Hemispheric lateralization patterns and psychotic experiences in healthy subjects.

The hypothesis that psychotic experiences in healthy subjects are associated with a dysfunction of the right hemisphere is supported by some, but not all, available studies. Differences in gender composition of study samples may explain in part the divergent findings. The present study was carried out in 42 healthy, right-handed university students. Scores on the Schizophrenia and Paranoia scales of the Minnesota Multidimensional Personality Inventory-2 were used in correlation analyses and to define a High- and a Low-Psychotic group. Brain Electrical Microstates and Low Resolution Electromagnetic Tomography (LORETA) source analyses of the auditory P300 (P3a and P3b) components of the event-related potential, as well as a battery of neuropsychological tests, were used to assess hemispheric functioning. Scores on the Paranoia scale were positively associated with a leftward shift of the P3a topographic descriptors in females but not in males. When comparing High-Psychotic and Low-Psychotic females, a leftward shift of P3a descriptors and an increased cortical activation in left fronto-temporal areas were observed in the High-Psychotic group. Our results demonstrated gender-related differences in the pattern of hemispheric imbalance associated with psychotic experiences in healthy subjects.

Arteriovenous fistula obstruction and expression of platelet receptors for von Willebrand factor and for fibrinogen (glycoproteins GPib and GPiib/iiia) in hemodialysis patients.

Platelet surface receptors for von Willebrand factor and for fibrinogen (glycoproteins GPIb and GPIIb/IIIa) were studied with monoclonal antibodies CD42 and CD41 and cytofluorometry in 31 healthy subjects, 10 hemodialysis patients with no A-V fistula obstruction (patent original fistula), 10 hemodialysis patients with frequent A-V fistula obstruction (more than twice), 12 patients with mild chronic renal failure (creatinine 1.75 +/- 0.40 mg/100 ml), 11 patients with advanced chronic renal failure (creatinine 5.62 +/- 1.22 mg/100 ml), and 10 patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) treated with peritoneal dialysis. There was a significant increase of platelet surface glycoproteins GPIb and GPIIb/IIIa in the population of hemodialysis patients with frequent A-V fistula obstruction. The expression of these platelet receptors might be related to the prothrombotic tendency of a group of patients with ESRD, who suffer more occlusive and thrombotic events of the A-V fistula. This group of patients may also have a higher frequency of systemic thrombotic and atherosclerotic complications.

[Collagen-induced platelet aggregation in K562 neoplastic cells culture media]. / L'aggregazione piastrinica indotta da collagene in presenza di terreno di coltura di cellule neoplastiche K562.

The evidence suggests that the propagation of neoplastic cells by solid tumors, seem the platelets have a protective role on the neoplastic cells respect to immunocompetent system. In this study, the AA. valued the variation of platelet aggregation induced by collagen when PRP was incubated with liquid culture of neoplastic cells K562. The preliminary results, show the platelet aggregation induced by collagen, increase alter interaction with this liquid culture.

[Effects of aminoglycosides on T and B lymphocyte populations: in vitro study]. / Effetti degli aminoglicosidi sulle popolazioni linfocitarie T e B: studio "in vitro".

The authors tested the influence of gentamycin, spectinomycin,and dihydrostreptomycin on the formation of EAChu and EAT rosettes and they have found a significant reduction of the percentage of EAChu rosettes. Probably this reduction is due to an interaction with the receptor sites for the Complement of B lymphocytes and/or an in vitro denaturation Complement.

[Action of aminoglycosides on platelet aggregation in vitro]. / L'azione degli aminoglicosidi sulla aggregazione piastrinica in vitro.

The authors tested the influence of gentamicin, spectinomycin dihydrostreptomycin on the ADP and epinephrine in vitro induced platelet aggregation. Our aim was to demonstrate if platelet aggregation in vitro had some influences by antibiotics. A reduction in platelet aggregability, strictly dependent from the used antibiotic dose was observed. We have studied platelet function thanks to Born's method, adding to PRP gradual therapeutics doses of antibiotics. The results showed a reduction of platelet function which was dose-depended, and, particularly, gentamicin seemed to be the most effective among aminoglycosides. An interference between these drugs and the ADP and epinephrine binding to specific platelet receptor sites is proposed.

[Isoenzyme fractions of serum and platelet lactate dehydrogenase in normal subjects]. / Studio delle frazioni isoenzimatiche del lattato deidrogenasi sierico ed endopiastrinico in soggetti normali.

We determined the isoenzymatic fractions of platelets and seric LDH in off healthy people (50 males and 50 females). We broken the platelets by triton X 100 (octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol) in order to obtain the release of platelet LDH. The seric and platelet LDH isoenzymes were then separated by electrophoresis (Gelman sistem). We confirm the prevalence of LDH2 and LDH3 fractions in human platelets.