Showing papers by "University of Cagliari published in 1983"
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigate the analogy existing between the typical circadian periodicity of ACTH and that recently described of beta-lipotropin (LPH) and beta-endorphin (beta-EP) plasma levels.
Abstract: The major objective of this study was to investigate the analogy existing between the typical circadian periodicity of ACTH and that recently described of beta-lipotropin (beta-LPH) and beta-endorphin (beta-EP) plasma levels. The determination of their concentrations, plus cortisol, has been performed on the same plasma samples of 6 healthy volunteers. All hormones were measured by radioimmunoassay. Those of beta-LPH and beta-EP were preceded by a purification of plasma through silicic acid extraction and Sephadex G-75 gel filtration. The highest values (mean +/- SEM) were found in the morning (ACTH: 10.3 +/- 0.9; beta-LPH; 6.3 +/- 0.7; beta-EP: 6.5 +/- 0.5 fmol/ml; cortisol: 378 +/- 30 pmol/ml) and the lowest values in the evening (ACTH: 6:1 +/- 0.7; beta-LPH: 3.3 +/- 0.4; beta-EP: 3.7 +/- 0.6 fmol/ml; cortisol: 130 +/- 23 pmol/ml). Statistical analysis using the Fourier method led to the evidence of a concomitant circadian secretory pattern of the three proopiocortin-related peptides. These results strongly suggest that the phasic secretion of ACTH, beta-LPH and beta-EP underlies a common central control.
83 citations
TL;DR: The results indicate that the mechanism responsible for firing and TH stimulation is inhibited by halothane anesthesia, and the latter significantly decreased also the stimulant effect of i.v. haloperidol on striatal TH activity.
74 citations
TL;DR: A diamine oxidase (DAO) has been purified to homogeneity from lentil seedlings and shows a broad, well-defined, absorption band in the visible region centered at 498 nm and the ESR spectrum is typical of Cu 2+ in a tetragonal symmetry.
70 citations
TL;DR: The present work has led to the following results, which strongly suggest that the black rat may be one of the wild reservoirs of L. infantum in the areas under study.
Abstract: The recent finding that four Leishmania isolates from Rattus rattus are enzymologically identical to L. infantum , aetiological agent of human and canine visceral leishmaniasis in the Mediterranean area, has stimulated further research on the role of R. rattus in the epidemiology of visceral leishmaniasis in Tuscany, Italy. The present work has led to the following results: (a) R. rattus experimentally infected with L. infantum displayed a general resistance to the parasite, even though it appeared that a very low number of amastigotes persisted in the animal for a long period; (b) Phlebotomus perniciosus and P. perfiliewi induced to feed on rats, with either a massive visceral infection or a subpatent immunodepressed infection, became infected, though in different proportions; (c) P. perniciosus and P. perfiliewi were readily attracted to, and fed on, the black rat in nature. These findings, together with those obtained earlier, strongly suggest that the black rat may be one of the wild reservoirs of L. infantum in the areas under study.
67 citations
TL;DR: The plasma patterns of ACTH, β-lipotropin (βLPH), β-endorphin and β-EP, in addition to those of cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHAS), were studied in 139 prepubertal children and 38 adolescents (subdivided according to Tanner's pubertal stages) aged 10-16 yr as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: The plasma patterns of ACTH, β-lipotropin (βLPH) and β-endorphin (βEP), in addition to those of cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHAS), were studied in 139 prepubertal children (subdivided into different age groups) and 38 adolescents (subdivided according to Tanner’s pubertal stages) aged 10–16 yr. The adult control group was composed of 23 females and 12 males aged 17–40 yr. No sex differences were found in ACTH, βLPH, βEP, and cortisol plasma levels. ACTH plasma levels were slightly lower in the 1- to 3-yr-old groups than in males at 4–5 yr and females at 8–9 yr. No further significant differences were observed in any of the age or pubertal groups, the concentrations being constantly in the adult range. βLPH and βEP plasma levels were lowest at 1-3 yr in both males (βLPH: 2.1 ± 0.25, βEP: 1.85 ± 0.59 fmol/ml, mean ± SE) and females (βLPH: 2.8 ± 0.31; βEP: 2.41 ± 0.41 fmol/ml); plasma levels of both hormones increased progressively in both sexes until Puberty 1 stage of sexual maturation, at...
63 citations
TL;DR: It is suggested that inhibition of firing in dopaminergic neurons mediates the suppressant effect of GBL on ethanol preference, which inhibited neither alcohol-dehydrogenase nor aldehyde-deHydrogenase in rat liver homogenates, nor dopamine-beta-hydroxylase in homogenate of adrenal medulla or hypothalamus of rats.
58 citations
TL;DR: It is suggested that pituitary hormones are directly or indirectly involved in the apomorphine-induced yawning, penile erection and genital grooming but not in the sedative response to this drug.
Abstract: A small dose of apomorphine (25 or 50 micrograms/kg, SC) induced repeated episodes of yawning, penile erection, genital grooming and a decrease in locomotor activity in rats. Hypophysectomy almost completely abolished yawning, penile erection and genital abolished yawning, penile erection and genital grooming but failed to modify the hypomotility induced by apomorphine. These results suggest that pituitary hormones are directly or indirectly involved in the apomorphine-induced yawning, penile erection and genital grooming but not in the sedative response to this drug.
57 citations
TL;DR: From 1957 to 1980 in Sardinia, 182 cases of ALS with a mean annual incidence and prevalence rate of 3.65 per 100,000 inhabitants were observed and the common form was more frequent, had earlier onset and greater median survival rate.
Abstract: From 1957 to 1980 in Sardinia, 182 cases of ALS with a mean annual incidence of 0.51 per 100,000 inhabitants and a prevalence rate of 3.65 per 100,000 inhabitants (prevalence day 21.10.1971) were observed. The disease was found to be more common in males, in subjects aged 50 to 70 years and in farmers and shepherds. Incidence in various areas of the island was found to be different. The common form was more frequent, had earlier onset and greater median survival rate.
56 citations
TL;DR: The representation of cardiac bioelectric sources by means of an oblique dipole layer leads to a mathematical structure which generalizes the classical solid angle theory used in electrocardiology, and links models previously proposed with a view to adequately reproduce the potential observed in experiments.
Abstract: We study the properties of the potential field generated by an oblique dipole layer. This field arises, for instance, in describing the potential elicited by a depolarization wavefront spreading in the myocardium when a dependence of the potential on the cardiac fiber orientation is introduced. The representation of cardiac bioelectric sources by means of an oblique dipole layer leads to a mathematical structure which generalizes the classical solid angle theory used in electrocardiology, which has been challenged by recent experimental evidence, and links models previously proposed with a view to adequately reproduce the potential observed in experiments. We investigate also the relationship between our model and an intracellular current model and we derive potential jump formulae for some models which account for the anisotropic structure of the myocardium. The potential generated by an oblique dipole layer is considered both for unbounded and bounded domains. In the latter case an integral boundary equation is derived and we study its solvability. A numerical procedure for solving this integral equation by means of the finite element method with collocation is outlined.
54 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the photoreactivity of commercial TiO2 pigments has been studied by monitoring the generation of radicals at the water interface upon illumination with ultraviolet light, and a feasible mechanism for radical generation, involving O2 adsorption is proposed.
Abstract: The photoreactivity of commercial TiO2 pigments has been studied by monitoring the generation of radicals at the TiO2- water interface upon illumination with ultraviolet light. The ESR spin-trapping technique has been employed, using 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-1-oxide (DMPO) as spin trap. In illuminated TiO2 dispersions the only radical species identified has been the OH. The amount of radicals generated was found to depend upon the surface properties of the pigment, such as impurities and surface treatments, and upon the oxygen concentration in the slurry. A feasible mechanism for radical generation, involving O2 adsorption is proposed. The initial rate of radical generation has been found to be in good agreement with other methods commonly used to characterize the photostability of paints.
43 citations
TL;DR: Data give strong support to the generally held hypothesis that the FS at Zq28, characteristic of the MOM-X syndrome, is a direct expression of a genetic change in the same chromosomal region and clearly suggest that X-linked MR without FS may be the result of different allelic mutations at the same locus.
Abstract: Eighteen Sardinian pedigrees segregating for the X-fragile site syndrome were studied with respect to the segregation of the fragile site (FS) at Xq28, mental retardation, and macro-orchidism. No exception was found in the association of this symptomatic triad (MOM-X) in 41 out of 42 patients examined. The exceptional individual had micro- rather than macro-orchidism and was found to have a 47, XXY sex chromosome complement. In six informative sibships, the MOM-X syndrome was found to segregate in close linkage association with G6PD-deficiency or protan colorblindness. The maximum likelihood estimate of recombination if 6% with 90% fiducial limits between 2.5 and 19.5% and an odds ratio in favor of measurable linkage of 428:1. However, no hint of measurable linkage was found in six pedigrees segregating for G6PD and the Renpenning syndrome or other unspecified types of X-linked mental retardation. These data give strong support to the generally held hypothesis that the FS at Zq28, characteristic of the MOM-X syndrome, is a direct expression of a genetic change in the same chromosomal region. They also clearly suggest that X-linked MR without FS may be the result of different allelic mutations at the same locus.
TL;DR: The effect of (-)-cathinone (CAT), an alkaloid from khat leaves, on brain dopamine metabolism and on the firing rate of nigral DA neurons was studied in rats, in comparison with that of d-amphetamine.
TL;DR: In this paper, a state variable mathematical model for use in the synthesis of automatic control systems for open-channel networks is presented, where the system considered here consists of n -cascaded reaches joined by control gates.
TL;DR: The data suggest that bromocriptine and lisuride act as agonists on D2-presynaptic autoreceptors which have different sensitivity to the agonist according to the basal firing rate of DA neurons.
TL;DR: A general method for the determination of norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine, Parkinson's disease, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine and 3, 4-dismissed acid is described, which allows a reduction of the analysis time maintaining high resolution of the peaks close to the solvent front.
TL;DR: The reaction of copper amine oxidases from beef plasma and lentil seedlings with hydrazine derivatives with hyd Brazine derivatives has been studied and a 1:1 stoichiometry was always found for the irreversible binding to the dimeric proteins.
TL;DR: Data suggest a possible role of BLPH and BEP in and/or other proopiocortin-related peptides in the development of adrenarche, while the lack of particular changes in these peptide levels during sexual maturation seems to exclude their role in gonadarche and pubertal development.
TL;DR: Behavioural and biochemical results, along with the electrophysiological data, indicate that estrogen treatment is able to induce hyposensitivity of DA autoreceptors.
TL;DR: In all normal children and 6/7 patients with IGHD, hpGRF 1-40 at all doses used induced a clear and sustained lowering of plasma prolactin levels; this effect was lacking in the patient with craniopharyngioma, indicating that hpGRf 1- 40 is a potent stimulus to GH release in normal prepubertal children and holds promise for treatment of GH-deficient children.
TL;DR: A skin test survey carried out in the towns of Porto St. Stefano and Porto Ercole showed a total positivity rate of 15.3%, which was similar for the two towns since the values concerning the last two age groups did not follow the general trend of the graph but were lower than expected.
Abstract: Une enquete par intradermoreaction a la leishmannie realisee dans les 2 petites villes de P. St Stefano et P. Ercole a montre un taux de positivite de 15,3%. La hausse de positivite en fonction de l'âge n'etait pas uniforme et similaire pour les 2 villages puisque les valeurs concernant les tranches d'âges les plus hautes n'ont pas suivi la courbe mais etaient plus basses qu'attendues. Les causes possibles de ce phenomene ont ete discutees. L'absence dans les annees recentes de cas cliniques de leishmaniose viscerale et la concomitante prevalence elevee de leishmaniose comme ont ete consideres a la lueur de la presence de maladies infectieuses et de la hausse des niveaux nutritifs parmi la population humaine locale
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors defined a new type of δ-thalassemia in which δglobin chain synthesis is incompletely suppressed, called δ+-thalassemia.
TL;DR: There were no significant differences between the CSF results in patients with NID and MS but the OKT3 lymphocytes were reduced in CSF samples from patients with SSPE.
01 Sep 1983
TL;DR: The experiment was set up to investigate whether degradation of residual pesticides during fermentation might be influenced by yeast action and six products commonly used in viniculture were tested.
Abstract: The experiment was set up to investigate whether degradation of residual pesticides during fermentation might be influenced by yeast action. Six products commonly used in viniculture were tested. After fermentation, 2 of the fungicides (Folpet and Metalaxyl) remained unaffected; the fungicide Vinclozolin and 2 of the insecticides (Carbaryl and Tetrachlorvinphos) suffered degradation not attributable to the yeast; the pyrethroid insecticide, Deltametrin, suffered complete degradation attributable to the yeast.
TL;DR: In this paper, X-ray diffraction data from a H 2 SO 4 solution were examined and the presence of sulphate-H 2 O interactions was found to be consistent with a model of hydration similar to that present in the crystal structure.
TL;DR: Juvenile hormone (JH) administration increases the sensitivity of labellar chemosensilla inPhormia and it is suggested that this hormone plays a role in controlling bothChemosensillar sensitivity and ovarian cycles.
Abstract: Juvenile hormone (JH) administration increases the sensitivity of labellar chemosensilla inPhormia. It is suggested that this hormone plays a role in controlling both chemosensillar sensitivity and ovarian cycles.
TL;DR: The results indicate that beta-carbolines specifically influence the activity of SN-PR cells through a mechanism opposite to that of benzodiazepines themselves, acting on Benzodiazepine recognition sites.
TL;DR: In this paper, lead and chromium in sediments, in aquatic macrophytes and in some species of crustacea, mainly phytophagous, were considered as a result of pollution in a lagoon in Sardinia.