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Biomedical subjects

M Clementi

Publications and source records attributed to M Clementi.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Detection of hepatitis B virus DNA in serum using synthetic non-radioactive oligonucleotides.

A rapid and simplified technique for detecting hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA by spot hybridisation in the sera of patients with different clinical forms of HBV infection was investigated using enzyme conjugated synthetic oligodeoxyribonucleotides as probes. These are able to hybridize to the S and C regions of the HBV L(-) DNA strand. When compared with a complete 32P-labelled HBV DNA probe, the synthetic oligonucleotides provided a sensitive and quick method for the routine survey of HBV infection. Moreover, the DNA extraction procedure used allowed the spot hybridisation technique to be applied and read easily and the results obtained within a few hours. It is concluded that synthetic cold probes can be used in hybridisation assays HBV DNA detection as part of current clinical laboratory procedures.

Carrier State↗
PubMed1988

Immunity assessment in the early stages of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a study of virus antibodies and lymphocyte subsets.

Serum and CSF from 32 patients with idiopathic ALS, 30 age-matched controls and 30 MS patients were investigated regarding immunoglobulin concentration and virus-specific antibodies, the lymphocytes in the peripheral blood and lymphocyte subsets were also investigated. ALS patients' results were compared with findings in MS and controls. The ALS patients had significantly higher IgG concentration in serum than the controls, marked lymphopenia, reduction of CD2, CD8 and Leu 7 positive cells and increase of the CD4/CD8 ratio and of SIg-positive lymphocytes. Compared with the MS patients, the ALS patients showed similarity in T-subset distribution with a lower standard deviation. No HTLV-I and HIV antibodies were found in any group and no significant differences in antibody distribution to Toxoplasma G, herpes simplex, cytomegalovirus, measles and mumps viruses were evident. All ALS patients were investigated at an early disease stage, therefore, our findings seem to support the conclusion that the immune alterations are related to the mechanisms of the disease and not to complications of its evolution.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Theoretical recurrence risks for cleft lip derived from a population of consecutive newborns.

Theoretical recurrence risks for cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL(P)) were calculated from heritability estimates derived from a population of 203 newborns with CL(P) in a total of 220,927 consecutive births in north-east Italy. Birth prevalence of CL(P) and the frequency of CL(P) in relatives of probands were estimated after exclusion of cases with CL(P) resulting from a known cause or pathogenesis. The method allowed estimation of the theoretical recurrence risk for any family by considering the total number of affected and unaffected first, second, and third degree relatives. The lower value of the theoretical risk compared to the empirical risk, obtained from retrospective data of selected families, was the result of methodological differences.

Cleft Lip↗
PubMed1987

Differential response of the human hepatoma-derived cell line HA22T/VGH to polypeptide mitogens.

Several human cell lines derived from primary cancer of the liver are able to grow under serum-free conditions and produce spreading and growth factors which are released into the culture medium. Since this autocrine growth under hormone-free conditions might play a basic role in malignant transformation, we studied the effect on cell replication and the presence of specific membrane receptors of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and insulin on a dedifferentiated human hepatoma cell line, named HA22T/VGH. Our results point to a similar inhibitory effect on cell replication in the presence of both EGF and insulin, in spite of detecting different affinities of binding.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗
PubMed1987

Detection of HBV infectivity by spot hybridization in HBeAg-negative chronic carriers: HBV DNA in sera from asymptomatic and symptomatic subjects.

DNA of hepatitis B virus (HBV DNA) in sera from HBeAg-positive carriers is now the most important and reliable marker of infectivity, but its significance in the progression of chronic hepatitis in anti-HBe carrier status is still under discussion. In this study, viral DNA was tested by a simplified spot hybridization method in sera of 206 HBeAg-negative Italian subjects. In a group of 153 HBsAg carriers, we found that 15.6% of anti-HBe-positive and 10.5% of anti-HBe-negative samples contained viral DNA. No HBV DNA was revealed in 38 HBsAg-negative nor in 15 anti-HBs-positive subjects with different serological markers of HBV. Viral DNA in sera of HBeAg-negative patients with severe chronic liver disease was correlated with increased alaninetransferase activity and IgM anti-HBc. Thus the presence of HBV DNA in these sera not only predicts which subjects are potentially infectious but also indicates chronic progression of hepatitis. Finally, viral DNA extracted from Dane particles of nine anti-HBe-positive sera was characterized by the Southern blot technique. The hybridization pattern shows bands indicating the presence of replicative intermediates.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1987

Antibody response to individual cytomegalovirus structural proteins in different groups of subjects.

The antibody response to cytomegalovirus structural polypeptides in sera from three groups of acutely infected subjects was analyzed. Differences in number and types of polypeptides were noted. Immunoblotting could be used to distinguish sera from patients with acute cytomegalovirus hepatitis from convalescent sera by the detection of antibody to viral proteins of 82, 66, 62, and 55 kilodalton molecular weight at a high serum dilution.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1987

Psittacosis in a highly endemic area in Italy.

In one locality in Italy where the incidence of psittacosis has increased rapidly since 1980, a hospital-based study and a seroepidemiological survey were carried out in order to define the clinical and epidemiological features of psittacosis in that area. Registers of the Virology Unit of the University of Ancona, Italy, were reviewed and all hospitalized patients with a serological diagnosis of psittacosis were identified. A total of 76 cases were found and studied. A presumptive bird source was identified in 80% of 62 patients, on whom a detailed investigation had been possible. Poultry represented the most frequent probable source of infection. Clinically, the predominant pattern of illness was a moderately severe lower respiratory tract infection, with chest X-rays showing pulmonary shadowings in 68 patients (89%). In the seroepidemiological study, 51 out of 143 subjects were exposed to birds (35.7%), but only 7 out of 96 urban adult blood donors (7.3%) were positive for chlamydial antibodies using the microimmunofluorescence test.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Human growth hormone induced modulation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) gene expression.

A well characterized human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (PLC/PRF/5) containing complete sequences of HBV-DNA in integrated form into host DNA and growing under serum-free conditions was used to test the effect of human growth hormone (hGH) on the expression of the integrated viral DNA. Data in our hands point to an early, specific effect of hGH on HBV-DNA integrated sequences which appears to be unrelated to the late effect on total protein synthesis. Moreover this approach enabled us to detect specific hGH receptors on the cell membrane of PLC/PRF/5 cell line.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

An inheritable anomaly of red-cell oxalate transport in "primary" calcium nephrolithiasis correctable with diuretics.

We measured the rate of oxalate flux across the red-cell membrane in the steady state in 114 patients with a history of calcium oxalate kidney stones and in 25 controls. Of the patients, 98 had recurrent, "idiopathic" kidney stones, 8 had primary hyperparathyroidism, 7 had renal or urinary tract malformations, and 1 had primary hyperoxaluria. Oxalate exchange was significantly higher in the 98 patients with idiopathic stone formation than in the controls (-1.10 +/- 0.95 [SD] X 10(-2) min-1 vs. -0.31 +/- 0.12 X 10(-2); P less than 0.001); it was above the upper limits of normal in 78 of these patients. All 8 patients with hyperparathyroidism and the patient with primary hyperoxaluria had values in the normal range; 2 of the patients with renal or urinary tract malformation had values at the upper normal limit. A study of five families indicated that the abnormality is an autosomal monogenic dominant trait with complete penetrance and variable expressivity. Oxalate-tolerance tests were carried out in five pairs of brothers. One brother in each pair had the abnormality in oxalate flux, and had a significantly higher percentage of oxalate excretion at two hours after oxalate loading (18.09 +/- 3.07 [SD] vs. 10.37 +/- 3.08 percent; t = 3.97; P less than 0.005) and four hours (14.87 +/- 2.91 vs. 9.89 +/- 2.93 percent; t = 2.70; P less than 0.05). Treatment with oral hydrochlorothiazide (50 mg per day) or amiloride (5 mg per day) or both restored normal or nearly normal red-cell oxalate exchange in all of 33 patients who initially had increased rates. We conclude that an inherited cellular defect in oxalate transport may be a factor in "primary" calcium oxalate stone formation and that this defect may be corrected with diuretics.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Another Italian family with mandibuloacral dysplasia: why does it seem more frequent in Italy?

We describe three patients (one female and two males in a sibship of 11) with mandibuloacral dysplasia. Only eight families have been reported previously, and of these, four were of Italian origin. The phenotypic spectrum of the condition is delineated and its variability is stressed. The observation of three affected members of both sexes with normal parents supports the hypothesis of autosomal recessive inheritance. The reasons for the high frequency of the condition in Italy are discussed; a local selective advantage for heterozygotes and founder effect might be involved.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1986

Pachyonychia congenita Jackson-Lawler type: a distinct malformation syndrome.

A family with three members in two generations affected by pachyonychia congenita, hyperkeratosis and hyperhidrosis of the palms and soles, follicular keratosis, neonatal teeth and epidermoid cysts (Jackson-Lawler syndrome) is described. The nosological autonomy of this condition is proposed and a further heterogeneity is suggested on the basis of histopathological changes in the subcutaneous cysts.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

[A small epidemic focus of pulmonitis caused by Legionella].

A mini-epidemic consisting of 5 cases of Legionnaire's disease treated during september 1983 is reported. These patients shared many of the symptoms distinguishing the most common form of this disease in its severe or very severe form and some characteristic features of this case series are emphasised. It was impossible to trace the source of the outbreak, in spite of the fact that the mini-epidemic took place in an open situation. It is underlined that diagnosis is mainly clinical. The Legionella pneumophila bacteria should always be considered as one of the causal agents of bronchopneumonia, particularly when the following conditions are fulfilled: a) the disease takes the form of a confined, out-of-season, mini-epidemic; b) it is accompanied by multisystemic symptomatology and/or much greater involvement of general conditions that is usually to be expected in normal cases of bronchopneumonia. Since the disease is often fatal, erythromycin or rifampicin treatment should be started upon the slightest suspicion of contagion.

Adolescent↗