Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

G Russo

Publications and source records attributed to G Russo.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Molecular cloning and characterization of ZNF202: a new gene at 11q23.3 encoding testis-specific zinc finger proteins.

Two distinct regions of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in breast carcinomas were previously identified at chromosome 11q23. With the aim of identifying a tumor suppressor gene, we undertook the isolation and characterization of genes within LOH region 2, defined between loci D11S1345 and D11S1316, which spans an area of about 1 Mb. Here, we describe the cloning and characterization of a new gene, ZNF202. The gene, which spans a genomic area of approximately 10 kb, is almost exclusively expressed in testis as a 4-kb mRNA. The predicted amino acid sequence of the protein product revealed significant homologies with zinc finger proteins, indicating that the ANF202 protein may function as a transcription factor. The presence of multiple CK2 and PKC phosphorylation sites suggests that its activity may be regulated by phosphorylation. The gene is also expressed in breast carcinoma cell lines. However, mutation analysis of 39 breast cancer samples revealed no evidence of mutations, indicating that ZNF202 is unlikely to be involved in the pathogenesis of this neoplasm. Nevertheless, a role for ZNF202 in the tumorigenic process of other tissues cannot be excluded.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

ICAM 1 expression and fluid phase endocytosis of cultured brain microvascular endothelial cells following exposure to interferon beta-1a and TNFalpha.

We have studied the effect of interferon (IF) beta-1a on the basal and TNFalpha-induced intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM 1) expression and fluid phase endocytosis (FPE) of horseradish peroxidase in cultured rat brain microvascular endothelial cells. Neither basal ICAM 1 expression nor basal FPE were significantly affected by 24-72 h exposure to 1000 U/ml IFbeta-1a. ICAM 1 induction and FPE enhancement caused by 100 U/ml TNFalpha for 24 h was not influenced by simultaneous administration of 1000 U/ml IFbeta-1a. Treatment of cultures with IFbeta-1a for 48 h followed by 24-h coincubation with TNFalpha (100 U/ml) and IFbeta-1a (1000 U/ml) resulted in significant downregulation of TNFalpha-induced ICAM 1 expression and FPE. Downregulation of TNFalpha-induced ICAM 1 expression was not observed when combined treatment with TNFalpha (100 U/ml) and IFbeta-1a (1000 U/ml) for 24 h was followed by 48 h exposure to IFbeta-1a. We concluded that the blood-brain barrier endothelium may be a target of IFbeta-1a. Further, these in vitro findings may correlate with the results of recent clinical trials indicating that chronic treatment of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis with IFbeta-1a prevents both clinical exacerbations and the appearance on Magnetic Resonance Imaging of new lesions enhanced by gadolinium which is taken up by increased transendothelial fluid phase vesicular transport.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Localization of Ca-ATPase in frog crista ampullaris.

The distribution of Ca-ATPase in frog crista ampullaris was mapped ultracytochemically by using a one-step lead citrate reaction. Electron-dense precipitates, as an expression of Ca-ATPase activity, were observed on the surface of stereocilia and on the apical membrane surrounding the cuticular plate of hair cells. Sensory cells of the isthmus region showed more reactivity than those of the peripheral regions of the crista. No reaction products were detectable on the basolateral membranes and in cytoplasmatic organelles. Supporting cells of the crista showed a quite variable Ca-ATPase reaction on microvilli and on basolateral membranes. The presence of an evident reactivity on the stereocilia is consistent with the existence of an apical calcium microdomain involved in the mechano-transduction process and supports the current view that calcium ions enter the stereocilia during natural stimulation. On the other hand, the lack of an observable reactivity on the basolateral membrane of hair cells suggests that in semicircular canals other mechanisms of active transport of calcium ions across the plasma membrane, such as Na-Ca exchange, may be involved in homeostasis of the ion.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Deregulated expression of TCL1 causes T cell leukemia in mice.

The TCL1 oncogene on human chromosome 14q32.1 is involved in the development of T cell leukemia in humans. These leukemias are classified either as T prolymphocytic leukemias, which occur very late in life, or as T chronic lymphocytic leukemias, which often arise in patients with ataxia telangiectasia (AT) at a young age. The TCL1 oncogene is activated in these leukemias by juxtaposition to the alpha or beta locus of the T cell receptor, caused by chromosomal translocations t(14:14)(q11:q32), t(7:14)(q35:q32), or by inversions inv(14)(q11:q32). To show that transcriptional alteration of TCL1 is causally involved in the generation of T cell neoplasia we have generated transgenic mice that carry the TCL1 gene under the transcriptional control of the p56(lck) promoter element. The lck-TCL1 transgenic mice developed mature T cell leukemias after a long latency period. Younger mice presented preleukemic T cell expansions expressing TCL1, and leukemias developed only at an older age. The phenotype of the murine leukemias is CD4-CD8+, in contrast to human leukemias, which are predominantly CD4+CD8-. These studies demonstrate that transcriptional activation of the TCL1 protooncogene can cause malignant transformation of T lymphocytes, indicating the role of TCL1 in the initiation of malignant transformation in T prolymphocytic leukemias and T chronic lymphocytic leukemias.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Use of a microquantity enzyme immunoassay in a large-scale study of measles, mumps and rubella immunity in Italy.

The seroprevalence of antibodies to measles, mumps, and rubella viruses (MMR) was determined in 1498 subjects in Catania, Italy, ranging in age from 1 month to 25 years. The study population was divided into seven age groups and screened by enzyme immunoassay using microquantities (10 microl) of whole blood collected by fingerprick on filter paper discs. The results showed that seroconversion for measles (87.6%) and mumps (73.2%) occurred between 6 and 10 years of age. The seroprevalence of antibodies to rubella virus increased slowly through the age groups, reaching the highest rate (93.3%) between 16 and 20 years of age. Passively transmitted maternal antibodies to mumps and rubella were absent in babies between 5 and 8 months of age, and a few cases positive for measles antibodies were found among babies 6 and 7 months of age. The enzyme immunoassay was demonstrated to be suitable for low-cost large-scale screening for MMR immunity. The rate of vaccine failure was also evaluated and found to be 9.5% for the measles virus, 12.9% for the mumps virus and 0.0% for the rubella virus.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Ultrastructural localization of lectin binding sites in the developing brain microvasculature.

The temporo-spatial patterning of lectin-binding sites was examined by lectin histochemistry and quantitative methods in the microvasculature of the optic tectum of 9-, 14-, 20-day-old embryos and 30-day-old chickens. Horseradish peroxidase and colloidal-gold-labelled lectins were used for detection of beta-D-galactose (RCA-I, Ricinus communis agglutinin-I) and of N-acetylglucosamine and sialic residues (WGA, Wheat germ agglutinin) at light and electron microscopical levels. At the light microscopical level, RCA-I and WGA binding sites were detectable in the early embryonic capillaries in a diffuse staining pattern; in later embryonic stages and in adult animals, RCA-I labelling became located on the abluminal surface of the vessels, while WGA staining was detected on the luminal surface. Ultrastructurally, gold labelling for RCA-I was seen intracytoplasmically in endothelial cells in 9-day-old embryos. In 14-to 20-day-old embryos and in chickens, binding sites for RCA-I were detected in endothelial tight junctions and basement membranes. In contrast, labelling of the gold-coupled WGA lectin was distributed almost exclusively on the luminal endothelial surface already in early embryos. The results indicate that the endothelial cells of the optic tectum acquire functional polarity early in their development and that glycoconjugates containing beta-D-galactose residues are involved in the biochemical composition of the tight junctions and basement membrane, which are considered to be key structures in blood-brain barrier (BBB) differentiation.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 19F: synthesis of the repeating unit.

A new and more versatile synthesis of beta-D-ManpNAc-(1-->4)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->2)-alpha-L-Rhap, the trisaccharide repeating unit of the Streptococcus pneumoniae type 19F capsular polysaccharide, is described. The present approach allows a simple access to different fragments containing the trisaccharide and the conjugation of the product(s) to a protein through the selective manipulation of the anomeric position at the reducing end and of the HO-4 function at the nonreducing end. The synthetic scheme shows an efficient application of the sulfoxide method for the stereoselective and high yielding formation of the glycosidic linkages.

Bacterial Capsules↗
PubMed1998

Skin lesions in diabetes mellitus: prevalence and clinical correlations.

With the aim to assess the prevalence and the main clinical correlations of skin lesions in diabetes mellitus, 457 diabetic subjects consecutively attending an outpatient clinic underwent a dermatological examination. Neurovascular foot lesions were excluded. Thirty-five of 64 IDDM patients (54%) had skin alterations mainly consisting of vitiligo (9% of all patients), psoriasis (9%) and eczema (8%). The most frequent skin lesions observed in 240/393 NIDDM subjects (61%) were represented by infections (20% of all patients) and diabetic dermopathy (12.5%), while other lesions were not common. NIDDM patients with skin infections had a worse metabolic control, and those with diabetic dermopathy had a greater prevalence of neuropathy and large vessel disease than patients without skin lesions. These data show that the prevalence of skin diseases in a large, unselected diabetic population is higher than expected and indicate that, in most cases, a careful dermatological examination and a better metabolic control are needed in order to improve quality of life in these patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Antibiotic resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: an Italian survey.

In order to assess the current level of resistance to widely used antipseudomonal antibiotics in clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a national survey was undertaken. Fifteen hospitals throughout Italy participated in the study. The University of Catania tested the antibiotic susceptibility of 1005 consecutive clinically significant P. aeruginosa collected from March to June 1995. Lack of susceptibility, according to NCCLS breakpoints, was at the following rates: meropenem, 9.1%; imipenem, 19.3%; ceftazidime, 13.4%; carbenicillin, 27.3%; piperacillin, 12%; ticarcillin/clavulanic acid, 22.8%; amikacin, 10.6%; and ciprofloxacin, 31.9%. About half of the isolates (44.4%) were not susceptible to at least one of the antibiotics tested.

Amikacin↗
PubMed1998

Effects of hormone replacement therapy on glucose metabolism.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between hormone replacement therapy and glucose metabolism, and the possible role played by the administration route. DESIGN: Prospective randomized study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-four patients in either surgical or spontaneous menopause were randomly allocated into four groups: 15 patients in surgical menopause were treated with estrogens alone administered transdermically (17 beta-estradiol, 50 micrograms/day); 15 patients in surgical menopause were treated with oral conjugated equine estrogens (0.625 mg/day); 18 patients in spontaneous menopause were treated with transdermic estrogens plus oral progestagen (17 beta-estradiol 50 micrograms/day, acetate medroxyprogestogen 10 mg/day for 12 days per month); 16 patients in spontaneous menopause were treated with oral conjugated equine estrogens (0.625 mg/day) plus oral progestagen (10 mg/day for 12 days per month). Twenty patients not given any medication represented the control group. Before starting the trial and after six months of therapy, glucose and insulin levels before and after an oral glucose loading test were evaluated. Data analysis was performed by means of Student's "t"-test, ANOVA was used to compare mean levels between the groups. Significance was set at p < 0.005. RESULTS: Dosages made after 6 months of therapy showed comparable basal glucose levels in all the studied group, while basal insuline levels in patients taking estrogen alone were lower (76.88 +/- 23.66 vs 95.91 +/- 24.57 in group 1, 80 +/- 13.34 vs 96.91 +/- 18.97 in group 2) than pretreatment values. No significant difference in glucose levels was found after glucose load in the four groups. CONCLUSION. Women treated with estrogen alone have a tendency to a lower insulin response, which could indicate a greater insulin sensitivity. This effect seems to be more evident in transdermic administration than with oral administration. The addition of progestagen seems to wane the increase in insulin sensitivity induced by estrogens.

Administration, Cutaneous↗
PubMed1998

[Extrahospital cardiac arrest: the experience of Mestre Emergency Service].

BACKGROUND: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (AC) is one of the leading causes of death in industrialized countries. AC-related mortality can be reduced by rapid intervention. We report the experience of the emergency medical service (EMS) of Mestre on the management of out-of-hospital AC. METHODS: We analyzed 80 cases of out-of-hospital AC observed consecutively by the EMS of Mestre from February 1996 to September 1997: 72 cases (90.0%) involved cardiac etiology and 8 (10.0%) non-cardiac etiology. The 72 cases involving cardiac etiology were divided in three groups: group A) 12 unwitnessed ACs (16.7%); group B) 12 ACs witnessed by EMS personnel (16.7%); group C) 48 bystander-witnessed ACs (66.6%). RESULTS: In group A, in which 4/12 patients (33.3%) presented ventricular fibrillation (FV) or pulseless ventricular tachycardia (TV) as initial rhythm, return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) was obtained in one patient with FV and in one patient with asystole. In group B, 7/12 patients (58.3%) presented FV or TV as initial rhythm; in this subgroup, ROSC was obtained in 71.4% of cases (4 cases with FV and one case with TV) and discharge in 42.9%, while in the subgroup with other rhythms the rate of ROSC was 40.0% (two patients with pulseless electrical activity later died). In group C, 35/48 patients (72.9%) presented VF or TV as initial rhythm; in this subgroup, ROSC was achieved in 42.9% of cases (13 cases with FV and 2 cases with TV) and discharge in 14.3%, while in the subgroup of bystander-witnessed AC with other rhythms the rate of ROSC was extremely low (7.7%) (one patient with asystole later discharged). In group C, bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was performed in 20/48 patients (40.1%). In these patients, FV or TV were more frequently recorded as initial rhythm (80.0 vs 67.9%; p < 0.05). In patients without bystander CPR, the interval between the time of collapse and the time of the first defibrillation was shorter in the patients who were admitted than in patients who died (6.0 +/- 1.4 vs 10.9 +/- 4.4 min; p < 0.05). Considering all patients with FV or TV as initial rhythm and the interval between the collapse and the first defibrillation exactly recorded, the percentage of ROSC decreased when the interval between the collapse and the first defibrillation increased. CONCLUSIONS: Our data confirm that early defibrillation is the key factor in the prognosis of out-of-hospital AC. The data suggest that the immediate delivery of bystander CPR could extend the interval in which defibrillation is effective.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

[Dissolution of acute stent thrombosis by abciximab bolus].

Abciximab, REOPRO, a potent inhibitor of platelet aggregation via glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibition, has shown to be effective in the prevention of short and long-term complications of percutaneous coronary interventions. Very few reports on the role of this drug in the setting of acute stent thrombosis have been published. We report 1 case of the effectiveness of REOPRO in the complete lysis of stent thrombus with reperfusion of the coronary vessel and its collaterals. This case suggests an important role of platelets in the setting of acute stent thrombosis and a thrombolytic effect of REOPRO.

Abciximab↗
PubMed1998

[Safety, feasibility and efficacy of a new single-wire stent in the treatment of complex coronary lesions: the angiostent].

The angiostent is a single wire, flexible, highly radiopaque, balloon expandable stent. To evaluate the feasibility and safety of the deployment of this new stent, we report the clinical and procedural results of 70 procedures performed in 51 native coronary arteries of 48 patients, with objective evidence of ischemia. The target lesion was located in the left anterior descending artery in 18 (36%) cases, in the circumflex artery in 16 (31%) cases and in the right coronary artery in 17 (33%) cases. Mean reference vessel diameter was 3.2 +/- 0.4 mm and the minimal luminal diameter was 0.4 +/- 0.3 mm, with a mean diameter stenosis of 86 +/- 10%. Type B2 and C lesions were encountered in 56% of the cases. More than one angiostent was implanted in 14 vessels and multiple stenting was accomplished with the use of different stents in 8 coronary arteries. No major complications were reported. The post-procedural minimal luminal diameter was 3.2 +/- 0.4 mm with a mean diameter stenosis of 1.4 +/- 3.7%. In 25 cases (49%) major side branches raised from the stented segment and in all but one remained patent. In conclusion, the implantation of the angiostent is safe, feasible and effective, as it can be easily deployed at the lesion site, used for the treatment of complex lesions and preserves the patency of jailed side-branches.

Anticoagulants↗
PubMed1998

Time length of negativization of hCG serum values after either surgical or medical treatment of ectopic pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the time length until the human chorionic gonadotropin titer became negative after medical or surgical treatment of ectopic pregnancy. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Prospective, randomized study. PARTECIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS: We compared time to resolution in 30 cases of tubal pregnancies successfully treated, 15 underwent laparoscopic linear salpingostomy (group 1) and 15 medical treatment with single-ose methotrexate (group 2). The patients of both groups had no meaningful differences of age, gestational age and human chorionic gonadotropin mean values. MEASURES: During the follow-up human chorionic gonadotropin serum values were obtained every two days until the titer was negative. RESULTS: The time to resolution was 33.6 +/- 6.6 days in group 1, 31.5 +/- 7.8 in group 2 with no statistically meaningful differences. CONCLUSION: The data, comparable with results obtained by laparoscopic treatment, suggest that human chorionic gonadotropin value becomes negative independently of type of treatment and residual trophoblast.

Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal↗
PubMed1998

[Endothelin-1 variation in the coronary circulation during angioplasty with a stent implant].

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is an endothelium-derived mediator with vasoconstrictive and mitogenic activity which stimulates vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. The aim of this study was to evaluate ET-1 production during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and elective stent implantation. We hypothesized that the additional vessel wall trauma induced by stent deployment might be associated with a greater production of ET-1. To this end, ET-1 levels were measured in 18 patients undergoing PTCA and stenting (12 with left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis and 6 with circumflex artery lesion). The sampling sites were the coronary ostium and coronary sinus in basal conditions (before the procedure), during first balloon inflation, and 5, 20, 60 min after the end of first balloon inflation. At baseline, ET-1 levels were higher in the coronary sinus than in coronary ostium (1.58 +/- 0.22 vs 1.29 +/- 0.20 pg/ml, p < 0.001). During first balloon inflation, ET-1 coronary sinus levels significantly diminished with respect to the basal levels (1.08 +/- 0.32 vs 1.58 +/- 0.22 pg/ml, p < 0.001). Further significant variations of ET-1 levels were not detected neither following the first balloon inflation nor after stent deployment. In conclusion, the culprit lesion seems to produce most of ET-1 circulating in the coronary tree. This is demonstrated by higher ET-1 levels in the coronary sinus compared to coronary ostium at baseline, and even more by the significant ET-1 reduction in the coronary sinus during first balloon inflation. Despite our expectations, we did not detect any significant ET-1 increase during stent deployment.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

TCL1 is overexpressed in patients affected by adult T-cell leukemias.

Among mature postthymic T-cell leukemias, adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) has characteristic clinicopathological entities. The association with the human T-cell leukemia/lymphotropic virus type I is one of the distinctive etiopathogenetic features of this disease. However, unlike other acute transforming retroviruses, the human T-cell leukemia/lymphotropic virus type I lacks an oncogene within its genome. Other human postthymic leukemias, such as T-prolymphocytic leukemias, involve mostly the CD4 cellular subset and share many similarities to ATLs (aggressive course, cutaneous involvement, CD4+, CD29+, CD45RA- phenotype, and alpha-naphthyl-acetate esterase positivity). A chromosomal rearrangement at 14q32.1, involved in translocations or inversions with either the alpha/delta locus [t(14;14)(q11;q32.1), inv14(q11;q32.1)], or the beta-chain locus of the T-cell receptor [t(7;14)(q35;q32.1)] is found. These rearrangements disregulate a gene, TCL1, located at the 14q32.1 region, that we show is physiologically expressed in CD4/CD8 double-negative thymocyte cells, but not in more differentiated CD4+ and CD8+ subpopulations. Here, using molecular and immunocytochemical analysis, we report that TCL1 is also overexpressed in 10 of 10 ATL specimens, indicating that this gene may play an important role in the pathogenesis of this disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

The murine Tcl1 oncogene: embryonic and lymphoid cell expression.

In human leukemias and lymphomas nonrandom chromosomal rearrangements cause changes in cell growth and/or survival in such a way as to promote malignancy. The detailed study of the biochemical and genetic pathways altered in human cancer requires the identification or development of models to allow the study and manipulation of cancer gene function. Recently, the breakpoint gene TCL1, involved in chromosome translocations observed mostly in mature T-cell proliferations and chronic lymphocytic leukemias (CLL), was isolated and characterized, and showed to be part of a new gene family of proteins involved in these tumors. The murine Tcl1 gene, is similar in sequence to the murine and human MTCP1 gene also involved in T cell leukemias. The murine Tcl1 gene was shown to reside on mouse chromosome 12 in a region syntenic to human chromosome 14. Furthermore, we show that the murine Tcl1 gene is expressed early in mouse embryonic development and demonstrates expression in fetal hematopoietic organs as well as in immature T and B cells. Characterization of the murine Tcl1 gene will help in developing a mouse model of CLL and would provide the best opportunity to study and decipher the role of TCL1 in malignant transformation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗