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Biomedical subjects

J Romano

Publications and source records attributed to J Romano.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Quantitative assessment of ATPase-positive epidermal dendritic (Langerhans) cells in piglets and adult swine.

To assess the distribution pattern of Langerhans cells (LC) in normal porcine skin, epidermal sheets from six anatomical sites from three age-matched groups of male and female pigs were stained for ATPase activity. This histoenzymological technique is considered specific for Langerhans cells in normal epidermis. No statistically significant differences were observed between mean Langerhans cell density per mm2 of epidermis from male and female pigs, nor between different anatomical sites in the same age group. Statistically significant differences (P less than 0.0005) were observed when comparing group A one- to two-week-old piglets (463 to 518 LC mm-2) with group B six month olds (641 to 804 LC mm-2) and group C two years and over sows (741 to 830 LC mm-2). Morphological variations in the skin of young piglets, much thinner and with rudimentary or no epidermal rete pegs, could account for this significant variation.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1992

Delineation of immunoreactive, conserved regions in the external glycoprotein of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

Immunization of mice and rats with purified external glycoprotein gp120 from two divergent human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) isolates resulted in the development of seven hybridomas secreting monoclonal antibodies able to recognize regions of gp120 which are common among divergent strains of HIV-1. These monoclonal antibodies cross-reacted with env glycoproteins from one African (Rutz), one Haitian (RF), and three North American viral isolates, namely IIIB, MN, and 451 by either immunoblot or radioimmunoprecipitation assays. All recognized denatured gp120 in immunoblots with the exception of one which required a conformationally intact glycoprotein for reactivity. The gp120 epitopes identified by these antibodies were mapped by screening of an env gene library in the lambda gt11 expression system. Three out of four epitopes were found to reside in the amino-terminal half of gp120 (Cys9 to Cys35, Thr44 to Glu72 and Val108 to Met130), the other was located in the middle region (Thr221 to Ser255). By virtue of their extent of cross-reactivity these reagents might provide a unique resource for the detection of new viral isolates related to HIV-1.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Tire explosion injuries to the upper extremity.

Several articles have been published that bring attention to the destructive potential of tire explosions. Although the severity of tire explosion injuries to the head and neck region is well established, only one previous article has reported injuries to the upper extremity. Fourteen patients with upper extremity tire explosion injuries have been treated by us from 1980 to 1988. Each injury was caused by single-piece wheel assemblies, as opposed to multipiece wheel assemblies, which have traditionally been associated with the injury. Three representative patient reports are discussed. Prevention of this injury can be achieved by increased public awareness, formal industrial safety training, tire servicing with dedicated equipment including restraining devices or barriers, complete evaluation of wheel/tire serviceability before tire mounting, separation of servicing of single and multipiece wheels, and complete tire deflation before servicing.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed1992

Localization of serotonin, cholecystokinin and somatostatin immunoreactivity in the lower respiratory tract of embryonic, foetal and postnatal sheep.

The lower respiratory tract of the sheep was studied by light-microscopical immunocytochemistry for serotonin, cholecystokinin, somatostatin, bombesin and calcitonin during different periods of lung development; embryonic, foetal and postnatal. At embryonic period only intraepithelial serotonin-containing cells as solitary neuroendocrine cells (NEC) and neuroepithelial bodies (NEB) were found. At foetal stages, immunoreactive cells to serotonin, cholecystokinin and somatostatin were observed in airway epithelium, as solitary NEC and NEBs, and in autonomic intrapulmonary ganglia as single or clusters of small intensely-fluorescent (SIF) cells. In postnatal sheep, serotonin- and cholecystokinin-containing cells were found within airway mucosa as solitary NECs and NEBs. No immunoreactive cells were observed with antiserum to bombesin and calcitonin. Quantitative studies showed that serotonin was the predominant substance, and that solitary neuroendocrine cells were more numerous in distal conducting airways and at foetal stages.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

p53 mutations in Raji cells: characterization and localization relative to other Burkitt's lymphomas.

The nuclear phosphoprotein p53 is an important regulator of cell proliferation in normal cells. Interestingly, the gene encoding p53 has usually undergone mutations in a wide range of tumor types. Recent studies of the p53 gene in Burkitt's lymphomas have demonstrated that mutations are extremely common, and in fact it is rare that both alleles of the p53 gene in these tumors are not inactivated by mutation or deletion. We present here genetic data regarding the status of the p53 gene in the Burkitt lymphoma cell line, Raji. As is typical for this type of tumor, both alleles have undergone point mutations. Further, statistical analysis of available data from a large number of Burkitt's lymphomas indicates an apparent tumor-specific distribution of p53 mutations. The possibility that specific mutations of the p53 gene may be important for different tumor types is discussed.

Alleles↗
PubMed1991

Identification of a zinc finger protein that inhibits IL-2 gene expression.

Transient activation of the interleukin-2 (IL-2) gene after antigen recognition by T lymphocytes is crucial for subsequent T cell proliferation and differentiation. Several IL-2 gene regulatory elements and binding factors necessary for activation of the IL-2 gene have been defined. However, little is known about negative regulation of IL-2 expression, which is likely to be important in the rapid shut-off of IL-2 transcription. A nucleotide sequence element (NRE-A) that negatively regulates IL-2 expression has been identified within the IL-2 gene. T cell nuclear extracts contained an NRE-A binding activity. A complementary DNA was isolated that encodes a zinc finger-containing protein that suppressed IL-2 gene expression. The observation of negative regulation of the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene enhancer by an element similar to NRE-A suggests that related proteins may regulate multiple immune response genes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Serotonin immunoreactivity in the autonomic intrapulmonary ganglia of the fetal sheep.

Using light microscopic immunohistochemistry, serotonin immunoreactivity was found in paraganglionic cells within pulmonary autonomic ganglia of fetal sheep at pseudoglandular and canalicular stages of lung development. Serotonin immunoreactive cells appeared individually or in clusters, and were occasionally seen around or in close contact with blood vessels.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Solitary neuroendocrine cells and neuroepithelial bodies in the lower airways of embryonic, fetal, and postnatal sheep.

The sheep pulmonary intraepithelial APUD system was studied by histochemical, immunocytochemical, and electron microscopy techniques during different periods of lung development: embryonic, fetal (pseudoglandular, canalicular, and alveolar), and postnatal. The cells of the ovine pulmonary intraepithelial APUD system were found randomly distributed throughout the conducting and respiratory or undifferentiated airways. They appeared as isolated cells (solitary neuroendocrine cells) or in groups (neuroepithelial bodies). These cells were argyrophilic and immunoreactive for neuron-specific enolase but were not argentaffin. Ultrastructurally they were characterized by a basal position in the respiratory epithelium and by the presence of neurosecretory granules (dense-core vesicles) ranging between 65 and 230 nm of diametre. Quantitative studies showed that single neuroendocrine cells were more numerous in distal conducting airways and at fetal stages. The earliest identifiable argyrophilic and NSE-immunoreactive neuroendocrine cells in sheep airways appeared at gestational week 5, close to the term of the embryonic period.

APUD Cells↗
PubMed1991

Glomerular lesions in Aleutian disease of mink (Mustela vison): a morphological and differential morphometrical study.

A morphological and morphometrical study has been carried out on glomerular lesions in mink with spontaneous Aleutian disease, using the WHO classification for Systemic Lupus Erytematous Nefritis. 154 renal samples from sick animals and 10 samples from uninfected mink were processed by routine histopathological techniques and metacrylate inclusions. The samples were studied quantitatively with an automatic image analyzer. 5 forms of glomerulonephritis (GN) were identified: mesangial glomerulonephritis (n = 13), focal and segmental GN (n = 10), diffuse GN (n = 99), membranous GN (n = 12) and advanced sclerosing GN (n = 10) and were associated with the degree of interstitial plasmocytosis. Glomerule morphometry was shown to be an excellent method for identifying the type of lesion, while it quantified the participation of various glomerular elements in the lesion.

Aleutian Mink Disease↗
PubMed1991

Ultrastructural identification of Langerhans cells in normal swine epidermis.

Langerhans cells of the epidermis of 6-month-old white crossbred farm pigs were identified by electron microscopy. Ultrastructurally they were similar to those described in other mammals. They were present in basal and suprabasal layers and were characterised by a lobulated nucleus and an electrolucent cytoplasm with occasional dendritic processes, and the absence of tonofilaments and specialised unions with surrounding keratinocytes. They were specifically identified by the presence of characteristic rod or racquet-shaped intracytoplasmic granules. Intraepidermal clear cells without specific granules were present, although no melanocytes were observed. This is the first report of the presence of Birbeck granules in porcine Langerhans cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Chronic pain in primary care. Identification and management of psychosocial factors.

Chronic pain is a problem of great public health importance that is frequently seen in the primary care setting. Pain chronicity shows a strong association with psychosocial factors. Assessment of these factors should be composed of two parts: (1) psychological factors and (2) psychiatric illness. Psychological factors include all those pain-associated alterations in the patient's environment that reinforce illness behavior. Psychiatric illness includes those syndromes that retard recovery from illness or injury, such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and dementia. Psychiatric and psychological interventions can be successfully introduced in the context of a comprehensive rehabilitation effort. Usually these interventions can be accomplished by the family physician in concert with a consultant psychiatrist or psychologist. In severely disabled or resistant patients, referral to a multidisciplinary pain clinic will be necessary.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1979

Evaluation of a 5% guanethidine and 0.5% adrenaline mixture (Ganda 5.05) and of a 3% guanethidine and 0.5% adrenaline mixture (Ganda 3.05) in the treatment of open-angle glaucoma.

A trial of a mixture of guanethidine 5% and adrenaline 0.5% (Ganda 5.05) and of guanethidine 3% and adrenaline 0.5% (Ganda 3.05) was conducted on 90 eyes in 53 patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. The cases fell into 5 groups: untreated cases, cases on pilocarpine 1%, on pilocarpine 2%, on pilocarpine 2 to 4% and adrenaline 1%, and on separate guanethidine 5% and adrenaline 1%. Baseline pressures and average pressures on the previous treatment were established. Substitution with Ganda 3.05 or 5.05 was started, and the patients attended 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months from the start of the trial. Applanation tonometry was carried out at the same time of day. The pupil was measured, ptosis and superficial punctate corneal staining were looked for and evaluated, and the patients were questioned for symptoms of side effects and acceptability. All the eyes that had previously been treated with pilocarpine 1% or 2% presented significantly lower intraocular pressures on Ganda 3.05. The patients on pilocarpine 4% and adrenaline 1% also had lower intraocular pressures on Ganda 5.05, but the significance was less, and the patients on separate guanethidine and adrenaline had a small but not statistically significant drop in pressure. Ptosis and discomfort were evaluated on a subjective scale. Patient acceptability was good. The trial was interrupted in 5 cases for various reasons. Tachyphylaxis and tolerance to the mixtures were not observed in this series.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗
PubMed1979

Pyoderma gangrenosum and myeloproliferative disorders. Report of a case and review of the literature.

The exact mechanism involved in the pathogenesis of pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) still remains unclear, yet there is an increasing number of reports associating PG with immunologic abnormalities. A correlation between PG and myeloproliferative disorders has also been described. We describe a patient with chronic myelocytic leukemia in whom PG developed during the course of illness. We present an immunologic analysis of this case, speculation on the pathogenesis of PG, and a review of the literature. We report the futility of current therapeutic modalities in the treatment of PG.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Parent assessment in research on the vulnerability of children and families to mental disorder.

The research methodology for a current study of the assessment of family factors as they relate to the development of psychopathology in high-risk children is described. Factor analysis of preliminary data from 83 families led to the construction of 6 rating scales on the emotional health of the patient, spouse, and child; the family; and the marriage; these should prove valuable in predicting the outcome of the index child and his family.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Idiopathic bone cavities.

Nine cases of idiopathic bone cavities, also described as traumatic bone cysts, were discovered within a 15-month period. These lesions are obviously more prevalent than indicated by a perusal of the literature.

Adolescent↗