Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to F De Cesare.
The authors present one case of intestinal obstruction due to phytobezoar of the efferent loop, in a previously undergone gastric surgery patient. They report, in the light of bezoar's peculiar location, that is usually it found in the stomach or small bowel.
Multiple primary malignant neoplasms (MPMN) are tumors that arise independently in the same organ or tissues and different organs; they may present simultaneously (synchronous) or at least 6 months later (metachronous). The authors report the case observed: 20 multiple neoplasms in 5 years (5.8% of the tumors). In the light of the international literature they analyze some aspects of the problem, particularly with regard to the classification, etiopathogenesis, neoplasm associations and possible genetic character for some of there.
delta 12-Prostaglandin J2 (delta 12-PGJ2), a naturally occurring dehydration product of prostaglandin D2, is shown to suppress the replication of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) in two different epithelial monkey cell lines. A significant delay in the virus-induced cytopathic effect and a dramatic inhibition of virus production can be obtained at doses which do not inhibit protein synthesis in uninfected cells, and induce the synthesis of heat shock proteins (HSPs) in both uninfected and VSV-infected cells. delta 12-PGJ2 is shown to block VSV replication at two separate levels in the early and late phase of the virus replication cycle. Treatment started soon after VSV infection greatly suppresses viral (but not cellular) protein synthesis and prevents the virus-induced shut-off of host cell protein synthesis. This effect is accompanied by the induction of HSP synthesis. delta 12-PGJ2-treatment in a late phase of the virus replication cycle, when all virus proteins have been synthesized, still causes a dramatic block of infectious virus production. This block is accompanied by a decrease in [3H]glucosamine incorporation into the virus glycoprotein G, at concentrations which do not alter glucosamine uptake by the cells, suggesting that a defect in virus protein glycosylation could be responsible for the antiviral activity. Finally, delta 12-PGJ2 causes a decrease of glucosamine incorporation into at least two host cell polypeptides, while the majority of cellular proteins are unaffected and glycosylation of a 47 kDa cellular protein is strongly induced. These selective alterations of protein glycosylation suggest that delta 12-PGJ2 affects a specific group of glycosylated proteins. The finding that cyclopentenone prostaglandins act on different events during the virus cycle explains the effectiveness of these compounds in controlling the replication of different types of viruses and presents an attractive new approach to antiviral chemotherapy.
Olea europaea (olive) pollen extract was prepared by aqueous extraction and characterized by biochemical and immunochemical methods. Two components, displaying respective mol. wt. of 17,000 and 19,000, were the most reactive allergens, being the doublet (designated Ole e I) recognized by most sera tested. The 19,000 mol. wt. component, purified by conventional biochemical procedure and lectin-affinity chromatography from the Ole e I doublet, was deglycosylated and analyzed by SDS-PAGE and by ELISA inhibition. The results obtained suggest that the 19,000 mol. wt. component represents the glycosylated form of the 17,000 component.
Cross-reactivity between the different components in Parietaria judaica pollen extract has been investigated by polyclonal as well as monoclonal antibodies before and after chemical deglycosylation obtained by trifluoromethanesulphonic acid (TFMS) treatment of the extract. In western blotting a polyclonal rabbit antiserum, obtained by injecting purified Par j I, was able to recognise many components of the native extract. However, its reactivity was restricted, after chemical deglycosylation of the extract, to the major allergen alone, indicating that its cross-reactivity was due to sugar moieties. Moreover, out of several monoclonal antibodies raised by injecting the whole Parietaria judaica extract, one (1A4/2F8) was also able in western blotting to recognise an epitope shared by many components of the extract except the major allergen Par j I. However, in this case the broad reactivity of the antibody was not affected by the deglycosylating procedure. When the reactivity of Parietaria judaica extract was tested before and after sugar removal, against specific IgE from a pool of patient sera, no differences could be demonstrated, thus indicating that carbohydrates are not strongly involved in the binding of Parietaria judaica-specific IgE. The results indicate that both proteic and carbohydratic cross-reactive epitopes are shared by many components of Parietaria judaica pollen extract.
Surgical therapy of the main bile duct is an important aspect of liver disease. The authors examine the advisability of using a Kehr drain in benign and malignant disease of the main bile duct, and draw the conclusion that, with precise indications, this technique still has an important role to play in the resolution of biliary tract disease.