Showing papers by "Sapienza University of Rome published in 1969"

Light and electron microscopic identification of several types of endocrine cells in the gastrointestinal mucosa of the cat

Abstract: The following histological methods, previously proved to be useful in selective light microscopic detection of endocrine cells, were applied to the cat gastrointestinal mucosa: for the identification of biogenic amines, diazonium, ammoniacal silver and xanthydrol methods; for granules identification, methyl green-red acid dyes, toluidine blue, HCl-basic dye, lead-haematoxylin, phosphotungstic haematein and argyrophil methods. Results were compared with those of an extensive electron microscopic investigation. Five types of endocrine cells were identified in the gastric mucosa. Three types were found in the pyloric mucosa: the previously described 5-hydroxytryptamine-producing enterochromaffin cell, the gastrin producing G cell and a cell with an unknown function, labelled in this paper the X cell. Four types were found in the fundic mucosa: enterochromaffin cells (rarely observed), enterochromaffin-like cells secreting a 5-hydroxyindole but showing some ultrastructural and staining differences from true enterochromaffin cells (numerously present), A-like cells (few), resembling A cells of the pancreatic islets, and X cells, resembling those in the pyloric mucosa. In the intestinal mucosa, at least three endocrine cell types were distinguished in its duodenal part: enterochromaffin cells and two types of polypeptide-producing cells — some with smaller granules (S cells) and others with larger granules (L cells). Only two types were found in the mucosa of terminal ileum: enterochromaffin cells and numerously-occurring cells with large granules resembling in part duodenal L cells. The possibility of a relationship between S and L cells and the production respectively of the intestinal hormones secretin and cholecystokinin-pancreozymin was discussed.

Ventriculo-atrial shunt in 200 cases of non tumoural hydrocephalus in children: remarks on the diagnostic criteria, postoperative complications and long-term results.

Abstract: 200 cases of infantile non tumoural hydrocephalus operated by ventriculo-venous shunt have been reviewed. The preoperative studies, the type of valve employed, the complications observed, and the results obtained are described. Retrograde right brachial angiography is emphasized as a useful technique, complementing air studies, in diagnosing the type of hydrocephalus and in excluding cases of hydranencephaly. The Pudenz valve without reservoir is preferred because of a low incidence of infective complications. Among the postoperative complications, an unusual productive ependymitis leading to obliteration of ventricles occurred in 3 cases. Long-term results, evaluated according to psychomotor development, show an incidence of excellent or good result in more than 50% of cases.

Neuronal lipidosis with visceral involvement in an adult.

Abstract: A 35-year-old woman died after a neurological illness of 6 weeks duration characterized by cerebellar ataxia and involuntary movements. Histological examination proved this to be a case of neuronal lipidosis. Severe nerve cell loss and gliosis were found in the thalamus and cerebellar cortex. Although the spleen was not enlarged, groups of large granular macrophages were observed in the red pulp. Similar cells, in fewer numbers, were also present in the hepatic sinusoids.

Intravenous infusion of glucose and sodium bicarbonate in hyaline membrane disease. A controlled trial.

Abstract: Summary A controlled trial of the effect of intravenous infusion of glucose and sodium bicarbonate was performed in 48 low weight newborn infants with hyaline membrane disease The experimental design included diagnosis by clinical and radiological criteria and random assignment to the treatment and control series In treated infants the mortality rate was lower, early death occurred less frequently and the neonatal survival curve was improved when compared with controls Only the difference in survival curves of treated and control patients was statistically significant Systolic blood pressure was found to be a factor of considerable prognostic significance We conclude that intravenous infusions of glucose and sodium bicarbonate should be part of the routine therapy of infants with hyaline membrane disease

Chlorpropamide in idiopathic diabetes insipidus.

Abstract: Chlorpropamide, 250–500 mg. daily, has proved to be highly effective in four patients suffering from idiopathic diabetes insipidus (IDI), bringing the output of urine to normal values. In the same patients this drug was more active than hydrochlorothiazide (HCT) and ethacrynic acid (ETA). During chlorpropamide treatment, the kidney partly gained its concentrating capacity, CH2O reached negative values, and during water loading the kidney was incapable of producing normally diluted urine. Administration of sodium chloride in excess (10 Gm. per day) did not increase the diuresis. In one patient kept on 500 mg. of chlorpropamide, hypoglycemic crises were noted which disappeared after reducing the dose by half. It has been concluded that chlorpropamide acts as an ADH-like substance.

Gene frequencies of adenylatekinase polymorphism in the Roman population

Abstract: The red cell AK phenotypes of 841 hemolysates from unrelated individuals living in Rome have been determined by the starch gel electrophoretic method of Fildes and Harris (1966). The observed gene frequencies were: AK1=96.3 and AK2=3.7.

A neurofibrillar body in the perikaryon of nervus terminalis ganglion cells in teleosts.

Abstract: In three species of Teleosts (Tinea tinea L., Leuciscus cephalus cabeda Risso, Epinephelus guaza L.) a round strongly argentophilic body of considerable size occurs in the cytoplasm of the nervus terminalis ganglion cells. In Tinea, surgical interruption of functional connections of the ganglion cells does not produce any apparent change either in the number or in the size of these cytoplasmic bodies. Electron microscopical observations show that the neurofibrillar body is made up of densely packed and irregularly arranged bundles. In cross section, each of these bundles appears to be composed of neurofilaments (100 A in thickness) and neurotubules (diameter: 300 A). Each tubule is surrounded by 9–10 filaments equi-distant from one another, and at a distance of 30–40 A from the central tubule.

Synthesis in vitro of immunoglobulins produced by different human mucous membranes.

Abstract: Gli autori hanno dimostrato che alcune mucose della specie umana (mucosa congiuntivale, gengivale, nasale, vaginale e rettale) a contatto con l'ambiente esterno, sono in grado in vitro di sintetizzare le immunoglobuline (IgG, IgA, IgM) in diversa proporzione. La formazione di queste immunoglobuline puo rivestire il significato di un meccanismo di difesa locale di tipo immunitario.

Approximate results for networks containing periodically operated switches

Abstract: Approximate results are given for the transfer function of some networks containing periodically operated switches as a function of both complex frequency and switch duty cycle on the hypothesis that the frequency components of the signals are negligible at the switching frequency. Design criteria for such networks are also given, and experimental results concerning passive and active RC networks are presented.