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Biomedical subjects

F Aguzzi

Publications and source records attributed to F Aguzzi.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Nutritional status of non institutionalized elderly people in north Italy.

The nutritional status of some elderly people - 313 non institutionalized and 37 assisted by public organization - was investigated. As regards weight, muscle and fat area, BMI and fat %, lower values were found for assisted people. The mean daily nutrient intakes in assisted people are below the recommended values for all nutrients, except fats; free living people have higher intakes of protein and fat, and lower intakes of thiamin and retinol equivalents. About 10% and 15% of non institutionalized people showed respectively an inadequate thiamin and riboflavin nutritional status (determined by alpha ETK and TPP levels and by alpha EGR and FAD levels); a worse situation was found for assisted people. Vitamin B6 levels appear adequate for all the population tested.

Aged↗

Nutritional status of institutionalized elderly people in north Italy.

The nutritional status of 91 institutionalized elderly people over 60 years of age was investigated. Particular attention was given to diet, body composition and some biochemical determinations of vitamin nutriture. It was found that approximately 40% of the population are at risk for obesity. Mean daily intake of nutrients, compared with the recommended values for Italy, is insufficient in thiamin, both for men and for women, and in vitamin A for women. The level of fat in the diet is higher than desired. Consumption of eggs, fish, legumes and sweets is low, while milk and dairy products are consumed in large quantities. Thiamin and riboflavin nutriture determined by biochemical tests is not significantly correlated to dietary intake.

Age Factors↗

Identification of specific plasma proteins determining the agarose gel electrophoresis by the immunosubtraction technique.

The immunosubtraction technique was used to identify the proteins in electrophoretically separated plasma. The technique consists of forcing the plasma through a layer of monospecific antibody purified by electrophoresis; the specific protein is thereby precipitated and is consequently absent from the subsequent electrophoretogram. This technique was successfully applied to the following proteins (in order of distance from the anode): prealbumin, albumin, alpha-lipoproteins, alpha 1-antitrypsin, Gc-globulins, alpha 2-macroglobulin, haptoglobin, fibronectin, transferrin, beta-lipoproteins, C3, fibrinogen. The method may be applied to the study of protein polymorphism.

Antibodies↗

Detection and identification of monoclonal components: immunoelectrophoresis on agarose gel and immunofixation on cellulose acetate compared.

Immunofixation on cellulose acetate has been compared with immunoelectrophoresis on agarose gel. We studied 90 sera containing monoclonal components and 10 containing polyclonal immunoglobulins according to agarose gel screening electrophoresis. Results by the two methods agreed about 80% of the time for monoclonal components in concentrations exceeding 1-2 g/L. Immunofixation appeared more sensitive, but it is more susceptible to technical artifacts. Immunofixation may be adopted as a first-step method for easier cases, but it should be supported by immunoelectrophoresis for difficult cases, such as when there is an uncertain presence of monoclonal components at screening electrophoresis or presence of more and (or) small bands of monoclonal components.

Blood Proteins↗

[Determination of antitetanus antibodies. Methodological and epidemiological studies].

We weighed the situation of tetanus immunity in a population sample of the province of Pavia in which both sexes and all age groups were represented. We carried out the survey performing the indirect haemagglutination test with turkey red cells. In each age groups the checked subjects have been classified in three different tetanus antibodies concentration levels: under 0.01 U/ml, between 0.01 and 0.1 U/ml, above 0.1 U/ml. The method we used is easy to perform and has a good reproducibility. The survey points out the good protection against tetanus in age classes under twenty years and the possibility of discovering districts where ineffective immunization methods are performed.

Adolescent↗

"Immunosubtraction" electrophoresis: a simple method for identifying specific proteins producing the cellulose acetate electrophoretogram.

To identify the proteins that are responsible for the electrophoretic pattern on cellulose acetate, we propose a method based on the precipitation of various individual proteins at the beginning of the electrophoretic run. Any non antibody proteins in the monospecific antisera were removed with a preliminary electrophoretic fractionation of the antiserum. Using this method, we could remove a band or a zone from the pattern, leaving the rest of the pattern unaltered. This permitted us not only to locate a protein in the pattern, but also to better interpret the electrophoretogram. The method requires no special apparatus and it is fast and cheap.

Blood Protein Electrophoresis↗

The problem of peak identification in crossed immunoelectrophoresis: a modification of the technique of Platt et al.

After a brief review of the known techniques for the identification of crossed immunoelectrophoresis peaks, the authors claim that the technique of Platt et al (1973), Clin. Chim. Acta 46, 419-429) is the most effective. This consists of blocking a protein in the first run, thereby causing the disappearance of the corresponding peak in the second dimension. The advantages of this technique with respect to the others are discussed.

Humans↗

Two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis: a new simplified method.

A new method of two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis is described, in which fixed amounts of both antigen (total proteins) and antibody are employed. When applied to normal human sera, it results in the appearance of 15 peaks accounting for the commonest serum proteins with the only exception of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein. Transferrin, measured by Laurell's or Mancini's technique, is used as an internal standard. The height of the transferrin peak at 300 mg% is determined by a calibration curve. The heights of the various peaks are thus expressed as percentages of that of transferrin at 300 mg%. The method appears to be simple, rapid and antiserum-saving.

Adolescent↗

[Capillary electrophoresis: principles and practice in clinical laboratory].

Capillary electrophoresis represents a relatively new analytical technique. This methodology has diversified and given rise to various modes such as capillary zone electrophoresis, capillary gel electrophoresis, micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography, capillary isoelectric focusing and capillary isotachophoresis. If capillary electrophoresis was first introduced in research laboratories, this technique is now making an entrance to the clinical laboratory. This is due to its rapid and high-efficiency separation power, its potential applications and its possible automation. Thus, capillary electrophoresis represents an attractive alternative to some time-consuming techniques. Thanks to its versatility, the use of capillary electrophoresis has been proposed for the separation and quantification of a wide spectrum of biological components ranging from macromolecules (proteins, lipoproteins, nucleic acids) to small analytes (amino acids, organic acids or drugs). This paper illustrates the potential of capillary electrophoresis which should rapidly become a major technology for a modern clinical laboratory.

Alcoholic Intoxication↗