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Biomedical subjects

F Festa

Publications and source records attributed to F Festa.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Extracellular ATP stimulates poly(inositol phospholipid) hydrolysis and eicosanoid synthesis in mouse peritoneal macrophages in culture.

The effects of extracellular ATP on inositol phospholipid breakdown and synthesis of eicosanoids were studied in mouse peritoneal macrophages. Addition of ATP to intact cells labelled with [3H]inositol stimulated a rapid (within 10 s) formation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate. In parallel there was also a substantial accumulation of inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate and the monophosphate and bisphosphate derivatives of inositol. Within 10 s after the addition of 30 microM ATP there was a twofold increase in inositol trisphosphate (InsP3), which declined over 2 min. The ED50 for ATP-stimulated generation of InsP3 was approximately 12 microM. ADP and GTP showed only weak effects on InsP3 formation, while AMP and adenosine were completely ineffective at 30 microM. Furthermore, the rank order of potency of ATP analogues was ATP greater than ATP[S] greater than AdoPP[NH]P = AdoPP[CH2]P greater than AdoP[CH2]PP thus, indicating the presence of a P2y-purinergic receptor. Cells labelled with [3H]arachidonic acid showed a 50% increase of label in 1,2-diacylglycerol after 15 s upon stimulation with ATP. In parallel to the stimulation of inositol phospholipid hydrolysis, ATP also caused a marked synthesis of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and leukotriene C4 (LTC4) in mouse peritoneal macrophages. The rank order of potency of ATP analogues was identical with that of InsP3 generation. The effect on eicosanoid synthesis could be mimicked by the calcium ionophore A23187 and the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate. These results suggest that ATP-induced activation of P2y-purinergic receptors in mouse peritoneal macrophages triggers inositol phospholipid breakdown and eicosanoid synthesis.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1989

[Intraoral electrical resistance in various facial types].

Authors value the resistance given from biological tissues in brachifacial, mormofacial and dolicofacial patients to know current intensity used during orthodontic therapy for bone remodelling. This study shows that a thicker biological structure gives more resistance to the current flow than other tipologies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Larsen syndrome in two generations of an Italian family.

This paper describes a familial case of Larsen syndrome. Typical anomalies were present in the propositus and 2 of his 6 daughters. In addition, all patients had progressive deafness and the 2 daughters had cleft palate. The certain exclusion of any consanguinity between the couple, suggests, in this instance, the dominant mode of transmission of the syndrome.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Activation of mandibular growth with the Fräenkel II device: assessment of effects on the vertical plane].

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to evaluate if a function Fräenkel II Regulator therapy can increase the vertical dimension of the cranio-facial district. Enlow's cephalometric analysis was used to measure the proportion between cranial and facial components without references to the population average. METHODS: Twenty patients were selected, with dental class II, skeletal class II and mandibular hypoplasy and normal facial biotype. The patients were treated for 24 months only with Fräenkel II and the appliances was activated 2 mm every 6 months. The follow-up was of the 2 years and cephalometric tracings were made at the beginning and after therapy. RESULTS: The results showed an increase of vertical dimension and the change of occlusal plane inclination after the therapy. This inclination compensates basal dysarmonies and increases the vertical dimension. CONCLUSIONS: The results are not statistically significant, but they underline the importance of Fräenkel's regulator function to change negative tendency growth.

Child↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Strong antioxidant activity of ellagic acid in mammalian cells in vitro revealed by the comet assay.

Oxidative stress due to oxygen and various radical species is associated with the induction of DNA single- and double-strand breaks and is considered to be a first step in several human degenerative diseases, cancer and ageing. Naturally occurring antioxidants are being extensively analysed for their ability to protect DNA against such injury. We studied three naturally occuring compounds, Ascorbic Acid, Melatonin and Ellagic acid, for their ability to modulate DNA damage produced by two strong radical oxygen inducers (H2O2 and Bleomycin) in cultured CHO cells. The alkaline Comet assay was used to measure DNA damage and a cytofluorimetric analysis was performed to reveal the intracellular oxidative species. The data showed a marked reduction of H2O2- and Bleomycin-induced DNA damage exerted by Ellagic Acid. On the contrary Ascorbic acid and Melatonin appeared to induce a slight increase in DNA damage per se. In combined treatments, they caused a slight reduction of H2O2-induced damage, but they did not efficiently modulate the Bleomycin-induced one. The Dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) cytofluorimetric test confirmed the strong scavenging action exerted by Ellagic Acid.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Opinions and attitudes of youngsters about sexually transmitted diseases].

A group of 1.085 students (582 M, 503 F) attending high school (742) and nursing school (343) filled in an anonymous questionnaire on their sexual habits and their knowledge of contraception and sexually transmitted diseases. Overall, 57% of the study population had already a complete sexual intercourse at a mean age of 16,4 (SD +/- 1,8). 74% had 1-3 sexual partners, whereas 28% had more than 3. All students affirmed that it was possible to prevent sexually transmitted diseases and 92,6% indicated correct methods. However 10% of students did not know that AIDS is transmitted sexually as 47% hepatitis B. The responses made by nursing students were more correct that those of high school students.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Influence of knee pathology on body posture and muscle activity of head, neck and trunk muscles.

AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects that an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury of the knee has on postural control and activity of neck, head and trunk muscles in order to investigate the existence of connections between the masticatory system and body posture. METHODS: Surface electromyographic (sEMG) activity of the muscles and their asymmetry index, at mandibular rest position, and during maximal voluntary clenching (MVC), and posturometric and stabilometric measurements of 25 patients (mean age 28+/-9 years) having undergone ACL injury of the left knee were compared with a control non-pathologic group. RESULTS: At rest, the patients showed a higher sEMG activity of the anterior temporalis, masseter, sternocleidomastoid and lower trapezius, compared with the control subjects (P<0.05). At MVC, the patients showed a lower sEMG activity of the right anterior temporalis and masseter and a higher sEMG activity of the lower trapezius, compared with the control subjects. For the stabilometric measurements, all the subjects showed a significant reduction in the Center of Pressure (CoP) path length during the test with eyes open and cotton rolls, compared with the test with eyes closed and mandibular rest position (P<0.05). In addition, the patients showed a significant displacement of the CoP in a forward direction (P<0.05) and to the righ side (P<0.05), compared with the control-subjects during each test. CONCLUSIONS: ACL injury appears to be associated to a change in the sEMG activity of head, neck and trunk muscles and to a change in the position of the CoP of the body. Cotton rolls seem to improve the stability of the subject.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Influence of adenoidal vegetation on rhinopharyngeal obstruction: cephalometric study].

In this paper, the Authors propose a new method of cephalometric visualization of adhaenoids, in order to verify the amount of them as cause of an obstructive pathology. In this evaluation, related to a group of 100 individuals, was found an inversely proportional relation between adhaenoid's volume and angolar value of FHBoPA angle.

Adenoids↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Role of Doppler velocimetry in diagnosis of TMJ dysfunction. 2. Clinical evaluation].

In order to evaluate the efficacy of Doppler effect in the diagnosis of dysfunctional TMJ sounds, we have analysed ten Doppler tracings of normal subjects, ten of subjects with reciprocal clicking and ten with locking (complete anterior dislocation of the disc). The results show that to every dysfunctional pathology corresponds a precise type of tracing whose acknowledgment is immediate.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Incidence of enamel fissures in a group of orthodontic patients. In vivo study].

In this paper, the Authors researched the frequence of enamel fissures in a group of 75 individuals. Particular attention was dedicated to the search of such anomalies on teeth treated with multibracket orthodontic appliances, in order to prove a causal nexus between the fissures and the appliances used. After a long term experience, it was found that enamel fissures are a frequent found in almost 60% of the sample examined; moreover, the Authors cannot prove an increment of cracks in subjects treated with multibracket appliances. It was concluded that the whole of the fissures founded, would be considered as preexistent to the positioning of the brackets, even if it cannot be excluded that an excessive torque, or an inadequate debonding technique couldn't produce a mechanical stress on the enamel surface capable to enhance such cracks.

Adolescent↗