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Biomedical subjects

A Balestrieri

Publications and source records attributed to A Balestrieri.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Hepatitis B virus DNA in the serum of Sardinian blood donors negative for the hepatitis B surface antigen.

The high endemicity of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and liver disease in Sardinia led us to assess the occurrence of HBV DNA in 1,411 sera of two selected groups of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-negative blood donors: 793 with abnormal serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and 618 with normal serum ALT values (determined during routine testing of their blood donation). HBV DNA sequences were detected by dot-blot hybridization in 68 of 793 subjects (9%) with abnormal ALT but only in three of 618 subjects (0.5%) with normal ALT. HBV-core antibody (anti-HBc) was detected in 338 of 793 subjects (43%) with abnormal ALT as well as in 125 of 618 subjects (20.2%) with normal ALT. Among the 71 subjects positive for serum HBV DNA, 22 (31%) were positive for anti-HBc, while 49 (69%) were negative for all serologic markers of HBV infection. Thus, a high frequency of anti-HBc in apparently healthy HBsAg-negative individuals and a high prevalence of serum HBV DNA in the absence of immunologic markers of HBV infection suggest the existence of genetic variants of HBV that may be responsible for some of the presumed NANB hepatitis encountered in Sardinia and possibly other areas of high endemicity for HBV.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Acute and chronic hepatitis delta virus infection: direct or indirect effect on hepatitis B virus replication?

In a large population of patients, chronic hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection was usually associated with absence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication. However, acute HDV superinfection progressing to chronic HDV infection in two hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive HBV carriers and coinfection in two other patients who progressed to chronic HBV (HBeAg-positive) and HDV infection was associated with continuing high-level HBV replication for several years. Thus HDV infection does not always inhibit HBV replication. The hypothesis that the different effects of HDV coinfection and superinfection on HBV replication may stem from variability in the capacity of the host to produce and respond to interferon is discussed.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1988

The effect of altered thyroid function on serum fructosamine concentrations.

The effect of altered thyroid function on serum fructosamine concentrations was investigated in 31 untreated hyperthyroid patients, 18 short-term hypothyroid patients (i.e., 20 days after withdrawal of thyroid hormone suppressive therapy for thyroid cancer), 7 untreated long-term hypothyroid patients, and 25 age-matched normal controls. No differences in serum fructosamine concentrations were observed between hyperthyroid patients and normal controls; conversely, serum fructosamine concentrations were significantly higher both in short-term and in long-term hypothyroid patients than those found in normal controls. Furthermore, long-term hypothyroid patients showed significantly higher serum fructosamine concentrations than short-term hypothyroid patients. L-Thyroxine (L-T4), replacement therapy in two hypothyroid patients, resulted in a marked decrease in serum fructosamine concentrations. In seven hyperthyroid patients, the restoration of euthyroidism with antithyroid drug therapy was associated with no significant changes in serum fructosamine concentrations. The results of the present study indicate that hypothyroidism is associated with a marked increase in serum fructosamine concentrations. This alteration does not appear to be the consequence of gross abnormalities in plasma protein or glucose metabolism. The duration of hypothyroidism seems to be an important factor, even though the mechanism underlying this alteration remains at present unexplained. These results also suggest that caution must be used in the interpretation of elevated serum fructosamine concentrations as an index of the metabolic control of diabetes mellitus in the presence of hypothyroidism.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Fibrinopeptide A and B beta 15-42 in liver cirrhosis.

In order to detect even minimal fibrinolysis activation in liver cirrhosis, we measured fibrinopeptide B beta 15-42 (B beta 15-42), an indicator of plasmin activity in vivo and alpha 2-antiplasmin (alpha 2-AP) in a group of cirrhotic patients. The second goal of this study was to investigate whether an increased fibrinolytic activity is related to a chronic disseminated intravascular coagulation. For this purpose we concomitantly measured fibrinopeptide A (FPA), marker of thrombin activity in vivo. Results show significantly higher levels of B beta 15-42 in cirrhotic patients than in control (p less than 0.01). In patients with high FPA levels we found significantly higher values than in patients with normal FPA (p less than 0.01). alpha 2-AP was lower in patients with high FPA levels than in patients with normal FPA (p less than 0.05). A significant negative correlation was found between FPA and alpha 2-AP only in patients with high FPA (p less than 0.05). There was no relationship between B beta 15-42 and FPA nor between B beta 15-42 and alpha 2-AP when all patients were considered. These findings confirm that in liver cirrhosis fibrinolysis activation may occur. The primary pathogenetic role of DIC may be important in this respect. However the lack of correlation between FPA and B beta 15-42 suggests that other pathogenetic factors may be involved in determining fibrinolysis activation.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Diagnosis of amiodarone-iodine-induced thyrotoxicosis(AIIT) associated with severe nonthyroidal illness.

A rare case of amiodarone-iodine-induced thyrotoxicosis (AIIT) associated with nonthyroidal illness is reported. Serum total thyroxine (TT4) and free T4 (FT4) concentrations were elevated and serum TSH was undetectable as frequently observed also in euthyroid amiodarone-treated patients. At variance with common forms of AIIT, serum total triiodothyronine (TT3) was reduced due to low-T3 syndrome. The laboratory diagnosis was made on the basis of elevated free T3 (FT3) levels. Thus, in patients with severe nonthyroidal illness submitted to chronic amiodarone treatment, thyroid status can only be determined by free hormone measurement, particularly FT3 in the case of thyrotoxicosis.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

The effect of androgen blockade on pulsatile gonadotrophin release and LH response to naloxone.

In order to clarify the effects of androgen blockade on the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis in man, four patients with advanced prostate cancer, not previously treated, were given oral flutamide, 250 mg three times daily for 9 days. Before, and 7, 8 and 9 days after starting flutamide treatment, on separate days, the following tests were performed: a gonadotrophin pulsatility study, with 20 min interval blood sampling for 12 h, a naloxone test and a GnRH test. Flutamide induced a significant increase in both LH and FSH pulse frequency, while pulse amplitudes and plasma integrated concentrations (IC) of LH and FSH were unaffected. Plasma integrated concentrations of testosterone and oestradiol rose significantly, while that of prolactin was unaffected. The increase in plasma LH concentration induced by naloxone injection was abolished by flutamide treatment. On the other hand, the small FSH response to naloxone was unaffected by flutamide treatment. Response to GnRH was unaffected by flutamide. These results suggest that flutamide exerts effective androgen blockade at the hypothalamic level, since, despite increased plasma testosterone concentrations, gonadotrophin pulse frequency increased and the LH response to naloxone was abolished.

Anilides↗
PubMed1986

Diagnostic and prognostic significance of the IgM antibody to the hepatitis delta virus.

The IgM class antibody to the hepatitis delta virus (HDV) was determined in different clinical categories of hepatitis B surface antigen carriers infected by the HDV (positive in the test for total antibody to HDV). The IgM antibody was found at high titers in each of 70 patients with inflammatory liver disease and at a low titer in one of six patients with inactive cirrhosis; it was not found in eight carriers with normal liver histology. The IgM antibody persisted in high titer over many years in patients with unremitting or progressive liver disease, but declined or disappeared before the homologous IgG antibody in the patients whose disease improved or resolved. Testing for IgM antibody to HDV distinguishes hepatitis B surface antigen carriers who have underlying inflammatory HDV liver disease from those with past HDV infection and provides prognostic information on the course of chronic HDV hepatitis.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1986

The role of delta superinfection in acute exacerbations of chronic type B hepatitis.

Serum specimens collected from patients with chronic type B hepatitis during their acute exacerbations were studied with radioimmunoassay for serological markers of delta (delta) agent infection. Serum delta antigen was negative in all 56 hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive and 25 anti-HBe-positive acute exacerbations. Two (3.6%) HBeAg-positive and five (20%) anti-HBe-positive acute exacerbations were found to be positive for both IgG anti-delta and IgM anti-delta. The incidence in anti-HBe-positive patients was significantly higher than in HBeAg-positive patients. These results indicated that some of the acute exacerbations, particularly in anti-HBe-positive phase, could be attributed to delta-superinfection. However, acute exacerbations preceding HBeAg/anti-HBe seroconversion were not associated with delta-superinfection.

Hepatitis Antibodies↗
PubMed1986

Hairy cell leukemia with ultrastructural finding of 'tubuloreticular inclusions' in hairy cells: a possible marker of a virus-induced disease?

This report describes a case of hairy cell leukemia (HCL) with typical hematological and clinical findings. The most striking feature is the electron microscopic pattern of intracytoplasmic inclusions within hairy cells (HCs), which can be identified with the 'tubuloreticular inclusions', very unusual and not yet reported in HCL. The same structures were frequently detected in peripheral mononuclear cells from patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and with chronic lymphadenopathy syndrome (LAS), that are caused by the HTLV-III retrovirus. In the same patients elevated serum interferon levels were also found. The close relationship between tubuloreticular inclusions, viral infections and serum interferon levels suggests an etiologic association between a virus infection and outbreak of HCL. The results of our laboratory investigations also support a role for interferon in this disease.

Adult↗