Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

G Mancuso

Publications and source records attributed to G Mancuso.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Role of Salmonella enteritidis lipopolysaccharide on anti-HSV activity of macrophages from different anatomical sites.

It is generally agreed that endotoxins from Gram-negative bacteria play a modulatory role on several macrophage functions. The intrinsic activity versus herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 of Kupffer cells, peritoneal and alveolar macrophages, harvested from normal and tumour-bearing rats, was evaluated. Moreover, the effects of different intravenous treatments with S. enteritidis endotoxin were investigated. The antiviral activity of peritoneal, alveolar macrophages and Kupffer cells from tumour-bearing rats is definitely impaired but it appears to be positively modulated by in-vivo administration of S. enteritidis lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Treatment of acute idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (AITP): cooperative Italian study group results.

A cooperative Italian study group on acute idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (AITP) has been designed to evaluate efficacy and safety of no treatment at the onset of the disease and sequential treatment with immunoglobulin and high dose steroid. One hundred thirty-eight patients with AITP entered in the trial. Eleven patients were treated before the end of the waiting period because of bleeding. One hundred twenty-seven (92%) received no treatment for the first 10 days of the disease, 65 patients (51.18%) recovered spontaneously, 62 patients were treated with immunoglobulin, and 52 (83.8%) of them responded positively but only 36 (58.06%) permanently. There was no statistical difference between the results obtained with 400 mg/kg for 5 days versus 200 mg/kg. Twenty-four patients were treated with high doses of steroids, 20 (83.3%) with positive response, and 10 (41.66%) were permanently cured. Four (3.14%) of the patients enrolled in the protocol still had active disease at the end of treatment, and 10 relapsed within 4 months after the end of the treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

AIDS in Sicily: prevalence of antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in low and high risk groups.

A seroepidemiological survey, carried out to evaluate the prevalence of antibodies to HIV in patients with ARC and in healthy individuals at risk for AIDS, showed the infection to be widespread in the groups at risk, namely in drug abusers and hemophiliacs. However, remarkable difference existed between the prevalence of antibodies to HIV in drug abusers of the city of Palermo and those of other Sicilian provinces. Spread of the virus among Sicilian thalassemics, however, was very low and quite similar in all geographic areas. Antibodies were found very rarely (0.06%) in unpaid voluntary blood donors. The spread of the virus is still confined in high risk groups, and the major part of the seropositive blood donors were identified a posteriori as drug abusers.

AIDS-Related Complex↗
PubMed1987

Seeking clues for a positive diagnosis of the irritable bowel syndrome.

Despite its high prevalence the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) lacks acceptable pathophysiological markers and its diagnosis largely depends on the exclusion of underlying organic disease. Systemic acid-base balance, serum electrolytes and the composition of faecal water (electrolytes and organic anions), were studied in thirty-eight diarrhoeal patients out of a series of ninety-three consecutive IBS patients. Only patients with diarrhoea as the predominant symptom were included in the study to evaluate whether this subgroup could provide the clue for a positive diagnosis of the syndrome. Serum electrolytes and systemic acid-base balance were within the normal range. Faecal electrolytes were also normal (Na 26.6 +/- 19.3 SD; K 66.8 +/- 28.3; Cl 19.1 +/- 15.2 mEq 1(-1)), despite the finding of a moderately increased 24-h faecal output. The K:Na ratio was also within the normal range. These data are in agreement with the lack of systemic changes observed in IBS patients even with profuse or longstanding diarrhoea. Both faecal short chain fatty acids and lactic acid were increased in patients vs. controls, but a considerable overlap with normal values was observed (131.4 +/- 62.6 SD vs. 108.5 +/- 58.3 mEq 1(-1). Only lactic acid concentration was significantly higher than in controls (1.3 +/- 1.2 vs. 0.5 +/- 0.2). Despite these findings it is concluded that the subgroup of IBS patients with diarrhoea also appears to lack a pathophysiological marker and does not provide clues for a positive diagnosis of this syndrome.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗
PubMed1987

Phase II trial of methylprednisolone pulse therapy in childhood chronic thrombocytopenia.

Nineteen children with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenia (ITP) were treated with a single intravenous injection of methylprednisolone (MP), 15 mg/kg/day, for 3 consecutive days. The 3-day pulses gave rise to a positive and fast therapeutic response with increase of the platelet count in about three quarters of the patients. The platelet count remained above 50 X 10(9)/1 for more than 1 month in 10 children. Eight out of them still presented a safe platelet count (greater than 50 X 10(9)/1) 4 months after the onset of the therapy. The MP therapy improved the platelet count more in the older children and possibly in the females. No severe side effects were observed. Our results suggest that this therapeutic approach could be useful in the management of acute bleeding episodes in children with chronic ITP.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Hemophilia A: carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis by DNA analysis.

In this study, we used DNA polymorphisms for carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis of hemophilia A in a large group of Italian families. The restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) investigated were the intragenic polymorphic Bc/I site within the factor VIII gene; the extragenic multiallelic Taq I system at the St14 locus; and the extragenic Bg/II site at the DX13 locus. The factor VIII probe was informative in 30%, St14 in 82%, and DX13 in 60% of obligate carriers. The combination of factor VIII-Bc/I and St14-Taq I showed that 91% of obligate carriers were heterozygotes for one or both; with all three probes, only 4% of obligate carriers were noninformative. In families clearly segregating for hemophilia A, RFLP analysis allowed us to define the carrier status for the hemophilia A gene in all 27 women tested. RFLP analysis allowed us to exclude the carrier status in 39 of 45 female relatives of sporadic patients. The combination of RFLP analysis and biological assay of factor VIII allowed us to identify a de novo mutation in the maternal grandfather in 7 of 12 of the families with sporadic cases, for which members of three generations were available for study. Nine of 10 couples requesting prenatal diagnosis provided informative RFLP DNA pattern. Carrier status was excluded in two women, two fetuses were shown to be female, and prenatal diagnosis was carried out in five pregnancies by DNA analysis. Prenatal testing was successful in three instances and failed in two because a sufficient amount of chorionic villous DNA was not obtained for the analysis.

DNA↗
PubMed1986

A surface NAD-glycohydrolase of human platelets may influence their aggregation.

Human platelets may hydrolyze externally added NAD+ yielding ADPR and nicotinamide. The extent of hydrolysis is significantly higher when the platelets are stimulated. The presence of external NAD+ strongly inhibits the aggregation induced by every agonist used. It seems that adenosine or ADPR itself generated by NAD+ hydrolysis may be responsible for the inhibition of aggregation. Evidence is given that some of the NAD+ hydrolysis product is taken up by stimulated platelets.

Adenosine↗
PubMed1985

Premature thelarche: a follow up study of 40 girls. Natural history and endocrine findings.

Follow up of 40 girls with premature thelarche showed that where this disorder occurred before age 2 years it usually regressed completely, thus representing a transient and isolated phenomenon. Premature thelarche after age 2 years persisted more frequently, however, and represented the first sign of sexual development, generally leading to simple early puberty.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1983

Chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenia treated with immunoglobulin.

Twenty five children with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura followed from 6-96 months in 7 Italian paediatric departments were treated with high dose immunoglobulin according to a multicentre protocol. Positive responses were observed in 20 of 25 patients (80%) and negative responses in 5 of 25 (20%). On previous steroid treatment 7 of 10 positive responders were steroid resistant and 13 of 15 were steroid dependent. Within four weeks of beginning treatment 16 of 20 patients (80%) relapsed, while 4 of 20 (20%) maintained normal platelet values after 4-12 months' follow up. Statistical analysis of the platelet count on day five of treatment enabled us to divide positive responders into three groups: good, intermediate, and poor. The possible mode of action and clinical application of high dose immunoglobulin are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Intrauterine growth retardation. A report of two cases with bird-headed appearance, skeletal changes and peripheral GH resistance.

Two cases of severe intrauterine growth retardation, a boy and a girl studied for 7 and 10 years respectively, are reported. Both patients showed peculiar cranio-facial abnormalities as observed in the so-called Seckel's syndrome, an appearance of premature aging, peripheral GH resistance which was probably due to deficiency in Somatomedin A production, sella areas and volumes consistently at the upper limits of normal when related to the patients' height, and dysharmonic skeletal maturation ivory cone-shaped epiphyses of the tubular bones of the hands.

Bone Development↗
PubMed1980

Labelling of blood platelets with stable tracers.

Half-time values of platelets labelled with stable rubidium are compared to those of platelets labelled with Cr51. Platelets labelled with stable rubidium are assayed by a very simple version of the X-Ray fluorescence equipment. The mean quantity of rubidium incorporated by the cells is of about some microgram Rb per ml blood. The in vitro half-time of human Rb labelled platelets stored at 22 degrees C is 41.2 +/- 3h compared with the value 44.8 +/- 3h for platelets labelled with Cr51, as deduced by six experiments. The in vivo half-time of rabbit platelets labelled with stable rubidium is 22 +/- 3h compared with the value 18 +/- 3h of platelets labelled with Cr51; ten experiments were carried out.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

In vitro labeling of platelets with stable rubidium compounds.

It is a common practice in diagnostic hematology to mark blood cells with radioactive tracers, such as 51Cr, 55Fe, 75Fe, etc., to determine their life-span and study their metabolism. A program has been started to verify the possibility of marking blood cells with stable indicators, assayed by radioisotope-induced X-ray fluorescence analysis. All elements may be considered as indicators aggregating to blood cells, and for in vivo measurements, which are not toxic in the quantities injected, calculated on the basis of the limit of detection of the technique. In this study platelets were marked with a very small quantity of stable compounds of rubidium, a potassium analog. Measurements were carried out in vitro on platelets of normal subjects and in vivo on platelets of rats and rabbits. Several survival curves were deduced and life-span values obtained in accord with previously reported values.

Animals↗