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Biomedical subjects

A Pera

Publications and source records attributed to A Pera.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2002

Impact of urea breath test (UBT) in the management of H. pylori infection in a primary care setting.

BACKGROUND: Aim of the present study was to evaluate the use of UBT in a primary care setting. METHODS: From September 1998 to July 1999 we studied 2810 consecutive patients, referred to the Department of Gastroenterology, Mauriziano Hospital, Torino. A structured questionnaire was used to record information on demographic characteristics and clinical history. 13C-UBT was performed by means of isotope ratio mass spectrometer. RESULTS: The results shown that: 1) the main indication to perform UBT was the evaluation of treatment success (72% of cases); 2) in patients aged less than 45 years and never assessed before for H. pylori infection, UBT was used as first line procedure in 68% of cases: this finding stand for an initial adoption of the ''test and treat'' strategy; 3) first line H. pylori eradication therapies reflect international guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: The effectiveness of therapeutic regimens results to be decreased when translated into routine clinical practice.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Interferon and amantadine in combination as initial treatment for chronic hepatitis C patients.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerance of amantadine in combination with interferon in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. METHODS: Multi-centre trial including 180 chronic hepatitis C patients without cirrhosis, randomly enrolled to receive interferon 6 MU every other day for 6 months followed by 3 MU for further 6 months (group A, 90 patients), or the same schedule plus amantadine 200 mg/day (group B, 90 patients). Primary end-point was a sustained virological and biochemical response, secondary end-points were on-treatment (third month) and end-of-treatment response rates. RESULTS: The two groups had similar demographic, biochemical and virological characteristics. A sustained response after 6 months follow-up was observed in 17% of group A and 24% of group B patients (P not significant), an end-of-treatment response was observed in 37% in group A and 47% in group B (P not significant), an on-treatment response was observed in 46% in group A and 61% in group B patients (P < 0.05). No major side effects due to amantadine administration were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Adding amantadine to interferon did not improve the sustained treatment efficacy. However, the rate of early response at the third month of therapy was significantly higher in the combination therapy group.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Detection of anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies in Crohn's disease: is it a reliable diagnostic and prognostic marker?

BACKGROUND: In the past few years, serologic markers have been proposed in inflammatory bowel disease. Anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies showed high specificity for Crohn's disease. A prognostic role for serology has also been hypothesised. AIMS: To evaluate anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibody distribution in an unselected Italian inflammatory bowel disease population. To analyse whether anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibody status (positive/negative) and/or anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibody titres are associated with clinical variables and outcome measures in Crohn's disease patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A series of 299 inflammatory bowel disease patients were evaluated; serum samples were taken and a short clinical history was recorded. anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay Medilab (Milan, Italy) kit was used in order to determine anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibody status. RESULTS: Sensitivity, specificity and likelihood ratio for positive test in the differential diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease was 59%, 89%, 8.1, respectively. Clinical variables significantly associated with anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibody status in logistic regression were found to be ileal location (p=0.01) and earlier age at diagnosis (p<0.01). Among ileal Crohn's disease patients, there was a trend in concordance between anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibody titres and higher number of surgical procedures which was not statistically significant applying more complex statistics. CONCLUSIONS: In an Italian inflammatory bowel disease population, anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies status showed characteristics similar to those previously reported. Anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibody positivity is associated with ileal involvement and with earlier onset of Crohn's disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Abdominal pain and bowel dysfunction: diagnostic role of intestinal ultrasound.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal pain and irregular bowel habits are common among young people. Irritable bowel syndrome is frequent in the general population and has important economic and social costs. Inflammatory bowel diseases are chronic processes with an acute or indolent onset in young people. Differential clinical diagnosis between irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease can be difficult since symptoms and signs are often non-specific. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of intestinal ultrasound, a non-invasive, simple and cheap diagnostic tool, in the differentiation between organic and functional bowel diseases. METHODS: Abdominal and intestinal ultrasound examinations were performed on 313 consecutive outpatients presenting with abdominal pain and irregular bowel habits lasting more than 3 months. These patients had no symptoms or signs indicative of organic disorders and no previous diagnosis of organic disease. An intestinal wall thickness of more than 7 mm was considered diagnostic for inflammatory bowel disease. Subsequently, we compared the ultrasound results with diagnoses obtained following the traditional criteria (radiological and endoscopic examinations). RESULTS: Intestinal ultrasound for the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease showed 74% sensitivity, 98% specificity, a positive predictive value of 92% and a negative predictive value of 92%. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, intestinal ultrasound seems important as a first diagnostic tool in young patients without clear symptoms or signs of organic diseases, and can be used as an indication that subsequent invasive tests are required.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMed2001

Clinical features in familial cases of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in Italy: a GISC study. Italian Study Group for the Disease of Colon and Rectum.

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have reported genetic anticipation, genomic imprinting, and phenotypic concordance of some clinical features in familial cases of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). The aim of our study was to investigate the phenotypic features of affected members in a large sample of CD and UC Italian families. METHODS: In a multicenter study, CD and UC families were recruited. Affected members were questioned about date of birth, gender, age at onset of symptoms and at diagnosis, location and extension of disease, occurrence of extraintestinal manifestations, use of steroids and/or of immunosuppressive drugs, need for resective surgery, and number of relapses per year (< 1 yr or > or = 1 yr). Statistical analysis was performed with chi2, Fisher's, Mann-Whitney U, and binomial probability tests, when appropriate. RESULTS: A total of 128 families with 270 affected members were studied: 35 were CD, 64 UC, and 29 mixed families (when UC and CD affected different members). In 99 of 128 families (77%), the diagnosis was concordant. In CD families, a high concordance for localization (46%), extraintestinal manifestations (67%), need for steroids (77%), need for immunosuppressive drugs (100%), need for surgery (29%), and relapse rate (36%) was found. In UC families, a high concordance for disease extension (33%), need for steroids (47%), and relapse rate (34%) was disclosed. A higher than expected concordance for ileal localization (p < 0.4) in CD families and extensive colitis (p < 0.05) in UC families was demonstrated. A generation difference of 15-20 yr in mean ages at onset of symptoms and at diagnosis was recorded. No features of more aggressive disease in subsequent generations and no differences in gender of transmitting parents and relatives were found. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows a high rate of concordance for diagnosis and clinical features in UC and, especially, CD families. The disease occurred 15-20 yr earlier than in previous generations without features of increased severity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Biliary lipid composition in cholesterol microlithiasis.

BACKGROUND: Little information is available on the pathogenesis of cholesterol microlithiasis, and it is not clear if biliary lipid composition in these patients is similar to changes seen in cholesterol gall stone patients. AIMS: To measure biliary lipid composition in patients with cholesterol microlithiasis. PATIENTS: Eleven patients with cholesterol microlithiasis, 20 cholesterol gall stone patients, and 17 healthy controls. METHODS: Duodenal bile was collected in the fasting state during ceruletide infusion. Biliary cholesterol, phospholipids, and total bile acids were analysed by enzymatic assays, and conjugated bile acids by high pressure liquid chromatography. RESULTS: Patients with microlithiasis had a cholesterol saturation index significantly higher than controls (mean value 1.30 (95% confidence interval 1.05-1.54) v 0.90 (0.72-1.08)) but similar to gall stone patients (1.51 (1.40-1.63)). This was due to a significant decrease in per cent phospholipid (10.0% (7.1-12.8)) compared with controls (21.4% (18.1-24.6)) and gall stone patients (24.9% (20.5-29.3)). Per cent cholesterol was similar in patients with microlithiasis and controls (5.3% (4.5-6.1) and 5.6 % (4.3-6.8), respectively) but was significantly increased in gall stone patients (10.9% (9.3-12.4)). Bile acid composition in patients with microlithiasis was similar to controls whereas in gall stone patients deoxycholic acid was significantly increased: 27.3% (24.8-29.7) v 19.0% (15.7-22.2) in controls and 20.6% (14.9-26.2) in patients with microlithiasis. CONCLUSION: Patients with cholesterol microlithiasis have biliary cholesterol supersaturation, similarly to cholesterol gall stone patients. Whereas in the latter this is due to increased per cent cholesterol, in patients with microlithiasis this is caused by phospholipid deficiency, with normal per cent cholesterol and normal biliary bile acid composition.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Decreasing the need for abortion: challenges and constraints.

Voluntary abortion is the most controversial act in the entire field of medical practice, although today, it is a practice that, under different conditions, has been legalized in more than 100 countries, mostly in the developed world. The United Nations has agreed that in no case should abortion be promoted as a method of family planning and, therefore, it should be utilized only when contraception has failed. Overall, 61% of humanity lives in countries where abortion is legal and widely available; 14% in countries where termination is allowed to protect a woman's health; physical, mental, or both; 21% in countries where it can be performed only to save the mother's life and 4% in countries where abortion is not permitted at all. Restrictive legislation, per se, does not represent a valid deterrent to prevent abortion, while it may contribute to an increase in morbidity and mortality associated with pregnancy. In addition, because abortion is outlawed, nothing is done to actively reduce the reasons leading to it. Indeed, the countries with the lowest abortion rates are those where, on the one hand, pregnancy termination is legal and, on the other, sex education and contraceptive knowledge are widely spread.

Abortion, Illegal↗
PubMed2000

Genotype-phenotype relationship in inflammatory bowel disease.

Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are chronic diseases of unknown etiology. Much effort has been made in the last years to clarify the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Data are not conclusive at the moment, but the most important known risk factor for developing IBD is a positive familial history. Genetic analyses have shown a linkage between loci on several chromosomes and IBD (IBD1 gene on chromosome 16 for CD and on chromosome 12 for UC). The association of genotype to specific phenotypes of disease could be hypothesized by the concordance of clinical characteristics in familial IBD, by the association of specific HLA haplotypes to clinically different groups of patients, and by different responses to treatment related to different polymorphisms of other chromosome 6 genes. The clinical heterogeneity of IBD has led to classifications of patients with Crohn's disease based upon clinical features (e.g. Rome and Vienna classifications) that allow the identification of subgroups of patients with similar clinical behavior. The possible drawbacks of these classifications are the lack of validation of intra-interobserver concordance, the absence of prospective evaluations, and stratification into too many subgroups. Furthermore, in our experience, clinical presentation (surgical or medical) seems to have a good correlation with prognosis, is easy identifiable, and can be applied at the time of diagnosis. In UC, extension of disease and clinical behavior correlate with prognosis. For these reasons, studies correlating genotype to phenotype should be performed to improve our knowledge of the diseases and possibly to stratify patients into different subgroups for more personalized treatments, in clinical trials and for research purposes.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Discrepancy between Helicobacter pylori stool antigen assay and urea breath test in the detection of Helicobacter pylori infection.

BACKGROUND: The reference diagnostic methods available for detection of Helicobacter pylori infection are either invasive (histology) or expensive and highly sophisticated (Urea Breath Test). A new enzyme immunoassay, which can be easily performed in any laboratory, has been developed to detect Helicobacter pylori in stool specimens (HpSA-Meridian Diagnostics, Cincinnati, USA). Aim of the study was to compare HpSA to Urea Breath Test. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 125 patients (52 never treated for Helicobacter pylori infection and 73 after Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy) referring to our Department, underwent both tests within two weeks. RESULTS: Contrasting results between the two tests were found in 30% of cases: in 19% of the untreated patients and in 37% of the treated patients (p<0.001). The main discrepancy consisted in positive HpSA associated with negative Urea Breath Test. Mean HpSA value in such conditions was 0.273 optical density, while in patients with both positive tests, it was 1.192 optical density. In untreated, but not in treated patients, raising the HpSA cut off value significantly decreased the percentage of conflicting results. CONCLUSIONS: Some disagreement was detected between HpSA and Urea Breath Test results, especially in treated patients. Possible explanations for our findings are a low HpSA cut off value together with the identification of Helicobacter pylori coccoid forms by the immunoassay but not by the urease based Urea Breath Test. The higher percentage of discrepancy detected in treated patients might support this hypothesis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

The ASGE guidelines for the appropriate use of colonoscopy in an open access system.

BACKGROUND: Appropriateness of indications is essential to the rational utilization of resources. The aim of this study was to evaluate the appropriate use of colonoscopy in an open access system and to assess whether the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) guidelines are useful in clinical practice. METHODS: The indication for colonoscopy was assessed on 3000 consecutive examinations performed at 7 institutions. RESULTS: The rate of colonoscopies "generally not indicated" according to the ASGE guidelines was 24.5% for outpatients and 15.5% for inpatients; the rates of examinations performed for an indication not listed in the ASGE guidelines were 12% and 20.1%, respectively. Generally not indicated colonoscopies were significantly less frequent for procedures requested by gastroenterologists or family physicians than those requested by other specialists, but were similar. Most generally not indicated examinations requested by gastroenterologists were for routine follow-up of patients with inflammatory bowel disease; when these patients were excluded, the rate of generally not indicated endoscopies requested by gastroenterologists was also lower than the corresponding rate for examinations requested by family physicians. CONCLUSIONS: In Italy, the rate of colonoscopies performed for generally not indicated reasons is high, particularly among examinations not requested by a gastroenterologist. Many colonoscopies are performed for indications not listed in the ASGE guidelines.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

The endometrium and hormonal contraceptives.

Contraceptive progestogens have a series of effects on the endometrium that depend on the existence of oestrogen priming and therefore on the time of administration, the route through which the hormone is released to the body (systemic or locally in utero) and the available daily dose. The effects of a contraceptive progestogen can be divided into two main categories: changes in the endometrial structure and vascularization and alterations of the menstrual bleeding pattern. Whereas orally administered progestogens usually cause endometrial decidualization and an important stromal reaction, the i.m., or local, intrauterine delivery is more apt to cause atrophia. Finally, all progestogens, when given alone at contraceptive doses (and irrespective of their mechanism of action), cause some disruption of menstrual bleeding patterns. This is maximal with injectable, long-acting progestogens, such as depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate and norethisterone enantate.

Contraceptive Agents, Female↗
PubMed2000

Serum interferon gamma in primary biliary cirrhosis: effect of ursodeoxycholic acid and prednisone therapy alone and in combination.

BACKGROUND: Interferon-gamma may have immunopathogenic importance in primary biliary cirrhosis, stimulating aberrant expression on biliary epithelium of class II major histocompatibility molecules and inter-cellular adhesion molecule-1. Liver transcripts for interferon-gamma are found in primary biliary cirrhosis. Its serum level is increased in pretransplantation stages and decreases after transplantation. OBJECTIVES: (1) To verify whether serum interferon-gamma levels are increased in non-cirrhotic stages of primary biliary cirrhosis. (2) To evaluate the effect of ursodeoxycholic acid and prednisone alone and in combination on serum levels of interferon-gamma and soluble inter-cellular adhesion molecule-1. METHODS: Nine non-cirrhotic, anicteric patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (patient test group), 14 healthy, negative controls and 14 positive controls, with chronic hepatitis related to hepatitis C virus were studied in basal condition. Primary biliary cirrhosis patients were treated with ursodeoxycholic acid, prednisone and the association of the two drugs for three 4-week periods, each period separated by a 4-week wash-out. Interferon-gamma and soluble inter-cellular adhesion molecule-1 were measured in serum by commercially available immuno-enzymatic kits. RESULTS: Median interferon-gamma levels were increased in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis compared with healthy controls (44 vs 19 pg/ml; P < 0.01) but similar to those in chronic hepatitis patients (47 pg/ml). Serum soluble inter-cellular adhesion molecule-1 was significantly reduced by ursodeoxycholic acid, and an even greater reduction was obtained on addition of prednisone. No treatment affected interferon-gamma levels. CONCLUSION: Serum interferon-gamma is increased in noncirrhotic patients with primary biliary cirrhosis, but this is not disease-specific. Neither ursodeoxycholic acid, nor prednisone, nor the combination of the two drugs influenced this immunological pathway of primary biliary cirrhosis.

Drug Therapy, Combination↗
PubMed2000

Fecal pancreatic elastase 1 in the work up of patients with chronic diarrhea.

BACKGROUND: Quantitative determination of pancreatic elastase-1 (E1) in stools has been proposed as a novel, noninvasive test of pancreatic function. The aim of the study was to verify its role in the differential diagnosis of chronic diarrhea. METHODS: E1 was measured in spot stool samples of 50 patients with pancreatic disease (PD), 62 with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), 45 with chronic diarrhea (CD), 34 with other gastroduodenal and liver disease (gastrointestinal; GI), and in 18 normal controls, by a commercial kit (Schebo-Tech., Wettemburg, Germany). RESULTS: In PD, patients with severe damage and diarrhea displayed E1 levels below 100 microg/g; normal values were found in mild-moderate disease. Abnormal values were detected in 4 CD and in 14 IBD patients, either in the presence of severe protein malnutrition or in patients with previous ileo-anal pouch anastomosis and pouchitis. In nine cases, values reverted to normal after adequate treatment. Diagnostic accuracy of E1 in discriminating diarrhea of pancreatic and nonpancreatic origin was: SS, 97%; SP, 84%; VP+, 66%; VP-, 100%. CONCLUSION: 1) The finding of a normal E1 value rules out a malabsorption of pancreatic origin. 2) in CD and IBD, decreased E1 might be owing to bacterial elastase degradation (pouchitis) or transient defective pancreatic enzyme secretion.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Helicobacter pylori infection in type 2 diabetic patients.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: A high prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection in diabetic patients has been described in recent years. This study investigates its prevalence in type 2 diabetics and its correlation with the degree of metabolic control and the presence of chronic complications. METHODS AND RESULTS: Forty-one consecutive type 2 diabetics (21 males, 20 females aged 46-78, mean 62) and 31 age-matched controls participated. Hp infection was assessed by means of the 13C-urea breath test. Fasting glucose and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels were measured to evaluate metabolic control. Chronic complications were assessed by means of albumin excretion rate (AER), fundoscopy, vibratory perception threshold (VPT), ECG, clinical history of coronary, cerebral or peripheral arteriopathy, foot examination and cardiovascular autonomic function tests. A higher prevalence of Hp infection was found in diabetic than in control women (80% vs 37.5%; p < 0.05), whereas there was no difference between males. A higher prevalence correlated with macroangiopathy and neuropathy and higher BMI, blood pressure, fasting glucose and HbA1c values. By contrast, microangiopathy was significantly more prevalent (p < 0.05) in Hp negative (85%) than in Hp positive patients (48%). CONCLUSIONS: There is a high prevalence of Hp infection in type 2 diabetic women. The absence of microangiopathy may be a predisposing factor: microvascular changes in the gastric mucosa may create an unfavourable environment for the establishment or survival of Hp.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

[Use of virtual endoscopy with computerized tomography in the identification of colorectal neoplasms. Prospective study with symptomatic patients].

INTRODUCTION: Aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity of virtual colonoscopy (CT colonography) in the identification of colorectal cancer and to define the limitations and the advantages of this imaging modality, as well as indications to the examination. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We examined prospectively 62 symptomatic patients aged 36 to 82 years (28 women and 34 men). All patients underwent both conventional and virtual colonoscopy on the same day; the conventional examination allowed exploration of the entire colon. RESULTS: Conventional colonoscopy identified 89 lesions 3-50 mm in diameter, namely 84 benign and 5 malignant lesions. No lesions were identified in 12 patients. CT colonography identified 52 of the 89 lesions, with 57.1% diagnostic accuracy. There were 11 false positives (82.5% positive predictive value and 52.2% specificity) and 37 false negatives (24.5% negative predictive value and 58.4% sensitivity). Sensitivity was significantly higher (85.7%) for polyps > or = 1 cm. CONCLUSIONS: Virtual colonoscopy is an imaging modality with good diagnostic yield, well tolerated by patients and with great potentials for further development. We suggest that the examination be performed in symptomatic patients who cannot undergo total colonoscopy or refuse the other imaging modalities. Further studies are warranted in larger series of patients, possibly introducing it in screening programs.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Biliary bile acid composition in gastric cancer.

Bile reflux into the stomach has been considered carcinogenic. Secondary bile acids, and in particular deoxycholic acid, have been shown to act experimentally as co-carcinogens in the colon and are increased in patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma. No information is available with respect to biliary bile acid composition in patients with gastric cancer. We studied biliary bile acid composition in 11 patients with gastric cancer and 23 healthy controls. Bile acids were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography. The site of gastric cancer was the antrum in 6 patients and body in 5. There were 6 intestinal-type and 5 diffuse adenocarcinomas. Only 2 patients had Helicobacter pylori infection. Deoxycholic acid constituted 24% +/- 2% of biliary bile acid in gastric cancer patients versus 22% +/- 2% in healthy controls (NS). Similarly, no differences were found between the two groups for all other bile acids. Deoxycholic acid constituted 23% +/- 3% of biliary bile acid (NS vs. controls) in patients with antral adenocarcinoma and 25% +/- 2% (NS vs. controls) in patients with intestinal-type gastric adenocarcinoma. Gastric adenocarcinoma is not associated with an increase in the more-toxic secondary bile acids, and deoxycholic acid in particular. This reduces the importance of bile acid composition as a promotor in gastric carcinogenesis.

Adenocarcinoma↗