Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

E Donati

Publications and source records attributed to E Donati.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Superficial siderosis of the central nervous system and anticoagulant therapy: a case report.

Superficial siderosis of the central nervous system is a rare condition characterized by deposition of haemosiderin in the leptomeninges and in the subpial layers of the brain and spinal cord. With the widespread use of magnetic resonance imaging, an increasing number of cases of superficial siderosis are being discovered, secondary forms being more frequent than idiopathic ones. We report a 78-year-old man in oral anticoagulant therapy, who presented neurosensory hearing loss, gait ataxia and spastic paraparesis. Magnetic resonance imaging suggested the diagnosis of superficial siderosis of the central nervous system, without an evident bleeding source.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Determination of silymarine in the extract from the dried silybum marianum fruits by high performance liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis.

Silybine (SBN), isosilybine (ISBN), silycristine (SCN), silydianine (SDN), and taxifoline (TXF) are the main active flavanoids, generally found in the dried fruits of silybum marianum. The concentrations of these compounds, excepted TXF, are all together usually expressed as silymarine content. In this paper the determination of the silymarine titre was made by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and high performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE). Two reversed stationary phases, RP-18 and RP-8, were observed comparing the resolutions of all considered flavanoids with each stationary phases. The HPCE was carried out considering the possible improvement in the resolution of SBN, CN, SDN and TXF using, 8-cyclodextrines or organic modifier. The qualitative and quantitative data obtained by HPLC and HPCE were compared.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMed1999

Slime production by Staphylococci isolated from prosthesis-associated infections.

Clinical isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis are frequently referred to produce a biofilm, known as slime, involved in adherence to medical devices and in resistance to host defences. A high frequency of slime producing Staphylococcus aureus strains was never reported, at least in the case of human isolates. In the present study the production of slime by clinical isolates of S. aureus and S. epidermidis from catheter associated infections and from post-surgical infections was studied by a sensitive method based on culturing the isolates on Congo red agar. The study demonstrates that in nosocomial surgical infections, considered separately from catheter-associated infections, S. aureus emerges as a more prevalent etiologic agent than S. epidermidis, with a proportion of slime producing strains markedly high.

Biofilms↗
PubMed1998

Bio-dissolution of spent nickel-cadmium batteries using Thiobacillus ferrooxidans.

In this study, the production of sulphuric acid in bioreactors with Thiobacillus ferrooxidans attached on elemental sulphur was investigated. These bioreactors reached a maximum H+ productivity of 80 mmol kg-1 d-1 of support. This medium was used for the indirect dissolution of spent nickel-cadmium batteries recovering after 93 days 100% of cadmium, 96.5% of nickel and 95.0% of iron. Moreover, recoveries higher than 90.0% were reached when anodic and cathodic materials were directly added to Thiobacillus ferrooxidans cultures with sulphur as the sole energy source. The results presented show an economic and effective method which could be considered the first step to recycle spent and and discarded batteries preventing one of the many problems of environmental pollution.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗
PubMed1995

Adrenalectomy reduces FGF-1 and FGF-2 gene expression in specific rat brain regions and differently affects their induction by seizures.

We have previously reported that limbic seizures regulate the gene expression of fibroblast growth factor-2 (basic, FGF-2) according to a specific spatio-temporal pattern. In the present paper we have investigated the role of adrenal hormones on seizure-induced elevation of fibroblast growth factor-1 (acidic, FGF-1) and FGF-2 gene expression. Adrenalectomy reduces FGF-2 mRNA expression in specific brain regions, such as frontal cortex, hippocampus and striatum, whereas FGF-1 mRNA levels were decreased only in the frontal cortex. The injection of kainic acid in adrenalectomized rats produced a widespread increase of FGF-2 mRNA with a pattern similar to sham animals as indicated by in situ hybridization. In contrast, although kainate-induced elevation of FGF-1 mRNA in the hippocampus was not influenced by adrenalectomy, its induction in frontal cortex was prevented by this surgery procedure. Taken together, these data indicate that adrenal hormones play a role in the regulation of the gene expression for fibroblast growth factors, but different mechanisms are operative in their induction following seizure activity.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed1995

A practical technique for conformal simulation in radiation therapy of pelvic tumors.

PURPOSE: A radiological procedure, based on straightforward conventional methods, was used for a demonstration of pelvic anatomy during simulation to precisely delineate the target volume and increase the probabilities of pelvic tumor control. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Between 1990 and 1993, 450 patients with primary pelvic malignancies underwent external radiotherapy by means of photons, 6-10 MeV, with multiple-field techniques. The simulation was carried out immediately following a pelvic organs opacification (POO) by standard methods. This procedure used a minimal quantity of contrast media (barium sulphate, iodine contrast) and metallic markers to locate directly and simultaneously: (a) small intestine, (b) bladder, (c) rectum, (d) anal canal, (e) bulbous male urethra, and (f) vagina. When all these structures were clearly visualized, the procedure was scored as successfully performed. RESULTS: The sensitivity of procedure was defined as the percentage of successful pelvic organs opacification (POO) carried out in the patients. It was 98% in both women and men. Indirectly, the procedure helped us to locate the prostate, the perineum, and the uterus cervix in the same percentage of patients. Pelvic organs opacification allowed us to document not only the normal position of the pelvic organs tested, but also any variations (ranging from 5% to 40% of cases, after pelvic surgery). Furthermore, POO revealed previously not-reported abnormalities in patients undergoing surgery, mostly rectal stenosis, urinary or anal incontinence, and bladder luxation. The cost of the materials used was $10-15 for each POO, and the time required 5-7 min. The side effects were 7% and not significant. CONCLUSION: In the simulation phase for multiple-field irradiation technique, the simultaneous visualization of pelvic organs obtained by POO procedure allows an exact positioning of the isocenter, an accurate shielding of structures, and finally, a reliable conformal therapy. Due to the low cost, the short length, and the insignificant side effects, POO can be carried out more than once during pelvic treatments for localization and verification of target.

Female↗
PubMed1995

Inhibition of nitric oxide synthase dramatically potentiates seizures induced by kainic acid and pilocarpine in rats.

We investigated whether the severity of convulsions evoked by kainic acid and pilocarpine is modified in nitric oxide synthase inhibitor-treated rats. We found that chronic treatment (4 days) with NW-nitro-L-arginine greatly potentiates seizures induced by both convulsants suggesting a potential role for nitric oxide in mechanisms regulating seizure induction and propagation.

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases↗
PubMed1994

Short- and long-term induction of basic fibroblast growth factor gene expression in rat central nervous system following kainate injection.

Both RNase protection assay and in situ hybridization were used to investigate the effect of intraperitoneal injection of kainate on the messenger RNA levels for basic fibroblast growth factor in the rat central nervous system. Limbic motor seizures were produced by kainate injection and this event was followed by a significant elevation of basic fibroblast growth factor gene expression in rat hippocampus and striatum 6 h after the convulsant injection. The increase in hippocampus was maximal at 24 h and it was delayed with respect to nerve growth factor induction, which peaked 3 h after kainate injection. Animals that suffered prolonged seizure activity also showed a significant elevation of basic fibroblast growth factor gene expression four and 14 days after kainate, when no changes in nerve growth factor gene expression were observed. We show that, within the hippocampus, the increase of basic fibroblast growth factor messenger RNA was localized in dentate gyrus and the CA1 layer 6 and 24 h after kainate injection. Long-term effects on its gene expression were measurable only in the CA1 hippocampal subfield, where major cell damage and astrocytosis have been reported to occur following kainate-induced seizure activity [Ben-Ari Y. et al. (1981) Neuroscience 7, 1361-1391; Lothman E. W. and Collins R. C. (1981) Brain Res. 218, 299-318; Schwob J. E. et al. (1980) Neuroscience 5, 991-1014]. Indeed, the animals which displayed elevated messenger RNA levels for basic fibroblast growth factor four and 14 days after kainate injection showed a marked induction of messenger RNA expression for the astroglial marker glial fibrillary acidic protein. These results indicate that the glutamate analogue kainate produces short- and long-term increases of basic fibroblast growth factor messenger RNA expression with a specific anatomical pattern. Therefore, the gene expression for this neurotrophic factor is probably regulated by neuronal activity at early points in time, whereas the induction observed at later time points is related to adaptive mechanisms taking place following kainate-induced neuronal degeneration.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Cerebral mapping in subjects suffering from migraine with aura.

Cerebral mapping of the spontaneous electroencephalographic activity was performed in 31 subjects suffering from migraine with aura and the results were compared with those of a matched control group. All the patients were examined during the interictal period. While traditional visual interpretation of EEG records was negative in all but five cases (16.1%) spectral analysis showed an asymmetry in alpha total power over the posterior regions in 13 cases (41.9%) and an asymmetry in alpha band peak frequency in 17 (54.8%). By means of cerebral mapping and statistical significance probability mapping we were able to demonstrate a significant increase in alpha total power in 13 cases (41.9%) and a regional increase in delta and theta total power in 20 cases (64.5%). In comparison with the control group, the migraine patients showed a widespread increase in slow activity (theta and delta) mostly over the temporal regions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Comparison of results with CO2 laser and traditional surgical treatment of stage I malignant melanoma.

The follow-up data on 39 cases of stage I malignant melanoma treated with CO2 laser are compared to those of an analogous group of cases treated by traditional surgical methods and selected for their clinical and pathologic similarities with the laser-treated group. The findings were expressed in terms of tumor-free time and were evaluated by variance analysis. The data showed that traditional methods gave better results. CO2 laser surgery requires longer healing time, which may have a negative effect on the course of the disease.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗
PubMed1986

Phenotypic and ultrastructural profile of M5 leukemia cells in peripheral blood and skin infiltrate.

The leukemic cells circulating in the peripheral blood and invading the skin of a patient with type M5 myelomonocytic leukemia were compared using ultrastructural, cytochemical and immunological criteria. Neoplastic cells exhibited more differentiated morphologic features in the skin than in peripheral blood, resembling tissue macrophages. The cytochemical pattern did not show any appreciable difference, whereas the surface antigenic profile was dissimilar. Most circulating leukemic cells were Leu M1+ and Leu M3+, and the percentage of OKM1+ and OKIa-1+ cells varied in two different blood samples examined. Conversely, OKIa-1 monoclonal antibody stained virtually all the leukemic cells infiltrating the skin in the absence of any appreciable reactivity with the other monoclonal antibodies. The phenotype of the malignant cells in the skin did not vary during the clinical course of the disease. These observations suggest that the cutaneous microenvironment is able to induce leukemic cells to mutate their phenotypic features towards a more mature state, or that only relatively differentiated circulating leukemic cells are able to leave the bloodstream and colonize the skin.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

An ultrastructural study of a sclerosing epithelial hamartoma.

The histological and ultrastructural features of a sclerosing epithelial hamartoma are described. By electron microscopy, epithelial cords formed by basal-like cells and epithelial cysts with a pattern of keratinization similar to that of normal epidermis or of follicular infundibula were seen. By conventional light microscopy, continuities were found between the epithelial cords and the overlying epidermis. The stroma was found to be fibrous and contained some fibroblasts or possibly myofibroblasts with bundles of microfilaments. The data are interpreted with respect to the origin of the neoplasm, its line of differentiation, and its sclerosing behavior.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗
PubMed1985

Pontomedullary encephalitis and basal meningitis due to Listeria monocytogenes: report of a case.

A case of CNS listeriosis in a 49-year-old man, previously in good health, is described. The illness showed a biphasic clinical pattern with a prodromal phase characterized by headache, fever and leukocytosis and subsequent development of pontomedullary cranial nerve paresis. The infection was rapidly progressive and fatal. Gram-positive rods, identified as Listeria monocytogenes, were detected in CSF samples only at the end stage of illness. Neuropathological abnormalities consisted of rhombencephalitis and basal meningitis. The major difficulties encountered in the early diagnosis of CNS listeriosis are discussed.

Brain↗
PubMed1984

Ataxic hemiparesis: further CT confirmation of an old localizing hypothesis.

4 cases of ataxic hemiparesis syndrome are supported by CT proof of a lesion confined to the posterior and superior part of the internal capsule, near the corona radiata. The site of lesion is usually held to be the basis pontis and rostral midbrain. We intend to furnish further evidence in support of an old hypothesis incriminating the corona radiata-internal capsule.

Aged↗
PubMed1982

[Radiotherapy of brain metastases. Presentation of 104 cases examined by computerized axial tomography].

104 patients suffering from brain metastases and treated by whole brain irradiation have been studied with computerized tomography before and after radiation therapy. Brain computerized tomography is increasingly helpful and reliable in determining the location of metastases and regression of disease; it is too a more reliable source of information than neurologic examination in the evaluation of prognosis. Results of our study show that radiation therapy achieves an effective palliation and may be considered the most helpful therapeutic method of such patients; it really relieves symptoms relating to brain metastases and allows a longer survival in a fairly good number of patients.

Adenocarcinoma↗