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Biomedical subjects

S Messina

Publications and source records attributed to S Messina.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Effects of high salt diets and taurine on the development of hypertension in the stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rat.

Taurine is present in high concentrations in mammalian tissues and has been implicated in cardiovascular control mechanisms. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the ability of taurine to attenuate salt-induced elevations in blood pressure and markers of damage to the kidney and cardiovascular system in stroke prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SPSHR). Male SPSHR (6 weeks old) were placed on high salt diets that contained 1% (w/w) NaCl added to their normal chow for 84 days and then were switched to 3% added NaCl for the remaining 63 days of the study. SPSHR was given 1.5% taurine in the drinking water (n = 8), a taurine free diet (n = 8) or normal chow (n = 8). A final control group (n = 6) was not given high salt diets. High salt diets caused an acceleration in the development of hypertension in all groups. Taurine supplementation reduced ventricular hypertrophy and decreased urinary excretion of protein and creatinine. The taurine free diet did not alter serum or urinary excretion of taurine, but did result in elevated urinary nitrogen excretion, increased serum cholesterol levels, and impaired performance in a spatial learning task. Alterations in dietary taurine intake did not alter urinary or serum electrolytes (Na+, K+), but taurine supplementation did attenuate a rise in serum calcium seen with the high salt diets. Urinary excretion (microg/24h) of epinephrine and dopamine was significantly reduced in SPSHR given 1% NaCl in the diet, but this effect was not seen in SPSHR on taurine free or supplemented diets. Taurine supplementation showed cardioprotective and renoprotective effects in SPSHR given high salt diets.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Diverting a protein from its cellular location by intracellular antibodies. The case of p21Ras.

We describe the use of phage libraries to derive new antibodies against p21Ras to be used for intracellular expression in mammalian cells. A panel of single-chain antibody fragments, binding to Ras, were analyzed and characterized for their capacity to interfere in vitro with (a) the intrinsic GTPase activity of Ras and (b) the binding of Ras to its effector Raf, and were found not to neutralize its function, according to these biochemical criteria. When expressed intracellularly in mouse 3T3 K-Ras transformed cells all the anti-Ras single-chain variable fragments (scFv) tested inhibited cell proliferation, as assessed by bromodeoxyuridine incorporation. Double immunofluorescence analysis of transfected cells using confocal microscopy confirmed that anti-Ras antibody fragments colocalize with endogenous Ras, at subcellular locations where the protein Ras is not normally found. These data suggest that the ability of phage-derived anti-Ras scFv fragments to inhibit the function of Ras in vivo is a rather general and frequent property and that the range of antibodies that can be successfully used for intracellular inhibition studies is much greater than anticipated, exploiting the mode of action of diverting protein traffic.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed2000

Severe polyneuropathy in a patient with Churg-Strauss syndrome.

We describe the clinicopathologic features of a 56-year-old woman affected with Churg-Strauss syndrome with major peripheral nerve involvement. The patient presented with a 1-month history of mainly distal upper-limb symmetrical paresthesias and hypostenia (bilateral "wrist drop"), palpable purpura and eosinophilia. Multiple pulmonary infiltrates and asthma had been present since the age of 52. Skin biopsy demonstrated an eosinophilic necrotizing vasculitis. During the hospitalization she was submitted to cardiac, bronchopulmonary, renal, and gastrointestinal evaluation and EMG. Peripheral nerve and skeletal muscle biopsies were performed. Sural nerve biopsy showed a marked degree of demyelination. A perivascular cellular infiltrate within the epineurium was immunoreactive for T lymphocytes and macrophages. Strong HLA-DR immunostaining was present in the endoneurium. IgM, IgE and fibrinogen deposition was found in some epi- and endoneurial vessels. Muscle biopsy showed neurogenic changes and 1 thrombosed vessel surrounded by mononuclear cells. Membrane attack complex (MAC) deposition was present in a few capillaries and major histocompatibility complex products I (MHCP I) was expressed at the subsarcolemmal level in a few isolated perivascular muscle fibers. After immunosuppressive therapy, the patient showed progressive improvement of both clinical symptoms and neurophysiological parameters.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1999

Missing pieces.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adenomatous Polyposis Coli↗
PubMed1998

The mode of action of Y13-259 scFv fragment intracellularly expressed in mammalian cells.

The anti-p21ras Y13-259 single-chain Fv fragment (scFv) neutralizes the activity of p21-ras when intracellularly expressed in different systems. We have studied the mode of action of this inhibition in 3T3 K-ras fibroblasts and demonstrated that (i) this antibody fragment is highly aggregating when cytoplasmically expressed and (ii) the p21-ras antigen is sequestered in these aggregates in an antibody-dependent manner. This co-segregation leads to an efficient inhibition of DNA synthesis. These results suggest that an antigen can be diverted from its normal location inside the cells in an antibody mediated way, prospecting a new mode of action for intracellular antibodies in vivo.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1993

[Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) today].

SLE is a complex systemic disease which probably has a multifactorial genesis. The basis alteration takes the form of a severe immunoregulation disorders. From an epidemiological point of view, there are no certain links with country of origin or race; knowledge of the disease's etiology is equally limited. Clinical symptoms are widely variable according to the prevalent organ or apparatus pathology. The symptomatology of SLE is in fact highly polymorphous thus making it complex and sometimes difficult to diagnose. From a prognostic point of view, over recent years the future of these patients has appeared brighter than in the past. The current therapeutic approach uses a number of measures which can be used in combination or sequentially. It is precisely this varying combination of therapies that has led to a marked prolongation of survival and long disease-free periods.

Humans↗
PubMed1991

[Hamartochondroma of the lung. Apropos 11 cases].

The authors take the opportunity of 11 cases of pulmonary hamartomas observed during the last 10 years, to specify the clinical and diagnostic problems and the therapeutic possibilities of this rare pulmonary neoplasm. The hamartochondroma is found mainly in the male sex, between the age of the fifth and sixth decades of life; the size of the neoplasm varies from 2 to 4 cm, rarely exceeding 10 cm. In 8 cases the operation was the simple enucleation of the hamartochondroma or its removal by atypical resection: in only one case, become of the conspicuous dimensions of the neoplasm, was it necessary to perform a typical lobectomy. The follow-up did not demonstrate any relapse, or the appearance of carcinoma of the lung in any of the cases under observation and surgically treated.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Intrathoracic hemangiopericytoma localized in the mediastinum].

The paper reports a case of intrathoracic hemangiopericytoma localised in mediastinum which was brought to the authors attention and treated surgically. Having analysed the tumour's macro- and microscopic histological and biological features and the most suitable methods of diagnosis, the authors stress that, in line with international literature, radical surgery extended to the surrounding tissues is the elective surgical treatment for hemangiopericytoma in a mediastinal site.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Small-cell lung carcinoma: survival after combination chemotherapy, radiotherapy or symptomatic treatment.

A retrospective comparison was made of the survival of patients with small-cell lung carcinoma treated by combination cytotoxic chemotherapy (CT), radiotherapy (RT) or symptomatic therapy alone (ST). Forty-three patients received CT and 42 patients of similar age and performance status each received RT or ST at the same group of hospitals. The median survival was 43 weeks with CT, 18 weeks with RT and 6 weeks with ST and 1 year survivals of 36%, 12% and 8% respectively were obtained. Despite the limitations of a retrospective study these results suggest that an improved survival with toxicity acceptable to most patients results from cytotoxic chemotherapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

High creatine kinase MB isoenzyme activity associated with a rhabdomyosarcoma.

A 20-year-old man was found to have high plasma creatine kinase (EC 2.7.3.2) activity in association with a rhabdomyosarcoma of the prostate. There was a very high proportion of the MB isoenzyme. Clinical findings and changes in creatine kinase activity with time showed that this increase was not ascribable to myocardial disease. We believe that the high proportion of CK-MB, confirmed by a combination of electrophoretic and immunoinhibition studies, originated from the tumor.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

[Technic for repair of laparoceles by an extraperitoneal approach].

The authors report their experience with a technique for reconstruction of the abdominal wall, without opening the peritoneal sac, in patients with ventral hernia. After detailing the basic principles and advantages of the technique, they conclude by stating that it constitutes an effective procedure for repair of ventral hernias of the median line without endoabdominal morbid associations.

Hernia, Ventral↗
PubMed1979

The radioisotope spleen scan in the assessment of patients with suspected spleen trauma.

The radioisotope spleen scan was reviewed in 29 patients with suspected trauma of the spleen who had been admitted for observation to a surgical ward. At the time of the study, all patients had stable pulse rates and blood pressures. The scans of six patients showed space defects and, of these, splenic injury was subsequently proven operatively in five patients. As a detector of splenic trauma, the radionuclide scan proved to be reliable. Although the findings of radioisotope scanning are not specific for trauma, the interpretation of the scan in conjunction with other observations increases the accuracy of diagnosis.

Adolescent↗