Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Galli

Publications and source records attributed to A Galli.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Immunomodulatory effects of occupational exposure to mancozeb.

The effects of occupational exposure to ethylene-bis-dithiocarbamate of manganese and zinc on the immune system were evaluated in a group of mancozeb-exposed manufacturers and controls. The immune system tests revealed the following: (a) lymphocyte proliferative responses triggered by different activators and mitogen-induced IL-2 production were higher in exposed subjects than in controls; (b) production of monocyte/macrophage-derived IL-1 and polyclonal IgG and IgM, by beta-lymphocytes, did not differ between exposed subjects and controls; (c) percentages and absolute numbers of total T-cells, T-helper cells, T-suppressor/cytotoxic cells, activated T-cells, total beta-cells, and natural killer cells were similar in exposed subjects and controls; (d) serum immunoglobulin classes and complement fractions were within the range of normality; and (e) rheumatoid factor and non-organ-specific serum autoantibodies were absent in exposed and control subjects. An increase in T-cell functional response was found in the exposed group, suggesting a slight immunomodulator effect of mancozeb in conditions of low-level, prolonged occupational exposure.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of acid phosphatase isoenzymes in seminal fluid from normozoospermic, oligozoospermic, azoospermic and asthenoteratozoospermic men.

Acid phosphatase was measured in the semen of normozoospermic, oligozoospermic, azoospermic and asthenoteratozoospermic men: there was no significant difference between oligozoospermic and control groups whereas we observed an increase in enzyme levels in the azoospermic group and a reduction in the asthenoteratozoospermic subjects. Furthermore, an isoelectric focusing method for the separation of isoenzymes was developed. Only prostatic isoenzymes 2 and 4 were found in semen. Isoenzyme 2 sialylation profile was determined in the four groups. The sperm count did not influence this profile. These findings are discussed.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Amino acid content of human semen in normal and infertility cases.

Reports concerning the content of alpha-amino-nitrogen and amino-acids in human semen are few and results are different with authors. These variations could be explained by the no considerations of the changes due to liquefaction. In order to test this possible effect, measures were performed 30 mm, 1 h 30, 3 h and 5 h after seminal collection. Deproteinization was obtained with mixture of barium hydroxide and zinc sulfate. The data were compared to results of spermiogram. According to seminal parameters, 6 categories were distinguished. Measures showed a significant increase of the alpha-amino-nitrogen with time. The chromatography separation showed 19 different free amino-acids. The content of the most amino-acids increased with time except phosphoserine, taurine and ornithine; several amino-acids appear. In cases of azoospermia, levels of alpha-amino-nitrogen and amino-acids were lower. The content of amino-acids is not influenced by the spermatozoa count that seems to indicate their glandular origins. The free amino-acids content had to be considered in regard to cases with low liquefaction. But, in all cases it appears necessary to use a strictly standardized method since results are influenced with time.

Amino Acids↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cytogenetical and histopathologic study of two cases of polled goats.

Two young intersexed polled goats, with ambiguous outside male genital apparatus and marked hypospadias, were studied at cytogenetical and anatomo-histopathological level. One subject presented a female karyotype (60,XX) whilst the other had a 60,XX/60,XY chimerism, with 5% of 60,XY lymphocytes. The anatomo-histopathologic study of the chimeric subject revealed very small testicles, epididymis ecstasy and atrophic part in the testicular parenchyma.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Andrological study of an intersex ram.

An anatomic, histologic, and cytogenetic study was carried out on a young single-born ram of 'Bergamasca' breed. At an anatomical level the subject, with anomalous presence of horns adherent to the head, presented hypoplastic testicles descended in two distinct scrotal sacs, hypospadias and small penioid body. The histopathologic analysis showed atrophy of the testicular parenchyma while at a cytogenetic level, sexual chromosome mosaicism was found with XX and XY cells, both at lymphocytic (73%-54, XX; 27%-54, XY) and fibroblastic level. Therefore this finding cannot be explained simply referring to freemartinism.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Andrological study of two young identical twin bulls.

A study was conducted on two young Italian Holstein bulls obtained by embryonic splitting and, therefore, genetically identical. The andrological evaluation of the subjects revealed a significant difference in semen freezability, valued according to forward motility after thawing (57.34 vs. 46.92; P < 0.01). There was, however, no difference in the quality of fresh semen.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Study of sentinel lymph node in breast cancer: our experience in 46 cases.

At the Surgery Department of Biella 46 patients were enrolled in a study on the sentinel lymph node (SN) in the period from 1 January 1999 to 30 September 1999. The aim of the study was to determine, on the basis of our own experience, the percentages of accuracy and concordance, and compare them with case series abroad and in Italy; in addition, we sought to establish a possible correlation between certain features of breast cancer and positivity of the axilla. The method utilized was lymphoscintigraphy and gamma probe. Fifteen cases with positive axillary lymph nodes and 12 cases with positive sentinel lymph nodes were found; there were no false positive and three false negative results. No migration of the tracer was observed with lymphoscintigraphy in two cases. The percentage of concordance obtained was 93.2% in the complete series and 96.5% in the subseries that excluded the learning curve. Comparing the percentage of concordance of our case series with those abroad and in Italy, an average overlapping percentage was obtained. The percentage of accuracy obtained in our study was 95.7%, which is slightly higher than the average of percentages of the case series abroad and in Italy.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Olfactory function evaluated by SPECT.

Few articles on neuroimaging techniques in the study of central and peripheral olfactory pathways are present in the literature. By Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), cortical perfusion increment after sensorial stimulation can be evaluated objectively. In the present research, 10 healthy adults underwent SPECT by CER.TO.96 cerebral tomograph, before and after olfactory stimulation with lavender-water. A variable degree of cortical activation was detected in all patients. Gyrus rectus (+24.5%), orbito-frontal cortex (right +26.6%, left +25.6%), and superior temporal (right +9.9%, left +5.5%) cortical areas were always activated. A slight perfusion increase was present in middle temporal (right +3.2%, left +2.1%) and parieto-occipital (right +0.4%, left +2%) regions. Five patients affected by posttraumatic anosmia were also investigated: they showed a perfusion increment markedly inferior to 0.5% in every olfactory area. SPECT is a rather diffused, easily performed technique which yields objective semi-quantitative information on brain perfusion. Hence, it can be regarded as a promising contribution in the fields of smell neurophysiology, clinical olfactometry, and medicolegal queries.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Videothoracoscopic approach in the treatment of intralobar pulmonary sequestration. Report of a case].

The Authors report on the use of a videothorascopic approach in the treatment of a patient with intralobar bronchopulmonary sequestration. The latter is a rare malformation which more often than not manifests itself in young patients with hemophthisis, recurrent infection and cough. The condition is difficult to diagnose and is often diagnosed intraoperatively. The treatment is surgical resection. The videothorascopic approach was used in a young patient presenting a lesion of the left inferior lobe with polycyclic contours suspected of being an intralobar bronchopulmonary sequestration, along with medical history findings of cough and hyperpyrexia. The approach permitted identification of the lesion in the context of the left inferior lobe, safe identification and section of the abnormal systemic vessel supplying the lesion and subsequent inferior lobectomy. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged on postoperative day 5 with an excellent esthetic and functional outcome. The videothorascopic approach should be taken into consideration for the diagnosis and treatment of intralobar bronchopulmonary sequestrations.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Selective enrichment of CD30-expressing cells within the blast region of lymphocytes from patients with primary HIV infection (PHI).

Individuals experiencing a primary infection with HIV (PHI) are known to undergo a potent activation of their humoral and cellular immune response. We investigated the expression of CD30 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 15 PHI patients before their initiation of HAART, since elevated levels of its soluble form, sCD30, have been previously documented in the plasma/sera of PHI patients. We also analyzed other lymphocyte-associated activation markers, including CD69, CD25 and HLA-DR. When looking at total lymphocytes, HLA-DR was expressed on the majority of lymphocytes, followed evenly by CD69 and CD25, and last by CD30. Of note, we observed that 13 out of these 15 patients displayed a characteristic expansion of lymphocytes with larger morphology (termed blasts). When a morphologic gate was drawn on these blasts, the percentage of CD25-, CD69-positive cells remained substantially unchanged, that of HLA-DR-positive cells augmented, but the the most striking increase occurred in the percentage of CD30-expressing lymphocytes. Therefore, although all of the molecules studied are considered lymphocyte activation markers, CD30 is most likely to be expressed within cycling/proliferating cells of the lymphoblast fraction during the earliest phases of HIV infection.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The effect of HAART on humoral immune response in primary HIV-1 infected patients.

The effect of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) on binding and neutralizing antibody responses to human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) during primary and chronic infection was investigated. Seven patients HAART treated during primary infection, six HAART treated during chronic infection and five patients treated only with ZVD (Zidovudine) were analysed. HAART inhibited the development of anti env antibodies during primary infection. Administering HAART during primary infection usually did not substantially affect the development of weak neutralizing antibody responses against autologous virus. However, we demonstrated that very early treatment, during seroconversion, induce in some cases, a strong neutralizing antibodies against autologous virus. These results may be relevant for understanding how HAART may elicit a strong protective responses and may be useful in developing new strategies designed to achieve a long term control of the HIV infection.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Cystic parotid lesions in HIV infection].

The appearance of parotid lesions of cystic aspect with a HIV's infections has been described in the past by foreign Authors above all coming from USA and from Africa. Similar cases has been recorded in France but only among children. The Authors report a casuistry constituted by five male sex's and white race's subjects, everyone HIV positive, suffering from mono or bilateral benign lymphoepithelial cysts. Every patient under examination presented a positive history because of the use of intravenous drug. Four of the five subjects underwent a surgical treatment of parotidectomy. Echotomography, CT and RM scanning seem to be the more sensitive diagnostic techniques. The peculiar histopathologic aspects allow us to differentiate these lesions both from the classical benign lymphoepithelial cysts and from the Warthin's tumor. The increase of the signalling of these cases seems to be connected with the progressive diffusion of the infection and with major survival of the patients thanks to chemotherapy. The majority of the Authors is agreed to recommend the surgical treatment for the possible malignant degeneration of this kind of forms. A careful clinical and diagnostic analysis of every patient with parotid swelling, above all if at risk for HIV's infection, is strictly necessary.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Syncope and work. STePS study (Short Term Prognosis of Syncope)].

BACKGROUND: Recurrent syncope is a common medical problem responsible for 3-5% of emergency department (ED) accesses and 1-6% of hospital admissions. If syncope occurs in a subject working in a critical safety task, the consequences of this event might be very dangerous for the worker, colleagues, others or for the environment. Therefore, syncope management is a major problem for occupational medicine, converning the general safety at work. AIMS: To evaluate the syncope events in a group of potential workers aged 18 to 65 years; to evaluate the symptoms preceding syncope and the presence of associated illnesses and recurrent events. POPULATION AND RESULTS: This study is part of the prospective study STePS (Short Term Prognosis of Syncope), and included 305 consecutive patients (aged 18-65 years, female 56%) who had syncope as a main symptom and presented at ED of four general hospitals in the Milan area, Italy, between the 23rd of January and 30th of June 2004. The 24% of subjects were hospitalized. In 21% the syncope occurs suddenly without any preceding symptom. The 67% of subjects didn't have any important illness at the time. 50% of subjects had recurrent syncope. In four subjects another syncope occurred in a 10 day follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: occupational medicine should consider syncope scrupulously. Proper diagnostic management is important to permit a correct evaluation of work safety issues.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A randomized phase III study: comparison between intravenous and intraarterial ACNU administration in newly diagnosed primary glioblastomas.

BACKGROUND: In this randomized phase III study, the effectiveness as well as the side-effects of intraarterial [i.a.] (17 patients) versus intravenous [i.v.] (16 patients) ACNU [Nimustine] administration in newly diagnosed glioblastoma, were compared. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients undenwent extensive surgical resection, and both groups were homogeneous for the other known risk factors. Thirty-three patients with glioblastoma were treated with ACNU at the dose of 80-100 mg/m2. Treatment was repeated every 5-8 weeks for a minimum of 2 and maximum of 14 cycles. Total survival time (TST) and to time to progression were chosen as outcome variables. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: No significant differences in systemic and hematological toxicity between the i.a. and iv. ACNU administration routes were detected. In both groups, tolerance of the procedure was excellent. Analysis of the main outcome measured showed no significant differences between i.a. and i.v. ACNU administration: time to progression was 6 months for i.a. ACNU and 4 months for i.v. ACNU and total survival time was 17 months for i.a. ACNU and 20 months for i.v. ACNU. In spite of ACNU dose incrementation, obtained through i.a. route administration, and subsequent higher concentration in the tumor bed, no improvement could be achieved in effectiveness.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Some variability factors in the cytomorphological analysis of frozen bull semen.

Frozen bull semen was analyzed after fixation with glutaraldehyde (0.2% sol. in PBS) by clear field microscopy (after staining with Rose Bengal and Victoria blue B), phase contrast microscopy and differential-interference-contrast microscopy performed by two observers who analysed sets of 100 and 200 spermatozoa. The results obtained with phase-contrast microscopy did not differ significantly from those obtained using interference contrast microscopy, performed by two observers on sets on 100 and 200 spermatozoa, concerning the following sperm abnormalities: abnormal detached heads, acrosome ruptures, tail abnormalities and total abnormalities. In view of the importance of extending the evaluation of sperm cytomorphology among artificial insemination centres, and the fact the phase-contrast microscopy system is less expensive than a differential-interference-contrast system and easier to operate, the authors recommend the use of phase-contrast microscopy for the routine study of sperm cytomorphology.

Analysis of Variance↗