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Biomedical subjects

C Galli

Publications and source records attributed to C Galli.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2002

Focal cortical dysplasia: neuropathological subtypes, EEG, neuroimaging and surgical outcome.

Since the original description by Taylor, the term focal cortical dysplasia has been used to refer to a wide range of alterations of the cortical mantle. More recently, these conditions have been described from neuroimaging, neuropathological and genetic standpoints, generating several classifications. It is widely recognized that these classifications are unsatisfactory. We propose a simplified classification of focal cortical dysplasias based on easily recognized neuropathological characteristics. We retrospectively re-examined histological sections of cortex from 52 of 224 (23%) patients operated on for drug-resistant partial epilepsy in which cortical dysplasia was present but not associated with other brain pathologies except hippocampal sclerosis. Three subgroups were identified: (i) architectural dysplasia (31 patients) characterized by abnormal cortical lamination and ectopic neurones in white matter; (ii) cytoarchitectural dysplasia (six patients) characterized by giant neurofilament-enriched neurones in addition to altered cortical lamination; and (iii) Taylor-type cortical dysplasia (15 patients) with giant dysmorphic neurones and balloon cells (all but two patients) associated with cortical laminar disruption. The patients with architectural dysplasia had lower seizure frequency than those with cytoarchitectural and Taylor-type dysplasia, and the epileptogenic zone was mainly in the temporal lobe. In patients with Taylor-type dysplasia, the epileptogenic zone was mainly extratemporal, and interictal stereo-EEG was distinctive. MRI was unrevealing in 34% of patients, but distinctive signal alterations characterized most patients with Taylor-type dysplasia, while focal hypoplasia with MRI abnormalities was found in architectural dysplasia. Patients with Taylor-type dysplasia had the best outcome, with 75% seizure-free (Engel class Ia) after at least a year of follow-up compared with 50% of cytoarchitectural dysplasia and 43% of architectural dysplasia patients seizure-free. This three-category classification is based on easily recognized histopathological characteristics and avoids complicated terminology, while the distinctive ensemble of other characteristics defines clinically homogeneous groups.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Transfer of the apoptotic message in sister cultures of cerebellar neurons.

In vitro cultured cerebellar granule cells (cgc) undergo apoptotic death when the depolarising concentration of KCl 25 mM is adjusted to 5 mM. We investigated whether the apoptotic message can be transferred from a group of neurons to neighbouring but separated sister cultures by resorting to two different culture systems, one based on the use of concentric dishes, the other employing the transwells. The extent of transferred death was 38.6% in the two dishes system and 31.3% in the transwell system. The transfer of such death-inducing signal(s), accompanied by chromatin condensation, was inhibited by actinomicin D. Preliminary experiments aimed at identifying such apoptosis-inducing signal(s) suggest the involvement of beta-amyloid fragment(s).

Amyloid beta-Peptides↗
PubMed2001

Embryo production by ovum pick up from live donors.

Embryo production by in vitro techniques has increased steadily over the years. For cattle where this technology is more advanced and is applied more, the number of in vitro produced embryos transferred to final recipients was over 30,000 in 1998. An increasing proportion of in vitro produced embryos are coming from oocytes collected from live donors by ultrasound-guided follicular aspiration (ovum pick up, OPU). This procedure allows the repeated production of embryos from live donors of particular value and is a serious alternative to superovulation. Ovum pick up is a very flexible technique. It can be performed twice a week for many weeks without side effects on the donor's reproductive career. The donor can be in almost any physiological status and still be suitable for oocyte recovery. A scanner with a sectorial or convex probe and a vacuum pump are required. Collection is performed with minimal stress to the donor. An average of 8 to 10 oocytes are collected per OPU with an average production of 2 transferable embryos. The laboratory production of embryos from such oocytes does not differ from that of oocytes harvested at slaughter as the results after transfer to final recipients. For other species such as buffalo and horses OPU has been attempted similarly to cattle and data will be presented and reviewed. For small ruminants, laparotomy or laparoscopy seems the only reliable route so far to collect oocytes from live donors.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Adsorption and Bioactivity of Protein A on Silicon Surfaces Studied by AFM and XPS.

The adsorption of protein A on silicon surfaces was studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The deposition was made statically from various concentrations of protein A in water solution. The biological activity was checked by the immobilization of rabbit immunoglobulin G. The protein adsorption occurs in least two different phases and leads to a multilayer film. The first monolayer of proteins is rapidly adsorbed on the surface. The adsorption of the second layer of proteins occurs much more slowly (a thousand times slower) and also involves the third monolayer. The protein A of the first monolayer is denaturated and biologically inactive. On the contrary, the proteins of the second monolayer keep their natural diameter and remain biologically active. AFM artifacts such as the convolution with small objects and the resulting estimation of the coverage ratio are discussed. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Bovine oocytes treated prior to in vitro maturation with a combination of butyrolactone I and roscovitine at low doses maintain a normal developmental capacity.

Butyrolactone I (BL-I) and Roscovitine (ROS), two specific and potent inhibitors of M-phase promoting factor (MPF) kinase activity, were used to block germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) of cattle oocytes. A concentration 6.25 microM BL-I and 12.5 microM ROS blocked over 93.3 +/- 2.5% of oocytes in germinal vesicle (GV) stage during a 24-hr culture period. Following a second 24-hr culture step in maturation medium (IVM) almost all (91.5 +/- 3.0%) inhibited oocytes resumed meiosis and reached the metaphase II (MII) stage. The MII kinetics was different for inhibited and control oocytes. Fifty percent MII was reached at 13-14 hr in BL-I + ROS treated oocytes, compared to 18 hr in control oocytes. Therefore, control oocytes were fertilised (IVF) after 22 hr IVM and inhibited oocytes after 16 or 22 hr IVM. After IVF, percentage of grade 1 freezable embryos on day 7 (D + 7) as well as percentage of blastocyst formation on D + 8 in the group of BL-I + ROS treated oocytes fertilised after 16 hr IVM were higher (P < 0.05) compared with the other experimental group fertilised after 22 hr IVM but not different in comparison with the control. Survival to freezing and thawing of grade 1 embryos frozen on D + 7 was employed as viability criteria and was similar in all groups. Thus, the presence of BL-I + ROS in the prematuration medium of bovine oocytes determines a reversible meiotic block, without compromising their subsequent developmental competence.

4-Butyrolactone↗
PubMed2001

Prolonged breast-feeding (six months or more) and milk fat content at six months are associated with higher developmental scores at one year of age within a breast-fed population.

Since dietary fats may affect brain composition and function in early life, we evaluated developmental indices at 1 year of age in relation to the duration of breast-feeding and the milk fat composition in a breast-fed population. A blinded monitor administered the Bayley test (2nd edition) to 1-year-old subjects born at term and exclusively breast-fed for at least 3 months. Weaning foods were introduced from the 5th month onward. Mothers' milk lipid composition (fat [wt/dL], fatty acid [wt/dL], FA% [% of total fatty acids]) was determined at 0, 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Statistics used were Student's t-test, Pearson's r, and multiple regression. Forty-four infants out of 95 recruited at birth met inclusion criteria. There was a progressive reduction of the number of breast-fed babies to 29 (6 mo), 17 (9 mo), and 10 (12 mo). Breast-feeding for 6 months or longer gave a 6.6-point advantage (95% confidence interval, -0.6, 13.8; P = 0.07 for the Bayley psychomotor developmental index (PDI) and 2.0 for the Bayley mental developmental index (MDI) (95% confidence interval, -3.2, 7.3; NS) compared with the 15 subjects breast-fed for fewer than 6 months. Among the milk lipid factors, the fat weight (mg/dL) at 6 months showed the highest association with the MDI (r = 0.55, P = 0.002). Thus, prolonged breast-feeding during the weaning process may result in a better developmental performance at 12 months, possibly due to the supply of fats contributing energy and/or affecting brain composition.

Aging↗
PubMed2001

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrations in human hindmilk are constant throughout twelve months of lactation.

We assessed the total fat content and fatty acid concentrations in colostrum and throughout a nursing period of 12 months in a group of mothers recruited after delivery of full-term infants. Pooled human milk (hindmilk) was collected from all feedings over 24 hours at the following times: 1st day of nursing (colostrum), and at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Total fat was quantified by a microgravimetric method. Fatty acids were analyzed by means of capillary gas chromatography. Comparisons were made with analysis of variance for repeated measures. Ten mothers completed the follow-up 12-month nursing period. We found that the total lipid content of hindmilk (mg/dL) rises more than 3-fold from the colostrum up to the 3rd month, and then more slowly up to the 12th month. Total saturated fatty acids progressively increase and total monounsaturated FA progressively decrease. Among long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, we found that the concentrations (mg/dL) of C20:4 and C22:6 remain stable from colostrum up to the 12th month of nursing, while their percentage levels are highest in colostrum and decrease afterwards in association with the increase in total fats. The C18:2n6 and C18:3n3 amounts progressively increase, following the trend of total fats. These data indicate that the secretion of arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid during lactation remains constant, in spite of changes in total fat and in the linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid contents of milk.

Arachidonic Acid↗
PubMed2001

[Optimized hemodilution with hydroxyethyl starch. A blood saving method in malocclusion operations].

UNLABELLED: OPTIMIZED HEMODILUTION: To avoid blood transfusions, the method of optimized hemodilution (OHD) was developed. OHD consists of preoperative hypervolemic hemodilution with 500 ml hydroxyethyl starch (HES) and consecutive volume replacement with HES in the case of intraoperative intravasal fluid loss. This study verifies the efficacy of OHD. RESULTS: Mono- and bimaxillary operations (n = 213) performed between January 1995 and May 1999 were evaluated retrospectively with respect to reduction of blood transfusions due to application of OHD. The average blood loss in the OHD group (n = 127) was 593 ml, and no blood transfusion was required. In contrast, the control group (n = 86) showed an average blood loss of 738 ml, and 15% of these patients (n = 13) required transfusion of a total of 18 blood units. Based on our results, provision of autologous blood is only necessary for patients who do not receive OHD. The costs of fluid replacement and transfusion are increased by a factor of 5.7 when OHD is not used. DISCUSSION: OHD should be preferably used in cases of elective surgery on patients with good cardiopulmonary health. It is an easy to handle infusion regimen, which does not require additional monitoring, has no risk of infection, and results in a significant cost reduction.

Blood Loss, Surgical↗
PubMed2001

The role of antioxidants in the Mediterranean diet.

Traditional Mediterranean diets, as opposed to North European and American diets, include a significantly large amount of plant foods; this notable difference between the two eating styles, despite the similarities among other classic risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD) such as high plasma cholesterol levels, has been associated with a lower risk of developing the CHD and certain cancers. The involvement of excessive free radical production and the great number of epidemiologic studies linking antioxidant intake with a reduced incidence of the above-mentioned diseases indicate that dietary antioxidants likely play a protective role. Because diets in the Mediterranean are (or better yet, were) characterized by abundant plant foods (fruits, vegetables, breads, nuts, seeds; wine and olive oil), this article includes a review of the potential activities of dietary antioxidants, which are plentiful in Mediterranean diets, and wine as related to human disease.

Antioxidants↗
PubMed2001

Antiatherogenic components of olive oil.

Olive oil is the principal source of fat in the Mediterranean diet, which has been associated with a lower incidence of coronary heart disease and certain cancers. Olive oil is characterized by a high proportion of monounsaturated oleic acid, but the main peculiarity of extra-virgin oil is the presence of remarkable quantities of phenolic compounds, notably hydroxytyrosol and oleuropein, that provide high stability and strong taste. Recently, several studies have demonstrated that olive oil phenolics are powerful antioxidants, both in vitro and in vivo, and exert additional potent biologic activities that could partially account for the observed cardioprotective effects of the Mediterranean diet.

Coronary Disease↗
PubMed2001

Modeling systematic errors: polychromatic sources of Beer-Lambert deviations in HPLC/UV and nonchromatographic spectrophotometric assays.

It is well established that the use of polychromatic radiation in spectrophotometric assays leads to excursions from the Beer-Lambert limit. This Note models the resulting systematic error as a function of assay spectral width, slope of molecular extinction coefficient, and analyte concentration. The theoretical calculations are compared with recent experimental results; a parameter is introduced which can be used to estimate the magnitude of the systematic error in both chromatographic and nonchromatographic spectrophotometric assays. It is important to realize that the polychromatic radiation employed in common laboratory equipment can yield assay errors up to approximately 4%, even at absorption levels generally considered 'safe' (i.e. absorption <1). Thus careful consideration of instrumental spectral width, analyte concentration, and slope of molecular extinction coefficient is required to ensure robust analytical methods.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMed2001

Urinary excretion of olive oil phenols and their metabolites in humans.

We have recently demonstrated, in humans, the bioavailability of hydroxytyrosol (3,4-dihydroxyphenylethanol; HT), one of the major antioxidant components of virgin olive oil. In particular, we reported that this compound is present in lipoproteins involved in atherosclerotic processes and is excreted in the urine mainly as glucuronide-conjugate. The aim of the present study was to elucidate, in humans, the metabolic fate of HT after ingestion of virgin olive oil. After administration of virgin olive oil, 24-hour urine collections of healthy volunteers were prepared for gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses in order to identify and quantify HT and its metabolites homovanillic alcohol (HVA1c) and homovanillic acid (HVA). The results indicate that this compound undergoes the action of catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT), enzymes involved in the catecholamine catabolism, resulting in an enhanced excretion of HVA1c. We also found a significant increase of HVA, indicating an oxidation of the ethanolic residue of HT and/or of HVA1c in humans. The excretion of both metabolites significantly correlated with the dose of administered HT.

Biological Availability↗
PubMed2001

Breastfeeding duration, milk fat composition and developmental indices at 1 year of life among breastfed infants.

The associations of breastfeeding duration and milk fat composition with the developmental outcome at 1 year of age were measured within 44 infants exclusively breastfed for 3 months, out of 95 recruited at birth. Pooled breast milk (hindmilk) of the mothers was analysed at colostrum, 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months for total fat and fatty acid content. Infants were examined at 12 months by means of the Bayley test. There was a progressive reduction of the number of breastfed babies after the introduction of solids to 29 (6 months), 17 (9 months) and 10 (12 months). After adjusting for major confounders, infants breastfed for 6 months or longer showed a trend to have an advantage at the Bayley psychomotor developmental index compared to those breastfed >3 and <6 months (95% CI for difference: - 0.6, 13.8; P= 0.07) while the Bayley mental developmental index (MDI) was just 2.1 points higher. Among the milk fat components considered for each time-point, the total fat content at 6 months showed the strongest association with the MDI at 12 months (r=0.59, P=0.001). Prolonging breastfeeding during the weaning process may result in a better developmental performance at 12 months, possibly due to the supply of fats affecting brain composition.

Breast Feeding↗
PubMed2001

Hydroxytyrosol, as a component of olive mill waste water, is dose- dependently absorbed and increases the antioxidant capacity of rat plasma.

Hydroxytyrosol is the most potent phenolic antioxidant of olive oil and olive mill waste water (OMWW) and its biological activities have stimulated research on its potential role in cardiovascular protection. However, evidence of the absorption of OMWW phenolics and on their possible in vivo activity has, until now, never been provided. Three groups male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered 1, 5, or 10 mg/Kg of the OMWW extract, respectively, providing 41.4, 207, and 414 microg/Kg of hydroxytyrosol, respectively. Urine was collected for 24 h and the urinary levels of hydroxytyrosol were quantified by mass spectrometry. Hydroxytyrosol was dose-dependently (R(2) = 0.95) absorbed and excreted in the urines mostly as a glucuronide conjugate. Further, the administration of an hydroxytyrosol-rich OMWW extract (10 mg/kg) to the rats was also associated with an increase of their plasma antioxidant capacity. Future experiments will eventually further clarify its metabolic fate and its in vivo actions.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Evaluation of the Abbott AxSYM cytomegalovirus (CMV) immunoglobulin M (IgM) assay in conjunction with other CMV IgM tests and a CMV IgG avidity assay.

The measurement of the avidity of cytomegalovirus (CMV) immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies has been shown by several investigators to be useful in identifying and excluding primary CMV infections in pregnant women. In this work, we examined the diagnostic utility of reflex testing of CMV IgM-positive specimens from pregnant women by using a CMV IgG avidity assay. The utility of this approach was directly dependent on the sensitivity of the CMV IgM assay employed during the initial screen. The higher initial reactivity rate of the AxSYM CMV IgM assay was necessary in order to detect CMV IgM in specimens containing low-avidity CMV IgG antibodies, indicative of a primary CMV infection, which other CMV IgM assays (Behring, Vidas, Captia, and Eurogenetics) fail to detect in some cases. The use of the AxSYM CMV IgM assay, followed by an avidity test, should result in more accurate diagnosis of CMV infection in pregnant women.

Antibodies, Viral↗