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Biomedical subjects

S Ferri

Publications and source records attributed to S Ferri.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Antiperinuclear factor in an Italian series of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Serum samples from 90 cases of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 218 control patients and 100 healthy controls were tested by indirect immunofluorescence for the presence of the antiperinuclear factor (APF), an autoantibody to the keratohyaline granules of human buccal mucosal cells. The sensitivity and specificity of the APF test for RA were 82 and 90%, respectively, slightly higher than those obtained when the same serum samples were tested for rheumatoid factor (RF) using a latex agglutination method. The diagnostic gain of APF in the RF-negative RA cases was greater than that of RF in the APF-negative cases (54% vs. 37%). In spite of a few technical disadvantages, the APF test should be therefore performed in the serological routine examination of rheumatic diseases. As APF was also found in 11% of degenerative joint disease (DJD) cases and the estimated prevalence ratio RA/DJD is, in Italy, 1/11, the predictive value of a negative APF test proved to be much higher than that of a positive test (98% vs. 40%) for the diagnosis of RA. APF was significantly associated with other autoantibodies (RF and antinuclear antibody).

Antibodies, Antinuclear↗
PubMedDate not supplied

High performance liquid chromatography analysis of the furanochromones khellin and visnagin in various organs of Ammi visnaga (L.) Lam. at different developmental stages.

The content of the furanochromones khellin and visnagin, in the organs of Ammi visnaga (L.) Lam. at different developmental stages, has been examined. Determinations have been performed by means of a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique which allows both the separation and the quantitative determination of these chromones. Unripe fruits are the richest in both chromones, but the collection of ripe dry fruits--as it occurs in Egyptian folk-medicine--seems more reasonable because they might not undergo degradation processes during desiccation and storage.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Human immunodeficiency virus-related risk behavior among Italian psychiatric inpatients.

This study evaluated at-risk behavior for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among Italian psychiatric inpatients. One hundred patients with mental disorders consecutively admitted to an acute psychiatric unit over a 1-year period were studied using a self-report questionnaire. In these patients, 53.1% reported sex with multiple partners, 35.4% with occasional partners, 57% with prostitutes, and 6.7% with intravenous (i.v.) drug users (i.v.DUs). Forty-three percent never used condoms during sexual intercourse, 23% used drugs intravenously, and 20% shared needles. Only one third of the patients were tested for HIV, and two tested seropositive ([HIV+] prevalence, 5.8%). Most patients (62%) reported no concern about the risk of HIV infection. The rate of HIV risk behaviors was higher among psychiatric patients versus a control group of 90 healthy people. These findings indicate an alarming rate of HIV risk behaviors among Italian psychiatric inpatients and the need for closer attention to HIV assessment and education in mental health settings.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Quality control of aromatic drugs reported in European Pharmacopoeia 3rd edition.

The apparent current explosion of interest and commercial activity in the area of herbal products should be followed by accurate quality control. In this work, the authors carried out the specific quality assays of all the aromatic drugs reported in European Pharmacopoeia. For each drug, several samples of different brands were bought in pharmacies, herbalist's shops, or supermarkets. The worst results were obtained in the assay for the essential oil content and this is very negative as the medicinal activities of these drugs are ascribed to their essential oil content. The samples of different brands yielded very different results from a qualitative point of view. In most cases, the analyzed samples were very far from the acceptable qualitative standards that they definitely lacked any health benefits.

Europe↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Transfer and expression of DNA constructs into cells by using retrovirus vectors: a new tool for pharmacological research.

Recombinant retroviruses are useful vectors for introducing DNA sequences into eukaryotic chromosomes and obtain their expression. The principles and techniques for producing these vectors and their applications are discussed in view of their use in pharmacological research. Particularly, retroviral vectors seem to be attractive for expressing into mammalian cells antisense RNA, that is RNA complementary to target mRNA and capable of preventing the synthesis of the gene product.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Sodium gold thiosulfate therapy: an open, viewed, multicenter trial in rheumatoid arthritis patients followed for two years].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if parenteral gold-therapy with Sodium gold thiosulfate is effective and safe for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis we began an open, multicenter trial. METHODS: 126 rheumatoid arthritis patients were treated with Sodium gold thiosulfate for two years. Efficacy, quality of life, progression of joint damage, inflammatory parameters and side effects were evaluated. RESULTS: Gold salts reduced joint inflammation and improved subjective and objective symptoms, quality of life and activity of illness within 6 months. Side effects appeared in 13,8% of all cases and regressed, promptly, when gold therapy stopped. The poor efficacy caused the interruption and the change from the gold therapy to others disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMRDs) in 17,8 % of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: The follow-up showed Sodium gold thiosulfate was effective in Rheumatoid Arthritis and the survival in therapy was of 77,8% to one year and of 68,4% to two years.

Adult↗