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Biomedical subjects

L Conti

Publications and source records attributed to L Conti.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

A dermatoglyphic study of a group of Sicilian children with fragile-X syndrome.

In a dermatoglyphic study of 14 fra(X) boys (compared with a control group of 191 normal schoolboys), we observed the following statistically significant (p less than 0.01) differences: 1) lower frequency of ulnar loops on the fingertips, particularly on the 2nd and 3rd fingers, with a corresponding increase of whorls; 2) transverse course of main line A; 3) increased frequency of abnormal palmar creases. The log score index of Simpson et al [1984] identified 71.4% of our patients and that of Rodewald et al [1986] 64.2%. The different values of these indexes can probably be attributed to ethnic differences. We think that by combining the results of dermatoglyphic analysis from several centers a more discriminatory log score index can be obtained.

Child↗
PubMedDate not supplied

STAT signalling in the mature and aging brain.

Activation of the Janus kinases (JAK) and signal transducers and activator of transcription (STAT) proteins in response to specific cytokines and growth factors has been investigated primarily in cells of non-neuronal origin. More recently, the JAKs and the STATs have also been found to be active in the developing and mature brain, providing evidence for important roles played by these molecules in the control of neuronal proliferation, survival and differentiation. Nothing, however, is known about their occurrence and role(s) in the aged brain. We, therefore, investigated the presence of Stat3 and Stat1 in aged-rat brain, and have found that the Stat3 protein was markedly down regulated with respect to adult tissue, while Stat1 remained invariant. We also investigated the potential role of some growth factors in the activation of the JAK/STAT in mature neurons, exposing primary neuronal cells to ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF). Besides CNTF, which is known to recruit Stat3, we found that Stat3 was also tyrosine phosphorylated by bFGF. These data are indicative of an important role of Stat3 and Stat1 in regulating the physiological status of mature neurons.

Aging↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Study of cell kinetics in the normal colorectal mucosa of subjects at risk of developing colorectal carcinoma.

This report examines the 3H-thymidine-labeling index (LI), the flow cytometric S-phase cell fraction, and DNA ploidy in the normal colorectal mucosa of three groups of subjects: normal subjects (group A), patients with adenomas (group B) and patients with cancer (group C). The total LI and the LI for crypt compartment were investigated. The former LI was similar in the three groups while that for crypt compartment was significantly higher in the patients with adenomas (compartment 3), and in those with cancer (compartments 3 and 4). All of the mucosas were diploid and no significant relationship was found between the LI and the flow cytometric S-phase values, considered for each group. These data suggest that an upwards expansion of the proliferative compartment seems to be an indicator of cancer risk. In contrast, the variations of the ploidy and S-phase fraction do not appear to be important risk factors in the three groups of subjects studied.

Adenoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Predictive value of cell kinetics in endometrial adenocarcinoma.

Flow cytometric DNA content and proliferative kinetic markers, S-phase fraction (SPF) and thymidine labeling index (TLI), were evaluated in 68 patients with endometrial carcinoma. A high rate of aneuploid tumors was detected (48.4%); median values of SPF and TLI were 6.4 and 6.2, respectively. No significant relationship emerged between ploidy status and proliferative markers in respect to clinical and pathological variables. Aneuploid tumors had a higher recurrence rate than diploid tumors (21.8% vs 9.6%), but the difference was not statistically significant. According to the median value of both kinetic markers, the study population was divided into low and high-risk, where DFS was 100% and 71.4%, respectively (p = 0.05). Furthermore, high-TLI tumors (> 6.2) had a significantly worse DFS (75.4%) than low-TLI (100%) only among patients assigned to Stage I of the disease, regardless of other pathological variables. At multivariate analysis myometrial invasion resulted as an independent and significant factor. Flow cytometric ploidy analysis was useless as a predictive biological parameter and did not add any further prognostic information to the pathologic variables. SPF and TLI values could indicate a subset of women with unexpected poor outcome in a group of patients generally considered at low-risk, i.e. Stage I. If further investigation confirms these data, it could prove useful for therapeutic planning in endometrial cancer patients. At the present time, pathological and clinical factors are still the most reliable predictive parameters.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The effect of humoral immunity against adducted benzo[a]pyrene on DNA damage elicited by acute carcinogen exposure in Swiss mice.

Immunoglobulins G (lgG) specific for benzo[a]pyrene-DNA adducts were elicited in Swiss mice by repeated subcutaneous injections of a high molecular weight benzo[a]pyrene-DNA conjugate-adjuvant mix. The immunization procedure resulted in the production of specific antibodies against adducted benzo[a]pyrene B[a]P in all treated animals. One week after completion of the immunization procedure, groups of ten immunized and ten non immunized female mice were treated by single intraperitoneal injection with two different doses of B[a]P. The mice were sacrificed 48 hours after treatment, and both liver and bone marrow cells were isolated for subsequent determinations of DNA binding and micronucleus induction, respectively. Covalent benzo[a]pyrene adducts in liver DNA were detected by competitive ELISA and the incidence of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes was evaluated by scoring one thousand cells per animal. The determination of DNA adducts in liver revealed significantly (p < 0.05) lower levels of B[a]P adducts in immunized mice compared to non-immunized animals at both doses, whereas no significant difference was observed between controls. Administration of benzo[a]pyrene produced moderate, dose-related increases in the incidence of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes in all treated groups, with no significant difference between immunized and non-immunized mice. The decrease of covalent DNA adducts in the liver of immunized mice suggests that the specific humoral immunity elicited by repeated carcinogen exposure may act as a relevant modulating factor in chemical carcinogenesis.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Specificity of antinuclear and antiphospholipid antibodies in sera of patients with autoimmune lymphoproliferative disease (ALD).

OBJECTIVE: A human lymphoproliferative syndrome characterized by a defect of the Fas-mediated apoptosis pathway in the absence of a fas gene mutation (Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Disease) has recently been described and characterized by autoimmune phenomena. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of antinuclear and antiphospholipid antibodies and to define their specificity in 5 pediatric patients with this syndrome. METHODS: Antinuclear antibodies were investigated by Western Blot and IIF performed under standard as well as apoptotic conditions. The fine specificity of antiphospholipid antibodies was dissected by an ELISA for anti-beta 2-glycoprotein I, anti-prothrombin, anti-annexin V and anti-protein S antibodies, and by immunostaining on thin layer chromatography plates for antiphospholipid molecule antibodies. RESULTS: This study showed that the autoantibodies found in these patients targeted a broad spectrum of nuclear antigens which undergo redistribution from the nucleus to the cytoplasm and plasma membrane during the course of the apoptotic process. This reactivity does not comprise known specificities such as anti-extractable nuclear antigens or anti-dsDNA. Antiphospholipid antibodies were also found in these sera. A further characterization of the antiphospholipid antibodies showed the presence of a heterogeneous response with antibodies directed to negatively-charged phospholipids and antibodies targeting coagulation-related proteins (beta 2-GPI, prothrombin, annexin V) which are considered relevant antigens in the antiphospholipid syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that lack of tolerance due to a defect of Fas-mediated apoptosis allows the survival of B and T clones involved in the antinuclear and antiphospholipid immune responses.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Genotoxic and ecotoxic effects of urban waste water disinfected with sodium hypochlorite or peracetic acid].

Genotoxic and ecotoxicologic effects of urban wastewater disinfected with sodium hypochlorite or peracetic acid were analyzed. The formation of genotoxic species was studied by determining clastogenic and mutagenic activity of aqueous samples and their extracts with in vivo and in vitro tests, respectively. In particular, we have applied citogenetic tests to Allium cepa roots and Tradescantia inflorescence (Allium cepa test and Tradescantia/micronuclei test) and reversion test to Salmonella typhimurium according to the microsuspension procedure (Kado test). The latter is the method of choice for the analysis of complex matrices due to its high sensitivity and specificity. The mutagenic activity of disinfected effluents was similar to the corresponding untreated wastewater both sampled in four different periods. Therefore, the disinfection process did not seem to contribute to aquatic mutagenicity in the examined range of biocide concentration. The potential toxicity of disinfected wastewater for aquatic organisms was evaluated using Daphnia magna. The acute toxicity of peracetic acid in sewage was 0.4 mg/L (24 h E(L)C50). By comparing this value with peracetic acid concentrations detected in effluents from a pilot plant it is expected that treated wastewater would show acute toxic effects on aquatic organisms. Dissociation compounds (hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid) and possible by-products of peracetic acid did not seem to contribute significantly to the toxicity of sewage treated with peracetic acid.

Acetic Acid↗
PubMedDate not supplied

MTHFR C677T mutation, factor II G20210A mutation and factor V Leiden as risks factor for youth retinal vein occlusion.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T mutation, factor II G20210A mutation and factor V Leiden are risk factors for retinal vein occlusion (RVO) in patients under fifty years of age. METHODS: Comparison of 29 patients, under 50 years old of age, as affected RVO and 62 age matched normal controls. Plasma MTHFR C677T genotype, Factor II G20210A genotype, Factor V Leiden genotype, S protein level, C protein level, APCR presence (Actived Protein C Resistance), homocysteine level and Beta-thromboglobulin level were determined. RESULTS: Seventeen RVO patients and twenty-one controls were heterozygous for the MTHFR C677T mutation. Three RVO patients and twenty-three controls were homozygous for the MTHFR C677T mutation. Three RVO patients and two controls were heterozygous for the factor II G20210A mutation. One control was heterozygous for the factor V Leiden. CONCLUSIONS: This study fails to demonstrate that these mutations are risk factors for RVO in patients under fifty years of age.

Activated Protein C Resistance↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Solitary plasmacytoma of the chest wall. A case report.

Solitary plasmacytic lymphomas are rarely described in the lung. Generally, localized neoplasms develop into mediastinal or pulmonary lymphnodes and are hard to differentiate from other lung neoplasms. An involvement of the chest wall in multiple myeloma is not rare, and is generally associated with other skeletal localizations. A secreting solitary plasmacytoma of the ribs is rather uncommon: a personal review of the literature has showed, in the last ten years, only two cases of these tumors, secreting IgG lambda light chains. In this study we report a case of solitary plasmacytoma of the chest wall, associated with an IgG kappa monoclonal gammapathy.

Aged↗