We treated 35 patients who had hepatic cysts (30 congenital cysts, 5 hydatid cysts) with percutaneous puncture and sclerotherapy. After puncture and drainage of the cyst, a 95% alcohol solution was instilled as sclerosing agent into the cystic cavity. In all the patients, cyst puncture and drainage was successful. Follow-up in all cases was at least 12 months. In three uncooperative patients, cysts recurred due to incomplete sclerosis of the lining epithelium of the cyst wall. No major complications were encountered in all cases. All congenital cysts were treated on an outpatient basis. Patients with hydatid cyst were hospitalized for 48 h after puncture and aspiration. In our opinion, percutaneous drainage and sclerosis of congenital hepatic cysts can be considered an effective alternative to surgical treatment.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Pattern of anesthetic diffusion during peribulbar infiltration: a CT evaluation.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes undergone by orbital structures during peribulbar anesthesia. METHODS: CT-thin slices were acquired and 8-9 ml of anesthetic, with a small part of low-density non-ionic water-soluble contrast medium were injected under CT guide once to follow extraconal spreading and diffusion to intraconal structures and above all, the surgically important structures such as recti muscles, orbicular and optic nerve sheath. Conjunctival sack involvement was assessed and conjunctival chemosis was rated. Induced ptosis was evaluated, verifying change before and after eyepressure. RESULTS: The results help in optimizing anesthetic technique, above all concerning the site, materials and quantity, and suggest the amount of anesthesia could be reduced. CONCLUSIONS: The peribulbar anesthetic technique proved effective and safe for patients.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Aspartate aminotransferase from wheat germ: purification and kinetic properties.

A convenient method for the purification of aspartate aminotransferase [L-aspartate-2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.1)] from wheat germ is described. An overall purification of 150 fold was achieved. On polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis at pH 8.9 the purified enzyme revealed two protein bands both provided with enzymatic activity. The holoenzyme is readily resolved on conversion to the aminic form and gel-filtration. The apoenzyme is reactivated by pyridoxal-5-phosphate. Kinetic data indicate that a Ping-Pong mechanism is operative similar to that found for the tyrosine aminotransferase by Litwack and Cleland (1968). Phosphate ion behaves as a competitive inhibitor towards the coenzyme. The relatively low affinity between coenzyme and apoenzyme from wheat germ allowed the determination of the dissociation constants for coenzymes (pyridoxal-5'-phosphate and pyridoxamine-5'-phosphate) and of the inhibition constant for phosphate.

Aspartate Aminotransferases↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The steady state kinetics of tyrosine decarboxylase from Streptococcus faecalis.

The present study has explained the general reaction mechanism of the bacterial tyrosine decarboxylase. The rate equation for this mechanism has been presented. The steady state kinetics of tyrosine decarboxylase, as for tyrosine transaminase, have shown that the apoenzyme can bind not only the coenzyme, but also the non-enzymatically formed Schiff base between the coenzyme and the substrate. Our data then have confirmed the importance of the non-enzymatically formed Schiff base in the B6-dependent enzymes, possibly in all of them which have a low affinity constant for the coenzyme, such that the coenzyme must be present in excess in respect to the protein to saturate the active center. The interaction between apotyrosine decarboxylase with pyridoxal-5'-phosphate and pyridoxamine-5'-phosphate has been studied.

Enterococcus faecalis↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Computed tomography detection of gastrointestinal neoplasms.

Gastrointestinal (GI) tract neoplasms can be detected, evaluated and staged by computed tomography (CT), especially from high-resolution examinations, but routine CT scanning may occasionally discover GI neoplasms in patients with non-specific symptoms. We therefore evaluated the sensitivity and main signs of CT examinations resulting from routine sessions. In 46 out of 1560 patients who underwent abdominal CT, it was possible to obtain a diagnosis of primitive gastric or colo-rectal tumour by means of barium X-ray and/or endoscopy. The sensitivity rate of CT obtained from the present study was 86% in gastric tumours and 87% in colonic tumours. In gastric lymphoma, infiltrating carcinoma of stomach and rectal carcinoma, the sensitivity rate was 100%. The CT diagnosis of GI neoplasms was based on diffuse or local thickening of the gut on a solid dishomogenous mass showing contrast enhancement. The prevalence of various patterns depends on site of origin and on macroscopic features of the neoplasia. In conclusion the results suggest that abdominal CT, even if performed with a method not specifically devoted to GI tract, has high sensitivity rates and then a high probability of detecting GI neoplasms when unsuspected at time of the examination. In our series 11% of GI neoplasms were initially diagnosed by routine CT examination.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

alpha-L-fucosidase and beta-hexosaminidase isoenzymes in human leukemia.

alpha-L-Fucosidase and beta-hexosaminidase isoenzyme expressions were studied in normal lymphocytes and granulocytes and their leukemic counterparts. The isoenzyme patterns were obtained by chromatofocusing on PBE 94 microcolumn coupled with automated enzyme assay. In normal and leukemic lymphoid cells, two major alpha-L-Fucosidase isoenzyme components were isolated. PMN, CML, AML and AMMoL revealed an isoenzyme pattern totally different from that seen in lymphoid cells. The two major beta-hexosaminidase forms (A and B) were isolated in normal lymphocytes and granulocytes. In all leukemias tested an high amount of an intermediate form, I, was found. The alpha-L-Fucosidase and beta-hexosaminidase isoenzyme profile may facilitate differentiation between normal and leukemic cells and between different acute leukemias.

Hexosaminidases↗