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Biomedical subjects

G Savettieri

Publications and source records attributed to G Savettieri.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1981

The prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Sicily. I: Monreale city.

The prevalence of probable multiple sclerosis in Monreale city, close to the university city of Palermo, Sicily, is at least 43 per 100 000. If the possible multiple sclerosis patient is included, it is 47 per 100 000. This prevalence is not significantly different from that found in Enna city, 53 per 100 000. The prevalence in Sicily and, no doubt, in Italy has, in the past, been seriously underestimated. This confirms the need for thorough studies of small populations if many patients are not to be overlooked in a prevalence survey.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

The prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Sicily. II: Agrigento city.

The prevalence of probable multiple sclerosis in Agrigento city on the south-west coast of Sicily is at least 2 per 100 000. This is likely to be a considerable underestimate of the true prevalence because the study presented particular difficulties in that the city is far from the neurological centres of Palermo. Catania, and Messina. There is no neurological department at either the general or the psychiatric hospital in Agrigento and there was a low awareness of the disease among the doctors in the city. Most of the patients were diagnosed in other centres. Agrigento is a good example of the difficulties of studying multiple sclerosis in a rural city which has no special interest in neurological problems and is far from a neurological centre. Studies in such centres must be pursued with great enthusiasm and over a long period of time, and all available sources of information in the city, medical and lay, and in other cities, must be utilised if a high proportion of the patients is to be found.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Effects of denervation on the neuraminidase activity of slow and fast muscles of rabbits.

The presence in skeletal muscles of rabbits of neuraminidase activity on sialyl lactose was demonstrated. By comparing the specific activity of this enzyme in different control muscles, it was shown that it was 2.3 times higher in the slow than in the fast muscles. Seven days after denervation, we observed a significant increase of activity in fast muscle and a significant decrease of activity in slow muscle. These results, together with previous data, are in favour of the hypothesis that turnover of muscle glycoconjugates is under a type-specific neural control.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

[Foix-Chavany's syndrome: clinical and electrophysiological study of 1 atypical case (author's transl)].

An atypical case of "Foix-Chavany syndrome", is described. A definite diagnosis could be achieved through an electromyographic and reflessological investigation (jaw reflex, blink reflex, perioral reflex), when a poor clinical history was not helping towards a definite diagnostic conclusion. It is proposed that the diagnosis of "Foix-Chavany syndrome" should not be limited only to classical "facial diplegia of cortical origin" or to "facio-linguo-pharyngo-laryngo-masseter paralysis of cortico-subcortical origin". Considering the great clinical variability of a syndrome with a common anatomical substrate, it is proposed to use the eponym for all syndromes characterized by: 1) a motor deficit in the cephalic district with relative integrity of motor function of the limbs; 2) a dissociation between loss of voluntary motility and preservation of reflex and automatic motility.

Deglutition Disorders↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Synergistic effects of neurons and astrocytes on the differentiation of brain capillary endothelial cells in culture.

Brain capillary endothelial cells form a functional barrier between blood and brain, based on the existence of tight junctions that limit paracellular permeability. Occludin is one of the major transmembrane proteins of tight junctions and its peripheral localization gives indication of tight junction formation. We previously reported that RBE4.B cells (brain capillary endothelial cells), cultured on collagen IV, synthesize occludin and correctly localize it at the cell periphery only when cocultured with neurons. In the present study, we describe a three-cell type-culture system that allowed us to analyze the combined effects of neurons and astrocytes on differentiation of brain capillary endothelial cells in culture. In particular, we found that, in the presence of astrocytes, the neuron-induced synthesis and localization of occludin is precocious as compared to cells cocultured with neurons only.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prevalence of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy: a door-to-door survey in a Sicilian municipality.

INTRODUCTION: Because of the limited information on cervical spondylotic radiculopathy, we conducted a door-to-door two-phase survey in a Sicilian municipality. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We first screened for cervical spondylotic radiculopathy among the inhabitants of the municipality: (N = 7653, as of the prevalence day, November 1, 1987). Study neurologists then investigated those subjects suspected to have had a cervical spondylotic radiculopathy. Diagnoses were bases on specified criteria. RESULTS: We found 27 subjects affected by CSR (17 definite, 10 possible). Prevalence (cases per 1000 population) was 3.5 in the total population; it increased to a peak at age 50-59 years, and decreased thereafter. The age-specific prevalence was consistently higher in women. CONCLUSIONS: Comparison with other prevalence studies shows similar age-specific patterns, but different magnitudes, which may partly reflect methodologic differences across studies.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A case-control study on cigarette, alcohol, and coffee consumption preceding Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking, coffee consumption and Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS: We selected subjects affected by idiopathic PD, with a Mini-Mental State Examination of > or =24, and controls matched 1 to 1 with cases by age (+/- 2 years) and sex. Controls were randomly selected from the resident list of the same municipality of residence of the cases. We assessed cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking, and coffee consumption preceding the onset of PD or the corresponding time for controls using a structured questionnaire, which also evaluated the duration and dose of exposure. Using conditional logistic regression analysis, we calculated adjusted OR and 95% CI. RESULTS: We interviewed 150 PD patients and 150 matched controls. Cigarette smoking (ever vs. never smokers OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.41-1.05, p = 0.08) did not show a statistically significant association with PD. We observed an inverse association between alcohol drinking (ever vs. never OR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.39-0.97, p = 0.037) and coffee consumption (ever vs. never OR = 0.16, 95% CI 0.05-0.46, p = 0.0001) and PD. These associations remained significant after adjustment for other covariates: OR for ever vs. never alcohol consumption was 0.62 (95% CI = 0.43-0.89, p = 0.009) and that for coffee drinking 0.19 (95% CI = 0.07-0.52, p = 0.001). Heavy coffee consumption confirmed the inverse association between coffee and PD (more than 81 cup/year vs. none: OR = 0.20, 95% CI = 0.08-0.47, p < or = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with previous studies, our results suggest an inverse association between coffee drinking, alcohol consumption and PD. The multiple inverse association observed may indicate a complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ganglioside stimulation of neuronal maturation in vitro.

Neurons from fetal rat brain hemispheres cultured in synthetic medium were stimulated to aggregate into clusters and to send out neurites by the early addition of gangliosides. This stimulatory effect was limited at the beginning of the culture. In fact the ganglioside addition did not affect either the axonal sprouting or the survival time of the neurons.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Histopathogenetic aspects in a case of Fahr's disease (non arteriosclerotic calcinosis of the brain) (author's transl)].

The study of one case of non arteriosclerotic calcinosis of the brain (Fahr's Disease) gives an opportunity for a discussion on the main pathogenetic aspects of this syndrome. Some features of hypertrophy and hyperplasia of astrocytes contrast with the fair preservation of neurons. It is suggested that such condition should be considered as an "astroglial syndrome" in Seitelberg's terminology.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Description of a case of multiple sclerosis with psychotic disorders at the onset].

The authors report on the case of a woman, aged 29, who was suffering for 15 years from an unipolar manic psychosis and for 5 years from ataxia, speech troubles and urine incontinence. The diagnosis of MS was supported by the presence of a marked increase of liquoral IgG as well as Link's and Tourtelotte's index. CT scan, EEG and VEPs were normal. The relationships between the two clinical conditions are briefly discussed on the view of data of the literature.

Adult↗