Publications by authors named "Stefania Battistella"
Objective: Despite a growing interest in memory functions of chronic drug users, investigation of semantic and episodic memory in opiate users is limited, and findings of studies have been inconsistent. The present study aimed to assess semantic memory and episodic memory for both drug-related and neutral stimuli in current and ex-users of opiates.
Methods: Using an independent group design, we assessed semantic priming and verbal learning in 16 current opiate users on a methadone maintenance programme, 16 ex-opiate users in rehabilitation programmes and 16 healthy controls.
Background: Drug dependence is associated with both attentional biases to drug-related cues and inhibitory control deficits. Although acute stress is known to increase craving, it is not known whether this effect is mediated via changes in attentional bias and inhibitory control.
Objectives: To examine the effect of a mild stressor on inhibitory control, attentional bias and craving in current opiate users (methadone maintained), ex-users (currently abstinent) and non-users (healthy controls).
Background: Methods are needed to analyze small amounts of samples for variation in disease-causing genes. One means is to couple the sensitivity and multiplexing capability of the ligation detection reaction (LDR) with the use of simple glass slides specifically functionalized with a novel polymer coating to enhance sensitivity.
Methods: We developed an array-based genotyping assay based on glass slides coated with copolymer (N,N-dimethylacrylamide, N,N-acryloyloxysuccinimide, and 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate).
Background: Mutations in the retina-specific ABC transporter (ABCA4) gene are associated with different types of macular degeneration, including Stargardt disease, cone-rod dystrophy, Fundus flavimaculatus, Retinitis pigmentosa and probably age-related macular degeneration.
Methods: Screening for mutations in the ABCA4 gene was performed using denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography and direct sequencing.
Results: We describe the identification of a new de novo 44-bp deletion in an Italian patient affected by cone-rod dystrophy.
Background: Mutations in the retina-specific ABC transporter (ABCA4) gene have been associated with several forms of macular degenerations. Because the high complexity of the molecular genotype makes scanning of the ABCA4 gene cumbersome, we describe here the first use of denaturing HPLC (DHPLC) to screen for ABCA4 mutations.
Methods: Temperature conditions were designed for all 50 exons based on effective separation of 83 samples carrying 86 sequence variations and 19 mutagenized controls.