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Biomedical subjects

L Moro

Publications and source records attributed to L Moro.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Biochemical markers for detecting bone metastases in patients with breast cancer.

A study was carried out to assess the best use of biochemical bone markers to exclude metastases in patients with breast cancer. Urinary galactosyl-hydroxylysine and serum alkaline phosphatase were used to monitor bone resorption and deposition, respectively. Hydroxyproline was also measured. In a selected population of patients, possibly affected by metastases on the basis of scintigraphic examination, which is highly sensitive but poorly specific, we assessed the efficiency of the markers by a double statistical analysis. In this group, the only marker able to predict metastases was galactosyl-hydroxylysine.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1992

Study of fibronectin and mRNA in human laryngeal and ectocervical carcinomas by in situ hybridization and image analysis.

The expression of fibronectin (FN) mRNA was studied in histological sections of surgical biopsies from human laryngeal and ectocervical invasive carcinomas of different grading stages by in situ hybridization and image analysis. This approach made it possible to identify the cell types synthesizing FN mRNA in the tissue sections and to compare semi-quantitatively the FN mRNA levels expressed in the different specimens. The carcinoma cells synthesized low levels of FN mRNA, comparable to those detected in control epithelia and connective-tissue fibroblasts. Well-differentiated (G1) laryngeal and ectocervical carcinomas induced the synthesis of FN mRNA--to levels 7 to 13 times higher than in control connective tissues--in the stromal fibroblasts surrounding the tumors. In carcinoma samples analysed, the amount of FN mRNA detected in the stroma decreased in relation to tumor grading (from G1 to G3) and the stromal destruction. FN mRNA was not detectable in the endothelial cells of venules while it was present in large amounts in those surrounding the capillaries present in the stroma. These data indicate that FN, usually observed around carcinomas, is produced by stromal fibroblasts, which are induced to express FN mRNA, presumably in response to diffusible factors produced by the tumor cells, and/or by endothelial cells of the infiltrating capillary vessels. The induction of FN mRNA, inversely proportional to the tumor grading, may be useful in evaluating the invasion potential of the tumor.

DNA Probes↗
PubMed1992

A new mathematical model to study bone turnover in growing rats.

A new mathematical model for the study of bone turnover in growing rats was developed. The model predicts a linear relationship between bone mineral content (BMC) and biochemical markers (BMK) of bone turnover assuming that rats are growing, bone turnover is profoundly affected by skeletal maturation, and resorption and formation are physiologically balanced. The model validation was performed by measuring galactosyl-hydroxylysine (GHYL) and hydroxyproline (HYP) in urines. This mathematical evidence supports our proposed use of the specific bone resorption marker GHYL to predict bone mineral content. Further studies on bone turnover will be possible by the application of the same approach.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed1992

Exclusion of stromelysin-1, stromelysin-2, interstitial collagenase and fibronectin genes as the mutant loci in a family with recessive epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica and a form of cerebellar ataxia.

The interstitial collagenase gene (CLG), one of the main candidates in severe generalized recessive epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica (SGREBD), is closely linked to the stromelysin-1 (STMY1) and stromelysin-2 (STMY2) genes. These three loci map on chromosome 11 (q21-q22.3), where they constitute a cluster of genes coding for metalloproteinases involved in the degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM). A recessive form of cerebellar ataxia of post-puberal onset (CLA1) has also been assigned to chromosome 11 (q14-q21). Since useful restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) for the CLG gene are not available, we have studied the inheritance of the marker TaqI RFLP of the STMY1 gene in a North Italian family with a child affected by SGREBD, and his two sisters showing cerebellar ataxia (CA) of post-puberal onset. We have also studied the MspI RFLP of the fibronectin gene (FN1), which is located on chromosome 2q34-q36, and which codes for non-collagenous matrix proteins. Since we did not observe the segregation of the pathological phenotypes with STMY1 and FN1 RFLPs, we excluded the involvement of these genes in both the SGREBD and CA present in this family. The exclusion of the STMY1 gene indicates that the mutation causing SGREBD cannot be located in the CLG and/or STMY2 genes because of their proximity to the STMY1 locus. These data also indicate that the CA form here reported is not attributable to alterations in regions close to the collagenase cluster on chromosome 11.

Blotting, Southern↗
PubMed1992

Bone-resorption markers galactosyl hydroxylysine, pyridinium crosslinks, and hydroxyproline compared.

We compared the clinical performances of four bone-resorption (BR) assays (hydroxyproline, HYP; galactosyl hydroxylysine, GHYL; deoxypyridinoline, DPD; and pyridinoline, PYD) in subjects with different BR rates: normal (adult men and premenopausal women), mildly increased (postmenopausal osteoporotic women), high (Paget disease patients), and very high (children). The discrimination power (Z score) and the accuracy (estimated by receiver-operating characteristic analysis) for GHYL, DPD, and PYD were compared with those for HYP. Discrimination power and accuracy were similar for high- and very-high-BR groups for all four assays. However in the mildly increased-BR group, DPD, GHYL, and PYD showed a higher discrimination power and accuracy than did HYP. The clinical performances of HYP, DPD, GHYL, and PYD are comparable for large changes in BR. For modest changes, DPD, GHYL, and PYD are more accurate and have a higher discrimination power than does HYP.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Phenotypic correction of the defective fibronectin extracellular matrix of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome fibroblasts.

In vitro cultured skin fibroblasts derived from Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) type I to VIII patients lack fibronectin-containing extracellular matrix (FN-ECM) which can be restored when EDS cells are cocultivated over a feeder of control fibroblasts. Further analysis, focused on EDS types III and IV cells, showed that partial matrix correction in EDS type III cells can be obtained by their cultivation over a feeder of EDS type IV fibroblasts, but not vice versa. An apparently normal FN-ECM can be restored in EDS types III and IV cells also by the addition of cellular--but not plasma--FN. These biological features might be used for a better understanding of ECM assembly and for the characterization of the different EDS cell types.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1991

Altered fibronectin mRNA splicing in skin fibroblasts from Ehlers-Danlos syndrome patients: in situ hybridization analysis.

The expression of fibronectin (FN) mRNA isoforms generated by alternative splicing of the EDA region was studied by dot-blot and in situ hybridization, using specific FN cDNA probes, in skin fibroblasts from controls and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) patients (types III, IV, VII and non classified). An Image Analysis program was used for the quantitative evaluation and comparison of FN mRNAs levels in the different cell strains. The in situ hybridization analysis showed that FN mRNAs are homogeneously expressed in all cells of each fibroblast strain analyzed. While in control fibroblasts about 70% of FN mRNA isoforms contain the EDA region (EDA+ FN mRNAs), in EDS fibroblasts this fraction is reduced up to about 30%. This indicates that in the EDS fibroblasts analyzed a deregulation of the alternative splicing processes acting at the EDA region takes place.

Autoradiography↗
PubMed1990

Evidence in vitro for an enzymatic synthesis of phosphocitrate.

A biological synthesis of phosphocitrate is described from precursors, citrate and adenosinetriphosphate reacting in the presence of rat liver homogenate. Identity of the newly formed product was examined by enzymatic digestion of reactions mixtures, HPLC chromatography and 1H-NMR spectra. Authenticity of product was established by comparison to chemically synthesized phosphocitrate. Recognition of the existence of a biologically synthetic pathway adds credence to the known presence of phosphocitrate in mitochondria and a postulated role to control calcium phosphate deposition in that organelle.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Study of fibronectin expression in tumour cells by dot-blot and in situ hybridization: quantitative evaluation by image analysis.

An Image Analysis program was used for the quantitative evaluation and comparison of the fibronectin (FN) mRNA detected by dot-blot and in situ hybridization in different cell lines. These techniques were applied for the evaluation of FN mRNA synthesized by human normal fibroblasts (Flow 7000) and by four tumour-derived cell lines (HeLa, epithelioid carcinoma; 8387, fibrosarcoma; RD, rhabdomyosarcoma; SK Hep-1, hepatocarcinoma). Dot-blot analysis showed that the cell types analysed synthesize different levels of FN mRNA. Flow 7000 are the highest producers while HeLa the lowest. In situ hybridization confirmed these results and furthermore showed that while Flow 7000, 8387 and HeLa cells synthesized homogeneous levels of FN mRNA, RD and SK Hep-1 could be subdivided into two populations expressing high or low levels of FN mRNA. The combined analysis of dot-blot, in situ hybridization and Image Analysis allowed the quantitation of the number of FN mRNA molecules expressed by single cells. This approach is therefore an invaluable tool when evaluating mRNA expression in heterogeneous cell populations like tumour-derived cell lines, during cell cycle or in histological tissue sections.

Cell Line↗
PubMed1990

HLA antigens and haplotypes associated with idiopathic haemochromatosis in Veneto: peculiar association with HLA-A3,B35.

HLA-A and HLA-B antigens were determined in 16 unrelated subjects orginating from Veneto affected by idiopathic haemochromatosis (IH). HLA-A3 was found in 13/16 patients vs. 300/1,348 controls (p less than 0.00005). Prevalences of A3,B35 haplotype were 0.4375 in patients vs. 0.0816 in controls (p less than 0.0005). Linkage disequilibrium analysis proved the existence of a positive third-order linkage disequilibrium among IH, HLA-A3 and HLA-B35 alleles. Our data confirm the close association of IH and HLA-A3 and prove the peculiar association of the disease with A3,B35 haplotype in north-eastern regions of Italy. The positive third-order linkage disequilibrium suggests a remote event (mutation, recombination or immigration) as origin for IH and A3,B35 association.

Alleles↗
PubMed1990

The superego in patients' dreams in group analysis.

The paper gives an introduction to the superego in patients' dreams in group analysis and presents new contributions to the theory of the superego. The following aspects are dealt with in more detail: the superego as resistance to change, the superego in the group, the dream is the group--the group is the dream, uncovering the superego in a group member's dream, possibilities of therapeutic action on the superego in the group, working with a member's dream in the group, countertransference reactions to "superego-dreams" in the group and the therapeutic effect of the "superego-dream" analysis in the group.

Dreams↗
PubMed1990

High predictivity of galactosyl-hydroxylysine in urine as an indicator of bone metastases from breast cancer.

We measured the urinary excretion of galactosyl-hydroxylysine (GH) and hydroxyproline in two groups of women with breast cancer, with (M+, n = 24) and without (Mo, n = 30) clinical, scintigraphic, or radiological evidence of bone metastases. Both these compounds are excreted in larger amounts in the M+ group than in the Mo patients. However, GH, which is a specific marker for bone collagen, provides better predictivity for bone metastases than does hydroxyproline: 92% sensitivity and 90% specificity vs 74% and 79%, respectively, for hydroxyproline.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

High-performance liquid chromatographic preparation of galactosyl-hydroxylysine, a specific bone collagen marker.

Galactosyl-hydroxylysine, a specific bone collagen marker, has been prepared directly from human urine samples by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on a preparative column. The compound is the didansyl derivative, as proved by HPLC and mass spectrometry under fast atom bombardment conditions. Since this compound is not commercially available, the procedure reported appears to be the simplest way to prepare it, which is necessary to measure the urinary excretion of this collagen metabolite by HPLC.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed1988

Urinary beta-1-galactosyl-0-hydroxylysine (GH) as a marker of collagen turnover of bone.

beta-1-galactosyl-0-hydroxylysine (GH) was measured in the urine of 59 women and 48 men, aged 30-79 years, by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) of the dansylated derivative. Vertebral mineral density, measured by quantitative computed tomography (QCT), and urinary GH were inversely correlated (r = -0.74; P less than 0.001). High rate of bone mineral loss is associated with a high urinary GH excretion. Measurement of GH in urine provides a simple and noninvasive method for the evaluation of the extent of bone resorption in large groups of subjects and appears to be more specific than urinary hydroxyproline excretion.

Aging↗
PubMed1988

The natural history of adrenal function in autoimmune patients with adrenal autoantibodies.

Adrenal autoantibodies (AA) were found in 23 of 2571 (0.9%) patients with organ-specific autoimmune diseases, in one of 632 first-degree relatives of insulin-dependent diabetic patients, and in none of 375 normal controls. In AA-positive subjects the prevalence of human leucocyte antigens (HLA)-A1, -B8 and -DR3 was significantly higher with respect to the general population. Two groups were followed (15 subjects persistently positive for AA and 51 negative subjects) for a mean period of 3.2 years. Yearly tests were made for AA and adrenal function. Of the 15 subjects persistently positive for AA, six developed Addison's disease after a period varying from 6 months to 10 years. Of the 51 subjects initially negative, two became positive during follow-up, and one of these developed Addison's disease 15 months later. In contrast, all the remaining 49 persistently negative subjects maintained normal adrenal function tests. Overall, of the 17 positive subjects, seven (41%) developed Addison's disease, three (18%) showed various degrees of subclinical adrenocortical failure and the remaining seven maintained normal glandular function. In the positive patients the yearly incidence of detriment in adrenal function was 19%. Patients who developed Addison's disease showed significant association with HLA-B8 phenotype. The development from normal adrenocortical function to overt Addison's disease seemed to progress through four distinct stages of functional impairment: increased plasma renin activity with normal/low aldosterone (stage 1), low cortisol response after i.v. administration of ACTH (stage 2), increased ACTH (stage 3), and low basal cortisol (stage 4).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗