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Biomedical subjects

G Marietti

Publications and source records attributed to G Marietti.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Enhancement of methotrexate cytotoxicity by modulation of proliferative activity in normal and neoplastic T lymphocytes and in a myeloid leukemia cell line.

Recent advances in the modulation of cell kinetics with growth factors suggest that the effect of cycle-specific cytostatic drugs can be enhanced by combination with such factors. The truth of this hypothesis was investigated by studying the effect of phytohemagglutinin and/or interleukin 2 on the sensitivity to methotrexate (MTX) of normal T lymphocytes and of lymphoblasts of a patient with acute T-cell lymphoid leukemia. In both cases, inhibition of proliferation by MTX was increased from less than 30% in resting cells or those suboptimally stimulated, in the case of leukemic blasts, to 68-83% in maximally stimulated cells. Similar results were observed when the AML 193 human myeloid leukemia line was stimulated with human recombinant granulocyte macrophage colony stimulation factor (GM-CSF). Under basal proliferation conditions, the addition of 1 microgram/ml and 10 micrograms/ml MTX was followed by 48% and 72% inhibition respectively. When 1 ng/ml GM-CSF (40 I.U./ml) was present, these figures rose to 89% and 91%. It is thus clear that growth factor-induced cell proliferation increases sensitivity to cycle-specific cytostatic agents. There is thus a biological premise for new perspectives in antineoplastic therapy.

Cell Division↗
PubMed1988

Negative correlation between ICA persistence and beta cell restoration after IDDM diagnosis.

We have studied 27 insulin-dependent diabetic patients since diagnosis for a period of six months; at diabetes onset and later on, ICA were found in 17 of them, whereas they were undetectable in 10 patients: age was remarkably homogeneous in the two groups. At diabetes onset, no significant differences were found in insulin requirement between ICA positive and ICA negative patients; however, six months after diagnosis, we observed that insulin requirement to keep metabolic control was significantly higher in ICA positive than in ICA negative subjects (0.515 +/- 0.2 U/Kg versus 0.22 +/- 0.15 U/Kg, p less than 0.001). Only one remission has been detected in ICA positive group (insulin requirement less than 0.25 U/Kg), while four ICA negative patients had complete remission and three had partial remission. ICA positive patients showed fasting C-peptide values higher than ICA negative (0.5 +/- 0.28 ng/ml versus 1.4 +/- 0.5 ng/m.; p less than 0.001, at rest; 1.1 +/- 0.6 ng/ml; versus 2.6 +/- 1.0 ng/ml, 6 minutes after stimulus; p less than 0.05). Our study suggests that presence and persistence of ICA may be considered an early and predictive marker for a worse beta cell function restoration resulting in a higher insulin requirement.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

[Clinical and statistical study of the use of alpha-MPG in the treatment of viral hepatitis].

Several workers have already employed alpha-MPG in the management of acute vital hepatitis as a sulphydrylating agent to combat viral poisoning of the liver cells. Its distinct features include the stability of its molecule, its biochemical attributes in the course of time, and its virtually similar oral and injectable LD(50) (2100 MG/KG). High doses, well above those possible with earlier sulphydrylating agents, were used in a trial of alpha-MPG against UDPG. The new drug proved more active and led to a particularly significant fall in SGPT. Subjective and biohumoral parameters returned to normal more quickly, though the differences were not significant. Tolerance was good. Subjective over-reaction with a slight rise in temperature and allergic exanthema was noted in 3 cases. This promptly regressed when the treatment was suspended.

Acute Disease↗