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Biomedical subjects

G Scalia

Publications and source records attributed to G Scalia.

29 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Correlation between islet cell antibodies and anti-cytomegalovirus IgM and IgG antibodies in healthy first-degree relatives of type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients.

To investigate whether cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection may be related to islet cell antibodies (ICA) production and/or to insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) development, we have analyzed the prevalence of anti-CMV, IgM, and IgG antibodies and of ICA in 80 healthy siblings of IDDM patients (HSIDDP) and in 60 control subjects with negative familiar anamnesis of IDDM. HSIDDP and controls were also typed for HLA-A-B-C and DR antigens. IgM and IgG anti-CMV were detected by an ELISA method, whereas the ICA assay was performed by standard indirect immunofluorescence on 5-microns unfixed sections of human pancreas. HLA-A-B and C antigens were studied by standard microlymphocytotoxicity; DR antigens were also studied by a standard microlymphocytotoxicity on a B-enriched lymphocyte population. Our results indicate a significant association (P less than 0.0001) between high titers of anti-CMV IgG antibodies and ICA in HSDIDDP, whereas no correlation was found between the presence of any HLA-A-B-C and DR antigens and the prevalence of anti-CMV IgM and IgG antibodies and/or ICA. Thus, these data may support the hypothesis that a chronic CMV infection may be associated with ICA production whereas other factors seem to be needed for the complete development of type 1 diabetes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Detection of rubella virus antigen by one-step time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay and by enzyme immunoassay.

A one-step time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TR-FIA) and a conventional two-step enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for the detection of rubella virus antigen were developed. Two noncompetitive mouse monoclonal antibodies reactive with epitopes on the E1 polypeptide of rubella virus served as immunoreagents. One of the monoclones (7A6) was used for coating the solid phase, and the other (2C3) was labeled with either Europium chelate or with horseradish peroxidase. For TR-FIA, the specimen was incubated simultaneously with the label at 4 degrees C overnight. EIA required an overnight incubation with the specimen and after washing another 1 hr of incubation at 37 degrees C with the conjugate. The sensitivity of TR-FIA was 10 pg in an assay volume of 100 microliters, and the sensitivity of EIA was between 50 and 100 pg. Antigens could be detected by TR-FIA in supernatant of cultures of Vero cells 48 hr after inoculation with approximately 1 TCID50, while cytopathogenic effect (CPE) at that time was detected only in cultures inoculated with 10(5) TCID50 or more. Virus mixed with human amniotic fluid containing antirubella-specific IgG was detectable after an incubation at 37 degrees C for 5 days. The assays may find applications in prenatal diagnosis of intrauterine rubella infection, in early identification of viral antigens in cell culture and in monitoring production, concentration, and purification of rubella antigen for antibody assays.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1989

Steady-state pattern electroretinogram in insulin-dependent diabetics with no or minimal retinopathy.

Steady-state pattern electroretinogram (PERG) in response to sinusoidal gratings (1.7 c/deg spatial frequency; 9 x 9 deg field size) temporally modulated (sinusoidally) at 8 Hz were recorded in 40 insulin-dependent diabetics and 28 age-matched normal subjects. Visual acuity was greater than or equal to 20/20 in all 40 patients; 31 (62 eyes) showed no sign of retinopathy and nine (18 eyes) showed a few microaneurysms on fluorescein angiography. Insulin-dependent diabetics showed a significant reduction in the PERG mean amplitude as compared with age-matched control subjects (one-way analysis of variance: p less than 0.0001). Significant differences were observed between normals and diabetics without retinopathy (Scheffé test: p less than 0.0001), normals and diabetics with early retinopathy (Scheffé test: p less than 0.0001), no retinopathy and early retinopathy patients (Scheffé test: p less than 0.05). In diabetics without retinopathy multifactorial analysis of variance revealed a significant effect of age of onset of the disease (p less than 0.01) and an interaction effect between age of onset and duration (p less than 0.001) on PERG amplitude. These results suggest a possible use of the steady-state PERG to detect early macular dysfunction in insulin-dependent diabetics.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Coxsackie virus and urogenital pathology.

In 43 women (average age 49.6 years), and 70 men (average age 55.2 years) with pathology of the genito-urinary apparatus, seroantibodies to Coxsachie virus B were measured using the passive hemoagglutination method and the virus was isolated in the uterine. Viral isolation test was negative in all urine samples tested. Seropositivity for Coxsackie virus was reported in 26 women (60.46%) and in 51 men (72.85%). Positivity to B1 was 37.16% (42 cases), B2 in 38.05% (43 cases), and to B4 in 35.39% (40 cases). 17.69% (20 cases) of patients were seropositive to only one serotype, 17.69% (20 cases) to 5 serotypes, 14.15% (16 cases) to 3 serotypes, 9.73% (11 cases) to 2 serotypes, and 8.84% (10 cases) to 4 serotypes. B1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (25.97%; 20 cases) and B2, 3, 4, 5 (7.79%; 6 cases) were the most frequent associations. Seropositivity to Coxsackie virus was reported in 100% of patients (4 cases) with urethral caruncola, in 84.21% (16 cases out of 19) with cancer of the bladder, in 81.81% with cystitis (9 cases out of 11) and in 80% with prostatitis (8 out of 10 cases). In relation to sex, seropositivity was higher in males in cases of calculosis (75%; 9 cases out of 12 against 28.57%; 2 cases out of 7) and in cystitis (100%; 6 cases against 60%; 3 cases out of 5). Further studies are necessary to determine the clinical significance of serum Coxsackie virus antibodies in patients with urological pathology in the absence of urinary elimination of Coxsackie virus.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1989

Changes in spatial tuning of the pattern electroretinogram with age.

Experimental and clinical studies have demonstrated that the electroretinogram in response to periodical patterns alternating in contrast at constant mean luminance (pattern reversal ERG, P-ERG), is correlated with ganglion cell activity. Senile functional changes of these neurons might be therefore investigated by the P-ERG technique. Steady-state P-ERGs (8 Hz) in response to sinusoidal gratings of different spatial frequencies (0.6-6.8 c/d) were recorded in normal subjects ranging over 50 year age span. The P-ERG amplitude as a function of stimulus spatial frequency shows a maximum between 1.2-1.7 c/d and attenuation at higher and lower spatial frequencies (spatial tuning). The P-ERGs of the older subjects are reduced in amplitute, as compared to those of the younger ones, over the whole range of spatial frequency. This reduction is more marked at intermediate spatial frequencies resulting in a shallower tuning.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Macular electroretinogram as a function of age of subjects.

Macular and paramacular electroretinograms in response to two adjacent checks (6 deg/side), alternating at constant mean luminance, were recorded in 34 normal subjects ranging in age from 16 to 74 years. The macular electroretinogram declines progressively in amplitude with age (R = -0.42; P = 0.013). The amplitude ratio between macular and paramacular responses tends to be independent of age (R = -0.21; P = 0.22). Age-related changes in the macular electroretinogram shown in our study are consistent with previous anatomical and functional studies, which indicate a deterioration of photoreceptors beyond 20 years of age. These results suggest a possible use of this technique for future studies on macular degeneration.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

The pattern electroretinogram by skin electrodes: effect of spatial frequency and age.

Steady-state (8 Hz) pattern electroretinograms in response to sinusoidal gratings were recorded from 18 elder subjects (mean age 62.7 years) and 22 young subjects (mean age 27 years) by means of skin electrodes. All subjects were free from ocular pathology and their corrected visual acuity was 1.0 or better. In young subjects the second harmonic amplitude as a function of spatial frequency is spatially tuned, with a maximum at around 1.7 c/deg. The response of elder subjects is significantly (P less than 0.05) reduced over the whole range of spatial frequency as compared with that of younger ones. This decrease is more marked (P less than 0.01) at intermediate spatial frequencies, resulting in a shallower tuning. The response phase is not significantly different between young and elder subjects.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Some pharmacokinetic data on miocamycin. I: Serum, urinary and prostatic levels.

The pharmacokinetics of miocamycin were studied in ten healthy male volunteers after three different administrations: the first group received 600 mg in a single oral dose; the second received 1200 mg divided into two administrations of 600 mg, each one every 12 h; the third received 1200 mg in a single oral dose. Prostatic levels of miocamycin were recorded after the administration of 1200 mg, divided into two administrations of 600 mg every 12 h. The pharmacokinetic analysis was carried out by applying a single-compartment kinetic model with zero-order absorption. The apparent duration of absorption (T) was about 0.55 h for all subjects. The area under the curve was 7.5767 +/- 0.2511 mg/h/l in the first group; 6.7333 +/- 0.6058 mg/h/l in the second group; and 18.6825 +/- 15.1555 mg/h/l in the third. The prostatic levels were five times higher than those in the serum at the same time.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

The importance of gastric emptying in reflux esophagitis: an experimental research on pigs.

A study was conducted on pigs to evaluate the importance of gastric emptying rate in reflux esophagitis development. Gastric emptying was previously measured in 25 pigs. Then, the following operative procedures were carried out: Heller's cardiomyotomy, common bile duct ligature, cholecysto-gastric anastomosis, and extramucosal duodenal myotomy on 10 animals (group A); the same procedures except extramucosal duodenal myotomy on another 10 animals (group B); common bile duct ligature and cholecysto-gastric anastomosis on the last 5 animals (group C). Six months later, gastric emptying was measured again; whereas in group A a significant shortening of gastric emptying was found, the other 2 groups remained unchanged. Then, all the animals were sacrificed and the lower third of the esophagus was removed for histologic examination. In all the pigs undergoing cardiomyotomy (groups A and B) appearance of esophagitis was found. No signs of esophagitis were found in group C. The conclusions reached are cardiomyotomy is in all cases responsible for reflux esophagitis development; extramucosal duodenal myotomy is capable of shortening gastric emptying, but this does not affect reflux esophagitis development.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Simultaneously recorded macular and paramacular ERGs in diseases affecting the central retina.

Macular and paramacular ERGs in response to two alternating checks (6 deg/side) obtained from a standard TV stimulator were recorded in 34 normal subjects and in 54 patients affected by different macular diseases. Macular ERG amplitude and the amplitude ratio between macular and paramacular ERGs (M/P ratio) were measured. In normals, the intersubjects' variability of macular ERG was comparable to that reported using different stimulation/recording techniques. Macular ERG amplitude (but not the M/P ratio) was significantly affected by age. In patients, the mean amplitude of macular ERG and the mean M/P ratio were significantly lower than normal values. At least one of these two parameters was abnormal in 78.5% of eyes with maculopathy. Both macular ERG amplitude and M/P ratio were significantly correlated with visual acuity. The present results indicate that simultaneous macular and paramacular ERGs can be easily and reliably recorded in clinical routine to evaluate macular function. This technique appears to be particularly sensitive in hereditary macular diseases in which photoreceptors are primarily involved.

Adult↗