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Biomedical subjects

G Antonini

Publications and source records attributed to G Antonini.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Results of an open trial of cyclosporine in a group of steroido-dependent myasthenic subjects.

9 subjects with myasthenia gravis, chronically treated with prednisone, underwent an open clinical trial with cyclosporine, an immunosuppressive and immunomodulator drug. Preliminary results after one year of treatment show that cyclosporine induces a further improvement of myasthenic symptoms, and that prednisone may be reduced or discontinued without relapse of clinical symptoms. Side effects of cyclosporine are very frequent and largely influence the treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Electron transfer to the binuclear center in cytochrome oxidase: catalytic significance and evidence for an additional intermediate.

We have followed, by transient kinetics, the reduction of cytochrome a3 in the presence of carbon monoxide under different experimental conditions. We have observed that the internal electron transfer rate accounts for the turnover number, and both display the same pH and temperature dependence [pKa = 7.4 and activation energy (Ea) = 14.7 +/- 0.1 kcal/mol]. Moreover, comparison of the time course of cytochrome c oxidation and cytochrome a3 reduction indicates that two electrons are transferred internally and with different rates to the oxygen-binding site. A kinetic model based on sequential internal electron transfer pathways, describing quantitatively the experimental data, is presented and discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

[CA 15-3 associated with CEA and TPA in the follow-up of breast carcinoma].

The serum level measurement of CA 15-3 antigen was evaluated in association with CEA and TPA, during the follow-up in mastectomized patients previously affected by breast cancer: 94 patients with metastases and 319 without apparent disease evolution. In the group of patients with metastases, the CA 15-3 antigen showed high sensitivity (70.2%). The CA 15-3 and TPA association increased the sensitivity (87.2%), while the CEA and CA 15-3 association did not increase this parameter. All markers showed good correlation with therapeutic response. Thirteen patients among 19 without apparent disease evolution, developed metastases, during the follow-up. The CA 15-3 and/or TPA increase allowed to predict disease progression in 13/13 cases, 2-10 months before clinical evidence. Our experience shows that CA 15-3 measurement associated with TPA, during the follow-up of patients affected by breast cancer, may be helpful for increasing the predictivity with respect to those patients most likely to develop recurrent disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Electromyographic findings in Class II division 2 and Class III malocclusions.

Electromyography of masticatory muscles has proved useful for the functional study of occlusal dysfunctions. We employed this technique to study the activity of masseter and temporal muscles of 6 subjects with Class II division 2 malocclusion and 7 subjects with Class III malocclusion. Significant differences of masticatory muscles activity during mastication and swallowing were observed between the two groups. We hypothesize that the change of the activity of masticatory muscles might influence the clinical presentation of malocclusion.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Immunohistochemical investigation of axillary lymph nodes for micrometastases in patients with breast cancer using E29.

The axillary lymph nodes from 31 mammary carcinoma patients who had undergone radical mastectomy and were negative for metastases at routine histologic examination of hilar sections, were investigated with E29, an anti-epithelial monoclonal antibody, to detect the presence of neoplastic epithelial cells. In 4 of 433 lymph nodes examined (0.9%) this antibody revealed the presence of epithelial metastatic foci which had not been observed at routine histological examination or interpreted as histiocytes. The 4 lymph nodes belonged to 4 different patients.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1989

Reconstitution of cytochrome c oxidase in phospholipid vesicles containing polyvinylic polymers.

Cytochrome c oxidase was reconstituted in phospholipid vesicles in the presence of highly hydrophobic poly(vinyl alkanoate) polymers. Electron-microscopy observations demonstrated that polymer interaction with the lipid phase induces vesicles to adopt smaller diameters than those typical of standard proteoliposomes. Functional characterization of these polymer-proteoliposome structures indicates that the reconstitution of the enzyme proceeds efficiently without causing either scrambling of the protein orientation in the membrane or loss of respiratory control. A clear dependence of respiratory control ratio on vesicle size was also demonstrated, which is in agreement with a previous model proposed for control of activity of cytochrome c oxidase vesicles [Brunori, Sarti, Colosimo, Antonini, Malatesta, Jones & Wilson (1985) EMBO J. 4, 2365-2368].

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Lead poisoning during heroin addiction.

We describe the case of a young man addicted to heroin with the clinical pattern of symmetrical brachial neuropathy, without other neurological involvement. Lead poisoning was detected and chelating therapy induced a marked improvement of the clinical symptoms. The possible toxic effect of heavy metals in the pathogenesis of brachial and lumbar plexopathies during heroin addiction has previously been suggested by other authors, but never detected.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Lead brachial neuropathy in heroin addiction. A case report.

The possible toxical effect of heavy metals in the pathogenesis of brachial and lumbar plexopathies during heroin addiction has been previously hypothesized by some authors, but never detected. A 24-year-old man, addicted to heroin showed the clinical picture of a symmetrical brachial neuropathy, without other neurological involvement. Lead poisoning was detected in this patient and the chelating therapy induced a marked improvement of the clinical symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Autoantibodies in myotonic dystrophy.

We evaluated some immunological parameters in a group of 24 patients affected with myotonic dystrophy (MD). IgG, IgA, IgM immunoglobulin serum levels resulted decreased in most of the patients. Anti-smooth-muscle antibodies have been found in 10 out of 24 patients (45.5%). Moreover in some of them decreased C3 and C4 complement fraction serum levels have been found. Our data confirm the existence of some immunological abnormalities in a great number of subjects affected with the disease. Besides, these data evidence for most of the subjects the presence of autoantibodies non-organ-specific direct against myocellular antigens. These autoantibodies could be considered the expression of suffering of muscular fibres.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

ATP-induced spectral changes in cytochrome c oxidase. A kinetic investigation.

Mixing ATP with soluble oxidized cytochrome c oxidase induces a spectral perturbation in the Soret region of the enzyme. This spectral perturbation is observed at ATP concentrations similar to those found to modulate the catalytic activity of cytochrome c oxidase [Malatesta, Antonini, Sarti & Brunori (1987) Biochem. J. 248, 161-165]. The process is reversible and corresponds to a simple binding with Kd = 0.2 mM at 25 degrees C. The absorbance change follows a first-order time course, and analysis of the ATP-concentration-dependence indicates the presence of a rate-limiting monomolecular step that governs the process. From the temperature-dependence of this process, studied at saturating concentrations of ATP, an activation energy of 44 kJ/mol (10.6 kcal/mol) was measured. The spectral perturbation also occurs when cytochrome c oxidase is reconstituted into artificial phospholipid vesicles, with equilibria and kinetics similar to those observed with the soluble enzyme. Mixing ATP with soluble oxidized cyanide-bound cytochrome c oxidase induces a different spectral perturbation, and the apparent affinity of ATP for the enzyme is substantially increased. There is no absolute specificity for ATP, because EGTA, inositol hexakisphosphate, sulphate and phosphate are all able to induce an identical spectral perturbation with the same kinetics, although the value of the apparent Kd is different for the various anions. The presence of Mg2+ ions decreases, in a saturation-dependent fashion, the apparent affinity of cytochrome c oxidase for ATP. The absorbance change can be correlated to the displacement of the Ca2+ bound to cytochrome c oxidase.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1988

Enzymatic activities of human lung tissue: relationship with smoking habits.

Twenty-two S12 preparations of surgical lung specimens obtained from smoker and non-smoker cancer patients were assayed to detect aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH), dimethylnitrosamine demethylase (DMND), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities, in both normal and neoplastic lung tissue from the same patients. Pulmonary fractions were also tested for their ability to activate some precarcinogens into mutagenic metabolites in the Ames test. Statistically significant differences were found for AHH and DMND activities between normal and neoplastic tissue of smoker patients. In addition, higher AHH activity in the neoplastic tissue of the smoker group was observed compared with that found in the non-smoker group. No differences were found for GST activity. All the lung S12 preparations were able to metabolize water-soluble bases and water-insoluble bases, derived from main-stream cigarette smoke condensate, into mutagenic agents in the Salmonella test system. However, S12 preparations from smoker group neoplastic tissues were more effective.

Aged↗