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Biomedical subjects

B Barbaro

Publications and source records attributed to B Barbaro.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

[Primary lymphoma of the small intestine: clinico-radiological correlations].

From 1987 to 1989, 7 patients were diagnosed as having a primary lymphoma of the small bowel. The patients, 5 men and 2 women aged 14-66 years (average: 45), were studied by means of small bowel enema and CT. Using small bowel enema, our findings were: masses related to a loop, stenosis, mucosal patterns with thick, irregular, and nodular folds, and bowel walls thickening. In nearly all cases CT showed not only small bowel lesions but also mesenteric lymphadenopathy. Five of seven patients had lymphomas, 1 had IP-SID lymphoma (immunoproliferative small intestinal disease related lymphoma), and 1 had IPSID associated with a late prelymphomatous stage. The diagnosis of IPSID is very important in patients with malabsorption syndrome, which may or may not be related to alpha heavy chain disease, because IPSID may evolve into lymphoma but its prelymphomatous stage can be treated and cured. We have therefore reported the different features seen with enteroclysis and CT, comparing the results obtained in the various forms of lymphoma of the small bowel. The importance is stressed of an accurate diagnosis of IPSID forms, however uncommon in our Country.

Adolescent↗

[Role of the home visit in the therapeutic program involving families of schizophrenic patients in Kraków].

The authors report about a long term practical program involving the families of schizophrenic patients in the therapeutical context. They argue for advocacy of the two, both patient and "his" family. Detailed hints with theoretical backing are given to find a way of common sense for the patient, the family, and the therapists to gain a common, though not oversimplified and complexity reducing working context.

Combined Modality Therapy↗

Sonographic patterns in splenic infarct.

The sonographic findings in eight cases of splenic infarct at their onset and at different phases of their development have been retrospectively analyzed. A wide range of appearances was seen (single or multiple, rounded or wedge-shaped, echo-free, hypoechoic, and hyperechoic lesions). In our opinion, such variable appearances are related to the age of the infarct (hypoechoic or echo-free in the earlier stages, hyperechoic in healed infarcts). A presumptive diagnosis is possible in the earlier stages since the detection of changes (in echogenicity and/or in size) over a period of time strongly suggests an infarct. On the other hand, a hyperechoic wedge-shaped lesion is fairly typical of healed infarcts.

Adult↗

[Ultrasonic diagnosis, staging and follow-up of prostatic neoplasms].

120 patients with clinical suspected prostatic neoplasm were evaluate by transrectal linear sonography. 26 normal glands, 57 hypertrophic adenomas and 37 adenocarcinomas were recognized. We had 17 false positive cases for adenocarcinoma in hypertrophic adenomas. We had no false negatives. All diagnosis were confirmed bioptically, by CT or surgically. The findings of 37 adenocarcinomas are examined. The US criteria for early diagnosis (T1-T2), advantages and limits of transrectal linear probe in staging and follow-up, are discussed.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[Comparative study of hepatic metastasis with different modality ultrasound scanners].

57 patients affected by liver metastases were examined with different types of dynamic ultrasound scanners (linear-sector-convex) in order to assess the advantages and the limits of each scanner and to evaluate if a better diagnostic accuracy is possible by using 2 types of scanner in the same patient. The results were estimated at 3 different levels: quantitative analysis where we considered only the presence or not of liver metastases; complex quantitative analysis where we also evaluate number and site of the metastases; qualitative structural analysis where we compared the ultrasonographic appearance of the metastases. All the results were evaluated by a personal computer with a special program and a statistical analysis was elaborated.

False Negative Reactions↗

[Health status of the workers exposed to strong, constant magnetic fields].

Forty two workers underwent examinations under clinical conditions. The workers were affected by the magnetic field of intensities ranging between 112-190 Gauss, depending on the workplace. They underwent internal, ophthalmological, psychological, psychiatric and analytical examinations and the health status of those exposed was compared to that of twenty controls. Most subjects, mainly those of long length of employment in e-m fields exposure, exhibited nonspecific abdominal pains, general weakness, insomnia, increased thirst and conjunctivitis.

Abdomen↗

Correlation of MRI liver volume and doppler sonographic portal hemodynamics with histologic findings in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to correlate portal hemodynamics on sonography and liver volume on MRI with histologic findings in asymptomatic patients with chronic hepatitis C. METHODS: Portal blood flow in the left and right portal branches in 20 healthy volunteers and in 26 patients was measured using Doppler sonography during both fasting and postprandial states. Total liver and right-and left-lobe volumes were determined using MRI. The ratio between portal blood flow and liver volume determined the "portal flow index" of the right and left lobes. RESULTS: We observed a statistically significant difference (p < 0.01) between the volunteers and patients in the mean left-lobe volume (352 +/- 81 cm(3) versus 544 +/- 159 cm(3)) and in the mean left portal flow index (1.1 +/- 0.2 ml/minute/cm(3) versus 0.69 +/- 0.2 ml/minute/cm(3)) as measured before the subjects ate. After a meal, the portal blood-flow volume in the right lobe was similar in the 2 groups but in the left lobe was significantly lower in the patients (p = 0.0009). The left postprandial portal flow index was inversely correlated with the grade of liver fibrosis (r = 0.533). CONCLUSIONS: The left-lobe volume (positive predictive value, 83%; negative predictive value, 72%) and left postprandial portal flow index (positive predictive value, 86%; negative predictive value, 88%) are sensitive indicators of chronic hepatitis. The left postprandial portal flow index may be a useful test for differentiating patients with minimal or no fibrosis from patients with mild to severe fibrosis.

Adult↗

Lipoxin A4 counteracts synergistic activation of human fibroblast-like synoviocytes.

Excessive production of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. Lipoxin A4 (LXA4) and transforming growth factor beta 2 (TGF-beta 2), mediators with potential anti-inflammatory activities, were tested to determine how they affect IL-1 beta-dependent release of IL-6 and MMPs in human fibroblast like synoviocytes. The results showed dramatic differences between the mediators: TGF-beta 2 acted synergistically with IL-1 beta to stimulate IL-6 protein levels, whereas LXA4 inhibited IL-6 expression in dose- and time-dependent manner. Inhibition, by LXA4 was abrogated when cells were pre-incubated with antibody against the LXA4R whereas TGF-beta 2 by itself had no significant effect on IL-6 or MMP levels. LXA4, at nanomolar concentrations, altered the MMP-1 and MMP-3 expression levels of IL-1 beta and TGF-beta 2 stimulated fibroblast like synoviocytes at 5 days. Furthermore, IL-1 beta and TGF-beta 2 up-regulated LXA4R mRNA. These results demonstrate, for the first time, that LXA4Rs mediate the effects of LXA4 on inflammatory responses after combined stimulation of human fibroblast like synoviocytes with IL-1 beta and TGF-beta 2. These activities might constitute an important mechanism by which LXA4 regulates human synovial fibroblast activation.

Cells, Cultured↗

Opposing regulation of interleukin-8 and NF-kappaB responses by lipoxin A4 and serum amyloid A via the common lipoxin A receptor.

Lipoxin A4 (LXA4) is a potent eicosanoid that inhibits IL-1beta-induced activation of human fibroblast like synoviocytes (FLS) via the ALX4 receptor. Serum amyloid A (SAA) is an acute phase reactant with cytokine-like properties. SAA has been shown to bind the same seven transmembrane G protein-coupled receptor ligated by LXA4. Here we compared the inflammatory responses of lipid (LXA4) and peptide (SAA) ligands in human FLS via the shared ALX, and characterized their downstream signaling. LXA4 induced stimulation of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-2, whereas SAA induced interleukin-8 and matrix metalloproteinase-3 production. SAA up-regulated NF-kappaB and AP-1 DNA binding activity, while LXA4 markedly inhibited these responses after IL-1beta stimulation. A human IL-8 promoter luciferase construct was transfected into CHO cells stably expressing ALXR in order to determine the role of NF-kappaB and/or AP-1 in the regulation of IL-8 gene expression. The NF-kappaB pathway proved to be the preeminent for the biological responses elicited by both ligands. These findings suggest that two endogenous molecules, targeting a common receptor, could participate in the pathogenesis of inflammatory arthritis by differentially regulating inflammatory responses in tissues expressing the ALXR.

Amyloid↗

Staging of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma with spiral CT and MRI.

Detection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma is crucial for accurate staging both with spiral CT and dynamic MRI; consequently an accurate technique is required and so-called pancreatic phase is recognized as the best one for tumor conspicuity. For vascular involvement optimal results have been achieved in assessing unresectability; vein involvement seems more difficult to be defined as it is sustained by a different spread compared to arterial involvement. Grading of vessel circumference contact represents the best tool in "venous" staging, but shape deformation and collateral veins dilation are also important signs. Lymph node staging is less accurate, lacking in specificity, but spiral CT demonstrated better results if compared with dynamic MRI. Assessment of liver metastases has been improved by the advent of spiral CT and dynamic contrast enhanced MRI, while peritoneal staging seems to be unaffected. In conclusion, both spiral CT and dynamic contrast enhanced MRI are accurate in pancreatic adenocarcinoma staging, mainly for vessels and liver involvement; no definite differences have been established, because only a few studies have compared them both with state-of-art techniques. Therefore standardized multicentric trials are desirable. Up to now, the choice of which technique to employ should be based on local expertise; moreover, the aggressive approach of surgical equipes should be kept in mind.

Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal↗

[Influence of family factors in the first occurrence of psychiatric hospitalization of patients suffering from schizophrenia].

The paper is an empirical verification of a thesis according to which inter-family factors decide, to a large extent, about the psychiatric hospitalization of patients suffering from schizophrenia. On examining a population of 48 patients hospitalized for the first time because of schizophrenia and their families, it turned out that the family slowness in reacting to psychosis (defining the changes in the patient's behavior as morbid, and looking for a medical assistance occurred too late) is connected with a particular constellation of the family factors "Sluggish" families are mainly those with a lack of feelings, or families "fighting by the child". Initiative of seeking the help was triggered by the patient's behaviour that, from sociological point of view, could be characterized as rebellion and alienation.

Adult↗