Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M Fiore.
Experiments were performed to analyze the possible interaction between lesions induced by X-rays and restriction endonucleases in the production of chromosome-type exchanges. A stronger interaction was found between X-rays and the AluI-induced 'blunt termini' lesions than between X-rays and the BamHI-induced 'cohesive termini' lesions.
Anthralin is an extremely effective, nontoxic treatment for psoriasis. It has not achieved the popularity in the United States that it has in Britain and Europe. The various treatment methods, including the traditional Ingram regimen and short contact therapy, are discussed.
Neopterin excretion levels were assessed in 66 consecutive patients affected by non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL). The logarithm of the mean value of the whole series was 2.71 (log [mumol neopterin/mol creatinine]), significantly higher (P less than 0.001) than the control value (2.12). Fifty-six of 66 patients had a raised excretion of neopterin in amounts statistically related to the stage of disease. The mean value (2.51) of patients in Stages I-II was lower than the mean value (2.86) of patients in Stage III-IV (P less than 0.001). The 2-year probability of survival was 64% for patients in Stages I-II and 34% for patients in Stages III-IV. However, patients with lower neopterin excretion (less than 2.65) fared better than patients with higher neopterin excretion, regardless of the stage. Longitudinal analysis showed a trend toward a correlation between response to therapy and neopterin excretion. In NHL, the raised neopterin excretion appears to be a consequence of activation of the host immune system rather than a product of the malignant cells. But this excessive activation of the monocytes-macrophages, as reflected by urinary neopterin levels, is not accompanied by a better outcome. In conclusion, although neopterin cannot be considered a typical tumor marker, nevertheless it is an useful prognostic marker in NHL.
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Coexistent intrauterine and ectopic pregnancy is considered to be a very rare event, even if its incidence has greatly increased, due to the widespread use of ovulation induction. A case personally observed is prevented and after a survey of the observed literature, the pathogenesis and the diagnostic and therapeutic problems related to this syndrome are discussed.
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Fluoranthene metabolites in rat serum were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV and fluorescence detection and compared with in vitro metabolites obtained by incubation with microsomal fraction of rat hepatocytes. In order to resolve very polar fluorescent compounds present in rat serum, a modification of HPLC existing methods for in vitro metabolites separation was necessary. Mutagenic 2,3-dihydrodiol was identified in both in vitro sample and rat serum: this result is in good accord with cytogenetic analysis on rats bone marrow cells, that shows a slight but significant increase of sister chromatide exchanges.
The induction of sister-chromatid exchanges (SCE) and chromosomal aberrations (Ch.Ab.) by the herbicide maleic hydrazide (MH) has been investigated in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells grown in vitro and in bone marrow cells of mice treated in vivo. MH induces SCE and Ch.Ab. in CHO cells without metabolic activation; however, no induction of SCE was found in the in vivo experiments.
An epithelial cell strain has been established from the livers of male Chinese hamsters (CHEL cells). These cells, which proliferate in culture and retain their metabolic enzymatic activities during several subcultures, were used in a sister-chromatid exchange assay to evaluate the effectiveness of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and cyclophosphamide (CP). The results obtained demonstrate that CHEL cells are metabolically competent to activate different classes of procarcinogens into biologically active metabolites. Moreover, they showed a selective capacity to discriminate chemical carcinogens from noncarcinogens. Thus, the CHEL cell system appears to be a promising alternative to the short-term tests that include cell-free rodent liver homogenate to evaluate new promutagens and/or procarcinogens.
We describe a new clinical laboratory instrument, the IMx, used to automate immunoassay testing in the clinical laboratory. The IMx incorporates a novel technology called Microparticle capture Enzyme ImmunoAssay (MEIA) for assays of high-molecular-mass analytes, and fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) for hapten assays. A front-surface fluorometer is used to quantify the enzymatic generation of fluorescent product at a rate proportional to the concentration of the analyte in an MEIA, and a fluorescence polarization optical system is used to quantify results in an FPIA. The microprocessor-based instrument uses a robotic arm with two degrees of freedom and a rotating carousel to process the samples for assay. One assay can be done on each of 24 patients' specimens in 30 to 40 min with "walk-away" automation. Calibration curves are stable for at least two weeks. Instrument control involves software-labeled "command keys," a numeric keypad, and an interactive display. Results are output to a thermal printer or computer interface.
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Conflicting data have been reported regarding the association between occupation and coronary heart disease. We evaluated data on a series of 568 married men who died of coronary heart disease and an equal number of controls matched for age, sex, and neighborhood of residence. Information was collected from the wives of both cases and controls on a larger number of variables, including usual occupation, job-related and leisure-time physical activity, medical history, and life-style. Usual occupation was dichotomized into blue-collar and white-collar work according to the Edwards' classification. White-collar workers had a statistically significant 30% decreased risk of fatal coronary heart disease compared with blue-collar workers once the effects of reported coronary risk factors were considered (relative risk, 0.70; 95% confidence limits, 0.5 to 0.96). These data suggest that occupation is significantly associated with fatal coronary heart disease, and that this increased risk is not explained by a large number of known coronary risk factors. It still remains unclear, however, whether other uncontrolled variables explain the observed association.
The authors report a case of a 10-year-old girl with early involvement of the thyroid gland by non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, an uncommon site of presentation of childhood lymphomas. In pediatrics, thyroid enlargement is more often caused by lymphocytic thyroiditis. The good response to therapy, in spite of the advanced stage of the disease, is noted.
The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, fluoranthene (FT), has been shown to induce SCEs in vitro in CHO cells in the presence of metabolic activation. Negative results were obtained in vivo in mice. The HPLC analysis performed to investigate the presence of metabolites of FT both in the serum of treated mice and in culture medium of CHO cells confirmed some differences between in vitro and in vivo metabolism.
The authors analyse the expression of all the folate-sensitive fra sites in a sample of 24 male patients with Martin-Bell syndrome (MBS) and their 12 mothers distributed in 10 kindreds. The cytogenetic results are compared with that of a control group, constituted by 8 unrelated normal subjects. Except for the fra Xq27, there was no autosomal folate-sensitive fra site significantly more expressed in patients with MBS than in the control group. On the basis of the present cytogenetic sample of about 6 500 R-banded mitoses, a list of all the in vitro folate-sensitive fra sites and their relative frequencies is given.
A case of de novo double independent balanced translocation t(1;7)(q44;q22), t(8;10)(q22;q26) in a girl with mild phenotypical stigmata is reported. Beside hyposomia with retarded bone age and slightly dysmorphic ear, no other abnormality was detectable and the psychomotor development was normal. A review of the similar casuistry in literature is made.