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Biomedical subjects

M Mantovani

Publications and source records attributed to M Mantovani.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Regulatory relevance of lipoproteins in interleukin-2 stimulated lymphocytes in vitro.

The regulatory role of very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) in de novo protein synthesis and in natural killer (NK) mediated cytotoxicity against cancer cells was evaluated in IL-2 activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBL). Supplementing of VLDL to the incubation medium induced a potent dose-related inhibitory effect on the synthesis and secretion of (35S) labelled proteins. The maximal inhibitory response was observed at 50 micrograms/ml cholesterol VLDL. The effect of VLDL on the IL-2 induced ability of lymphocytes to kill cancer cells and to interfere with target cell proliferation was then evaluated. Maximal cytotoxicity was observed at 50 micrograms VLDL/ml as cholesterol. This VLDL-dependent stimulatory effect was associated with a significant decrease in the proliferative effect of the medium conditioned by PBL. The possibility that VLDL mediate the regulation of immune functions by interacting with metabolic patterns expressed by IL-2 stimulated lymphocytes is discussed in light of these results.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Significance of trisomy 7 related to PCNA index in cholesteatoma.

PURPOSE: To define the biological features of the variable aggressiveness of cholesteatoma, we performed a retrospective cytogenetic and kinetic study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 44 cases of cholesteatoma by using fluorescence in situ hybridization with specific alpha-satellite DNA probes for chromosome 7 and immunohistochemical analysis of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) with PC10 monoclonal antibody. RESULTS: We observed the presence of three or four chromosome 7 in elevated percentages of cells of 23 cases, and a high PCNA index (above mean value) in 22 cases. CONCLUSION: Based on our results, we maintain that the presence of an extra chromosome 7 is correlated with an increase of proliferative activity. Therefore, trisomy 7 can be considered a prognostic marker and an indicator of aggressive behavior in cholesteatoma.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Salivary probe and dissector.

Salivary calculi, preponderating in the submaxillary duct, produce distension of the ductile system, as well as pain and fever, when they enlarge sufficiently to obstruct salivary flow. Although calculi may pass spontaneously by eroding into the oral cavity, they must usually be removed surgically under local anesthesia. The device presented simplifies extraction of multiple sialoliths. Soft tissue trauma is minimized, and patient comfort is significantly increased.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Exclusive jejunal and ileal lesions due to blunt trauma.

The exclusive jejunal and ileal lesion due to blunt trauma is a rare and potentially lethal condition. The small intestine is the most damaged organ in penetrating abdominal injuries, although its isolated injury in blunt abdominal trauma is rare and difficult to diagnosed. There are no characteristic signs nor symptoms in the exclusive jejunal and ileal lesions due to abdominal contusions which result in high morbidity and mortality rates since a late diagnosis is done despite advanced auxiliary diagnostic methods available. Considering these facts, the aim of the present work is to study the prognosis of patients suffering from this type of injury due to abdominal trauma, taking into consideration the time elapsed between the trauma and its diagnosis and the importance of its early surgical correction.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Semiquantitative culture in diagnosing venous catheter-related sepsis.

Since Aubaniac (1) described the puncture of the subclavian vein in 1952, and specially after the standardization of parenteral nutrition by Dudrick et al. (11) in 1968, much has been published about complications caused by percutaneous central venous catheterization. Among the various complications provoked by this procedure, a very important one is "primary sepsis" or "catheter-related sepsis", both because of its frequency and because of the morbidity and mortality it causes (18,19). It is, however, difficult to diagnose this complication. The main difficulty lies in differentiating catheters that are really causing sepsis from those that, though showing "positive culture" do not cause bacteremia and are not responsible for the occasional signs of infection that a patient may show (6,7). This difficulty in diagnosing has led to the recommendation that all catheters suspected of causing sepsis be systematically removed. This procedure has the effect of exposing patients in serious condition and with limited venous access to the risks of new punctures. Usually these risks are unnecessary, since 75 to 90% of the catheters removed for this reason are not the real source of infection (3, 17, 19, 21, 22). In 1977, Maki et al. (18) proposed a semiquantitative catheter tip culture that showed considerable correlation with positive hemoculture for the same microorganisms; that is, capable of identifying which "positive catheters" were really causing sepsis. Subsequent research confirmed these results, showing that the semiquantitative catheter tip culture had specificity and sensibility over 80% (10, 15).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Bacteria↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Influence of subacute starvation on cardiac response to isoproterenol in rats.

Several studies have reported that the heart is severely affected by chronic malnutrition. However, the influence of these alterations on cardiac function remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of subacute starvation on the heart chronotropic response to a beta-adrenergic agonist (isoproterenol). Twelve rats were fed rat chow ad libitum or a 50%-restricted diet for 17 days. The rats were killed, the right atrium was isolated and incubated, and in vitro spontaneous cardiac contractions and frequency were registered. Cumulative doses of isoproterenol were added to the solution until maximal cardiac frequency was achieved. A deficit of 25% in the weight gain was observed in study rats compared with controls (92.6 +/- 10.2 vs. 113.8 +/- 19.2 g, p less than 0.05). Mean daily food intake was 4.8 +/- 0.1 and 9.8 +/- 0.5 g/day for semistarved and control rats, respectively. The in vitro cardiac frequency of the semistarved rats was similar to that of controls (290 +/- 15 and 305 +/- 23 beats/min, respectively, NS). However, when isoproterenol was added to the solution, maximal cardiac frequency of the semistarved rats (435 +/- 51 beats/min) was lower than that of control rats (508 +/- 34 beats/min, p less than 0.005). These findings suggest that subacute starvation may alter the cardiac response to beta-adrenergic agonists.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Acute jejunogastric intussusception].

The authors present one case of type III jejunogastric intussusception that occurred on the 9th post-gastrectomy day. They compare this case to five others seen at the same hospital in the last nine years. They discuss the rarity of this complication that can only be resolved surgically, the importance of early diagnosis for the favorable clinical evolution, and the surgical technique used. They stress the need to include jejunogastric intussusception in the differential diagnosis of high intestinal obstruction in gastrectomized patients both in the early and in the late post-operative period.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Ogilvie syndrome in 2 cases of pseudo-pseudo-obstruction of the colon].

Ogilvie's syndrome is defined as a pseudo-obstruction of the colon of unknown cause. A review of recent literature shows a proliferation of reports of such cases associated to multiple conditions. The authors present two cases of perforated peptic ulcers with peritonitis that mimicked Ogilvie's syndrome in the clinical, radiological, and colonoscopic presentations. They propose that pseudo-obstruction cases obviously caused by adynamic ileus be excluded from the Ogilvie's syndrome classification, for a better understanding of its pathogenesis.

Aged↗