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Biomedical subjects

A Moro

Publications and source records attributed to A Moro.

35 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

The spectrum of left ventricular size in dilated cardiomyopathy: clinical correlates and prognostic implications. SPIC (Italian Multicenter Cardiomyopathy Study) Group.

To address the issues of variability and prognostic role of left ventricular dimensions in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), 144 patients with DCM were studied. They were arbitrarily assigned to two groups according to an echocardiographic left ventricular end-diastolic diameter index < or = 15% (45 patients with mildly dilated cardiomyopathy) and above 15% (99 patients with typically dilated cardiomyopathy) of the upper normality range. Among the patients with mildly dilated cardiomyopathy, there were more men (89% vs 66%; p < 0.01). This group of patients also had a greater prevalence of atrial fibrillation (22% vs 3%; p < 0.001) higher left ventricular fractional shortening (15 +/- 6% vs 13 +/- 5%; p < 0.05), higher ejection fraction (28 +/- 8% vs 24 +/- 8%; p < 0.01), and a lower exercise tolerance (5 +/- 2 MET vs 6 +/- 2 MET; p < 0.05). At the time of follow-up examination (30 +/- 15 months), event-free survival was not significantly different between patients with mildly dilated cardiomyopathy and those with typically dilated cardiomyopathy. Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (p < 0.001) and left atrial dimension index (p < 0.01) were significant predictors of prognosis as determined by Cox multivariate analysis. Minimal or mild ventricular dilatation is not uncommon in DCM, and it identifies a heterogenous group of patients--some who are in the early stages of disease and others with severe pump dysfunction and persistently small hearts. Ventricular dilatation is not an independent predictor of prognosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Effect of platelet-poor plasma from patients with neurofibromatosis on the growth of cultured neurofibroma-derived fibroblast-like cells.

The effect of platelet-poor plasma from patients with von Recklinghausen's disease (neurofibromatosis, NF) on the cell growth of cultured neurofibroma-derived fibroblast-like cells (NF fibroblast-like cells grown from explant cultures of cutaneous neurofibromas) was examined. Platelet-poor plasma and sera from nine NF patients and nine control individuals were examined. When comparing platelet-poor plasma from patients with NF with control individuals, the former stimulated the proliferation of fibroblast-like cells derived from neurofibromas, not that of normal fibroblasts.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Response of scleroderma fibroblasts to various growth factors.

Abnormal growth regulation in lesional skin fibroblasts may be related to scleroderma pathogenesis. We report on the abnormal response of cultured fibroblasts derived from sclerotic lesions to various growth factors. We investigated the responses of skin fibroblasts (10 strains) and normal fibroblasts (9 strains) to the growth factors as PDGF, TGF-beta 1, EGF and basic FGF. Experiments were conducted during the proliferation and confluent stages. PDGF, EGF and basic FGF stimulated fibroblast growth during the proliferation and confluent stages, but the response of scleroderma fibroblasts was significantly lower than that of normal fibroblasts. TGF-beta 1 slightly stimulated confluent fibroblast growth and inhibited proliferating fibroblasts, and the response of scleroderma fibroblasts exceeded that of normal fibroblasts. The decreased response to growth-stimulating factors observed in scleroderma fibroblasts suggests that cultured fibroblasts derived from scleroderma lesions were already senescent because they have been activated by growth-stimulating factors and repeatedly divided in vivo. Thus, abnormal growth regulation of skin fibroblasts may be partially related to the pathogenesis of scleroderma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[Magnetic resonance in condylo-meniscal incoordination pathology of the temporomandibular joint. Indications, diagnostic accuracy and optimization of study techniques].

Up to 28% of the population is affected with pathologic conditions involving the temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ), most of them related to uncoordinated disk motion. To date, these pathologies have been evaluated by means of different diagnostic tools, the latest of which is MR imaging. The authors examined with low-field (0.2 T) MR imaging 15 normal volunteers and 20 patients suffering from temporo-mandibular joint disk dysfunction. The study was aimed at comparing the results obtained with low-field MR imaging with literature data on the subject. A standard technique employing low-field MR imaging was also assessed on normal subjects for the management of the patients with TMJ pathologies. The pathological TMJs were then evaluated, each of them examined with arthroscopy and/or surgery. MR imaging was capable of identifying the meniscus in all cases, together with its morphology, signal, location, and movements during opening and closure of the mouth. Disk dislocation were always correctly identified. The point of re-capture in the cases with spontaneous reduction was easily ascertained. The simultaneous imaging of both the right and the left TMJs allowed the joints to be compared at the same degree of mouth opening, so that motion asymmetries were easily detected. High agreement was observed between MR, arthroscopic and surgical findings. Our experience points to MR imaging as the examination of choice in the evaluation of TMJ diseases. The best results are obtained when both joints are simultaneously imaged, on the sagittal and coronal planes, during opening and closure of the mouth, and possibly in a cine-animation display format.

Arthroscopy↗
PubMed1989

Cultured skin fibroblasts from patients with porokeratosis are hypersensitive to the lethal effects of X-radiation.

Porokeratosis is an autosomal dominant inherited skin disorder. The lesions are characterized by localized abnormal keratinization and may develop into malignant tumors. To determine the cellular basis of the cancer susceptibility associated with this skin condition, we examined the colony-forming ability of X-ray or ultraviolet (UV) light irradiated, cultured fibroblasts derived from porokeratosis patients' normal-appearing skin. Four fibroblast strains derived from four porokeratosis patients' skin were significantly hypersensitive to the lethal effects of X-radiation. However, they all showed a similar sensitivity to strains from normal donors to 254 nm UV light. The hypersensitivity to X-ray radiation in cultured skin fibroblasts from porokeratosis patients suggests an inherent instability of cellular DNA and may probably be associated with the cancer-prone nature of this skin condition.

Cell Survival↗
PubMed1988

The spectrum of allergenic pollens in Italy. A computerized method of aerobiological monitoring.

The monitoring of airborne pollens that provoke allergy is of interest to clinicians to enable them to correlate chronologically the relationship between pollen concentrations in the atmosphere and the symptoms of patients with pollen-related allergies. In Italy there are now 60 centres for monitoring airborne allergenic pollens, the data from which are compiled and filed using software developed by the Italian Association of Aerobiology (AIA) and run on personal computers. These data are then fed into a central data bank to which all centres have access. This information system makes it possible to achieve the following objectives: 1) to standardise monitoring methods, 2) to recognise varieties of pollen that cause allergies, 3) to improve the exchange and comparison of information among operators by compiling the results in graphs, and 4) to notify clinicians about atmospheric concentrations of allergenic pollens so that improved therapy can be provided.

Air Pollution↗
PubMed1977

[2-formyl-1,4-benzodioxane. Preparation and reactivity].

The preparation of 2-formyl-1.4-benzodioxane by reduction of the corresponding ethyl ester, and some reactions of this aldehyde carried out with the aim of obtaining new pharmacologically active derivatives, are described. Wittig reactions with stabilized, semi-stabilized, and reactive phosphoranes resulted in the formation of the 2-alkenyl derivatives. Reaction with a primary amine led to the corresponding imine. The 1.3-dithiane was also prepared and its behaviour with strong bases and alkylating reagents investigated.

Chemical Phenomena↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Hypomelanosis of Ito - case report]

OBJECTIVES: The authors report a case of hypomelanosis of Ito (HI), a rare neurocutaneous syndrome with neurological and chromosomal alterations associated with cutaneous involvement and recurrent pneumonia. CASE REPORT: A male patient, age 1 year and 11 months, was admitted with bilateral bronchopneumonia to the São Vicente de Paulo Hospital. Examination revealed hypochromic maculas on the skin, compatible with HI, and a delay in neuropsychomotor development. The patient was submitted to incisive biopsy of the abdominal skin lesions, electroencephalogram, magnetic resonance, and cytogenetic evaluation. RESULTS: Histology and immunohistochemistry evinced absence of melanin and reductio of melanocyte in focal areas of the epidermis. The electroencephalogram revealed diffuse cortico-subcortical dysfunction. Encephalic magnetic resonance imaging was compatible with arachnoid cyst in the temporal region. Karyotype showed chromosome mosaicism (46, XY) and interstitial deletion of bands 22.2 to 24.4 of the long arm of chromosome 10 (25%). CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of skin lesions is important for the etiologic definition of neuropediatric disorders.

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Osteotomy of the external cortex of the gonial angle in the correction of mandibular asymmetry].

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Patients with facial asymmetries undergoing maxillo-mandibular surgery may have residual asymmetries in the gonial region, body and blade of the mandible that call for further surgery. Other patients may present asymmetries of the lower third of the face that are not associated with occlusal alterations, for which there are no indications for maximally osteotomy. In these cases the authors propose using osteotomy of the outer mandibular cortex to resolve the aesthetic defect. METHODS: A retrospective study was made using a clinical and radiographical evaluation of 7 patients undergoing this operation. The follow-up ranged between 3 and 16 months. The study was performed in 4 patients with residual asymmetry after mono or bimaxillary surgery for facial asymmetry and 3 patients with mandibular asymmetry not associated with occlusal alterations. Surgery included the realisation of osteotomy of the outer cortex of the mandibular angle, with repositioning according to set values and synthesis through rigid fixation. The increased gonial diameter, the degree of reabsorption and the cosmetic results were evaluated. RESULTS: Surgery succeeded in recreating a satisfactory facial symmetry without resorting to extraoral incisions, without using alloplastic materials and minimising the harvesting of autologous material. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed technique enabled the asymmetry to be corrected by maintaining the natural marginal morphology, eliminating the risks of infection, extrusion or deplacement that may occur when using alloplastic materials.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

IFNalpha 2b induces apoptosis and proteasome-mediated degradation of p27Kip1 in a human lung cancer cell line.

IFNs are a family of cytokines involved in antiviral defense, cell growth regulation and immune activation. IFNs either inhibit cell proliferation or control apoptosis depending on factors such as cell type and state of cell differentiation. It is important to determine how IFN-induced gene products interact with other cellular proteins to produce these responses. We have investigated the effect of IFNalpha 2b on a human small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) cell line H82. We have found that IFNalpha efficiently induces apoptosis in H82 cells. The induction of apoptosis by IFNalpha 2b is accompanied by decreased levels of c-myc and Cdk2. We have also observed that in H82 cells IFNalpha induces downregulation of p27 and this is in contrast to the upregulation of p27 observed in other cell types where IFNs induce cell cycle arrest. IFNalpha-induced downregulation of p27 is due to protein destabilization and can be prevented by the proteasome inhibitor LLnL. The data suggest that in H82 cells, IFNalpha 2b induces degradation of p27Kip1 independently of CDK2 kinase activity and through a ubiquitin or ubiquitin-related pathway and that the degradation of p27Kip1 could be a molecular event of importance for IFN-induced apoptosis in cancer cells.

Apoptosis↗