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Biomedical subjects

V Tugnoli

Publications and source records attributed to V Tugnoli.

65 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

Static vestibulospinal influences in relation to different body tilts in man.

In this study, H-reflex testing was used to identify possible static vestibular influences on soleus alpha motoneuron excitability in man in relation to different body tilts. Ten normal adult volunteers and one labyrinthine-defective patient were tested in an experimental situation designed to minimize all afferent inputs except the vestibular ones. Each subject was fixed to a rigid platform inclinable from the horizontal (0 degree) to the vertical (90 degrees) position and vice versa. On each subject, 10 consecutive H reflexes were recorded for each of the following positions: 0 degree, 15 degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees, 60 degrees, 75 degrees, 90 degrees and 90 degrees, 75 degrees, 60 degrees, 45 degrees, 30 degrees, 15 degrees, 0 degree. In all normal subjects, we observed a significant increase in amplitude of the H reflex as the body was tilted from horizontal to vertical, and a significant decrease when the body was returned to the original position. These progressive changes in spinal motoneuron excitability were linearly related to the tilt angles. By contrast, no significant change in H-reflex amplitude was observed in the labyrinthine-defective patient. These results would seem to indicate that the vestibular system exerts some influences on antigravity muscles in static tilts and that these influences are behaviorally adequate to provide for the postural stability.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Superoxide dismutase in gastric adenocarcinoma: is it a clinical biomarker in the development of cancer?

Gastric cancer is the second most common cancer worldwide. The involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the pathogenesis of gastric malignancies is well known. Many human tumours have shown significant changes in the activity and expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD), which might be correlated with clinical-pathological parameters for the prognosis of human carcinoma. The aim of this study is the detection of MnSOD and CuZnSOD activity and their expression in gastric adenocarcinoma and healthy tissues. Gastric samples (adenocarcinoma and healthy tissues) harvested during endoscopy or resected during surgery were used to determine MnSOD and CuZnSOD activity and expression by spectrophotometric and Western blotting assays. The total SOD activity was significantly higher (p<0.05) in healthy mucosa with respect to gastric adenocarcinomas. No differences were found in MnSOD activity and, on the contrary, CuZnSOD activity was significantly lower (p<0.001) in cancer samples with respect to normal mucosa. The rate of MnSOD/CuZnSOD activity in adenocarcinoma was over ninefold higher than that registered in healthy tissues (p<0.05). Moreover, in adenocarcinoma MnSOD activity represented the 83% of total SOD with respect to healthy tissues where the ratio was 52% (p<0.001). On the contrary, in cancer tissues, CuZnSOD activity accounted for only 17% of the total SOD (p<0.001 if compared with the values recorded in normal mucosa). After immunoblotting, MnSOD was more expressed in adenocarcinoma with respect to normal mucosa (p<0.001), while CuZnSOD was similarly expressed in adenocarcinoma and healthy tissues. The SOD activity assay might provide a specific and sensitive method of analysis that allows the differentiation of healthy tissue from tumour tissue. The MnSOD to CuZnSOD activity ratio, and the ratio between these two isoforms and total SOD, presented in this preliminary study might be considered in the identification of cancerous from healthy control tissue.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy study of low grade extra and intracerebral human neoplasms.

In this study we report an in vitro 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) characterization of water soluble metabolites obtained from 17 low grade extra and intracerebral human tumors (8 meningiomas, 5 oligodendrogliomas, 2 subependimomas and 2 ependimomas). In addition, the in vivo localized 1H MRS results for 4 of the meningiomas are reported. The main metabolic features characterizing low grade tumors were investigated. Meningiomas are characterized by high Cho/Cr and Ala/Cr ratios; in many cases both in the in vitro and the in vivo spectra these ratios cannot be evaluated, due to the absence of the Cr metabolite. Low grade oligodendrogliomas are characterized by low Cho/Cr ratios. High amounts of myo-inositol are found in the spectra of ependimomas and subependimomas which are distinguished by different Cho/Cr ratio values and by a different Ala content.

Brain Neoplasms↗
PubMedDate not supplied

In vitro MRS and HPLC studies on human renal cell carcinomas.

Samples from ten patients with renal cell carcinomas (RCC) were examined by 1H MRS and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) measurements. Twenty samples, ten from the tumor and ten from the surrounding healthy renal region were obtained. MRS yielded information on renal osmolytes which can be considered markers of physiological kidney function. The marked decrease of these osmolytes is a hallmark of cancer. Moreover, HPLC measurements disclosed the amino acid pattern of both healthy and neoplastic tissues. The Glu and Ea content had statistical significance. GSH was present in tumor tissues only.

Amino Acids↗
PubMedDate not supplied

In vivo and in vitro nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy investigation of an intracranial mass.

This study shows how 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) can help to elucidate a clinical case when MR images suggest a diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) neoplasm. The in vivo MRS metabolic profile in our cases did not correspond to literature reports of brain tumors, but reflected the histopathological response of hematoma and the in vitro 1H MR spectra of the biopsy obtained at surgery. The in vitro spectrum of the aqueous extracts of the examined lesion were compared with those of two common CNS tumors. The lipid fraction spectrum of the lesion agreed with both the spectrum of the aqueous extracts and the histological diagnosis.

Biopsy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Neurophysiological evaluation of the muscular hypotrophy after immobilization.

Muscular hypotrophy due to arm or leg immobilization (MH) in absence of neuromuscular pathologies was tested by EMG spectral analysis, in order to identify a possible neurophysiological method able to analyze this kind of particular clinical picture. Two different groups of patients were tested. In group 1 the patients were suffering from vastus medialis muscle MH due to meniscus surgery, in group 2 the patients were suffering from biceps brachii muscle MH after humerus fracture. A significant difference between normal and pathological muscles was found and the methods may be useful in the neurophysiological evaluation of MH.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Molecular interactions between nucleic acids and antitumor substances by Raman and NMR spectroscopy.

1-Methyladenosine (1-MeAdo) and protonated 1-Methyladenosine (1-MeAdo.H+) were chosen as a model to study the molecular interactions between the carcinogen dimethylsulphate (DMS) and the base adenine, and the interactions between the antitumoral electrophilic cis-diamminedichlorophatinum (II) (cis-Pt) and the methylation product of the base, respectively. Raman and multinuclear NMR studies show the molecular perturbations caused by the carcinogen on the base and those of the antitumoral substance on the reaction product base-carcinogen.

Adenosine↗
PubMedDate not supplied

In vivo 1H MRS and in vitro multinuclear MR study of human brain tumors.

Localized in vivo 1H MR spectra of four patients with brain tumors and in vitro multinuclear (1H, 13C and 31P) MR characterization of water soluble and lipid components of the same tumors after surgical removal are reported herein. The in vivo spectra of the neoplastic regions of all patients showed N-Acetyl-Aspartate/Choline (NAA/Cho), Choline/Creatine (Cho/Cr) and N-Acetyl-Aspartate/Creatine (NAA/Cr) metabolite ratios markedly different from those of the controlateral healthy tissue. In vitro 1H MR measurements allowed for the identification of a much larger number of metabolites than those measured in vivo. Indeed, well resolved 1H, 13C and 31P MR spectra were obtained for water soluble and lipid components in all cases. Our data confirm that some metabolites observed in vitro could be specific markers of brain tumors.

Amino Acids↗