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Biomedical subjects

G Rizzo

Publications and source records attributed to G Rizzo.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

[Correction measured by attenuation in tomographic heart studies with single photon emission with thallium 201. Comparison with positron- emission tomographic studies with ammonium marked with nitrogen].

PURPOSE: We investigated 201Tl myocardial uptake with(out) nonuniform attenuation compensation in ischemic myocardiopathy patients. The segmental patterns of the two types of SPECT images were compared with PET [13N]NH3 studies performed in the same patient. PET images were taken as reference and the diagnostic accuracy of SPECT with(out) attenuation correction was evaluated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: During the SPECT study transmission and emission data were simultaneously recorded by a triple head gamma camera equipped with fan beam collimators and a 99mTc transmission line source (740MBq). SPECT and PET images, the former reconstructed with(out) attenuation correction, were corecorded and reoriented along the short axis. The left ventricular wall was divided into 11 segments and segmental activity normalized to maximum in each study. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were found between PET/(un)corrected SPECT ratios in posterior and septal segments. In these myocardial regions, attenuation correction compensates for attenuation artifacts, by correcting the underestimation of radioactivity concentration caused by radiation absorption. A statistically significant difference was also found in midventricular anterior and apical segments (p < .05). However, in these regions attenuation correction results in a decrease in corrected relative to uncorrected SPECT activity. The agreement rate with PET data is higher for corrected SPECT (mean differences were 3.12 +/- 11.51 and 2.19 +/- 8.63 for uncorrected versus corrected SPET). We had 50% positive and 77% negative predictive value without attenuation correction, versus up to 69% and 90%, respectively, with attenuation correction. CONCLUSIONS: The attenuation correction procedure with simultaneous transmission-emission effectively reduces attenuation artifacts in SPECT myocardial imaging. While diagnostic accuracy increases in posterior and septal myocardial regions, anterior and apical data need careful interpretation because a relative decrease in radioactivity concentration can be observed after attenuation correction.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Research on V. cholerae anti-antibodies (agglutinating and vibriocidal) in patients affected by cholera-like gastroenteritis. Studies performed during the cholera epidemic occurred in Apulia in August-September 1973].

Agglutinating and vibriocidal antibody titers anti-V. cholerae of the serotypes Ogawa and Inaba, were determined in sera from 189 patients with cholera-like diarrheas during the epidemic of cholera occurred in August-September 1973, in Bari. Antibodies were determined in 74,2% of 70 patients, whose in the faeces and vomiting were isolated strains identified as V. cholerae, biotype El Tor, serotype Ogawa. This frequency was higher against the serotype Ogawa. The antibodies could be proved very early, 4-6 days from the beginning of symptomatology, but they disappeared as rapidly; really, at 2.3 months antibodies were determined in 7,7% only of the above mentioned subjects. As regards the other 119 patients with non-vibrio, cholera-like diarrheas, antibodies were determined in 28 subjects only; 27 of these has received cholera-vaccine some weeks before. One single case remained which was bacteriological negative, but showed signifcant agglutinating and vibriocidal antibody titers against the serotypes Ogawa and Inaba.

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Fate of kidneys from the same donor grafted into different recipients: do they behave similarly and are they influenced by donor-related factors?

BACKGROUND: The fate of paired kidneys might be similar and could therefore reflect the influence of donor-related factors on graft outcome. PATIENTS AND METHODS: To verify whether two kidneys retrieved from a single donor and grafted into different recipients have similar short, and middle-term outcomes we investigated the clinical outcome of 103 pairs of cadaveric kidneys grafted into 206 recipients. We evaluated the influence of donor-related factors such as age, sex and cause of death, and of the storage solution and method of harvesting. The incidence of delayed graft function was considered as the short-term outcome and serum creatinine levels at two years as the middle-term outcome. We evaluated the difference from expected frequencies in the incidence of delayed graft function and the incidence of similar serum creatinine levels in each pair of recipients. Univariate analysis of possible risk factors was made by the t-test, chi2 test and Fisher test, as appropriate. Multivariate analysis was done by logistic regression analysis with a forward stepwise variable selection. RESULTS: Delayed graft function was seen in both recipients from the same donor 2.5 times more than the expected frequency (p<0.001). Serum creatinine levels were similar in both recipients with a higher frequency than expected (p<0.01). Multivariate analysis showed that donor-related factors on graft function were age, cause of death and storage solution. CONCLUSIONS: Paired kidneys have similar performances in both the short and the long term. Major donor-related factors in delayed graft function are age and the storage solution. Major donor-related factors in graft function are age and cause of death.

Female↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The ameloblast movement in rat incisor. L.M., S.E.M. and C.L.S.M. study.

The internal epithelium of enamel organ and the below enamel surface during growth of the lower incisor, were examinated in ten Wistar rat 12-27 weeks old and weighing between 150/200 gr, by means of immuno histochemical, light and scanning electron microscopy techniques. Our specimens indicate that during the outer enamel secretion the anti-actin positivity goes from distal terminal web to infra nuclear region of cell body. The results of the present study do not support the active movement hypothesis, conversely they support the Warshawsky (1992) hypothesis, i.e. the distal terminal web permits the maintenance and the assembling of ameloblasts during enamel growth. Hence we do agree with Osborn (1970) who reported that, during secretion, ameloblasts move passively in response to secretory forces.

Ameloblasts↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Immune restoration syndrome].

A new syndrome, "immune restoration syndrome", has been described among patients with CMV retinitis, mycobacterial infections or cryptococcosis when HAART is initiated. The mechanism is most likely an enhanced immunologic reaction at the site of infection due to an improved T-lymphocyte function. The syndrome appears to be a rare event: the authors report a case of immune restoration syndrome in a patient with atypical mycobacteriosis.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Meningoencephalitis caused by Listeria monocytogenes in adults. Description of 2 cases].

Two patients are presented who had Listeria meningo-encephalitis. They were both adults and reduced in defences against infections. The diagnosis was made by isolation of Listeria monocytogenes from cerebrospinal fluid cultures. One of the patients recovered; other died although therapeutic measures were promptly started. The Authors suggest the need for a careful research about Listeria infections in our country.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Studies on the bacteriological diagnosis of cholera and on the characteristics of isolated strains in the Apulia epidemic during the summer of 1973].

Descriptions are given of the characteristics of 107 strains of Vibrio cholerae of the serum type Ogawa isolated during the epidemic in 1973, which, although not exhibiting hemolysis in liquid culture, could be assigned because of their other characteristics to the El Tor biotype and to the phagic type 1. The Authors also make a number of technical annotations on the bacteriological diagnosis of cholera.

Bacteriophages↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Studies on the spread of Vibrio cholerae, biotype El Tor in the environment during the period following the 1973 epidemic in Apulia].

In the period following the cholera epidemic, studies were made of sewage, seawater and various foodstuffs (green vegetables, mussels, etc.) in an attempt to isolate Vibrio cholerae of the El Tor biotype. Only in the samples of sewage taken at Bari and Taranto was it possible to isolate Vibrio cholerae biotype El Tor for a period of about a month after the last case of the illness; in this period it was isolated in 5 of the 11 samples taken at Bari and in 1 of the 14 taken at Taranto. The positive tests involved all zones of the city, leading to the conclusion that the bearers had spread throughout the whole population. The cholera-bearing vibrio was not isolated in any of the other materials, and this leads one to believe that the preventive measures taken immediately were sufficient to avoid foodstuffs being contaminated.

Cholera↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Studies on the efficacy of cholera vaccination in a population sample of Bari].

To measure the efficacy of cholera vaccination during the epidemic of cholera occurred in August-September 1973 in Bari, agglutinating and vibriocidal antibody titers were determined in 151 subjects; of these, 65 were children between 6 months and 4 years of age and 86 adults past thirty years. Antibodies could be proved in 80% of the subjects, with relatively higher frequency in children (84,6%) than in adults (76,7%). No significant difference was seen against the serotypes Inaba and Ogawa. The vibriocidal antibody tests was uniformly more sensitive than the agglutination test. In 108 of these subjects (all of 65 children and 43 of the adults), it was possible to make the serological controls 3 and 6 months after vaccination. At 3 months, antibodies were determined in 50,7% of the children and in 44,2% of the adults; at 6 months, only 20% of the children and 18,6% of the adults showed agglutinating and vibriocidal antibodies. For the control, the research of V. cholerae-antibodies was maked also in sera of 300 healties subjects of all ages, by whom the bleedings were obtained prior to epidemic of cholera. Antibodies against the serotypes Inaba and Ogawa were determined in 23 subjects (7,6%); of these, 5 had vibriocidal titers of 1:2560-1:5120.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Typhoid fever and environmental contamination in Apulia Region, Italy].

The decrease of typhoid fever in Italy is described. In our country, the morbidity rate is now very close to 1/100,000, reached since the sixtie's in many european countries. It is highlighted the role of regions as Apulia and Campania which are contributing for more than 50% to the national morbidity. More specifically is analysed the endemic situation in the 12 AUSL of Apulia region allowing to evidentiate that the highest morbidity rates are found in the areas along the sea. Finally, based on the data collected from the investigations after the cholera outbreak in 1994, it is proved that the faecal contamination is responsible for the morbidity rate in Apulia 6.6/100,000 in 1999.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Biological war: historical and political aspects].

Starting from first documented episode of biological war, Crimea 14th century, we describe military researches on Biological and Toxin Weapons during first half of 20th century. Then we describe the subsequent researches in several Countries and the actual attempts in United Nations to revise the Convention on the Prohibition of Biological and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction.

Biological Warfare↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Use of anthrax as biological weapon].

We describe the epidemiology of anthrax and the several human disease aspect, by spores penetration through the skin or by inhalation or ingestion, and the action of exotoxin secreted by B. anthracis. We detail pulmonary anthrax that could derive from intentional release of endospore as biological weapon. Laboratory diagnosis of Cereus group with cultural, FDA and PCR methods are reported. Environment disinfection, vaccination, antibiotic prophylaxis, passive antibody administration and treatment of anthrax are reported.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Sarcoglycan and integrin localization in normal human skeletal muscle: a confocal laser scanning microscope study.

Many studies have been performed on the sarcoglycan sub-complex and a7B and b1D integrins, but their distribution and localization patterns along the non-junctional sarcolemma are still not clear. We have carried out an indirect immunofluorescence study on surgical biopsies of normal human skeletal muscle, performing double localization reactions with antibodies to sarcoglycans, integrins and sarcomeric actin. Our results indicate that the tested proteins colocalize with each other. In a few cases, a-sarcoglycan does not colocalize with the other sarcoglycans and integrins. We also demonstrated, by employing antibodies to all the tested proteins, that these proteins can be localized to regions of the sarcolemma corresponding either to the I-band or A-band. Our results seem to confirm the hypothesis of a correlation between the region of the sarcolemma occupied by costameric proteins and the metabolic type (fast or slow) of muscle fibers. On this basis, we suggest that slow fibers are characterized by localization of costameric proteins to I-bands, while fast fibers are characterized by localization of costameric proteins to A-bands. The results open a new line of research in understanding interactions between the components of the DGC and vinculin-talin-integrin complexes in the context of different fiber types. Moreover, the same results may be extended to skeletal muscle fibers affected by neuromuscular diseases to detect possible structural alterations.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Thermal water of Alì Terme, Italy].

In this paper the history of the thermal water of Alì Terme (Sicily-Italy) and their beneficial effects are reported. Chemical and bacteriological investigations have been conducted for assay of thermophiles sulphur bacteria. As regards the chemical characteristics, traditional investigations have been carried out together with determination of H2S.

Balneology↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Management of acute pancreatitis in emergency.

This review focuses on the medical and endoscopic approachs to patients with acute mild or severe pancreatitis. Acute pancreatitis is an acute inflammatory process of the pancreas whose the main determinant of the outcome is the extent of pancreatic necrosis. After the diagnosis, a severity assessment using scoring systems and early contrast enhanced Computed Tomography should be performed in all patients within 48 hours from the admission. All cases of severe acute pancreatitis should be managed initially in intensive care units with full systems support. Patients with gallstone pancreatitis should have definitive Endoscopic Retrograde Colangio-Pancreatography (ERCP) or surgical management of the gallstones.

Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Integrins, muscle agrin and sarcoglycans during muscular inactivity conditions: an immunohistochemical study.

Sarcoglycans are transmembrane proteins that seem to be functionally and pathologically as important as dystrophin. Sarcoglycans cluster together to form a complex, which is localized in the cell membrane of skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle. It has been proposed that the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex (DGC) links the actin cytoskeleton with the extracellular matrix and the proper maintenance of this connection is thought to be crucial to the mechanical stability of the sarcolemma. The integrins are a family of heterodimeric cell surface receptors which play a crucial role in cell adhesion including cell-matrix and intracellular interactions and therefore are involved in various biological phenomena, including cell migration, and differentiation tissue repair. Sarcoglycans and integrins play a mechanical and signaling role stabilizing the systems during cycles of contraction and relaxation. Several studies suggested the possibility that integrins might play a role in muscle agrin signalling. On these basis, we performed an immunohistochemical analyzing sarcoglycans, integrins and agrin, on human skeletal muscle affected by sensitive-motor polyneuropathy, in order to better define the correlation between these proteins and neurogenic atrophy due to peripheral neuropathy. Our results showed the existence of a cascade mechanism which provoke a loss of regulatory effects of muscle activity on costameres, due to loss of muscle and neural agrin. This cascade mechanism could determine a quantitative modification of transmembrane receptors and loss of alpha7B could be replaced and reinforced by enhanced expression of the alpha7A integrin to restore muscle fiber viability. Second, it is possible that the reduced cycles of contraction and relaxation of muscle fibers, during muscular atrophy, provoke a loss of mechanical stresses transmitted over cell surface receptors that physically couple the cytoskeleton to extracellular matrix. Consequently, these mechanical changes could determine modifications of chemical signals through variations of pathway structural integrins, and alpha7A could replace alpha7B.

Agrin↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Polycystic ovary syndrome: obesity, insulin resistance, hyperandrogenism.

The authors submitted 24 patients affected by polycystic ovary syndrome to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and determined glucose, insulin and C Peptide levels. Patients were divided in four groups according to the degree of obesity and androgenic blood levels. Eight non hirsute women with normal ovulatory function, matched for height and weight, served as controls. The authors pointed out that insulin levels were greater in the obese and hyperandrogenic PCO women than in only the obese PCO women or only the hyperandrogenic PCO women. Obese patients with PCO had higher insulin levels than obese control group. Patients with PCO nonobese and nonhyperandrogenic had higher insulin levels than nonobese control group. Insulin levels did not differ in obese PCO and hyperandrogenic PCO women. These findings suggest that at least a component of insulin resistance which is found in PCO women is independent from body weight.

Adolescent↗