A very simple method for counting white cells in platelet units collected by apheresis.
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Blood Component Removal↗
Biomedical subjects
A Messina
Publications and source records attributed to A Messina.
[Psychological and psychopathological correlates in Dupuytren's disease].
The etiology of Dupuytren's disease, a chronic and depressive lesion of the palmar aponeurosis, is still unclear. Numerous factors have been implicated, including psychopathological elements and a stressor psychosomatic response, possibly in the presence of a personality structure which may represent a diathesis. On the other hand, from a psychosomatic point of view, any psychic correlates could be secondary to somatic damage. In order to look for common psychological and psychopathological elements in the syndrome 39 patients were examined by a team of orthopedics specialised in hand surgery during the period 1990-91. All cases were studied by clinical interview, the evaluation of anamnestic data of possible psychiatric importance and the use of Rorschach and MMPI tests. The data obtained do not confirm that specific personality elements or psychopathological factors can be correlated to the clinical symptoms of Dupuytren's disease given that the results are comparable to what may be considered the characteristics of a non-selected but age- and culturally-matched population. There are only sporadic findings indicating neurotic and depressive factors, or senile involution. Likewise, no reliable and uniform stressing events were observed, or particular signs of maladaptation related to environmental reactivity or the disease itself.
Adult↗
[Identification of pancreatic insulinomas. The role of magnetic resonance].
Insulinomas are the most common endocrine tumors of the pancreas. Although their clinical and biochemical diagnosis is extremely accurate, these lesions must be correctly located preoperatively to plan the best possible treatment. Many different noninvasive diagnostic techniques have been proposed, with only partially satisfying results. For many years such non-invasive modalities as arteriography have been considered the most reliable and accurate diagnostic tools. Recently, however, MRI has been proposed for best pancreas imaging, especially for tumor detection, and its results have been excellent especially thanks to its optimal contrast resolution. Fat-suppressed and turbo-spin-echo (TSE) sequences now yield even better results. In our study we examined 21 patients, whose symptoms were typical of insulinoma, using two different 0.5T magnets, one of which with 15 mT/m gradients. We used T1-weighted spin-echo (SE) sequences with and without respiratory compensation, SE ad TSE T2-weighted and fat-suppressed T1-weighted SE sequences. In 16 patients the lesions were correctly diagnosed and located, as confirmed at surgery. In the other 5 patients, MRI failed to locate the insulinomas. Three of these 5 patients were submitted to surgery, during which palpation and intraoperative US findings were also negative for a solid mass. The remaining 2 patients underwent clinical follow-up. Our study demonstrated that MRI, especially with fat-suppressed and T2-weighted TSE sequences, is a very accurate modality to detect pancreatic insulinomas and can therefore be proposed as the only preoperative technique.
Adolescent↗
[Carcinoma of the pancreas. Typical and atypical aspects using midfield-strength magnetic resonance].
Until few years ago, MR assessment of pancreatic carcinoma was thought to be feasible only with high-strength equipment, but today also low- and midfield units allow pancreatic lesion detection, thanks to parameter optimization. The authors retrospectively analyzed the MR findings of 57 patients examined with a midfield MR unit; all the patients had clinically suspected pancreatic carcinoma, which was confirmed in 54 cases. The lesions were more easily detected using T1-weighted sequences, thanks to their high intrinsic contrast, while T2-weighted sequences often confirmed the glandular changes already depicted by T1-weighted sequences. MRI correctly depicted vascular and lymph node involvement and detected liver metastases with no i.v. contrast agent injection. The only limitations of this technique are the unfeasibility of MR exams of diagnostic value in uncooperative patients (5% of cases) and the very similar MR features of parenchymal scars, due to previous acute pancreatitis, to those of pancreatic carcinoma. In conclusion, CT remains the gold standard in the study of pancreatic cancers, but midfield strength MRI, if correctly performed, can be proposed as a complementary tool to CT, especially in questionable cases and in the patients with known reactions to iodinated contrast agents.
Aged↗
Possible role of the transcription factor interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF-1) in the regulation of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) gene expression during IFN gamma macrophage activation.
In this report we discuss the role of interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF-1) in the regulation of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) transcription during IFN gamma human macrophage activation. We show that a binding sequence for the transcription factor IRF-1 is contained in the first intron of the human ODC gene (from nt +2711 to nt +2722) and we demonstrate that the level of expression of IRF-1 increases in human macrophages and in the human promonocytic cell line, U937, previously differentiated in monocytes/macrophages by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), after 2 h of IFN gamma stimulation. We also show that the hamster tk-ts13 cell line, stably transfected with the IRF-1 cDNA, over-expresses ODC. In addition, a specific complex was detected, by gel-shift assay after incubating a 20 bp double-stranded oligomer containing the binding sequence for IRF-1 with nuclear proteins extracted from human macrophages and from (PMA-differentiated) U937 cells stimulated with IFN gamma for 2 h.
Animals↗
Determination of aspartate aminotransferase activity by high-performance liquid chromatography.
A sensitive and reproducible assay of aspartate aminotransferase activity based on UV detection of the reaction products after their separation by HPLC is described. The main advantage is the direct measurement of the enzyme activity as micromoles of product (glutamate) formed within a known period of time without any coupled reaction. Further, with the chromatographic method, all components of the reaction mixture are identified, allowing the reaction course to be controlled and the possible presence of side-reactions to be monitored.
Animals↗
The continuous elongation technique for severe Dupuytren's disease. A biochemical mechanism.
Continuous extension of Dupuytren's contracture prior to fasciectomy results in a softening of the tissue, allowing straightening of the fingers. The observed change in cross-link profile indicates an increase in newly synthesised collagen due to increased turnover. This was confirmed by demonstration of the increases in levels of the degradative enzymes, the neutral metalloproteinases, collagenase and gelatinase and the acidic cathepsins B and L. Both types of enzyme effectively depolymerize the collagen fibres, albeit by different mechanisms, leading initially to loss of tensile strength and ultimately to solubilization. We suggest that the increase in enzyme activity is generated by tension on the fibroblasts of this metabolically active tissue produced during the continuous extension of the retracted fingers. The weakening of the fibres by degradation and the increase in newly synthesized collagen provide an explanation for the extension of the tissue without trauma.
Amino Acids↗
The palmar fascia after treatment by the continuous extension technique for Dupuytren's contracture.
After complete elongation using the continuous extension technique the palmar fascia of four patients with Dupuytren's contracture was examined by light and electron microscopy and compared with non-elongated samples from 20 patients at the same clinical stage of the disease. Nodules and cords were no longer clinically recognizable after extension. The tissue contained collagen fibrils of uniform diameter (about 50 nm), densely packed in fibres parallel to the stretching force. Fine filaments (presumably proteoglycans) formed a network which was intermingled with and periodically bound to the collagen fibrils. Fibroblasts and myofibroblasts with an high biosynthetic activity and oxytalan-like microfibrils were aligned along the collagen fibres. The results show that in Dupuytren's disease the contracted palmar fascia reacts to external forces with neoformation and reorientation of all tissue components by myofibroblasts.
Actin Cytoskeleton↗
Cloning and sequencing of the rat cDNA encoding the mitochondrial 2-oxoglutarate carrier protein.
The 2-oxoglutarate carrier protein (OGCP) catalyzes the transport of the 2-oxoglutarate into the mitochondrial matrix by an electroneutral exchange for malate or some other dicarboxylic acids. Using primers based on the bovine heart cDNA sequence, overlapping cDNA clones encoding the rat OGCP were isolated from total rat heart poly(A+) cDNA. The entire rat cDNA is 1149 bp in length with 5' and 3' untranslated regions of 41 and 163 bp, respectively. The open reading frame encodes a protein consisting of 314 amino acids. The amino acid sequence of the rat 2-oxoglutarate carrier is 97% identical to that of the 2-oxoglutarate from cow and human. By Northern blot analysis, hybridizing transcripts were found in rat heart, liver and brain.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
[The role of intraoperative echography in laparoscopic cholecystectomy].
On the basis of recent technological improvements, the laparoscopic approach has become the method of choice during cholecystectomy. This surgical procedure, however, needs that cholangiography be performed simultaneously to better define the anatomy of the biliary ducts and the possible presence of choledochus stones. The use of intraoperative US during cholecystectomy is nowadays advocated for the unquestionable advantages offered by this technique--i.e., its non-invasiveness, high spatial resolution and no need of contrast agent administration. In this study, we examined 30 patients with cholelithiasis who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy and were submitted to endolaparoscopic US besides routine intraoperative cholangiography. In all cases, both techniques allowed optimal visualization of the biliary tree, clearly demonstrating choledochus stones in 2 cases. Intraoperative US proved to be more accurate in two cases. In one case which was positive at intraoperative cholangiography, the method allowed the biliary duct filling defect to be referred to an artifact caused by the presence of an air bubble. In another case, the lack of opacification of the hepatic ducts at cholangiography was referred, after US, to extrinsic gallbladder compression. US also allowed the adjacent parenchymal organs, such as the liver and the head of pancreas, to be studied. A limitation of this technique was represented by the difficult assessment of the choledochus in the patients with anatomical abnormalities or adhesions of the intestinal loops of the upper abdomen. In conclusion, endolaparoscopic US proved to be a reliable technique in the intraoperative study of the biliary ducts and can be considered as a procedure complementary to intraoperative cholangiography.
Biliary Tract↗
New method for guanase activity measurement by high-performance liquid chromatography.
A rapid isocratic high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of guanase (EC 3.5.4.3) activity is proposed. The method is highly reproducible, with a coefficient of variation of less than 1%, and requires only ca. 10 min for a complete chromatographic separation of the enzyme reaction mixture. The method allows the detection of nanomolar changes in the concentrations of both the substrate and the product, and does not require additional reactions or sample pretreatment. Kinetic studies with the proposed method showed the guanase activity to have an apparent Michaelis constant of 13.3 and 8.5 microM, and a maximum rate of 1.95 and 3.84 pmol/min per mg protein at 37 degrees C, in Tris-HCl and phosphate buffer, respectively.
Buffers↗
Morphometric and neurochemical changes in rat superior cervical ganglion during growth and adulthood.
We have previously found in rat superior cervical ganglion that there is a fall in neuron numbers and in cellular neuropeptide Y (NPY) immunoreactivity over the first year of life. In this study, we have used computerized image analysis to quantitate changes in neuron size, numbers and immunoreactivity for neuron-specific enolase (NSE), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and NPY in this ganglion between 1 and 85 weeks of age. Neuronal cytoplasmic area increased between 1 and 11 weeks and then remained stable until after 67 weeks, when there was a further increase in size of both NPY-positive and NPY-negative cells. Numbers of NPY-positive cells, but not those of NPY-negative cells, fell between 11 and 30 weeks. Both populations were stable after this time. Neuronal levels of NSE and TH remained constant, but levels of NPY fell between 58 and 67 weeks. These results indicate that changes in adult neuronal size, numbers and neurochemistry are independent phenomena. The increase in cell size and the fall in NPY after 58 weeks correspond to the time of withdrawal of some preganglionic inputs and may be responses to this event. By contrast, the decrease in NPY-positive cell numbers occurs some months before this time.
Aging↗
The continuous elongation treatment by the TEC device for severe Dupuytren's contracture of the fingers.
The continuous elongation technique is a preparatory step for excision of the pathologic palmar fascia for severe Dupuytren's contracture of the hands. It consists of a physiologic, painless, and atraumatic elongation that is obtained by means of a device fixed on the fourth and fifth metacarpal bones by two self-drilling pins. This paper presents our experience since 1986 with the TEC device, which we designed and built for severe hand contracture; the device has been applied on 56 hands and 85 fingers seriously flexed by Dupuytren's contracture. This advanced methodology also represents a real alternative to the surgical indication of finger amputation in progressive cases of the fascia retraction, and it avoids the necrosis, loss of vascularity, and bad functional results frequently seen after classical operations. The TEC device also avoids the plastic surgical correction of digital or palmar skin loss, particularly when there is a need for a flap or a skin graft. Dupuytren's contracture was for 160 years thought to be degenerative, progressive, and irreversible, but the TEC device, by bringing the contracture back to the initial stage of the disease, opens up new basic research into morphologic and biochemical processes of the collagen in the retracted palmar fascia.
Dupuytren Contracture↗
[The parenteral administration of essential amino acids in patients on periodic hemodialysis treatment. A pilot study].
In an attempt to improve the nutritional status of seven hemodialysed patients, 500 ml of a 5.5% nephrological essential amino acid solution (EAA) were administered during each dialysis session for 2 months. At the end of this treatment, a significant increase in albuminemia was found (p < 0.05). These results are an encouragement to continue this therapy, especially if it is kept in mind that the half-life of albumin is much shorter than the period of EAA administration.
Adolescent↗
Neonatal nerve growth factor treatment alters the preganglionic innervation pattern of rat superior cervical ganglion.
We treated rat pups with nerve growth factor (10 micrograms/animal/day s.c.) over postnatal days 1-7. Subsequent adult neuron numbers and tyrosine hydroxylase content in superior cervical ganglion were normal, but preganglionic inputs, as gauged from ganglionic choline acetyltransferase, were reduced. In parallel, intraganglionic axon terminals containing calcitonin gene-related peptide, but not those containing substance P, were increased in number. We postulate that neonatal nerve growth factor stimulates sprouting of ingrowing axons that have entered the ganglion soon after birth and that this represses subsequent establishment of cholinergic preganglionic synapses.
Aging↗
Inhibitors of polyamine biosynthesis block tumor necrosis factor-induced activation of macrophages.
The activation of polyamine biosynthesis, dependent on increased gene expression of ornithine decarboxylase, has been found to play an important role in the control of cell proliferation and differentiation. In this report it has been found that accumulation of ornithine decarboxylase mRNA also follows stimulation of human monocytes/macrophages by tumor necrosis factor. Human recombinant tumor necrosis factor (100 units/ml) also evoked an enhanced respiratory burst of macrophages. The respiratory burst response was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner with difluoromethylornithine, an inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase, and methylglyoxal-bis(guanylhydrazone), an inhibitor of the formation of spermidine and spermine. The data presented in this paper suggest that polyamines may play a functional role in tumor necrosis factor-driven macrophage activation, and they are discussed in the context of their possible use as inhibitors of polyamine metabolism in tumor chemotherapy.
Base Sequence↗
Polyamine involvement in functional activation of human macrophages.
Polyamines naturally occur in all living beings and play an important role in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, and functional stimulation of terminally differentiated cells. Our studies, using specific inhibitors of polyamine biosynthesis such as alpha-difluoromethylornithine and methylglyoxal-bis[guanylhydrazone] to prevent polyamine accumulation, have indicated that polyamines are associated with functional activation of human macrophages. Both inhibitors diminished the respiratory burst activity of macrophages induced by lipopolysaccharide and interferon gamma. The methylglyoxal-bis]guanylhydrazone] inhibitory effect was concentration-dependent and could be reversed by spermine, which is the final product of polyamine biosynthesis.
Cells, Cultured↗
The double armed suture: tendon repair with immediate mobilization of the fingers.
The double armed suture (DAS) method of repairing flexor and extensor tendons allows almost immediate mobilization of the involved digits. The technique protects the tendon juncture from stress during muscle contraction and hand therapy, which is begun a few days after surgery. This technique has been used in 76 patients since 1972. Good or excellent results have been obtained in 90% of the cases over a 16-year period.
Finger Injuries↗