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Biomedical subjects

N Romano

Publications and source records attributed to N Romano.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Further isolation of HIV strains in Palermo: some biological properties of the new isolates.

21 HIV strains were isolated from peripheral mononuclear cells of 31 adult and pediatric patients with AIDS or ARC and 10 apparently healthy HIV seropositive individuals. Viral isolation rate was correlated to the clinical status of patients, being very high in patients with AIDS or ARC, and lower in apparently healthy individuals. 4 isolates were propagated in cultures of a T-cell continuous line (Molt 4) and their biological properties were compared. The capacity to establish a chronic infection on Molt 4 cells and the extent of cytopathic effect of the infected cultures varied among the different strains. Moreover, differences in endpoint titrations of the supernatants and variable effects on cell multiplication and viability of Molt 4 cells were also observed. Our results further substantiate the existence of a wide heterogeneity of HIV strains.

AIDS-Related Complex↗
PubMed1987

[Role of ureaplasma in human infectious pathology].

Ureaplasmas are increasingly considered responsible for a variety of genitourinary pathologies in both men and women. However a critical review of the medical literature produces some reservations about the way surveys have been conducted largely due to the inadequate application of epidemiological research techniques and the failure to adopt either a global microbiological approach or a correct antibiotic-placebo experimental trial. Despite these negative factors some interesting indications appear to emerge and it is now certain that ureaplasmas are responsible for certain forms of non-gonococcic urethritis (NGU) and chronic prostatitis. More complex and still widely debated is the question of the involvement of ureaplasmas in obstetrical, gynaecological and neonatal pathologies. Two clinical pictures, chorion-amnionitis and low birth weight are considered the most probably pathological forms caused by ureaplasmas. However further tests using analytical epidemiological methods are required for their definite recognition.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1987

AIDS in Sicily: prevalence of antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in low and high risk groups.

A seroepidemiological survey, carried out to evaluate the prevalence of antibodies to HIV in patients with ARC and in healthy individuals at risk for AIDS, showed the infection to be widespread in the groups at risk, namely in drug abusers and hemophiliacs. However, remarkable difference existed between the prevalence of antibodies to HIV in drug abusers of the city of Palermo and those of other Sicilian provinces. Spread of the virus among Sicilian thalassemics, however, was very low and quite similar in all geographic areas. Antibodies were found very rarely (0.06%) in unpaid voluntary blood donors. The spread of the virus is still confined in high risk groups, and the major part of the seropositive blood donors were identified a posteriori as drug abusers.

AIDS-Related Complex↗
PubMed1987

Isolation of HTLV III/LAV from drug addicts in Palermo.

The new human retroviruses HTLV III/LAV, implicated as the causative agent of AIDS, have been isolated from peripheral blood lymphocytes of 5 of 13 drugs abusers with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related complex (ARC). In one patient the virus was also found in cell-free plasma. No HTLV III/LAV was detected in or isolated from 5 clinically healthy drug abusers. The lymphocytes were cultured with interleukin 2 and expressed either a transcriptase reverse activity or HTLV III/LAV antigens within 2-3 weeks of cultivation. The viruses were also transmitted into normal lymphocytes from cord blood of human newborns. At the present state of development, virological investigation, other than seroepidemiological survey, seems a suitable marker for human retroviruses tracing in epidemiological studies.

AIDS-Related Complex↗
PubMed1986

Uridine enhances the cytotoxic effect of D-glucosamine in rat C6 glioma cells.

This paper studies the influence of uridine on the effects exerted by D-glucosamine in rat C6 glioma cells. 2 mM uridine increased markedly both the cytotoxic effect of the aminosugar and the inhibition of thymidine incorporation into acid-insoluble fraction. Furthermore the complete resumption of the capacity to incorporate either 3H-thymidine or 3H-mannose which was observed after the removal of the aminosugar, was impeded when the cells were treated contemporaneously with D-glucosamine and uridine. An exposure for 4 hr to 20 mM glucosamine alone enhanced about 15-fold the cellular pool of UDP-N-acetylhexosamines; the addition of 2 mM uridine intensified the expansion of this pool, which became about 35-fold the control value. The findings suggest a connection between the accumulation of UDP-N-acetylhexosamines in the cells and the appearance of D-glucosamine cytotoxicity.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Changes in membrane lipid composition of Mycoplasma capricolum affect the cell volume.

The cellular water volume of Mycoplasma capricolum was markedly increased by a decrease in the cholesterol-to-phospholipid molar ratio in the membrane. An increase in cell volume was also observed with the increase in the phospholipid cell membrane content obtained by the incorporation of exogenous phosphatidylcholine from the growth medium.

Cholesterol↗
PubMed1986

Effects of urea phosphate, ammonium ions and pH on Ureaplasma ATP synthesis.

The effects of various reaction conditions and the influence of urea and its hydrolysis products on Ureaplasma ATP synthesis were assayed using of a pH stat system which avoids the unfavourable changes of the external pH. The results proved that ATP synthesis required the presence of an optimal phosphate concentration and was dependent on the urea content of the reaction mixture. The data suggest that urea is the energetic source for ureaplasma growth and ammonium ions and pH could interfere in an additive way with the production of energy, only when the starting pH of the medium is kept in a slightly basic range.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1984

Influence of urease present in non viable organisms on the decline phase of Ureaplasma growth.

Broth cultures infected with ureaplasmas for 48 hrs were unable to support further growth of reinoculated ureaplasmas even when reconstituted with fresh ureaplasma medium. The apparent toxicity of spent cultures was ascribed to the presence of non viable ureaplasmas still containing a fully active urease since all the procedures adopted to abolish or reduce the urease activity restored the ability of these spent cultures to support ureaplasma growth. However, if the cause of the steep decline phase of ureaplasma cells could be reasonably ascribed to the enzymatic activity of urease present in the dead cells, the reasons for the poor field and the low titers achieved by the organisms during the logarithmic phase of growth remain an enigma.

Ammonium Chloride↗
PubMed1983

Non-A, non-B hepatitis in Palermo, western Sicily.

Aetiological studies were carried out on 407 cases of acute viral hepatitis during two consecutive years in two general hospitals in Palermo, Sicily. Two hundred ninety-seven showed serological evidence of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection and 73 of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Of the remaining 37, two had a serologically diagnosed cytomegalovirus hepatitis, while 35 were classified as non-A, non-B (NANB) hepatitis. The frequency of the different major agents of acute viral hepatitis was notably influenced by the age of the patients, HAV being prevalent in children and HBV and NANB in adults. About one-fourth of the adult cases of sporadic, acute viral hepatitis were attributed to NANB virus(es). The acute disease appeared less severe than B hepatitis, as indicated by the duration of jaundice, peak serum bilirubin, and aminotransferase levels. No history of drug addiction or of parenteral exposure to blood or blood products was obtained from the presumed NANB hepatitis patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Adenosine triphosphatase activity of Ureaplasma urealyticum.

Adenosine triphosphatase activity of U. urealyticum is an integral membrane-bound protein which cannot be detached from the membrane by mild treatment with EDTA in low-ionic strength media nor by ionic detergents which rapidly inactivated the enzyme. The enzyme was Mg++ dependent; Mn++ and Co++ could replace Mg++ to some extent. A slight stimulatory effect was also exerted by sodium and lithium. The enzyme showed a nucleotide triphosphatase activity, but ADP was hydrolyzed at close to 40% the rate of ATP and other nucleotide monophosphatase were hydrolyzed at a very slow rate. Oubain and oligomycin did not inhibit the adenosine triphosphatase activity, whereas DCCD, NBD-Cl and several sulfhydryl-blocking reagents strongly reduced its activity. The enzyme could not be stimulated by trypsin pretreatment. It seems that the complex enzyme is tightly linked to the lipid bilayer of the membrane and differs in many aspects from the F0-F1 (Mg++, Ca++)-ATPase of bacteria.

4-Nitrophenylphosphatase↗
PubMed1982

[Epidemic of viral hepatitis in a mountain community of western Sicily].

Epidemiological investigations were carried out during and after a viral hepatitis A outbreak in a mountain town, Geraci Siculo, in western Sicily. Blood samples were obtained through finger prick or by venipuncture from patients, their family contacts and from healthy school children of different age groups (3 to 15 year old). Serum markers for hepatitis A (anti HAV and IgM anti HAV) and hepatitis B (HBsAg and anti HBs) were tested. All but two of 36 cases, which occurred from August through March with a peak in November and December were under 15; 33 of them, in which laboratory data were available, were due to HAV. Seroepidemiological investigations, performed in December 1979 and in May 1980, have shown a low prevalence of anti HAV antibodies: 11.5% only of the children tested were positive in the first sampling and 22% in the second one. Also prevalence of HBV markers was low, as compared with similar observations carried out previously in other different area of Western Sicily.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Adenosine 5'-triphosphate synthesis induced by urea hydrolysis in Ureaplasma urealyticum.

Although considerable attention has been devoted to the urea-hydrolyzing activity of Ureaplasma urealyticum, there is as yet no firmly established function for this enzyme. Present results support the idea that its activity generates a chemical gradient across the membrane which drives adenosine 5'-triphosphate synthesis through a chemiosmotic type of mechanism.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1979

[Observations on the diffusion of hepatitis A and B virus during an epidemic in a Sicilian town with a high rate of infection].

Epidemiological investigations were carried out during a viral hepatitis outbreak occurring in a Sicilian town of 30,000 inhabitants with poor sanitary standards, with the aim to study the mode of spread of HAV and HBV in conditions of high incidence of infections. HBsAg, anti HBs, anti HAV (RIA), HBeAg, anti HBe and anti HBc were investigated in serum samples from patients, their family contacts and from healthy individuals of different age groups. Morbidity was inferred from case notifications; search of unreported cases among school children, through the study of absenteeism, did not reveal further cases. In all 148 cases, occurred from August 1976 through July 1977 with a peak in January, 44% were under 5 and 93% under 10 years of age. All but 8 of 59 cases in which laboratory data were available were due to HAV. Anti HAV antibodies were highly prevalent in serum samples obtained in February through April 1977: 62% were positive in the 1 to 3 years age group, and more than 90% among school children. Prevalence of HBsAg was age and sex dependent, ranging from 4% to 15%; anti HBs was present in 8% of the children 1-10 years and in 30% or more in age groups 30-41 and over. It is suggested that direct contact between very young children was the main mode of spread of HAV, and inapparent cases the main source of infection, although ambient diffusion through water contamination could not ruled out. HBV was probably propagated mostly by intrafamilial spread with little overt pathology.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

[Epidemiological surveillance of influenza in western Sicily in 1976-1977].

Two strains of influenza virus A/H3N2 antigenically similar to A/Victoria/3/75 have been isolated in Palermo in February 1977; a peak of extramortality has been observed in the same month, and a rise of HAI antibodies for A/H3N2 viruses in human serum samples, taken from apparently healthy subjects living Palermo, has been demonstrated between October 1976 and February 1977. Similar rise of antibody titers has also taken place in serum samples from two communities in Western Sicily (Favara, 30,000 inhabitants, Favignana, 3,000 inhabitants). Serum samples obtained in June 1977 showed a slight fall of antibody level in Palermo and in Favignana, whereas in Favara a further rise, in comparison to February, is consistent with the hypothesis of a delayed circulation of virus in that community. Reduction of HAI titers for H3N2 viruses was even more pronounced in October 1977 in all groups of serum samples tested. The importance of local surveillance of influenza and the assessment of herd immunity level is discussed.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1978

Cell fractions and enzymatic activities of Ureaplasma urealyticum.

The localization of some enzymic activities in cell fractions of Ureaplasma urealyticum was studied. A quantitative evaluation of the effectiveness of several cell lysis procedures was obtained by using labeled membranes and sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Ultrasonic treatment was found to be the most effective procedure for lysing the cells, whereas digitonin and osmotic shock caused the lysis of only 70 and 50% of the cells, respectively. The localization of selected enzymes in Ureaplasma cells resembled that found in other Mycoplasma species. Adenosine triphosphatase, ribonuclease, deoxyribonuclease, and p-nitrophenylphosphatase activities were located exclusively in the membrane fraction, whereas urease and L-histidine ammonia-lyase were located in the cytoplasm.

4-Nitrophenylphosphatase↗
PubMed1977

[Studies of influenza in Palermo, 1970-75].

Epidemiological surveillance of influenza was carried out in Palermo betwen 1970 and 1975. Antigenic structure of viral strains A/H3N2 isolated from influenza patients during winter outbreaks was studied in comparison with reference strains circulating in the same periods in other parts of the world. Antigenic drift of hemagglutinin, of neuraminidase, or of both, was observed in Palermo isolates, which were progressively different from Hong Kong/68 strain; 1973 and 1975 isolates were similar to A/England/72 and A/Port Chalmers/73. HI antibodies against Palermo isolates were titered in serum samples obtained from adults living in Palermo. Seronegativity for each strain progressively decreased from 1971 to 1975.

Antibodies, Viral↗