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Biomedical subjects

M Caruso

Publications and source records attributed to M Caruso.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Sites hypersensitive to, and protected from, nuclease digestion in the regulatory region of wild-type and mutant polyoma chromatin.

It has been shown that the untranscribed regulatory region of polyoma virus (Py) is hypersensitive (Hs) to DNase I treatment, and that this hypersensitivity is located in two areas which correspond to the A and B domains of the enhancer. We mapped the DNase I hypersensitive sites in the Py regulatory region of wild-type (PyA2) and of mutants, selected in neuroblastoma cells (PyNB), which are characterized by an extensive duplication involving the A domain, with or without deletion of the B domain. The experiments were performed in both a permissive host (3T6 mouse fibroblasts) and in a restrictive host (41A3 mouse neuroblasts). No significant differences were observed between the two hosts. Our results show that four sites, in addition to the ones already described, can be identified in the wild-type A2 strain. These newly identified sites coincide with the domains of the enhancer region as they have recently been established. In PyNB mutants duplications and deletions are generally correlated to the gain or loss of the corresponding hypersensitive sites. However, a new site is formed in one of the duplicated sequences, even if no corresponding hypersensitive site is present in the other identical sequence. A region protected from DNase I digestion occurs in the PyNB mutants which corresponds to the junction of the duplication which is absent in the wild-type strain. In this region, as a consequence of the rearrangement, a GGCGGG motif which is very similar to the one (GGGCGG) present at the binding sites of the cellular regulatory protein SP1, is found.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

[Value of "suture bones" in the diagnosis of minor brain damage in early childhood].

In a sample of 278 children with normal intelligence and behaviour disorders the x-rays of the craniums were analysed especially on the aspect of suture bones. They were related to the clinical total diagnosis "Minimal Brain Damage". Statistically significant relations between the appearance of suture-bones and other cranium anomalies as well as between clinical total diagnosis "MBD" were to be found. So the results by D. Müller on the clinical value of suture-bones are supported.

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity↗

Cranial irradiation and platelet monoamine oxidase in ALL.

Prophylactic cranial irradiation in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has been held responsible for long-term neuropsychological sequelae. This study evaluates the activity of monoamine oxidase (MAO) in children with ALL in first complete remission both before and after cranial irradiation, given to prevent central nervous system involvement. There was a significant decrease (p less than 0.025) in platelet MAO activity shortly after cranial irradiation. MAO activity values were in the normal range in patients investigated 3 months or more after the radiation treatment was completed. The pathogenesis and clinical relevance of this decrease are discussed.

Adolescent↗

New rat cell line that is highly susceptible to transformation by several oncogenes.

We describe here a new cell line, EL2, which spontaneously arose from primary rat embryo fibroblasts and has the distinctive property of being highly susceptible to a number of different transforming genes. The high susceptibility is expressed not only in high transformation frequencies but, most importantly, in an unusually high rate of growth of EL2 transformants under selective conditions, i.e., in soft agar or as foci. The biological characteristics of EL2 cells greatly accelerate the isolation of transformants from known oncogenes and could be useful to detect new transforming genes.

Animals↗

Transitory subclinical and permanent hypothyroidism in the course of subacute thyroiditis (de Quervain).

Sixty-two patients affected with subacute thyroiditis (SAT) were followed for a mean period of 14 months (range 1-40), by monitoring thyroid hormone levels in basal condition, pituitary TSH reserve, antithyroglobulin (TgAb) and antimicrosomal antibodies ( MsAb ), in order to study the natural course of the disease and to characterize its intermediate phase. In the first phase the mean serum iodothyronine levels were within normal limits, nevertheless elevated T3 and T4 levels were detected in 34 (54%) and 20 (32%) patients, respectively. The next phase was characterized by normal serum iodothyronine levels; TRH stimulation test, however, showed a significant increase of pituitary TSH reserve in 35 (56%) patients. All parameters reverted gradually towards normal in all but 3 patients, who showed overt permanent hypothyroidism. TgAb and MsAb were positive in the early stage in 15 (24%) and 40 (64%) patients, respectively, disappearing at the end of the follow-up period in all but one patient; this particular patient belonged to the group of 3 patients affected with permanent hypothyroidism. Our data indicate that the onset of SAT is characterized by transient hyperthyroidism and that transient subclinical hypothyroidism characterizes the next phase. TRH stimulation test is required for the diagnosis of the latter and for the identification of the few who develop permanent hypothyroidism.

Adolescent↗

Hospital malnutrition: incidence and prospective evaluation of general medical patients during hospitalization.

The incidence of malnutrition and the effect of hospitalization was evaluated in 100 consecutive admissions to the Clinical Pathology R Department of the University of Genoa. Nutritional deficiencies were evaluated at the time of admission and discharge from the Hospital, among patients hospitalized 2 weeks or longer, using the following nutrition-related parameters: body fat, muscle proteins, weigh, rate of weight loss plasma proteins level, vitamin B12 and folic acid plasma level, plasma iron and ferritin. We also considered the nutritional alterations in malnourished patients with relation to appetite decrease and to pathological status. At the admission to the hospital, the findings showed a high incidence (79%) of alterations in some nutritional parameters. In patients with nutritional impairments we observed a worsening of most of the nutritional parameters during hospitalization, especially in patients with severe appetite decrease and those affected by sepsis, neoplastic, gastric and renal diseases.

Anthropometry↗

Interactions of Tn7 and temperate phage F116L of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Tn7 insertions into the genome of F116L, a Pseudomonas aeruginosa generalized transducing phage, were isolated by repeated cycles of transduction and induction isolated by repeated cycles of transduction and induction of strains lysogenic for F116cts mutants with selection for trimethoprim resistance (Tpr). Two non-defective F116Lcts:: Tn7 phage were characterized. They have reduced plaquing ability, produced non-lysogenic Tpr transductants, and have yielded a deletion mutant of the phage genome upon selection for plaque formation in single infection. F116L DNA is circularly permuted and terminally redundant. A circular restriction map of 61.7 kb has been defined, and a cleavage site common to many enzymes has been identified at coordinate 23.3 kb on the map. It is presumed that this site represents the sequence for the initiation of DNA encapsidation by a headful packaging mode. The Tn7 insertion targets and a 13.4 kb deletion define regions of the F116L genome non-essential for either vegetative growth or lysogenization. The restriction map of Tn7 has been determined for five enzymes. Non-lysogenic Tpr transductants reveal a Tn7 insertion hot-spot in the P. aeruginosa genome.

Bacteriophages↗