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Biomedical subjects

A Lupo

Publications and source records attributed to A Lupo.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Multiple control elements regulate transcription from the most distal promoter of human aldolase A gene.

Three major transcripts, differing in their 5'-untranslated regions, are produced from the human aldolase A gene by alternative usage of three promoters, designated distal, middle and proximal. We report that the genomic region (distal promoter) upstream from the first leader exon (exon L1) efficiently directs transcription of a reporter CAT gene after transient transfections in human hepatoma cells (Hep3B) in a fashion independent from the other two promoters of the same gene. The distal promoter region contains cis-acting elements that regulate transcription both positively and negatively.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Low platelet glutathione peroxidase activity and serum selenium concentration in patients with chronic renal failure: relations to dialysis treatments, diet and cardiovascular complications.

1. Selenium status was investigated in patients with chronic renal failure, with special regard to its relations to the dialysis treatments, dietary habits and clinical signs of atherosclerosis. 2. Serum selenium concentration and platelet glutathione peroxidase activity were measured in 45 patients with chronic renal failure subdivided into three groups according to the type of treatment: 15 non-dialysed, 15 on haemodialysis, 15 on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. A 7-day diet history was carried out in all patients. Seventeen of the patients with chronic renal failure had clinically overt cardiovascular disease. Forty-five age-matched healthy subjects were considered as controls. 3. Both serum selenium concentration and platelet glutathione peroxidase were significantly reduced in all patients with chronic renal failure compared with control subjects; a direct and significant correlation was found between the two parameters. No differences in selenium status were observed among the non-dialysed, haemodialysis and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis groups. No correlation between total calorie or protein intakes and selenium indices were observed. The chronic renal failure patients with cardiovascular complications showed a further significant reduction in both serum selenium concentration and platelet glutathione peroxidase activity as compared with the patients without cardiovascular complications; these two groups were similar with respect to the other well-known cardiovascular risk factors (age, smoking, plasma lipids, hypertension, body mass index). 4. It is concluded that a low selenium concentration is present in chronic renal failure, which is independent of dialysis and is accompanied by biological repercussion in terms of reduced platelet glutathione peroxidase activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Chlamydia pneumoniae seroprevalence in immunocompetent and immunocompromised populations in Milan.

BACKGROUND: Chlamydia pneumoniae is drawing increasing attention as an agent of respiratory tract infection. Specific antibody prevalence in western countries is low in preschool children and reaches more than 50% in adults. However, little is known about the prevalence of this infection in immunocompromised subjects such as HIV-I infected patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of Chl pneumoniae in immunocompetent and immunocompromised (HIV-1 infected) paediatric and adult populations. METHODS: Between March 1991 and September 1992 764 healthy subjects (421 men and 343 women, age range six months-81 years), 96 HIV-I infected (73 men and 23 women, age range 18-35 years) and 126 HIV-I negative intravenous drug users (92 men and 34 women, age range 18-37 years), and 50 children (23 boys and 27 girls, age range 8-123 months) with vertically transmitted HIV-I infection were studied. For each subject an HIV-I test (ELISA and Western blot) was performed, together with a microimmunofluorescence test for IgG and IgM antibodies to Chl pneumoniae specific antigen (TW-183). RESULTS: In the healthy population a low prevalence (11%) was observed in children under 10 years of age, which increased progressively to 58% in adults over 70 years. In the HIV-I infected population Chl pneumoniae seroprevalence was higher than in immunocompetent controls (children, 26% v 11%; drug users, 60% v 40%). Moreover, in drug users this difference was also observed in comparison with HIV-1 negative intravenous drug users (60% v 33%). CONCLUSIONS: Our data on Chl pneumoniae seroprevalence in a healthy population are consistent with those reported by others in western countries. Moreover, HIV-I infected subjects seem to be at higher risk of developing Chl pneumoniae infections.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Ten years of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis: analysis of patient and technique survival.

The patient survival (PS) and technique survival (TS) were evaluated in 1990 patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) (males: 55.9%, mean age +/- SD: 58.4 +/- 14.8 years), treated in 30 centers participating in the Italian PD Study Group, from 1980 to 1989 (follow-up: 3953 years; mean +/- SD: 2.02 +/- 1.86 years). The total PS was 50.7% at 4 years, compared to 73.3% of patients without clinical high-risk condition (HRC) at the beginning of CAPD. In this group (34.0%) PS was significantly higher (p < 0.001) compared, respectively, to patients with cardiovascular disease (30.5%), diabetes (13.1%), and age > or = 70 years (11.2%). The percentage of death reached the mean value of 11.3% per year without any statistically significant tendency to variation during the follow-up, despite the increased number of patients > or = 65 years old and those with HRC (p < 0.001). Cardiovascular diseases (47.3%) and cachexia (17.8%) were the most frequent causes of death, whereas the mortality due to peritonitis showed a progressive increase in patients with peritonitis incidence 1 ep/year (G4) compared to those with < 0.5 ep/year (G2). Peritonitis (0.68 ep/year) was the most frequent cause of technique failure (30.0%), with clinical complications (18.2%) and peritoneal membrane failure (16.4%) as the second and third causes. The dropout percentage was 8.3% per year with a significant decrease over time (p = 0.012) and a positive correlation with the reduction of peritonitis incidence (p = 0.035). The total TS was 50.1% at 7 years, and it was significantly worse in G4 compared to G2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Red blood cells and platelet membrane fatty acids in non-dialyzed and dialyzed uremics.

Three groups of patients with chronic renal failure (CRF), 16 non-dialyzed, 16 undergoing haemodialysis (HD), 16 undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), and 48 controls were examined. We analyzed the fatty acid composition in membranes from erythrocytes and platelets and the platelet malondialdehyde (MDA) production as an index of thromboxane metabolism. Marked differences in erythrocytes fatty acid composition were observed between patients with CRF and controls and, particularly, among the three groups of patients with CRF. Patients on CAPD were characterized by an increase in oleic acid, while haemodialyzed had a marked increase in arachidonic acid. Platelet fatty acid composition showed similar differences, suggesting a 'systemic' membrane abnormality. Platelet MDA was increased in haemodialyzed and positively correlated with the platelet arachidonate content.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Comparison of survival in CAPD and hemodialysis: a multicenter study.

We studied 1,622 patients who started regular dialysis treatment between 1985 and 1989 in 19 centers from the Italian CAPD Study Group. There were 962 pts (59%) and on HD; 660 pts (41%) on CAPD. CAPD pts were older and had more risk factors at the start than HD pts (p < 0.0001). Overall patient survival was not statistically different between CAPD and HD at 6 years (42% CAPD; 54% HD). Multivariate analysis (Cox's model) on all population revealed that age and pretreatment risk factors had a statistically significant impact on patient survival (p < 0.0001), but not the type of dialytic treatment (CAPD or HD). When multivariate analysis was applied separately by treatment modalities, in HD group age and risk factors had the same negative influence on survival (p < 0.0001) while in CAPD group the influence of age on survival was less significant (p 0.025). This multicenter study carried out with appropriate statistical methods in a large number of pts demonstrates that patients' survival at 6 years is not different on CAPD and HD (despite the worse patient selection on CAPD) and can be even better on CAPD for aged patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

The impact of peritonitis on CAPD results.

The impact of peritonitis on CAPD results was evaluated in 1990 pts (mean age +/- SD:58.4 +/- 14.8 yrs, 55.9% males), treated in 30 centres participating in Italian PD Study Group, during 1980-89, with an overall observation period of 3953 years (mean +/- SD 24.1 +/- 22.3 months). The incidence of peritonitis decreases from 1.21 (1980-84) to 0.48 (1985-89) ep/year (overall:0.68) with a significant (P < 0.001) reduction of the probability of developing the first peritonitis episode (FPE) through the same periods. The probability of developing FPE and the relative risk of peritonitis were significantly lower (P < 0.001) in pts for whom CAPD has been the first treatment (80.1%); on the contrary these parameters did not gain significant difference according to sex, age 65 years, diabetes or cardiovascular disease. As far as the organisms responsible for peritonitis are concerned a significant reduction of S. epid. and an increase of S. aureus, other Gram pos. and Pseudomonas was observed in the second 5-yr periods. Peritonitis episodes caused catheter removal in 8.2% of cases and were associated with catheter infection in 10.8% of cases. Peritonitis accounted for 24.2% of hospitalization causes and for 6.7% and 30.0% of death and of drop-out respectively. The probability of death and drop-out was significantly high (p < 0.001) in pts with a peritonitis incidence > 1 ep/year than in those with < 0.5 ep/year. The probability of drop-out due to peritonitis was not higher in diabetic or older patients.

Female↗
PubMed1992

Chronic dialysis in patients with systemic amyloidosis: the experience in northern Italy.

The clinical outcome of 61 patients with renal amyloidosis treated with chronic dialysis was reviewed. Eighteen patients, 4 with primary or AL amyloidosis and 14 with reactive or AA amyloidosis, died within one month from starting treatment. The other 43 patients were treated with dialysis for 3 to 199 months and are the object of this study. Sixteen patients had AL amyloidosis and 27 had AA amyloidosis. Thirty-five patients were treated with hemodialysis (HD) for a mean period of 40 +/- 47 months and 8 were treated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) for 20 +/- 15 months. Patient survival rate at 1 and 5 years was 68% and 30% respectively. There was no difference in survival rate between patients treated with HD and those treated with CAPD, while patients younger than 45 had a better 5-year survival rate. Twenty four (60%) patients achieved a satisfactory rehabilitation with dialysis. At the last follow-up, 15 patients (14 on HD, 1 on CAPD) were alive 61 +/- 58 months after starting dialysis. Twenty-eight patients died after 30 +/- 20 months. The main causes of death were: cardiovascular accident (11), stroke (3), sepsis (5) and cachexia (5). The most important extra-renal complications of amyloidosis were related to cardiovascular involvement (heart failures, arrhythmias, hypotension) and gastrointestinal involvement (malabsorption). Intra-dialytic hypotension in patients on HD and peritonitis in patients on CAPD were the main problems related to dialytic procedure. his study confirms that life expectancy and the quality of life of dialysis patients with systemic amyloidosis are poorer than those of general dialysis population.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amyloidosis↗
PubMed1992

Red blood cell susceptibility to lipid peroxidation, membrane lipid composition, and antioxidant enzymes in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the overall susceptibility of red blood cells (RBC) to lipid peroxidation from patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). METHODS: The following parameters were measured: RBC malondialdehyde (MDA) production after oxidative stress with H2O2, RBC antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and RBC membrane lipid composition. The levels of plasma vitamin E and serum selenium were also assayed. PATIENTS: Eleven patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. Twenty-one healthy blood donors of similar age were used as normal controls. RESULTS: The MDA formation after H2O2 stimulation was normal in CAPD patients (0.79 +/- 0.1 mumol/gHb versus 0.78 +/- 0.1 in the control group). RBC from CAPD patients also showed a normal SOD activity, a more than adequate vitamin E status, and a peculiar pattern of membrane lipids, with reduced polyunsaturated fatty acids (p less than 0.001) and increased monounsaturated fatty acids (p less than 0.001). Both RBC GSH-Px activity, a selenium-dependent enzyme, and serum selenium levels were significantly lower in CAPD patients, and a significant positive correlation (r = 0.68; p less than 0.02) between the two parameters was found. CONCLUSIONS: This study found a normal sensitivity to oxidant stress in RBC from a group of CAPD patients, despite an impaired GSH-Px activity. The peculiar lipid pattern of RBC membrane, characterized by reduced PUFA and increased MUFA content, may contribute, in addition to adequate SOD activity and vitamin E status, to normal RBC lipid peroxidation.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

[Seroprevalence of HIV-1 virus in Zaire. Analysis of 1404 subjects].

Between January and December 1989, 1,404 subjects (mean age 26 years) admitted or seen at the out-patient clinic of the hospital of Goma, Northern Kivu, were investigated for anti-HIV 1 antibodies by the ELISA and Western blot techniques. Seventy-eight out of 808 men (10 percent) and 127 out of 596 women (21 percent) were seropositive. Anti-HIV1 antibodies were found in 14/631 blood donors (2 percent), 25/241 in-patients awaiting blood transfusion (10 percent), 3/42 women hospitalized for complications of pregnancy (7 percent), 130/388 subjects with signs and/or symptoms of HIV1 infection (33 percent) and 33/102 patients with tuberculosis (32 percent). The difference in seropositivity between men and women was statistically significant. A significantly high seroprevalence was found in men who were having regular sexual intercourse with prostitutes (42/167 = 25 percent, P less than 0.01) and in subjects with a history of sexually transmitted disease during the last 5 years (64/180 = 36 percent, P less than 0.01), compared with subjects who had none of these risk factors. The installation of a blood bank where blood products are controlled has contributed to the reduction of HIV1 transmission throughout the town. The foundation of an association of unpaid voluntary blood donors recruited among secondary school students has been another educative measure in the anti-AIDS national plan.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1990

Cell membrane lipid composition in CAPD patients.

We analyzed the erythrocyte membrane lipid composition in 11 non-diabetic CAPD patients on treatment for 3-78 months and in a control group of 12 subjects. The mean total values of both saturated fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids were not statistically different in CAPD patients and in controls but the composition of fatty acids of in cell membranes was altered. In fact, CAPD patients had a higher percentage of monounsaturated fatty acids and a lower percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids than controls. This increase MUFA/PUFA ratio might reflect either a preferential cell membrane uptake of MUFA or a relative PUFA deficiency due to an increased lipid peroxidation.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

In vivo activity of the most proximal promoter of the human aldolase A gene and analysis of transcriptional control elements.

The genomic region upstream from exon F (exon IV) of the human aldolase A gene has been studied for its ability to direct the transcription of a reporter gene in vivo. Transfection experiments in human hepatoma cells (Hep 3B) followed by CAT assay, and S1 mapping analysis, demonstrated that: (i) this region is able to drive CAT gene transcription; (ii) all the transcriptional control elements of this promoter are downstream from nucleotide -384 of the longer ubiquitous RNA start site and the sequences between -384 and -262 play a crucial role in transcriptional efficiency; (iii) initiation starting points for two mRNAs exist 61 bp apart. Gel retardation and footprinting assays demonstrated the presence of DNA-protein complexes mainly in the region between -384 and -262 and such ubiquitous binding factors as Sp1 and AP-1.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Human aldolase A gene. Structural organization and tissue-specific expression by multiple promoters and alternate mRNA processing.

The complete nucleotide sequence of the human aldolase A isoenzyme gene is reported. The cloned gene sequence, spanning 7530 bp, includes twelve exons and occurs as a single copy per haploid human genome. The structural organization of the gene is quite complex: eight exons containing the coding sequence are common to all mRNAs extracted from human and other mammalian sources; four additional exons are present in the 5' untranslated region, of these one is contained in the ubiquitous type of mRNA, the second is in the muscle-specific type of mRNA and the third and fourth are in a minor species of mRNA found in human liver tissue. Furthermore, the determined sequence includes 1000 nucleotides upstream from the first exon (exon I) in the 5' flanking region, and 400 nucleotides, which include the polyadenylation signal, downstream from the termination codon. S1-nuclease-protection analysis of the 5' end of mRNA extracted from human cultured fibroblasts, muscle and hepatoma cell lines indicates the existence of four different transcription-initiation sites. The latter are also supported by the presence of conventional sequences for eukaryotic promoters. Therefore, the four promoters on the same gene generate different tissue-specific transcripts, which share the translated sequence, but each has a unique 5' untranslated region as a result of differential mRNA processing. The nucleotide homology at the coding region and the intron-exon organization of the three human and mammalian aldolase A, B and C genes confirm that they arose from a common ancestral gene, and that aldolase B diverged first.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Light chain nephropathy: histological and clinical aspects in 15 cases.

Fifteen patients aged 31-74 years (five male, ten female) on renal biopsy showed intense linear deposits of light chains along tubular basement membranes (TBM) by immunofluorescence, and/or granular dense deposits on electronmicroscopy. Multiple myeloma was diagnosed in ten patients. The onset of myeloma and nephropathy was simultaneous in six patients; nephropathy preceded or followed the diagnosis of myeloma in three and one patients respectively. The mode of onset of nephropathy was acute or rapidly progressive renal failure in five cases, chronic renal failure in seven, and heavy proteinuria in three. Only two patients had normal renal function at biopsy. Serum monoclonal component was kappa in five patients, IgG kappa in three, IgD kappa in one, IgG lambda in one, IgA lambda in one, absent in three, and not detected in one. On light microscopy eight cases had nodular glomerulosclerosis, three cast nephropathy and 14 TBM thickening. Immunofluorescence for monoclonal light chain(s) was positive in 11 of 13 cases. Electron microscopy showed finely granular deposits in the inner side of glomerular basement membranes (GBM) and the outer side of TBM in 11 of 11 tested cases. The evolution was towards chronic renal failure in 12 patients (six of whom required dialysis), death in two, unknown in one. Four patients died after a period of dialysis, from infections or cardiovascular complications.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Long-term results of CAPD in Italy: a report from the Italian CAPD Study Group.

Begun in 1979, the Italian CAPD Study Group monitored prospectively six years of CAPD experience (1980-1985) in 24 centers with 1107 end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients (age 56.4 +/- 13.7 years). Compiled yearly, the clinical and therapeutical data were processed on a PDP 11-32 computer, according to UCLA BMPD-1L procedure. The survival rate was conditioned by age (more than 70) and by major clinical risk factors, with a large fraction of the deaths due to cardiovascular causes (40.6%) and cachexia (17.8%). The progressive reduction of peritonitis incidence (1/18.5 episodes/patient-month globally reached at the end of 1985) was due mainly to the wide spread adoption of the "Y" connection set (76% for 1985) and contributed to a decrease in drop-outs to 7.5% of 676 patients on CAPD during 1985.

Female↗
PubMed1987

A new human species of aldolase A mRNA from fibroblasts.

A full-length cDNA aldolase A clone was isolated from a human fibroblast cDNA library and completely sequenced. Excluding the poly(A) tail, the clone covers 1095 base pairs (bp) of the coding region, plus 199 bp downstream for the termination codon and 146 bp upstream for the initiation codon, within a total of 1440 bp. Primer extension experiments performed with human cultured fibroblast mRNA indicate an elongated product of a further 40 bp. These results evaluated together with those obtained in a concurrent study concerning aldolase A mRNA isolated from human liver are direct evidence of aldolase A mRNA multiplicity in man. The data also suggest the existence in mammals of three different classes of aldolase A mRNA, which would account for tissue specificity and resurgence of foetal expression in tumors.

Amino Acid Sequence↗