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Biomedical subjects

S Fontana

Publications and source records attributed to S Fontana.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

[Prolonged treatment of hypertension in diabetic patients with enalapril. 1-year follow-up].

In view of the pharmacological and chemical reasons for using ACE-inhibitors to treat diabetic hypertension, a group of 40 outpatients were treated with Enalapril. The sample consisted of 20 outpatients, 6 males, 14 females aged 48-76 (mean age 63.75), 18 of whom had type II and 2 type I diabetes and 11 under treatment by diet and hypoglycaemic drugs or insulin. All these patients presented slight or moderate essential arterial hypertension (diastolic pressure less than 115 mmHg). For about one year 17 of the patients were given 20 mg/die Enalapril and the remaining three 10 mg/die in a single morning dose. In 16 cases no other treatment was given. In 4 a non-potassium conserving diuretic was also given. Check-ups before six months into and at the end of treatment showed: a statistically significant reduction in systolic (p less than 0.05) and diastolic (p less than 0.01) pressure. In contrast no significant change was noted in heart beat, glycaemia before or after meals, body weight, glycosylated haemoglobin or any other blood chemical parameter considered. In one case only there was a slight increase in proteinuria that was however present at the start of treatment. As far as side effects are concerned there was one case of cardiac palmus during treatment and one case of coughing that regressed totally when treatment was suspended but nothing else of significance. It should be noted that the antidiabetic treatment remained unchanged throughout the period considered in most cases and at most was subjected to minimal qualitative and quantitative adjustments.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

[Primary gastric non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Presentation of 8 cases].

Eight cases of primary gastric lymphomas encountered in a series of 164 cases of extranodal NHL are analysed. The clinical aspects, the modality of onset and diffusion of the lymphoma, its macroscopic and histopathological features and the different therapeutic approaches are discussed. In particular while the distinction between localised and diffuse forms remains valid, it is pointed out that it is not always possible to treat the former by gastric resection, the latter by chemotherapy. In fact the choice of treatment will often be influenced by the patient's age, the presence of a bulk disease, the inoperability of the lymphoma and its degree of malignancy.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Expression of major histocompatibility complex class I antigens in normal and transformed rat thyroid epithelial cell lines.

Recent evidence suggests that the expression of abnormally high amounts of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules may be a feature of at least some kinds of transformed cells. To investigate this aspect of neoplastic transformation we studied the expression of MHC class I antigens in an experimental model of normal, tumor-derived, and virus-transformed thyroid epithelial cell lines. The expression of MHC class I antigens has been studied by means of several monoclonal antibodies directed against either monomorphic or polymorphic epitopes and quantified by flow cytometry. Class I specific mRNA transcripts have been also analyzed by Northern blot hybridization, using a mouse genomic H-2 DNA probe. Our results indicate a modulation of MHC class I expression associated with loss of the differentiated phenotype and with transformation of thyroid epithelial cell lines. Undifferentiated cells in fact show a small quantity of these antigens, because acquisition of a fully differentiated phenotype is associated with an increase in their expression. Cell lines derived from thyroid tumors show reduced expression of MHC class I antigens, as compared to differentiated cells. Conversely, cells transformed in vitro by a retrovirus carrying the v-raski oncogene exhibit an increase in these antigens in comparison to their normal differentiated counterparts. Cells infected with a mutant virus able to transform cells only at the permissive temperature of 33 degrees C show a similar increased expression. After a shift to the nonpermissive temperature of 39 degrees C, infected cells, even those losing the transformed phenotype retain the same increased amount of MHC class I antigens. Our data suggest that the modulation of MHC class I antigen expression is strongly associated with transformation in thyroid epithelial cells.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1987

Inhibition by anti-HLA class II monoclonal antibodies of monocyte-dependent T cell proliferation induced by monoclonal antibody OKT3.

The inhibitory effect of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to monomorphic (locus-restricted and locus-shared) and polymorphic determinants of HLA class II antigens on the monocyte-dependent proliferation of T cells stimulated with mAb OKT3 has been studied. The effect appears to be specific, dose dependent, is not mediated by the Fc portion of mAb and reflects their interaction with the corresponding determinants. The anti-HLA class II mAb do not have to be present in the culture throughout the incubation period, but are essential in early phases of mAb OKT3 T cell activation. Both monocytes and T cells are the targets of the inhibition exerted by the anti-HLA class II mAb. Their inhibitory effect involves several steps in the sequence of events which leads to T cell proliferation, including interleukin (IL) 1 and 2 secretion, and IL2 receptor expression.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1987

EMG-biofeedback training in fibromyalgia syndrome.

Fifteen patients with fibromyalgia syndrome were given EMG-BFB (biofeedback) training sessions because of persistent aches after one year of monthly courses of NSAID. A long-lasting clinical benefit was observed in 56%. The improvement was found in those without overt psychopathological disturbances. In fact, a subgroup of clinically depressed patients responded poorly. Our findings were confirmed in a controlled study. Six patients were allocated into "true EMG-BFB" and 6 into "false EMG-BFB" treatment in a blinded fashion. The rheumatological assessment revealed a significant improvement in most of the variables only in the "true EMG-BFB" group.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

[Comparison of 12-month treatment with porcine and human insulin (semisynthetic and biosynthetic)].

In recent years two forms of human insulin--semisynthetic and biosynthetic--have been perfected and several experiments have been conducted to assess their effective therapeutic advantages. The present study compares the activity of porcine and human insulin. On the basis of the parameters considered--fasting and post-prandial glycaemia, body weight, glycosilated Hb--it is concluded that are no substantial therapeutic advantages in either porcine or human insulin. For this reason the latter should be reserved for special cases like initial juvenile etc., but offers no advantage in patients already responding adequately to the old insulin preparations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

[Liver biopsy. Case series in a department of general medicine].

The importance of liver biopsy in the study of liver pathology is emphasised. A series of 63 liver biopsies performed over a three year period is presented and related to liver function and the histological picture. Particular emphasis is placed on the importance of histological studies in cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis. This examination is fundamental for diagnosis, choice of treatment and control of these pathologies. Liver biopsy is easily performed with a low incidence of side effects.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

[Treatment of hypertension in the diabetic with captopril].

The apparently excellent pharmacological properties of Captopril as treatment for insulin-dependent and other hypertensive diabetics of all ages were investigated at a Diabetes Centre. Fifteen out-patients receiving oral hypoglycaemic drugs or insulin and suffering from slight or moderate hypertension (diastolic AP: 95-115 mmHg) were selected for treatment. The Captopril was administered in daily doses of 50 or 100 mg for 60 days. Tests on the 30th and 60th days revealed a statistically significant reduction in max/min OAP values, but no statistically significant variations in either cardiac frequency or glycaemia before and after meals. Nor did the main haematochemical parameters show any significant alteration.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

[Bone biopsy in hematology].

The importance of bone marrow biopsy in haematology lies in the fact that it puts relatively little stress on the patient and can reliably diagnose numerous blood diseases involving the bone marrow. It also provides information on the state of the bone marrow after treatment, and is essential for restaging in cases of lympho-proliferative diseases. A total of 116 personally conducted bone marrow biopsies proved to be a basic test for certain pathologies (medullary hypoplasia, myelofibrosis, N. H. lymphomas); while for others (leukaemia, plasmocytoma, polycythaemia), it was revealed to be a valuable back-up to clinical examination and other diagnostic procedures.

Biopsy↗