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Biomedical subjects

A Gabriele

Publications and source records attributed to A Gabriele.

44 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Sperm acrosin activity and fluorescence microscopic assessment of proacrosin/acrosin in ejaculates of infertile and fertile men.

OBJECTIVE: To compare biochemically active with immunoreactive sperm acrosin in fertile and infertile men. SETTING: This study was conducted in a tertiary care center, the Andrology Clinic, Department of Internal Medicine, University of L'Aquila. PATIENTS: We evaluated the males in 40 infertile couples with no recognized cause of female infertility and 20 fertile men. INTERVENTIONS: Ejaculates were collected under standardized conditions of abstinence. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Total sperm acrosin activity was measured on a spectrophotometer in washed sperm stored at -80 degrees C for 1 to 6 days. The percent of spermatozoa immunostained by an antiserum against proacrosin/acrosin by indirect immunofluorescence (IFL) was determined on methanol fixed sperm smears. RESULTS: Biochemically active acrosin was correlated to immunoreactive acrosin (P = 0.0028), and both were inversely correlated to the percent of spermatozoa with an abnormal head (P = 0.00024 for acrosin activity and P = 0.0013 for IFL). Biochemically active and immunoreactive acrosin were lower in infertile compared with fertile men (P = 0.0012 and P = 0.0009, respectively). Sixty-eight percent of ejaculates with an acrosin activity lower than the limit value observed in fertile men showed a normal sperm morphology and a normal immunoreactivity for acrosin. CONCLUSIONS: A low sperm acrosin activity in teratospermic ejaculates is because of a lack or a defect of the immunogenic and functional domains of the protein. A low sperm acrosin in infertile men with normal semen parameters results from a possible functional defect of the enzyme that is immunohistochemically detected in spermatozoa.

Acrosin↗
PubMedDate not supplied

High glucose modifies heparansulphate synthesis by mouse glomerular epithelial cells.

BACKGROUND: Alterations in proteoglycan metabolism are involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of high glucose on proteoglycan production and to find a reliable in vitro model for the study of diabetic nephropathy. METHODS: A clone of mouse glomerular epithelial cells was cultured in media containing elevated (30 mmol) and physiological (5 mmol) glucose, or iso-osmolar (30 mmol) mannitol concentrations. We evaluated the synthesis of 35SO4-labeled molecules and the amount of proteoglycans by Sepharose CL6B and DEAE-Sephacel chromatographies. RESULTS: A clear decrease (56%) in total cell-layer proteoglycan synthesis was induced by 30 mmol glucose, in comparison with normal glucose. A reduction of 25% in medium associated proteoglycan synthesis was observed in high glucose cultured cells. After Sepharose CL6B, in cells cultured in high glucose, cell layer heparansulphate proteoglycan-I (Kav 6B 0. 04) synthesis was reduced by about 81%, heparansulphate proteoglycan-II (Kav 6B 0.21) by about 87% and heparansulphate glycosaminoglycan (Kav 0.4-0.8) by about 91%, respectively. In mannitol-incubated cells the reductions observed were less evident and not significantly different from those in normal glucose. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that (1) glomerular epithelial cells play a central role in proteoglycan synthesis, (2) high glucose modifies the amount and influences the different species production of these macromolecules, while osmotic forces seem to be only partially involved in these effects, and (3) this cellular clone of glomerular epithelial cells can represent a reliable in vitro model for the study of the mechanisms involved in diabetic nephropathy.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

DSM-III-R personality disorders in panic and obsessive-compulsive disorder: a comparison study.

Forty-eight patients with panic disorder/agoraphobia (PAD) and 30 with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) were assessed for DSM-III-R axis II personality disorders (PD) and the presence of the same anxiety disorder in the relatives of probands (homotypic disorders). No specific personality disorder was present significantly more often in either of the two groups. Agoraphobia was not associated with higher rates of axis II disorders in PAD patients. Duration of illness did not influence the presence of a PD in patients of both groups. Secondary cases of the same anxiety disorder were significantly more common among first-degree relatives of PAD patients. A discriminant analysis performed on the most frequent personality traits of both groups provided a correct classification of cases of 97.4%. Our results do not support the hypothesis of PD as secondary to anxiety disorders and confirm previous findings of a lack of specificity between DSM-III-R axis II categories and OCD and PAD.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Nongenomic progesterone receptor on human spermatozoa: biochemical aspects and clinical implications.

Progesterone (P) is a physiological stimulus of human sperm functions. It is present in high levels at the site of fertilization (cumulus oophorus) and has been described to affect several sperm functions, including motility, capacitation, acrosome reaction, and the ability to bind and to respond to zona proteins. The effects of the steroid are mediated essentially by an increase of intracellular calcium concentrations, stimulation of activity of phospholipases, phosphorylation of proteins, efflux of chloride. These effects are due to activation of a rapid, nongenomic pathway. Whether the effects of progesterone are mediated or not by specific interactions with sperm membrane proteins is questioned. By using an antibody directed against the C-terminal region (P-binding region) of the genomic receptor, we have recently identified two sperm proteins with molecular weights distinct from the classic genomic receptors. In addition, ligand blot analysis with peroxidase-conjugated P demonstrated that P specifically binds these two proteins. Classical ligand binding experiments demonstrated the presence of two specific binding sites with affinity in the nanomolar and in the micromolar range, respectively. The involvement of progesterone in the physiological process leading to fertilization of the oocyte is suggested by several studies. In particular, the demonstration that sperm responsiveness to progesterone is impaired in subfertile patients and that is strictly correlated to the ability of fertilizing the oocyte represents a further indication of the participation of the steroid in this process. In addition, the determination of sperm responsiveness may be predictive of fertilizing ability with a positive predictive value of 90% and can be clinically useful for the preliminary assessment of the male partner to select the appropriate assisted reproductive technique.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Brachytherapy for isolated vaginal recurrences from endometrial carcinoma.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: Isolated vaginal recurrences of endometrial carcinoma are rare, and prognostic factors that predict treatment outcome are still not well defined. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the results of brachytherapy in isolated vaginal recurrences from endometrial carcinoma. METHODS: Thirty-five patients with isolated vaginal recurrences were treated with brachytherapy with intravaginal ovoids or cylinders that were calculated to deliver 6000 to 7000 cGy at the surface. Patients were assessed for size and location of recurrence at presentation, response and complications from therapy. RESULTS: Treatment was well tolerated by most patients. Grade 2 toxicity occurred in 4 patients (3 cases of partial vaginal stenosis and one proctitis). Complete response to radiation was observed in all patients, and an overall 9 failures were observed (4 local, 4 distant and 1 local plus distant). Twenty patients (57%) were alive without evidence of disease at 3 to 11 years following treatment. Site of vaginal recurrence (upper third versus others) and long (more than 12 months versus less than 12 months) interval from hysterectomy were the only factors significantly related to local failures. CONCLUSIONS: Isolated vaginal recurrences following hysterectomy for endometrial carcinoma can be treated with brachytherapy with a low rate of severe toxicity.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Recurrent brown tumors as initial manifestation of primary hyperparathyroidism. An unusual presentation].

Primary hyperparathyroidism is a rather frequent pathology characterised by hypersecretion of parathormone (PTH) which is caused by adenomas in 85% of all cases. At clinical onset, the most common symptoms are hypercalcemia-related (pain due to kidney stones, polyuria, gastrointestinal and neurological disorders) while rarer symptoms are due to brown tumors, expansive lesions often found in fibro-cystic osteitis. A case in which the patient showed recurrent mandibular brown tumors as initial clinical symptoms of primary hyperparathyroidism is described. This patient was examined for hypercalcemia, and a tumor mass at the left inferior mandibular branch was found. The patient had undergone surgical removal of a tumor in the left mandibular some years before, which was diagnosed as osteoclastoma. Primary hyperparathyroidism was diagnosed during recovery, and surgical removal of the parathyroid adenoma and mandibular tumor was performed. A histological diagnosis of large cell brown tumor was made. A microscopic observation of brown tumors which are made up of large multinuclear osteoclastic cells can often be confused with other large cell tumors during diagnosis. It is therefore necessary to exclude the presence of hyperparathyroidism with ionised calcium and, in cases of high values, intact PTH (iPTH), before performing a histological diagnosis of a large cell bone tumor. Throughout the course of primary hyperparathyroidism, brown tumors might appear in the absence of other specific symptoms and localize at the level of a single bone segment.

Adenoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Giant fibroadenoma of the breast in an adolescent: a case report].

The authors report a case of giant fibroadenoma of the breast in a girl of 11 years old. Juvenile or giant fibroadenoma is a rare pathology usually presenting in adolescence, characterized by massive and rapid enlargement of an encapsulated mass. Nowadays there are some preoperative difficulties distinguishing it from cystosarcoma phyllodes which has a benign and malignant form. It is important to differentiate the two pathologies before operation as they have a different therapeutic approach and different follow up. The etiology is believed to be an end-organ hypersensitivity to normal levels of gonadal hormones and the age of presentation is between 10 to 18 years old. Treatment is usually surgical and ranges from simple excision to subcutaneous mastectomy with reconstruction.

Breast Neoplasms↗