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Biomedical subjects

A Carroccio

Publications and source records attributed to A Carroccio.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Steatocrit test after a standard fatty meal: a new simple and sensitive test to detect malabsorption.

The steatocrit test, a simple semiquantitative method for determining fat content in stool, was performed after a standard fatty meal to detect malabsorption in patients with celiac disease. Thirty-seven children (mean age 2.6 +/- 2.1 years) with total atrophy of the intestinal villi and 79 controls (mean age 3.5 +/- 2.8 years) were studied. All subjects underwent a small-bowel biopsy, a D-xylose absorption test, a rapid triglyceride absorption test, and a steatocrit determination first on an uncontrolled diet and then again after a standard fatty meal. The steatocrit test after a fatty meal did not detect any false-positive or false-negative results, while the D-xylose test showed two false-negative and four false-positive results, and the rapid triglyceride absorption test found two false-negative and 23 false-positive results. We conclude that the determination of steatocrit after a standard fatty meal is a useful, simple, and noninvasive test to identify patients with total intestinal villous atrophy.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1991

Exocrine pancreatic function in children with coeliac disease before and after a gluten free diet.

This study was designed to determine the extent of pancreatic insufficiency in untreated coeliac disease and whether pancreatic secretion is impaired after a prolonged gluten free period. Three groups of patients were studied: group A comprised 44 patients, mean (SD) age 4.0 (3.1) years, with coeliac disease and total or subtotal atrophy of the intestinal mucosa; group B comprised 67 patients, mean age 4.4 (3.0) years, with coeliac disease but with normal morphology of the intestinal villi (after 12.9 months of a gluten free diet); group C comprised 49 control subjects, mean age 3.2 (3.0) years, with normal jejunal histology. In all subjects exocrine pancreatic function was determined by the secretin-caerulein test; bicarbonate concentration and lipase, phospholipase, and chymotrypsin activity were measured after an intravenous injection of secretin 1 clinical unit (CU) + caerulein 75 ng/kg body weight. Faecal chymotrypsin concentration was also assayed. No significant difference was found between values of the duodenal output of pancreatic enzymes and bicarbonate obtained in the three groups; however, 10 of 44 untreated coeliac patients showed tryptic or lipolytic activity, or both, below the normal limit for our laboratory. The mean value of the faecal chymotrypsin concentration was significantly lower in untreated than in treated coeliac patients (p less than 0.0001) or in control subjects (p less than 0.0001). It is concluded that untreated coeliac patients may have pancreatic deficiency independent of a decrease in enterohormone release. No primary or secondary pancreatic insufficiency was found in coeliac patients where the intestinal mucosa had returned to normal.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[Prevalence of biliary lithiasis in chronic liver disease].

The prevalence of cholelithiasis was determined by ultrasound in 168 patients affected by chronic liver disease and compared to 828 subjects of the general population. We found an increase of cholelithiasis in chronic liver patients (p less than 0.004). This difference persisted separating the subjects in males (p less than 0.003) but not in females (p less than 0.08). Examined by age groups, patients demonstrated, like in the control group, an increase of frequency with the increase in age. We did not find any association with BMI, cholesterolemia, triglyceridemia, albuminemia and gammaglobulinemia levels. A significant association was found in the total (p less than 0.003) and indirect (p less than 0.0001) bilirubinemia. Finally, there was no significant association with the etiology of the liver disease. Even though there was a greater association with alcoholic and cryptogenetic liver disease.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1991

[Magnesium hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux].

Fifteen children with gastro-esophageal reflux took part in a treatment trial with a regimen of magnesium hydroxide and aluminium hydroxide for 8 weeks period (700 mmol/1.73 mq/die). All children were evaluated clinically and underwent a 24-hour continuous esophageal pH-monitoring both at diagnosis and after 8 weeks of treatment. After therapy 12/15 children were cured and 3/15 improved. Moreover the total percentage of time during which pH was less than 4, the number of reflux episodes and the number of refluxes lasting than 5' recorded during 24-hour continuous esophageal pH-monitoring were significantly reduced after treatment. The Authors conclude that antacids in large quantities are effective in medical treatment of gastro-esophageal reflux.

Aluminum Hydroxide↗
PubMed1990

The steatocrit test as a guide in the prevention of cow's-milk enteropathy following acute infectious enteritis.

This study was designed to evaluate the following in infants with acute enteritis (AE): the influence of different types of milk on the evolution of the acute phase of the diarrhea and whether the degree of steatorrhea during the acute phase might be a risk factor for developing cow's milk enteropathy (CME). We studied 90 infants with AE, divided into three groups and refed differently after the acute episode: group A was refed using a semielemental formula; group B was refed using a milk containing soy proteins and vegetable oils; and group C was refed using a common cow's-milk formula. Patients with pathological steatocrit values on hospitalization were randomly assigned to groups A and B; patients with normal steatocrit values were placed in group C. After 4 weeks, the patients included in groups A and B were challenged with cow's milk and their reactions were recorded. During the acute phase of the disease, we noticed a longer persistence of diarrhea in group A than in groups B (p less than 0.01) and C (p less than 0.0025). In addition, the number of evacuations per day and steatocrit values were higher in group A than in groups B or C, but these differences were not statistically significant. After 4 weeks, the patients in groups A and B were challenged with cow's milk, and eight of 60 patients had positive reactions; intestinal biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of CME. The mean age of these eight patients was 40.3 days.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1990

Chronic pancreatitis in Sicily. Preliminary reports.

The aetiology and clinical characteristics of 42 patients affected with chronic calcifying pancreatitis in a Sicilian population were investigated and compared with a series of other Italian and foreign reports. It was found that the aetiology was 62% alcoholics and 38% idiopathic in origin and that the M/F ratio was 2.5:1. Clinical features as pain, weight loss, pancreatic calcifications, steatorrhea, pseudocysts and associated cirrhosis are significantly more frequent in the group of alcoholics, while cholelithiasis was more frequent in the non-alcoholic group. Two aspects are worth noting in comparison to the north of Italy: a) the lesser frequency of alcoholic forms and b) the high incidence of women.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Serum PABA test in diabetes mellitus].

The serum values of para-amino-benzoic acid in subjects affected by type II diabetes mellitus, were measured hourly for 6 hours, after oral ingestion of B-T-PABA. These values were compared with those of a control group. The results demonstrate that at 1, 2, 4 and 5 hours, the mean values of the two groups were significantly different: p less than 0.01, p less than 0.002, p less than 0.0001 and p less than 0.005 respectively. Comparing the area under the curve the data did not differ significantly, indicating that at the end of the sixth hours the quantity of PABA absorbed is very similar in the two groups. These results indicate that patients with diabetes seem to have an altered exocrine pancreatic function, which may be due to a reduction in the zymogen stocked in the acinar cells or a lower secretory response to physiological stimulus. This impairment does not affect the digestion and the nutritional state of the patients.

4-Aminobenzoic Acid↗
PubMed1990

Steatocrit test: normal range and physiological variations in infants.

In order to define the normal values of steatocrit during the first 3 months of life and the normal correlation between fecal fat content and steatocrit values, 60 full-term healthy unweaned infants (30 bottle-fed, 15 breast-fed, and 15 mixed-fed) were studied. The steatocrit micromethod was performed in these babies at 7, 14, 21, 28, 45, and 90 days after birth. Steatorrhea often occurs during the first month and then decreases, as shown by the fall in the steatocrit curve from 7th to 28th day in our subjects; at 45 days, few babies have steatorrhea. The 90th percentile profile of steatocrit values shows a value of 25% at the first week of life and a value of 13% at the fourth week. After the end of the third month, babies with steatocrit values higher than 2% should be put under close observation. Moreover, fat absorption can be greatly influenced by diet; in breast-fed babies, steatorrhea disappears more rapidly and steatocrit values are lower at every age than in partly or totally formula-fed babies. The good correlation between steatocrit values and fecal fat content (r = 0.97) confirms that this micromethod can be used for monitoring steatorrhea instead of other more cumbersome and expensive methods.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Serum apolipoprotein profile of hypertriglyceridemic patients with chronic renal failure on hemodialysis: a comparison with type IV hyperlipoproteinemic patients.

Thirty-three patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) and uremic hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) on hemodialysis were compared with 33 type IV hyperlipoproteinemic patients matched for age, body mass index (BMI), and triglyceride (TG) levels. The two forms of hypertriglyceridemia showed different apolipoprotein profiles: apo AI, AII, and B levels and apo CII:CIII and TG:apo CIII ratios of CRF-HTG patients were lower and apo CIII levels were higher than the levels of type IV subjects.

Apolipoproteins↗
PubMed1989

Platelet function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: the effect of glycaemic control.

In the present study the effects of a short term intensive glycaemic control obtained with subcutaneous insulin therapy on lipids and apoprotein levels, platelet aggregation, platelet sensitivity to prostacyclin and platelet thromboxane production were investigated in 20 patients with type 2 diabetes and vascular disease. In 11 out of the 20 patients there was a significant improvement of glycaemic control (fructosamine reduction). Only with tight improvement of glycaemic control there was significant change in the concentration of ADP and collagen required to produce 50% of the maximum aggregation wave response, in the responsiveness of platelet to PGI2 and in the TxB2 synthesis. Lower Apo B levels were also shown in the tight control group suggesting that Apo B changes may have influenced platelet aggregation and thromboxane synthesis.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Effectiveness of enteric-coated preparations on nutritional parameters in cystic fibrosis. A long-term study.

To evaluate the effectiveness of enteric-coated pancreatic enzyme supplements in comparison to conventional preparations of ingested enzyme on growth and nutritional parameters of patients with cystic fibrosis, we conducted a long-term study involving 40 patients. The data reproduced here were recorded after 6 months of therapy with powder-containing capsules or with enteric-coated products. Fat absorption was estimated by measurement of steatorrhoea with the steatocrit method. All parameters studied improved after enteric-coated pancreatic enzyme therapy, with a statistically significant increase in weight, cholesterol and haemoglobin values. Furthermore, the number of patients with positive steatocrit test was lower after therapy with enteric-coated enzyme supplementation. These findings suggest that the enteric-coated product not only reduces steatorrhoea, but above all improves the nutritional parameters and growth of patients affected by cystic fibrosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

[Pancreatic stone protein, a new marker for chronic pancreatitis].

A CaCO3 precipitation and crystal growth inhibitor has recently been isolated from pancreatic calculi and from pancreatic juice. It is a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 14,000, whose probable physiological role is the stabilization of exocrine pancreatic secretion which is normally supersaturated with CaCO3. It is hoped to determine a simple, but sensitive assay of this new protein on pancreatic juice and on serum, a decrease in which could be a marker for chronic pancreatitis.

Alcoholism↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prevalence of diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance in cystic fibrosis.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes mellitus in 99 patients (53 M, 46 F; mean age 10.5 +/- 6.9 years), with cystic fibrosis. Glucose tolerance was evaluated in all patients without overt diabetes using the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Six patients showed a pathological OGTT and 2 patients had insulin-requiring diabetes mellitus. The mean age of the patients with impaired glucose tolerance was significantly higher than that of the subjects with normal glucose metabolism (p less than 0.0001). Patients with overt diabetes mellitus were the oldest subjects in the study group.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Diagnostic use of fructosamine assay in the control of type II diabetes mellitus.

In an attempt to evaluate the usefulness of fructosamine assay in monitoring type II diabetes, 142 diabetic patients were investigated. Fructosamine values were found to be higher in patients on insulin treatment than on oral hypoglycemic agents. In order to evaluate the metabolic control by using the correlated variations of F, Gm and HbA1c, the patients were subdivided into many control classes: mean values of fructosamine were higher in poorly controlled patients. Fructosamine however correlated better with glycemia in patients with recent variations in metabolic state than HbA1c. It was concluded that fructosamine is a good index for short-term metabolic control, and if used in an integrated fashion with glycemia and HbA1c, can provide further information on the metabolic state of diabetes.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison of BT-PABA test and fecal chymotrypsin measurements in normal subjects and diabetic patients.

A N-benzoil-L-tyrosil-PABA test on 6h urine collection, a plasma PABA assay 2 h after administration and a fecal chymotrypsin assay were performed on 66 patients (36 controls and 30 type 2 diabetic patients on insulin therapy). All patients were hospitalized and without gastrointestinal and renal disease. The mean values of plasmatic PABA and fecal chymotrypsin were significantly lower in the diabetic group than in the controls (p less than 0.025 and p less than 0.01, respectively), although they remained within normal range. But this was not the case for PABA urinary excretion values. This may indicate a slower but more protracted PABA absorption during the third or fourth hour with the result that urinary excretion over 6h is not greatly affected. There was good correlation between fecal chymotrypsin values and both PABA urinary excretion values and serum PABA values, a trend observed both in diabetics (p less than 0.005 and p less than 0.001, respectively) and in controls (p less than 0.001 and p less than 0.005, respectively). This could indicate that even at lower mean levels, the diabetic patients show the same behavior pattern and therefore maintain the same indexes of correlation as the control population. Our results suggest that these indirect, but simple, economical and well-tolerated tests could be considered a valid alternative for investigating pancreatic function especially in those patients that cannot be tested by a Secretin-Cerulein test.

4-Aminobenzoic Acid↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Hemodynamic changes in splanchnic circulation after orthotopic liver transplantation in patients with liver cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: Liver cirrhosis increases portal vein pressure and alters the splanchnic circulation. With Doppler sonography, we investigated the hemodynamic changes in the portal vein, superior mesenteric artery, hepatic and splenic arteries and spleen size in a group of patients with end-stage liver disease before and after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). METHODS: Ten patients (seven male, three female; mean age = 48.8 +/- 7.6 years) who underwent OLT for liver cirrhosis mainly associated with hepatitis C virus infection completed the study. The control group consisted of 10 patients matched by sex and age who had no gastroenterologic or vascular diseases. All patients underwent duplex Doppler sonography (Toshiba SSA 270A with a 3.5-MHz probe) after 24 h of fasting (baseline) and then 6 and 12 months after OLT. The following parameters, expressed as the mean of three measurements, were evaluated: portal flow velocity (PFV), pulsatility index of the superior mesenteric artery (MAPI), resistance indexes of the hepatic (HARI) and splenic (SARI) arteries, and longitudinal diameter of the spleen (LDS). RESULTS: PFV in the pre-OLT phase was significantly lower in the patients than in the controls ( p < 0.0001); it progressively and significantly increased over baseline levels at 6 and 12 months ( p < 0.0001), approaching control values. LDS in the pre-OLT phase was significantly higher than in controls ( p < 0.0001); after OLT, it decreased significantly compared with baseline values ( p < 0.005). The MAPI of patients in the pre-OLT phase was lower than that in controls ( p < 0.0001); post-OLT, it progressively increased and reached values that were significantly above baseline at 12 months ( p < 0.005). In the pre-OLT phase, the HARI and SARI were significantly higher than in controls ( p < 0.04); 6 and 12 months after OLT, those values were significantly below baseline values ( p < 0.001), and there was no significant difference from control values. CONCLUSION: These data show that many of the hemodynamic parameters typical of decompensated cirrhosis improve progressively within 12 months after transplantation.

Blood Flow Velocity↗