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Biomedical subjects

F Massari

Publications and source records attributed to F Massari.

61 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

In vivo administration of propranolol decreases exaggerated amounts of serum TNF-alpha in patients with migraine without aura. Possible mechanism of action.

Patients with migraine without aura (MWA) display elevated amounts of Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-alpha in their sera. In this study in 18 patients with MWA the in vivo effect of propranolol, a beta blocker agent, was evaluated with regard to the TNF serum levels before and after treatment. Results show that in 9 out 11 patients exaggerated serum concentrations of TNF reverted to normality after three months of therapy. Some hypotheses on the mechanisms of action of propranolol in terms of modulation of the immune response are formulated.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A novel 500,000 Da, linear, single chain extracellular protein synthesized by several childhood tumors.

A high molecular weight extracellular protein has been purified from cell culture medium of Ewing's sarcoma cell lines, by high performance liquid chromatography and electroelution from SDS-PAGE electrophoresis. This protein has an apparent molecular mass of about 500,000 Da on SDS-PAGE. Immunoprecipitation studies with several extracellular matrix glycoproteins (laminin, fibronectin) specific antisera indicate it is a separate protein. Reduction of disulphide bonds with 2-ME or DTT fails to significantly alter its migration on SDS-PAGE gels, other than a slight apparent increase in molecular mass, indicating an apparent single polypeptide chain structure. The slightly greater mobility observed in unreduced gels suggests one or more regions of intrachain disulfide bonding. It is sensitive to pepsin and trypsin, but resistant to bacterial collagenase indicating that it does not contain collagenous domains. Metabolic labelling with 3H-proline, 3H-leucine, and 35S-methionine indicate that this protein is proline-poor, but leucine, and especially methionine, rich. Sodium 35S-sulfate incorporation is totally negative and treatment with glycosaminoglycan degrading enzymes has no effect on the mobility of the protein on gels, unlike typical proteoglycans. This protein appears by rotary shadowing electron microscopy as a long, thin, filamentous molecule at least 500 nm (0.5 um) in length. The tissue localization and function are unknown at this time, but are under active investigation.

Child↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Quantitative and qualitative modifications of lymphocyte subsets after sublingual administration of isosorbide dinitrate in migraineurs. Preliminary report.

In 22 migraine patients and 5 healthy controls an investigation has been performed on lymphocyte subsets in basal conditions and 90 minutes after sublingual isosorbide dinitrate (IDN) administration. In all patients the drug assumption induced a typical migraine attack with increase in all examined lymphocyte subsets with except of NK cells. A statistically significant increase (p < 0.05) in T lymphocyte subsets we found during the crisis, whereas in healthy controls neither a migraine attack nor any modification in lymphocyte subsets could be observed. These results seem to confirm the immune alteration we have previously found in migraineous patients and suggest the possible role of IDN-stimulated endothelium not only in vasodilatation but also in production of substances responsible of the observed immune modifications.

Administration, Sublingual↗