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Biomedical subjects

A Lodi

Publications and source records attributed to A Lodi.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Hepatic conversion of amino-nitrogen to urea in thyroid diseases. II. A study in hyperthyroid patients.

Conflicting data have been reported on the influence of thyroid hormones on hepatic nitrogen metabolism and on liver metabolic activity. We studied the urea-nitrogen synthesis rate (UNSR) and the kinetics of the process of hepatic amino-nitrogen to urea-nitrogen conversion in response to constant alanine infusion (ie, the functional hepatic nitrogen clearance [FHNC]) in five hyperthyroid female patients before and after the achievement of a stable euthyroid status. In the same patients, galactose elimination capacity and antipyrine clearance were also measured as quantitative indices of hepatic function. The basal urea synthesis rate was nearly doubled in hyperthyroid patients (35.6 +/- 8.5 mmol.h-1 v 17.6 +/- 7.7 in euthyroid patients, P < .05) and increased linearly with increasing alpha-amino-nitrogen (alpha-AN) concentrations in both conditions. The urea synthesis rate during alanine infusion was still higher by approximately 30 mmol.h-1 in hyperthyroid subjects. The FHNC, calculated as the slope of the linear relation between the UNSR in each time interval and the corresponding average alpha-AN concentration, was not different (hyperthyroidism, 30.6 +/- 7.2 L.h-1; euthyroidism, 28.5 +/- 4.4; normal values > 25). The hepatic microsomal and cytosolic activities (antipyrine clearance and galactose elimination) were normal in hyperthyroid patients and did not change significantly after therapy. Our data show that the hepatic nitrogen metabolism of hyperthyroid patients is characterized by an upregulation of amino-nitrogen catabolism and loss of the sparing mechanism at low plasma amino acid levels, without any change in different metabolic activities.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Hepatic conversion of amino nitrogen to urea nitrogen in hypothyroid patients and upon L-thyroxine therapy.

Conflicting studies have been reported regarding the influence of thyroid hormones on hepatic nitrogen metabolism and liver metabolic activity. We studied urea N synthesis rate (UNSR), functional hepatic N clearance (FHNC), galactose elimination capacity, and antipyrine clearance in six hypothyroid female patients before and after achievement of a stable euthyroid status. In both conditions, UNSR measured at intervals in response to constant alanine infusion was linearly related to the average alpha-amino N concentrations. In the hypothyroid state, peak UNSR was decreased by 31% in comparison with values measured in euthyroidism, which were in the normal range. FHNC (ie, the slope of the linear relation between UNSR and blood alpha-amino N concentration) is a measure of the kinetics of the process of hepatic amino N to urea N conversion; it was 19.8 +/- 4.0 L.h-1 in hypothyroid patients and increased to normal values after L-thyroxine replacement (30.4 +/- 3.3 L.h-1, P < .01; normal values > 25 L.h-1). Hepatic microsomal and cytosolic activities (antipyrine clearance and galactose elimination) were normal in hypothyroid patients and did not change significantly after therapy. Our data show a specific defect in hepatic handling of amino acids in hypothyroid patients, leading to reduced alpha-amino N to urea N conversion, in the absence of any detectable impairment in different hepatic metabolic activities.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Epidemiological, clinical and allergological observations on pompholyx.

We have studied a group of 104 patients with pompholyx, to investigate the relationship between allergological factors and its etiopathogenesis. The following examinations were performed: blood sampling (routine tests and IgE levels), allergological tests (patch, prick, intradermal, and oral provovation tests with nickel sulphate), skin biopsy to exclude pemphigus vulgaris or bullous pemphigoid. An accurate history of familial and personal allergic diathesis was enquired for and various possible aggravating factors (season, microclimate, perspiration and emotional stress) were considered. The results were age and sex-matched with a healthy control group (208 subjects). We found familial and personal atopic diathesis in 50% of patients versus 11.5% of controls (p less than 0.001); 39 patients (37.49%) also had high levels of IgE. Nickel sulphate was the allergen with the highest positivity on patch testing: 20.19% versus 6.25% of the control group (p less than 0.001). The % of patients allergic to nickel reached 26%, including those (6 patients) reacting to the oral provocation test. Season (43 patients) and hyperhidrosis (38) were the aggravating factors most commonly claimed. We detected no correlation between age, sex, grading of pompholyx and the allergological parameters investigated. Though several different allergological findings have previously been reported in dyshidrosis, their role in its pathogenesis has not yet been fully explained. We think that different haptens or antigens can produce the same clinical and histological picture of pompholyx in predisposed subjects.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Allergy to components of total hip arthroplasty before and after surgery.

Sensitivity to a series of haptens was studied in two groups of patients by means of patch tests. The first group was made up of 66 patients with total hip replacements, 12 of whom had aseptic loosening of the implant. The second group, which was used as a control, consisted of 41 patients scheduled to undergo total hip replacement. Ten patients (15.1%) in the first group tested positive; one of these had aseptic loosening. In the control group, two patients (4.8%) tested positive. The theory that an allergy may be the cause of loosening has a biologic foundation, but it can only be used to explain a few cases. However, since considerable vanadium sensitivity was found, we suggest that this material be used as little as possible in the manufacturing of prosthetic components.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Effect of UVB plus tar therapy on serum levels of interleukin-2 receptors in patients with psoriasis.

Baseline serum levels of interleukin-2 receptor (IL2R) were measured in 65 patients with active psoriasis. IL2R levels in psoriatic patients were significantly higher than in healthy controls (582.4 +/- 289.23 u/ml vs. 369.64 +/- 111.10 u/ml; P less than 0.05), but did not differ statistically from values found in an atopic dermatitis control group (619.88 +/- 254.27 u/ml). Sex, age and severity of the disease do not affect levels of IL2R. The same IL2R levels were measured in 26 psoriatic patients receiving UVB plus tar therapy. This therapy, continued until clinical remission, lowered IL2R levels to values comparable to controls. This decrease may be due to an immunosuppressive effect of therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Familial pityriasis rotunda.

Pityriasis rotunda is a rare dermatosis characterized by circular, dusty scaling, dyschromic patches, quite asymptomatic and mostly described in Japanese and blacks. The authors have seen three cases of pityriasis rotunda in a Sardinian family that are to be added to two other similar reports. The patients were all in good health. An interesting feature was the association with favism. On inquiry it was discovered that many more members of the family were affected by either or both pathologies. The authors believe this condition to be a form of minor acquired ichthyosis of which Sardinia could be an ethnic center.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Incidence of polycystic ovaries in patients with late-onset or persistent acne: hormonal reports.

Forty-six women affected by late-onset or persistent acne were studied in order to investigate the frequency of hormonal abnormalities and polycystic ovaries. Hirsutism, perioral distribution of acne lesions and irregular menses were recorded. Hormonal measurements and ovarian echographies were performed. Twenty-four patients were affected with polycystic ovaries, detected by ultrasound scanning. Among the acne patients, the women with ovarian abnormalities had higher values of androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and luteinizing hormone (LH), and a higher LHT/follicle-stimulating hormone ratio than those with acne and without ovarian abnormalities. This study indicates the prevalence of polycystic ovaries in women with late-onset or persistent acne. Moreover, hormonal abnormalities indicate a subgroup of acne patients defined by the presence of ovarian disorders.

Acne Vulgaris↗