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Biomedical subjects

M Orsini

Publications and source records attributed to M Orsini.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1978

Genetic polymorphisms in juvenile-onset diabetes.

Nine genetic polymorphic systems (ACP1, PGM1, ADA, AK, G-6-PD, Hp, ABO, Rh, MN), were studied in a series of 138 subjects affected by JOD. Differences between diabetic patients and controls were observed in the distribution of phenotypes of the red cell acid phosphatase (ACP1), and the ABO and MN blood groups.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMed1973

[Not Available].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

History, Modern 1601-↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Serum antibodies against Coxsackie B1-6 viruses in type 1 diabetics.

Twenty-two newly diagnosed insulin-dependent diabetics and 46 control subjects have been examined for Coxsackie B1-6 serum antibodies. Evidence for CoxB4 neutralizing antibodies at titers greater than or equal to 16 and two seroconversions for this single virus type were shown in the diabetic group (31.8% of patients with titers greater than or equal to 16 in comparison with 10% of controls, p = 0.08). Reduced titers against CoxB2 and CoxB5 in diabetics were also observed. In agreement with the majority of publications, these data suggest the hypothesis that CoxB4 infections are frequently associated with type 1 diabetes, and the positive relationship found only for this type of virus may be related to greater tropism for the pancreas. The specificity of this viral infection, as shown by our serologic results, could suggest a possible causative role in the development of type 1 diabetes only in a limited number of cases. The authors propose new studies with monoclonal and IgM specific antibodies, obtained from new isolates, to detect more accurately the qualiquantitative differences between type 1 diabetics and controls.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Oral fluids for the immunodiagnosis of Schistosoma mansoni infection.

Saliva and oral transudate were evaluated for their potential as human specimens in the detection of IgG antibodies against soluble Schistosoma mansoni egg antigen (SEA). Preliminary laboratory testing of 49 subjects, 37 with parasitological proven infection and 12 negative controls, displayed 100% sensitivity in ELISA using serum and oral transudate and 94.6% using saliva. The specificity of the ELISA with serum was 100% versus 91.7% with both oral fluids. Significant Spearman rank correlations of anti-SEA IgG levels with egg counts were observed for serum, oral transudate and saliva (P < 0.05). The sensitivity of dot-ELISA was 100% for serum, 89% for transudate and 81% for saliva, and specificity was 100% for all 3 samples. The immunodiagnostic value of ELISA for the detection of anti-SEA IgG antibodies in oral transudate was further evaluated in 197 individuals from an endemic area of Brazil. The ELISA using serum and oral transudate showed sensitivities of 98.8% and 100% respectively and specificities of 67.8% and 64.3% respectively. Use of oral fluids for the diagnosis of S. mansoni infection was equivalent to sera with respect to test efficacy, offering an alternative to blood collection.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The role of nutritional status and insulin-like growth factor in reduced physical growth in hepatosplenic Schistosoma mansoni infection.

The influence of nutritional status and hormonal growth activity on the impaired somatic development of adolescents with the hepatosplenic clinical form of Schistosoma mansoni infection (HS), the intestinal form with high (IH) or low (IL) egg output and non-infected (NI) individuals was evaluated (in Comercinho, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, in 1996-97) by measuring body mass index (BMI), insulin-like growth promoting factor (IGF-I) and its carrier protein (IGFBP-3). BMI, IGF-I and IGFBP-3 concentrations were significantly lower in the HS group compared with the IH and the NI groups, irrespective of age. BMI did not remain associated with the clinical form in the bi-variate model that included IGF-I and BMI or IGFBP-3 and BMI, suggesting that in these groups IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels were related to the clinical form but independent of nutritional status. It is suggested that physical growth impairment in hepatosplenic S. mansoni infection results from the synergistic action of both hepatic damage and nutritional restriction.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Detection of circulating Leishmania chagasi DNA for the non-invasive diagnosis of human infection.

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for the detection of Leishmania spp. DNA in peripheral blood was optimized and evaluated for the diagnosis of human visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in Brazil during May 2001 to December 2002. Optimization of the technique resulted in a detection limit of 1.65 fg of purified L. (L.) chagasi DNA, equivalent to 1.65 x 10(-2) parasites. Leishmania DNA was detected in the blood of 48 of 53 patients with parasitologically-confirmed VL, which corresponds to a sensitivity of 91%. No DNA was detected in the peripheral blood of 15 healthy, non-exposed volunteers, giving a specificity of 100%. We conclude that detection of parasite DNA in peripheral blood offers a non-invasive, sensitive and rapid method for the detection of VL caused by L. (L.) chagasi.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cytostatic drugs and health risks for exposed personnel: search for new biomarkers.

The use of antiblastic drugs has opened up new perspectives in improvement of therapy and life quality for cancer patients. The widespread clinical application of cytostatic drugs implies risks for exposed hospital personnel, due to genotoxic and toxic-reproductive effects. Biological monitoring is fundamental to identify individuals at risk but is limited by the long latency of chronic effects, absence of unique cellular targets and low sensitivity of available laboratory tests. The objective of this study was to investigate toxic mechanisms by a molecular biology approach, searching for biomarkers potentially useful in monitoring programs. The proposed experimental model consisted of cell line exposure to cyclophosphamide, an alkylating agent of wide clinical use. Cellular response has been investigated focusing on potential targets at RNA level, through reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and differential display analysis. We studied the expression of several genes involved in differentiation, apoptosis and chemoresistance: ets1, bax, bcl-2, bag-1, bcl-X, mdr1 and mrp. Specific patterns of mRNA modulations were observed. Differential display analysis revealed candidate genes induced or repressed following exposure: their characterization is in progress. Besides improving the understanding of toxic mechanisms, identification of modulated molecular targets opens up new perspectives in exposure risk assessment, biomonitoring and preventive strategies at occupational level.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Treatment of hepatic encephalopathy with non-absorbable antibiotics.

Hepatic encephalopathy represents a well known neuropsychiatric syndrome in patients with either acute or chronic impaired liver function and is characterized by disturbance of consciousness, personality and intellectual capacity, altered neuromuscular activity and electroencephalographic abnormalities. The pathogenesis of the syndrome is still unknown, although important roles are ascribed to circulating gut-derived toxins of nitrogenous origin and to changing in central neurotransmission. Therefore, treatment is aimed to reduce the production and absorption of gut-derived toxins and to modify central neurotransmission balance. Among the different therapeutic approaches proposed for the management of hepatic encephalopathy, antimicrobial agents, alone or in combination with non-absorbable disaccharides, represent an important step, being able to reduce the production and absorption of ammonia, a compound of key importance in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy.

Ampicillin↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[A preliminary investigation on the occurrence of protozoa in swimming pools in Italy].

In Italy controls on the hygienic quality of swimming pools are fixed by the Accordo tra il Ministero della Salute, le regioni e le province autonome di Trento e di Bolzano, come into force in 2003. In the present study swimming pools were investigated from the microbiological point of view on the basis of the new legislation. Contemporaneously, for the first time in Italy, analytical controls on the occurrence of the protozoa Cryptosporidium and Giardia were performed with both techniques of immunofluorescence and polymerase chain reaction. Results evidenced a good water quality when the bacterial parameters stated by law were considered. However in some swimming pools, the protozoa were also recovered. Factors affecting the use of molecular techniques on the analysis of environmental samples are also put into evidence.

Animals↗