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Biomedical subjects

M Ferrari

Publications and source records attributed to M Ferrari.

At least 505 records · Page 28Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Prostate specific antigen in the diagnosis and treatment of adenocarcinoma of the prostate. IV. Anti-androgen treated patients.

Serum prostate specific antigen was determined (Yang polyclonal radioimmunoassay) in 45 patients after anti-androgen therapy for stage D2, untreated adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Of the patients 9 per cent had undetectable prostate specific antigen levels and 22 per cent were within the normal range (0.0 to 2.5 ng. per ml.), with a mean interval of 2 years since introduction of therapy. Multiple prostate specific antigen values following anti-androgen therapy were available in 36 of 45 patients. The majority of the patients demonstrated an initial, often dramatic decrease in prostate specific antigen levels during the first 6 months after introduction of therapy. After 6 months 21 of 29 patients (72 per cent) had increasing prostate specific antigen levels. Data suggest that serum prostate specific antigen determination 6 months after introduction of therapy is capable of distinguishing patients with a favorable and persisting response to anti-androgen therapy from those in whom a limited response can be expected.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1989

Reduction of Hb levels during the racing season in nonsideropenic professional cyclists.

Hematological variables of 40 professional cyclists, all receiving intravenous iron supplementation, were followed during a 15-month period. Mean values for red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), and hematocrit (Ht) were significantly lower during the racing season (RS) than during the nonracing periods (NRP) (RBC: RS = 4.53 +/- 0.34 millions/mm3, NRP = 5.09 +/- 0.36 millions/mm3; line 7 of abstract: Hb: RS = 14.2 +/- 0.9 g/dl, MRS = 15.2 +/- 0.9 g/dl; Ht: RS = 40.7 +/- 2.7% NRP = 44.4 +/- 2.9%; P less than 0.001 for all). However, mean values for ferritin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) were significantly higher during the racing season (ferritin: RS = 422 +/- 398 ng/ml, NRP = 311 +/- 321 ng/ml, P less than 0.05; MCH: RS = 31.5 +/- 1.3 pg, NRP = 30.0 +/- 1.4 pg; P less than 0.001). These results suggest that the reductions in RBC, Hb, and Ht found in professional cyclists during the racing season are not the consequence of a diminution of iron stores but rather of reduced erythropoiesis and increased RBC destruction.

Anemia, Hypochromic↗
PubMed1989

Noninvasive determination of hemoglobin saturation in dogs by derivative near-infrared spectroscopy.

An in vivo method utilizing derivative near-infrared spectroscopy was developed to noninvasively determine cerebral venous hemoglobin O2 saturation (SVO2). The method was tested on eight pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs ventilated with differing inspired O2 mixtures to force changes in SVO2 over a wide range. Spectral data obtained by transilluminating the tissues surrounding the superior sagittal sinus (SS) were transformed into first derivative units for correlation with SVO2 data measured from the SS. Linear regression analysis was applied to data obtained from five dogs and used to build a three-wavelength algorithm for predicting brain SVO2. In three dogs, SVO2 was varied to test this equation ability to predict SVO2. The standard deviation of differences between measured SVO2 and SVO2 predicted from 31 separate spectra was 3.2%. These predicted values, when regressed against the sampled SVO2, yielded an r value of 0.97. The results demonstrate that during hypoxic hypoxia (HH) it is possible to noninvasively quantify SVO2 with the use of infrared spectroscopy.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Molecular characterization of Italian chromosomes carrying the Lepore Boston gene.

Hemoglobin Lepore Boston is characterized by abnormal non-alpha-chains that are the product of a fusion delta beta gene originated from an unequal crossing over between misaligned delta and beta genes. The investigation of the restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) of the beta-globin gene cluster in 18 Italian Lepore Boston chromosomes indicates that the hybrid gene is linked to two RFLP patterns. The majority of chromosomes show a pattern which corresponds to haplotype V and a minority to haplotype I according to Orkin's classification. A single Hb Lepore Boston homozygote was homozygous for haplotype V. The two haplotypes differ only for a single site 3' to the beta cluster. Our data allow the speculation that in Italy the Lepore Boston gene might be the result of multiple recombination events.

Chromosome Deletion↗
PubMed1989

Evidence for the single origin of HB G-San Jose in Sicily.

Hb G-San Jose [alpha 2 beta 2 7(A4)Glu----Gly] was detected in four families and three unrelated individuals from Eastern Sicily. Polymorphic restriction sites within the beta-globin gene cluster bearing the mutation were characterized. A complete association of beta-G-San Jose alleles with Mediterranean haplotype IV was found in the families examined and the same haplotype was also present in the unrelated individuals. These findings support the hypothesis of an unicentric origin of the beta-G-San Jose mutation which may have arisen in Eastern Sicily.

Cluster Analysis↗
PubMed1989

Present and future trends in research and clinical applications of inodilators.

The rationale of combining vasodilatation with positive inotropic intervention in the treatment of chronic heart failure has found a new implementation in the "inodilator" drugs. Inodilators are characterized by the properties of exerting positive inotropic effect and inducing systemic vasodilatation. The cellular mechanisms involved in the regulation of contractility of cardiac and vascular muscle and the pathophysiological events occurring in heart failure are briefly discussed, and the pharmacological profile as well as the therapeutic use of these drugs are reviewed. On the basis of the mechanism of action, two groups of inodilators are distinguished, the phosphodiesterase inhibitors and the dopaminergic agents. The increase of [cAMP]i induced by the phosphodiesterase inhibitors is responsible for their vasodilating effect and for the positive inotropic action, but many of them have in addition the ability to enhance the Ca2+ sensitivity of cardiac contractile proteins. The complex organization and the cardinal role of the catecholaminergic receptor system in the control of cardiovascular function and its contribution to the pathophysiological events occurring in heart failure are the rational basis of the therapeutic use of dopaminergic agents. These drugs, acting on DA, beta-, and alpha-receptors, exert not only positive inotropic and vasodilating effects, but also a diuretic action, and can reduce aldosterone and renin secretion, blunt an excessive sympathetic activity, and possibly promote the release of atrial natriuretic peptide. The multireceptor mechanism of dopamine-like drugs, which accounts for their favorable hemodynamic, neurohumoral, and diuretic effects, represents the most promising approach to inodilator therapy.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗
PubMed1989

General characteristics and viral susceptibility of a newborn pig kidney (NPK) continuous culture.

We have developed a fibroblastic-like continuous culture of newborn pig kidney (NPK). The current cell line was serially passaged 160 times and appeared to be well suited for production and assay of a number of viruses affecting pigs, such as pig parvovirus, pseudorabies and transmissible gastroenteritis. The cell line appeared aneuploid, with a modal chromosome number of 36 and induced tumors, classified as fibrosarcoma, in athymic mice.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Differential effects of nifedipine and diltiazem on methacholine-induced bronchospasm in allergic asthma.

The protective effect of nifedipine and diltiazem on methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction was studied in 12 allergic asthmatic patients. Nifedipine significantly but weakly attenuated airway reactivity to methacholine, whereas no protective effect was shown by diltiazem. We conclude that the two calcium antagonists have different effects on human airways. Furthermore, our results suggest that the action of nifedipine on methacholine-induced bronchospasm is too weak to justify its recommendation as therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

New application of the autotrans: autologous support of the organ donor and salvage of the donor's red blood cells for the transfusion support of organ recipients.

Organ donation is usually limited to solid tissues; paradoxically, organ donors undergoing explant are often transfused in preparation for or during surgery. This practice increases the requirement for blood and adds immunological and infectious risks for both recipients and donors of grafts. We have investigated the possibility of supporting an explant with intraoperative blood salvage and, in the case of a cadaver donor, at the end of the operation, salvaging blood for potential use in the graft recipient. This preliminary report describes the technique and the results obtained in two procedures. The volume of red cells with a hematocrit of 55% obtained from the two donors was 2,090 and 1,180 ml, respectively. These components were employed for the transfusion support of the organ recipients.

Blood Component Removal↗
PubMed1988

Italian experience regarding the prevention of Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies.

The indirect approach to carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis of Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies based on the study of DNA polymorphisms closely linked to this gene has been followed by five Italian laboratories in the study of 106 pedigrees. Out of 354 women studied up to 1 May 1987, 147 were identified as carriers because of pedigree information and/or of increased creatine phosphokinase (CPK) values. Of the remaining 207, 184 could be assigned to three arbitrarily defined risk categories (low, intermediate and high) using linkage analysis. This disaggregation of women at risk is clearly more useful than that defined before DNA analysis, in which the same 184 women could be assigned only to the low or intermediate risk categories. Prenatal diagnosis was theoretically possible in 90% of carrier women, and was actually performed in 14 pregnancies, which led to the identification of four affected male foetuses, one also having Down syndrome.

Chromosome Deletion↗
PubMed1988

Neonatal calf diarrhea induced by rotavirus.

This presentation summarizes the results of a comprehensive study on rotaviruses isolated in Italy from calves and rabbits affected by neonatal diarrhea. The results clearly indicated that rotavirus infection is widespread and supported the evidence for an etiologic role of these viruses in neonatal diarrhea. The evidence of differences in virulence among bovine rotaviruses appeared also to be confirmed. Conventionally reared calves were fully susceptible to the experimental infection induced by three rotaviruses originating from heterologous hosts, i.e. monkeys, pigs and rabbits, respectively. When rotavirus strains of bovine, simian, porcine and rabbit origin were compared by cross neutralization tests, it was found the simian and porcine strains were indistinguishable and both appeared to relate antigenically to the bovine strain. On the other hand, a reciprocal antigenic correlation was found between bovine and rabbit isolates. Finally, it was proven that feeding newborn calves with colostrum of their dams, previously vaccinated with an inactivated rotavirus vaccine, could prevent the neonatal diarrhea from occurring.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Comparative study of two strains of Bovid herpesvirus-4.

Two strains of Bovid herpesvirus-4 (BHV-4), i.e. the prototype strain DN-599, obtained from a steer suffering of a respiratory disease, and the strain 85/BH 16TV, originated from a cow with vulvovaginitis, were compared in studies which included restriction endonuclease analysis, experimental infection and reciprocal cross protection tests. The restriction endonuclease analysis revealed that the resultant DNA patterns of the isolates were generally similar with only a difference in one fragment. The two strains were capable of causing respiratory tract infection in calves, even if they displayed a different level of virulence: the strain 85/BH 16TV being the most virulent while the strain DN-599 the least. The two viral strains were mutually protective in that the calves were generally found to be refractory to challenge inoculation with either the homologous or the heterologous virus. Finally, both viral strains failed to evoke the production of neutralizing antibody in the experimental calves.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Meiotic recombination in the beta globin gene cluster causing an error in prenatal diagnosis of beta thalassaemia.

In the course of a prenatal diagnosis for beta thalassaemia by linkage analysis of restriction fragment length polymorphisms, a homozygous beta thalassaemia fetus was misdiagnosed as beta thalassaemia trait. Extensive studies of the polymorphic sites within the beta globin gene cluster in all the members of the family resulted in the conclusion that the paternal chromosome 11 of the newborn was different from that expected. Paternity was confirmed by HLA typing and blood group studies. The analysis of another polymorphic locus on chromosome 11 within the family was in agreement with the possibility of a crossing over between the two paternal chromosomes in a region 5' to the beta gene, previously indicated to contain a 'hot spot' area for recombination. This report underlines the risk of performing prenatal diagnosis using restriction polymorphisms 5' to the beta gene.

Diagnostic Errors↗