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Biomedical subjects

A Martelli

Publications and source records attributed to A Martelli.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Human hepatocytes in genotoxicity assays.

Human hepatocyte primary cultures, because of their comprehensive biotransformation capability, represent an experimental model particularly useful to gain direct information on the genotoxic risk of chemicals to humans. For this purpose they have been used in the last few years either as target cells to evaluate the induction of DNA damage and/or DNA repair synthesis, or as metabolic activation system in mutagenicity assays. The number of compounds so far tested is rather limited, and for the large majority of them the assays have been performed only on hepatocytes from a few donors. A comparison with the data obtained in rat hepatocytes indicates that quantitative differences in the genotoxic effects induced in cultures derived from different donors of the same species are usually greater than interspecies differences. However, the results.provided by some chemicals suggest the possibility that in certain cases rat hepatocytes might be inappropriate predictors of the genotoxic hazard for humans.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A new regimen of cisplatin, epirubicin and methotrexate (PEM-3) as primary chemotherapy for locally advanced bladder cancer.

In this phase II study, 41 patients with locally advanced urothelial bladder cancer (T2-4, N0, M0) were treated with primary chemotherapy (cisplatin, epirubicin, methotrexate: PEM-3). All the patients were assessable for response and toxicity. Clinical monitoring was performed with computerized tomography and cystoscopy. Nineteen clinical complete remissions (46%) and 10 partial remissions (24.5%) were obtained (CR + PR, 70.5%; 95% confidence interval, 57%-85%). Ten patients were considered to have clinically stable disease (24.5%), and 2 patients progressed (5%). Surgery after chemotherapy was performed in 22 cases: in 6 patients (27%) a pathologic complete response was achieved. The pathologic stage was lower than the initial clinical stage in 13 patients (59%). After a median follow-up of 3 years (range, 1-4), the median time to progression was 104 weeks. At this writing, 20 patients, 12 of which were submitted to surgery and 8 were not operated, are disease-free. The 3-year survival rate is 52%. No one had to interrupt the treatment because of toxicity. In conclusion, the PEM-3 regimen is a very active and well-tolerated regimen in locally advanced bladder cancer.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The "mycoplasma pneumoniae" in pathological respiratory processes. Serological disease (author's transl)].

The AA. present the results obtained determining by the F.C. test the antibodies for respiraotry viruses and for Mycoplasma pneumoniae over 1112 patients, of which 742 affected with pathological respiratory processes, during the period 1971-1975. 104 patient have shown a significant correlation between respiratory disease and antibody movement for M. pneumoniae. They have been classified according to their clinical-radiological properties as follows: 38 affected with pneumonia; 37 affected with pleuritis; 29 affected with tracheobronchitis. Particularly interesting is the range of occurrence of the disease: we have noticed a high incidence in the period 1971-1972, followed by an almost complete disappearance of pathological instances in the period 1973-first semester of 1975, and signs of a new recrudescence in the second semester of 1975. These data have been confirmed also by investigations carried out among healthy people. It has also to be pointed out the possibility of family's epidemicity, and the AA. report two epidemic cases under personal observation.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Measures to prevent injuries related to bicycle seats].

Injuries related to the use of bicycle seats are increasing due to the more frequent use of bicycles, mostly in metropolis. Several cases of children who suffered lesions to the lower limbs are reported from which we may summarize the most frequent clinical features, characterized by a foot swelling caused by the crushing between the wheel spokes, with different degrees of skin injuries. Fractures of the lower part of the leg bones are frequent as well. A greater number of cases was reported in summertime and, in all the bicycles, there was no spoke cover and the seats did not provide any protection to the feet. So far no precise rules for the marketing approval of bicycle seats have been fixed by UE, contrary to what has been already set for cars. Therefore, we suggest that such rules should soon be enforced. We also recommend the compulsory use of the helmet, as in other countries. We underline the usefulness of a more detailed epidemiological monitoring to better understand the dynamic of such traumatic events and, consequently, achieve some further improvements in the seats design, for an increased safety. The critical factor in prevention, however, will always remain a proper sanitary education. In the general chapter of accidents prevention, pediatrics should provide the parents with all the indications and cautions concerned with bicycle seat safety.

Bicycling↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Frequency of serologic conversion of complement fixing antibodies FC by respiratory viruses in cases of acute juvenile respiratory disease].

The complement fixation test, run on double samples of serum pertaining to 447 children hospitalized between January 1971 and June 1974 at Ospedale Maggiore in Novara, or checked in consulting rooms for acute phlogosis of the respiratory organs, has permitted to detect in 241 children, equal to the 53,9% of the total cases, a significant increase of antibodies for respiratory viruses (Influenza A, B, C, Parainfluenza 1, 2, 3. Respiratory syncytial virus, Adenovirus, Reovirus). Specifically, in the 40,0% of the total cases, the serological conversion was evidenced for one virus only, and in the 13,8% for 2-3 viruses, raising in this last cases, questions concerning the diagnosis at a serological level.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cognitive and neuroradiological findings in myotonic dystrophy.

Cognitive functions were investigated in 37 patients with myotonic dystrophy (MD) and correlated with clinical and neuroradiological variables. The whole cognitive performance was at a low-average level; in about 1/3 of the subjects, in fact, the scores at the neuropsychological tests were below the normal range. There was a consistent trend for patients with inheritance on maternal side to perform worse on Wechsler verbal score and to present cerebral atrophy. In 7 out of 12 subjects focal white matter lesions were found at nuclear magnetic resonance. The significance of these findings and its relation to cognitive performance are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Reduction of DNA repair efficiency during the initial phase of rat liver carcinogenesis.

Chemically induced DNA fragmentation and unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) were determined in hepatocyte primary cultures (HPC) obtained from the entire liver during the development of hyperplastic lesions induced in rats by the following treatment: 200 mg/kg i.p. of N-nitrosodiethylamine (DEN) on day 0; 2 ml/kg i.g. of CCl4 on day 21; dietary administration of 0.02% 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) during the 3rd and the 4th week, and of 0.05% phenobarbital (PB) from the 6th week. At 4, 5, 6, and 7 weeks after DEN injection, the level of DNA fragmentation elicited by either the activation-independent carcinogen methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) or the activation-dependent carcinogen N-nitrosodimethylamine (DMN) was significantly lower than that in HPC from age-matched normal rats. In the same HPC, a statistically significant decrease was observed in the capability of repairing DNA damage induced by MMS, while the reduction of the DNA repair efficiency did not reach the level of significance after exposure to DMN.

Animals↗