Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M Ferrari.
Three cytopathic rotavirus isolates were recovered from young rabbits affected by an enteric syndrome. The three isolates, when compared by cross serum-neutralization tests, were found to be of the same serotype. Cross neutralization occurred also between a representative of the rabbit isolates and one strain of bovine rotavirus.
Thirty couples having a DS child were typed for HLA-A and B antigens and compared to twenty control families and 176 blood donors. Although differences in frequency of B antigens exist between DS families and controls, they are not significant after correction for the number of antigens tested. No excessive HLA sharing was found in DS parents contrarily to two previous studies (Mattironi et al. 1981, Aymé et al. 1983).
Chromosome and enzyme determinations were performed in 250 pregnancies between the 7th and the 12th week of gestation. The majority of the tests were performed for risk of chromosomal abnormalities and 75% of the women were 35 years old or more. We describe a chorionic villi sampling (CVS) technique which proved to be highly efficient, with a diagnostic success rate of 97.7%. In the light of our experience we suggest that CVS is best performed between the 9th and 10th weeks of pregnancy. The average weight of the aspirated specimen was 20 mg with a lower limit of 5 mg which proved sufficient for diagnostic purposes. No major maternal complications were encountered and the slight bleeding observed in 14% of the cases during the days following the CVS should be considered a harmless effect of the aspiration technique. The proportion of fetal losses may lie between 4 and 7%. Paediatric monitoring of the 93 infants born so far and ultrasound examination of the pregnancies still in progress at the time of writing did not reveal any negative effect of CVS. Fetal-maternal transfusion and intrauterine infection are problems which need further basic investigations.
A comparative study was carried out on the susceptibility of primary bovine embryo kidney (pBEK) cell cultures and those of three other cell culture systems, i.e., primary calf testicle (pCT) cells and two cell lines, one of which originated from bovine embryonic trachea (EBTr) and the other from buffalo lung (IMR-31), to bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) virus. The virus titers obtained in the three culture systems under study did not differ significantly from those of pBEK cells. Moreover, the growth curve study demonstrated thad the pCT cells, as well as the two cell lines, were similar to the pBEK cultures in their susceptibility to the virus. Accordingly, it appeared reasonable to conclude that pCT, EBTr and IMR-31 cell cultures possess the general requirements for use in studies on the BVD virus. However, inasmuch as the cytopathic effects (CPE) produced by the EBTr and the IMR-31 cell lines did not display any distinctive characteristics typical of BVD virus-induced CPE, it is recommended that the two cell lines not be used for isolation of the virus from specimen material.
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Recent studies have reported that captopril can acutely induce a marked decrease of glomerular filtration rate in kidneys affected by renal artery stenosis, an effect detectable by scintigraphic techniques. Experience which confirms and extends this observation, obtained in five patients with renovascular hypertension, is reported here. For comparison, eight essential hypertensives and six patients with non-vascular unilateral renal diseases were studied. In each patient the ratio of glomerular filtration rate between the two kidneys was estimated during two consecutive scintigraphic studies with the glomerular tracer 99mTc-DTPA: in all renovascular patients captopril induced a marked decrease of glomerular filtration rate on the affected side, whereas negligible changes were observed in all other subjects. These results confirm that captopril may almost completely suppress glomerular filtration in kidneys affected by unilateral renal artery stenosis, an effect which may not be apparent clinically because of compensation by the other kidney, but which is scintigraphically detectable. Renal scintigraphy after captopril is easy to perform and non-invasive. It therefore seems to be a promising tool for the screening of renovascular hypertension.
In eight patients who underwent surgical treatment for diaphragmatic rupture, pulmonary function and differential ventilation of the lungs were evaluated four months-one year after surgery. The results of the study show that diaphragmatic rupture produces only a small reduction in total ventilatory function. Moreover our data indicate that the ventilation estimated to be contributed by the side injured, is decreased in a larger extent in abdominal than in thoracic trauma.
The kinetics of verapamil and of its N-dealkylated metabolites (norverapamil, D617, D620) were studied in six cardiac patients with normal cardiac indexes after 120 mg oral administration of the drug both as conventional preparation and as slow-release preparation. Following a dose of the slow-release preparation, the drug concentration curves were smoother and the mean bioavailability was lower in comparison with the conventional preparation. A patient taking inducing agents (phenobarbital and phenytoin) exhibited a strikingly low bioavailability. Following administration of the conventional preparation, the mean plasma half-lives of verapamil, norverapamil, D617 and D620 were 4.4, 6.6, 8.5, and 15.8 h respectively and the drug concentrations showed a triexponential decay. Urinary excretion data indicate that a saturation phenomenon may occur at level of renal tubular transport and that a competition may be suspected between D620 and the other compounds. It is concluded that various mechanisms, i.e. changes in hepatic and renal clearances, occurrence of a deep compartment, and the properties of the pharmaceutical preparation may affect verapamil kinetics during long-term treatment.
A series of 7-oxo-1H,7H-pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-6-N-pyridylcarboxamides was synthesized and assayed in the carrageenin-induced paw oedema test in the rat. Some compounds showed moderate antiinflammatory activity.
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Diazepam binding inhibitor (DBI), a brain neuropeptide putative ligand for benzodiazepine binding sites, has been isolated and purified to homogeneity. This compound, like the anxiogenic beta-carbolines, injected intracerebroventricularly facilitates shock-induced suppression of drinking in thirsty rats. Cyanogen bromide (CNBr) cleavage of DBI produces three peptide fragments: the carboxy terminal fragment (F3 approximately equal to 1800 mol.wt.) and an intermediate fragment (F2 approximately equal to 3200 mol.wt.) are inactive, whereas the fragment that contains the amino terminus (F1 approximately equal to 6500 mol. wt.) facilitates punishment inhibition of operant behavior in rat. These data suggest that the F1 peptide contains the active sequence. The latter might be the natural effector of benzodiazepine recognition sites while DBI could be a polyprotein functioning as the precursor of the putative endogenous ligand of the benzodiazepine recognition site.
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Among 60 patients with Tourette's syndrome (TS), whose mean age was 11.9 years, migraine was prevalent in 26.6%. This figure is substantially greater than that reported for the general population of school-aged children (4.0% to 7.4%) or for two control groups consisting of children with seizure disorders (n = 72) and learning disabilities (n = 62). The prevalence rates for these two control groups were 11.3% and 8.0%, respectively. The hypothesis is offered that the coexistence of TS and migraine in a subgroup of children with TS may reflect a similar abnormality underlying both conditions; specifically, neurohumoral dysfunction involving serotonin metabolism.
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Perfluorocarbons (PFCs), chemically inert fluorinated organic compounds with high binding capacity for O2, are under discussion as substitutes for erythrocytes. Given the paucity of E.M. observations after their use, the aim of this study was to provide more extensive ultrastructural data about PFC particle size in the emulsion and about the localization pattern in organs of rats after infusion of Fluosol 43. Attention has been focused on the particle relationships with subcellular structures and on the subsequent histopathological implications.
Eleven patients with Paget's disease of bone, treated intermittently for 2-4 years with porcine calcitonin (pCT) and clinically resistant to pCT [no modifications of serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and urinary hydroxyproline ( uHOP ) during pCT administration] were treated with 0.5-0.25 mg/day of human calcitonin (hCT) for 3-6 months. Nine of our patients showed biochemical improvement during the first 2 months of treatment, with reduction in ALP and uHOP . In one patient with slightly increased ALP and uHOP , and in another one during the second treatment course, hCT treatment did not modify the biochemical indices of bone disease. However all patients, including those with biochemical resistance, experienced a remarkable diminution of bone pain, which had not been observed during previous pCT treatment courses. Therefore, hCT appears to be indicated for therapeutic use in patients who are resistant to foreign calcitonins.
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Three strains (479 C, 778 TL, 982 LE) of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) virus isolated from latently infected calves were compared with the prototype strain of IBR virus (LA strain) in studies which included restriction endonuclease analysis, experimental infection, and reciprocal cross protection tests in cattle. From the restriction endonuclease analysis it appeared that the 3 "latent" viruses were derived from the same isolate, and that it differed slightly from the LA strain. However, latency does not seem to have affected the pathogenicity or the immunogenicity of the virus. This is demonstrated by the identical clinical and virologic response of calves subjected to experimental infection with the various strains under study, and by the finding that when the LA strain and a "latent" strain (982 LE) were tested in cross protection tests in cattle, they proved to be mutually protective.