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Biomedical subjects

A Burlina

Publications and source records attributed to A Burlina.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Pepsinogen A/pepsinogen C or pepsinogen A multiplied by gastrin in the diagnosis of gastric cancer?

Being pepsinogen A (PGA) levels generally reduced and pepsinogen C (PGC) increased in gastric cancer patients, PGA/PGC ratio has been proposed as a useful marker of the tumour. We tested PGA, PGC and Gastrin (G) levels in patients with gastric cancer (39) and, as a control, in patients with epithelial dysplasia (21), chronic atrophic gastritis (57), gastric ulcer (11) or subjects lacking major or minor endoscopic and microscopic changes at gastroscopy (48). PGA and PGA/PGC levels were significantly reduced in gastric cancer patients (p less than 0.005 and p less than 0.0001 respectively with analysis of variance). Gastrin levels were also reduced in the same patients (p less than 0.005). We therefore adopted an index number (PGA x Gastrin) which was also dramatically reduced in gastric cancer (p less than 0.005); using an arbitrarily chosen cut-off, the "marker" showed very high sensitivity (76%), specificity (96%) and overall accuracy (74%, by Youden J test). We therefore suggest the use of the index number PGA x G in the diagnosis of gastric cancer, as the most useful gastrin presently available, to our knowledge.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMed1990

Measurement of melatonin in blood by radioimmunoassay. Analytical considerations and clinical usefulness.

Melatonin assay has proved to be clinically useful for the diagnosis and investigation of several diseases (e.g., Cushing's syndrome, depressive disorders). We have evaluated the analytical performance of a radioimmunoassay for the determination of melatonin in plasma. The interference of some anticoagulants has been investigated, as well as the preliminary extraction of the hormone using a liquid-liquid and a solid-phase extraction method. The variation coefficients of the assay, within and between runs, were between 3.8% and 9.2% and between 4.1% and 10.5%, respectively. The well-documented circadian rhythm of melatonin secretion was confirmed in our healthy subjects. Preliminary results appear to confirm the significance of melatonin measurement in neurosurgical patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Fluorescence polarization immunoassay for cyclosporine A determination in whole blood.

A fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) for cyclosporine A (CsA) determination in blood was evaluated. The method demonstrated a good reproducibility both in within-run and between-run assays. The linearity range was 35-990 micrograms/L. Comparison of measurements in patients' whole blood with radioimmunoassay results showed higher estimates by the FPIA despite the good correlation coefficient. Finally, a poor agreement was observed between the evaluated method and the high-performance liquid chromatographic technique for CsA determination.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Oxygen derived free radicals in patients with chronic pancreatic and other digestive diseases.

To ascertain modifications in the activation products derived from oxygen free radicals in patients with chronic pancreatic and extra-pancreatic diseases, lipid peroxide activity was measured in the sera of 40 control subjects, 28 patients with pancreatic cancer, 49 with chronic pancreatitis, and 53 with extra-pancreatic diseases. In 142 of the subjects, elastase 1, amylase, and pancreatic isoamylase activities were also determined. Increased lipid peroxide activities were found in some patients with both chronic pancreatic and extra-pancreatic diseases. Patients with chronic pancreatitis studied during relapse had higher activities of lipid peroxides than those without active disease. No difference was found between the values in patients with pancreatic cancer with liver metastases and those without. Correlations were found between lipid peroxides and both amylase and pancreatic isoamylase activities; no correlation was detected between lipid peroxides and elastase 1. In benign biliary tract disease a correlation was detected between lipid peroxides and alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activities. In all patients, however, a correlation was found between alkaline phosphatase and lipid peroxide activities. It is concluded that activation of oxygen derived free radicals occurs in chronic pancreatic as well as in extra-pancreatic disease; it seems to reflect the degree of inflammation.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

CA 19-9 and CA 125 determination by immunoluminometric assay.

We evaluated a new immunoluminometric technique (ILMA) for the measurement of the cancer antigens, CA 19-9 and CA 125 in serum. A satisfactory reproducibility was found, coefficients of variation ranging from 4.2 to 7.3% in within-run and between-run assays. The linearity of tests was maintained over a wide concentration range. Mean analytical recovery was 94% for CA 19-9 and 98% for CA 125. A significant agreement between results obtained by immunoradiometric assays and evaluated methods was found both for CA 125 (ILMA = 0.917 IRMA + 1.048; r = 0.966; n = 98) and CA 19-9 (ILMA = 1.156 IRMA + 0.996; r = 0.995; n = 100).

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Idiopathic myelofibrosis serum induces increased DNA synthesis in BALB/c 3T3 cells.

The effect of heated serum at a concentration of 10% in culture on the in vitro growth of confluent Balb/c 3T3 cells was studied in nine patients with Idiopathic Myelofibrosis and ten normal subjects. Patients showed significant increase in the mitogenic activity in comparison with normals. The growth factors conceivably implied for the observed effect are discussed. Particular attention is paid to Platelet-Derived Growth Factor from which serum mitogenic activity is primarily derived and is thought to take part in the genesis of bone marrow fibrosis.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

How does liver dysfunction influence serum CA 19-9 in pancreatic cancer?

Serum CA 19-9 was determined in 83 control subjects, 99 patients with pancreatic cancer, 104 with chronic pancreatitis and 137 with extra-pancreatic diseases mainly of gastrointestinal origin in order to evaluate whether hepatic factors can influence circulating CA 19-9 in pancreatic cancer. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of this test in determining pancreatic malignancy were: 74%, 83% and 57%. We divided patients into two groups: group A (159 cases) and group B (181 cases) with and without anatomical liver damage (presence of primary or metastatic cancer, cirrhosis, hepatitis, steatofibrosis, cholangitis). Group A presented higher CA 19-9 values as compared to group B. Significant correlations were found in group B but not in group A between CA 19-9 and ALT, ALP and total bilirubin. Multiple regression analysis (CA 19-9 dependent and ALT, ALP and total bilirubin predictor variables) was significant only in group B. The standardized partial regression coefficients found to be significant were those of ALP and total bilirubin. We can conclude that CA 19-9 is an index of pancreatic cancer with satisfactory sensitivity and specificity. The presence of anatomical liver damage seems to increase the value of this index, probably releasing CA 19-9 into the bloodstream. Extra-hepatic cholestasis may also be an important factor in elevating CA 19-9 probably by reducing the hepatic catabolism of this glycoprotein.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Measurement of pepsinogen group I in endoscopic gastroduodenal biopsies.

A technique for determining pepsinogen group I (PGI) concentrations in endoscopic gastroduodenal biopsies is described and validated. This method has a good precision (intra-assay CVs 4.1% to 8.4%; between-assay CVs 4.6% to 9.3%), and analytical recovery is satisfactory (94% to 102%). Results were uninfluenced by the storage interval of the samples. At PGI-producing sites (i.e., fundus, corpus) peptic activity was greater than in the antrum and duodenum. PGI concentrations in serum and in gastroduodenal biopsies were not correlated. This simple, reliable method can quantify better than other assays peptic activity in humans, without being influenced by gastric secretory volumes. It will also facilitate prospective studies on the effect of various secretagogues in vivo and evaluations of the influence of anti-ulcer drugs on peptic secretion.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Tumor-associated trypsin inhibitor in patients with chronic pancreatic diseases.

Serum TATI (tumor-associated trypsin inhibitor) was measured in 41 control subjects, 30 patients with pancreatic cancer, 53 with chronic pancreatitis, and 47 with extrapancreatic diseases, mainly of gastrointestinal origin. TATI was found to be elevated in some subjects in all groups of patients; patients with chronic pancreatitis studied during an acute exacerbation of the disease had the highest percentage (68%) of pathological values. TATI was found to be correlated with elastase 1, tissue polypeptide antigen, and total and pancreatic isoamylase. A significant relationship was also found between TATI and serum creatinine levels.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

High-performance liquid chromatography for cyclosporin measurement: comparison with radioimmunoassay.

The large inter-patient variability in cyclosporin pharmacokinetics coupled with the agent's narrow therapeutic index with adverse effects resulting from supratherapeutic levels, necessitates individualization of drug dosage and therapeutic monitoring of cyclosporin blood levels. The performance of a liquid chromatographic method for the measurement of cyclosporin was evaluated and the results obtained by this method and by a specific radioimmunoassay were correlated. The method described is sensitive, selective, reproducible and easier to perform than other chromatographic methods. It is suitable for the daily measurement of cyclosporin in batches of up to 40 samples and the results correlate well with another chromatographic method and with the specific radioimmunoassay.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗