-negative-rod bacteremia often complicates modern surgical procedures. The development of shock in association with gram-negative bacteremia represents a grave complication. The pathophysiology and clinical features of gram-negative bacteremic shock are reviewed, and contemporary forms of therapy are evaluated.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Reliability of a single urine culture in establishing diagnosis of asymptomatic bacteriuria in adult males.

Fifty-nine asymptomatic men without catheters of ileal-loop bladders, who were attending a urology clinic and were incidentally discovered to have 100,000 or more Enterobacteriaceae per ml ("significant bacteriuria") in a clean voided urine sample, were prospectively evaluated. To identify these 59 patients, 5,876 urine samples, collected exclusively from men, had been subjected to quantitation and identification. A repeat urine culture performed on these patients invariably confirmed the results of the initial culture. The reproducibility of a single urine culture containing significant bacteriuria occurred independently of the tissue source of infection, as determined by the antibody-coated-bacteria immunofluorescence test. We conclude that a single urine culture obtained from a cooperative man can establish the diagnosis of asymptomatic bacteriuria.

Adult↗

Embryotoxic and teratogenic effects of styrene derivatives on sea urchin development.

The effects of styrene and some of its derivatives on the fertilization and differentiation of sea urchins was investigated. When one of the gametes was pretreated for a few minutes, it was ascertained that the test substances act on the haploid nucleus, producing specific changes in the differentiation of the embryo. By this test system directly acting, weak mutagens may be detected.

Animals↗

Fever of unknown origin: attempts to isolate L-forms and other aberrant bacterial forms.

An investigation was conducted with 65 selected febrile patients, 33 of whom fulfilled in all respects the classic criteria of "fever of unknown origin." Clinical evaluation included extensive radiological and immunological testing. Multiple blood cultures were examined by conventional methods in control studies. In addition, venous blood was cultured in a variety of hyperosmolar media using the special techniques used to detect L-forms and other cell wall-defective bacterial forms. By the extensive methods used, no bacterial forms were isolated. The use of media containing osmotic stabilizers did not detect L-forms or other aberrant bacterial forms, nor did it contribute to the determination of the etiology of fever of unknown origin in these patients.

Bacteria↗