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Biomedical subjects

C Mariani

Publications and source records attributed to C Mariani.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Intrathoracic intercostal nerve block with phenol in open chest surgery. A randomized study with statistical evaluation of respiratory parameters.

Seventy-three patients who underwent thoracic surgery were randomly selected for intraoperative intercostal nerve block using phenol (32 block and 41 control subjects). The patients were divided into three groups: pneumonectomies, lobectomies and explorative thoracotomies and evaluated by pain level, respiratory function parameters (VT, IRV, ERV, VC) and blood-gas analysis, both six and 24 hrs after surgery. The patients who had intraoperative nerve block using phenol enjoyed a more comfortable postoperative period. In particular, respiratory parameters were statistically better.

Blood Gas Analysis↗

Isolation and characterization of the zeste locus of Drosophila.

The zeste gene of Drosophila regulates the expression of certain other genes like white, bithorax and decapentaplegic in a manner dependent on chromosome pairing. The genetic evidence suggests that its product interacts with the genes at the level of transcription. We have cloned the zeste region from fragments microdissected from the 3A1-4 region of the X chromosome and mapped the breakpoints of several rearrangements which localise the gene. We have isolated dysgenic zeste mutants which contain P element sequences inserted in the same region. DNA rearrangements were found in some zeste mutants but were not detected in the z, z or z mutants. The changes are localised to a Bam 4.0-kb fragment from which originates a 2.4-kb RNA species. This transcript is altered in some zeste mutants but is not visibly affected in Z or z mutants. The region bears no homology to the white gene or its vicinity but cross-hybridises to many other genomic sequences in Drosophila.

Journal Article↗

Comparison between penetration of amoxicillin combined with carbocysteine and amoxicillin alone in pathological bronchial secretions and pulmonary tissue.

Patients with chronic bronchitis were treated orally with either amoxicillin (500 mg) alone or in combination with carbocysteine (150 mg), thrice daily for five days, in order to assess whether the combination allows higher antibiotic levels to be obtained in bronchial mucus than those obtained from amoxicillin alone. Serum and mucus levels were determined for each patient at first and fifth day of the two drug regimens. The levels of amoxicillin in the lung tissue collected in patients undergoing pulmonary surgery were also determined after a single oral dose of amoxicillin (1 g) or of amoxicillin (1 g) plus carbocysteine (300 mg). In the bronchial secretions, at the same plasma concentrations, amoxicillin levels were statistically higher after administration of combined substances. These findings indicate the presence of a pharmacokinetic synergism between these compounds, which allows amoxicillin to penetrate more easily through the hemato-bronchial barrier. The association of amoxicillin and carbocysteine, determining an increase of the quantitative levels of antibiotic in the bronchial secretion (also if it is purulent), performs a sterilizing action in a short time with significant therapeutic advantages.

Aged↗

Primary malignant lymphomas of the central nervous system: a histological and immunohistological study of 12 cases.

Paraffin sections of surgical and autopsy material from 12 cases of primary non-Hodgkin's lymphomas of the central nervous system were examined for histopathological diagnosis and for the demonstration of cytoplasmic immunoglobulins. According to the Kiel classification, there were five cases of lymphoplasmacytoid polymorphous lymphoma, five of immunoblastic lymphoma, one of lymphoblastic lymphoma of convoluted cell type. There was also one of the recently described multilobated lymphoma. An immunohistological study of light and heavy chains by peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) technique and avidin-biotin complex (ABC)technique was performed. Intracellular immunoglobulins were demonstrated in seven cases: four cases were classified as immunoblastic lymphomas and three cases as lymphoplasmacytoid lymphomas. Negative immunoglobulin staining was observed in five cases: two lymphoplasmacytoid lymphomas, one immunoblastic, one lymphoblastic of convoluted cell type and one multilobated. A 'monoclonal' pattern of immunoglobulin staining was detected in six cases. One case, classified as immunoblastic lymphoma, showed 'bitypic' staining for kappa and lambda chains. It was concluded that primary CNS non-Hodgkin's lymphomas of the present series showed morphological and immunohistological features similar to those of malignant lymphomas arising in extraneural sites. In particular, the presence in our series of a multilobated lymphoma, as a primary CNS tumour, is emphasized.

Adult↗

A case of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in preleukemic syndrome.

A case of an apparently primary PML in a 57-ys-old female is reported. The first neurological symptoms appeared about one year before death. The hematological abnormalities observed only during the last two months of life, at postmortem examination, were found to fit the criteria of the preleukemic syndromes.

Brain↗

Pentazocine-blocked myogenesis in human foetal muscle cultures.

A critical review of the published cases reports suggests that the muscle changes could be induced by Pentazocine by mechanisms other than local myotoxicity. The mechanism of myotoxicity in Pentazocine-myopathy remains uncertain and for this reason a tissue culture study was performed in order to investigate the close relationship between myopathy and Pentazocine. The effects of Pentazocine on the extent of myogenesis in human foetal muscle cultures were investigated. The phase contrast study, the light microscopy the quantitative assessment of myogenesis (the number of nuclei incorporated into myotubes were counted and expressed as a percentage of the total number of nuclei) showed a complete block of myogenesis in Pentazocine treated culture and a delayed fusion process was present in D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (Ara-C)-Pentazocine-treated cultures. The present preliminary data, however, suggest that muscle stem cells could participate in the replacement of skeletal muscle by fibrous tissue in neuromuscular syndrome induced by Pentazocine.

Cell Differentiation↗

Selective replication of ribosomal DNA repeats after loss of the abnormal oocyte phenotype in Drosophila melanogaster.

Drosophila melanogaster females homozygous for the abnormal oocyte mutation produce a large excess of female offspring when crossed with XY/0 males. After several generations in abo homozygous stock, this maternal effect is no longer observed. The disappearance of the abo phenotype is coupled with an increase in the amount of DNA coding for rRNA (rDNA). We have used restriction endonuclease analysis of total DNA extracted from adult females and from single female larval brains to investigate the molecular organization of rDNA before and after the loss of abo phenotype. The rDNA increase is associated with variations of the restriction pattern of the nontranscribed spacer, probably due to a selective increase of rDNA repeats.

Animals↗

A peculiar case of malignant cerebral reticulosis: clinico-pathological study.

A man aged 56 years, previously healthy, developed asthenia, hypersonnia, apathy, later polydipsia and bulimia, headache and episodes of unconsciousness. There was temporary improvement with steriod therapy, but ever-deepening stupor appeared till death due to bronchopneumonia. All blood chemistry examinations were normal. The CSF IgG was elevated but no neoplastic cells were seen. At autopsy areas of grayish color in the basal gagnlia and granulomatous tissue in the floor of the third ventricle and in the mamillary bodies were seen, and the gonads were attrophied. Microscopically, in the floor of third ventricle, mamillary bodies and adjacent leptomeninges there was granulomatous tissue made up of more-or-less typical cells of the reticulum, polymorphonuclear cells, plasma cells and some phagocytes along with proliferation of small blood vessels and reticulin fibers. In addition, the white matter of the frontal lobes, pons, middle cerebellar peduncle and cerebellar white matter contained diffuse proliferation of pleomorphic histiocytic elements with questionable atypical mitoses. Notwithstanding, the morphology of our case suggests that it is a peculiar form of malignant reticulosis (or malignant histocytosis) related to histiocytosis X. The duplicity of the features of our case suggests it to be neoplastic, where the proliferative phase is followed by a granulomatous and sclerotic one.

Brain Neoplasms↗

Pentazocine-induced neuromuscular syndrome: clinical, histochemical features in two cases and a tissue culture study of pentazocine-block myogenesis in human foetal muscle.

Two cases of pentazocine-induced neuromuscular syndrome in addicted patients are reported. Histochemical and histographic analysis of muscle biopsies performed in areas distant from the site of injection, disclosed type II muscle fibre atrophy. In order to clarify the pentazocine myotoxic mechanism, a tissue culture study was performed and the effects of the drug on the extent of myogenesis in human foetal muscle cultures were assayed. The tissue culture studies showed: 1 a complete block of myogenesis in pentazocine-treated human foetal muscle cultures and 2. a delayed fusion process when the pentazocine-treated cultures were pretreated with 10(-5) M D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara-C). In conclusion it is suggested that the overgrowth of fibroblasts, supported by tissue culture study, in tissues other than muscle (i.e. nerve) could explain the neurogenic aspects found in these patients.

Adult↗