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Biomedical subjects

M Bianchi

Publications and source records attributed to M Bianchi.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Cloning and expression of a new human polypeptide which regulates protein phosphorylation in Escherichia coli.

A 1,820 bp full-length clone encoding for a new human protein was isolated from a lambda gt11 placental cDNA library using anti-human hexokinase antibodies. The cDNA complete sequence includes a 12 bp 5' non-coding region, a single open reading frame encoding a protein of 55 KDa (HP-10) and a 177 bp non-coding with two putative polyadenylation signals upstream of 3' poly(A)tail. The deduced amino acid sequence reveals a sequence of 492 amino acids that contains a stretch of 7 glutamic acid from position 169 and one potential glycosylation site at position 274. Although antibodies against hexokinase recognize the fusion protein and antibodies against the fusion protein recognize hexokinase, HP-10 is not human hexokinase, by a number of criteria including the alignment of determined amino acid sequences. In searching for a possible functional role of HP-10 its cDNA was inserted into a procaryotic vector which allows the expression of the non-fused protein. Bacteria expressing the HP-10 encoded protein were isolated and found to have a dramatic increase in endogenous phosphorylated proteins. Since HP-10 does not have a protein kinase activity per se it should be considered a new regulatory phosphorylation protein which is active in E. coli.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Corticotropin releasing hormone, interleukin-1 alpha, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha share characteristics of stress mediators.

Interleukin-1 alpha and tumor necrosis factor-alpha induce an increase in pain thresholds in the rat. We now show that also the corticotropin releasing hormone induces an analgesic effect that, similarly to what is observed with the two cytokines, is not reversible by naloxone. Moreover, we also show that after the administration of interleukin-1 alpha, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and corticotropin releasing hormone, naloxone becomes analgesic itself. A similar observation was also made in the human and the experimental animal after exposure to stressful conditions. The results obtained suggest that the two cytokines share with corticotropin releasing hormone some characteristics of stress mediators.

Analgesia↗
PubMed1991

Human hexokinase type I microheterogeneity is due to different amino-terminal sequences.

Human placenta hexokinase type I was previously shown to be present in two subtypes with similar isoelectric points but different molecular masses of 112 and 103 kDa, respectively. In order to exclude that these subtypes arise by artifact(s) occurring during the protein purification, we have developed a single-step immunoaffinity chromatography for the isolation of microgram quantities of hexokinase. The results obtained confirmed the presence of both hexokinase subtypes in human placenta. By Northern blot analysis a single mRNA species that hybridized with a hexokinase-I cDNA was found to be present in human placenta. Furthermore, in vitro translation of placenta mRNA in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate followed by hexokinase immunoprecipitation and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and fluorography showed that only one hexokinase with apparent molecular mass of about 112 kDa is expressed in this tissue and suggests a post-translational modification as a probable cause of hexokinase I microheterogeneity. To further investigate this point we have purified the high and low Mr hexokinase and determined their NH2-terminal sequences. The results obtained show that when compared with the amino acid sequence deduced from a cDNA the high Mr hexokinase starts at amino acid 11 while the low Mr hexokinase starts at amino acid 103. Since the first 10 amino acids are involved in the binding of hexokinase to mitochondrial porin these data provide an explanation both for the inability of these hexokinases to bind to mitochondria and for their differences in Mr.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

2,6-diisopropylphenol, a general anesthetic, inhibits glutamate action on rat synaptosomes.

2,6-diisopropylphenol (propofol), a general intravenous anesthetic, inhibits the glutamate-dependent Ca2+ entry in rat synaptosomes with an approximate IC50 of 3.0 x 10(-5) M. Propofol, at concentrations above 10(-6) M, also inhibits the ATP-dependent uptake of glutamate in the presence of Ca2+, with an approximate IC50 of 3.5 x 10(-5) M, while it only has a slight inhibitory effect on the release of glutamate. The ouabain-insensitive synaptosomal ATPase is strongly inhibited by propofol, with an IC50 of about 2.5 x 10(-6) M, at concentrations which do not affect the luciferase system.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1991

Chlorpromazine protection against interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor-mediated activities in vivo.

Interleukin (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) are thought to play a key role in septic shock and inflammation. We had previously shown that chlorpromazine (CPZ) has a protective effect in various models of endotoxic shock and IL-1 toxicity. We have tested the effect of CPZ on several activities of IL-1 in vivo. CPZ (4 mg/kg) inhibited increases in serum corticosterone, triglycerides and serum amyloid A (SAA). Chlorpromazine also antagonized these same effects when they were induced by endotoxin or TNF, suggesting that this activity could be implicated in the protective effect of CPZ in various models of endotoxic shock and IL-1 lethality.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Hypoxia increases production of interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor by human mononuclear cells.

Exposure to hypoxia (PO2 = 9 +/- 1 torr) increased human peripheral blood mononuclear cell production and secretion of interleukin-1 (IL-1)alpha, IL-1 beta, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) percent of control = 190% for IL-1 alpha, p = 0.014; 219% for IL-1 beta, p = 0.014; and 243% for TNF, p = 0.037) following treatment with endotoxin (1 ng/ml). Hypoxia potentiated the increased production of these inflammatory cytokines at subthreshold levels of endotoxin with potentiation increasing at lower O2 concentrations. Hypoxia also increased cytokine production induced by the tumor promoter phorbol myristate acetate, suggesting a generalized biologic response. We conclude that hypoxia increases IL-1 and TNF production and speculate that this mechanism aggravates a variety of pathologic conditions involving endotoxin such as adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), multiple organ failure, and septic shock.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1991

Traditional acupuncture increases the content of beta-endorphin in immune cells and influences mitogen induced proliferation.

We measured beta-endorphin concentrations in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and mitogen-induced T-lymphocyte proliferation in patient who underwent treatment with traditional acupuncture. Traditional acupuncture increased both the concentrations of the opioid in the immune cells and lymphocyte proliferation. Our data are consistent with the hypothesis that traditional acupuncture modulates immune responses in man.

Acupuncture Analgesia↗
PubMed1991

[Seminal duct abnormalities in cryptorchism: our experience with 334 cases].

Undescended testis is one of the most common anomalies in pediatric age; despite numerous theories offered to explain its etiology, the true mechanism of the anomaly seems not to have been fully elucidated. The purpose of this prospective study was to investigate the incidence of epididymal abnormalities in undescended testes, the potential role of these anomalies in testicular descent and in incidental infertility. All patients were submitted to orchidopexy during which the complete anatomical situation of the epididymis and vas deferens was detected. In a group of 334 testes the incidence of congenital defects was 68%. The severity of these abnormalities appeared to be strictly correlated to the level of undescended testis. The incidence was 85% when the testis was in the abdomen, 82% when in the inguinal canal, 63% when next to the external inguinal ring and 53% when the testis was ectopic. The epididymal detachment at the head was the most common anomaly (113 cases), followed by extended epididymis (91 cases) and by total detachment of epididymis from the testis (70 cases).

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1991

Antidepressants in cancer pain.

Studies conducted in recent years have helped define the role of antidepressant drugs in the management of cancer pain. The antinociceptive action of these agents seems to be independent of beneficial effect on depression or mood. Among antidepressant drugs, those of the tricyclic class are preferred when an analgesic effect is sought. Their primary application is for pain due to nerve injury, so-called "neuropathic pain". Although the co-administration of tricyclic antidepressants may increase plasma morphine concentrations, any potentiation of morphine analgesia is thought not to be due to an increased bioavailability of the opiate, but to an intrinsic analgesic effect of antidepressants. On this basis, the use of antidepressants in combination with opioids for the treatment of cancer pain is suitable when a component of deafferentation is present or when there is concomitant depressive illness.

Antidepressive Agents↗
PubMed1991

[Early diagnosis and correct treatment of varicocele in puberty].

Varicocele normally presents itself in adolescence, with an incidence of 16 per cent. Less than one third of the boys, though, will suffer from male infertility in adulthood. Therefore, it seems excessive as well as imprudent to suggest surgery to all those patients. We worked out some parameters to identify "risky" cases of varicocele. From June to November 1990 we studied 45 patients from 10 to 16 years of age affected by varicocele, taking into consideration the following factors: puberal phase, symptomatology, degree of varicocele, testicular volume, Doppler ultrasound, hormonal profile. A Doppler ultrasound test evidenced a clinically undetected right reflux, in addition to a left varicocele, in 13 patients (34.4%). Sixty per cent of these 13 patients revealed a pathological response to LHRH test; this incidence is very close to that evidence in clinical bilateral varicocele. We believe that a right reflux showed by ultrasounds, represents a cause of further alteration in the patient's endocrinological balance in addition to increasing his risk of infertility. Purpose of this study was to draw a guideline for early diagnosis, correct treatment and follow-up of varicocele in peripubertal age.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[Echographic-histological correlation in ovarian neoplasms].

One hundred women who had surgical intervention indicated for pelvic masses, were studied prospectively, all of them were investigated and treated in the obstetrical and gynecology Department of the Hospital del Salvador between January 1988 to January 1989. Pelvic tumors were classified following the scheme at the University of Tokyo's Obstetrician and Gynecology Department, which was designated to correlate the echographic image with the tumors histology and especially to distinguish preoperatively the benign or malign nature of the mass. The early diagnosis of ovarian cancer in the general population was not the objective. The classification divides the tumors in 6 groups with two o three subgroups for each one of them the probability of the tumors being benign was high for those in the group one to four (the predictive value of non malignancy was 98.4%) and the possibility of malignancy was high especially in the group 6 (the predictive value for malignancy was 63.6%).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Plasma morphine and morphine-6-glucuronide patterns in cancer patients after oral, subcutaneous, sublabial and rectal short-term administration.

Clinical studies on the effectiveness of morphine administered through different routes are contradictory. In order to further elucidate this point, the plasma concentrations of morphine and its 3- and 6-glucuronated metabolites were measured after short-term oral, sublabial, rectal and subcutaneous administration of the opiate. The bioavailability of free morphine and the 6-glucuronated active metabolite was comparable through the different routes. It was concluded that the choice of the route of morphine administration should be mainly guided by the needs of each individual patient.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

N-terminal domain of pepsin as a model for retroviral dimeric aspartyl protease.

Autolysis of porcine pepsin at pH 4 affords a derivative possessing intrinsic proteolytic activity. This derivative was isolated by alumina pseudo-affinity chromatography and gel-filtration and was found to result from the tight association of two identical molecules, 135 amino acids long, emerging from the N-terminal domain of pepsin. This finding emphasizes a similarity with the only aspartyl-proteases known to act as dimers, the retroviral proteases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Fructose-1,6-diphosphate as an in vitro and in vivo anti-alcohol agent in the rat.

Fructose-1, 6-diphosphate (FDP) decreases the effect of ethanol on Ca++ entry and inhibits the ethanol-stimulated phosphate efflux in rat heart slices. FDP also inhibits the ethanol-stimulated [36Cl-]-uptake by rat brain microvesicles and affects the isolated GABA-receptor in a way opposite to that of ethanol. The in vivo effects of FDP include a dose-dependent decrease in ethanol-induced gastric ulcers and a decrease in the serum transaminase levels raised by chronic ethanol administration. Other central actions of ethanol such as diuresis, narcosis, dependence and withdrawal symptoms are also counteracted by FDP.

Animals↗