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Biomedical subjects

F Valentini

Publications and source records attributed to F Valentini.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1994

Does n-heptane cause peripheral neurotoxicity? A case report in a shoemaker.

Subjective and electrophysiological signs relating to the central and peripheral nervous systems developed in a shoemaker, a few months after beginning work at home. Signs of central nervous system involvement rapidly disappeared after the end of the exposure, whereas those of mild peripheral neuropathy lasted for several months. The glue used contained a variety of solvents including ethylacetate, cyclohexane, methylcyclohexane, methylethylketone and others; n-hexane was not detected, whereas, unusually, n-heptane was. This exposure was reproduced experimentally in the same work room and the solvent air level did not exceed the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists threshold values. A tentative conclusion is that the toxic effects on the peripheral nerve are likely to be due to n-heptane.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Cutaneous microcirculation in systemic sclerosis. Morpho-functional research using capillaroscopy and laser-Doppler].

Our previous researches proved that, in patients affected by Raynaud disease, microcirculatory alterations were greater in those cases in which the small vessels showed evocative appearances of a sclerodermatous connectivopathy. In this study we evaluated cutaneous microvasculature in 18 patients suffering from clear systemic sclerosis, compared with a group of 16 subjects affected by primitive Raynaud disease and a group of healthy subjects. We used videocapillaroscopy and laser-Doppler fluxmetry for morphological and functional study respectively. In patients affected by systemic sclerosis the rest flow was clearly reduced and morphological pattern of cutaneous small vessels deranged. The response to ischemic test allowed us to subdivide the skin-bounds in two subgroups: "no responders" 8 subjects (44%), in which reactive hyperaemia was completely absent, "responders" 10 patients (56%) in which the hyperaemia was completely overlapped with that of the two other groups, but with longer reaction times. In skinbounds the capillaroscopic pattern was clearly severe in comparison with other two groups (18.8 +/- 5.7 vs 5.7 +/- 2.3 and 3.6 +/- 1). Thus, in advanced stage of the pathology, is microangiopathy (in its tromboischemic and inflammatory aspects) that plays a very important role in the development of organ damage. Therefore, all those clinical and instrumental tests which may allow a differential early diagnosis between a primitive and a secondary Raynaud phenomenon be done, for its prognostic value in connection with the appearance of systemic sclerosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Characterization of a Ca (II)-independent monoclonal antibody that lacks reactivity with Gla-domainless human factor VII.

Eight murine monoclonal antibodies to human factor VII have been produced and characterized. As tested by direct ELISA, all antibodies bound to immobilized factor VII and this interaction did not require Ca(II). On immunoblotting three antibodies reacted only with native factor VII and activated factor VII (rFVIIa), two with native factor VII, activated factor VII and with the light chain of reduced activated factor VII and three with reduced activated factor VIIa (light chain) only. When coupled to Sepharose five antibodies were capable of immunodepleting factor VII from normal plasma and inhibited coagulant activity with varied potencies. Among these antibodies, one (10C12.2) had peculiar characteristics, lacking reactivity with Gladomainless FVII and with the Ca(II)-dependent conformation. This antibody has been used to develop a two-site ELISA which appears to measure native factor VII but not poorly carboxylated, inactive forms of the molecule.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1992

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of human factor VII based upon a monoclonal antibody that recognizes the native conformation of the protein.

An enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) was developed for measuring human factor VII antigen using two monoclonal antibodies, one of them reacting only with fully carboxylated factor VII. This assay permits to measure factor VII antigen in concentrations ranging from 0.78 to 100 ng/ml, with within- and between-assay coefficients of variation of less than 7%. In 53 normal subjects, 32 patients with liver cirrhosis, 21 pregnant women and 53 patients on oral anticoagulant therapy the plasma levels of FVII antigen were very similar to those of factor VII coagulant activity measured with a bioassay. The ELISA also gave very similar values of factor VII antigen in plasma and in serum, and in plasma before and after exposure to cold, indicating that the assay is not affected by factor VII activation. In five of 8 patients with severe congenital deficiency of factor VII values of factor VII antigen were higher than those of factor VII activity. The close concordance of factor VII values obtained by ELISA and bioassay in the majority of plasmas, including those from patients on oral anticoagulant therapy, indicates that the assay measures native factor VII and can perhaps replace the bioassay systems in clinical conditions associated with normal or high levels of factor VII.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Takayasu's disease. A review of the literature. A study of a familial case of Takayasu's arteritis and the possible associations with type-1 diabetes mellitus].

After a brief review of the literature on Takayasu's disease with particular emphasis on its relationship with the HLA system, the case of a mother and daughter both suffering from Takayasu's type systemic arteritis is presented with particular reference to a possible association with type-I diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in the light of the patient's HLA typing results.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Mortality among pyrite miners with low-level exposure to radon daughters.

Mortality among pyrite miners with low-level exposure to radon daughters. Scand J Work Environ Health 14 (1988) 280-285. A cohort mortality study was conducted with regard to a pyrite mine located in central Italy. Exposure to radon ranged from 0.12 to 0.36 working levels (WL) in the work areas; most measurements were around 0.2 WL. The concentration of free silica in the dust was less than 2%. The cohort was determined from company files and included 1,899 subjects. Mortality was studied for the years 1965-1983. The loss to follow-up was less than 2%. The standardized mortality ratio for all causes and all neoplasms was 97 and 107, respectively. That for lung cancer and for nonmalignant respiratory diseases was 131 (95% confidence interval 97-175) and 173 (95% confidence interval 135-231), respectively. It was estimated that the extra cases of lung cancer attributable to radon daughters numbered 13 per 10(6) person-years and working level month in the whole cohort and 21.3 per 10(6) person-years in the subcohort with 10-25 years of exposure.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

[Primary intestinal lymphomas. Review of the literature apropos of a clinical case].

A rare case of primary lymphoma of the bowel in a 26 year old woman is reported and the complex problems of diagnosis and treatment are examined. The importance of establishing the primary or secondary nature of this tumour of the small bowel is emphasised. This is because primary intestinal tumours require the most radical treatment possible even in advanced stages of the disease in order to avoid complications and to identify the areas involved in the proliferative process. Finally the importance of continuing surgery with drug and radiation treatment in order to improve prognosis is emphasised.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

[Primary hyperaldosteronism due to adrenocortical carcinoma. A clinical case report].

A rare case of primary hyperaldosteronism due to corticosuprarenal carcinoma is presented. The case was treated by suprarenalectomy and is currently under antiblastic treatment with mitotane (o-p'DDD). The clinical and endocrinological elements for differential diagnosis from the much more common suprarenal adenomas are examined in particular detail.

Adrenal Cortex↗
PubMed1983

Effect of subtoxic amounts of furan, acetylfuran and methylene chloride on some serum enzymes of rat.

Serum transaminases (GOT and GPT) and ornithincarbamyltransferase (OCT) were determined in rats treated with subtoxic doses of furan, acetylfuran, and methylene chloride. Significant increases of all enzymes were observed in methylene chloride treated rats, while only GOT increased in rats treated with acetylfuran and with furan + methylene chloride. Calculation of the GOT/GPT ratios indicated a pattern of toxic hepatitis only for rats treated with acetylfuran and furan + methylene chloride.

Alanine Transaminase↗