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Biomedical subjects

G Ferrari

Publications and source records attributed to G Ferrari.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Endocrine function changes in young males during long-term antiepileptic therapy with phenobarbitone and carbamazepine.

The effects of long-term antiepileptic combined therapy with phenobarbitone (PB) and carbamazepine (CBZ) on the major endocrine functions were evaluated in a selected group of 15 young males with partial epilepsy. The plasma basal levels of triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), free thyroxine (FT4), thyrotropin (TSH), cortisol (CO), dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S), adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL) and testosterone (T) were determined. TSH and PRL were also assessed in response to i.v. injection of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH). The results were compared with those found in 37 age-matched male volunteers. The most remarkable changes affected pituitary-thyroid axis and pituitary-adrenal axis, while the hypothalamic-pituitary response was normal. No correlation between hormonal changes and duration of epilepsy and therapy or ADs plasma levels was found. There seems to be considerable individual variability of response to antiepileptic therapy, probably depending on peripheral changes in the hormonal metabolism.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Effects of pK variability on bicarbonate balance evaluation in dialysis patients.

Bicarbonate balance is usually calculated from the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation under the assumption that pK is constant. To evaluate the pK variability and its effects on bicarbonate computed with autoanalyzers in dialysis patients, we studied 44 patients on maintenance hemodialysis. The pH, PCO2, total CO2, and pK were determined in each patient before and after the dialysis session. The mean total CO2 calculated (22.5 +/- 2.7 meq/L) from pH and PCO2 values was significantly higher (p less than 0.001) than that directly measured (20.4 +/- 3.0 meq/L) with total CO2 analyzer. The mean (+/- SD) pK value was 6.14 +/- 0.06 (range 6.05-6.28). The percentage error in computed bicarbonate due to pK variations from the traditional pK value of 6.1 ranged between -11% and 52%. The pK value changed during dialysis in the majority of our patients, thereby confirming that pK consistency does indeed vary. Thus, investigation of acid-base balance based on pH and PCO2 determination may lead to erroneous results determined by pK abnormalities.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗
PubMed1987

Centronuclear myopathy with unusual clinical picture.

The authors describe two cases of familial muscle disease, a mother and her daughter, characterized by centrally placed nuclei and a predominance of hypotrophic type 1 fibers. Clinically the patients exhibited a muscular weakness and atrophy localized mainly distally. Both showed hypertrophy of their calves. The nosological classification of the cases is uncertain; however, both are considered as examples of centronuclear myopathy with unusual clinical features.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Antibody prevalence to torch agents in pregnant women and relative risk of congenital infections in Italy (Liguria).

A study on the prevalence of seropositivity to T.gondii, Rubella virus, Cytomegalovirus and Herpes simplex virus (type 1 and type 2) was carried out in pregnant women aged 15-45 years. An overall prevalence of 40.7% to T.gondii, of 90.1% to Rubella virus, of 80.8% to Cytomegalovirus, of 82.3% and of 69% to Herpes simplex virus, respectively type 1 and type 2 was found. Cytomegalovirus infection was prevalent in women from low socioeconomic background. Herpes simplex 1 infection was higher in women living in quarters of high density population, whereas antibody prevalence to Rubella virus was higher in women from high socioeconomic setting. The expected fetal risk for T.gondii, Rubella and Cytomegalovirus infections has been assessed on the basis of the yearly seroconversion rate for each pathogen in the study population and of the known transplacental transmission rates after primary and recurrent infection in pregnancy. Thus, the expected incidence of congenital T.gondii infection in this geographic area is 0.2-0.3%, of congenital Rubella infection of 0.02% and of congenital Cytomegalovirus infection of 0.3-1.15%.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Ly-5.185 molecule is associated with thymic maturation of lymphocytes but not with their cytotoxic activity.

The Ly-5 system is a composite family of molecules with different molecular weight. Each molecular form is characteristic of a different lymphoid population, in particular a 175,000- to 185,000-dalton doublet is peculiar of thymocytes and peripheral T cells. Athymic nude mice, however, lack the 185,000-dalton form on their lymphocytes. To investigate whether the expression of the 185,000 daltons requires the presence of thymus, we induced nude mice lymphocytes to differentiate into mature T cells in vivo by thymus grafting and, in vitro, into T cytotoxic cells (CTL) by cocultivation with alloantigen plus recombinant interleukin 2 (IL-2). The appearance of the 185,000-dalton form on lymphocytes of thymus-grafted nude mice but not on in vitro activated cytotoxic cells indicates an active role of thymus in the induction of this molecule and suggests that 185,000-dalton form could be a marker of intrathymic differentiation but not of the cytotoxic activity of T cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

[The varicocele today (anatomic and physiopathologic aspects)].

Primary varicocele is a very important clinical form in establishing of male infertility. It's origin is'nt ever caused by anatomical alterations of internal spermatic vein. Clinical picture is always joined with histopathological alterations of various degree, which, partial and in concomitance with hemodynamic disorders, explains the arising of spermatogenesis alterations.

Humans↗
PubMed1987

[Diagnostic use of angiography].

The angiography, in particularly after the introduction of the digitalized technique, results a method of considerable importance, whether for a more precise definition of the sort and nature of the lesion, or, above all, for a precise preoperating balance. The statement of hits utilization of screening test, is to be refused.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Nerve growth factor activates Thy-1 and neurofilament gene transcription in rat PC12 cells.

The effect of nerve growth factor (NGF) on the expression of neurofilament and Thy-1 genes in rat PC12 pheochromocytoma cells was examined at both the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. Addition of NGF to cultured PC12 cells produced increases in mRNAs corresponding to the 68 kd neurofilament protein (NF68) and the Thy-1 glycoprotein within 24 h, with maximal effects of some 90- and 45-fold stimulation (relative to beta-actin mRNA) being observed after 12 and 4 days of treatment, respectively. In addition, transcriptional run-off analyses using isolated nuclei showed that NGF treatment resulted directly in 8- and 4-fold increases in the rate of NF68 and Thy-1 gene transcription. These gene activation events were independent of overt morphological differentiation of PC12 cells occurring both under conditions permissive and non-permissive for neurite outgrowth, and once established the new molecular phenotype was dependent upon the continued presence of NGF. This is the first molecular evidence for the reversible activation of neuron-specific genes during NGF-induced differentiation in PC12 cells.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1986

Primary brain malignant non-Hodgkin lymphoma: report of a case treated with chemotherapy in combination with radiotherapy.

Primary brain lymphomas are usually treated with surgery in combination with radiotherapy, whereas only a few cases have been treated with chemotherapy. We describe a case of a 68-year-old man with an immunoblastic primary cerebral lymphoma first treated with surgery and radiotherapy and subsequently with chemotherapy consisting of cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, vincristine and prednisone (CHOP). In this case immunological study of the peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lymphocytes confirmed that a primary brain lymphoma may be an intrinsic cerebral neoplasm with different forms of spreading within the central nervous system (CNS). The period of survival of our patient is equivalent to that of patients treated with radiotherapy alone or in combination with surgery. This suggests the need for further investigation in this field.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

Polygraphic study of anterior hypothalamic-preoptic neuron thermosensitivity during sleep.

Thermal responsiveness of anterior hypothalamic-preoptic (AH-PO) neurons was studied in unanesthetized sleeping cats carrying chronically implanted electrodes and thermistors for recording EEG, EMG and AH-PO temperature. Activity of AH-PO neurons was recorded using tungsten microelectrodes during atraumatic stereotaxic head restraint in a sound-attenuated chamber at 22-25 degrees C. Direct cooling or warning of the AH-PO region was accomplished with bilaterally positioned water-perfused thermodes. 110 thermosensitive neurons (77% cold-sensitive and 23% warm-sensitive) were sampled during wakefulness and synchronized sleep. In contrast, the changes in spontaneous firing rate shown by AH-PO neurons during desynchronized sleep were often associated with a strong depression or outright suppression of their responsiveness to AH-PO thermal stimulation.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Primary intracranial tumors in the province of Trento-Italy (1977-1984). Distribution by administrative units.

The incidence rate for primary intracranial neoplasms in the province of Trento (Italy) is 8.5/100,000/year, but the figures in the eleven administrative units ('comprensori') are different. The increased rates in C6 Val di Non and C10 Vallagarina are mainly due to the number of malignant tumors in the 45- to 64-year-old males. The biggest provincial production of fruit and wine, and considerable amounts of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers used for many years are located in the above-mentioned units. For these substances and their derivatives there is evidence of carcinogenicity in humans, also with respect to the brain. The reported data can be considered as an epidemiological starting point to support an etiological hypothesis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Epidemiology of primary intracranial neoplasms. Experiment in the Province of Trento, (Italy), 1977-1984.

The incidence rate for primary intracranial tumors in the Province of Trento (Italy) from 1977 to 1984, adjusted to the Italian population, is 8.5/100,000/year (8.0 for males and 9.1 for females). The age-specific distribution is nearly the same as that reported in other studies. It is bimodal with a mild increase until the ages of 40-44 years followed by a peak reaching a maximum at the ages of 55-64 years and then declining. The commonest tumors in males were glioblastomas (m/f ratio = 1.3) and in females meningiomas (m/f = 0.4). Pituitary adenomas were 15.3% of all tumors with a m/f ratio of 0.6. Factors causing discrepancies between the rates reported by various authors are discussed.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1986

The effect of corticosteroids on microvillous vesicles from the small intestine of adult rats: an automated, morphometric analysis.

The hypothesis that the corticosterone-induced enhancement of D-glucose uptake by brush-border membrane vesicles from the small intestine of adult rats is caused by an alteration in vesicle volume was tested by means of structural morphometric computerized analysis. By using a Ca2+ precipitation method, microvillous membrane vesicles were prepared from different groups of adult rats: normal controls; animals sacrificed 8 days after adrenalectomy; sham-operated pair-fed controls; animals treated with corticosterone (1 or 10 mg x 100 g b.wt.-1 daily i.p. for 8 days); corticosterone vehicle-treated controls. The vesicles were processed by conventional electron microscopy techniques. Morphometric computerized analysis was carried out on electron micrographs at a 20,000 x magnification, after selecting by an interactive method the vesicles showing certain morphologic features. The morphometric parameters determined for the vesicles from each experimental group were diameter, shape factor (minimal to maximal diameter ratio), surface area and volume. The following main findings were obtained: the vesicles were consistently spherical, with the glycocalyx on the outer side; sham-operation and pair-feeding with adrenalectomized rats, as well as corticosterone-vehicle injection, significantly reduced vesicular volume as compared to normal controls; adrenalectomy significantly decreased vesicular volume as compared to pair-feeding; excess of corticosteroids caused opposite changes (i.e. a significant increase of vesicle volumes as compared to vehicle injection), which were apparently dose-dependent. A comparison with D-glucose vesicular transport data previously obtained under the same experimental conditions revealed the existence of a positive relationship between vesicular volume and D-glucose half-filling time (t 1/2). A positive relationship between vesicular volume and D-glucose vesicular space was found for all experimental conditions except vehicle injection. As a whole, the morphometric results were consistent with functional findings, supporting our previous hypothesis that the corticosterone-induced increase in D-glucose transport by small intestinal microvillous vesicles is due, at least in part, to enlargement of the vesicle.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

[Arsenic-iron balneotherapy in anxiety syndromes. Controlled clinical study at the Levico thermal baths].

A comparative clinical study was conducted in order to assess the efficacy of arsenic-iron bath treatment in subjects suffering from endogenous reactive anxiety syndromes with somatisation. The study group of 76 subjects included 50 given the classic arsenic-iron bath treatment for two weeks and 26 untreated controls. Zung and Crown self-assessment Rating Scales amplified with items of socioepidemiological interest were completed by all subjects on entry, immediately after treatment and a mean 4 months later. Biometrical analysis of the data collected each time revealed a statistically significant (0.001 less than P less than 0.05) reduction in all parameters evaluated (anxiety, somatisation forms, consumption of drugs and number of medical consultations) among the treated Group. In contrast no significant difference was revealed among the untreated group. In order to verify the possible influence of climate the data on the control group, all local people, were then compared only with data on treated "locals". Here too there was a statistically significant reduction in anxiety and somatisation parameters only among treated subjects. It is therefore clear that the difference between the two groups is solely attributable to the arsenic-iron baths whose therapeutic efficacy is therefore confirmed.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

[Thoracic outlet syndrome].

Thoracic outlet syndrome is produced by many aetiopathogenic factors that compress or stretch the brachial plexus in the subclavian region. Clinical aspects, diagnostic procedure and instrumental examinations are discussed. A treatment programme should be based on the many factors causing the syndrome. Most patients, however, derive benefit from a suitable exercise programme and this is recommended as an initial approach in all cases.

Brachial Plexus↗