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Biomedical subjects

A Grieco

Publications and source records attributed to A Grieco.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Ketoalkalosis as a result of triple derangement of acid-base equilibrium in a diabetic patient.

A diabetic patient presented with weight loss, ketosis, and hyperventilation, thus mimicking the clinical picture of diabetic ketoacidosis. Laboratory investigations revealed alkalemia and a pattern consistent with a triple derangement of acid-base equilibrium: respiratory alkalosis, metabolic acidosis and metabolic alkalosis. High cortisol level suggested a genesis of ketosis different from diabetes mellitus. The patient died suddenly from acute gastrointestinal bleeding. Autopsy showed a carcinoma of the head of the pancreas with secondary portal hypertension and rupture of varices. Pulmonary micrometastases were demonstrated. It is suggested that stress hormones were the main cause of the 'ketoalkalotic' pattern observed.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

ACTH 1-17 effects in the chemotherapy of advanced solid tumors.

The effect of administration of a synthetic ACTH analogue (ACTH 1-17, Synchrodyn) in the chemotherapy of advanced-phase solid tumors was studied. In this preliminary report the following data are evaluated: response rate; occurrence of toxic effects; performance status of patients; several immunological parameters. The administration of Synchrodyn seems mainly to influence the lymphocyte subpopulations and the occurrence of toxic effects. A final evaluation of the role that may be played by chronotherapy in the treatment of tumors must await further studies on the clinical response and tolerance.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prenatal exposure to ethanol in rats: effects on liver energy level and antioxidant status in mothers, fetuses, and newborns.

The fetal alcohol syndrome is a clinical condition that affects newborns from alcoholic mothers. It is not clear, however, whether ethanol consumption during gestation can affect liver functions of fetuses and newborns. In this study, we aimed to assess the effects of ethanol administration on body weight, liver energy level, and antioxidant status of mothers, fetuses, and newborns. Pregnant rats were exposed to ethanol during the third week of gestation. Body weight, survival, and liver concentration of gluthatione (GSH) and adenosintriphosphate (ATP) were measured. No differences were observed in body weight or in liver ATP and GSH between mothers exposed to ethanol and control animals. Conversely, fetuses from rats exposed to ethanol showed a marked decrease in GSH, ATP, and body weight when compared to those from control rats. Newborns exposed prenatally to ethanol were no different from those born to control mothers. This study suggests that an amount of ethanol that is not sufficient to determine a significant effect on mothers can, nevertheless, cause a marked decrease in growth and in liver antioxidant and energy status in fetuses. These parameters, however, return to control value one week after ethanol discontinuation.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cryoglobulinemia: a true internistic disease?

Cryoglobulinemia is a clinical condition characterised by the presence of circulating globulins that precipitate at a temperature lower than 37 degrees Celsius and re-dissolve with warming. We can distinguish 3 different types of cryoglobulinemia, according to their immunochemical characteristics. Cryoglobulinemia can be associated with infectious, inflammatory or neoplastic disease. Cryoglobulinemia type II can be associated with chronic HCV-hepatitis. Clinically, cryoglobulinemias cause hyperviscosity-related symptoms or lesions by immunocomplex deposition (cryoglobulinemic vasculitis). Many organs and systems can be involved, from the skin to the joints, from the central nervous system to the kidney. Diagnosis requires a careful clinical and physical evaluation and the demonstration of circulating cryoglobulins by cryoprecipitation and immunoelectrophoresis. The therapeutic goals are the treatment of the underlying diseases and the complication and prevention of progression/relapse. It is obvious that this disorder can involve different specialists, but the internist plays a central role: he identifies the disease and the associated condition, he treats the underlying disorder and refers the patient to the specialists for the organ-specific manifestations.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Impairment of recent thymic emigrants in HCV infection.

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) often has a more favorable course in younger patients. Considering the involution of the thymic function with age, we investigated the output of recent thymic emigrants (RTE) in HCV patients. To evaluate RTE, we used a competitive quantitative PCR in order to determine the percentages of cells with cj-T cell receptor excision circles (TREC). This study was performed in 14 HCV patients at diagnosis and before any anti-HCV treatment. The results obtained in this group were compared to those obtained in a group of age-matched controls. We found that in the 14 HCV patients naive for anti-HCV treatment the mean percentage of cj-TREC was 3%. We could not detect a correlation between the percentages of cj-TREC and age or patients' viremia. In contrast, in the 26 age-matched controls mean percentage of cj-TREC was 5.6% (P=0.01). Our study describes a novel immune defect in HCV patients. Additional studies are needed to get further insight in the possible role of TREC defect in the pathogenesis and prognosis of the disease.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Sjogren's syndrome in a celiac patient: searching for environmental triggers.

In the last few years many studies have shown the potential role of different triggers in the pathogenesis of several autoimmune diseases. In particular, in Sjogren's syndrome the presence of a genetic background is considered determining, but environmental factors have recently been described as triggers or precipitators. In this report, we describe the case of a young woman affected by celiac disease in which an Ascaris lumbricoides infestation and estrogen therapy could have played a role in the development of Sjogren's syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Liver metastases of endocrine tumour associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1: a sustained response to interferon therapy or a peculiar benign course?

The authors describe the case of a 51-year-old male with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome manifested by epigastralgia, nausea, vomiting, hypergastrinemia and multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1. History included a Billroth II procedure for a perforated duodenal ulcer. Multiple metastatic liver lesions were found that were gastrin-negative and chromogranin-positive. Endoscopy revealed a large ulcerated gastro-jejuno-colonic fistula which was surgically repaired. Pre- and postoperative imaging studies, including the highly sensitive somatostatin-receptor scintigraphic scan using In-pentetreotide, have consistently failed to disclose other tumors. Recent reports indicate that most Zollinger-Ellison syndrome-associated gastrinomas are small, easily overlooked lesions located in the proximal duodenum rather than in the pancreas as formerly believed. In the present patient therapy with omeprazole and alpha-interferon has produced complete remission of the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and a stabilization of tumor growth has occurred during the last 7 years, allowing the patient to live a normal life. This peculiar response to therapy is discussed.

Humans↗