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Biomedical subjects

L Galli

Publications and source records attributed to L Galli.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

The S1 glycoprotein but not the N or M proteins of avian infectious bronchitis virus induces protection in vaccinated chickens.

The S1, N and M proteins, obtained from the nephropathogenic N1/62 strain of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) by immunoaffinity purification with monoclonal antibodies, were used for immunization of chickens. For all three antigens multiple immunizations were necessary for induction of an antibody response. Protection of chickens vaccinated with the S1 glycoprotein against virulent challenge was demonstrated by the complete absence of virus in tracheas and kidneys of vaccinated chickens. Following four immunizations with the S1 glycoprotein 71% and 86% of chickens were protected at the level of tracheas and kidneys, respectively. Three immunizations with the S1 glycoprotein protected 70% and 10% of chickens at the level of kidney and trachea, respectively. Neither the N nor the M antigen induced protection to a virulent challenge with the nephropathogenic N1/62 strain of IBV after four immunizations. Virus neutralizing, haemagglutination inhibiting and ELISA antibodies were detected in chickens immunized with the S1 glycoprotein and inactivated N1/62 virus, however there was no correlation between the presence of any of these antibodies and protection.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Effect of yohimbine-trazodone on psychogenic impotence: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness and safety of yohimbine and trazodone used together for the treatment of pure psychogenic impotence. METHODS: Sixty-three patients who had psychogenic impotence diagnosed on the basis of sexual history, results of physical examination, laboratory analysis, polysomnographic recording of nocturnal erections, and dynamic color Doppler sonography of the cavernosal arteries were entered into a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, partial crossover study comparing placebo with yohimbine (15 mg per day orally) and trazodone (50 mg per day orally) used together. Treatment consisted of two 8-week courses. Patients who initially received placebo for 8 weeks were then switched to the 2-drug combination for 8 weeks. Erectile function, ejaculation, interest in sex, and sexual thoughts were investigated at the end of drug treatment and at 3- and 6-month follow-up. For statistical analysis chi-square, McNemar, and Student's t test for unpaired data were used. RESULTS: Fifty-five patients (87%) completed the whole treatment schedule. Positive clinical results (complete and partial responses) were obtained in 39 (71%) patients at the end of the drug treatment phase. These results were significantly better than those obtained with placebo (p < 0.01). Positive results were maintained in 32 (58%) and 31 (56%) patients at 3- and 6-month follow-up, respectively. Minor drug-related adverse effects occurred in 6 (11%) of the patients in the yohimbine-trazodone group and in 2 (4%) in the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of yohimbine and trazodone is a safe and effective first-line treatment for psychogenic impotence.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1994

Conservative treatment of upper urinary tract tumors with Nd:YAG laser.

Diagnosis of upper tract filling defects sometimes presents a difficult dilemma. In many patients, a direct endoscopic approach may permit both diagnosis and treatment. Patients (n = 28) suspected of having malignancies or with known upper tract filling defects underwent ureteropyeloscopy. Malignancy was confirmed in 18 patients, who underwent treatment of the urothelial tumors and the tumor bases with Nd:YAG laser irradiation (25-30 W; 3 seconds). The follow-up included endoscopic surveillance every 3 months. Ten patients remain tumor free after 6 to 30 months (mean 15 months). Eight patients who had recurrences underwent a new laser irradiation followed by intracavitary therapy with mitomycin C. Only one nephrectomy has been necessary, and no cases of disseminated disease have been found. A ureteropyeloscopic approach coupled with Nd:YAG laser irradiation is a useful treatment for selected patients with upper tract urothelial tumors. In the future, the indications may expand.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

AIDS appearance in children is associated with the velocity of disease progression in their mothers.

Thirty-four human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected mother-child pairs were studied from delivery, and the association between velocity of disease progression in mothers and age at AIDS appearance in their children was analyzed. Four maternal disease stages were defined, and the velocity of HIV-1 progression was calculated. Maternal clinical conditions at delivery and intervals before starting zidovudine in women and children were included in the analysis. The relative risk of the child's developing AIDS for mother's disease progression of 1 stage/year was 3.004 (95% confidence interval, 1.37-6.58, P = .006) in stepwise analysis. A maternal CD4+ cell count < or = 400/mm3 appeared to be associated with a rapid disease course in both women and children. Thus, the faster HIV-1 progressed in the mother, the quicker AIDS developed in her baby. This suggests that HIV-1 strains with comparable virulence develop in mother-child pairs, perhaps because of their similar genetically driven immune responses.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1994

Relation between myocardial 18F-FDG uptake in the fasting state and coronary angiography in patients with coronary artery disease.

The relationship between severity of coronary artery stenosis (CAS) and myocardial 18F-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (18F-FDG) uptake in the fasting state, assessed with positron emission tomography (PET), was examined in a series of 48 patients with CAS undergoing both studies for diagnostic purposes. The data analysis was based on the subdivision of the left ventricular myocardium into four segments defined in relation to ventricular vascularization: the anterior and septal segments, perfused by the left anterior descending artery; the lateral segment, perfused by the left circumflex; and the inferior segment, perfused by the right coronary artery. The 192 segments were grouped according to degree of CAS: I 0-50%, II 51-75%; III 76-90%; IV 91-99%; V and VI occluded coronary artery with good or poor collaterals, respectively. An 18F-FDG index was determined as the tissue/blood pool radioactivity ratio in each segment. The statistical analysis was performed by one-way ANOVA, multiple comparison tests and the chi-squared test. The proportion of segments with 18F-FDG uptake was also analysed for a linear trend across the ordered levels of CAS. The 18F-FDG index in groups I to V was significantly higher than in controls, but it was not different among the groups with CAS, except for group V versus I. However, the proportion of segments with enhanced 18F-FDG uptake was correlated to the degree of CAS. In cases of complete occlusion of a major afferent coronary artery, the proportion of segments with 18F-FDG uptake varied in relation to the presence of collaterals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Collateral Circulation↗
PubMed1994

High levels of IgA in HIV-1-perinatally-infected children. Antigen specificity and possible role of increased substance P plasma levels.

The specificity of IgA against food, inhalant, bacterial and fungine antigens as well as for HIV-1 proteins was investigated in 14 HIV-1-infected children (CDC stage P-2) and 15 controls. IgA against food- and inhalant antigens as well as against tetanus toxoid were significantly more often present in the HIV positive children than in controls. No difference between the two groups was present for IgA against Candida albicans. A significant increase of substance P, a strong IgA synthesis inducing neuropeptide, was demonstrated in the plasma of HIV-1 infected children. In conclusion, high levels of IgA seem to reflect a complex immune dysfunction in which many factors are involved. The importance of neuroimmune dysregulation is discussed.

Antibody Specificity↗
PubMed1994

Variability of clinical phenotype in a large Alport family with Gly 1143 Ser change of collagen alpha 5(IV)-chain.

In a large Italian family with adult-onset Alport syndrome, molecular analysis of the COL4A5 gene, which encodes the alpha 5(IV)-chain of glomerular basement membrane collagen, revealed a GGC-->AGC change in exon 38, resulting in substitution of a serine for a glycine in position 1143 of the polypeptide chain, between interruptions 19 and 20 of the triple helical domain. The mutation leads to loss of a restriction site for the enzyme Msp I, and could thus be easily recognized in several female and male relatives. Among relatives of both sexes who carried the same mutation, the clinical phenotype of Alport syndrome was variable as for the onset of renal failure and the presence of associated ear and eye abnormalities.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Platelet calcium homeostasis is abnormal in patients with severe arteriosclerosis.

To evaluate platelet calcium homeostasis in a typical thrombosis-prone clinical condition, 14 patients with severe arteriosclerosis and 11 healthy control subjects were studied. Platelet intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) was evaluated by means of the fluorescent probe fura 2 under resting conditions and after challenge with 0.05, 0.1, and 0.5 U/mL thrombin (final concentrations). Three different concentrations of extracellular ionized calcium ([Ca2+]e) were used: 1 mmol/L, 1 mumol/L, and < 1 nmol/L. Resting platelet [Ca2+]i was significantly higher (P < .001) in patients than in control subjects. After addition of 0.05 U/mL thrombin, the relative increase of [Ca2+]i was lower in patients than in control subjects in each of the three [Ca2+]e conditions (P = .05 at 1 mmol/L, P = .02 at 1 mumol/L, and P = .04 at < 1 nmol/L). After addition of 0.1 U/mL thrombin, the relative increase of [Ca2+]i was lower in patients than in control subjects under two [Ca2+]e conditions, 1 mumol/L and < 1 nmol/L (P = .04 and P = .03 respectively). With 0.5 U/mL thrombin, a trend toward lower values in patients than in control subjects was observed, reaching statistical significance (P = .03) only at < 1 nmol/L [Ca2+]e. These results suggest that calcium homeostasis is abnormal in platelets from patients with severe arteriosclerosis and probably reflects a chronic activation.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Rest distribution of 99mTc-MIBI in patients with coronary artery disease assessed by SPECT: comparison with the distribution of [18F]FDG assessed by PET.

The distribution of 99mTc-methoxy-isobutyl-isonitrile (99mTc-MIBI), assessed by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) was compared to the distribution of 2-[18F]-2-deoxy-D-glucose ([18F]FDG) assessed with positron emission tomography (PET) under fasting conditions, in 21 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and severe left ventricular dysfunction in order to evaluate the potential usefulness of SPECT/99mTc-MIBI for the identification of viable myocardium. Stress and rest SPECT/99mTc-MIBI studies were scored based on the percent of 99mTc-MIBI uptake defined by semi-quantitative circumferential-profile analyses. PET metabolic studies with [18F]FDG under fasting conditions, were adopted as a standard of viability. The results of the comparison of 99mTc-MIBI and [18F]FDG distribution showed that among the segments with stress hypoperfusion, [18F]FDG uptake was present in 95% of the segments that had > 40% of the peak tracer uptake at the rest SPECT/99mTc-MIBI study. [18F]FDG uptake was also present, however, in 25% of the segments that had < 40% uptake at the rest SPECT/99mTc-MIBI scintigraphy. We conclude that in patients with CAD the pattern of 99mTc-MIBI distribution appears to underestimate the extent of viable myocardium but only in those regions that are very severely hypoperfused.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

De-novo COL4A5 gene mutations in Alport's syndrome.

Before the advent of direct molecular gene analysis the diagnosis of Alport syndrome was operationally based on three of the four classical clinical criteria. Recently, mutations have been identified in the COL4A5 gene, which is involved in X-linked Alport syndrome. Here we describe two de-novo mutations in two unrelated children, a male and a female, both with early onset of the nephropathy, but with only one of the diagnostic criteria, i.e. electron-microscopy alterations. Because of the significant estimated proportion of de-novo mutations this diagnosis should be considered in children with early signs of nephropathy, even without a suggestive family history or clinical picture (ocular or audiologic abnormalities). In the future the diagnosis of Alport syndrome will probably be made on the basis of both clinical findings and molecular analysis. Now Alport syndrome is clearly underdiagnosed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Myocardial revascularization in patients with severe ischaemic left ventricular dysfunction: a clinical experience.

The benefits of myocardial revascularization in patients with ischaemic left ventricular dysfunction are widely reported. However, myocardial revascularization in such cases is associated with higher mortality and morbidity rates. Sixty patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction underwent myocardial revascularization at the authors' institution. Ejection fraction was assessed by angiocardioscintigraphy before and at 3 months after surgery. All patients underwent elective surgery and received complete myocardial revascularization. Myocardial protection was achieved using Buckberg's protocol. One perioperative death occurred. Weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass required inotropic drug therapy in 22 cases and aortic counterpulsation in nine. Perioperative myocardial infarction occurred in three patients with no further haemodynamic impairment. The mean postoperative ejection fraction was 41.0%, compared with a mean preoperative value of 26.5%. The extent of left ventricular functional improvement was greatest in those patients having the worst preoperative left ventricular function. It is concluded that, with this technique, myocardial revascularization can be achieved in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction with an acceptable operative mortality.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Is there a role for transrectal microwave hyperthermia of the prostate in the treatment of abacterial prostatitis and prostatodynia?

Transrectal microwave hyperthermia of the prostate was administered to 54 patients with chronic abacterial prostatitis or prostatodynia, who failed to respond to several courses of conventional therapies. Hyperthermia was delivered in 60-min long sessions with three randomly chosen regimens (1 session/week for 4 weeks; 1 session/week for 6 weeks; 2 sessions/week for 3 weeks). A prostatic temperature of 42.5 +/- 0.5 degrees C was maintained throughout the entire duration of each session. Patients were assessed pre- and postoperatively by scoring of subjective symptoms, uroflowmetry with flow nomograms, determination of residual urine volume, and transrectal ultrasonography of the prostate. At the long-term follow-up, the subjective symptom score was significantly improved in all patients. Fifty percent of the patients also reported an improvement of life quality, 47% reported their condition unchanged, and 3% reported deterioration, despite therapy. Urodynamic parameters improved but did not reach statistical significance. No major complications were encountered. Our preliminary data indicate that transrectal microwave hyperthermia of the prostate is a safe therapy that can be beneficial as a second line treatment in selected patients with recurring symptoms of abacterial prostatitis or prostatodynia, which do not respond to medical therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Structural proteins of avian infectious bronchitis virus: role in immunity and protection.

The antigenicity of the S1, M and N proteins of avian infectious bronchitis virus was compared following immunization of chickens with live and inactivated virus. The N protein was immunodominant antigen inducing cross-reactive antibodies in high titres whereas the S1 glycoprotein induced serotype-specific and cross-reactive antibodies. The M glycoprotein elicited antibodies in low titres and of limited cross-reactivity. Immunization of chickens with the purified N and M proteins did not induce protection against virulent challenge whereas immunization with the S1 glycoprotein prevented replication of nephropathogenic IBV in kidneys but not in tracheas of immunized chickens.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Small frameshift deletions within the COL4A5 gene in juvenile-onset Alport syndrome.

Small frameshift deletions within the COL4A5 gene were identified in three Alport syndrome Italian families by non-isotopic single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) screening: in family RMA, a 7-bp deletion (GGGTGAA) in exon 39; in family DGR, a 4-bp deletion (TGGA) in exon 41; in family MIB, deletion of a G in exon 50. The phenotype was characterized by juvenile-onset renal failure with sensorineural hearing loss in males, and a milder clinical pattern in heterozygous females.

Adolescent↗