I. Ortalli

Acetylphenylhydrazine induced haemoglobin oxidation in erythrocytes studied by Mössbauer spectroscopy

The oxidative action of acetylphenylhydrazine (APH) on red blood cells obtained from healthy donors and from patients with breast cancer has been investigated by Mössbauer spectroscopy. Whole blood was incubated with APH for different time periods and the Mössbauer spectra of the packed red cells were recorded and compared. The evolution with time of the oxidation products has been followed. The largest difference in red cells analysis between healthy persons and patients was found after about 50 min of treatment where Mössbauer spectra of patient samples show a much broader spectral pattern due to an advanced haemoglobin oxidation.

Study of the Torino meteorite

Mössbauer spectroscopy has been applied to the study of the Torino H6 meteorite. An identification of the principal components has been attempted.

Mössbauer investigation of hematological diseases

Preliminary results on samples of human hemoglobin from patients with leukaemia or Hodgkins lymphoma, studied by means of Mössbauer spectroscopy, are reported.

Investigation of oxyhemoglobin in leukaemic patients

Oxyhemoglobin from human normal adults and from leukaemic patients has been studied by Mössbauer spectroscopy to investigate the possibility to distinguish, through differences in the Fe2+ electronic structure, normals and leukaemic patients.

Iron site populations from Mössbauer spectroscopy in Ti-bearing garnets from Mt Vulture (Italy)

The present work concerns the determination of the cation site populations and crystal chemical formulae of some Ti-rich silicate garnets. The samples come from Mt. Vulture, a volcanic complex located on the east side of the Lucania Apennines (south Italy). Mössbauer spectroscopy (MS) has been used in order to obtain the iron site occupancies. Two different models for interpreting the Fe2+ peak positions in the Mössbauer spectra are compared, and some methodological aspects are discussed. The derived iron distributions have then been combined with the data obtained by electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) to obtain consistent crystal chemical formulae for these compounds.

Some comments on the effectiveness of the therapy for Β-thalassemia

In the present study, twenty-five samples of red blood cells (RBCs) and two samples of lyophilized serum, drawn from thirteen patients with Β-thanassemia major, have been examined by Mössbauer spectroscopy. All these patients undergo long-term therapy by regular blood transfusion and deferoxamine. The samples were obtained at the end of one cycle of treatments, before the successive blood transfusion. The results show, within the experimental errors, that the ferritin-like iron appears to be absent in the RBCs of the patients but it is still present in the serum.

Investigations on five iron meteorites

In the present paper, we report an analysis of five iron meteorites belonging to the private collection of the mineralogy museum of the University of Parma (Italy). The collection is made up of eighteen samples, collected over two centuries. Up to now, they have never been studied by spectroscopical techniques and their classification was estimated on the basis of morphological inspection. Electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and Mössbauer spectroscopy (MS) have been used to analyse the samples.

Mössbauer studies of the Umbria archeological clays

We report an analysis of two different clays from the region of Umbria (Italy): 1. potteries found one inside and the other outside the town of Todi, dating from the end of the IV century B. C., 2. bond clays of Bagnara (Nocera Umbra) and Colfiorito (Foligno) dating V century B.C.

Potassium Ascorbate as Protective Agent in the Oxidation of the Red Blood Cells

Free radicals and oxidative substances are involved in many degenerative diseases modifying cell physiological properties. Many mechanisms can be disrupted, including the K-Na channels, with a consequent potassium loss. Free radicals are also able to modify erythrocytes stability leading to peroxidation of the lipid membrane, oxidation of haemoglobin (Hb) and finally to the formation of Heinz Bodies. Such a process can also be induced or enhanced by strong oxidants like acetylphenylhydrazine (APH). In the present work the antioxidant properties of potassium ascorbate acting on the red cells treated with APH are investigated.

Hemoglobin oxidative stress

Venous blood obtained from healthy donors and from patients suffering from breast cancer have been treated with acetylphenylhydrazine (APH) for different time. Mössbauer spectra of the packed red cells have been recorded and compared. The largest difference occurs after 50 min of treatment with APH where the patient samples show a broad spectral pattern indicating an advanced hemoglobin oxidation. These results may have some relevance in early cancer diagnosis.