Showing papers by "University of Florence published in 1978"
TL;DR: Low concentrations of acetylcholine are shown to be sufficient to cause histamine release from isolated purified rat mast cells, and to substantiate any significant morphological change.
Abstract: PARASYMPATHETIC stimulation using either acetylcholine or carbamylcholine at nanomolar to picomolar concentrations enhances antigen-induced release of histamine from various IgE sensitised tissues (human lungs1, human nasal polyps2). The enhancement induced by cholinomimetic compounds is blocked by pretreatment with atropine, so is probably affected through a muscarinic receptor3. However, enhancement of histamine release by cholinergic treatment has not been observed from peripheral human leukocytes sensitised with human IgE (ref. 3). This discrepancy, as well as the lack of information on the effect of acetylcholine on histamine-storing cells, have prompted us to investigate the action of acetylcholine on non-evoked histamine release from isolated purified rat mast cells. To our knowledge, only Kiernan4 has studied the effects of acetylcholine on isolated mast cells, and failed to substantiate any significant morphological change. We present here the results of a study of the effects of acetylcholine on the morphology and on histamine release of rat mast cells, and show that low concentrations of acetylcholine are sufficient to cause histamine release.
149 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: The data strongly suggest that insoluble SPA is a T-cell-independent B-cell mitogen in man, whereas soluble SPA, like PWM, exerts its activity on B cells only in the presence of T cells.
Abstract: The response to SPA and Staphylococcus strain Cowan I (StaCw) of highly purified populations of peripheral blood and tonsil human lymphocytes was investigated. Purified T lymphocytes isolated from perpheral blood by E-rosetting were unable to respond in vitro to StaCw. Highly purified B-cell populations from tonsils did not show any proliferative response in the presence of soluble SPA. The addition to highly purified B-cell suspensions from human tonsils of increasing concentrations of autologous T lymphocytes did not induce any increase of thymidine uptake in the presence of StaCw. However, it was able to restore a marked proliferative response of the B-cell cultures to soluble SPA, even though mitomycin-treated T lymphocytes were added. The low response of highly purified peripheral blood T lymphocytes to soluble SPA could be potentiated by the addition of autologous mitomycin-treated B cells, whereas the unresponsiveness of purified T lymphocytes to StaCw was not affected. Mitogenic activity of SPA coupled to Sepharose beads was different from that of soluble SPA and paralleled that of StaCw. These data strongly suggest that insoluble SPA is a T-cell-independent B-cell mitogen in man, whereas soluble SPA, like PWM, exerts its activity on B cells only in the presence of T cells.
85 citations
61 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the spectral shape and possible spurious distortions of the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect arising from the interaction of the cosmic background radiation with hot gases of rich clusters, in the millimetric region were analyzed.
Abstract: We analyse the spectral shape and possible spurious distortions of the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect, arising from the interaction of the cosmic background radiation with hot gases of rich clusters, in the millimetric region. We show that one can measure this effect with high accuracy with present-day infrared detectors, obtaining a larger amount of information than by using radio systems. In particular, one can accurately measure the temperature of the cosmic background radiation without the usual absolute calibration of the detector.
53 citations
15 Mar 1978
TL;DR: The theory of the lattice dynamics of a molecular crystal assuming an atom and a multipole-multipole potential was developed in this paper, where an atom is assumed to have a constant potential.
Abstract: The theory of the lattice dynamics of a molecular crystal assuming an atom—atom and a multipole—multipole potential is developed. Expressions are d
51 citations
TL;DR: Pain in IH does not arise from mechanical stimulation of peripheral nociceptors, but from a functional disorder of neurotransmitters in the nOCiceptive system, which includes antinociception which modulates pain.
Abstract: NON-ORGANIC central pain (NOCP) refers to a number of painful conditions, the most common being migraine and other idiopathic headache (IH). For these two conditions there is clinical and pharmacologic evidence suggesting a central nature of the pain.1 The term \"non-organic\" is used to distinguish these conditions from organic pain (thalamic syndrome)2 sustained from vascular, neoplastic and inflammatory lesions of the central nociceptive system. The shifting of pain from side to side to various regions, the fluctuation in time and physiologic or environmental influences strongly suggest a chemical basis for NOCP which involves neurotransmitters.3,4 Thus, pain in IH does not arise from mechanical stimulation of peripheral nociceptors, but from a functional disorder of neurotransmitters in the nociceptive system. Nociception includes antinociception which modulates pain. Antinociception is activated in emergencies in anxiety, terror, rage, sexual excitement and violent pain itself. The activation of this system provokes a physiologic analgesia. The antinociceptive system is also minimally active under normal non-painful conditions, modulating the slight inflow of pain from different regions of the body.5 Impairment of the antinociceptive system renders painful stimuli which are normally painless. More profound disorders of the antinociceptive system allow spontaneous pains to appear. This can be considered akin to sensory hallucinations and similar to organic central pain of the thalamic syndrome.2
50 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors describe the zonation and activity of 12 species of Oniscoidea inhabiting the beach-dune-bush system and two found on the rocky coast at Sar Uanle (southern Somalia).
Abstract: SUMMARY The authors describe the zonation and activity of 12 species of Oniscoidea inhabiting the beach-dune-bush system and two found on the rocky coast at Sar Uanle (southern Somalia). The correlation between zonation and macro- and microclimate, the ecological affinities between these and other forms present on extra- and intertropical coasts, the tidal and diurnal rhythms involved in the migrations of Littorophiloscia compar (Budde-Lund) and the particular tree-dwelling bionomy of Periscyphis rubroantennatus Ferrara are also discussed.
49 citations
15 Mar 1978
TL;DR: In this article, the role played by the reciprocal orientation in surface compatibility of macromolecular mixtures was investigated in the bidimensional state at the water/air interface and the surface areas as a function of molar ratios and the collapse pressure demonstrated the incompatibility between the components in the cases of polymethylmethacrylate and myristic acid.
Abstract: In order to clarify the role played by the reciprocal orientation in surface compatibility, three mixtures were studied in the bidimensional state at the water/air interface. They were made up of a macromolecular substance, a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), and of the following carboxylic acids: stearic acid (SA), oleic acid (OA), and myristic acid (MA). The surface areas as a function of molar ratios and the “collapse” pressure demonstrate the incompatibility between the components in the cases of PMMA-SA and PMMA-MA, and the compatibility in the case of PMMA-OA, even though the mixtures are thermodynamically less stable than the components. At least in the cases examined herein, the prevailing importance of the rather similar orientation of the two components is evident.
46 citations
TL;DR: It is suggested that brain aromatization, which has a relevant importance in the control of sexual behavior, can be influenced by a complex pattern of different stimuli, which bear information on the social environment.
44 citations
TL;DR: The potentiation of GABA action on the frog spinal cord may have involved either release of endogenous GABA or “sensitization” of spinal receptors to GABA, an action easily obscured by the predominant antagonistic effect of flurazepam at higher concentrations.
42 citations
TL;DR: A pH‐triggered pacemaker has been implanted in a 72‐year‐old male and remained responsive one year after implant, increasing rate during exercise, cold pressor stress, ischemia of the arms and emotional stress.
Abstract: A cardiac pacemaker capable of responding to blood acidosis by change in its stimulation rate allows adjustment to a patient's metabolic needs. The blood pH is sensed by an iridium oxide electrode in the right atrium. During exercise, the venous pH decreases and the paced ventricular rate increases. If acidosis persists, the paced rate gradually returns to baseline and reaches it after about 70 minutes. A pH-triggered pacemaker has been implanted in a 72-year-old male. The pacemaker remained responsive one year after implant, increasing rate during exercise, cold pressor stress, ischemia of the arms and emotional stress.
TL;DR: In this paper, the chromatographic characteristics of nine primary aliphatic amines have been studied using soap thin-layer chromatography, and the influence of the type of detergent and its concentration, of the organic solvent and of acid concentration on the behavior of these amines was investigated.
TL;DR: In this paper, a method for determining the adsorption coefficient and the attraction factor of the surfactant from γ versus log c* curves is proposed, based on the diffusion-layer concept.
TL;DR: The data suggest that the altered proportion between Tμ‐ and Tγ‐cell subpopulations in patients with HD probably represents a disease‐related phenomenon.
Abstract: The ability of peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD) to form rosettes with ox red blood cells (ORBC) sensitized by anti-ORBC purified rabbit IgM and IgG was investigated. The mean percentage of cells capable of forming rosettes with ORBC coated with IgM (EAIgM-RFC) in the peripheral blood of either untreated or X-ray-treated patients with HD was significantly lower than that of normal individuals. In the same groups of patients with HD the mean percentage of T lymphocytes equipped with receptor for IgG (T gamma lymphocytes), evaluated by a mixed fluorescent rosette assay, was significantly higher than in normal controls. These data suggest that the altered proportion between T mu-and T gamma-cell subpopulations in patients with HD probably represents a disease-related phenomenon.
TL;DR: In this article, the theory of lattice dynamics of molecular crystals using atom-atom and multipole-multipole potentials developed in a previous paper is applied to crystalline ammonia.
TL;DR: Tetraruthenium dodecacarbonyl tetrahydride and some of its phosphine-substituted derivatives have been tested as homogeneous hydrogenation catalysts.
TL;DR: In this article, the dielectric properties of water-in-dodecane microemulsions were studied as a function of the water concentration in the frequency range 16 kHz to 50 MHz.
TL;DR: The release of histamine evoked by acetylcholine in rat mast cells is a calcium-requiring, temperature-dependent exocytosis, and the physiological relationship of the sympathetic, parasympathetic and histamine-containing cells are discussed.
Abstract: Experiments have been reported on the possible modulation of the spontaneous histamine release by adrenergic and cholinergic drugs. Adrenergic drugs increase the spontaneous histamine release in vivo, and in neoplastic mast cells, in vitro. The mechanism of histamine release appears to be dependent upon the activation of alpha-adrenoceptors. Cholinergic drugs activate the release of histamine in many secretory processes in vivo; in vitro, acetylcholine is one of the most powerful histamine releasers in isolated purified rat mast cells. The release of histamine evoked by acetylcholine in rat mast cells is a calcium-requiring, temperature-dependent exocytosis. The physiological relationship of the sympathetic, parasympathetic and histamine-containing cells are discussed.
TL;DR: In this paper, the linear polarization degree of the cosmological background was investigated at angular scales ranging between 0.5/sup 0/ and 40/Sup 0/ by means of a balloon-borne far-infrared polarimeter.
Abstract: The linear polarization degree of the cosmological background has been investigated at angular scales ranging between 0.5/sup 0/ and 40/sup 0/ by means of a balloon-borne far-infrared polarimeter. An upper limit has been found of 8 x 10/sup -/4 at 40/sup 0/ (at one standard deviation). Some cosmological implications are discussed.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors give necessary and sufficient conditions for the solutions of the differential equation (p ( t ) x "( t ))' = q (t ) x '(t ))' to be bounded together with their first derivatives.
TL;DR: In this article, the chromatographic behavior of 35 primary aromatic amines was investigated by soap thin-layer chromatography, the amount of detergent on the layer and the concentration of methanol and hydrochloric acid in the eluent being varied.
01 Jan 1978
TL;DR: A number of drugs increase ACh output from the brain, including muscarinic anticholinergic, convulsants and drugs acting on dopaminergic receptors (25), and some phospholipids have also been shown to stimulate A cholinergic nerve endings from the cerebral cortex.
Abstract: It is assumed that ACh output from brain regions is an indication of the activity of the cholinergic nerve endings surrounding or underlying the collecting site. Changes in ACh output in vivo are, therefore, believed to indicate variations in the nerve flow within the cholinergic fibers. A number of drugs increase ACh output from the brain. They belong to several groups, including muscarinic anticholinergic, convulsants and drugs acting on dopaminergic receptors (25). More recently, some phospholipids have also been shown to stimulate ACh output from the cerebral cortex (1, 17).
TL;DR: The affinity of bicarboxylate ions (from oxalate to glutarate) for cobalt (II) bovine carbonic anhydrase has been investigated and compared with that of acetate and propionate, and a five-coordinate structure is proposed for all of the above derivatives.
TL;DR: The data may be consistent with the hypothesis that testicular steroidogenesis in Klinefelter patients is impaired below the 21-C-steroid level not only at Δ4 but also at the Δ5 pathway.
Abstract: Plasma testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), 17β-estradiol (E2), 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), androstenedione (Δ), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), dehydroepian-drosterone sulphate (DHEAS), 5-androstene-3β-17β-diol (A-diol) and Cortisol (F) have been measured in a group of normal males and in a group of patients with Klinefelter’s syndrome (KS) before and after hCG stimulation. Significantly lower baseline levels of T and DHT and significantly higher baseline levels of E2 were found in patients with KS. No significant differences were found between baseline levels of 17-OHP, Δ, DHEA, DHEAS, A-diol, and F. After hCG stimulation plasma T, DHT, E2 and 17-OHP levels showed a significant increase in the two groups of subjects. The percentage variation of T and DHT, however, was much less important in Klinefelter patients, while E2 and 17-OHP did not show a significantly different pattern from that of normal controls. hCG administration did not produce any significant variation of Δ, DHEA, DHEAS, and F in the two groups of subjects, while A-diol levels increased significantly in normal subjects, but not in Klinefelter patients. Our data may be consistent with the hypothesis that testicular steroidogenesis in Klinefelter patients is impaired below the 21-C-steroid level not only at Δ4 but also at the Δ5 pathway.
TL;DR: Eighteen water-soluble food dyes have been studied by chromatography on thin layers of anion-ex exchange and cation-exchange materials; layers of silanised silica gel impregnated with cationic or anionic detergent were also used.
01 Jan 1978
TL;DR: Predominance of mature lymphocytes and rarity of Reed Sternberg cells were associated with less extensive disease at presentation and more favourable outcome and a less definite correlation to the amount of fibrosis.
Abstract: Sixty-seven patients with nodular sclerosis (Hodgkin's disease stages I and II) have been subclassified according to the cellular composition and the amount of fibrosis. Predominance of mature lymphocytes and rarity of Reed Sternberg cells were associated with less extensive disease at presentation and more favourable outcome. A less definite correlation to the amount of fibrosis was found.
TL;DR: In this paper, the electron spin resonance of Mn(II) in liquids and its implication as a paramagnetic probe are discussed and a motional model is proposed to account for them.
TL;DR: A surface of face-centered-cubic cobalt was cleaned to the point of elimination of all impurities except carbon and oxygen, which were reduced to minimum terminal amounts.
Abstract: A {001} surface of face-centered-cubic cobalt was cleaned to the point of elimination of all impurities except carbon and oxygen, which were reduced to minimum terminal amounts. A LEED structure analysis of this surface, using 12 intensity spectra at 3 angles of incidence, reveals that the atomic arrangement corresponds to truncation of the bulk structure but with about 4% contraction of the first interlayer spacing along 〈001〉 with respect to the bulk.
TL;DR: This work presents here a simple procedure for obtaining a purified histone protease in excellent yield from rat liver chromatin, together with some of its properties, especially the opposite effects of carbamylation and acetylation on the relative susceptibility of histones to degradation by the purified protease.