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Biomedical subjects

G Costa

Publications and source records attributed to G Costa.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

HLA-DQA1 and -DQB1 associations with multiple sclerosis in Sardinia and French Canada: evidence for immunogenetically distinct patient groups.

We analyzed the association of HLA-DQA1 and -DQB1 alleles with multiple sclerosis (MS) in a collaborative study of 116 Sardinian and 75 French Canadian MS patients by the relative predispositional effect method. In French Canadians, MS was positively associated with DQA1*0102 and DQB1*0602, but there was no positive association of either allele with Sardinian MS, which, by contrast, was positively associated with DQB1*0302 and *0201 and with DQA1*0301, whereas none of these alleles was MS-associated in French Canadians. In comparison with French Canadian results, DQA1*0102 was protective against MS in Sardinians. We suggest that DQA1*0102 has no MS predispositional role in French Canadians, but is MS-associated because it is in linkage disequilibrium with true predispositional alleles present within the DQB1*0602-bearing haplotype. Whereas DQB1 alleles encoding leucine (Leu) at residue 26 showed a strong MS association in French Canadians (relative risk = 24.7), there was no correlation with DQ beta Leu26 in Sardinian MS. No other DQA1 or DQB1 codons showed a positive disease correlation in both groups. Together the data suggest that the two MS patient groups are immunogenetically distinct, and it may be impossible to formulate a unifying hypothesis that explains the different MS-class II associations in these and other ethnic groups.

Alleles↗
PubMed1993

Neuroprotective activity of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate following transient forebrain ischemia in the Mongolian gerbil.

We examined the protective activity of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (FBP) on mortality and delayed hippocampal cell death induced by transient cerebral ischemia in the Mongolian gerbil. Forebrain ischemia was produced by bilaterally occluding the common carotid arteries for 15 min using microaneurysm clips; then the blood supply to the brain was restored. The number of survivors was counted for 8 days, and the histopathological damage in the CA1 region of the hippocampus was scored according to the semiquantitative scale of Rudolphi and colleagues. When injected 15 min before the ischemic insult, FBP (100 and 333 mg/kg, i.v.) significantly reduced the rate of mortality during the 8-day observation period. Equivalent doses of fructose and fructose monophosphate did not improve survival, and neither did low doses (33 mg/kg) of FBP. FBP also produced a significant degree of protection against the CA1 pyramidal cell loss in comparison with its vehicle (distilled water). Conversely, when we administered the compound, at the same dose, 15 min after the release of the arterial occlusion, we observed neither a significant reduction of mortality nor significant protection against hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cell loss. These results suggest that FBP possesses salutary properties against the damages induced by transient cerebral ischemia, although they are evident only when the compound is administered before the resolution of the ischemic injury.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Magnetic resonance imaging in HTLV-I associated myelopathy.

Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and spinal cord were carried out for seventeen consecutive patients with HTLV-1 associated myelopathy (HAM). Eight patients had brain abnormalities and four had decreased thoracic spinal cord diameter. Brain lesions were mostly located in subcortical and periventricular areas. Our data suggest that diffuse central nervous system lesions are present in patients with HAM.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Effect of bright light on tolerance to night work.

Fifteen young (mean age 23.4 years) female nurses engaged in a resuscitation unit and working on a fast rotating shift schedule comprising two consecutive night shifts were exposed to short periods (4 x 20 min) of bright light (2350 lx) during their night duty to test a possible positive effect on their tolerance to night work. Two nights with normal lighting (20-380 lx) and two nights with bright light were compared. The following positive effects of bright light upon psychophysical conditions and performance efficiency were noted: in particular, signs of better physical fitness; less tiredness and sleepiness; a more balanced sleep pattern; and higher performance efficiency (letter cancellation test). This result could not be attributed to shifts of the internal clock although the exact cause remains to be determined. In fact, hormonal excretion and body temperature did not show any effect from bright light. In addition melatonin excretion was not suppressed appreciably by the bright light used.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Cancer of the distal pancreas: comments on its diagnosis and therapy].

The authors report 14 cases of neoplasms involving the pancreatic body and tail. Duration and characteristics of symptoms at outbreak, diagnostic work-up, resection rates, morbidity and operative mortality are statistically analysed and compared with those found in the same period in patients with cancer of the pancreatic head. A number of important differences between these two locations are detected and analytically discussed.

Carcinoma↗
PubMed1993

[The impact of technology on the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic carcinoma].

Between 1960 and 1989, 207 patients with cancer of the head of the pancreas were diagnosed in the 1st Surgical Department of the University of Rome "La Sapienza". While in the first period (1960-'74) diagnosis was performed on the basis of clinical signs and traditional radiological findings, imaging and endoscopy became progressively the main diagnostic tools in the second one (1975-'89). The authors analyse how the different diagnostic approach has influenced the therapeutical outcome. Earlier diagnosis, increased resectability, proper surgical indication, decreased morbidity and mortality, improvement of survival are the achieved results.

Carcinoma↗
PubMed1993

[Health problems of foreign immigrants in Italy: the answer from the institutions].

The possibility and the result of the meeting between immigrant's health problems and the health services system are conditioned by legal bonds and by the ability of the system to meet different cultures and values. In the present work we outline the Italian legislation about immigration to search those critical points that may help to understand some features of immigration in Italy. We describe the foreigner's health problems, according the present documentary evidence, and we outline adequate answers.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed1993

[The health of the foreign immigrants in Turin in the current informative systems].

The rising phenomenon of immigration to Italy makes necessary to be equipped with basic tools allowing to work out a health pattern of the immigrated foreigners useful to develop programs for their health protection. We describe the image of the health pattern of foreigners immigrated to Turin obtained using the current socio-sanitary informative systems and the record of some outpatient's department. The resulting health condition is similar to that of the general population, with a few epidemiological peculiarities of the origin countries (a larger diffusion of tubercolosys and intestinal parasitosis) and with acute problems typical of populations with high mobility (traumatology, respiratory diseases). Besides, these sources suggest to examine carefully health problems pregnancy and work related. Completeness and quality limits of the informative systems used are then discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[Leiomyosarcoma of the gallbladder: a clinical case].

A case of primary leiomyosarcoma of the gallbladder is reported together with a review of the literature. The nonspecific clinical picture of the disease and the consequent high frequency of misdiagnosis are stressed. Cholecystectomy combined with chemotherapy and radiotherapy is the treatment of choice suggested.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

The impact of ultrasonography on the prognosis of pancreatic cancer.

The authors review 207 consecutive patients admitted for pancreatic cancer from 1960 to 1989 to the 1st Department of Surgery of the University of Rome "La Sapienza", in order to ascertain whether ultrasonography contributes to achieving the ideal goal of early diagnoses. The results achieved show a higher number of early diagnoses (< 1 month from first symptoms) performed by means of US, and a concurrent increase of cases amenable to radical surgery during the period 1975-1989, and basically from 1985 to 1989. Diagnostic imaging, namely US, is therefore deemed to provide earlier diagnoses and higher rates of pancreatic resectability.

Female↗
PubMed1992

[Rare neoplasms of the pancreas: the papillary-cystic tumor. A report of 2 cases].

The authors report two cases of papillary-cystic tumor of the pancreas in two young women. Making a review of literature, they emphasize the rarity of this neoplasm and analyze the possible histopathologic origin, the difficult diagnosis before surgery, surgical therapy and the good prognosis of this pancreatic "curable" tumor.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Purification and patch clamp analysis of a 40-pS channel from rat liver mitochondria.

Patch clamp analysis of membranes reconstituted with a fraction isolated from detergent-solubilized mitochondrial membranes by affinity chromatography on immobilized quinine earlier indicated the presence of two classes of ion channels, of about 40- and 140-pS conductance in medium including 150 mM KCl. Now a 57-kDa constituent of the quinine-affinity column eluate has been identified as the 40-pS channel. Protein fractions derived from the quinine-affinity column eluate by preparative isoelectric focusing with a Rotofor cell have been reconstituted into phospholipid vesicle membranes by detergent dialysis, and vesicles have been enlarged for patch clamping by dehydration and rehydration. Voltage clamp analysis has been carried out on excised patches bathed symmetrically in buffered medium containing 150 mM KCl and 100 microM CaCl2. Patches of membrane incorporating the 57-kDa protein exhibit 40-pS conductance transitions. The magnitude of conductance transitions is similar when Na+ replaces K+ in the bathing medium, indicating little selectivity of the 40-pS channel for K+ relative to Na+. Another fraction derived from the quinine-affinity column eluate is found to contain the larger channel, now estimated to have an average conductance of about 130 pS. Patches of control membrane prepared in the same way but without protein exhibit no channel activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Evaluation of local cerebral glucose utilization and the permeability of the blood-brain barrier in the genetically epilepsy-prone rat.

The genetically epileptic-prone rat (GEPR) is a valuable model for the study of gene-linked abnormalities involved in epilepsy. In comparison with normal Sprague-Dawley controls, we found, in GEPRs, a marked depression in local cerebral glucose utilization, widespread throughout the brain. This depression was accompanied by a significant increase of blood-brain barrier permeability and a reduction in regional blood volume. Finally GEPRs showed lower plasma levels of total triiodothyronine than normal controls. One can speculate that alterations in cerebral metabolism and microvascular regulation and thyroid hormone imbalance may be gene-linked factors involved in seizure susceptibility.

Aminoisobutyric Acids↗
PubMed1992

Blood-brain barrier dysfunctions following systemic injection of kainic acid in the rat.

Changes in blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability and cerebral metabolic activity following intravenous injection of kainic acid (KA; 6, 12 mg/Kg) in rats were assessed by calculating respectively a blood-to-brain transfer constant (Ki) for [14C]alpha-aminoisobutyric acid and local cerebral glucose utilization (LCGU) values, at different times (1 h, or acute seizures phase, and 48 h, or chronic pathology phase) after the induction of seizures. A significant increase in the local permeability of the BBB was observed 1 h after the injection of KA 6 mg/Kg (eliciting no significant changes in cerebral metabolic activity, except within the frontal cortex and the hippocampus) and 12 mg/Kg (which induced a marked and widespread enhancement of LCGU). On the contrary, during the pathology phase, persistent regional increases in Ki values were evidenced in rats treated with the lowest dose of the convulsant, but not in rats injected with KA 12 mg/Kg (a dose able to cause extensive neuronal damage). Thus one can speculate that: 1) KA-induced regional changes in the permeability of the BBB are not correlated with changes in neuronal activity; 2) opening of the BBB is not reliably associated with neuronal injury.

Aminoisobutyric Acids↗
PubMed1992

The effect of feeding on plasma immunoreactive ACTH and beta-endorphin levels in newborn infant.

In order to clarify whether an interaction between endogenous opioids and feeding occurs at birth, we studied Beta-endorphin (beta-EP) and ACTH plasma levels in response to a feed of 10% glucose, or formula, in 120 healthy full-term infants. Neither postprandial beta-EP nor ACTH increases were found at the 24th hour or on the fourth day of life. beta-EP physiology in newborn infants seems to be different from adults.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗