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Biomedical subjects

M Santoro

Publications and source records attributed to M Santoro.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Transdifferentiation of stem cells in pancreatic cells: state of the art.

Among the different approaches for diabetes mellitus-pancreas and pancreatic islet transplantation-the use of stem cells represent a renewable alternative source of insulin-producing cells. Stem cells capable of differentiating into beta-like cells can be isolated namely from embryonic cells, bone marrow, and umbilical cord blood, but also from adult organs such as pancreas, liver, and spleen. Several studies have demonstrated that by manipulating culture conditions and using growth and transcription factors of beta-cell lineage (in particular pdx-1 and pax4), embryonic stem cells can differentiate in vitro after formation of embryoid bodies. Bone marrow stem cells can give rise to mesenchymal; endodermal-, and ectodermal-derived cells. In vivo it has been shown that after bone marrow transplantation, using a murine sex-mismatched model, insulin-producing cells expressing the Y chromosome can be detected in the donor pancreas, although not in a significantly number. Cells characterized by a group of markers (Nestin, CK-8, CK-18) and transcription factors (Isl-1, Pdx-1, Pax-4, Ngn-3) important for beta-cell differentiation have been detected in umbilical cord blood. The recent evidence of the possibility to transdifferentiate stem cells to beta cells encourages further studies in animal models to exhaustively determine the differentiation pathways of stem cells to insulin producing cells. These findings might open the way to a successful human investigation.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A new oncogene in human thyroid papillary carcinomas and their lymph-nodal metastases.

Using DNA transfection analysis on NIH 3T3 cells, activated human oncogenes have been isolated from a variety of fresh solid tumours. Thyroid neoplasias show a wide range of lesions varying from slowly progressive well-differentiated tumours to anaplastic highly malignant neoplasms. Therefore they represent an attractive model to investigate the role of oncogene activation in different stages of the neoplastic state. Here we report the detection of transforming activity in DNAs extracted from five thyroid papillary carcinomas and two of their respective lymph-nodal metastases.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

13C-breath tests in the study of mitochondrial liver function.

Breath tests for "dynamic" liver function evaluation have been proposed several years ago. A variety of carbon-labelled breath tests for the assessment of mitochondrial, microsomal and cytosolic liver function have been described with the aim to increase data on liver disease staging, prognosis, and response to therapy. In the last years a great interest is developed about the use of breath test for liver mitochondrial function evaluation since it results impaired in a wide range of liver diseases either of genetic or acquired origin. In these cases mitochondrial oxidative metabolism of some substrates, as far as recovery of the hepatic energy state after a metabolic insult, results impaired because of the disfunction of the electron transport chain and/or ATP synthesis. Ketoisocaproic acid and methionine are the best studied carbon-labelled substrates for the investigation of mitochondrial functional damages related to structural alterations that occur in many liver diseases. Although these tests are simple, cost-effective and safe, to date there is still not general approval for their usefulness in clinical settings since they should fulfill several requirements to overcome the drawbacks of traditional quantitative tests. On the other hand, this field is relatively young and further studies are needed in order to assess the suitable substrate for the evaluation of the complex mitochondrial metabolism both in healthy subjects and in patients with liver disease.

Breath Tests↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Angiodysplasia of the colon].

The Authors report their experience with a case of angiodysplasia of the colon. It is outlined how these lesions can be demonstrated by angiography and colonoscopy. The pathophysiology, diagnosis and management are discussed as well.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Hypokalemic myopathy in pseudohyperaldosteronism induced by fluoroprednisolone-containing nasal spray.

A man who was using 9-alpha-fluoroprednisolone-containing nasal spray preparation for allergic rhinitis developed a pseudohyperaldosteronism and an acute hypokalemic myopathy. Muscle biopsy changes included variation in fiber size with preserved type 2a fibers, necrosis, phagocytosis and regeneration. This factitious mineralocorticoid excess syndrome, induced by uncontrolled use of intranasally administered steroid, should be considered among the various causes of hypokalemic myopathy.

Administration, Intranasal↗