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Biomedical subjects

G Ferrari

Publications and source records attributed to G Ferrari.

At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Primary intracranial tumors. Survey of incidence in the province of Trento in the years 1977-1981.

The incidence rate of primary intracranial tumors in the Province of Trento from 1977 to 1981 was 7.4 per 100,000 inhabitants per year. The age curve is as reported by other authors, with two peaks, one early and the other, much higher, at 50-59 years. This curve reflects that of malignant tumors in males. The age-adjusted crude rate in males proved to be 7.4 (4.9 for malignant and 2.5 for benign tumors). The corresponding value in females was 7.4 (3.5 and 4.0). The most frequent tumors in males were astrocytomas, grades III and IV (M/F ratio = 1.6), and in females meningiomas (M/F ratio = 0.6). Hypophyseal adenomas, which accounted for 15.4% of all tumors, had an M/F ratio of 0.4. The factors likely to be responsible for the differences in incidence rates reported in the various surveys are discussed.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1985

Carcinoma of the prostate and motor neuron disease.

Non metastatic neurological concomitants of tumors are well known. They include an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)-like syndrome in association with various tumors. The association with prostatic carcinoma is very rare. The case reported here seems to confirm the outcome of epidemiological research: the association is fortuitous.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis↗
PubMed1985

Metabolites of chlorinated solvents in blood and urine of subjects exposed at environmental level.

After a two-level selection, 141 blood donors living in Milan, Italy, were analyzed for their content of plasma and urinary trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and trichloroethanol (TCE). Environmental levels of exposure to trichloroethylene (TRI) and tetrachloroethylene (PER) through drinking water and air were also measured. The plasma TCA levels were in the range of previously found concentrations. Relationships among plasma and urinary metabolites were found and discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

High blood pressure and 'ischaemic' ECG patterns in climacteric women.

A study to evaluate the prevalence of high blood pressure (HBP) and resting 'ischaemic' electrocardiogram (ECG) patterns in the climacteric was carried out in 494 outpatients aged up to 65 yr. The study group was made up of 91 pre-menopausal women, 235 natural post-menopausal women, 91 surgical post-menopausal women and 77 women of advanced reproductive age, who comprised the control group. High systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure values were seen in 26.6% of the overall climacteric group (C), i.e. in 23.1% of the pre-menopausal women (PM); 28.9% of the natural post-menopausal women (NMt); and 24.2% of the surgical post-menopausal women (SMt), these frequencies being statistically significant compared to that in the control group (K) (6.5%). 'Ischaemic' ECG patterns (according to the Minnesota Code definition) were observed in 20.3% of the C group, in 22.0% of the PM group and in 27.5% of the SMt group, these rates being statistically significant compared to that in the control group (9.1%). Minnesota Code 4:1 and 5: 1-2 patterns were present in 5.7%, and 4:2 and 5:3 patterns in 14.6% of the C group. A significant correlation was found between HBP (systolic and diastolic) and 'ischaemic' ECG patterns.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed1985

Does phospholipid methylation play a role in the primary mechanism of action of nerve growth factor?

Nerve growth factor (NGF)-untreated (naive) and neurite-bearing NGF-treated ("primed") PC12 rat pheochromocytoma cells were used as model system to study the role of phospholipid methylation in the NGF mechanism of action. The neurite-bearing cultures were deprived of NGF for 3 h before experimentation. Under both experimental conditions, the cells were labelled with [methyl-3H]methionine and then challenged with NGF for time periods ranging from 5 s to 30 min. Methylated phospholipids were extracted and then resolved and identified by TLC as phosphatidyl mono-, di-, and trimethyl ethanolamine. Quantification of the amount of radioactivity incorporated into each of the phospholipids indicated that NGF does not significantly alter phospholipid methylation either in naive or in neurite-bearing cells. Furthermore, using a methyltransferase inhibitor, it was found that neurite outgrowth still occurs when phospholipid methylation is almost completely blocked. These results indicate that phospholipid methylation does not play a primary role in the mechanism of action of NGF.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Causes of anergy in the surgical patient and its relationship to postoperative sepsis.

Between June 1981 and June 1983 the delayed hypersensitivity response (DHR) was studied in 401 patients considered for major surgical procedure: 320 of these patients underwent surgery. The incidence of sepsis and postoperative mortality was higher in anergic and relative anergic patients than in normal responders (p<0.001). To evaluate whether DHR depression in cancer patients was due to the direct effect of cancer or to tumour-linked malnutrition, the 401 patients were divided into 4 groups: 1) 140 malnourished cancer patients, 2) 51 malnourished non-cancer patients, 3) 120 well-nourished cancer patients and 4) 90 well-nourished non-cancer patients. The mean age was not significantly different for the 4 groups. The results showed a relationship between DHR and nutritional status (p<0.001). The tumour-related DHR impairment disappeared when the cancer and non-cancer patient groups were homogeneous with regard to their nutritional status. Therefore, the tumour was able to determine the DHR depression because of the cancer-linked malnutrition. We did not observe any relationship between local extension of the tumour and lymph node involvement and DHR depression. In 90 well-nourished non-cancer patients the relation between DHR and age was investigated. The incidence of anergy and relative anergy was higher in patients over 59 years than in patients under 60 years (p<0.001).

Journal Article↗
PubMed1984

[A case of lipoma in a pharyngeal site].

The Authors describe a clinical case of lipoma examined by them in a retropharyngeal site. Reports published in literature show the extreme rarity of a pharyngeal localization of lipomas. The symptomatology and numerous differential diagnoses are examined. Of the instrumental diagnostic examinations, the stratigraphy of the pharynx and CAT were decisive in identifying the benign nature of the neoformation. In the clinical case described, needle biopsy did not produce any decisive diagnostic elements. In agreement with other Authors, the therapy of choice to be followed is a surgical procedure.

Female↗
PubMed1984

Renal osteodystrophy in CAPD patients.

To assess the influence of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) on the evolution of renal osteodystrophy, we studied 36 adult patients with end-stage renal failure before starting dialysis and after 7-30 months. 17 patients (12 males and 5 females) were treated by CAPD as first treatment and 19 (14 males and 5 females) received maintenance hemodialysis. The two groups were age- and sex-matched and no patient received vitamin D. All patients had adequate clinical and metabolic follow-up with a radiological survey and quantitative bone histology at the start of dialysis and at the end of the study. Serum phosphate concentrations were much easier to control in CAPD than in hemodialysis patients. There was no difference in the evolutive pattern of vascular and periarticular calcifications in the two groups. The 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels were frequently lower in CAPD than in hemodialysis patients. In some CAPD patients, there was a significant loss of trabecular bone volume at the end of the study. The radiological and histological appearances of secondary hyperparathyroidism improved or seemed to worsen to a lesser degree in CAPD compared to hemodialysis patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Adrenal cortex hormones and small intestine of adult rat: morphology, purity and enzymatic activities of isolated microvillous vesicles.

An electron microscopic and enzymatic investigation was carried out to assess the purity as well as the morphologic integrity of small intestine microvillous membrane vesicles prepared from the following groups of adult rats: untreated (normals); adrenalectomized and pair-fed controls; treated for 8 days with corticosterone (1 and 10 mg X 100 g-1 body weight X day-1), and relative controls. Electron microscopy observation of ultrathin sections of ruthenium red stained vesicles from all groups showed that the microvillous membranes were structurally intact and virtually uncontaminated by material from other subcellular structures. The vesicles presented a fuzzy, intensely ruthenium red positive layer in their outer membranes. Apparently no alteration was induced in microvillous membrane by adrenalectomy, semistarvation or corticosterone treatment. The values of the enrichment factors for alkaline phosphatase and sucrase were similar for all the groups, indicating a high grade of purity of the preparations. Adrenalectomy and high dose of corticosterone decreased the vesicles content of alkaline phosphatase; sucrase was increased by semistarvation and adrenalectomy.

Adrenalectomy↗
PubMed1983

Responses of anterior hypothalamic-preoptic neurons to direct thermal stimulation during wakefulness and sleep.

The responses of anterior hypothalamic-preoptic units to direct thermal stimulation were studied during wakefulness and sleep in cats. Seventy-nine percent of the selected units showed changes in firing rate in relation to wakefulness and sleep stages. Forty-nine percent of the units characterized by activity related to EEG patterns were found to be responsive to thermal stimulation in wakefulness and synchronized sleep. Unit responses to thermal stimulation were either absent or inconsistent in desynchronized sleep.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1983

Gangliosides enhance neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells.

Gangliosides are surface membrane components that have been suggested to play a significant role in the regulation of many cellular events including neuronal differentiation, growth and regeneration. We have chosen PC12 cell as a model system to study the influence of exogenously added glycosphyngolipids on in vitro differentiation and regeneration. A mixture of bovine brain gangliosides, (GM1 21%, GD1a 39.7%, GD1b 16% and GT 19%) or purified GM1 and GT respectively were added to culture media containing NGF on plating day and their effect was monitored on alternate days starting on day 5. The degree and rate of fiber outgrowth was significantly enhanced by media containing gangliosides at a concentration of 10(-6), 10(-7) M when serum was left out and 10(-3), 10(-4) M when serum was added to the culture medium. The stimulating ganglioside action required the presence of NGF to induce neurite outgrowth. However, binding studies indicated that exogenous gangliosides do not affect NGF binding to PC12 cells, therefore their stimulatory action may be separated from the interaction between NGF and its receptors. Subculturing of NGF-treated cells for 10 days demonstrated that gangliosides treatment also enhanced the NGF stimulated regeneration of neurites. Gangliosides may be incorporated at the level of cell surface, thereby affecting and facilitating membrane phenomena involved in neurite outgrowth.

Animals↗