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Biomedical subjects

M Buscaglia

Publications and source records attributed to M Buscaglia.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Genetic amniocentesis: 505 cases performed before the sixteenth week of gestation.

Between May 1987 and November 1988, 505 early amniocentesis within the 15th week of gestation were performed at the First Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 'L. Mangiagalli' of the University of Milan and at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of 'Gaslini' hospital in Genoa. A total number of ten abnormal fetal karyotypes were diagnosed. In addition, one case of pseudomosaicism (not confirmed on fetal blood) and one case of osteogenesis imperfecta type II (observed at ultrasound examination) were also detected. Eleven pregnancies were therefore terminated because of an abnormal fetus. Out of 494 pregnancies (excluding terminated pregnancies) there were 16 fetal losses within the 28th week; ten of these occurred in the 2 weeks following the procedure. There were 475 live-births, of which 447 were term deliveries and the other 28 deliveries occurred before the 37th week of gestation.

Amniocentesis↗
PubMed1990

Distribution of basic fibroblast growth factor in the 18-day rat fetus: localization in the basement membranes of diverse tissues.

Immunohistochemical methods were used to study the distribution of basic FGF in the 18-d rat fetus. The results reveal a pattern of widespread yet specific staining that is consistent with the wide distribution of basic FGF. Immunoreactive basic FGF is associated with mesenchymal structures, mesoderm- and neuroectoderm-derived cells, and their extracellular matrices. As an example, skeletal and smooth muscle cells are strongly positive. The basement membrane underlying the epithelia always contain basic FGF. In some tissues (i.e., cartilage and bone) the intensity of immunostaining is dependent on the stage of cell differentiation. Although the staining of tissues is primarily associated with the extracellular matrix, there is significant intracellular staining in various cell types. This is particularly evident in the endocrine cells of the adrenal cortex, testis, and ovary. The histochemical findings reported here support the notion that basic FGF has the characteristics required to mediate many of the effects of the mesenchyme on cell growth and differentiation. The significance of these findings in understanding the role of basic FGF in regulating cell proliferation and differentiation is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Prenatal immune status of fetuses of HIV-seropositive mothers.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been isolated from fetal tissues as early as 13 weeks and later from fetal blood. These findings have raised the possibility of prenatal diagnosis of infected fetuses by identification of the virus in the fetal compartment. Study of the fetal immune status has proved reliable in prenatal diagnosis of congenital immunodeficiency, and we have tested the possibility to diagnose acquired immunodeficiency in utero by this approach. We studied T lymphocyte subsets and their mitogenic response in fetal blood obtained after elective termination at midgestation in 8 cases and at delivery in 26 cases of maternal HIV infection. Results have been compared to appropriate normal controls. No significant difference was found in terms of total lymphocytes, CD4 and CD8 populations and phytohemagglutinin responses. This indicates either that immunological parameters currently used to assess postnatal immunodeficiency are not reliable during intrauterine life or that the intrauterine environment and the transplacental passage of maternal antibodies interfere with development of prenatal immunodeficiency.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
PubMed1989

Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-positive B cell precursors in fetal lymph nodes and extrahemopoietic tissues.

Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-positive B cell precursors populate fetal lymph nodes (LN) of mid-term (16th-22th week) fetuses. These cells have a B cell phenotype (HLA-DR, CD45R, CD22, mu) and lack mature differentiation antigens (CD1c, CD20, L26). TdT+ cells are also present in the extranodal mesenteric mesenchyme, pancreas and LN primordia. Extranodal TdT+ cells are found among proliferating (i.e. Ki-67+) B cells and lack leukocyte function-associated antigen (LFA-1) and HLA-DQ; these latter molecules are acquired by nodal TdT+ elements. Adult LN, adult and fetal spleen contain less TdT+ cells than fetal LN. The fetal LN contains the full range of the B cell differentiation compartment, from the TdT+ precursor cell to the mature B lymphocyte.

Antigens, Surface↗
PubMed1989

Foetal pulmonary maturation in pregnancies complicated by diabetes and Rh immunization.

In pregnancies complicated by diabetes, foetal lung maturation depends on a good control of maternal blood glucose values. In poorly controlled maternal diabetes, foetal hyperinsulinaemia may cause a delay in pulmonary maturation. There was no single case of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in 112 pregnant class B-F diabetic patients that we treated with high doses of insulin. Furthermore, in a controlled randomized trial of diet versus insulin treatment in class A diabetes we found no differences in perinatal mortality in patients with adequate metabolic control. In pregnancies complicated by Rh isoimmunization, determination of phosphatidylglycerol in amniotic fluid is a more reliable marker of foetal lung maturity than is the lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio. The marked decrease in perinatal mortality due to Rh incompatibility observed in recent years depends on several factors including administration of corticosteroids to the mother to prevent RDS, irrespective of whether amniotic fluid parameters indicate foetal lung maturity.

Blood Glucose↗
PubMed1988

Human neuronal cell viability demonstrated in culture after cryopreservation.

A human neuronal cell freezing technique has been developed. The results indicate that human fetal neuronal cells can be frozen with 7%-10% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as cryoprotectant. The survival of isolated thawed cells has been evaluated in culture. Cells have been frozen at -196 degrees C for 370 days without loss of viability. Average recovery rate of frozen cells was 62% of the recovery rate of cultured unfrozen controls. Thawed cells show neurite outgrowth and maintain both cellular markers such as neuron specific enolase (NSE) and neurochemical characteristics (GABA synthesis). Morphological integrity of cryopreserved neurons has been confirmed at ultrastructural level.

Cell Survival↗
PubMed1988

Cultures of human Schwann cells isolated from fetal nerves.

We describe a technique for the preparation of highly purified populations of Schwann cells (SC) from human fetal nerves. Cultures were prepared by chemical and mechanical dissociation of human fetal sciatic nerves by modification of the method of Kreider et al. developed for newborn rat nerve. A time course analysis of some SC-associated markers at different times in vitro was performed employing immunofluorescence (IF) and immunoperoxidase (IP) to determine the percentage of SC in culture and to evaluate the maintenance of specific SC characteristics. We compared this method with that of Askanas et al. which produces enriched SC cultures by utilizing successive re-explantation of the original nerve explant. After 48 h, approximately 90% of the cells were bipolar and S-100+ and over the next two weeks about 70-80% of cells were SC by cytologic and immunocytologic criteria. At 35 days, 35% were SC, whereas less than or equal to 2.5% of 35-day-old multi-explant cultures were SC. The SC obtained by this method displayed the typical morphological and immunological characteristics: they expressed surface laminin and nerve growth factor receptors, whereas fibronectin, which is localized on fibroblast surface, was absent.

Cell Separation↗
PubMed1988

Prenatal diagnosis of carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase deficiency by fetal liver biopsy.

In a pregnancy at risk for carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase (CPS) deficiency, prenatal diagnosis was attempted by fetal liver biopsy, performed at 18 weeks of gestation. CPS activity was absent and the diagnosis was confirmed after termination of the pregnancy. The technique employed for fetal liver biopsy is described together with an evaluation of its possible role in prenatal diagnosis.

Biopsy, Needle↗
PubMed1987

Cord sampling for the evaluation of oxygenation and acid-base balance in growth-retarded human fetuses.

In 14 pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth retardation, the umbilical cord was sampled before delivery under ultrasonic guidance for rapid fetal karyotyping. Fetal blood was analyzed for respiratory gases, acid-base balance, and lactate concentrations. Two patients were excluded from the study because cord samples were diluted with amniotic fluid. In six patients (group 1), the clinical assessment warranted continuation of pregnancy. Cesarean sections were performed in the remaining eight patients (group 2) within 8 hours of cord sampling. The data from the two groups were compared with those obtained from umbilical venous blood at the time of elective repeat cesarean section in term appropriate for gestational age infants (controls). No significant difference in PO2 was found between groups 1 and 2 and controls. In contrast, there were significant differences in oxygen saturation and acid-base balance between groups 1 and 2. Lactate concentration was inversely correlated with pH and was elevated in five of six fetuses requiring a prompt cesarean section: In two of these five fetuses, nonstress fetal heart rate tracings were reactive. The results suggest that fetal blood biochemistry, and particularly lactate concentration, may represent an additional indicator of fetal well-being in pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth retardation.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗
PubMed1987

Respiratory gases, acid-base balance and lactate concentrations of the midterm human fetus.

Respiratory gases, acid-base balance, and lactate and hemoglobin concentrations were measured in 14 fetal blood samples between 17 and 21 weeks of gestation. The samples were obtained at the time of fetoscopy performed for prenatal diagnosis. Results have been compared with two reference groups: (a) 4 patients in whom fetal cord blood sampling was performed at 32-36 weeks of gestation, and (b) 10 patients at the time of elective cesarean section, 35-39 weeks. PO2 and oxygen saturations were significantly higher and hemoglobin concentration lower in the mid-gestation fetus. Acid-base balance was not significantly different. There was a significant correlation between maternal and fetal hemoglobin concentrations. The oxygen affinity of fetal blood was not significantly different from that described for term fetuses with a oxygen saturation of less than 90%.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗
PubMed1987

Human Schwann cells: cytochemical, ultrastructural and immunological studies in vivo and in vitro.

Cytochemical, ultrastructural and immunological properties of human Schwann cells were studied in normal adult and foetal nerve sections and in tissue cultures. As specific markers for Schwann cells we used S-100 protein and laminin. The presence of Sudan black-positive, Oil Red-O-negative material was found in Schwann cells in vitro. Structural features, examined at E.M. level, are described. This information may be useful in nerve tissue culture studies, a new tool for the investigation of dyschwannian neuropathies.

Cells, Cultured↗