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P Romano

Publications and source records attributed to P Romano.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Comparative study on the selective chalcopyrite bioleaching of a molybdenite concentrate with mesophilic and thermophilic bacteria.

This study evaluates different bioleaching treatments of a molybdenite concentrate using mesophilic and thermophilic bacterial cultures. Further studies on the chemical leaching and the electrochemical behavior of the MoS(2) concentrate were carried out. Bioleaching tests showed a progressive removal of chalcopyrite from the molybdenite concentrate with an increase in temperature. Chemical leaching tests support the idea of an indirect attack of the concentrate. Electrochemical tests indicate that chalcopyrite dissolution is favored when molybdenite is present. Therefore, this type of bioleaching treatment could be applied to purify molybdenite flotation concentrates by selectively dissolving chalcopyrite.

Bacteria↗
PubMed2001

Vaginal birth after cesarean in California.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate rates at which women were offered and consented to trial of labor in California hospitals with high and low risk-adjusted cesarean delivery rates. METHODS: From 267 nonfederal acute-care hospitals in California that performed more than 678 deliveries in 1992-1993, 51 hospitals were selected in a stratified sample. Hospitals in the sample were categorized as having high, medium, and low risk-adjusted cesarean rates using a logistic regression model based on data from the California Patient Discharge Data System. We reviewed medical records of women with previous cesareans for evidence of counseling regarding trial of labor, other clinical variables, and method of delivery. Differences in proportions between the three groups of hospitals were compared. RESULTS: According to records of 369 women with previous cesareans, after excluding contraindications, 312 were potentially eligible for trial of labor. Hospitals with low risk-adjusted cesarean rates documented counseling women for trial of labor in over 99% of records reviewed, compared with 85% and 79%, respectively, of hospitals with intermediate and high rates (P <.001). Rates of completed vaginal births after cesarean were 71% in hospitals with low risk-adjusted cesarean rates, compared with 39% and 31% in hospitals with intermediate and high rates (P <.05). CONCLUSIONS: California hospitals with high cesarean rates in 1992-1993 had markedly higher rates of repeat elective cesarean delivery without evidence of counseling regarding trial of labor. Informed patient choice is a critical element of the decision for trial of labor or elective repeat cesarean, and lack of documented counseling is cause for concern.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Analysis of yeasts derived from natural fermentation in a Tokaj winery.

The diversity of yeast flora was investigated in a spontaneously fermenting sweet white wine in a Tokaj winery. The non-Saccharomyces yeasts dominating the first phase of fermentation were soon replaced by a heterogeneous Saccharomyces population, which then became dominated by Saccharomyces bayanus. Three Saccharomyces sensu stricto strains isolated from various phases of fermentation were tested for genetic stability, optimum growth temperature, tolerance to sulphur dioxide, copper and ethanol as well as for the ability to produce hydrogen sulphide and various secondary metabolites known to affect the organoleptic properties of wines. The analysis of the single-spore cultures derived from spores of dissected asci revealed high stability of electrophoretic karyotypes and various degrees of heterozygosity for mating-types, the fermentation of galactose and the production of metabolic by-products. The production levels of the by-products did not segregate in a 2:2 fashion, suggesting that the synthesis of these compounds is under polygenic control.

Cell Division↗
PubMed2001

Use of sedative and analgesic drugs in the first week of ICU stay. A pharmaco-epidemiological perspective.

AIM: To assess the current practice of pharmacological sedation and analgesia in patients admitted in Italian intensive care units. METHODS DESIGN: observational, prospective, cohort study, involving all patients admitted during a one-month period to participating Centers in 1994. All patients were followed-up for vital status until discharge and evaluated for pharmacological sedation and analgesia for the first week of ICU stay. SETTING: 128 Italian, adult, general, intensive care units, approximately representing 1/3 of all Italian Units. PATIENTS: 2932 patients were analyzed. They generated 22612 patient-days of intensive care unit stay, 11221 of which were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 31 different sedative drugs were used in 1751 patients. On 64% of sedated days only one drug was utilized, whereas two or more drugs were administered in the remaining days. Propofol was the most widely prescribed drug, followed by fentanyl and diazepam, while morphine accounted for 14.8% of sedated days. The analysis of the pattern of sedation over time revealed a trend to linearly reduce the use of this practice. CONCLUSIONS: Our results depict a relatively low prevalence of sedation in Italy, with the use of large number of different agents. We also observed a larger than expected use of some drugs, like propofol and fentanyl, that could be due to the unavailability of new sedative and analgesic drugs in Italy on 1994. In conclusion, Italian intensivists seem to be very conservative about the practice of pharmacological sedation in critically ill patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

The expression of metalloproteinase-2, -9, and -14 and of tissue inhibitors-1 and -2 is developmentally modulated during osteogenesis in vitro, the mature osteoblastic phenotype expressing metalloproteinase-14.

During osteogenesis, in vitro, of tibial-derived rat osteoblasts (ROB) and derived clones, changes occur in the interactions of mature osteoblasts with the endogenous extracellular matrix (ECM) and these culminate in the formation of tridimensional nodules, which become sites of mineral deposition. We investigated if these changes might be mediated by remodeling of ECM, and we focused our study on the neutral metalloproteinases (MMPs), known agents of matrix remodeling, and on their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs). We report that during in vitro differentiation, osteoblasts express the secreted MMP-2 and -9 and the membrane gelatinase MMP-14. These, along with the tissue inhibitors TIMP-1 and -2, are developmentally regulated according to the maturation stage of osteoblasts. Their levels change in a similar association with osteoblast phenotypic maturation in different populations of ROB, which take different times to complete osteogenesis in vitro. MMP-14 expression coincides in both cell populations with the mature osteoblastic phenotype and is localized in the cells forming nodules. MMP-2 and -9 are expressed diffusely in the osteoblast population. Developmentally associated changes in the activation of MMP-2 are detected, associated in their timing with the expression of MMP-14 in both populations of ROB, and MMP-14 activates pro-MMP-2 in vitro. Expression of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) for the three MMPs increases up to the time of nodule formation. At this stage, TIMP-1 mRNA levels are lowest. TIMP-2 mRNA decreases throughout osteogenesis. In situ hybridization in 7-day-old rat tibias shows the strongest expression of MMP-14 among osteogenic cells, in lining osteoblasts on the newly formed trabeculae under the growth plate, and on the endosteal surface of cortical bone. Our data support the concept that the developmentally regulated expression of MMP-14 triggers localized proteolysis within the osteogenic population, concomitant in vitro to nodule formation.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

[Anastomosis between the left internal spermatic and splanchnic veins. Retrospective analysis of 305 patients].

PURPOSE: To investigate the presence and the rate of anastomoses between the internal spermatic vein (ISP) and visceral veins in patients with idiopathic varicocele. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the venographic findings of 305 patients (age range 14-40 years; mean age 28 years) with a US diagnosis of varicocele who were submitted to sclerotherapy from 1991 to 1997. All the venographic examinations had been carried out with selective injection of the ISP for complete mapping of gonadal vessels. RESULTS: The most frequent venographic patterns (type I) was identified in 139/305 patients (45.5%), type III was found in 86/305 (28.2%), type V in 37/305 (12.1%). Type IVb was found in 32 cases (10.4%) and type IVa in 9 (2.9%). Type II was seen in 2/305 patients only (0.6%). Single or double anastomoses between the ISP and portal or systemic veins were found in 34 patients (11.1%); a single or double communication with the left colic vein was observed in 24 cases (7.8%) and a communication with the paravertebral venous system in 10 patients (3.2%). Other anastomoses with the inferior mesenteric veins and splenic veins were seen in 7 and 4 patients (2.2% and 1.3%, respectively). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The presence of vascular variants and of communications of the ISP with the visceral veins needs accurate venographic studies preliminary to sclerotherapy and a skilled interventional radiologist in order to reduce the number of recurrences.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Local expression of cytokines in human colorectal carcinoma: evidence of specific interleukin-6 gene expression.

The expression of cytokine mRNAs in tumor tissue, normal mucosa, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was studied in 12 patients with colorectal cancer undergoing surgical resection, to characterize local immune conditions. mRNA transcripts for interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-2, IL-2-R(p55), IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, and IL-10 were detected using the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique. IL-6 mRNA was expressed in tumor tissue in 83% of the cases but only in one case in normal mucosa (p < 0.001); serum levels of IL-6 did not show any correlation with IL-6 mRNA; IL-1 beta transcripts were present in all tumor tissue samples; no IL-4 expression was detected; IL-2 mRNA was only present in two tumors; IL-2R(p55) mRNA was found in 58% of tumors but not in normal mucosae (p = 0.005). The expression of IL-10 suggests that it does not play a central role in colorectal cancer immunosuppression, and cytokine expression in PBMCs indicates a different and independent activation. This study suggests a pattern of expression of inflammatory cytokines in the tumor microenvironment, probably produced by infiltrating immune cells. The absence of the specific immune-activating cytokines, IL-2 and IL-4, could indicate an impairment of the anticancer immune response; IL-2R results confirm the dysregulation of the IL-2/IL-2R activation pathway. These findings may lead to a better understanding of the role of cytokines and especially IL-6 at the tumor site and hence their importance in developing an effective immunotherapy.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Educational experiences and quality of life of gastroenterology fellows in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the education and quality of life of United States gastroenterology fellows. METHODS: A 3-page, 74-question survey incorporating a 5-point Likert scale was designed. All US gastroenterology fellowship program directors were contacted by mail and asked to distribute the survey to graduating fellows. Surveys were sent on 3/29/1998 and collected until 6/1/98. RESULTS: Fellows who would not train at the same institution again had less supervision, clinical instruction, research mentorship, and support services than those who would. Fellows who had loans had lower personal satisfaction scores than those who did not. Fellows who did not hold second jobs (moonlight) had higher job satisfaction scores. Those with vision or dental insurance had higher job and personal satisfaction scores. Regarding quality of life, only 23% of fellows agreed they were not overworked, 23% agreed they were not stressed, 25% agreed they were financially stable, 54% agreed they were happy with fellowship, and 84% agreed they were happy with their career choice. Regarding education, 56% agreed there was more emphasis on productivity than on education, 39% agreed they received adequate mentorship for research, 86% agreed there was adequate supervision, 48% of fellows agreed they had autonomy in making clinical decisions, and 41% agreed they had continuity of care in seeing patients. CONCLUSIONS: Most fellows were happy about their career choice and clinical instruction, but there were deficiencies regarding quality of life (stress, overwork, financial security), education (research support, continuity of care) and job benefits (health coverage).

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to assess the efficacy and tolerability of mepartricin in the treatment of BPH.

BACKGROUND: Mepartricin, a semisynthetic polyene derivative with a favorable effect on urethro-prostatic function, was clinically evaluated, adopting the diagnostic and research criteria recommended by the First International Consultation on BPH. METHODS: A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study compared mepartricin 40 mg/daily to placebo in the treatment of 196 patients with newly diagnosed BPH and mild-to-moderate symptomatology. International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS), quality of life (QoL) index and maximum urinary flow-rate (Qmax) were determined every 4 weeks for 6 months; postvoiding volume, prostate volume, and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) were assessed after 3 and 6 months of therapy. RESULTS: Mepartricin was shown to determine a statistically significant improvement over placebo in I-PSS and QoL index from month 2 onwards, and a significant linear increase in Qmax over the study period. At month 6, the improvement in the mepartricin and placebo groups in I-PSS, QoL index, and Qmax was 6.3 (standard error (SE) 0.51) and 4.2 (SE 0.60) points (P = 0.003), 0.99 (SE 0.14) and 0.62 (SE 0.12) points (P = 0.036), and 2.7 (SE 0.46) and 1.2 (SE 0.46) ml/sec (P = 0.051), respectively. No significant differences were noted in postvoiding residual volume, prostate volume, or PSA. Mepartricin tolerability was good, showing no adverse events on sexual function. CONCLUSIONS: Mepartricin proved to be an effective treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia, determining an improvement in symptoms, quality of life, and peak urinary flow.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Molecular Probe Data Base (MPDB).

In this paper, the current status of the Molecular Probe Data Base (http://www.biotech.ist.unige.it/interlab/ mpdb.html ) is briefly presented together with a short analysis of its activity during 1997. This has been performed by statistically evaluating the 'logs' of the Internet servers that are used for its distribution with reference to the geographical origin of the requests, the words that were utilized to carry out of the searches and the oligonucleotides that were retrieved. Planned enhancements of this database are also described. They include a revision of its data structure and, even more relevant, of its data management procedures.

Computer Communication Networks↗
PubMed1998

Metabolic characterization of Kloeckera apiculata strains from star fruit fermentation.

A total of 37 strains of Kloeckera apiculata was isolated during the spontaneous fermentation of star fruit must. Each strain was differentiated from the others on the basis of its capacity to produce acetaldehyde, ethyl acetate, higher alcohols, acetoin and acetic acid. All the strains were characterized by the low production of higher alcohols and the high production of ethyl acetate, whereas consistent differences in the production of acetaldehyde, acetoin and acetic acid served to differentiate star fruit apiculate strains into six different phenotypes, present at different stages of the fermentation process. The metabolic strain diversity found can be interpreted as a natural consequence of environmental conditions, which influenced the frequency and selection of specific apiculate strains. From the biotechnological point of view the different metabolic biotypes represent an important source of strains for potential use as starter cultures for star fruit fermentation.

Acetaldehyde↗
PubMed1998

Stability in by-product formation as a strain selection tool of Saccharomyces cerevisiae wine yeasts.

A strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae homozygous for different physiological and metabolic characters was inoculated into two grape musts and the stability of the characters was tested by isolating clones at different fermentation stages. A total of 60 cell-clones were collected and asci dissected from each, yielding a total of 1200 single spore cultures, which were then tested for the segregation of several genetically controlled traits. From the parental strain, 10 asci were dissected and the 40 single spore cultures obtained were used as controls. Micro-fermentations were performed with the 200 single spore cultures obtained from clones isolated at the end of Trebbiano and Aglianico must fermentations. The majority of these spore cultures produced amounts of the secondary compounds at the same level as the parental strain. The progeny of three clones from the Trebbiano fermentation exhibited a significant increase in the production of isoamyl alcohol, whereas the progeny of one clone from the Aglianico fermentation differed in the production of acetoin and amyl alcohols. The variability found in the levels of by-products can also affect the organoleptic properties of the final product. The introduction of the 'metabolic characteristics stability' as a selective index for industrial strains is advised.

Acetoin↗
PubMed1998

Chloride-sulphate exchange chemically measured in human erythrocyte ghosts.

The purpose of this paper is to provide a clear description of a new chemical method to measure and analyze the net anion exchange (Cl-/SO4--) in resealed human erythrocyte ghosts. With this technique, we measured the influx of an inorganic divalent anion (SO4--) against a monovalent anion (Cl-) as a function of temperature. We found an apparent activation enthalpy Ea of 21-24 Kcal/mol. Besides the Cl-/SO4-- influx pH - dependence, measured under condition of electric anion equilibrium, shows a bell shape with a maximum around pH 6.3. In addition we accounted for the extracellular pH changes during the exchange of chloride for sulphate across the erythrocyte ghosts when bicarbonate is present in the medium. The pH drops sharply, then increases for the remaining experimental time course.

Antiporters↗
PubMed1998

Natural beta interferon in acute type-C hepatitis patients: a randomized controlled trial.

AIM OF THE STUDY: A multicentre randomized controlled trial to assess whether a short course of beta-interferon could reduce the rate of chronic evolution of acute hepatitis C, in line with recent observations, was started in Northern Italy in 1991. METHODS: Forty acute hepatitis C patients were randomized to receive natural beta interferon 3,000,000 international units intramuscularly three times a week for 4 weeks or symptomatic drugs, and were followed up for a median period of 22.5 months. RESULTS: The chronicity rate was 75% (15/20 patients) in the interferon-treated group, and 80% (16/20) in the untreated group. No difference in the duration of the acute phase of hepatitis was observed. Hepatitis C virus ribonucleic acid was determined in 21 cases and was positive in 19 cases at baseline and in 15/17 chronic and 1/4 non chronic cases at the end of follow-up. Side effects of therapy (flu-like syndrome in 40% of cases) were mild and short-lasting. No aminotransferase flare-ups were observed during treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Beta interferon at the suggested regimen is well tolerated but does not seem to significantly influence the natural course of acute hepatitis C.

Acute Disease↗